U.S. patent application number 16/075289 was filed with the patent office on 2019-02-28 for parts for imaging apparatus, and imaging apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to IRISO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is IRISO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Tetsuma SAKAMOTO, Jyunya SAKAUE, Takashi SEKINE.
Application Number | 20190068860 16/075289 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59499586 |
Filed Date | 2019-02-28 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190068860 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SAKAMOTO; Tetsuma ; et
al. |
February 28, 2019 |
PARTS FOR IMAGING APPARATUS, AND IMAGING APPARATUS
Abstract
There is provided an imaging apparatus that is resistant to
electromagnetic noise and can be readily manufactured at low cost.
An outer frame member 7 is provided with an inner frame member 6,
which is a box-shaped metal shell, to suppress influence of
electromagnetic noise on the interior of the outer frame member 7.
A tubular section 72 is provided with a pin shield 53, which is a
tubular metal shell, to suppress influence of electromagnetic noise
on the interior of the tubular section 72, which connects an
external conductor to the imaging apparatus. A bad influence of
external electromagnetic noise on pin terminals 52, which serve as
an electrically continuous path, can be avoided. The inner frame
member 6 and the pin shield 53 are members separate from each other
and can therefore each be relatively readily manufactured as a
press-worked metal thin plate.
Inventors: |
SAKAMOTO; Tetsuma;
(Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, JP) ; SAKAUE; Jyunya;
(Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, JP) ; SEKINE; Takashi;
(Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
IRISO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
IRISO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
JP
|
Family ID: |
59499586 |
Appl. No.: |
16/075289 |
Filed: |
November 15, 2016 |
PCT Filed: |
November 15, 2016 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2016/083833 |
371 Date: |
August 3, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/2252 20130101;
H05K 9/00 20130101; H04N 5/225 20130101; H05K 9/0084 20130101; H05K
9/0081 20130101; H04N 5/22521 20180801; G03B 17/02 20130101; G02B
7/02 20130101; H05K 7/20 20130101; G03B 15/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/225 20060101
H04N005/225; G03B 17/02 20060101 G03B017/02; H05K 9/00 20060101
H05K009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 5, 2016 |
JP |
2016-021157 |
Claims
1. Parts for an imaging apparatus comprising: an outer frame member
made of a resin including an enclosure section that accommodates an
imaging part, a connector section that connects an external
conductor to the imaging apparatus, and a barrier wall between the
enclosure section and the connector section; and a connector
terminal including an internal contact section exposed to an
interior of the enclosure section and an external contact section
exposed to an interior of the connector section, wherein the parts
for an imaging apparatus further comprises an enclosure section
shielding body formed of a box-shaped metal shell that accommodates
the internal contact section in the interior of the enclosure
section, and a connector section shielding body formed of a tubular
metal shell that accommodates the external contact section in the
interior of the connector section.
2. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the connector section shielding body includes a contact piece that
achieves electrically continuous connection with the enclosure
section shielding body.
3. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
the contact piece is a spring piece that achieves pressing contact
with the enclosure section shielding body.
4. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the enclosure section shielding body includes a circumferential
wall section disposed on an inner circumferential surface of a
tubular circumferential wall that forms the enclosure section, and
a bottom wall section disposed on a wall surface that forms the
barrier wall and faces the enclosure section.
5. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the connector section shielding body includes a tubular main body
that passes through the barrier wall from the interior of the
connector section and protrudes into the interior of the enclosure
section shielding body.
6. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the connector section shielding body accommodates the connector
terminal and a terminal holder that is made of a resin material and
holds the connector terminal.
7. The parts for an imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the connector section shielding body include a locking section that
protrudes from an outer surface of the connector section shielding
body and is locked by the outer frame member.
8. An imaging apparatus comprising the parts for an imaging
apparatus according to claim 1.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus, and
particularly to an imaging apparatus, such as an in-vehicle
camera.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A compact imaging apparatus including a built-in imaging
element is used, such as an in-vehicle drive recorder, an
in-vehicle camera used to improve visibility of the rear side of
the vehicle, and a surveillance camera used for crime prevention in
a bank, a shop, and other locations. An example of the imaging
apparatus of related art is described, for example, in Japanese
Patent Laid-open No. 2007-1334 (Patent Literature 1).
