WO2023165811A1

WO2023165811A1 - Camera device for a vehicle, vehicle and method for manufacturing a camera device

Info

Publication number: WO2023165811A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/053716
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Holy; Thorsten Meyer; Donald Peyrot; Deepak Patil
Original assignee: Valeo Schalter Und Sensoren Gmbh
Priority date: 2022-03-01
Filing date: 2023-02-15
Publication date: 2023-09-07
Also published as: DE102022104773A1

Abstract

A camera device (3) for a vehicle (1), comprising: a housing (4) including, with respect to an installed state in the vehicle (1), an upper part (5) and a lower part (6) attached to each other, and an imaging module (16) accommodated at least partially in the housing (4) and including an objective (17), an image sensor unit (18) arranged so as to intersect an optical axis (A) of the objective (17) and a printed circuit board (19) on which the image sensor unit (18) is mounted, wherein the objective (17) and the printed circuit board (19) are each attached to the upper part (5) of the housing (4).

Description

CAMERA DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE, VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A

CAMERA DEVICE

The present invention relates to a camera device for a vehicle, a vehicle with such a camera device and a method for manufacturing such a camera device.

Vehicles, such as passenger vehicles, are nowadays equipped with cameras for monitoring a surrounding of the vehicle. An example is a front camera which is attached to an interior surface of the front windscreen and monitors a region in front of the vehicle. Such camera devices usually comprise a housing attached to the front windscreen. In many instances the housing is assembled from three or more parts fixed to each other. Inside the housing, a front camera usually comprises an objective including one or more lenses, an image sensor, an image processor and an interface to an electronic control system (ECU) or bus system of the vehicle. The image sensor is arranged intersecting an optical axis of the objective. The objective and the image sensor are accurately aligned with each other in order to provide high-resolution images of the surrounding of the vehicle. Conventionally, the objective is supported by an objective holder attached to a printed circuit board on which the image sensor is mounted. DE 10 2012 210 818 A1 proposes to connect the objective/lens to the camera housing. With this connection, the lens is carried by the camera housing.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved camera device for a vehicle and an improved method for manufacturing a camera device for a vehicle.

According to a first aspect, a camera device for a vehicle is provided. The camera device comprises: a housing including, with respect to an installed state in the vehicle, an upper part and a lower part attached to each other, and an imaging module accommodated at least partially in the housing and including an objective, an image sensor unit arranged so as to intersect an optical axis of the objective and a printed circuit board on which the image sensor unit is mounted, wherein the objective and the printed circuit board are each attached to the upper part of the housing.

The objective and the printed circuit board are, in particular, each attached directly to the upper part of the housing. The upper part of the housing is, in particular, supporting and carrying the objective and the printed circuit board. Thereby, no additional carrier element is required. In particular, no separate objective holder or carrier element for the printed circuit board is required. Hence the number of parts that need to be assembled during manufacture of the camera device can be reduced. Hence, the manufacturing process can be simplified. Further, tolerances of a separate objective holder and a separate printed circuit board carrier are avoided and can, therefore, not affect negatively the optical alignment between the objective and the image sensor unit. This allows an improved image quality of images obtained by the camera device.

The upper part of the housing includes, in particular, an integrally formed holding portion for attaching and carrying the objective and the printed circuit board.

The camera device is, in particular, applied in a vehicle such as a motor vehicle. The vehicle is, for example, a passenger vehicle, a car, bus, sport utility vehicle, truck, train, watercraft and/or airplane. The camera device can also be employed in a vehicle which allows autonomous or semi-autonomous driving.

The camera device is, for example, configured for attachment to a window of the vehicle. The window of the vehicle can be any window of the vehicle. The window of the vehicle is, for example, a windscreen (e.g., front windscreen) or a back window of the vehicle. The window is, for example, made of glass. The camera device is, in particular, configured for arrangement at an interior side of the window. If the camera device is arranged at the interior side of the front windscreen, it is called a front camera. However, the camera device can also be arranged at a different window of the vehicle. The housing of the camera device and/or the upper part of the housing is, for example, made from metal such as aluminum. By using a housing made from metal, the objective and the printed circuit board can be stably carried by the (upper part of) the housing.

