DOMESTIC APPLIANCE HAVING A CAMERA AND A POSITIONALLY FIXED ARRANGEMENT OF A MODULE IN A HOUSING SLOT OF THE CAMERA, AND METHOD

A household appliance has a camera with a housing and a module with a first electrical connector. The module is separate from the housing and arranged in the housing. The housing is formed with a housing slot with a longitudinal axis, and a positioning device is arranged on an inner side of the housing slot. The module is arranged in the housing slot and is arranged so as to be at least axially fixed in the housing slot by a positioning device. There is also described a method for mounting a camera of a household appliance.

One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance having a camera. The camera has a housing. The camera also has a module that is separate from the housing. Said module has a first electrical connector. Said electrical connector is configured to make contact with a further electrical connector external to the camera. The module is arranged in the housing of the camera. A further aspect of the invention relates to a method for mounting a camera of a household appliance.

It is known for at least one camera to be present in modern household appliances, for example household refrigeration appliances, said camera being used to capture a chamber for food. It is known for such a camera to be arranged for example on a wall of an inner container that delimits the chamber in household refrigeration appliances. As household refrigeration appliances require thermal insulation between the inner container and the outer housing of the household refrigeration appliance, attachment in this manner is more problematic. To allow it, a backing part is used in addition to a camera. This is generally arranged in a space between the inner container and the outer housing. The backing part is therefore arranged in particular where there is foam. This means that it is arranged in the space between the inner container and the outer housing, into which thermally insulating foam is introduced. Such a configuration is known for example from DE 10 2013 216 767 A1. Such a backing part is snap-fitted in a cut-out in a wall of the inner container. A support for a camera housing and a lighting unit is also inserted into the backing part there and snap-fitted thereto. Connecting interfaces present for the electrical connection of the camera are integrated in a rear wall of the backing part or passed into the interior of the backing part by means of a cable.

In the case specifically of compactly structured cameras, which are to be arranged in a space-saving manner in a household appliance, the individual components should be arranged in a defined manner in relation to one another.

It is the object of the present invention to create a household appliance, in which a camera with its individual components is structured in such a manner that it is possible to achieve simple and secure coupling to components external to the camera in a simple and reliable manner. It is also an object to create a method for mounting a camera of a household appliance, in which such simple coupling to components external to the camera is subsequently then possible.

Said object is achieved by a household appliance and a method as set out in the independent claims.

One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance. The household appliance has at least one camera. The camera has a housing. The camera also has a module that is separate from the housing. Said module has a first electrical connector. It can also be referred to as a connector module. This is specifically provided to allow direct coupling of the first electrical connector to a separate second electrical connector external to the camera. This module of the camera is arranged in the housing. In particular it is arranged in its totality therein. The housing has a housing slot. Said housing slot has a longitudinal axis. A positioning device is arranged on an inner face of said housing slot. The module of the camera is arranged in said housing slot. The positioning device arranges the module in the housing slot such that it is fixed at least axially and therefore at least in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing slot. This means that a relatively central component of the camera, specifically the first electrical connector, is positioned precisely in said housing slot. This allows simple coupling to a further electrical connector external to the camera in a simple and secure manner. This also reliably ensures the electrical connection between the camera and external components. Particularly when said first electrical connector is arranged in its totality within the housing slot and held therein in a fixed position relative thereto, the first electrical connector can also be reliably connected blind to the second electric connector external to the camera when the camera is mounted on a further component of the household appliance. Mechanical and electrical contacts are then reliably established with said blind connection. Because of said positioning device, which is arranged on the housing slot on an inner face, the end position of the module in the housing slot is automatically reached and then maintained in a fixed manner, when the module is inserted. As the housing slot is only open in particular at its opposing ends when viewed along the longitudinal axis, inward accessibility is limited. This makes positioning difficult when inserting the electrical connector into the housing slot. The invention with the positioning device resolves this problem even for such difficult to access installation positions and also end positions of the electrical connector that are difficult to locate reliably. Even if it is not possible to see a great deal in the housing slot or to achieve access, the positioning device allows the desired end position of the module in the housing slot to be reached and maintained precisely. Specifically if the housing slot is also to be connected mechanically and/or brought into contact in a direct manner with further components of the household appliance and said electrical connectors are therefore to be connected directly, such a precise axial position of the module in the housing slot is particularly advantageous. Account can therefore be taken of all aspects in respect of the direct coupling of multiple component pairs, allowing particularly precise and therefore fast and simple installation of the camera on components of the household appliance.

