Camera module and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11275290-B2
Application number	US-202017124832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2020
Priority date	Jun 30, 2020
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

A camera module includes: a plurality of lens modules disposed in a first direction and a second direction intersecting an optical axis; a first light blocking member configured to move in the first direction to selectively expose the plurality of lens modules; a second light blocking member configured to move in the second direction to selectively expose the plurality of lens modules; and a driving assembly configured to drive the first light blocking member and the second light blocking member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera module, comprising:
a plurality of lens modules disposed in a first direction and a second direction intersecting an optical axis;
a first light blocking member configured to move in the first direction to selectively expose the plurality of lens modules;
a second light blocking member configured to move in the second direction to selectively expose the plurality of lens modules; and
a driving assembly configured to drive the first light blocking member and the second light blocking member.

2. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the first light blocking member includes a first rack extending in the first direction, and
wherein the second light blocking member includes a second rack extending in the second direction.

3. The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the driving assembly includes a driving gear configured to be engaged with the first rack and the second rack.

4. The camera module of claim 3 , wherein the driving gear includes:
a driving region including teeth; and
a non-driving region excluding teeth.

5. The camera module of claim 4 , wherein the driving region is formed in a rotationally symmetrical shape about a driving shaft of the driving gear.

6. The camera module of claim 4 , wherein an arc length formed in the driving region is equal to a first length of a lens module, among the plurality of lens modules, in the first direction and a second length of the lens module in the second direction, and
wherein the arc length is greater than the first length and the second length, or is equal to a gap between adjacent lens modules among the plurality of lens modules.

7. The camera module of claim 3 , wherein the driving assembly further includes:
a driving motor; and
a power transmission gear configured to be engaged with a pinion of the driving motor, coupled to the driving shaft of the driving gear, and configured to rotate integrally with the driving gear.

8. The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first guide member configured to guide movement of the first light blocking member in the first direction; and
a second guide member configured to guide movement of the second light blocking member in the second direction.

9. The camera module of claim 8 , wherein the first light blocking member includes first protrusions spaced apart by a first gap in the first direction and being in contact with the first guide member, and
wherein the second light blocking member includes second protrusions spaced apart by a second gap in the second direction and being in contact with the second guide member.

10. The camera module of claim 9 , wherein the first guide member includes first grooves configured to partially receive the first protrusions, and spaced apart by the first gap, and
wherein the second guide member includes second grooves configured to partially receive the second protrusions, and spaced apart by the second gap.

11. The camera module of claim 10 , wherein the first gap and the second gap are equal to a first length of a lens module, among the plurality of lens modules, in the first direction and a second length of the lens module in the second direction, or
wherein the first gap and the second gap are equal to a gap between adjacent lens modules among the plurality of lens modules.

12. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lens modules include:
a first lens module having first optical properties; and
a second lens module having second optical properties.

13. The camera module of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third lens module having third optical properties.

14. An electronic device, comprising:
the camera module of claim 1 .

15. A camera module, comprising:
a plurality of lens modules arranged in columns extending in a first direction and rows extending in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction intersect optical axes of the plurality of lens modules;
a first light blocking member;
a second light blocking member; and
a driving member configured to selectively move the first light blocking member and the second light blocking member in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, to expose one or more lens modules among the plurality of lens modules.

16. The camera module of claim 15 , wherein the driving member is further configured to selectively move the first light blocking member in only the first direction, and selectively move the second light blocking member in only the second direction.

17. The camera module of claim 15 , wherein the first light blocking member and the second light blocking member are configured to move in increments in the first direction and the second direction, respectively, to expose different combinations of lens modules among the plurality of lens modules.

18. The camera module of claim 15 , wherein the first light blocking member includes a first rack extending in the first direction,
wherein the second light blocking member includes a second rack extending in the second direction, and
wherein the driving member comprises a gear including teeth disposed in driving regions, and the driving regions are spaced apart such that the teeth are configured to selectively engage the first rack and the second rack.

Assignees

• Samsung Electro Mech

Inventors

• Jun Jae Woo
• Choi Chul

Classifications

• G03B2205/0053

  Driving means for the movement of one or more optical element · CPC title

• G03B11/043 Primary

  Protective lens closures or lens caps built into cameras · CPC title

• G03B17/12

  with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets · CPC title

• G03B2205/0007

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

• G03B13/36

  Autofocus systems · CPC title