The camera device includes the imaging module for taking images of the surrounding of the vehicle. The imaging model is, for example, configured for providing high-resolution images of the surrounding. Depending on the arrangement of the camera device and the imaging module in the vehicle, different monitoring areas in the front, in the back and/or at the sides of the vehicle can be monitored. In particular, by using the imaging module objects at rest or moving objects can be detected, such as other vehicles, people, animals, plants, obstacles, a road unevenness (e.g., potholes or stones), lane markings, traffic signs or free spaces (e.g., parking spaces).

The imaging module being accommodated in the housing includes the case that the objective is protruding from the housing.

The objective includes, for example, one or more lenses and a lens frame (e.g., lens mount) for framing and/or holding the one or more lenses.

The image sensor unit includes, for example, a CCD camera (Charged Coupled Device) or a CMOS sensor (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor-Sensor). For example, the image sensor unit includes an active pixel sensor based on CMOS technology (CMOS-APS, CMOS active pixel sensor). The image sensor unit is, for example, an electronic component mounted on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is, for example, an image sensor printed circuit board. The camera device may include, in addition to this printed circuit board, also one or more additional further printed circuit boards.

According to an embodiment of the first aspect, the upper part of the housing includes a holding portion for holding and attaching the objective, the holding portion having a cylindrically shaped inner surface which forms a first mating surface. Further, the objective includes a cylindrically shaped outer surface which forms a second mating surface. The objective is attached to the upper part of the housing by attaching the first and second mating surfaces to each other.

Thus, the objective and the upper part of the housing can be assembled by inserting the objective (e.g., partly) into a cavity formed by a cylindrically shaped opening, the cylindrically shaped opening being defined by the cylindrically shaped inner surface. Further, the holding portion of the upper part of the housing with its cylindrically shaped inner surface provides guidance for positioning the objective at the upper part of the housing.

The holding portion is, in particular, an integral part of the upper part of the housing. In other words, the upper part of the housing including its holding portion is a one-piece element.

An axis of a cylinder defined by the cylindrically shaped inner surface of the holding portion is, for example, arranged parallel to the optical axis of the objective. Further, an axis of a cylinder defined by the cylindrically shaped outer surface of the objective is, for example, arranged parallel to the optical axis of the objective.

The first and second mating surfaces are, for example, arranged concentric to the optical axis of the objective.

The cylindrically shaped outer surface of the objective forming the second mating surface is, for example, an outer surface of a lens frame of the objective, the lens frame framing/holding the lenses of the objective.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the upper part of the housing includes a shoulder protruding from the cylindrically shaped inner surface towards the optical axis, and a back surface of the objective is resting against the shoulder. The shoulder is, for example, engaging - with respect to the incoming light - behind the objective. Having the shoulder allows a better attachment and fixation of the objective at the upper part of the housing.

The shoulder is, for example, a circumferential shoulder. An edge of the circumferential shoulder is, for example, defining an opening for projecting an image by the objective onto the image sensor unit.

The objective includes, for example, a front surface facing a field of view of the camera device. The back surface of the objective is, for example, arranged opposite to the front surface.

The shoulder may protrude, for example, perpendicularly from the cylindrically shaped inner surface. However, depending on the outer shape of the objective, the shoulder may also protrude from the cylindrically shaped inner surface with an angle different from 90 degree.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the objective is attached to the upper part of the housing by means of an adhesive.

For example, the first and second mating surfaces are fixed to each other by means of an adhesive.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the printed circuit board is attached to the upper part of the housing by means of an adhesive or soldering.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the camera device comprises: a further printed circuit board accommodated in the housing and being electronically connected to the printed circuit board, and an image processor unit mounted on the further printed circuit board. The image processer unit is, in particular, configured for processing image data provided by the imaging module. The image processer unit includes, for example, a video processer. The image processer unit is, in particular, realized by an electronic hardware component mounted on the further printed circuit board.

The camera device may, for example, also include one or more storage units. One, more or all of the one or more storage units are, for example, mounted on the further printed circuit board, the printed circuit board (i.e., image sensor printed circuit board) and/or may be included in the image processer unit.

