US 11,807,171 B2
Vehicular camera with electrical connectors that allow for misalignment
Clarence P. McElroy, Grand Blanc, MI (US); Matthew C. Sesti, Williamston, MI (US); Richard Rieden, Clinton Township, MI (US); and Steven V. Byrne, Goodrich, MI (US)
Assigned to MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC., Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/660,432.
Application 17/660,432 is a continuation of application No. 17/247,713, filed on Dec. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,312,315.
Application 17/247,713 is a continuation of application No. 16/785,820, filed on Feb. 10, 2020, granted, now 10,875,470, issued on Dec. 29, 2020.
Application 16/785,820 is a continuation of application No. 16/199,475, filed on Nov. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,556,555, issued on Feb. 11, 2020.
Application 16/199,475 is a continuation of application No. 15/161,706, filed on May 23, 2016, granted, now 10,137,843, issued on Nov. 27, 2018.
Application 15/161,706 is a continuation of application No. 14/517,976, filed on Oct. 20, 2014, granted, now 9,346,415, issued on May 24, 2016.
Application 14/517,976 is a continuation of application No. 13/148,148, granted, now 8,866,907, issued on Oct. 21, 2014, previously published as PCT/US2010/023475, filed on Feb. 8, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/150,364, filed on Feb. 6, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2022/0250557 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60R 11/04 (2006.01); H04N 5/225 (2006.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01)
CPC B60R 11/04 (2013.01) [H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicular camera, the vehicular camera comprising:
a camera housing comprising a first portion and a second portion joined together to form a cavity within the camera housing;
wherein the first portion comprises a lens barrel that accommodates a lens;
an imager disposed in the cavity and aligned with the lens, wherein the imager comprises a CMOS imager;
a circuit board having a first side and a second side separated by a thickness of the circuit board;
wherein a first electrical connector is disposed at the second side of the circuit board, and wherein the first electrical connector is in electrically-conductive connection with the imager, and wherein the first electrical connector comprises a plurality of pin-receiving sockets;
wherein the second portion of the camera housing has a second electrical connector, and wherein the second electrical connector comprises a plurality of pins, each individual pin of the plurality of pins including a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
wherein, with the first portion of the camera housing joined with the second portion of the camera housing to form the cavity within the camera housing, the first ends of the individual pins of the plurality of pins are disposed within the cavity and the second ends of the individual pins of the plurality of pins are disposed outside of the cavity;
wherein, when the second portion of the camera housing is being joined with the first portion of the camera housing, respective first ends of individual pins of the plurality of pins of the second electrical connector of the second portion insert into and electrically-conductively connect with respective individual pin-receiving sockets of the plurality of pin-receiving sockets of the first electrical connector at the second side of the circuit board;
wherein the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector cooperate to allow for misalignment of the second electrical connector relative to the first electrical connector when the second portion of the camera housing is being joined with the first portion of the camera housing; and
wherein the second ends of the individual pins of the plurality of pins of the second electrical connector are configured to electrically-conductively connect to a vehicle wire harness when the vehicular camera is mounted at a vehicle.