[0003] The in-vehicle camera 1 (imaging apparatus) described in
Patent Literature 1 includes a rear enclosure 9 formed of a resin
molded body that forms a camera enclosure that accommodates
electronic parts, and a tubular connector section 11 for external
connection is formed in the rear enclosure 9. The camera enclosure
accommodates pin-shaped connector terminals 11b, which each have
one end that protrudes into the rear enclosure 9 and connects the
electronic parts in the rear enclosure 9 to the connector section
11 and the other end that protrudes into the connector section 11
and achieves electrically continuous connection with a counter
connector 100 of a vehicle-side harness 101.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2007-1334, FIG.
2
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] Such an imaging apparatus is required, as the performance
thereof advances, to include a housing (camera enclosure) resistant
to electromagnetic noise that externally enters the imaging
apparatus. To meet the requirement, it is conceivable to replace
the housing formed of a hard resin molded body with an aluminum
diecast housing. A diecast housing, however, has not only a problem
of an increase in weight but a problem of an increase in
manufacturing cost. As another method for meeting the requirement,
it is conceivable to form the rear enclosure 9 and the connector
section 11 integrally with each other by drawing a metal thin plate
in press working into a single drawn body. The connector section 11
has, however, a tubular shape thinner than the rear enclosure 9. It
is extremely difficult to manufacture the thin connector section 11
integrally with the rear enclosure 9, which is larger than the
connector section 11, in a drawing process. Further, a drawing die
is complicated, and the manufacturing cost thereof is therefore
high. The method described above cannot be a realistic solution
appropriate for volume production.
[0005] The present invention has been made based on the related art
described above. An object of the present invention is to provide
an imaging apparatus that is resistant to electromagnetic noise and
can be readily manufactured at low cost.
Solution to Problem
[0006] To achieve the object described above, the present invention
has the following features:
[0007] The present invention relates to parts for an imaging
apparatus comprising an outer frame member made of a resin
including an enclosure section that accommodates an imaging part, a
connector section that connects an external conductor to the
imaging apparatus, and a barrier wall between the enclosure section
and the connector section and a connector terminal including an
internal contact section exposed to an interior of the enclosure
section and an external contact section exposed to an interior of
the connector section, the parts for an imaging apparatus are
characterized in that the parts for an imaging apparatus further
comprises an enclosure section shielding body formed of a
box-shaped metal shell that accommodates the internal contact
section in the interior of the enclosure section and a connector
section shielding body formed of a tubular metal shell that
accommodates the external contact section in the interior of the
connector section.
[0008] According to the present invention, the enclosure section
shielding body, which is a box-shaped metal shell, can suppress
influence of electromagnetic noise on the internal contact section
of the connector terminal in the enclosure section. Further, the
connector section shielding body, which is a tubular metal shell,
can suppress influence of electromagnetic noise on the external
contact section of the connector terminal in the connector section
which connects the external conductor to the imaging apparatus. A
bad influence of the external electromagnetic noise on the
connector terminal, which serves as an electrically continuous
path, can therefore be avoided. In particular, parts for an imaging
apparatus suitable for transmission of a high-frequency signal can
be achieved. Further, the enclosure section shielding body, which
is a box-shaped metal shell, and the connector section shielding
body, which is a tubular metal shell, are components separate from
each other and can therefore each be relatively readily
manufactured as a press-worked metal thin plate.
[0009] The connector section shielding body may include a contact
piece that achieves electrically continuous connection with the
enclosure section shielding body. The connector section shielding
body and the enclosure section shielding body can therefore achieve
electrically continuous connection with each other via the contact
piece, whereby the achieved electrically continuous path can be
used, for example, to ground the imaging part accommodated in the
enclosure section. Further, a heat dissipation path can be so
formed as to include the enclosure section shielding body, which
accommodates the heat-generating imaging part, and the connector
section shielding body connected to each other via the contact
piece, whereby heat of the enclosure section shielding body can be
dissipated with increased efficiency.
[0010] The contact piece may be a spring piece that achieves
pressing contact with the enclosure section shielding body. The
contact piece, which is formed of a spring piece, therefore
achieves pressing contact with the enclosure section shielding body
with the aid of the resilient force produced by the spring piece.
Therefore, even if the enclosure section shielding body and the
connector section shielding body are each positionally shifted and
attached, the contact piece formed of a spring piece can absorb the
positional shift to achieve pressing contact with the enclosure
section shielding body. Further, no soldering step or any other
step is required to achieve the electrically continuous connection
between the contact piece and the enclosure section shielding body,
whereby reliable electrically continuous connection can be achieved
by attaching the enclosure section shielding body and the connector
section shielding body to a housing.