In one exemplary embodiment the module has a printed circuit board. Said printed circuit board is connected mechanically in a direct manner to the positioning device so that the printed circuit board is arranged in an axially fixed manner in the housing slot. The printed circuit board per se is a relatively stable and robust part. The corresponding holding and mounting forces can therefore advantageously be absorbed by said component of the module. In particular this allows the axially fixed end position of the module in the housing slot to be particularly advantageously reached and maintained.

In one exemplary embodiment the positioning device has axial guide channels on the inner face. In particular the printed circuit board of the module engages in said guide channels. This is a further extremely advantageous exemplary embodiment, as said guide channels allow targeted and straight guidance on the mounting path of the module in the housing slot to the end position in the housing slot. If the printed circuit board is already engaged in the guide channels, the end position can be reached in a very direct and efficient manner. The guide channels therefore serve both to maintain and support the final end position of the module in the housing slot as well as to guide the module to said end position in a defined manner.

In one exemplary embodiment the positioning device has an axial stop. This is configured on the inner face of the housing slot. In the end position one edge of the module, in particular of the printed circuit board, rests against said axial stop. This allows the axial end position of the module in the housing slot to be located particularly precisely and also to be maintained. Therefore in one advantageous exemplary embodiment said axially fixed end position can be predetermined and then maintained particularly precisely with a working connection between the guide channels and the axial stop.

In one exemplary embodiment the guide channels are configured as a single piece with the housing slot. In one exemplary embodiment the at least one axial stop is configured as a single piece with the housing slot.

In one exemplary embodiment the positioning device has an engaging element arranged on the inner face of the housing slot. Said engaging element engages in a counter engaging element configured on an edge of the printed circuit board to secure the axial position of the printed circuit board and therefore to define the end position of the printed circuit board in the housing slot. In one exemplary embodiment the arrangement of the housing slot with the module therefore also has a snap-fit connection. This is formed by the engaging element and the counter engaging element. This allows the axial position of the module in the housing slot to be fixed in both directions along the longitudinal axis. This is a particularly advantageous embodiment.

Provision can be made for the engaging element to be configured in a guide channel.

Generally in one exemplary embodiment the positioning device establishes the positionally secure end position of the module in the housing slot in all three spatial directions. This can be achieved in particular by the guide channels and said snap-fit connection. The guide channels preferably allow secure positioning in both spatial directions perpendicular to the longitudinal axis here. The snap-fit connection allows secure positioning in particular at least in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

In one exemplary embodiment the delimiting contour of the counter engaging element is angled, in particular at a 45° angle. When the module is inserted into the housing slot along the longitudinal axis of the housing slot therefore the engaging element attains said angle or chamfer and can therefore snap easily into the engaging element.

A snap fit is therefore also possible when the wall, on which the engaging element is molded as a single piece on the inner face of the housing slot, is relatively rigid.

In one exemplary embodiment the module is arranged in particular in a central third of the length of the housing slot when viewed along the longitudinal axis of the housing slot. Provision can be made for said module to be arranged in the center of the housing slot when viewed along the longitudinal axis. In one exemplary embodiment therefore the coupled state between the first electrical connector of the camera and a further second electrical connector external to the camera is also arranged, in particular arranged in its totality, in the housing slot of the camera. This automatically results in a protected connector connection, which is positioned, in particular in its totality, in the housing slot, when the camera is in its mounted end state in the housing slot. This configuration also results in the mechanically stable positioning of said connector connection in the mounted end state.

In one exemplary embodiment the housing of the camera has a front part that is separate from the housing slot. In one exemplary embodiment said housing slot is connected to the front part by at least one snap-fit connection. Such a specific non-destructively releasable mechanical connection can be established easily. It can then also be released easily as required for maintenance purposes or the like. Because the housing is formed from at least two separate components, the mounting of individual parts of the camera can be achieved in a more individual and efficient manner both in the housing slot and in the front part. This allows more precise positioning of the individual components in both parts of the housing. And access to the individual components incorporated in these two housing parts is also improved.

