# US 11,299,108 B2 · Vehicular camera with pliable connection of PCBS > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,108 B2 - Document ID: US11299108B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/946,129 - Filed: 2020-06-08 - Published: 2020-09-24 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-06 - Assignees: Magna Electronics Inc. - Applicants: Magna Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Matthew C. Sesti; Robert A. Devota - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299108B2 ## CPC - B60R 11/04: Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle - B60R 1/02: Rear-view mirror arrangements (periscope arrangements B60R1/10) - H04N 23/50: Constructional details - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices - B60R 2300/10: characterised by the type of camera system used - B60R 2300/50: characterised by the display information being shared, e.g. external display, data transfer to other traffic participants or centralised traffic controller - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A vehicular camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle includes a lens holder, an imager printed circuit board, a connector printed circuit board and a rear housing. 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. The imager printed circuit board has an imager disposed at a side thereof and is attached to the lens holder with the imager side facing the lens. The imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board are joined together via a pliable material. The rear housing is mated with the lens holder to encase the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed board. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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 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 electrical connector element is aligned 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicular camera of claim 1, 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicular camera of claim 2, wherein the movement allowed by the pliable material allows for increased fitting tolerances of the vehicular camera. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicular camera of claim 2, wherein the movement allowed by the pliable material facilitates alignment of the electrical connector element with the electrical connector portion of the rear housing as the rear housing is mated with the lens holder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicular camera of claim 1, wherein the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board are joined together via the pliable material before the imager printed circuit board is attached to the lens holder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicular camera of claim 5, wherein the rear housing is mated with the lens holder after the imager printed circuit board is attached to the lens holder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The vehicular camera of claim 5, wherein the lens is optically aligned with and focused at the imager after the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board are joined together via the pliable material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicular camera of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector portion of the rear housing is configured to electrically connect to a wire harness of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular camera. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicular camera of claim 8, wherein the electrical connector portion of the rear housing comprises a coaxial connector. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vehicular camera of claim 1, wherein the pliable material comprises a compressible elastomeric material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicular camera of claim 10, wherein the pliable material comprises a rubber material. ### Claim 12 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the pliable material allows for movement of the electrical connector element of the connector printed circuit board relative to the lens holder to facilitate aligning the electrical connector element with the electrical connector portion of the rear housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein attaching the imager printed circuit board to the lens holder is after joining the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein attaching the rear housing to the lens holder is after attaching the imager printed circuit board to the lens holder. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein attaching the imager printed circuit board to the lens holder is after joining the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the pliable material comprises a compressible elastomeric material. ### Claim 19 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The vehicular camera of claim 19, wherein the movement allowed by the pliable material allows for increased fitting tolerances of the vehicular camera. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The vehicular camera of claim 19, wherein the pliable material comprises a rubber material.