According to a further embodiment of the first aspect, the upper part and the lower part of the housing are screwed to each other.

In embodiments, the upper part and the lower part of the housing may be screwed to each other by self-trapping screws.

According to a second aspect, a vehicle comprising the above-described camera device is provided.

According to a third aspect, a method for manufacturing the above-described camera device is provided. The method comprises the steps: providing the upper part of the housing, attaching the objective to the upper part of the housing, providing the printed circuit board with the mounted image sensor unit, aligning the objective and the image sensor unit with each other by moving the upper part of the housing relative to the printed circuit board, and attaching the printed circuit board to the upper part of the housing. According to an embodiment of the third aspect, the objective and the image sensor unit are aligned with each other by keeping the upper part of the housing fixed and moving the printed circuit board.

According to a further embodiment of the third aspect, the objective and the image sensor unit are aligned with each other by keeping the printed circuit board fixed and moving the upper part of the housing.

The image sensor unit is implemented in hardware. The above and below further described units, such as, the image processor unit, the storage unit and a control unit, can each be implemented in hardware and/or software. In the case of a hardware implementation, the corresponding unit can be designed as a device or as part of a device, for example as a computer or as a microprocessor. For example, the device may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphical processing unit (GPU), programmable hardware logic (e.g., a field programmable gate array, FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or the like. Further, the one or more units, such as the image processor unit, the storage unit and the control unit, may be implemented together in a single hardware device, and they may share, for example, a memory, interfaces, and the like. The units, such as the image processor unit, the storage unit and the control unit, may also be implemented in separate hardware devices. In a software implementation, the respective unit can be designed as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as an algorithm, as part of a program code or as an executable object. Furthermore, said units can also be designed as part of a higher- level control system of the vehicle, such as a central electronic control unit (ECU).

Features described in conjunction with the camera device equally apply to the vehicle and the method according to the further aspects and vice versa.

Further possible implementations or alternative solutions of the invention also encompass combinations - that are not explicitly mentioned herein - of features described above or be- low with regard to the embodiments. The person skilled in the art may also add individual or isolated aspects and features to the most basic form of the invention.

Further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the subsequent description of the embodiments.

In the following, the invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with reference to the following figures.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a vehicle;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a camera device of the vehicle of Fig. 1 according to an embodiment;

Fig. 3 shows a view similar as Fig. 2 but with a lower part of a housing of the camera device indicated in dashed lines;

Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the camera device of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section view of the camera device along line V in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 shows a flow chart illustrating a method for operating a camera device of a vehicle according to an embodiment.

In the figures, like reference numerals designate like or functionally equivalent elements, unless otherwise indicated.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a vehicle 1 . The vehicle 1 in this example is a passenger vehicle.

In other examples, the vehicle 1 may also be a truck, bus or another motor vehicle. On a front windscreen 2 of the vehicle 1 , a camera device 3 is attached. The camera device 3 is - as seen from the driver - attached behind or near a rear-view mirror (not shown) of the vehicle 1.

Figs. 2 to 4 show perspective views of the camera device 3. The camera device 3 comprises a housing 4. The housing 4 comprises an upper part 5 and a lower part 6 which are fixed to each other. The upper and lower parts 5, 6 are, for example, fixed to each other by connecting means 7, 8 such as screws (e.g., self-trapping screws).

In Fig. 2, only the upper part 5 of the housing 4 is visible. In Fig. 3, the lower part 6 of the housing 4 is illustrated by dashed lines. Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the housing 4 with both housing parts 5, 6 visible.

In the shown example, the upper part 5 of the housing 4 comprises, a cover 9 (Fig. 3) with side walls 10 and several top walls 1 1 . The side and top walls 10, 1 1 define an interior space 12 (Fig. 5) for accommodating optical, electronical and mechanical components of the camera device 3.

Further, in the shown example, the lower part 6 of the housing 4 comprises a cover 13 (Fig. 4) including a bottom wall 14 (bottom plate) and a side wall 15 (side plate). In the shown example, the bottom and side walls 14, 15 are arranged L-shaped when seen in a crosssection view (see also Fig. 5).