[0011] The enclosure section shielding body may include a
circumferential wall section disposed on an inner circumferential
surface of a tubular circumferential wall that forms the enclosure
section and a bottom wall section disposed on a wall surface that
forms the barrier wall and faces the enclosure section. The
circumferential wall section and the bottom wall section of the
enclosure section shielding body can therefore reliably shield the
internal space formed by the enclosure section and the barrier wall
against electromagnetic waves.
[0012] The connector section shielding body may include a tubular
main body that passes through the barrier wall from the interior of
the connector section and protrudes into the interior of the
enclosure section shielding body. The thus configured tubular main
body can reliably and seamlessly shield the electrically continuous
path of the connector terminal from the interior of the connector
section though the barrier wall to the interior of the enclosure
section shielding body.
[0013] The connector section shielding body may accommodate the
connector terminal and a terminal holder that is made of a resin
material and holds the connector terminal. Since an in-shield
connector section including the connector terminal described above
and the terminal holder that holds the connector terminal is
provided in the connector section shielding body, the connector
section shielding body can reliably shield the connecter terminal,
which forms the electrically continuous path. Further, providing
the in-shield connector section in the connector section shielding
body allows the in-shield connector section and the connector
section shielding body to be handled as an integrated component,
that is, a part, whereby the two components can be readily handled
in the steps of manufacturing the imaging apparatus.
[0014] The connector section shielding body may include a locking
section that protrudes from an outer surface of the connector
section shielding body and is locked by the outer frame member. The
locking section of the connector section shielding body can
therefore maintain the correct state in which the connector section
shielding body is attached to the outer frame member.
[0015] The present invention further provides an imaging apparatus
including any of the parts for an imaging apparatus described
above. The enclosure section shielding body, which is formed of a
box-shaped metal shell, and the connector section shield body,
which is formed of a tubular metal shell, can therefore achieve
reliable electromagnetic shielding that allows even high-frequency
signal transmission via the connector terminal, which is the path
along to which an electric signal from the imaging part is
transmitted. The enclosure section shielding body and the connector
section shielding body are members separate from each other and can
therefore be readily manufactured at low cost, and the outer frame
member is made of a resin, whereby an imaging apparatus much
lighter than an imaging apparatus including a diecast outer frame
member can be provided.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0016] According to the present invention, the enclosure section
shielding body, which is formed of a box-shaped metal shell, and
the connector section shield body, which is formed of a tubular
metal shell, can achieve reliable electromagnetic shielding that
allows even high-frequency signal transmission via the connector
terminal, which is the path along to which an electric signal from
the imaging part is transmitted, and the two shielding bodies are
members separate from each other, whereby an imaging apparatus that
can be readily manufactured at low cost can be provided. Further,
since the outer frame member is made of a resin, an imaging
apparatus much lighter than an imaging apparatus including a
diecast outer frame member can be provided. The present invention
can therefore contribute to popularization and expansion of a
high-performance imaging apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an imaging
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the imaging apparatus viewed
in the direction X in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the imaging
apparatus in FIG. 1 taken along the plane X-Z.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the imaging apparatus in
FIG. 1 taken along the plane Y-Z and containing the axis of a
fixing member.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view including the front surface,
the right side surface, and the plan surface of a housing in FIG.
1.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view including the rear surface, the
left side surface, and the plan surface of the housing in FIG.
1.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the housing in FIG. 1 with
part thereof cut off.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view including the front surface,
the right side surface, and the plan surface of an inner frame
member in FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a perspective view including the rear surface, the
right side surface, and the plan surface of the inner frame member
in FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a perspective view including the front surface,
the right side surface, and the plan surface of a connector for
external connection in FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the connector for external
connection.
[0028] FIG. 12 is a perspective view including the rear surface,
the left side surface, and the plan surface of the connector for
external connection in FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 13 is a rear view of the connector for external
connection in FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line
XIV-XIV in FIG. 11.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0031] An embodiment of the present invention will be described
below with reference to drawings. In the present specification, the
claims, and the drawings, the description will be made under the
following definition: The direction X shown in FIG. 1 is the
rightward/leftward direction of an imaging apparatus and components
thereof; the direction Y shown in FIG. 1 is the frontward/rearward
direction of the imaging apparatus and components thereof; and the
direction Z in FIG. 1 is the optical axis direction, the height
direction, and the upward/downward direction of the imaging
apparatus and components thereof. It is noted, however, that the
definition of the directions is not intended to limit the
directions in which the imaging apparatus and other components of
the present invention are implemented and used.