In one exemplary embodiment the housing slot is configured as straight and tubular. In particular it can be a square tube. In the exemplary embodiment the basic geometry of the housing slot is configured symmetrically to a plane running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing slot. The opposing ends of the housing slot can therefore be of equal size. Such a configuration results one the one hand in a relatively simple housing part, which can also hold corresponding components and allows mechanically stable connection to parts external to the camera. It is also correspondingly mechanically stable and durable. Therefore in one exemplary embodiment a further coupling to housing parts of the camera can also be established in a simple manner. This can be for example a separate front part and/or in a further exemplary embodiment an additional separate curved segment of the camera housing. This easily provides a correspondingly wide number of variants for the configuration of different camera types.

In one exemplary embodiment the housing slot is made of plastic. It can be an injection molded part for example.

In one exemplary embodiment the camera housing has a front part that is separate from the housing slot. An image capturing module of the camera is arranged in said front part. In one advantageous exemplary embodiment said image capturing module is held in the front part by at least one snap-fit connection. This results in a simple and fast mounting scenario for said image capturing module in the front part. It also allows reliable position fixing and a high level of positional precision.

In one exemplary embodiment the image capturing module has a printed circuit board. In one exemplary embodiment said printed circuit board is snap-fitted in the front part by at least one snap-fit connection that interacts mechanically in a direct manner with the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board forms a mechanically stable and durable part here too. It can easily absorb and continuously maintain the corresponding mounting and holding forces. The resulting fixed positioning is therefore also continuously maintained in respect of the positional precision of the image capturing module.

In one exemplary embodiment the image capturing module has a printed circuit board. It is connected to the printed circuit board of the module by a flexible ribbon conductor or a flexible conductor board.

This allows the different printed circuit boards that are incorporated in the camera housing some distance from one another to be connected directly electrically in a simple and space-saving manner.

In one exemplary embodiment the printed circuit board of the image capturing module and the printed circuit board of the module with the first electrical connector can be supplied as a pre-mounted assembly together with said flexible ribbon conductor. This pre-mounted assembly can then subsequently be incorporated first in the housing slot. In particular this incorporates the printed circuit board of the module in the housing slot with its position fixed axially, in particular its position fixed in all three spatial directions. The printed circuit board of the image capturing module is then subsequently incorporated, in particular snap-fitted, in the front part of the camera housing that is separate and is preferably present. This configuration allows a particularly simple and fast mounting scenario.

In one exemplary embodiment the camera housing has a separate, hollow curved segment. In one exemplary embodiment this is arranged between the front part on the one hand and the housing slot on the other hand when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal direction of the housing. The curved segment is configured in particular as an angular position adapter for the front part. The curved segment is connected in a non-destructively releasable manner to both the front part and the housing slot. The entire housing is then formed by the parts arranged in series with one another comprising the housing slot, the curved segment and the front part. Said curved segment therefore makes it possible to set a specific orientation of the capture range of the image capturing module. It is then possible with this exemplary embodiment with the curved segment for a main axis of the capture range of the image capturing module to be oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the housing slot. This angle is greater than 0° and smaller than 180°. In particular it can be between 100° and 170°.

In one exemplary embodiment said curved segment is connected to the front part by at least one snap-fit connection. In one advantageous exemplary embodiment it is connected to the housing slot at least by one snap-fit connection. This allows a wide range of housing parts of the camera housing to be put together quickly and individually. It also allows a wide range of options for producing diverse individual camera variants. This modular structure of the camera housing allows a diverse number of housing variants to be achieved with a number of identical parts. An individual housing variant can therefore be produced easily and quickly for different applications and different incorporation situations. Said housing parts are outer parts and therefore visible parts.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance as an exemplary embodiment of a household appliance. The household refrigeration appliance can be a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined refrigerator/freezer appliance. The household refrigeration appliance is configured to store and conserve food. It can have a chamber in the form of a refrigeration compartment or a freezer compartment. Both chambers are also possible in one exemplary embodiment. A chamber is delimited by walls of an inner container of the household refrigeration appliance. Such an inner container is generally made of plastic. It is part of a housing of the household refrigeration appliance. The housing of the household refrigeration appliance also has an outer housing, which is separate from the inner container. The inner container is held in the outer housing. A thermally insulating material is introduced in a space between the outer housing and the inner container. This can be thermally insulating foam in particular. A door of the household refrigeration appliance can also have a wall, which is an inner wall. The door can also have an outer wall. A thermally insulating material is introduced into a space between the inner wall and the outer wall.