However, in other examples, the geometric shape of the upper and lower parts 5, 6 of the housing 4 may also have another suitable configuration.

The camera device 3 comprises an imaging module 16 (Fig. 5) accommodated in the housing 4 for monitoring a surrounding of the vehicle 1 , in particular a region in the front of the vehicle 1 . The imaging module 16 includes an objective 17, an image sensor unit 18 arranged intersecting an optical axis A of the objective 17 and a printed circuit board 19 on which the image sensor unit 18 is mounted.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section view of the camera device 3 attached to an interior side 20 of the windscreen 2.

As can be seen in Fig. 5, the objective 17 includes one or more lenses 21 hold by a lens frame 22 (lens mount).

The objective 17 and the printed circuit board 19 on which the image sensor unit 18 is mounted are each directly attached to the upper part 5 of the housing 4.

In particular, the upper part 5 of the housing 4 includes a holding portion 23 (Fig. 5) for holding and attaching the objective 17. The holding portion 23 is an integral part of the upper part 5 of the housing 4. The holding portion 23 comprises an opening 24 in which the objective 17 is accommodated such that it partly protrudes from the opening 24. The holding portion 23 has a cylindrically shaped inner surface 25 defining the opening 24. The cylindrically shaped inner surface 25 forms a first mating surface 26.

Further, the objective 17, in particular the lens frame 22 of the objective 17, includes a cylindrically shaped outer surface 27 which forms a second mating surface 28.

The objective 17 is attached to the upper part 5 of the housing 4 by attaching, e.g., adhering, the first and second mating surfaces 26, 28 to each other.

Furthermore, the upper part 5 of the housing 4 (e.g., the holding portion 23) includes a shoulder 29 protruding (e.g., perpendicularly) from the cylindrically shaped inner surface 25 of the opening 24 towards the optical axis A of the objective 17. The shoulder 29 is, for example, a circumferential shoulder 29. The shoulder 29 is engaging - with respect to an in- coming light beam - behind the objective 17 such that a back surface 30 of the objective 17 is resting against the shoulder 29.

The upper part 5 of the housing 4 is not only carrying the objective 17 but also the printed circuit board 19 on which the image sensor unit 18 is mounted, as shown in Fig. 5. The upper part 5 of the housing 4 (e.g., the holding portion 23) comprises, for example, an attachment surface 31 for attaching the printed circuit board 19. The printed circuit board 19 is, for example, adhered or soldered to the attachment surface 31 .

It is noted that in Fig. 5, the camera device 3 is shown with a gap between the first and second mating surfaces 26, 28, a gap between the back surface 30 of the objective 17 and the shoulder 29, and a gap between the attachment surface 31 of the upper part 5 of the housing 4 and the printed circuit board 19. However, these gaps are only shown for illustration purposes. In the manufactured state of the camera device 3, one, more or all of these gaps are not present.

The camera device 3 may also include one or more further printed circuit boards 32 (Fig. 5) accommodated in the housing 4. In the example of Fig. 5, a further printed circuit board 32 is shown which is arranged inclined, for example by an angle between 60 to 120 degree, 80 to 100 degree and/or 90 degree with respect to the printed circuit board 19. The further printed circuit board 32 is electronically connected (connecting means 33, e.g., electronic cable 33) to the printed circuit board 19. The further printed circuit board 32 is provided for mounting further electronic units such as an image processor unit 34, a storage unit 35, a control unit 36 and the like. Although not shown in the figures, the camera device 3 includes an interface for electronic communication with a bus system and/or a central electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle 1 .

In the following a method for manufacturing the camera device 3 is described with respect to

Fig. 6. In a first step S1 of the method, the upper part 5 of the housing 4 is provided.

In a second step S2 of the method, the objective 17 is attached to the upper part 5 of the housing 4.

In a third step S3 of the method, the printed circuit board 19 is provided in a state in which the image sensor unit 18 is already mounted on the printed circuit board 19.

In a fourth step S4 of the method, the objective 17 and the image sensor unit 18 are aligned with each other by moving the upper part 5 of the housing 4 relative to the printed circuit board 19.

