Abstract: A method for assembling a vehicular camera module includes providing an imager circuit board and a lens holder. The lens holder includes a lens holding portion and an attaching portion, with the lens holding portion accommodating a lens. The attaching portion of the lens holder includes pins that, when the attaching portion is located at the imager circuit board, are received at least partially through apertures of the imager circuit board. With the pins received at least partially through the apertures, the lens holder is laterally adjusted relative to the imager circuit board and the pins are soldered at the imager circuit board so as to attach the lens holder at the imager circuit board to form an imager assembly. The imager assembly is attached at a camera housing, and a processing circuit board is accommodated at the camera housing and electrically connected to the imager circuit board.

Abstract: A process for providing a vehicular camera and mounting the vehicular camera at a vehicle includes providing a vehicular camera having a camera-locking structure configured for engagement with a vehicle panel-locking structure at a vehicle panel of the vehicle at which the vehicular camera is to be mounted. The vehicular camera is mounted at the vehicle panel by inserting a portion of the vehicular camera through an aperture of the vehicle panel and inserting the camera-locking structure through corresponding portions of the aperture of the vehicle panel, and rotating the camera-locking structure to a locked position, whereby the camera-locking structure is engaged with the vehicle panel-locking structure. With the camera-locking structure engaged with the vehicle panel-locking structure, locking surfaces of the camera-locking structure engage respective locking surfaces of the vehicle panel-locking structure to limit axial movement of the vehicular camera relative to the vehicle panel.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder that accommodates at least part of the lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. After the lens is optically aligned with the imager, the adhesive is initially curable to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process for an initial-cure time period. The initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process for a further-cure time period that is longer than the initial-cure time period. As further cured, the further-cured adhesive maintains optical alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the vehicular camera in a vehicle. The further-cured adhesive maintains at least 70% strength of bond after being exposed for 1000 hours to a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 85% RH.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a metallic front housing member, a metallic rear housing member, a lens assembly and a circuit board. The front housing member has a lens receiving portion and a circuit board attachment portion. An imager is disposed on a first side of the circuit board and a connector is disposed on a second side of the circuit board. With the circuit board attached at the front housing member and with the lens assembly disposed at a lens receiving portion of the front housing member, images are focused at an imaging plane of the imager by adjusting the lens assembly relative to the imager. With the images focused at the imaging plane of the imager, the lens assembly is retained relative to the front housing member via an ultra-violet (UV) curable adhesive. The front housing member and the rear housing member are attached.

Abstract: A system for testing a camera for vision system for a vehicle includes providing a camera having a field of view and providing and disposing a test structure in the field of view of the camera and between the camera and a target. The test structure includes at least one optic and is capable of directing a principal axis of the at least one optic toward multiple respective regions of the target. The camera views the target via the at least one optic. Image data is captured with the camera. The captured image data is representative of images of the target including the multiple regions of the target as captured when the at least one optic has its principal axis directed toward the respective regions of the target. The image data captured by the camera is processed to determine the focus at each of the multiple regions of the target.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing front and rear housings and providing at least one first electrical connector at a circuit board of the front housing and providing at least one second electrical connector at the rear housing. One of the first and second electrical connectors includes a male connector and the other of the first and second electrical connectors includes a female connector. The rear housing is mated with the front housing to encase an imaging element and the circuit board. When mating the rear housing with the front housing, the male connector is inserted into the female connector to electrically conductively connect the first and second electrical connectors. When inserting the male connector into the respective female connector, the female connector flexes to accommodate misalignment of the male and female connectors.

Abstract: A process for providing a vehicular camera includes providing a front camera housing portion and a rear camera housing portion. The front camera housing portion accommodates a lens, an imager and a circuit board, with the circuit board having at least one front housing electrical connector. The rear camera housing portion includes at least one rear housing electrical connector. The front and rear camera housing portion are positioned so that the front housing electrical connector aligns with the rear housing electrical connector. The front and rear camera housing portions are joined together to define a camera housing interior. When the front and rear camera housing portions are joined together, the front housing electrical connector mechanically and electrically connects within the camera interior with the rear housing electrical connector.

Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a housing and an imager assembly having an imager, an imager circuit board and a lens holder. The imager is disposed at the imager circuit board. The lens holder includes a lens holding portion and an attaching portion, with the lens holding portion accommodating a lens. The attaching portion of the lens holder includes a plurality of pins that, when the attaching portion is mated with the circuit board, are received at least partially through apertures of the imager circuit board. With the pins received at least partially through the apertures, and with the lens focused and optically aligned with the imager at the imager circuit board, the pins are soldered at the imager circuit board so as to fixedly attach the lens holder at the imager circuit board to form the imager assembly. The imager assembly is attached at the housing.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder that accommodates at least part of the lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. After the lens is optically aligned with the imager, the adhesive is initially curable to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process for an initial-cure time period. The initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process for a further-cure time period that is longer than the initial-cure time period. As further cured, the further-cured adhesive maintains optical alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the vehicular camera in a vehicle. The further-cured adhesive maintains at least 70% strength of bond after being exposed for 1000 hours to a temperature of 85 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 85% RH.

