Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing (i) a lens accommodated in a lens barrel, (ii) a camera front housing, (iii) a printed circuit board with an imager. An uncured adhesive is dispensed (i) between the lens barrel and the front portion of the camera front housing or (ii) between the printed circuit board and the rear portion of the camera front housing. The lens is brought into focus with the imager, and the adhesive is initially cured in an initial radiation curing process. After the initial radiation curing process, the initially-cured adhesive is further cured in a secondary curing process. The further-cured adhesive limits movement of the lens relative to the imager to less than +/?18 microns after (i) exposure to 90 degrees C. for 400 hours and (ii) exposure to 85 degrees C. at 90% relative humidity for 240 hours.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens, a printed circuit board and an imager. The lens has a plurality of optical element and is disposed at a lens holder. The imager is disposed at the printed circuit board. The adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process. The adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after the lens is brought into focus with the imager and is optically center-aligned therewith. The initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds the lens optically center-aligned and in focus with the imager. After the initial radiation curing process, the lens holder, adhesively attached to one of the printed circuit board and the holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process.

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 vehicular camera includes providing a front camera housing and a lens assembly and dispensing an adhesive bead in an uncured state at at least one of (i) an attaching portion of the lens assembly and (ii) the front camera housing. The attaching portion and the front housing member are mated together with the adhesive bead therebetween. With the attaching portion and front housing member mated together, lens optics of the lens assembly are aligned with respect to an imaging array of the front camera housing. After such alignment, the adhesive bead is cured to a first cure level via ultraviolet light exposure to join the lens assembly and the front housing member. The lens assembly and front camera housing so joined are moved to a further curing station, where the adhesive bead is further cured to a second cure level.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens disposed at a lens holder and an imager disposed at a printed circuit board. The lens holder is one of (i) attached at the printed circuit board by a cured adhesive and (ii) attached at a holding element by a cured adhesive with the printed circuit board held by the holding element. The adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process and initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process. The adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after the lens is brought into focus with the imager and is optically center-aligned therewith. When further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the camera in a vehicle.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a lens assembly having a base portion, a lens barrel and a plurality of optical elements in the lens barrel, and providing a circuit element having a circuit board and an imaging array. An adhesive bead is dispensed at the base portion and/or circuit element. The circuit element is placed at the base portion with the adhesive bead therebetween and the optical elements are aligned with the imaging array via a six axis robotic device when the circuit element is at the base portion and in contact with the adhesive bead. The adhesive bead is cured to a first cure level via exposure of the adhesive bead to ultraviolet light. The assembly is moved to a second curing stage and the adhesive bead is cured to a second cure level via heating the adhesive bead.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens, a printed circuit board and an imager. The lens has a plurality of optical element and is disposed at a lens holder. The imager is disposed at the printed circuit board. The adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process that comprises exposure to UV light, and initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process. The adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after the lens is brought into focus with the imager and is optically center-aligned therewith. The initially-cured adhesive, as cured via the initial radiation curing process, holds the lens optically center-aligned and in focus with the imager. After the initial radiation curing process, the lens holder, adhesively attached to one of the printed circuit board and the holding element, is moved to the secondary thermal curing process.

Abstract: A vehicle vision system includes a camera module including an image sensor array, a lens holder and a lens. The camera module is configured to mount at a receiving structure at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle. When the camera module is mounted at the receiving structure of the interior surface of the vehicle windshield, the image sensor array views forward of the vehicle and through the vehicle windshield. The image sensor array is established at a circuit element. The lens holder includes a lens holding portion and an attaching portion, with the lens holding portion accommodating the lens and the attaching portion configured to attach at the circuit element. The attaching portion of the lens holder includes a plurality of pins configured to be received at least partially through apertures of the circuit element so as to be soldered at the circuit element.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a lens assembly having a base portion, a lens barrel and a plurality of optical elements in the lens barrel, and providing a circuit element having a circuit board and an imaging array. An adhesive bead is dispensed at the base portion and/or circuit element. The circuit element is placed at the base portion with the adhesive bead therebetween and the optical elements are aligned with the imaging array via a six axis robotic device when the circuit element is at the base portion and in contact with the adhesive bead. The adhesive bead is cured to a first cure level via exposure of the adhesive bead to ultraviolet light. The assembly is moved to a second curing stage and the adhesive bead is cured to a second cure level via heating the adhesive bead.

Abstract: A vehicular camera includes a lens disposed at a lens holder and an imager disposed at a printed circuit board. The lens holder is one of (i) attached at the printed circuit board by a cured adhesive and (ii) attached at a holding element by a cured adhesive with the printed circuit board held by the holding element. The adhesive is initially curable in an initial radiation curing process and initially-cured adhesive is further curable to a further cured strength in a secondary thermal curing process. The adhesive is initially cured via the initial radiation curing process after the lens is brought into focus with the imager and is optically center-aligned therewith. When further cured via the secondary thermal curing process, the further-cured adhesive maintains focus and optical center-alignment of the lens with the imager for use of the camera in a vehicle.

Abstract: Low cost constructions of vehicular cameras employ various means for aligning and mounting the camera lens with respect to the imager. Such means include adhesive mounting using a UV curable adhesive, wherein the lens may be focused prior to cure of the adhesive. Other means include directly attaching the lens to the imager by adhesive; integrating the lens barrel and camera lens holder; dropping the lens barrel onto the surface of the imager; focusing the lens utilizing PCB mounting and focusing Screws; and focusing the lens by the relative positioning of camera front and back housings. Costs can also be contained by utilizing matching the resolution of the lens in conformance to human contrast sensitivity function, and by replacing optical chromatic aberration with digital chromatic aberration.

Abstract: Low cost constructions of vehicular cameras employ various means for aligning and mounting the camera lens with respect to the imager. Such means include adhesive mounting using a UV curable adhesive, wherein the lens may be focused prior to cure of the adhesive. Other means include directly attaching the lens to the imager by adhesive; integrating the lens barrel and camera lens holder; dropping the lens barrel onto the surface of the imager; focusing the lens utilizing PCB mounting and focusing Screws; and focusing the lens by the relative positioning of camera front and back housings. Costs can also be contained by utilizing matching the resolution of the lens in conformance to human contrast sensitivity function, and by replacing optical chromatic aberration with digital chromatic aberration.