Light-folding element for camera module, camera module and electronic device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024085676-A1
Application number	US-202318518314-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 22, 2023
Priority date	Dec 23, 2020
Publication date	Mar 14, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A light-folding element includes an object-side surface, an image-side surface, a reflection surface and a connection surface. The reflection surface is configured to reflect imaging light passing through the object-side surface to the image-side surface. The connection surface is connected to the object-side, image-side and reflection surfaces. The light-folding element has a recessed structure located at the connection surface. The recessed structure is recessed from the connection surface an includes a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion located between the top end and bottom end portions. The top end portion is located at an edge of the connection surface. The tapered portion has two tapered edges located on the connection surface. The tapered edges are connected to the top end and bottom end portions. A width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A light-folding element for a camera module, the light-folding element comprising:
an object-side surface, wherein an imaging light travelling into the camera module enters the object-side surface; an image-side surface, wherein the imaging light exits through the image-side surface; and a reflection surface, configured to reflect the imaging light; wherein the light-folding element further comprises a recessed structure adjacent to at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the reflection surface, and the recessed structure comprises a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion; wherein the top end portion is located at an edge of the light-folding element, the bottom end portion is located opposite to the top end portion, the tapered portion is connected to and located between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, and a width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion; and wherein the light-folding element is formed by injection molding process, and the light-folding element has at least one gate trace located on a side surface of the light-folding element.

2 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion comprises two tapered edges disposed on the side surface of the light-folding element; and
wherein an angle between the two tapered edges is α, and the following condition is satisfied: 2 degrees≤α≤150 degrees.

3 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein a width of the top end portion is Wt, a width of the bottom end portion is Wb, and the following condition is satisfied:
0≤Wb/Wt<1.

4 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein the light-folding element has a light absorption layer, and at least a part of the light absorption layer is disposed on the recessed structure.

5 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 4 , wherein the light absorption layer surrounds at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the reflection surface.

6 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein the recessed structure has two inclined surfaces respectively extending close to each other from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion.

7 . A light-folding element for a camera module, the light-folding element comprising:
an object-side surface, wherein an imaging light travelling into the camera module enters the object-side surface; an image-side surface, wherein the imaging light exits through the image-side surface; and at least one reflection surface, configured to reflect the imaging light; wherein the light-folding element further comprises at least one recessed structure adjacent to at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the at least one reflection surface, and the at least one recessed structure comprises a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion; wherein the top end portion is located at an edge of the light-folding element, the bottom end portion is located opposite to the top end portion, the tapered portion is connected to and located between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, and a width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion; and wherein a width of the top end portion is Wt, a width of the bottom end portion is Wb, and the following condition is satisfied: 0≤Wb/Wt<1.

8 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 7 , wherein the width of the top end portion is Wt, the width of the bottom end portion is Wb, and the following condition is satisfied:
0.157≤Wb/Wt<1.

9 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 8 , wherein the width of the top end portion is Wt, the width of the bottom end portion is Wb, and the following condition is satisfied:
0.157≤Wb/Wt≤0.470.

10 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 7 , wherein the at least one recessed structure comprises two recessed structures, the two recessed structures are disposed opposite to each other, and a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion of one of the two recessed structures is opposite to a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion of other of the two recessed structures.

11 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 7 , wherein the at least one recessed structure has two inclined surfaces respectively extending close to each other from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion.

12 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 7 , wherein the at least one reflection surface comprises at least two reflection surfaces.

13 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 7 , wherein the light-folding element has a light absorption layer, and at least a part of the light absorption layer is disposed on the at least one recessed structure.

14 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 13 , wherein the light absorption layer surrounds at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the at least one reflection surface.

15 . A camera module, comprising:
an imaging lens system; the light-folding element of claim 7 , wherein the light-folding element is located on one of an object side of the imaging lens system and an image side of the imaging lens system; and an image sensor, disposed on an image surface of the imaging lens system, wherein the image sensor is configured to receive the imaging light and convert the imaging light into electrical signals.

16 . An electronic device, comprising:
the camera module of claim 15 .

17 . A light-folding element for a camera module, the light-folding element comprising:
an object-side surface, wherein an imaging light travelling into the camera module enters the object-side surface; an image-side surface, wherein the imaging light exits through the image-side surface; and a reflection surface, configured to reflect the imaging light; wherein the light-folding element further comprises two recessed structures adjacent to the object-side surface and the image-side surface respectively, and each of the two recessed structures comprises a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion; wherein in each of the two recessed structures, the top end portion is located at an edge of the light-folding element, the bottom end portion is located opposite to the top end portion, the tapered portion is connected to and located between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, and a width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion; and wherein a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion of one of the two recessed structures is opposite to a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion of other of the two recessed structures.

Assignees

• Largan Precision Co Ltd

Inventors

• Liao Min-Chun
• Chang Lin An
• Chou Ming-Ta
• Cheng Jyun-Jia
• Lin Cheng-Feng
• Chang Ming-Shun

Classifications

• G02B13/0065 Primary

  having a beam-folding prism or mirror · CPC title

• G02B5/22 Primary

  Absorbing filters {(G02B5/201 - G02B5/208 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G02B23/08

  Periscopes {(arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices B63C11/49; arrangement of visual watch equipment on submarines B63G8/38)} · CPC title

• G03B17/17

  with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera · CPC title

• G02B17/06 Primary

  using mirrors only {, i.e. having only one curved mirror (used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00)} · CPC title