In the mounted state provision is made for at least sections of a separate backing part to be arranged in an above-mentioned space between an outer part and an inner part. At least a contact plate thereof is positioned in this space. The contact plate is in contact in particular with a rear face of said wall or inner wall facing the space. When the household refrigeration appliance is in the mounted state the thermally insulating material is in direct contact with said backing part. The camera can be arranged on a wall of the household refrigeration appliance. In particular on an inner wall. When a door of the household refrigeration appliance is in a closed state, it can delimit the chamber. The inner wall can be an inner wall of the door. However it can also be a wall of the inner container. It can also be arranged on a wall, which is arranged in the chamber and is not part of the inner container.

This arrangement with the camera and backing part can thus be arranged on a wall of an inner container of the household refrigeration appliance. However the wall of the household refrigeration appliance can also be part of a door of the household refrigeration appliance for example. This can be the inner lining of the door for example. This is an example of an inner part. When the door is in the closed state, the inner lining faces the chamber of the household refrigeration appliance. This inner lining is also a visible part of the door. A space between an outer part in the form of an outer lining and an inner lining of the door can also be delimited thereby. Thermally insulating material can also be introduced into this space.

A further independent aspect of the invention relates to a method for mounting a camera of a household appliance. In particular the household appliance is configured according to the above-mentioned aspect of an advantageous exemplary embodiment thereof. The method has the following steps:supplying a housing slot of a camera housing;supplying a module that is separate from the housing slot and has a first electrical connector;inserting the module into the housing slot;moving the module axially in the housing slot in the direction of a predefined end position of the module in the housing slot;coupling the module mechanically to the positioning device, which is configured on an inner face of the housing slot, so that the module is at least axially fixed in the end position in the housing slot.

The advantages achieved with this mounting method have already been set out above in relation to the household appliance. They apply in the same way here.

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention the pre-mounted assembly is produced, as set out above. In one exemplary embodiment said pre-mounted assembly is then inserted into the housing slot. To this end the pre-mounted assembly is inserted into the housing slot from one end of the housing slot with the printed circuit board of the image capturing module in front. The printed circuit board of the module with the first electrical connector is therefore inserted last into the housing slot. The printed circuit board of the image capturing module is preferably smaller than the printed circuit board of the module. This in particular allows the printed circuit board of the image capturing module to pass the positioning device in the housing slot easily and exit again at the opposite end in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing slot. The printed circuit board of the module is introduced into the housing slot, as set out above, until it reaches the defined and desired axial end position in the housing slot and is fixed there axially as required. This means in particular that it can no longer move in both directions along the longitudinal axis. In particular the printed circuit board is held in position by at least one snap-fit connection. In particular a positioning lug is configured, which has a counterpart in the printed circuit board, producing the snap-fit connection in the coupled state.

In one advantageous further mounting step the printed circuit board of the image capturing module is incorporated in the front part of the camera housing that is preferably present. A mechanical snap-fit connection is used here in particular so that said printed circuit board is snap-fitted in the front part. If a variant of the camera is mounted, in which a curved housing segment is to be present, in addition to the front part and the housing slot, said curved segment is supplied and the printed circuit board of the image capturing module, which has been passed out of the housing slot again, is passed through the curved segment so that said printed circuit board of the image capturing module exits from the curved segment again. A camera with a curved segment as part of the housing is advantageous in particular when it is mounted on an inner face of a door of the household refrigeration appliance, as the camera can still capture an image in the chamber even when the door is open.

