Camera module and electronic device including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021215945-A1
Application number	US-202117144629-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2021
Priority date	Jan 10, 2020
Publication date	Jul 15, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A portable communication device is provided. The device includes a camera assembly comprising a lens and an image sensor, a printed circuit board (PCB) surrounding at least a portion of the camera assembly, and a plurality of coils including a first, second, and third coils respectively disposed on first, second, and third areas of the PCB, and a control circuit electrically connected to the PCB, the first coil, the second coil, and the third coil. The control circuit performs a first function related to the camera assembly by moving the camera assembly, by using the first coil, in a direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the lens, and a second function related to the camera assembly by rotating the camera assembly about at least one rotation shaft, which is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, using at least one of the second coil or the third coil.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A portable communication device comprising:
a lens assembly comprising a lens; a camera assembly comprising an image sensor; a printed circuit board (PCB) configured to surround at least a portion of the camera assembly; a plurality of coils electrically connected to the PCB, wherein the plurality of coils comprises a first coil disposed on a first area of the PCB, a second coil disposed on a second area of the PCB, and a third coil disposed on a third area of the PCB; and a control circuit electrically connected to the PCB, the first coil, the second coil, and the third coil, and configured to: perform a first function related to the camera assembly by moving the camera assembly, by using the first coil, in a direction substantially parallel to an optical axis of the lens, and perform a second function related to the camera assembly by rotating the camera assembly about at least one rotation shaft, the at least one rotation shaft being substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, by using at least one of the second coil or the third coil.

2 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first function comprise a function related to focusing, and the second function comprises a function related to image stabilization.

3 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is disposed to rotate together with the camera assembly when the second function is performed.

4 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first magnetic body spaced apart from the first coil and substantially parallel to the first area; a second magnetic body spaced apart from the second coil and substantially parallel to the second area; and a third magnetic body spaced apart from the third coil and substantially parallel to the third area.

5 . The portable communication device of claim 4 , wherein the first magnetic body is disposed inside the camera assembly.

6 . The portable communication device of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the second magnetic body or the third magnetic body is disposed outside the camera assembly.

7 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first area is disposed substantially parallel to the third area.

8 . The portable communication device of claim 1 ,
wherein the first area is disposed substantially perpendicular to the second area, and wherein the third area is disposed substantially perpendicular to the second area and facing the first area.

9 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the first area, the second area, and the third area each face a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.

10 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first camera housing, configured to accommodate at least a portion of the lens and at least a portion of the image sensor, provided in the camera assembly; a second camera housing configured to accommodate at least a portion of the first camera housing; and a connection member disposed between the first camera housing and the second camera housing.

11 . The portable communication device of claim 10 ,
wherein the at least one rotation shaft comprises a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft that is perpendicular to the first rotation shaft, wherein the connection member is connected to the first camera housing and the second camera housing so that the camera assembly rotates about the first rotation shaft or the second rotation shaft.

12 . The portable communication device of claim 10 ,
wherein the connection member comprises a first protrusion protruding toward the second camera housing and a second protrusion protruding toward the first camera housing, wherein the second camera housing comprises a first hole into which at least a portion of the first protrusion is inserted, and wherein the first camera housing comprises a second hole into which at least a portion of the second protrusion is inserted.

13 . The portable communication device of claim 10 ,
wherein an opening is defined in a surface facing the PCB of the first camera housing, and wherein at least one of the first coil, the second coil, or the third coil is disposed in the opening.

14 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second camera housing in which the camera assembly is accommodated, wherein at least one of the first area, the second area, or the third area faces the camera assembly, and wherein another of the first area, the second area, or the third area faces the second camera housing.

15 . The portable communication device of claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one rotation shaft comprises a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft disposed in a direction different from the first rotation shaft, and wherein the control circuit performs the second function by rotating the camera assembly about the first rotation shaft by using the second coil and by rotating the camera assembly about the second rotation shaft by using the third coil.

16 . The portable communication device of claim 15 , wherein the first rotation shaft and the second rotation shaft are substantially perpendicular to each other.

17 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a coil driver electrically connected to the control circuit and configured to control at least one corresponding coil among the first coil, the second coil, or the third coil in relation to the performance of the first function or the second function, wherein the coil driver is disposed on a fourth area extending from at least one of the first area, the second area, or the third area.

18 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises an application processor.

19 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , further comprising another PCB disposed outside the camera assembly,
wherein the control circuit is disposed on the other PCB.

20 . The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the PCB is at least partially flexible.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Rho Hyungjin
• JUNG Hwajoong
• Yu Youngbok
• Lee Kihuk

Classifications

• H04N23/57

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

• H04N23/687 Primary

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• H04N23/54

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

• H04N23/67

  Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• G03B2205/0023

  by tilting or inclining one or more optical elements with respect to the optical axis · CPC title