Configuration of Imaging Apparatus 1
[0032] An imaging apparatus 1 includes a housing 8 whose the front
side forms an opening 81, an imaging circuit unit 4 which serves as
an "imaging part" provided in the housing 8, a lens unit 3 which is
attached to the opening 81 of the housing 8, a connector 5 for
external connection which is provided in the housing 8 and connects
the imaging circuit unit 4 to an external apparatus, and fixing
members 9 which fix the imaging circuit unit 4 in the housing
8.
[0033] The housing 8 includes an outer frame member 7 and an inner
frame member 6, which is formed of a box-shaped metal shell as an
"enclosure section shielding body" provided in the outer frame
member 7 so as to be in intimate contact therewith. The inner frame
member 6 is so formed in insert molding with the inner frame member
6 inserted into the outer frame member 7, and the housing 8 is
therefore formed as a molded body formed of the outer frame member
7 and the inner frame member 6 integrated with each other.
[0034] The outer frame member 7 is formed of a thermally conductive
resin molded body having a thermal conductivity ranging from 1 to
20 W/mK. A box-shaped section 71, which serves as an "enclosure
section," is formed in a front portion of the outer frame member 7,
and a tubular section 72, which serves as a "connector section," is
formed in a rear portion of the outer frame member 7.
[0035] The box-shaped section 71 has a tubular circumferential wall
71a with an opening 77 formed on the front side of the box-shaped
section 71. A bottom wall 71c is formed by a barrier wall 71b on
the rear side of the box-shaped section 71 of the side opposite the
front side thereof, so that the box-shaped section 71 has a
rectangular box-like shape as a whole. The interior of the
box-shaped section 71 forms a cavity 76, which accommodates the
inner frame member 6. Columnar sections 78, which extend in the
direction Z, are provided at two opposing corners of the cavity 76.
A threaded hole 79, which engages with a screw, is formed in each
of the columnar section 78. A tubular support wall 71d, which is
provided along a hole edge of a first insertion hole 73, which will
be described later, is formed on the bottom wall 71c. The tubular
support wall 71d is a cylindrical resin wall, and first recesses
71e and second recesses 71f are formed in the outer circumference
of the tubular support wall 71d. Positioning protrusions 533, which
are provided at part of a pin shield 53, which will be described
later, are fit in the first recesses 71e, and contact pieces 532
enter the second recesses 71f in such a way that the contact pieces
532 are elastically deformable (see FIG. 7). The tubular support
wall 71d also functions as a barrier wall that prevents the pin
shield 53, which will be described later, from coming into contact
with and rubbing against the inner frame member 6 when the pin
shield 53 is inserted into the first insertion hole 73. If the pin
shield 53 rubs against the inner frame member 6 when inserted into
the first insertion hole 73, metal residues that cause a short
circuit are produced, but the thus functioning tubular support wall
71d can prevent the metal residues from being produced.
[0036] The tubular section 72 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and
the first insertion hole 73, which passes through the barrier wall
71b and communicates with the cavity 76 and into which the
connector 5 for external connection is inserted and attached, is
formed on the front side of the tubular section 72. On the other
hand, a second insertion hole 74, which communicates with the first
insertion hole 73 and into which a socket 21 of a relay connector 2
is insertable, is formed on the rear side of the tubular section
72. A locking claw 75, which is a protrusion for locking the relay
connector 2, is formed on an outer circumferential portion of the
tubular section 72.
[0037] The inner frame member 6, which serves as the "enclosure
section shielding body," is formed in a bottomed tubular shape
having a circumferential wall section 60a, which covers the tubular
circumferential wall 71a of the box-shaped section 71, and a bottom
wall section 60b, which covers the bottom wall 71c of the
box-shaped section 71. The inner frame member 6 is made of a metal
material that excels in thermal conductivity, such as aluminum and
a copper alloy. The front side of the inner frame member 6 forms an
opening 61. A cavity 63 is formed in the inner frame member 6. A
third insertion hole 62, which communicates with the cavity 63 and
into which the connector 5 for external connection is insertable,
is formed in the bottom wall section 60b. Attachment plates 67,
which each protrude in the form of an inward flange toward the
interior of the cavity 63, are formed at a pair of opposing corners
of the opening 61 of the inner frame member 6. An attachment hole
68, which is provided with a thread groove and engages with the
fixing members 9 of screws, is formed in each of the attachment
plates 67. The inner frame member 6 is so formed in insert molding
with the inner frame member 6 inserted into the outer frame member
7 to form an integrated molded body. The surface of the outer frame
member 7 and the surface of the inner frame member 6 that are in
contact with each other are therefore in intimate contact with each
other with no gap therebetween, whereby satisfactory thermal
conductivity between the two members is achieved.
