Camera module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017257533-A1
Application number	US-201715446838-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 1, 2017
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Sep 7, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

In a camera module, a camera substrate includes an image sensor. A base portion is a case fixed to the camera substrate and includes a through hole passing through an opposing surface that opposes the camera substrate. A tube-shaped lens barrel portion holds a lens therein and is disposed to be continuous with the through hole. An optical filter is fixed to a fixing region formed on an inner wall surface of the opposing surface. The lens barrel portion includes an air hole that communicates from a tip of the lens barrel portion to the through hole, through a tube-shaped wall of the lens barrel portion in a direction of an optical axis of the lens. The opposing surface includes an air channel that communicates between the through hole and a base inner space surrounded by the base portion and the camera substrate. The air channel has a bent shape.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A camera module comprising:
a camera substrate that includes an image sensor; a base portion that is a case fixed to the camera substrate so as to surround the image sensor and includes a through hole passing through an opposing surface that opposes the camera substrate; a tube-shaped lens barrel portion that holds a lens therein and is disposed so as to communicate with the through hole on an outer wall surface side of the opposing surface; and an optical filter that is fixed to a fixing region formed on an inner wall surface of the opposing surface, the lens barrel portion including an air hole that communicates from a tip of the lens barrel portion to the through hole, through a tube-shaped wall of the lens barrel portion in a direction of an optical axis of the lens, the opposing surface including an air channel that communicates between and the through hole and a base inner space, the base inner space being a space surrounded by the base portion and the camera substrate, the air channel having a bent shape on a cross-section parallel to the optical axis.

2 . The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the air channel includes:
a first groove that extends beyond the fixing region from an inner wall surface of the through hole in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis; and
a second groove that extends from an end portion of the first groove on a side opposite the through hole towards the base inner space in the direction of the optical axis.

3 . The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein:
the lens is a plurality of lenses of differing sizes that are arrayed in the direction of the optical axis; the lens barrel portion includes a surrounding portion that partially surrounds the periphery of each lens and a gap between the tube-shaped wall and a portion of the periphery of each lens that is not surrounded by the surrounding portion; the air hole is formed by the gaps connected in the direction of the optical axis.

4 . The camera module according to claim 3 , wherein:
the lens barrel portion is molded with resin; and the lens is fixed within the tube-shaped wall by a fixing portion that is integrally formed with the resin forming the tube-shaped wall.

5 . The camera module according to claim 4 , wherein:
the lens barrel portion and the base portion are integrally molded with resin.

6 . The camera module according to claim 5 , wherein:
the optical filter is fixed to the fixing region with an adhesive; and the adhesive is arranged between the base portion and the optical filter at a thickness of 0.01 mm to 1 mm, so as not to block the air channel.

7 . The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the lens is a plurality of lenses of differing sizes that are arrayed in the direction of the optical axis; the lens barrel portion includes a surrounding portion that partially surrounds the periphery of each lens and a gap between the tube-shaped wall and a portion of the periphery of each lens that is not surrounded by the surrounding portion; the air hole is formed by the gaps connected in the direction of the optical axis.

8 . The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the lens barrel portion is molded with resin; and the lens is fixed within the tube-shaped wall by a fixing portion that is integrally formed with the resin forming the tube-shaped wall.

9 . The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the lens barrel portion and the base portion are integrally molded with resin.

10 . The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the optical filter is fixed to the fixing region with an adhesive; and the adhesive is arranged between the base portion and the optical filter at a thickness of 0.01 mm to 1 mm, so as not to block the air channel.

11 . An apparatus comprising:
a camera module; and a case to which the camera module is mounted, the camera module comprising:
a camera substrate that includes an image sensor;
a base portion that is a case fixed to the camera substrate so as to surround the image sensor and includes a through hole passing through an opposing surface that opposes the camera substrate;
a tube-shaped lens barrel portion that holds a lens therein and is disposed so as to communicate with the through hole on an outer wall surface side of the opposing surface; and
an optical filter that is fixed to a fixing region formed on an inner wall surface of the opposing surface,
the lens barrel portion including an air hole that communicates from a tip of the lens barrel portion to the through hole, through a tube-shaped wall of the lens barrel portion in a direction of an optical axis of the lens, the opposing surface including an air channel that communicates between and the through hole and a base inner space, the base inner space being a space surrounded by the base portion and the camera substrate, the air channel having a bent shape on a cross-section parallel to the optical axis.

Assignees

• Denso Corp

Inventors

• Takama Daisuke
• Furutake Yasuki
• Masui Soji

Classifications

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H04N23/55

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

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/57

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

• G02B7/006 Primary

  Filter holders · CPC title