Camera module including a non-circular lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016154198-A1
Application number	US-201414905391-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2014
Priority date	Jul 17, 2013
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Camera modules include a lens, a lens stack and/or an array of lenses. One or more of the lenses have a non-circular shape, which in some cases can provide greater flexibility in the dimensions of the module and can result in a very small camera module.

First claim

1 . A camera module comprising:
an image sensor having an active array region; a lens that has a non-circular shape when viewed along an axis that is perpendicular to a surface of the active array region; and focal length correction means that separates the lens from the image sensor.

2 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein a projected area of the lens, when viewed along the axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the active array region, is larger than the area of the active array region.

3 . The camera module of claim 2 wherein the projected area of the lens, when viewed along the axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the active array region, is smaller than the area of a circle circumscribing the active array region.

4 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein the lens has dimensions such that substantially all light rays passing through the lens are captured by the active array of the image sensor.

5 . The camera module of claim 1 including a stack of lenses, at least one of which is the lens having a non-circular shape.

6 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein the focal length correction means includes a transparent substrate that is transparent to wavelengths of light that are detectable by the image sensor.

7 . The camera module of claim 5 wherein the focal length correction means further includes a first spacer separating the lens from the transparent substrate, and a second spacer separating the transparent substrate form the image sensor.

8 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein the focal length correction means includes a thickness-adjusted spacer that separates the lens from the image sensor.

9 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein the transparent substrate and a frame holding the lens are fixed to one another by way of a first spacer, and wherein the transparent substrate and image sensor are fixed to one another by way of the second spacer.

10 . The camera module of claim 9 wherein the spacers form portions of outer sidewalls of the camera module.

11 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein the lens having a non-circular shape is an injection molded lens.

12 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein the lens has a rectangular shape when viewed along the axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the active array region.

13 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein the lens has a substantially rectangular shape with rounded corners when viewed along the axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the active array region.

14 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein a periphery of the lens has at least one flat side.

15 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein a periphery of the lens has two flat sides that are parallel to one another.

16 . The camera module of claim 1 wherein the lens is disposed in a lens barrel, the lens barrel having a non-circular opening.

17 . The camera module of claim 16 wherein the non-circular opening of the lens barrel has a shape corresponding to a shape of the lens.

18 - 34 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Heptagon Micro Optics Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Alasimio Jukka Alasimio
• Rudmann Hartmut
• Cesana Mario
• Heimgartner Stephan

Classifications

• H04N23/00

  Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N5/2254

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G02B7/021 Primary

  for more than one lens · CPC title