DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement(s) submitted on 12/09/2024 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is/are being considered by the examiner.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1, 47, and 60 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent Nos. 12,162,412 B2 and 11,718,228 B2 in view of Shangguan et al. (US 20070058964 A1) (hereinafter Shangguan)
Instant Application
Issued U.S. Patent No. 12,162,412
Issued U.S. Patent No. 11,718,228
Claim 1
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:
a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;
wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;
wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board, (ii) a lens barrel and (iii) a lens holder;
wherein the imager is operable to capture image data;
wherein said lens barrel comprises cylindrical wall structure having a first end and a second end;
wherein said lens barrel comprises an annular flange that extends from the cylindrical wall structure outward from a portion of the cylindrical wall structure that is located between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical wall structure of said lens barrel;
wherein said lens holder comprises a cylindrical passageway that spans between a first side of said lens holder and a second side of sad lens holder;
wherein a first portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the first end of said lens barrel is not disposed within the cylindrical passageway of said lens holder;
wherein a second portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the second end of said lens barrel is disposed within the cylindrical passageway of said lens holder;
wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;
wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;
wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein circuitry disposed at the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises (i) first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board and (ii) second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board; wherein the circuitry disposed at the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor; wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by the imager; wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable; wherein, with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board; wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion; wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions; wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing; wherein said camera housing of said camera module has a breadth and a length, and wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said camera housing and along the length of said camera housing;
wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rearward portion of said camera housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to said main circuit board;
wherein said upper cover of said camera housing at said rearward portion of said camera housing comprises an aperture;
wherein at least a part of the first portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the first end of said lens barrel protrudes to exterior of said camera housing through the aperture of said upper cover of said camera module; wherein said lens barrel is adhesively bonded to said lens holder; wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing by at least one fastener; and wherein the imager circuit board is attached at said lens holder by at least one fastener.
Claim 1
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:
a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;
wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;
wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board and (ii) a lens holder comprising a lens assembly;
wherein said lens assembly comprises a lens barrel accommodating a lens;
wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;
wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;
wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein first circuitry is disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein second circuitry is disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;
wherein said image processor is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;
wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;
wherein, with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion;
wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions;
wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing;
wherein said camera housing of said camera module has a breadth and a length, and wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said camera housing and along the length of said camera housing;
wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rearward portion of said camera housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to said main circuit board; and
wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing by at least one fastener.
Claim 1
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:
a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;
wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board and (ii) a lens holder comprising a lens assembly;
wherein said lens assembly comprises a lens barrel accommodating a lens;
wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;
wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;
wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein first circuitry is disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein second circuitry is disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;
wherein said image processor is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;
wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;
wherein, with said camera module disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera system and with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;
wherein housing structure of said camera housing is configured to mount said camera module at a bracket attached at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said bracket comprises bracket structure that cooperates with corresponding housing structure of said camera housing of said camera module so that, with said bracket attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera module is received by said bracket and is mounted at the windshield with the imager viewing through the windshield in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion;
wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions;
wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing;
wherein, with said camera module disposed at the equipped vehicle, image data provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is processed by said image processor for at least one driving assist system of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing.
