Vehicular camera and lens assembly

A vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said vehicular camera comprising:

• a front camera housing having a cylindrical receiving portion;
• a lens assembly comprising a cylindrical barrel portion;
• said lens assembly including lens optics;
• wherein said cylindrical barrel portion of said lens assembly is at least partially received at said cylindrical receiving portion of said front camera housing;
• wherein said cylindrical barrel portion of said lens assembly is secured at said cylindrical receiving portion of said front camera housing;
• a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein said printed circuit board comprises electronic circuitry at least on the first side of said printed circuit board, and wherein the electronic circuitry of said printed circuit board comprises an imager having an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of said imager is mounted at the first side of said printed circuit board;
• wherein the lens optics comprise a lens having an inner surface that directly opposes the outer surface of said imager;
• an adhesive disposed in an uncured state between and contacting said front camera housing and said printed circuit board, wherein the adhesive is disposed laterally outboard of said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive in the uncured state between and contacting said front camera housing and said printed circuit board, an air gap exists between the inner surface of the lens of said lens optics and the outer surface of said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive disposed in the uncured state, and with the adhesive in the uncured state between and contacting said front camera housing and said printed circuit board, said front camera housing and said printed circuit board are adjusted relative to each other to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager;
• wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved via a multi-axis positioning device that is operable to adjust said lens optics relative to said imager in x, y and z directions and in two orthogonal rotations;
• wherein, with the adhesive between and contacting said front camera housing and said printed circuit board, and after said lens optics are optically center-aligned and focused relative to said imager, the adhesive is initially cured from the uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period;
• wherein the adhesive, as cured to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process, (i) attaches said printed circuit board to said front camera housing and (ii) holds said lens optics optically center-aligned and focused relative to said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive in the initially-cured state, said front camera housing, with said printed circuit board adhesively attached thereto, is moved to a secondary curing process and the adhesive is further cured to a further more cured state;
• wherein the adhesive is further cured from the initially-cured state to the further more cured state in the secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period that is longer than the first time period;
• wherein, with the adhesive in the further more cured state, the air gap between the inner surface of the lens of said lens optics and the outer surface of said imager remains devoid of the adhesive;
• wherein, with said printed circuit board attached to said front camera housing by the adhesive in the further more cured state, at least a minimum strength of bond exists between said printed circuit board and said front camera housing after being exposed to a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 85% RH for 1000 hours;
• wherein a rear camera housing is joined to said front camera housing to encase said printed circuit board, and wherein said rear camera housing comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said vehicular camera to electrical wiring of a vehicle;
• and
• wherein, with said rear camera housing joined to said front camera housing, and with the adhesive more cured via the secondary curing process, the adhesive, in the further more cured state, maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens optics with said imager for use of said vehicular camera on a vehicle.

A vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said vehicular camera comprising:

• a front camera housing having a cylindrical receiving portion;
• a lens assembly comprising a cylindrical barrel portion;
• said lens assembly including lens optics;
• wherein said cylindrical receiving portion of said front camera housing comprises a cylindrical opening, and wherein said cylindrical barrel portion of said lens assembly is at least partially received in said cylindrical opening of said cylindrical receiving portion of said front camera housing;
• wherein said cylindrical barrel portion of said lens assembly is secured at said cylindrical receiving portion of said front camera housing;
• a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein said printed circuit board comprises electronic circuitry at least on the first side of said printed circuit board, and wherein the electronic circuitry of said printed circuit board comprises an imager having an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of said imager is mounted at the first side of said printed circuit board;
• wherein the lens optics comprise a lens having an inner surface that directly opposes the outer surface of said imager;
• an adhesive disposed in an uncured state between and contacting said front camera housing and said printed circuit board, wherein the adhesive is disposed laterally outboard of said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive in the uncured state between and contacting said front camera housing and said printed circuit board, an air gap exists between the inner surface of the lens of said lens optics and the outer surface of said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive disposed in the uncured state, and with the adhesive in the uncured state between and contacting said front camera housing and said printed circuit board, said front camera housing and said printed circuit board are adjusted relative to each other to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager;
• wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens optics relative to said imager is achieved via a multi-axis positioning device that is operable to adjust said lens optics relative to said imager in x, y and z directions and in two orthogonal rotations;
• wherein, with the adhesive between and contacting said front camera housing and said printed circuit board, and after said lens optics are optically center-aligned and focused relative to said imager, the adhesive is initially cured from the uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period;
• wherein the adhesive, as cured to the initially-cured state via the initial radiation curing process, (i) attaches said printed circuit board to said front camera housing and (ii) holds said lens optics optically center-aligned and focused relative to said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive in the initially-cured state, said front camera housing, with said printed circuit board adhesively attached thereto, is moved to a secondary curing process and the adhesive is further cured to a further more cured state;
• wherein the adhesive is further cured from the initially-cured state to the further more cured state in the secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period that is longer than the first time period;
• wherein, with the adhesive in the further more cured state, the air gap between the inner surface of the lens of said lens optics and the outer surface of said imager remains devoid of the adhesive;
• wherein, with said printed circuit board attached to said front camera housing by the adhesive in the further more cured state, at least a minimum strength of bond exists between said printed circuit board and said front camera housing after being exposed to a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 85% RH for 1000 hours;
• and
• wherein a rear camera housing is joined to said front camera housing to encase said printed circuit board, and wherein said rear camera housing comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry of said vehicular camera to electrical wiring of a vehicle.

A vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said vehicular camera comprising:

• a front camera housing comprising a barrel portion holding optical components;
• wherein the optical components comprise lens optics;
• a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein said printed circuit board comprises electronic circuitry at least on the first side of said printed circuit board, and wherein the electronic circuitry of said printed circuit board comprises an imager having an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of said imager is mounted at the first side of said printed circuit board;
• wherein said printed circuit board is secured at the front camera housing by an adhesive that is cured only after the position of said printed circuit board is set to bring said lens optics into optical alignment and focus with said imager;
• wherein before positioning of said printed circuit board to bring said lens optics into optical alignment and focus with said imager, the adhesive is disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager;
• wherein the outer surface of said imager is devoid of adhesive and an air gap exists between the optical components and the outer surface of said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager and with the outer surface of said imager devoid of adhesive, and with the adhesive still in its uncured state, said lens optics and said imager are optically aligned and focused;
• wherein, with the adhesive disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager, and with said lens optics optically aligned and focused with said imager, the adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period;
• wherein the adhesive is further cured from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process;
• wherein, with the adhesive in its further more cured state, the outer surface of said imager remains devoid of the adhesive and the air gap remains between the optical components and the outer surface of said imager;
• wherein a rear camera housing is joined to said front camera housing to encase said printed circuit board;
• and
• wherein said rear camera housing comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting electronic circuitry of said vehicular camera to electrical wiring of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera.

A vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said vehicular camera comprising:

• a front camera housing comprising a barrel portion holding optical components;
• wherein the barrel portion holding the optical components is formed of plastic material;
• wherein the optical components comprise lens optics;
• wherein said lens optics comprise at least one glass lens and at least one plastic lens;
• a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein said printed circuit board comprises electronic circuitry at least on the first side of said printed circuit board, and wherein the electronic circuitry of said printed circuit board comprises an imager having an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of said imager is mounted at the first side of said printed circuit board;
• wherein said imager comprises a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor;
• wherein said printed circuit board is secured at the front camera housing by an adhesive that is cured only after the position of said printed circuit board is set to bring said lens optics into optical alignment and focus with said imager;
• wherein the adhesive comprises an epoxy;
• wherein before positioning of said printed circuit board to bring said lens optics into optical alignment and focus with said imager, the adhesive is disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager;
• wherein the outer surface of said imager is devoid of adhesive and an air gap exists between the optical components and the outer surface of said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager and with the outer surface of said imager devoid of adhesive, and with the adhesive still in its uncured state, said lens optics and said imager are optically aligned and focused;
• wherein, with the adhesive disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager, and with said lens optics optically aligned and focused with said imager, the adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period;
• wherein the adhesive is further cured from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process;
• wherein, with the adhesive in its further more cured state, the outer surface of said imager remains devoid of the adhesive and the air gap remains between the optical components and the outer surface of said imager;
• wherein a rear camera housing is joined to said front camera housing to encase said printed circuit board;
• and
• wherein said rear camera housing comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting electronic circuitry of said vehicular camera to electrical wiring of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera.

A vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use, said vehicular camera comprising:

• a front camera housing comprising a barrel portion holding optical components;
• wherein the barrel portion holding the optical components is formed of plastic material;
• wherein the optical components comprise lens optics;
• wherein said lens optics comprise at least one glass lens and at least two plastic lenses;
• a printed circuit board having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein said printed circuit board comprises electronic circuitry at least on the first side of said printed circuit board, and wherein the electronic circuitry of said printed circuit board comprises an imager having an outer surface and an inner surface, and wherein the inner surface of said imager is mounted at the first side of said printed circuit board;
• wherein said imager comprises a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor;
• wherein said printed circuit board is secured at the front camera housing by an adhesive that is cured only after the position of said printed circuit board is set to bring said lens optics into optical alignment and focus with said imager;
• wherein the adhesive comprises an epoxy-amine;
• wherein before positioning of said printed circuit board to bring said lens optics into optical alignment and focus with said imager, the adhesive is disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager;
• wherein the outer surface of said imager is devoid of adhesive and an air gap exists between the optical components and the outer surface of said imager;
• wherein, with the adhesive disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager and with the outer surface of said imager devoid of adhesive, and with the adhesive still in its uncured state, said lens optics and said imager are optically aligned and focused;
• wherein, with the adhesive disposed in its uncured state on said printed circuit board laterally outboard of said imager, and with said lens optics optically aligned and focused with said imager, the adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period;
• wherein the adhesive is further cured from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process;
• wherein, with the adhesive in its further more cured state, the outer surface of said imager remains devoid of the adhesive and the air gap remains between the optical components and the outer surface of said imager;
• wherein a rear camera housing is joined to said front camera housing to encase said printed circuit board;
• wherein said rear camera housing is joined to said front camera housing via laser welding;
• wherein said vehicular camera comprises a vehicular rearview camera;
• wherein said rear camera housing comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting electronic circuitry of said vehicular camera to electrical wiring of a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera;
• and
• wherein video images captured by said imager are transmitted via the electrical wiring of the equipped vehicle to a display controller for a cabin-mounted display of the equipped vehicle.