[0038] The imaging circuit unit 4 includes substrate 41a, 41b, and
41c, which have a variety of electric elements and circuit wiring
lines, a connector 42a, which connects the substrates 41a and 41b
to each other, a connector 42b, which connects the substrates 41b
and 41c to each other, an imaging element 44, which is mounted on
the substrate 41a, and a relay connector 48.
[0039] The substrate 41a, 41b, and 41c are each a printed circuit
board. Out of the three substrates, heat dissipating metal wiring
lines 43 and 47, which differ from the circuit wiring lines, are
formed on a front surface and a rear surface of the substrate 41a,
respectively. Through holes 45, which engage with the fixing
members 9 of screws, are provided in the substrate 41a. In the
present embodiment, a thread groove and a metal film that leads to
the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43 are formed on the inner
surface of each of the through holes 45. Cutouts 49a and 49b are
formed in the substrates 41b and 41c, respectively. The cutouts 49a
and 49b are so formed that the substrates 41b and 41c can be
smoothly inserted into the inner frame member 6 and incorporated
therein with no interference with the attachment plates 67. The
relay connector 48, which achieves electrically continuous
connection with the connector 5 for external connection, is
provided on the substrate 41c. The relay connector 48 has the
function of connecting the imaging circuit unit 4 to the external
apparatus via the connector 5 for external connection. The housing
of the relay connector 48 is provided with four socket terminals
(not shown) corresponding to four pin terminals 52 of the connector
5 for external connection so that the socket terminals achieve
electrically continuous connection with the pin terminals 52.
[0040] The imaging element 44 is an imaging device, such as a
charge coupled device (CCD) and a complementary metal oxide
semiconductor (CMOS) device, converts light guided through the lens
unit 3 into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to
the external apparatus.
[0041] The lens unit 3 is a member that is so fixed as to close the
front-side opening 81 of the housing 8, and a lens 31, which guides
light to the imaging element 44, is provided in a central portion
of a plate-shaped main body section 32. The lens unit 3 can be
attached to the housing 8 by means of fitting, bonding, screw
fixation, or any other arbitrary method. The main body section 32
is formed of a square plate-shaped resin molded body and is a
non-light-transparent member that transmits no outside light. The
lens 31 is a member that is made of a resin or glass material,
collects outside light, and forms an image on the front surface of
the imaging element 44. It is assumed that the lens 31 is
integrated with the main body section 32 in insert molding in the
present embodiment. The lens 31 may instead be bonded or otherwise
attached to and integrated with the main body section 32.
[0042] The connector 5 for external connection achieves
electrically conductive connection between the imaging circuit unit
4 and the external apparatus. The connector 5 for external
connection has a plurality of pin terminals 52 (four pin terminals
52 in present embodiment), which are connected to the relay
connector 48 of the imaging circuit unit 4, a housing 51, which
serves as a "terminal holder" to which the pin terminals 52 are
press-fitted and fixed, and the pin shield 53, which serves as a
"connector section shielding body" which is fixed to the housing 51
so as to cover the circumference of the housing 51 and the pin
terminals 52.
[0043] The pin terminals 52 are inserted into the socket terminals
(not shown) of the relay connector 48 of the imaging circuit unit 4
to achieve electrically conductive connection therewith. The pin
terminals 52 not only transmit an electric signal produced by the
imaging circuit unit 4 but is used to supply electric power from
the external apparatus to the imaging circuit unit 4. The housing
51 is a circular columnar resin molded body having terminal holding
holes 511, to which the pin terminals 52 are press-fitted and
fixed. The pin terminals 52 are press-fitted and fixed into the
terminal holding holes 511, and internal connection pins 521, which
serve as "internal contact sections" of the pin terminals 52,
protrude via the front end of the housing 51. Further, external
connection pins 522, which serve as "external contact sections" of
the pin terminals 52, protrude via the rear end of the housing 51.
