Vehicular camera assembly process using heat staking during active focus and alignment to secure lens relative to imager

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

• providing a lens holder accommodating a lens, wherein the lens holder comprises a plurality of posts protruding from an attaching portion of the lens holder;
• providing an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB), wherein the imager PCB comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side and separated from the first side by a thickness of the imager PCB, and wherein an imager is disposed at the first side of the imager PCB, and wherein the imager PCB comprises a plurality of apertures therethrough;
• positioning the attaching portion of the lens holder at the imager PCB such that the posts protrude through the apertures of the imager PCB;
• moving the posts within the apertures while adjusting the lens relative to the imager to align the lens relative to the imager;
• and
• with the lens aligned relative to the imager, heating the posts to deform the posts within the apertures, whereby the deformed posts harden upon cooling to secure the lens holder relative to the imager PCB.

A vehicular camera, the vehicular camera comprising:

• a lens holder accommodating a lens;
• wherein the lens holder comprises a plurality of posts protruding from an attaching portion of the lens holder;
• an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB), wherein the imager PCB comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side and separated from the first side by a thickness of the imager PCB, and wherein an imager is disposed at the first side of the imager PCB;
• wherein the imager PCB comprises a housing portion that circumscribes a circuit board portion, and wherein the imager is disposed at the circuit board portion, and wherein the imager PCB comprises a plurality of apertures established through the housing portion at respective corner regions of the imager PCB;
• wherein the attaching portion of the lens holder is positioned at the imager PCB such that said posts protrude through the apertures of the imager PCB;
• wherein the posts are movable within the apertures while the lens is adjusted relative to the imager to align the lens relative to the imager;
• wherein, with the lens aligned relative to the imager, the posts are heated to deform within the apertures, whereby the deformed posts harden upon cooling to secure the lens holder relative to the imager PCB;
• and
• a rear housing that is mated with the lens holder after the imager PCB is attached to the lens holder.