Vehicular camera with pliable connection of PCBS

A method for assembling a vehicular camera, the method comprising:

• providing a lens holder accommodating a lens;
• providing an imager printed circuit board, wherein the imager printed circuit board comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side and separated from the first side by a thickness of the imager printed circuit board, and wherein the imager printed circuit board has circuitry thereat, and wherein an imager of the circuitry is disposed at the first side of the imager printed circuit board;
• providing a connector printed circuit board, wherein the connector printed circuit board comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side and separated from the first side by a thickness of the connector printed circuit board, and wherein the imager printed circuit board has circuitry thereat, and wherein an electrical connector element is disposed at the second side of the connector printed circuit board;
• providing a rear housing;
• electrically connecting the circuitry of the imager printed circuit board to the circuitry of the connector printed circuit board via a flexible electrical connector;
• joining the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board via a pliable material disposed between and attaching at the first side of the connector printed circuit board and attaching at the second side of the imager printed circuit board;
• positioning the imager printed circuit board at the lens holder and optically aligning and focusing the lens at the imager;
• attaching the imager printed circuit board to the lens holder with the first side of the imager printed circuit board and the imager facing the lens and with the lens optically aligned with and focused at the imager;
• positioning the rear housing at the lens holder to align the electrical connector element of the connector printed circuit board with an electrical connector portion of the rear housing;
• attaching the rear housing to the lens holder to encase the image printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board within the rear housing;
• and
• connecting circuitry of the connector printed circuit board to the electrical connector portion of the rear housing as the rear housing is attached to the lens holder.

A vehicular camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle, the vehicular camera comprising:

• a lens holder accommodating a lens;
• an imager printed circuit board, wherein the imager printed circuit board comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side and separated from the first side by a thickness of the imager printed circuit board, and wherein the imager printed circuit board has circuitry thereat, and wherein an imager of the circuitry is disposed at the first side of the imager printed circuit board;
• a connector printed circuit board, wherein the connector printed circuit board comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side and separated from the first side by a thickness of the connector printed circuit board, and wherein the connector printed circuit board has circuitry thereat, and wherein an electrical connector element is disposed at the second side of the connector printed circuit board;
• wherein the circuitry of the imager printed circuit board is electrically connected to the circuitry of the connector printed circuit board via a flexible electrical connector;
• wherein the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board are joined together via a pliable material disposed between and attaching at the first side of the connector printed circuit board and attaching at the second side of the imager printed circuit board;
• wherein the pliable material comprises a compressible elastomeric material;
• wherein the pliable material allows for movement between the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board during assembly of the vehicular camera;
• wherein the imager printed circuit board is attached to the lens holder with the first side of the imager printed circuit board and the imager facing the lens and with the lens optically aligned with and focused at the imager;
• a rear housing that is mated with the lens holder to encase the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board;
• wherein the movement allowed by the pliable material facilitates alignment of the electrical connector element with an electrical connector portion of the rear housing as the rear housing is mated with the lens holder;
• and
• wherein the electrical connector element electrically connects the circuitry of the connector printed circuit board to the electrical connector portion of the rear housing when the rear housing is mated with the lens holder.