JP2014175908A - On-vehicle camera device and manufacturing method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-vehicle camera device which prevents resin from being injected much more when the resin is injected to a prescribed position in a housing and prevents the resin from flowing into a connector arranged inside the housing and to provide a manufacturing method of the device.SOLUTION: A resin injection hole 25 which injects mould resin 15 inside a housing 12 and a resin injection duct 23 that is protrusively installed toward an inner side of a front face of the housing 12 from an inner face of a rear wall section 22 of the housing 12 and is communicated with the resin injection hole 25 are formed at the rear wall section 22 of the housing 12 which stores an imaging module 14. An injection regulation wall 24 for preventing the mould resin 15 from being injected much more when the mould resin 15 is injected to a lower end position is installed in the housing 12.

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle camera device and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to an in-vehicle camera device having a heat dissipation function and a manufacturing method thereof.

  In general, a small in-vehicle camera device includes an imaging module having an imaging lens, an imaging element that converts light from the imaging lens into an electrical signal, and a circuit board on which a signal processing circuit that controls the imaging element is formed. Arranged inside the housing. Such an in-vehicle camera device generates heat from the circuit board. Therefore, in order to protect the signal processing circuit, it is necessary to efficiently release the heat generated in the casing to the outside.

  Conventionally, as the heat dissipation means, the imaging module is surrounded by a liquid resin, and then the resin is solidified, and the heat generated in the circuit board is transmitted to the outer surface side of the housing through the solidified resin to dissipate the heat. A camera device is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The camera device described in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which an imaging module is surrounded by resin and then the resin is hardened. In this structure, if the molding resin enters the connector portion that electrically connects the signal processing circuit inside the housing and the external cable, there is a risk of causing a conductive failure.

  Therefore, in the camera device of Patent Document 1, a terminal on the circuit board side protrudes from the rear part of the housing, and a connector for an external cable is connected to the terminal from the outside of the housing. Since this connector is connected outside the casing, a connector having a waterproof function is required.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-50771.

  As described above, in the camera device described in Patent Document 1, the connector for electrically connecting the external cable to the terminal on the circuit board side is connected to the outside of the housing, so a connector having a waterproof function is required. It is said. However, the connector having a waterproof function has a problem that the cost is increased due to its expensiveness.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an in-vehicle camera device that surrounds an imaging module with a molding resin and radiates heat to the outer surface of the housing through the molding resin, an inexpensive non-waterproof connector is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide an in-vehicle camera device and a manufacturing method thereof in which a molding resin does not enter a connector and cause a conductive failure while being used.

  The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and an in-vehicle camera device according to the present invention includes a housing, an imaging module disposed inside the housing, and the imaging within the housing. A molding resin that surrounds the module; and an external cable that outputs a signal from the imaging module. The imaging module includes an imaging lens that is attached to the front surface of the housing; and the light from the imaging lens is an electrical signal. An image sensor to be converted into a circuit board and a circuit board on which a signal processing circuit for controlling the image sensor is formed, and is electrically connected between the signal processing circuit and the external cable attached to the circuit board. In the in-vehicle camera device further including the connector, the casing is provided on a rear wall portion of the casing, and a resin injection port for injecting the molding resin into the casing from outside the casing; and the rear wall of the casing A resin injection duct that protrudes from the inner surface to the inside of the front of the housing and communicates with the resin injection port inside the housing, and is erected on the imaging lens side of the housing adjacent to the resin injection duct An injection restricting wall, and when the molding resin is injected, an airtight space is formed by the molding resin, the injection restricting wall, and the inner wall of the housing. ).

  According to this configuration, when the mold resin is injected from the resin injection port through the resin injection duct into the housing in which the imaging module is disposed, the resin is kept until the same height as the lower end of the injection restriction wall. Although injection can be performed after that, an airtight space is formed in the housing, and therefore, it cannot be injected to a position above the lower end of the injection regulating wall. Therefore, the lower end position of the injection regulating wall that regulates the height position at which the molding resin can be injected into the housing reaches a height position where the resin does not flow into the connector, for example, the upper part of the connector. If the position is set to the previous position, even when the connector is arranged in the housing, the molding resin can be prevented from flowing into the connector when the molding resin is injected. Accordingly, the connector can be disposed in the housing, and an inexpensive connector that does not have a waterproof function can be used.

  Further, the tip of the injection restricting wall is located closer to the circuit board than the upper end of the connector, and when the molding resin injected into the housing is injected with the molding resin, It is preferable that the space is restricted at a height position that does not exceed the upper end of the connector to which the external cable is connected due to an airtight space.

  According to this configuration, even when the connector is disposed in the housing, the resin does not flow from the upper part of the connector into the connector when the molding resin is injected.