Claim 47
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board, (ii) a lens barrel and (iii) a lens holder;wherein the imager is operable to capture image data;wherein said lens barrel comprises cylindrical wall structure having a first end and a second end;wherein said lens barrel comprises an annular flange that extends from the cylindrical wall structure outward from a portion of the cylindrical wall structure that is located between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical wall structure of said lens barrel;wherein said lens holder comprises a cylindrical passageway that spans between a first side of said lens holder and a second side of sad lens holder;wherein a first portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the first end of said lens barrel is not disposed within the cylindrical passageway of said lens holder; wherein a second portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the second end of said lens barrel is disposed within the cylindrical passageway of said lens holder; wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion; wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector; wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board; wherein circuitry disposed at the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises (i) first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board and (ii) second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board; wherein said first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises a vehicle connector; wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor; wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by the imager; wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable; wherein, with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board; wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion; wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions; wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing; wherein said camera housing of said camera module has a breadth and a length, and wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said camera housing and along the length of said camera housing;wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rearward portion of said camera housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to said main circuit board;wherein said upper cover of said camera housing at said rearward portion of said camera housing comprises an aperture;wherein at least a part of the first portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the first end of said lens barrel protrudes to exterior of said camera housing through the aperture of said upper cover of said camera module;wherein said lens barrel is adhesively bonded to said lens holder;wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing by at least a first screw fastener;wherein said lens holder comprises a first opening;wherein said upper cover of said camera housing comprises a first hole that corresponds with the first opening of said lens holder;wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing by the first screw fastener that passes through the first opening of said lens holder into the first hole of said upper cover;wherein the imager circuit board is attached at said lens holder by a plurality of screw fasteners;wherein the imager circuit board comprises a plurality of holes;wherein said lens holder comprises a plurality of threaded holes; andwherein each screw fastener of the plurality of screw fasteners extends through a respective hole of the plurality of holes of the imager circuit board to mate with a respective threaded hole of the plurality of threaded holes of said lens holder.
Claim 1
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:
a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;
wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;
wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board and (ii) a lens holder comprising a lens assembly;
wherein said lens assembly comprises a lens barrel accommodating a lens;
wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;
wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;
wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein first circuitry is disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein second circuitry is disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;
wherein said image processor is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;
wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;
wherein, with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion;
wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions;
wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing;
wherein said camera housing of said camera module has a breadth and a length, and wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said camera housing and along the length of said camera housing;
wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rearward portion of said camera housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to said main circuit board; and
wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing by at least one fastener.
Claim 1
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:
a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;
wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board and (ii) a lens holder comprising a lens assembly;
wherein said lens assembly comprises a lens barrel accommodating a lens;
wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;
wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;
wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein first circuitry is disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein second circuitry is disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;
wherein said image processor is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;
wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;
wherein, with said camera module disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera system and with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;
wherein housing structure of said camera housing is configured to mount said camera module at a bracket attached at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said bracket comprises bracket structure that cooperates with corresponding housing structure of said camera housing of said camera module so that, with said bracket attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera module is received by said bracket and is mounted at the windshield with the imager viewing through the windshield in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion;
wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions;
wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing;
wherein, with said camera module disposed at the equipped vehicle, image data provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is processed by said image processor for at least one driving assist system of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing.
Claim 60
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board, (ii) a lens barrel and (iii) a lens holder;wherein the imager is operable to capture image data;wherein said lens barrel comprises cylindrical wall structure having a first end and a second end;wherein said lens barrel comprises an annular flange that extends from the cylindrical wall structure outward from a portion of the cylindrical wall structure that is located between the first end and the second end of the cylindrical wall structure of said lens barrel;wherein said lens holder comprises a cylindrical passageway that spans between a first side of said lens holder and a second side of sad lens holder;wherein a first portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the first end of said lens barrel is not disposed within the cylindrical passageway of said lens holder;wherein a second portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the second end of said lens barrel is disposed within the cylindrical passageway of said lens holder;wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;wherein circuitry disposed at the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises (i) first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board and (ii) second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;wherein said first circuitry disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises a vehicle connector;wherein the second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;wherein said image processor is operable to process image data captured by the imager;wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;wherein, with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an opening configured to allow said flexible ribbon cable to traverse, via the opening, the thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion;wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions;wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing; wherein said camera housing of said camera module has a breadth and a length, and wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said camera housing and along the length of said camera housing;wherein said upper cover of said camera housing at said rearward portion of said camera housing comprises an aperture;wherein at least a part of the first portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the first end of said lens barrel protrudes to exterior of said camera housing through the aperture of said upper cover of said camera module;wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing by at least one fastener; andwherein the imager circuit board is attached at said lens holder by at least one fastener.