The curved segment is connected mechanically, in particular by means of a snap-fit connection, to the housing slot before or afterwards. If the printed circuit board of the image capturing module is incorporated, specifically in particular snap-fitted, in the front part, the front part is either fastened mechanically to the housing slot in a direct manner, in particular by at least one snap-fit connection, or, if the curved segment is present, fastened mechanically to the curved segment in a direct manner, in particular snap-fitted thereto. Said camera unit is then arranged for example on a wall of the household appliance. In particular a backing part can be supplied for this, which is arranged on the opposite face of the wall to the camera. In one exemplary embodiment said backing part can extend through a hole or opening in the wall. In particular the housing of the camera, in particular the housing slot, is then connected mechanically in a direct manner to said backing part. In one advantageous exemplary embodiment only one or multiple snap-fit connections is/are provided. When the housing slot is connected thus to said backing part, the direct electrical connection between the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector mounted on the backing part is automatically established.

A further independent aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance with a camera. The camera has a housing and a module separate from the housing. The module is arranged in the housing. The housing has a housing slot and a separate curved segment. As a result the entire housing is formed by the curved segment with an angular part. The curved segment and the housing slot are connected in a non-destructively releasable manner. In particular they are connected directly to one another by at least one snap-fit connection.

Advantageous exemplary embodiments of the above-mentioned aspect should be considered to be advantageous exemplary embodiments of the further independent aspect.

The terms “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “depthwise direction”, “widthwise direction”, “heightwise direction”, etc. refer to the positions and orientations resulting when the appliance is used and positioned in the correct manner.

Further features of the invention will emerge from the claims, figures and description of the figures. The features and feature combinations cited above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations cited in the following in the description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be used not only in the respectively cited combination but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore embodiments of the invention which are not specifically shown and explained in the figures but will emerge and can be generated from the described embodiments as a result of separate feature combinations are also deemed to be covered and disclosed by the invention. Embodiments and feature combinations which do not therefore have all the features of an originally formulated independent claim should also be deemed to be disclosed.

Identical elements or those of identical function are shown with the same reference characters in the figures.

FIG.1ashows a schematic view of a household appliance, in this instance a household refrigeration appliance1. The household refrigeration appliance1has an arrangement1a. The household refrigeration appliance1has a housing1b. A chamber1cfor holding food is configured herein. The chamber1ccan be a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment. The chamber1cis delimited by walls of an inner container1dof the household refrigeration appliance1. The household refrigeration appliance1also has a door1e. This is arranged on the housing1bin such a manner that it can pivot to close the chamber1c. The door1ehas a wall1f, which is an inner lining.

FIG.1bshows an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement1a. The arrangement1ais configured for mounting on a wall2of the household appliance, in particular the household refrigeration appliance1. The wall2can be the wall1for it can be a wall of the inner container1d. The arrangement1ahas a camera3. The camera3has a housing. The housing here is made up of multiple parts. In one exemplary embodiment it has a quite long, straight housing slot4or a housing channel. The housing in the exemplary embodiment also has a curved segment5. The curved segment5is configured to be joined to the housing slot4. A snap-fit connection in particular is provided here. The quite long housing slot4has a longitudinal axis A. The connection to the curved segment5is provided on a front end4aof the housing slot4facing away from the wall2. The quite long housing slot4is rectangular in cross section. However it can be of a different shape. It can be seen that a rear end4bof the housing slot4facing the wall2in the mounted state is configured with a widened end piece4c. The widening here is provided below when viewed in a heightwise direction. This results in a funnel shape in the rear region of said quite long housing slot4. In one preferred exemplary embodiment according toFIG.1bthe rear end4bis not widened however. In particular it has the same cross section at the rear end4bas at the front end4a.

In one exemplary embodiment the camera3also has an anti-fog element6. In particular this is a film. In one exemplary embodiment the camera3also has a terminating element or front part7. This is provided to hold a module8. The module8has a printed circuit board. In particular the camera3also has optical components and an image sensor. The front part7is part of the housing of the camera3. The module8can also be referred to as an image capturing module8. It can feature the image sensor. It can feature an optical system.

A flexible conductor board9is also provided for the camera3. It connects the module8to a further module10of the camera3. Said further module10has a printed circuit board11. The module10also in particular has a first electrical connector12. This is connected to the printed circuit board11or mounted thereon.