The external connection pins 522 are covered with the cylindrical
pin shield 53 and disposed in the internal space thereof. When the
socket 21 of the relay connector 2 is inserted into the second
insertion hole 74, a connection terminal 22 in the socket 21 is
inserted into the pin shield 53, and the connection terminal 22
achieves electrically conductive connection with the external
connection pins 522 in the pin shield 53. The fixation of the pin
terminals 52 to the housing 51 does not necessarily based on press
fitting and may instead be based on insert molding.
[0044] The pin shield 53 is a cylindrical metal molded body that
electromagnetically shields the pin terminals 52 and includes a
tubular main body 531 and the paired contact pieces 532, which are
located at the front end of the tubular main body 531 and extend in
the radial direction (+Y direction, -Y direction) with respect to
the axis of the tubular pin shield 53. The contact pieces 532 are
each formed as a spring piece that extends in the form of a
cantilever from the tubular main body 531. The contact pieces 532,
which are elastically deformed, can therefore achieve pressing
contact with the bottom wall section 60b of the inner frame member
6. The contact pieces 532, which are elastically deformed to
achieve the pressing contact, can reliably maintain the pressing
contact with the inner frame member 6 even if the components of the
imaging apparatus 1 are each positionally shifted by a small amount
when the imaging apparatus 1 is assembled or due to impact or
vibration acting on the imaging apparatus 1 in use.
[0045] The pin shield 53 is further provided with four pins 57 for
ground connection, which protrude frontward.
[0046] The pin shield 53 has positioning protrusions 533 as a
locking section, which protrude outward. The positioning
protrusions 533 are fit into the first recesses 71e of the tubular
support wall 71d, which is formed on the bottom wall 71c of the
box-shaped section 71, as described above. The pin shield 53 will
therefore not rotate even if external force that rotates the pin
shield 53 in the first insertion hole 73 acts on the pin shield 53
because the positioning protrusions 533 abut against the first
recesses 71e, whereby the pin shield 53 will not loosen or fall off
and can maintain the correct attachment state.
[0047] The fixing members 9 are screws made of a metal. The
threaded portion formed on a shaft portion of each of the fixing
members 9 engages with the thread groove of the corresponding
through hole 45 provided in the substrate 41a and further engages
with the thread groove of the corresponding attachment hole 68
provided in the inner frame member 6, whereby the imaging circuit
unit 4 can be fixed to the housing 8.
[0048] In the state in which the imaging circuit unit 4 is fixed to
the housing 8 with the fixing members 9, a head portion of each of
the fixing members 9, which are screws, comes into contact with the
heat dissipating metal wiring line 43, which is located on the side
where the imaging element 44 of the substrate 41a is mounted, and
the shaft of each of the screws abuts against the metal film formed
on the inner surface of the corresponding through hole 45 of the
substrate 41a. The metal film leads to the heat dissipating metal
wiring line 47, which is formed on a surface of the substrate 41a
that is the surface opposite the surface on which the imaging
element 44 is mounted. The heat dissipating metal wiring line 47 is
in contact with the attachment plates 67 of the inner frame member
6. Further, the inner frame member 6 is in contact with the pin
shield 53 via the contact pieces 532. A thermally conductive path
along which metal materials that excel in thermal conductivity are
linked to each other is thus formed, that is, the thermally
conductive path starts from the imaging element 44, includes the
heat dissipating metal wiring line 43, the fixing members 9, the
metal films in the through holes 45, the heat dissipating metal
wiring line 47, and reaches the inner frame member 6 and the pin
shield 53. The heat of the imaging element 44 can thus be
effectively dissipated by using the components of the imaging
apparatus 1.
[0049] The imaging apparatus 1 described above is connected to the
external apparatus via the relay connector 2. The relay connector 2
is a connector that connects the imaging apparatus 1 to the
external apparatus and includes the socket 21, the connection
terminal 22 which is provided in the socket 21, a locking claw 23
which is provided as part of the socket 21, a cable 24 which
extends rearward from the socket 21, and a cable shield 25 made of
a metal.
