Active illumination source and pcb components having mountings for reduced z-height and improved thermal conductivity

A camera module comprising:

• an active illumination source that includes a light source and a lens that are both attached to a top surface of a mounting substrate, electrical coupling elements for the active illumination source being exposed at the top surface of the mounting substrate;
• and
• a printed circuit board having processing circuitry, including a camera sensor, mounted on a top surface of the printed circuit board, the processing circuitry being electrically coupled to one or more conductive elements passing through a body of the printed circuit board from the top surface of the printed circuit board to a bottom surface of the printed circuit board,
• wherein a top surface of the mounting substrate is directly mounted to the bottom surface of the printed circuit board with solder, wherein the electrical coupling elements for the active illumination source and the one or more conductive elements exposed at the bottom surface of the printed circuit board are in direct contact with the solder, such that the solder physically and electrically couples the active illumination source to the circuitry on the printed circuit board.

A PCB (printed circuit board) comprising:

• a body interposed between a top surface of the PCB and a bottom surface of the PCB, the body defining an aperture passing completely through the body;
• processing circuitry mounted to the top surface;
• and
• an active illumination source that includes a light element and a lens, the active illumination source being physically connected to a mounting substrate that is mounted to the bottom surface of the PCB with one or more mounting elements interposed between the bottom surface and the active illumination source, wherein the lens is positioned at least partially within the aperture and at least a portion of the active illumination source is positioned outside of the body on an opposing side of the bottom surface than the body;
• and
• one or more conductive elements passing through the body, electrically connecting the processing circuitry to the active illumination source.