In one exemplary embodiment provision can be made for the housing of the camera3to feature the two components4and5. In a further exemplary embodiment however provision can be made for the housing of the camera3also to feature the front part7. Either configuration can be advantageous, depending on the positioning of the arrangement1ain the household refrigeration appliance1. In particular the curved segment5is advantageous when specific angles result when the door1eof the household refrigeration appliance1is opened. It should in particular be possible even then to capture the entire chamber1cof the household refrigeration appliance1.

The camera3can be arranged on the door1eof the household refrigeration appliance1. However it can also be arranged on the inner container1d, which delimits the chamber1cfor food. The chamber1cis to be captured by the camera3.

The arrangement1aalso has a backing part13. The backing part13is separate from the camera3. In one exemplary embodiment the backing part13is a single-piece part. It can in particular be made of plastic. In one exemplary embodiment the backing part13has a contact plate14. It also has a mechanical coupling unit15. The coupling unit15is arranged so that it projects from the contact plate14. In one exemplary embodiment the coupling unit15has a holding slot16. This is provided in particular to hold a second electrical connector17.

In one exemplary embodiment the backing part13, in particular the coupling unit15, has an in particular widened front piece18. This in particular complements the widened end piece4cof the quite long housing channel4, when said widening is present there.

FIG.1balso shows a screw19for one exemplary embodiment. This is provided to establish a screw connection between the camera3and the backing part13. A cover20is also shown. This is to cover the screw19when it is tightened. In one exemplary embodiment there is preferably no screw connection between the camera3and the backing part13. The camera3is then only connected to the backing part13by snap-fit connections.

FIG.1bshows that the housing slot4is configured as a square tube. The housing slot4is configured in particular as a single piece, preferably made of plastic. It is in particular an injection molded part. In one exemplary embodiment the opposing ends4aand4bof the housing slot4are configured identically. This means that the cross sections are of equal size here.

In one exemplary embodiment in particular, in which the housing slot4is only connected to the backing part13by snap-fit connections, the housing slot4does not feature the widened end piece4c. The screws19and the cover20in particular are then not present. This is then the preferred exemplary embodiment.

FIG.1balso shows a positioning device21symbolically. The positioning device21is configured in the housing slot4. It is configured as a single piece with the housing slot4. The positioning device21is provided functionally and purposefully to fix the module10, in particular the printed circuit board11, axially in the housing slot4in a defined manner. In the mounted end state the printed circuit board11then has an at least axially secured end position in the housing slot4. To mount the camera3provision is first made for the prefabricated module10, featuring the printed circuit board11and the first electrical connector12, to be connected to the flexible conductor board9or the related flexible ribbon conductor. The module8is also connected to said flexible conductor board9.

FIG.2shows the arrangement1ain the assembled state.

Said module8, which is an assembly22(FIG.3) of the camera3, has a printed circuit board23. Arranged on said printed circuit board23is an image capturing unit24, as also shown inFIG.3.

In one exemplary embodiment the camera3also has a flash unit25. This is preferably arranged next to the separate image capturing unit24on said printed circuit board23. This component arrangement comprising said module8, the flexible conductor board9and the module10, forms a pre-mounted assembly26. It is then supplied accordingly. It is then inserted into the housing slot4from the second end4balong the longitudinal axis A. This means that in practice the module8, in particular the conductor board23, is inserted first into the housing slot.

As shown in the perspective sectional view inFIG.4, the positioning device21is configured in an integrated manner on an inner face27of said housing slot4. In one exemplary embodiment the positioning device21has guide channels28and29. These are configured on opposing inner faces27of opposing walls of the housing slot4. Said guide channels28and29are oriented axially. In the exemplary embodiment the positioning device21also has an axial stop30. When the module10reaches its end state or end position in the housing slot4, a rear face or edge31of the printed circuit board11is in direct contact with said axial stop30. In one exemplary embodiment the axial stop30can be an end delimitation of at least one guide channel, in this instance the guide channel28.

Additionally or alternatively the axial stop30can also be an end delimitation of the guide channel29. The printed circuit board11is inserted directly into said guide channels28and29.