[0050] The socket 21 is formed of a tubular resin molded body and
has an outer shape that can be inserted into the second insertion
hole 74, which is formed in the tubular section 72 of the housing
8. The connection terminal 22 achieves electrically continuous
connection with the pin terminals 52 of the connector 5 for
external connection of the imaging apparatus 1. The locking claw 23
engages with the locking claw 75, which is formed on the outer
circumferential portion of the tubular section 72, so that the
relay connector 2 does not fall off the interior of the tubular
section 72. The cable 24 is a coaxial cable that transmits the
electric signal produced by the imaging circuit unit 4 to the
external apparatus, and lead wires which correspond to the number
of pin terminals 52 are contained in the cable 24. Sockets,
terminals, and other components for connection with the external
apparatus are provided at an end of the relay connector 2 that is
the end opposite the imaging apparatus 1. The cable shield 25
electromagnetically shields the portion from a base end portion of
the connection terminal 22, which is inserted into the tubular main
body 531 of the pin shield 53, to a front-end-side portion of the
cable 24 (FIG. 3) and is formed of a cylindrical metal member. When
the relay connector 2 is connected to the imaging apparatus 1, the
front end of the cable shield 25 abuts against the front end of the
pin shield 53 so that the front ends are in contact with each
other. The connection described above between the relay connector 2
and the imaging apparatus 1 allows transmission of an electric
signal produced by the imaging apparatus 1 to the external
apparatus.
Advantageous Effects of Imaging Apparatus 1
[0051] Advantageous effects of the imaging apparatus 1 according to
the present embodiment will be described except those having been
described.
[0052] The imaging apparatus 1 has the thermally conductive path in
which the heat generated by the imaging element 44 is transferred
via the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43, the fixing members
9, the metal films in the through holes 45, and the heat
dissipating metal wiring line 47 to the inner frame member 6, and
then to the outer frame member 7. The heat dissipating metal wiring
line 43, the fixing members 9, the metal films in the through holes
45, the heat dissipating metal wiring line 47, and the inner frame
member 6 are each made of a metal material and therefore have
satisfactory thermal conductivity. The outer frame member 7 is also
made of a thermally conductive resin and therefore has satisfactory
thermal conductivity. That is, the thermally conductive path from
the imaging element 44 to the outer frame member 7 has satisfactory
thermal conductivity and can transfer the heat generated by the
imaging element 44 to the outer frame member 7 and dissipate the
heat via the outer frame member 7 to the atmosphere. The heat in
the imaging circuit unit 4 can therefore be effectively
dissipated.
[0053] The heat transferred to the inner frame member 6 is also
transferred to the pin shield 53, which is made of a metal and is
in contact with the inner frame member 6 via the contact pieces
532, and the heat is also transferred out of the box-shaped section
71 of the housing 8 via the pin shield 53 to the tubular section
72. The heat is therefore not accumulated in the box-shaped section
71 of the housing 8 but can be dissipated. Further, the heat
transferred to the pin shield 53 is also transferred to the cable
shield 25 because the front end of the pin shield 53 abuts against
the front end of the cable shield 25, which is made of a metal, of
the relay connector 2. The heat transferred to the inner frame
member 6 can therefore be transferred also to the components of the
relay connector 2 via the cable shield 25 and dissipated from the
relay connector 2.
[0054] The imaging circuit unit 4 is covered with the
circumferential wall section 60a and the bottom wall section 60b of
the inner frame member 6 made of a metal. Therefore, the imaging
circuit unit 4 is shielded against external electromagnetic waves
and can effectively prevent generation of noise resulting from the
electromagnetic waves. Further, the pin terminals 52 of the
connector 5 for external connection are so configured that portions
thereof fixed by the terminal holding holes 511 and the external
connection pins 522 are covered with the tubular main body 531 of
the pin shield 53. The portion that achieves electrically
continuous connection with the relay connector 2, which leads to
the external apparatus, can also be reliably shielded against
electromagnetic waves.
[0055] Further, the inner frame member 6 and the pin shield 53 are
formed separately from each other and are ideally preferably formed
as an integrated member from the viewpoint of the electromagnetic
shielding. The tubular main body 531 of the pin shield 53, however,
passes through the bottom wall section 60b of the inner frame
member 6 with an end portion of the tubular main body 531 located
in the inner frame member 6, and the tubular main body 531
therefore overlaps with the inner frame member 6, so that no gap is
present therebetween in the Z direction. The inner frame member 6
and the pin shield 53, which are separate members, can therefore
reliably provide electromagnetic shielding.
[0056] Providing the connector for external connection in the
connector section shielding body allows the connector for external
connection to be handled as a component of the connector section
shielding body, that is, a part thereof, whereby the integrated
unit can be readily handled in the steps of manufacturing the
imaging apparatus.
Variations of Embodiment
[0057] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment
described above and can be implemented in a variety of variations.
Examples of the variations will be described.
