Vehicle camera with modular construction

A camera assembly for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera assembly comprising:

• a front housing portion comprising a lens;
• a circuit board having a first side and a second side separated by a thickness of said circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said first side of said circuit board and is optically aligned with said lens, and wherein circuitry is disposed at said second side of said circuit board and electrically connected with said imager, and wherein said circuitry comprises an electrical connecting element at said second side of said circuit board;
• a rear housing portion configured to join with said front housing portion, wherein said rear housing portion comprises a rear attachment portion that has an aperture therethrough, and wherein said rear housing portion comprises a mounting portion configured to attach at a vehicle;
• an electrical connector, wherein said electrical connector comprises (i) a first connecting end configured for electrically connecting to a vehicular wire harness when said mounting portion is attached at the vehicle and (ii) a second connecting end for electrically connecting to said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• wherein said second connecting end protrudes from a structural element of said electrical connector;
• wherein said structural element comprises an attaching flange that engages said rear attachment portion around said aperture when said second connecting end is connected to said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• wherein, when said front housing portion is joined with said rear housing portion, said electrical connecting element of said circuit board is aligned with said aperture of said rear attachment portion of said rear housing portion;
• wherein said aperture of said rear attachment portion has a cross dimension that is larger than a cross dimension of said second connecting end of said electrical connector to allow for lateral adjustment of said second connecting end and said structural element relative to said aperture and said electrical connecting element during assembly of said camera assembly;
• wherein, with said front housing portion joined with said rear housing portion, and with said electrical connecting element of said circuit board aligned with said aperture of said rear attachment portion, said second connecting end of said electrical connector protrudes through said aperture and said structural element is laterally adjusted relative to said rear attachment portion to align said second connecting end of said electrical connector with said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• wherein, with said second connecting end of said electrical connector aligned with said electrical connecting element of said circuit board, said second connecting end is electrically connected to said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• wherein, with said second connecting end electrically connected to said electrical connecting element of said circuit board, said structural element is attached at an outer surface of said rear attachment portion of said rear housing portion to attach said electrical connector to said rear housing portion and to maintain electrical connection of said second connecting end of said electrical connector with said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• and
• wherein, with said structural element attached at said rear attachment portion, said structural element seals against said rear attachment portion around said aperture.

A camera assembly for a vision system of a vehicle, said camera assembly comprising:

• a front housing portion comprising a lens;
• a circuit board having a first side and a second side separated by a thickness of said circuit board, wherein an imager is disposed at said first side of said circuit board and is optically aligned with said lens, and wherein circuitry is disposed at said second side of said circuit board and electrically connected with said imager, and wherein said circuitry comprises an electrical connecting element at said second side of said circuit board;
• a rear housing portion configured to join with said front housing portion, wherein said rear housing portion comprises a rear attachment portion that has an aperture therethrough, and wherein said rear housing portion comprises a mounting portion configured to attach at a vehicle;
• an electrical connector, wherein said electrical connector comprises (i) a first connecting end configured for electrically connecting to a vehicular wire harness when said mounting portion is attached at the vehicle and (ii) a second connecting end for electrically connecting to said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• wherein said second connecting end protrudes from a structural element of said electrical connector;
• wherein said structural element comprises an attaching flange that engages said rear attachment portion around said aperture when said second connecting end is connected to said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• wherein, when said front housing portion is joined with said rear housing portion, said electrical connecting element of said circuit board is aligned with said aperture of said rear attachment portion of said rear housing portion;
• wherein, with said front housing portion joined with said rear housing portion, and with said electrical connecting element of said circuit board aligned with said aperture of said rear attachment portion, said second connecting end of said electrical connector protrudes through said aperture and said structural element is laterally adjusted relative to said rear attachment portion to align said second connecting end of said electrical connector with said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• wherein, with said second connecting end of said electrical connector aligned with said electrical connecting element of said circuit board, said second connecting end is electrically connected to said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• wherein, with said second connecting end electrically connected to said electrical connecting element of said circuit board, said structural element is attached at an outer surface of said rear attachment portion of said rear housing portion to attach said electrical connector to said rear housing portion and to maintain electrical connection of said second connecting end of said electrical connector with said electrical connecting element of said circuit board;
• a sealing element that circumscribes said aperture to seal against said rear attachment portion and said structural element when said structural element is attached at said rear attachment portion;
• wherein said structural element is attached at said rear attachment portion via one selected from the group consisting of (i) welding and (ii) at least one fastener;
• and
• wherein, with said structural element attached at said rear attachment portion, said structural element seals against said rear attachment portion around said aperture.