Abstract: A vehicular camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle includes a lens holder, an imager printed circuit board, a connector printed circuit board and a rear housing. The imager printed circuit board has an imager disposed at a side thereof and is attached to the lens holder with the imager side facing the lens. The imager printed circuit board and the connector printed circuit board are joined together via a pliable material. The rear housing is mated with the lens holder to encase the imager printed circuit board and the connector printed board.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing front and rear housing members, a lens assembly and a circuit board. An imager is disposed on a first side of the circuit board and a connector is disposed on a second side of the circuit board. A conduit includes a plurality of electrically conductive elements terminating at (i) a first connecting end configured to electrically connect to the circuit board connector disposed on the second side of the circuit board and (ii) a second connecting end configured to electrically connect to a wire harness of a vehicle equipped with the vehicular camera and the vehicular vision system. The conduit is secured relative to the rear housing member to provide at least 110 N of strain relief in any axis with respect to the conduit. The front housing member and the rear housing member are attached.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing front and rear housings and providing at least one first electrical connector at a circuit board of the front housing and providing at least one second electrical connector at the rear housing. One of the first and second electrical connectors includes a male connector and the other of the first and second electrical connectors includes a female connector. The rear housing is mated with the front housing to encase an imaging element and the circuit board. When mating the rear housing with the front housing, the male connector is inserted into the female connector to electrically conductively connect the first and second electrical connectors. When inserting the male connector into the respective female connector, the female connector flexes to accommodate misalignment of the male and female connectors.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder that accommodates at least part of the lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. The lens barrel is attached at the lens holder by a cured adhesive with the printed circuit board attached at the lens holder, or the printed circuit board is attached at the lens holder by a cured adhesive with the lens barrel attached at the lens holder. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process that includes UV light exposure for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process that is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A method of assembling a camera for mounting at a vehicle for a vehicle vision system includes providing front and rear housings and providing a set of first electrical connectors at a circuit board of the front housing and providing a set of second electrical connectors at the rear housing. One of the first and second electrical connectors includes male connectors and the other of the first and second electrical connectors includes female connectors. The rear housing is mated with the front housing to encase an imaging element and the circuit board. When mating the rear housing with the front housing, the male connectors are inserted into respective female connectors to electrically conductively connect the first and second electrical connectors. When inserting the male connectors into the respective female connectors, the female connectors flex to accommodate misalignment of the male and female connectors.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a front camera housing and a lens assembly having cylindrical barrel portion that is at least partially received at the front camera housing. An adhesive is disposed in an uncured state at the front camera housing and/or at the printed circuit board and laterally outboard of the imager. With the adhesive in the uncured state, an air gap exists between the inner surface of the lens and the imager. The adhesive is initially cured from the uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light for a first time period. With the adhesive in the initially-cured state, the front camera housing, with the printed circuit board adhesively attached thereto, is further cured to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a longer time period than the first time period.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder that accommodates at least part of the lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. The lens barrel is attached at the lens holder by a cured adhesive with the printed circuit board attached at the lens holder, or the printed circuit board is attached at the lens holder by a cured adhesive with the lens barrel attached at the lens holder. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial curing process that includes UV light exposure for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process that is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A vehicular camera module includes a housing and an imager assembly having an imager, an imager circuit board and a lens holder. The imager is disposed at the imager circuit board. The lens holder includes a lens holding portion and an attaching portion, with the lens holding portion accommodating a lens. The attaching portion of the lens holder includes a plurality of pins that, when the attaching portion is mated with the circuit board, are received at least partially through apertures of the imager circuit board. With the pins received at least partially through the apertures, and with the lens focused and optically aligned with the imager at the imager circuit board, the pins are soldered at the imager circuit board so as to fixedly attach the lens holder at the imager circuit board to form the imager assembly. The imager assembly is attached at the housing.

Abstract: A process for providing a vehicular camera suitable for vehicular use includes providing a front camera housing having a lens assembly disposed thereat and providing an imager disposed on a printed circuit board. An adhesive is disposed in its uncured state between the front camera housing and the printed circuit board. The front camera housing and said printed circuit board are adjusted relative to each other to achieve optical center-alignment and focusing of the lens optics relative to the imager. The adhesive is initially cured from its uncured state to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that includes exposure to UV light for a first time period. After optical center-alignment and focusing, the adhesive is further cured from the initially-cured state to a further more cured state in a secondary curing process undertaken for a second time period that is longer than the first time period.

Abstract: A method of assembling a camera suitable for vehicular use includes providing a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, a lens holder, and a printed circuit board with an imager disposed thereat. An adhesive is dispensed to establish a layer of uncured adhesive (i) between the lens barrel and lens holder or (ii) between the printed circuit board and the lens holder. With the lens in focus with the imager and optically center-aligned therewith, the adhesive is initially cured to an initially-cured state in an initial radiation curing process that includes exposure to UV light for a first period of time. The initially-cured adhesive is further cured to a further-cured state in a secondary curing process. The further-cured state is achieved within a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time.

Abstract: A process for providing a vehicular camera includes providing a front camera housing portion and a rear camera housing portion. The front camera housing portion accommodates a lens, an imager and a circuit board, with the circuit board having at least one front housing electrical connector. The rear camera housing portion includes at least one rear housing electrical connector. The front and rear camera housing portion are positioned so that the front housing electrical connector aligns with the rear housing electrical connector. The front and rear camera housing portions are joined together to define a camera housing interior. When the front and rear camera housing portions are joined together, the front housing electrical connector mechanically and electrically connects within the camera interior with the rear housing electrical connector.