In step S4, the objective 17 and the image sensor unit 18 may be aligned with each other by keeping the upper part 5 of the housing 4 fixed and moving the printed circuit board 19. Alternatively, the printed circuit board 19 may be kept fixed and the upper part 5 of the housing 4 may be moved.

In a fifth step S5 of the method, the printed circuit board 19 is attached to the upper part 5 of the housing 4.

Since the objective 17 and the printed circuit board 19 are both directly attached to the upper part 5 of the housing 4, no additional separate carrier elements are required for carrying the objective 17 and the printed circuit board 19. Further, the housing comprises only two housing parts 5, 6. Hence the number of pieces that need to be assembled during manufacture of the camera device 3 as well as tolerances can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred embodiments, it is obvious for the person skilled in the art that modifications are possible in all embodiments. REFERENCE SIGNS

1 vehicle

2 window

3 camera device

4 housing

5 upper part

6 lower part

7 connecting means

8 connecting means

9 cover

10 side wall

11 top wall

12 space

13 cover

14 bottom wall

15 side wall

16 imaging module

17 objective

18 image sensor unit

19 printed circuit board

20 interior side

21 lens

22 lens frame

23 holding portion

24 opening

25 surface

26 mating surface

27 surface

28 mating surface 29 shoulder

30 surface

31 attachment surface

32 printed circuit board 33 connecting means

34 image processing unit

35 storage unit

36 control unit A optical axis

S1-S5 method steps

Claims

1 . A camera device (3) for a vehicle (1 ), comprising: a housing (4) including, with respect to an installed state in the vehicle (1 ), an upper part (5) and a lower part (6) attached to each other, and an imaging module (16) accommodated at least partially in the housing (4) and including an objective (17), an image sensor unit (18) arranged so as to intersect an optical axis (A) of the objective (17) and a printed circuit board (19) on which the image sensor unit (18) is mounted, wherein the objective (17) and the printed circuit board (19) are each attached to the upper part (5) of the housing (4).

2. The camera device according to claim 1 , wherein the upper part (5) of the housing (4) includes a holding portion (23) for holding and attaching the objective (17), the holding portion (23) having a cylindrically shaped inner surface (25) which forms a first mating surface (26), the objective (17) includes a cylindrically shaped outer surface (27) which forms a second mating surface (28), and the objective (17) is attached to the upper part (5) of the housing (4) by attaching the first and second mating surfaces (26, 28) to each other.

3. The camera device according to claim 2, wherein the upper part (5) of the housing (4) includes a shoulder (29) protruding from the cylindrically shaped inner surface (25) towards the optical axis (A), and a back surface (30) of the objective (17) is resting against the shoulder (29).

4. The camera device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the objective (17) is attached to the upper part (5) of the housing (4) by means of an adhesive.

5. The camera device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the printed circuit board (19) is attached to the upper part (5) of the housing (4) by means of an adhesive or soldering.

6. The camera device according to one of the previous claims, comprising: a further printed circuit board (32) accommodated in the housing (4) and being electronically connected (33) to the printed circuit board (19), and an image processor unit (34) mounted on the further printed circuit board (32).

7. The camera device according to one of the previous claims, wherein the upper part (5) and the lower part of the housing (4) are screwed to each other.

8. A vehicle (1 ) comprising the camera device (3) according to one of the previous claims.

9. A method for manufacturing a camera device (3) according to one of the previous claims, comprising the steps: providing (S1 ) the upper part (5) of the housing (4), attaching (S2) the objective (17) to the upper part (5) of the housing (4), providing (S3) the printed circuit board (19) with the mounted image sensor unit (18), aligning (S4) the objective (17) and the image sensor unit (18) with each other by moving the upper part (5) of the housing (4) relative to the printed circuit board (19), and attaching (S5) the printed circuit board (19) to the upper part (5) of the housing (4).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the objective (17) and the image sensor unit (18) are aligned (S4) with each other by keeping the upper part (5) of the housing (4) fixed and moving the printed circuit board (19).

11 . The method according to claim 9, wherein the objective (17) and the image sensor unit (18) are aligned (S4) with each other by keeping the printed circuit board (19) fixed and moving the upper part (5) of the housing (4).