In one exemplary embodiment the positioning device21also has an engaging element32. This is configured as a single piece on the inner face27. The engagement element or engaging element32is in particular a snap-fit element. As also shown inFIG.4, a side edge of the printed circuit board11features an indentation, which forms a counter engaging element33. When the module10, in particular the printed circuit board11, is in the axial end position in the housing slot4, the engaging element32engages in the counter engaging element33. This results in particular in a snap-fit connection here.

In one exemplary embodiment the positioning device21secures the module10axially in the housing slot4in both directions along the longitudinal axis A. The guide channels28and29in particular also allow position fixing or securing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A.

In one exemplary embodiment the positioning device21arranges the module10, in particular the printed circuit board11, in a positionally secured manner in all three spatial directions in the housing slot4.

As also shown inFIG.4, from the intermediate mounting state inFIG.3the pre-mounted assembly26is inserted into the housing slot4such that the flexible conductor board9and particularly also the module8exit again from the housing slot4at the front end4a.

If the camera3features a variant in which the curved segment5is also present, the curved segment5is supplied during the mounting scenario and the pre-mounted assembly26with the module8and part of the flexible conductor board9is also passed through the curved segment5.

In one exemplary embodiment the curved segment5is snap-fitted directly to the housing slot4, in particular the front end4a, by at least one snap-fit connection.

At least on snap-fit element34and at least one counter snap-fit element35can be provided for this purpose.

Further to the intermediate mounting state of the camera3reached inFIG.4in an advantageous further mounting scenario the front part7of the housing of the camera3is supplied. The printed circuit board23is then mounted in said front part7as shown inFIG.5. A non-destructively releasable connection in particular is provided here. In particular said printed circuit board23is held in a fixed position in the front part7by at least one snap-fit connection.

An enlarged view of the front part7is also shown inFIG.6a. One or more delimiting lugs36are configured as a single piece with the front part7here. The conductor board23is brought into contact with them and pivoted in the direction of the front part7, as shown by the arrow P1. The front part7has snap-fit elements37and38. From the intermediate mounting state inFIG.6athe pivoting in the direction of the arrow P1causes the snap-fit elements37and38to be snap-fitted to the edge regions of the printed circuit board23. This is shown inFIG.6b. This shows the mounted end state of the module8, in particular also of the conductor board or printed circuit board23, in the front part7. For the sake of clarity the flexible conductor board9is not shown here. The mounting state shown inFIG.6bis also shown inFIG.5.

From the intermediate mounting state reached inFIG.5the front part7with the module8mounted therein is mounting on the remaining housing parts of the housing of the camera3. In the exemplary embodiment shown, in which the curved segment5is present, said front part7is fastened to the curved segment5. A non-destructively releasable connection is provided here in particular. In the view inFIG.7, which shows a perspective sectional view, at least one snap-fit connection is provided here. In one exemplary embodiment side webs of the front part7, on which the snap-fit elements37and38are also configured, also have snap-fit elements39and40. Said snap-fit elements39and40then snap-fit to corresponding counter snap-fit elements41and42, which are configured on the curved segment5.

FIG.8shows a perspective sectional view of the camera3in its mounted end state.

The camera3thus mounted is then fastened to the backing part13in a further advantageous mounting step. As shown inFIG.9, the camera3is only connected to the backing part13by means of snap-fit connections. In one exemplary embodiment the camera3rests against the wall2at the rear end4b. However the camera3can also be positioned a short distance from the wall2. Snap-fit connections between the housing slot4and the backing part13are shown with the reference characters43and44here by way of example.

FIG.10shows a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment. An axial stop30and/or at least one guide channel28and/or29and/or a snap-fit connection with an engaging element32and with a counter engaging element33can be configured here too. In this embodiment the housing slot4is not configured as a straight symmetrical square tube but as angled housing components. With this embodiment in the mounted state the longitudinal axis A of the housing slot4is not oriented perpendicular to the plane of the wall2but at an angle greater than 0° and smaller than 90°, in particular between 20° and 60°. The camera shown here can be arranged in a chamber1c. For example it can be arranged on a wall of the inner container1dor on a separate wall in the chamber1c.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS