Vehicular camera with lens heater with connectors

A vehicular camera for a vehicular vision system, the vehicular camera comprising:

• a camera housing;
• a lens assembly comprising a lens having optic elements;
• wherein the lens assembly is disposed at the camera housing;
• an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB) disposed at the camera housing, wherein the imager PCB has a front side and a rear side separated by a thickness dimension of the imager PCB, and wherein an imager is disposed at the front side of the imager PCB, and wherein the lens is optically aligned with the imager;
• a heating device disposed at at least a portion of the lens assembly, wherein the heating device includes an electrically connecting portion having electrical contacts at an end thereof, wherein the electrical contacts are disposed at an inner surface of the camera housing;
• wherein the heating device is electrically connected to circuitry of the vehicular camera via spring-loaded electrical connectors that electrically connect with the electrical contacts of the electrically connecting portion of the heating device at the camera housing as the vehicular camera is assembled;
• wherein electrical pads are disposed at a carrier element that is attached at an inner surface of the camera housing, and wherein, with the carrier element attached at the inner surface of the camera housing, the electrical pads electrically connect with the electrical contacts of the electrically connecting portion of the heating device at the camera housing;
• wherein the spring-loaded electrical connectors engage the electrical pads to electrically connect with the electrical contacts of the electrically connecting portion of the heating device at the camera housing as the vehicular camera is assembled;
• wherein the spring-loaded electrical connectors are disposed at the imager PCB at a location adjacent to where the imager PCB attaches at the camera housing, and wherein the spring-loaded electrical connectors align with the electrical pads and engage the electrical pads when the imager PCB is attached at the camera housing;
• wherein the camera housing includes a connector portion that is configured to electrically connect the vehicular camera to a wire harness connector of a vehicle when the vehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle to electrically connect the circuitry of the vehicular camera to a power source of the vehicle;
• and
• wherein, with the vehicular camera disposed at the vehicle and with the vehicular camera electrically connected to the wire harness connector of the vehicle, the heating device, when electrically operated, heats at least part of the lens that is adjacent to the portion of the lens assembly.

A vehicular camera for a vehicular vision system, the vehicular camera comprising:

• a camera housing;
• a lens assembly comprising a lens having optic elements;
• wherein the lens assembly is disposed at the camera housing;
• an imager printed circuit board (imager PCB) disposed at the camera housing, wherein the imager PCB has a front side and a rear side separated by a thickness dimension of the imager PCB, and wherein an imager is disposed at the front side of the imager PCB, and wherein the lens is optically aligned with the imager;
• a heating device disposed at at least a portion of the lens assembly, wherein the heating device includes an electrically connecting portion having electrical contacts at an end thereof, wherein the electrical contacts are disposed at an inner surface of the camera housing at a recessed region of the camera housing so as to be spaced from the imager PCB;
• wherein the heating device is electrically connected to circuitry of the vehicular camera via electrical connectors that electrically connect with the electrical contacts of the electrically connecting portion of the heating device at the camera housing as the vehicular camera is assembled;
• wherein the electrical connectors are disposed at the imager PCB at a location adjacent to where the imager PCB attaches at the camera housing, and wherein the electrical connectors align with the recessed region and engage the electrical contacts when the imager PCB is attached at the camera housing;
• wherein the electrical connectors and electrical contacts allow for relative lateral movement during focus and alignment of the lens relative to the imager;
• wherein the camera housing includes a connector portion that is configured to electrically connect the vehicular camera to a wire harness connector of a vehicle when the vehicular camera is disposed at the vehicle to electrically connect the circuitry of the vehicular camera to a power source of the vehicle;
• wherein the vehicular camera is configured to be disposed at an exterior portion of the vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle;
• wherein, with the vehicular camera disposed at the exterior portion of the vehicle, an outermost optic element of the lens is exposed at the exterior portion of the vehicle;
• and
• wherein, with the vehicular camera disposed at the exterior portion of the vehicle and with the vehicular camera electrically connected to the wire harness connector of the vehicle, the heating device, when electrically operated, heats at least part of the lens that is adjacent to the portion of the lens assembly.