Camera for vehicle vision system

A vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, said vehicular camera comprising:

• a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements;
• wherein said lens is disposed at a lens holder;
• a printed circuit board;
• an imager disposed at said printed circuit board;
• a camera housing portion joined to said lens holder, wherein said camera housing portion and said lens holder, when joined, substantially encase said printed circuit board, and wherein said camera housing portion comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry at said printed circuit board to electrical wiring of the vehicle, and wherein said camera housing portion is joined to said lens holder via at least one of (i) ultrasonic welding, (ii) adhesive and (iii) press fitting;
• wherein said lens holder is attached at said printed circuit board by a cured adhesive;
• wherein the adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and wherein initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process;
• wherein the adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after said lens is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith;
• wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager;
• wherein, after the initial radiation curing process, said lens holder, adhesively attached to one of said printed circuit board and said holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process;
• wherein, when further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens with said imager for use of said camera in a vehicle;
• wherein the further-cured adhesive maintains at least a minimum strength of bond between the lens holder and the printed circuit board after being exposed to at least one operating condition for a period of time, wherein the at least one operating condition includes a temperature of approximately 85 degrees Celsius, and wherein the at least one operating condition includes a humidity of approximately 85%, and wherein the period of time is greater than 1000 hours, and wherein the minimum strength of bond is approximately the same as the strength of the fully cured adhesive;
• and
• wherein the adhesive comprises a UV curable and heat curable one-part filled adhesive having a viscosity at 23 degrees C. from about 5,000 mPa to about 150,000 mPa and comprising an epoxy resin.

A vehicular camera suitable for use on a vehicle, said vehicular camera comprising:

• a lens comprising a plurality of optical elements;
• wherein said optical elements of said lens are disposed within a lens barrel and wherein said lens barrel is one of (i) attached at a lens holder and (ii) integral with a lens holder;
• a printed circuit board;
• an imager disposed at said printed circuit board;
• a camera housing portion joined to said lens holder, wherein said camera housing portion and said lens holder, when joined, substantially encase said printed circuit board, and wherein said camera housing portion comprises an electrical connector for electrically connecting circuitry at said printed circuit board to electrical wiring of the vehicle;
• wherein one of (i) said printed circuit board is held by a holding element and said lens holder is attached at said holding element by a cured adhesive and (ii) said lens holder is attached at said printed circuit board by a cured adhesive;
• wherein the adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and wherein initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process;
• wherein the adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after said lens is brought into focus with said imager and is optically center-aligned therewith;
• wherein optical center-alignment and focusing of said lens relative to said imager is achieved robotically;
• wherein the initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds said lens optically center-aligned and in focus with said imager;
• wherein, after the initial radiation curing process, said lens holder, adhesively attached to one of said printed circuit board and said holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process;
• wherein, when further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of said lens with said imager for use of said camera in a vehicle;
• and
• wherein the adhesive comprises a UV curable and heat curable one-part filled adhesive having a viscosity at 23 degrees C. from about 5,000 mPa to about 150,000 mPa and comprising an epoxy resin.