Lens assembly and camera module including the lens assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10241240-B1
Application number	US-201815896671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Feb 14, 2018
Priority date	Dec 6, 2017
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A lens assembly according to an embodiment includes a holder including a first sidewall having a first opening and a second sidewall having a second opening, a liquid lens unit including at least a portion disposed in the first opening and the second opening, and an adhesive member coupling the holder and the liquid lens unit, wherein the second opening faces the first opening in a direction perpendicular to an optical-axis of the liquid lens unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lens assembly, comprising:
a holder comprising a first sidewall having a first opening and a second sidewall having a second opening;
a liquid lens unit comprising at least a portion disposed in the first opening and the second opening; and
an adhesive member coupling the holder and the liquid lens unit,
wherein the second opening faces the first opening in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the liquid lens unit,
wherein the liquid lens unit comprises a first area disposed outside of the first opening of the holder, and
wherein the adhesive member is coupled to the first area of the liquid lens unit.

2. The lens assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the holder further comprises:
a holder upper area disposed above the liquid lens unit; and
a holder lower area disposed below the liquid lens unit.

3. The lens assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive member seals the holder to inhibit a foreign substance from being introduced inside the holder through the first opening from an outside.

4. The lens assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the adhesive member comprises:
a first adhesive coupling the holder upper area and the liquid lens unit; and
a second adhesive coupling the holder lower area and the liquid lens unit.

5. The lens assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid lens unit further comprises:
a second area disposed outside of the second opening of the holder, and
wherein the adhesive member comprises:
a first adhesive disposed in the first area of the liquid lens unit and disposed on an upper portion of the liquid lens unit;
a second adhesive disposed in the first area of the liquid lens unit and disposed on a lower portion and a side portion of the liquid lens unit;
a third adhesive disposed in the second area of the liquid lens unit and disposed on the upper portion of the liquid lens unit; and
a fourth adhesive disposed in the second area of the liquid lens unit and disposed on the lower portion and the side portion of the liquid lens unit.

6. The lens assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid lens unit comprises:
a liquid lens; and
a spacer disposed surrounding a lateral surface of the liquid lens.

7. The lens assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the liquid lens unit further comprises:
a first connection substrate disposed above the liquid lens; and
a second connection substrate disposed below the liquid lens,
wherein the spacer is disposed between the first connection substrate and the second connection substrate.

8. The lens assembly according to claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the spacer is disposed in the first opening and the second opening.

9. The lens assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the spacer protrudes outward from the holder through the first opening and the second opening.

10. The lens assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the liquid lens comprises at least a portion disposed in the first opening and the second opening.

11. A lens assembly, comprising:
a holder comprising a first opening and a second opening;
a liquid lens unit comprising a portion protruding outside of the holder through at least one of the first opening and the second opening; and
an adhesive member coupling the holder and the liquid lens unit,
wherein the adhesive member comprises: a first adhesive coupling the holder and an upper surface of the liquid lens unit; and a second adhesive coupling the holder and a lower surface and a side surface of the liquid lens unit, and
wherein the second opening faces the first opening in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the liquid lens unit.

12. The lens assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first adhesive has an I-shaped form, and the second adhesive has a U-shaped form.

13. The lens assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first adhesive has a maximum diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the second adhesive.

14. The lens assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the second adhesive is connected to the first adhesive.

15. The lens assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the second adhesive has a contraction rate smaller than a contraction rate of the first adhesive.

16. The lens assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the second adhesive comprises an adhesive having a contraction rate equal to or less than 1% upon curing.

17. The lens assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the second adhesive comprises a silicon-based adhesive.

18. A lens assembly, comprising:
a holder comprising a first opening and a second opening;
a liquid lens unit disposed between the first opening and the second opening and protruding outside of the first opening of the holder;
a first adhesive fixing the liquid lens unit to the holder; and
a second adhesive hermetically sealing the first opening,
wherein the first adhesive and the second adhesive are formed of different materials, and
wherein the second opening faces the first opening in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the liquid lens unit.

19. A camera module, comprising:
a board;
a holder disposed on the board;
a first lens unit disposed in the holder;
a second lens unit disposed in the holder;
a liquid lens unit disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit; and
an adhesive member coupling the holder and the liquid lens unit,
wherein the holder comprises a first sidewall having a first opening and a second sidewall having a second opening,
wherein at least a portion of the liquid lens unit is disposed in the first opening and the second opening,
wherein the liquid lens unit comprises a first area disposed outside of the first opening of the holder,
wherein the second opening faces the first opening in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the liquid lens unit, and
wherein the adhesive member is coupled to the first area of the liquid lens unit.

20. The camera module according to claim 19 , further comprising a cover disposed so as to surround the holder, the liquid lens unit, and the adhesive member,
wherein the holder comprises an upper surface in direct physical contact with the cover and located higher than an upper surface of the adhesive member.

Assignees

• Lg Innotek Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Yong Bok

Classifications

• G02B5/208

  for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation · CPC title

• G02B7/021

  for more than one lens · CPC title

• G02B13/0075

  having an element with variable optical properties · CPC title

• G03B3/10

  Power-operated focusing · CPC title

• G03B2205/0007

  Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur · CPC title