[0058] The embodiment described above shows the case where the
thermally conductive path is formed in such a way that the fixing
members 9 are screws, the head portion of each of the screws is in
contact with the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43 on the
surface on which the imaging element 44 is mounted, the shaft of
each of the screws is in contact with the metal film in the
corresponding through hole 45 and with the inner frame member 6,
and the heat dissipating metal wiring line 47, which is continuous
with the metal films in the through holes 45, is in contact with
the inner frame member 6. The thermally conductive path may instead
be formed in such a way that the fixing members 9 are each a bolt
and a nut, the head portion of each of the bolts is in contact with
the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43, and the nuts are in
contact with the inner frame member 6 so that the heat dissipating
metal wiring line 43 is connected to the inner frame member 6 via
the fixing members 9. The thus formed fixing members 9 can
similarly form the thermally conductive path from the imaging
element 44 to the inner frame member 6.
[0059] The fixing members 9 may instead be a thermally conductive
adhesive. In this case, the thermally conductive adhesive is
continuously applied to the portion from the heat dissipating metal
wiring line 43 via the through holes 45 to the heat dissipating
metal wiring line 47 and the inner frame member 6, whereby a
thermally conductive path ranging from the heat dissipating metal
wiring line 43 to the inner frame member 6 can be formed.
[0060] In the embodiment described above, the case where the
contact pieces 532 are each a spring piece has been presented. The
contact pieces 532 are not each necessarily a spring piece and can
instead each be a plate piece that is in contact with the inner
frame member 6. The contact piece in the variation cannot, of
course, provide the advantageous effect provided by the contact
pieces 532 each formed of a spring piece.
[0061] In the embodiment described above, the case where the
imaging circuit unit 4 includes the three substrate 41a, 41b, and
41c has been presented, but the number of substrates is not limited
to three. Further, the connectors 42a and 42b are used to achieve
inter-substrate electrically continuous connection but are only an
example that achieves the inter-substrate electrically continuous
connection, and other means may be used to achieve the
inter-substrate electrically continuous connection. The
configuration of the imaging circuit unit 4 is not limited to that
shown in the present embodiment by way of example, and the imaging
circuit unit may instead be formed of a single substrate, the
imaging element 44 and the heat dissipating metal wiring line 43
mounted on the substrate, through holes formed in the substrate and
used to fix the imaging circuit unit with the aid of the fixing
members 9, and the relay connector 48 disposed on the rear surface
of the substrate. The number of substrates to be used may, of
course, be any number, such as two and four.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0062] 1: Imaging apparatus [0063] 2: Relay connector [0064] 21:
Socket [0065] 22: Connection terminal [0066] 23: Locking claw
[0067] 24: Cable [0068] 25: Cable shield [0069] 3: Lens unit [0070]
31: Lens [0071] 32: Main body section [0072] 4: Imaging circuit
unit [0073] 41a, 41b, 41c: Substrate [0074] 42a, 42b: Connector
[0075] 43: Heat dissipating metal wiring line [0076] 44: Imaging
element [0077] 45: Through hole [0078] 47: Heat dissipating metal
wiring line [0079] 48: Relay connector [0080] 49a, 49b: Cutout
[0081] 5: Connector for external connection [0082] 51: Housing
(terminal holder) [0083] 511: Terminal holding hole [0084] 52: Pin
terminal (connector terminal) [0085] 521: Internal connection pin
(internal contact section) [0086] 522: External connection pin
(external contact section) [0087] 53: Pin shield (connector section
shielding body) [0088] 531: Tubular main body [0089] 532: Contact
piece [0090] 533: Positioning protrusion [0091] 57: Pin for ground
connection [0092] 6: Inner frame member (enclosure section
shielding body) [0093] 60a: Circumferential wall section [0094]
60b: Bottom wall section [0095] 61: Opening [0096] 62: Third
insertion hole [0097] 63: Cavity [0098] 67: Attachment plate [0099]
68: Attachment hole [0100] 7: Outer frame member (enclosure
section) [0101] 71: Box-shaped section (enclosure section) [0102]
71a: Tubular circumferential wall [0103] 71b: Barrier wall [0104]
71c: Bottom wall [0105] 71d: Tubular support wall [0106] 71e: First
recess [0107] 71f: Second recess [0108] 72: Tubular section
(connector section) [0109] 73: First insertion hole [0110] 74:
Second insertion hole [0111] 75: Locking claw [0112] 76: Cavity
[0113] 77: Opening [0114] 78: Columnar section [0115] 79: Threaded
hole [0116] 8: Housing [0117] 81: Opening [0118] 9: Fixing
member
* * * * *