  A method of manufacturing an in-vehicle camera device according to the present invention includes a housing, an imaging module disposed inside the housing, a molding resin surrounding the imaging module inside the housing, and the imaging module. And an external cable that outputs a signal from the imaging module, wherein the imaging module controls an imaging lens that is attached to the front surface of the housing, an imaging device that converts light from the imaging lens into an electrical signal, and the imaging device Manufacturing a vehicle-mounted camera device further comprising a connector formed of a circuit board on which a signal processing circuit to be formed is formed and electrically connected between the signal processing circuit and the external cable attached to the circuit board In the method, a resin injection preparation step of setting the in-vehicle camera device before the molding resin is injected into the housing with the imaging lens facing downward; Inside the case of the in-vehicle camera device set by the resin injection preparation step, the resin injection port provided on the rear wall of the case protrudes from the inner surface of the rear wall of the case to the inside of the front of the case. A resin injection step of injecting the molding resin into the housing through a resin injection duct communicating with the resin injection port, and surrounding the imaging module with the molding resin; and An airtight space that forms an airtight space by an injection regulating wall and an inner wall of the casing that are erected on the imaging lens side of the casing adjacent to the resin for molding and the resin injection duct by filling up to the entrance The method comprises a forming step and a resin curing step for curing the molding resin.

  According to this, when the in-vehicle camera device before the molding resin is injected into the housing is set so that the imaging lens faces downward, and then the resin is injected into the housing from the resin injection port The molding resin can be injected into the casing until an airtight space is formed inside the casing. By disposing the upper end portion of the connector in this space, it is possible to prevent the resin from flowing into the connector when the resin is injected.

  According to the present invention, when injecting resin into the housing in which the imaging module is disposed, when the resin for molding is injected from the resin injection port through the resin injection duct, the resin becomes the same height as the lower end of the injection restriction wall. However, since an airtight space is formed in the housing, the liquid is not injected into a position above the lower end of the injection regulating wall. Therefore, by arranging the upper end portion of the connector in this space, it is possible to prevent the resin from entering the connector when the molding resin is injected even if the connector is arranged in the housing. As a result, even if the connector is installed in the housing, it is possible to prevent the resin from entering the connector and causing poor contact, so that it is inexpensive even without using an expensive connector with a waterproof function. A connector can be used.

1 shows an in-vehicle camera device as one embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a perspective view of the in-vehicle camera device viewed from the front side, and (b) is a perspective view of the in-vehicle camera device viewed from the rear side. . 1 shows an in-vehicle camera device as one embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view thereof and (b) is a rear view thereof. It is a disassembled perspective view of the vehicle-mounted camera apparatus as one Embodiment of this invention. It is an AA line expanded sectional view of Drawing 2 (a). FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is a top view which shows the inner surface structure of the rear case in a vehicle-mounted camera apparatus same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the connector used with the vehicle-mounted camera apparatus as one Embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiments”) will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 5 show an in-vehicle camera apparatus 10 as an embodiment of the present invention. The in-vehicle camera 10 has a box-shaped front case 12a having a window 11 for introducing imaging light at the front and an opening on the rear side, and a rear portion on the rear side of the front case 12a. And a box-shaped rear case 12b whose front side is opened and fixed to the front case 12a with screws 13 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 5), and has a space inside. A casing 12 is provided.

  In addition, the imaging module 14 is stored in the internal space of the housing 12 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the imaging module 14 disposed in the internal space of the housing 12 is partially surrounded by a molding resin 15 injected into the housing 12. By fixing 15, it is fixed at a predetermined position in the housing 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the imaging module 14 includes an imaging lens 16 disposed in the window 11 of the front case 12a, and an imaging element 17 such as a CCD that converts light from the imaging lens 16 into an electrical signal. A plurality of circuit boards 18 on which signal processing circuits for controlling the image sensor 17 are formed, a board-side connector 19a (see FIG. 4) fixedly attached to the back side of the circuit board 18, and the like. Are unitized. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the board-side connector 19 a is provided with a plurality of wires 20 a made up of video signal lines, power lines, and the like that are drawn from the outside through cable lead-out holes 27 provided in the rear case 12 b. The electrical cable side connector 19b attached to the tip of the electrical cable 20 that is bundled to form one external cable is connected, and electrical connection between the imaging shadow module 14 and the outside is achieved.

  The board-side connector 19a is a so-called potting type connector that does not flow to the electrode portion in the connector even if the molding resin flows into the periphery, and is fixed to the back surface of the circuit board 18, for example, as shown in FIG. A plug portion 21b of an electric cable side connector 19b formed by connecting a plurality of wires 20a is inserted into a socket port 21a of the board side connector 19a to be electrically connected. FIG. 4 shows a state where the electric cable side connector 19b is inserted into the board side connector 19a and electrically connected thereto.