Claim 1
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:
a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;
wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;
wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board and (ii) a lens holder comprising a lens assembly;
wherein said lens assembly comprises a lens barrel accommodating a lens;
wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;
wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;
wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein first circuitry is disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein second circuitry is disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;
wherein said image processor is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;
wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;
wherein, with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion;
wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions;
wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing;
wherein said camera housing of said camera module has a breadth and a length, and wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board extends across the breadth of said camera housing and along the length of said camera housing;
wherein the imager circuit board is disposed at said rearward portion of said camera housing and is tilted at an acute angle with respect to said main circuit board; and
wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing by at least one fastener.
Claim 1
A vehicular camera system, said vehicular camera system comprising:
a camera module comprising an imager assembly, a main circuit board and a camera housing;
wherein said imager assembly comprises (i) an imager disposed on an imager circuit board and (ii) a lens holder comprising a lens assembly;
wherein said lens assembly comprises a lens barrel accommodating a lens;
wherein said imager assembly comprises a flexible ribbon cable, said flexible ribbon cable terminating at a terminator portion;
wherein said terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable comprises a first electrical connector;
wherein said main circuit board comprises a multilayered printed circuit board (multilayered PCB) having a first planar side and a second planar side opposite the first planar side and separated from the first planar side by a thickness dimension of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein first circuitry is disposed at the first planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, and wherein second circuitry is disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board comprises an image processor;
wherein said image processor is operable for processing image data captured by the imager;
wherein the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board at its second planar side comprises a second electrical connector, and wherein said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is configured for connecting with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable;
wherein, with said camera module disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicular camera system and with said imager assembly operated to capture image data and with said first electrical connector at the terminator portion of said flexible ribbon cable connected with said second electrical connector at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board, image data captured by the imager of said imager assembly is provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board;
wherein said camera housing comprises an upper cover and a lower cover, and wherein said upper cover and said lower cover are joined together;
wherein housing structure of said camera housing is configured to mount said camera module at a bracket attached at an in-cabin side of a windshield of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said bracket comprises bracket structure that cooperates with corresponding housing structure of said camera housing of said camera module so that, with said bracket attached at the windshield of the equipped vehicle, said camera module is received by said bracket and is mounted at the windshield with the imager viewing through the windshield in a forward direction of travel of the equipped vehicle;
wherein said camera housing comprises a forward portion and a rearward portion;
wherein said main circuit board is accommodated within said forward and rearward portions;
wherein the imager is disposed at said rearward portion and is not disposed at said forward portion of said camera housing;
wherein, with said camera module disposed at the equipped vehicle, image data provided via said flexible ribbon cable at least to said second circuitry disposed at the second planar side of the multilayered PCB of said main circuit board is processed by said image processor for at least one driving assist system of the equipped vehicle; and
wherein said lens holder is attached at said upper cover of said camera housing.
As noted above, claim 1 of the instant application is a variation of claim 1 of issued U.S. Patent Nos. 11,718,228 B2 and 12,162,412 B2. Specifically, claims 1, 47 and 60 of the instant application are to a vehicular camera system, while claim 1 of issued U.S. Patent Nos. 11,718,228 B2 and 12,162,412 B2 are the same device however, the vehicular camera system of the instant application is additionally embodied such that “wherein at least a part of the first portion of said lens barrel between the location of the annular flange and the first end of said lens barrel protrudes to exterior of said camera housing through the aperture of said upper cover of said camera module”. However, Shangguan discloses: wherein said lens barrel is adhesively bonded to said lens holder [See Shangguan, ¶ 0032-0033, Fig. 3 discloses the lens barrel (214) is received into a first portion of a camera housing (cylindrical wall (212)), and adjusted relative to the housing using ramps.]
It would have been obvious to the person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the invention disclosed by U.S. Patent Nos. 11,718,228 B2 and 12,162,412 B2 to add the teachings of Shangguan in order to enable relative adjustment of a lens barrel with respect to a vehicular camera housing
Claims 47 and 60 are rejected for analogous reasons to those presented for claim 1 above.
Conclusion
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/PATRICK E DEMOSKY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2486
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