Camera module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11846767-B2
Application number	US-201916964492-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2019
Priority date	Jan 24, 2018
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

A camera module includes a lens assembly accommodating a liquid lens unit, and a lens-moving unit disposed along an optical axis between the lens assembly and an image sensor, the lens-moving unit being configured to move the lens assembly in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the liquid lens unit in response to a horizontal control signal, wherein the lens-moving unit includes a fixed body, a moving body disposed on the fixed body so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of wires configured to contract or expand independently of each other so as to move the moving body in the horizontal direction in response to the horizontal control signal, each of the plurality of wires including one end connected to the fixed body and an opposite end connected to the moving body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A camera module, comprising:
a lens assembly accommodating a liquid lens unit;
an image sensor disposed along an optical axis of the liquid lens unit;
a lens-moving unit disposed along the optical axis between the lens assembly and the image sensor, the lens-moving unit being configured to move the lens assembly in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the liquid lens unit in response to a horizontal control signal;
a base accommodating the lens assembly; and
a control unit configured to supply a driving voltage to drive the liquid lens unit such that a focal length oriented along the optical axis is changed and to generate the horizontal control signal,
wherein the lens-moving unit comprises:
a fixed body;
a moving body disposed on the fixed body so as to be movable in the horizontal direction, the moving body comprising a support surface supporting the lens assembly; and
a plurality of wires configured to contract or expand independently of each other so as to move the moving body in the horizontal direction in response to the horizontal control signal, each of the plurality of wires comprising one end connected to the fixed body and an opposite end connected to the moving body,

wherein the base is disposed on the support surface of the moving body,
wherein the base comprises a body and a plurality of pillars protruding in a direction parallel to the optical axis from an upper surface of the body,
wherein a first connection part of a signal transmission unit is disposed over a surface of a first pillar, of the plurality of pillars, and one surface of the body, and
wherein a second connection part of the signal transmission unit is disposed over a surface of a second pillar, of the plurality of pillars, and an opposite surface of the body.

2. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises:
a liquid-lens-driving unit configured to generate the driving voltage;
a wire-driving unit configured to generate a plurality of electrical signals as the horizontal control signal to respectively contract or expand the plurality of wires; and
a main board on which the image sensor is disposed.

3. The camera module according to claim 2 , comprising:
the signal transmission unit, which is configured to transmit the driving voltage generated by the liquid-lens-driving unit to the liquid lens unit.

4. The camera module according to claim 3 , wherein the liquid lens unit comprises:
a liquid lens comprising a plate accommodating different types of first and second liquids and first and second electrodes respectively disposed on one surface and an opposite surface of the plate to receive the driving voltage;
a first connection substrate comprising one end connected to the first electrode; and
a second connection substrate comprising one end connected to the second electrode.

5. The camera module according to claim 4 , wherein the signal transmission unit comprises:
the first connection part comprising one end connected to the first connection substrate;
the second connection part comprising one end connected to the second connection substrate;
a first pad connected to an opposite end of the first connection part; and
a second pad connected to an opposite end of the second connection part.

6. The camera module according to claim 5 , wherein the signal transmission unit comprises:
a third connection substrate connecting the first pad to the liquid-lens-driving unit;
a fourth connection substrate connecting the second pad to the liquid-lens-driving unit;
a first elastic member electrically connecting the first pad to the third connection substrate; and
a second elastic member electrically connecting the second pad to the fourth connection substrate.

7. The camera module according to claim 5 , wherein the moving body comprises a plurality of moving segments electrically isolated from each other, and
wherein inner sides of the plurality of moving segments define a path along which light travels from the liquid lens unit to the image sensor.

8. The camera module according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wires comprises:
a first wire comprising one end connected to a first movable point of a first moving segment, among the plurality of moving segments, and an opposite end connected to a first fixed point of the fixed body;
a second wire comprising one end connected to the first movable point of the first moving segment and an opposite end connected to a second fixed point of the fixed body;
a third wire comprising one end connected to a second movable point of a second moving segment, among the plurality of moving segments, and an opposite end connected to a third fixed point of the fixed body; and
a fourth wire comprising one end connected to the second movable point of the second moving segment and an opposite end connected to a fourth fixed point of the fixed body.

9. The camera module according to claim 8 , wherein the first movable point and the second movable point face each other in a diagonal direction in a plane,
wherein the first fixed point and the second fixed point face each other in a diagonal direction in a plane,
wherein the third fixed point and the fourth fixed point face each other in a diagonal direction in a plane,
wherein the first fixed point and the third fixed point are adjacent to each other, and
wherein the second fixed point and the fourth fixed point are adjacent to each other.

10. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the lens-moving unit includes a plurality of balls disposed between the fixed body and the moving body so as to support the moving body and to be rotatable.

11. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein the lens-moving unit includes a plurality of fifth connection substrates respectively electrically connecting the wire-driving unit to the plurality of wires.

12. The camera module according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of fifth connection substrates is configured to be electrically connected to the main board through soldering.

13. The camera module according to claim 4 , wherein the signal transmission unit comprises:
a first pad configured to be electrically connected to an end portion of the first connection substrate bent in a direction oriented toward the moving body; and
a second pad configured to be electrically connected to an end portion of the second connection substrate bent in the direction oriented toward the moving body.

14. The camera module according to claim 5 , comprising a cover disposed so as to surround the lens assembly, the base, and a part of the lens-moving unit.

15. The camera module according to claim 6 , wherein one end of at least one of the first or second elastic member is connected to a lower portion or a side portion of the moving body.

16. The camera module according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second elastic members are configured to be electrically connected to the first and second pads, respectively, by penetrating the moving body.

17. The camera module according to claim 6 , wherein the first and second elastic members are configured to be electrically connected to the first and second pads, respectively, by bypassing the moving body.

18. The camera module according to claim 7 , wherein the first and second pads are disposed on a top surface of the moving body so as to be spaced apart from each other.

19. A camera module, comprising:
a lens assembly accommodating a liquid lens unit;
an image sensor dispos

Assignees

• Lg Innotek Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Jae Keun

Classifications

• G02B26/004 Primary

  based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid · CPC title

• G02B3/14

  of variable focal length · CPC title

• G02B7/09

  adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification · CPC title

• G02B27/646 Primary

  compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68) · CPC title

• G03B5/00

  Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing · CPC title