  In the potting type connector 19, there is no problem even if resin flows between the circuit board 18 and the board side connector 19a and around the board side connector 19a. However, the electric cable side connector 19b from which the wire 20a is drawn is provided. When the resin flows into the upper portion, that is, the upper surface, the resin flows into the electrical cable connector 19b from the gap with the wire 20a and is insulated, thereby causing a connection failure. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the resin from flowing into the upper surface side of the electric cable side connector 19b.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, an injection regulating wall 24 is vertically provided inside the rear wall portion 22 of the rear case 12b so as to partition a part of the rear case 12b. A cylindrical resin injection duct 23 is formed by the injection regulating wall 24 and the inner wall surface 12c of the rear case 12b (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 6). As shown in FIG. 4, the position of the tip 28 of the injection restriction wall 24, that is, the lower end position L is lower than the upper surface position H of the connector 19 arranged in the housing 12 (front case 12 a side). It is set to be. Further, a gap is secured between the tip 28 of the injection regulating wall 24 and the surface of the circuit board 18 where the connector 19a is disposed so that the resin resin 15 for molding can flow in. In the following description, the space inside the casing 12 other than the resin injection duct 23 formed by being surrounded by the injection regulating wall 24 and the inner wall surface 12c of the rear case 12b is simply “inside the casing 12”. Is defined as "."

  Further, the rear wall portion 22 of the rear case 12b has a resin injection hole 25 for injecting the molding resin 15 into the housing 12 in the upper portion of the resin injection duct 23 and the resin 15 in the housing 12. When injecting, a filling confirmation hole 26 is provided for confirming the state of air bleeding in the housing 12 and the amount of the resin 15 injected into the housing 12 by visual observation or the like. Further, the rear wall portion 22 is provided with the cable lead-out hole 27 through which the electric cable 20 is inserted at a position away from the resin injection duct 23.

  Next, an example of an assembly procedure for the in-vehicle camera device formed in this way will be described in the order of a resin injection preparation process, a resin injection process, and an airtight space forming process.

(Resin injection preparation process)
First, in the resin injection preparation step, the electric cable 20 is mounted through the cable lead-out hole 27 of the rear case 12b, and the electric cable side connector 19b attached to the tip of the electric cable 20 is the board side connector 19a of the imaging module 14. Connected to. Thereby, the electric cable 20 and the imaging module 14 are electrically connected. When the connection between the board-side connector 19a and the electric cable-side connector 19b is finished, a sealing material such as an O-ring (not shown) is pressed between the electric cable 20 and the cable lead-out hole 27 so that the electric cable 20 and the cable are connected. Fixing between the lead-out hole 27 and a waterproof seal are performed.

  Next, the imaging lens 16 is positioned in the window portion 11, and the imaging module 14 is disposed in the front case 12a. In the arrangement state, a gap S (see FIG. 4) through which the resin 15 can pass is provided between the imaging module 14 and the inner surface of the front case 12a.

  Next, a seal packing (not shown) is interposed between the front case 12a, the rear case 12b is attached to the front case 12a, and the front case 12a and the rear case 12b are fixed with screws 13. As a result, the imaging module 14 is accommodated in the housing 12 in a state in which the imaging module 14 is electrically connected to the electrical cable 20 via the connector 19.

  Subsequently, the housing 12 is set on a jig (not shown) so that the imaging lens 16 faces downward.

(Resin injection process)
Next, the resin injection process is started. In the resin injection step, a resin injection nozzle (not shown) is inserted into the resin injection hole 25 of the rear case 12b, and the molding resin 15 is injected into the resin injection duct 23 from the resin injection hole 25. At this time, the air in the housing 12 is released to the outside through the filling confirmation hole 26, thereby allowing the resin 15 to be injected into the housing 12.

  Further, since the resin 15 injected into the resin injection duct 23 is opened at the lower side of the resin injection duct 23, the imaging module 14 and the front case 12a are connected from the resin injection duct 23 into the front case 12a. The resin 15 that has flowed in fills the space in the front case 12a and surrounds the imaging module 14 disposed in the front case 12a. The optical system of the image pickup lens 16 and the image pickup element 17 is provided with a wall body (not shown) or the like for preventing resin from flowing in. When the space in the front case 12 a is filled with the resin 15, the subsequently injected resin 15 enters the rear case 12 b and surrounds part of the circuit board 18 and the connector 19.

