Granted Patent B2

US 12,631,942 · App. 18/250,160 · Granted May 19, 2026

Inventors: Catalin Padurariu (Iasi, RO); Adrian Homutescu (Iasi, RO)

Assignee: Magna Electronics Sweden AB

G03B17/12

Abstract

Claims (31)

1 . A camera assembly comprising:

a camera housing,

a printed circuit board, carrying an optical sensor attached to the camera housing;

a lens barrel axially surrounded by the camera housing and mounted in the camera housing such that a defined airgap between the lens barrel and the optical sensor is set;

a bore formed tangentially to the lens barrel, in the camera housing and defining a window to the lens barrel; and

a rotation-blocking pin with a plurality of flexible fins inserted in the bore, wherein the plurality of flexible fins of the rotation-blocking pin are in a force-fitting contact through the window with a side portion of the lens barrel.

2 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bore defines a first end and a second end.

3 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the second end of the bore is closed with a bottom formed in the camera housing.

4 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the bore with the first end and the second end is a through-hole.

5 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one spreading wedge is formed inside a wall of the bore.

6 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotation-blocking pin has a solid shaft and the plurality of flexible fins, wherein the plurality of flexible fins are arranged axially along the solid shaft and each flexible fin of the plurality of flexible fins defines an inner airgap in an unassembled condition of the rotation-blocking pin with the camera housing, whereas in a mounted condition of the rotation-blocking pin with the camera housing, the plurality of flexible fins exert a radial blocking force against the lens barrel and against the camera housing.

7 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotation-blocking pin is formed as a split shaft with at least two lobes and the plurality of flexible fins, wherein the plurality of flexible fins are arranged axially along the lobes of the split shaft and each flexible fin of the plurality of flexible fins defines an inner airgap and each of the lobes defines a lobe air gap in an unassembled condition of the rotation-blocking pin with the camera housing, and in a mounted condition of the rotation-blocking pin with the camera housing, the plurality of flexible fins exert a radial blocking force against the lens barrel and against the camera housing.

8 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the bore has at a second end at least one wedge for spreading the lobes of the split shaft apart when the rotation-blocking pin is fully inserted in the bore.

9 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rotation-blocking pin is manufactured from a plastic or a silicone material.

10 . A method for assembling a camera assembly with a camera housing and a printed circuit board, carrying an optical sensor and being attached to the camera housing, and having a lens barrel axially surrounded by the camera housing and mounted in the camera housing such that a defined airgap between the lens barrel and the optical sensor is set;

comprising the steps of:

screwing the lens barrel into the camera housing and thereby positioning the lens barrel in relation to the optical sensor; and

inserting a rotation-blocking pin having a plurality of flexible fins into a bore formed in the camera housing, wherein the bore defines a window to the lens barrel, and wherein the plurality of flexible fins of the rotation-blocking pin are in a force-fitting contact through the window with a side portion of the lens barrel when the rotation-blocking pin is fully inserted in the bore.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the insertion of the rotation-blocking pin starts from a first end of the bore and ends when a stopper cap of the rotation-blocking pin is in contact with a radial rim inside the bore.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the rotation-blocking pin has a solid shaft and the plurality of flexible fins each define an inner airgap, wherein the inner airgaps of the flexible fins of the rotation-blocking pin are compressed and thereby a radial blocking force is exerted against the lens barrel when the rotation-blocking pin is fully inserted in the bore.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the rotation-blocking pin is formed as a split shaft with at least two lobes and the plurality of flexible fins, wherein the flexible fins are arranged axially above the lobes of the split shaft, wherein an inner airgap of each of the flexible fins is compressed and a wedge for spreading the flexible fins and the lobes of the split shaft apart, when the rotation-blocking pin is fully inserted in the bore and thereby exerts a radial blocking force against the lens barrel.

14 . A camera assembly comprising:

a camera housing,

a printed circuit board, carrying an optical sensor attached to the camera housing;

a lens barrel axially surrounded by the camera housing and mounted in the camera housing such that a defined airgap between the lens barrel and the optical sensor is set;

a bore formed in the camera housing and defining a window to the lens barrel; and

a rotation-blocking pin inserted in the bore and being through the window in a force-fitting contact with a side portion of the lens barrel,

wherein the rotation-blocking pin has a solid shaft and a plurality of flexible fins, wherein the flexible fins are arranged axially along the solid shaft and each of the flexible fins defines an inner airgap in an unassembled condition of the rotation-blocking pin with the camera housing, whereas in a mounted condition of the rotation-blocking pin with the camera housing, the flexible fins exert a radial blocking force against the lens barrel and against the camera housing.

15 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the bore defines a first end and a second end, and wherein the second end of the bore is closed with a bottom formed in the camera housing.

16 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the bore includes a through-hole.

17 . The camera assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein at least one spreading wedge is formed inside a wall of the bore.

Assignments (3)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (9)