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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025180877-A1
Application number	US-202519047967-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 7, 2025
Priority date	Dec 23, 2020
Publication date	Jun 5, 2025
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 enters the light-folding element through the object-side surface; an image-side surface, wherein the imaging light exits the light-folding element through the image-side surface; and at least two reflection surfaces, configured to reflect the imaging light; wherein the light-folding element further comprises at least one recessed structure, 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 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 vestige 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 3 , wherein the at least one recessed structure comprises two recessed structures, and the widths of the top end portions of the two recessed structures are different from each other.

5 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 4 , wherein the two recessed structures are disposed on opposite sides of the light-folding element.

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

7 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein a center point of the side surface is located on the at least one gate vestige.

8 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one recessed structure comprises two recessed structures, and the at least one gate vestige is located between the two recessed structures.

9 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein the light-folding element further comprises a step structure adjacent to at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the at least two reflection surfaces, and the step structure is configured to let the at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the at least two reflection surfaces to be lowered or raised relative to surrounding surfaces thereof.

10 . A camera module, comprising:
an imaging lens system; the light-folding element of claim 1 , 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.

11 . An electronic device, comprising:
the camera module of claim 10 .

12 . A light-folding element for a camera module, the light-folding element comprising:
an object-side surface, wherein an imaging light enters the light-folding element through the object-side surface; an image-side surface, wherein the imaging light exits the light-folding element through the image-side surface; and at least two reflection surfaces, configured to reflect the imaging light; wherein the light-folding element further comprises at least one recessed structure, 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 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 object-side surface and the image-side surface are on a same side of the light-folding element.

13 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 12 , wherein the at least one recessed structure is located on a side opposite to the object-side surface and the image-side surface.

14 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 12 , 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.

15 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 12 , 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:
0.157≤ Wb/Wt≤ 0.470.

16 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 12 , 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.

17 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 12 , wherein the at least one recessed structure has two inclined surfaces respectively extending close to one another from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion.

18 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 12 , wherein the light-folding element is formed by injection molding process, and the light-folding element has at least one gate vestige located on a side surface of the light-folding element.

19 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 18 , wherein a center point of the side surface is located on the at least one gate vestige.

20 . The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 12 , wherein the light-folding element further comprises a step structure adjacent to at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the at least two reflection surfaces, and the step structure is configured to let the at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the at least two reflection surfaces to be lowered or raised relative to surrounding surfaces thereof.

21 . A camera module, comprising:
an imaging lens system; the light-folding element of claim 12 , 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.

22 . An electronic device, comprising:
the camera module of claim 21 .

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

• G02B23/08

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

• G02B5/22 Primary

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

• G03B17/17

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

• G03B30/00

  Camera modules comprising integrated lens units and imaging units, specially adapted for being embedded in other devices, e.g. mobile phones or vehicles · CPC title

• G02B13/0065 Primary

  having a beam-folding prism or mirror · CPC title