(Airtight space formation process)
Subsequently, when the resin 15 is filled up to the lower end position L of the injection restricting wall 24, the air in the resin injection duct 23 and the housing 12 cannot be circulated, so that the air escape space in the housing 12 is eliminated. Thereby, an airtight space is formed in the housing 12. As a result, the resin 15 can no longer be injected into the housing 12, and the resin 15 reaches the upper surface of the resin injection duct 23, so that the resin injection is stopped. As shown in FIG. 4, the height of the resin 15 at this time is a position L lower than the height position H of the connector 19, and the resin 15 does not enter the connector 19 from the upper surface side of the connector 19. Position. Further, when the injection of the resin 15 is finished, it is confirmed whether the resin is reliably injected into the housing 12 from the filling confirmation hole 26, and then waiting for the injected resin 15 to be cured. Is completed.

  In the in-vehicle camera device 10 formed as described above, the resin 15 injected and cured in the gap in the housing 12 so as to surround the circuit board 18 functions as a heat conductor, and the circuit board. The heat generated by 18 can be absorbed and transmitted to the housing 12, and can be efficiently released to the outside through the housing 12.

  In addition, since the connector 19 is arranged in the housing 12, water drops or the like do not directly hit the connector 19. Therefore, an inexpensive connector that does not have a waterproof function can be used.

  Further, the height position H when the molding resin 15 is injected into the housing 12 is also set at the lower end position L of the injection regulating wall 24, so that it is not necessary to manage the resin injection amount, and the workability is improved. Improvement can be expected.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements, and the like within a scope in which the object of the present invention can be achieved are included in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 In-vehicle camera apparatus 11 Window part 12 Case 12a Front case 12b Rear case 13 Screw 14 Imaging module 15 Molding resin 16 Imaging lens 17 Imaging element 18 Circuit board 19 Connector 19a Board side connector 19b Electric cable side connector 20 Electric cable (External cable)
20a Wire 21a Socket port 21b Plug part 22 Rear wall part 23 Resin injection duct 24 Injection restriction wall (injection restriction means)
25 Resin injection hole 26 Filling confirmation hole 27 Cable lead-out hole 28 Tip portion L of injection restriction wall (injection restriction means) Lower end position of injection restriction wall H Upper surface position S of connector

Claims (3)

A housing, an imaging module disposed inside the housing, a molding resin surrounding the imaging module inside the housing, and an external cable that outputs a signal from the imaging module, The imaging module includes an imaging lens attached to the front surface of the housing, an imaging element that converts light from the imaging lens into an electrical signal, and a circuit board on which a signal processing circuit that controls the imaging element is formed. In the in-vehicle camera device further having a connector attached to the circuit board and electrically connecting the signal processing circuit and the external cable,
The housing is
A resin injection port provided on the rear wall of the housing for injecting the molding resin from the outside of the housing into the housing;
A resin injection duct projecting from the inner surface of the rear wall of the housing to the inside of the front of the housing and communicating with the resin injection port inside the housing; and the imaging lens of the housing adjacent to the resin injection duct An injection restriction wall erected on the side,
With
An in-vehicle camera device, wherein when the molding resin is injected, an airtight space is formed by the molding resin, the injection regulating wall, and the inner wall of the housing.   The tip of the injection restricting wall is positioned closer to the circuit board than the upper end of the connector, and the molding resin injected into the housing is airtight when the molding resin is injected. 2. The in-vehicle camera device according to claim 1, wherein the space is restricted at a height position not exceeding an upper end portion of the connector to which the external cable is connected. A housing, an imaging module disposed in the housing, a molding resin surrounding the imaging module in the housing, and an external cable for outputting a signal from the imaging module The imaging module includes an imaging lens attached to the front surface of the housing, an imaging element that converts light from the imaging lens into an electrical signal, and a circuit board on which a signal processing circuit that controls the imaging element is formed. In the method for manufacturing an in-vehicle camera device further comprising a connector attached to the circuit board and electrically connected between the signal processing circuit and the external cable.
A resin injection preparation step for setting the in-vehicle camera device before the molding resin is injected into the housing such that the imaging lens faces downward;
Inside the case of the in-vehicle camera device set in the resin injection preparation step, the resin injection port provided on the rear wall of the case protrudes from the inner surface of the rear wall of the case to the inside of the front of the case. A resin injection step of injecting the molding resin through a resin injection duct communicating with the resin injection port into the housing, and surrounding the imaging module with the molding resin;
By filling the mold resin up to the resin injection port, the mold resin and the resin injection duct are adjacent to the injection lens wall and the inner wall of the casing that are erected on the imaging lens side. An airtight space forming process for forming a space with
A resin curing step for curing the mold resin;
A method for manufacturing an in-vehicle camera device.