Camera for vehicle vision system

A camera module for a vision system for a vehicle, wherein said camera module is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle, said camera module comprising:

• a metal housing that houses a printed circuit board having an imager disposed thereat;
• a lens holder comprising a lens assembly, wherein said lens holder is attached at a front portion of said metal housing so that said lens assembly is optically aligned with said imager;
• a metal rear cover configured to attach at an opening at a rear portion of said metal housing;
• wherein said metal rear cover is laser welded to said rear portion of said metal housing;
• a thermally conductive material dispensed in said metal housing so as to contact said printed circuit board and said metal housing to effect heat transfer from said printed circuit board to said metal housing during operation of said camera module;
• wherein said metal rear cover includes a connecting element for electrically connecting to circuitry at said printed circuit board when said metal rear cover is attached at said opening at said rear portion of said metal housing;
• and
• wherein said metal rear cover includes a connector portion and wherein an outer portion of said connecting element is disposed in said connector portion so as to be electrically connectable to electrically conductive elements of a vehicle connector when said camera module is disposed at the vehicle and the vehicle connector is connected to said connector portion.

A camera module for a vision system for a vehicle, wherein said camera module is configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle, said camera module comprising:

• a housing that houses a printed circuit board having an imager disposed thereat;
• a lens holder comprising a lens assembly, wherein said lens holder is attached at a front portion of said housing so that said lens assembly is optically aligned with said imager;
• a rear cover configured to attach at an opening at a rear portion of said housing;
• a thermally conductive material dispensed in said housing so as to contact said printed circuit board and said housing to effect heat transfer from said printed circuit board to said housing during operation of said camera module;
• wherein said rear cover includes a connecting element for electrically connecting to circuitry at said printed circuit board when said rear cover is attached at said opening at said rear portion of said housing;
• and
• wherein said rear cover includes a connector portion and wherein an outer portion of said connecting element is disposed in said connector portion so as to be electrically connectable to electrically conductive elements of a vehicle connector when said camera module is disposed at the vehicle and the vehicle connector is connected to said connector portion.