Electronic device camera module with alignment structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9019428-B2
Application number	US-201213605837-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 6, 2012
Priority date	Sep 6, 2012
Publication date	Apr 28, 2015
Grant date	Apr 28, 2015

Abstract

An electronic device may include a camera module. Control circuitry within the electronic device may use an image sensor within the camera module to acquire digital images. The camera module may have lens structures that are supported by lens support structures such as a lens barrel and lens carrier. An actuator such as a voice coil motor may control the position of the lens support structures relative to internal support structures such as upper and lower spacer members. Springs may be used to couple the lens support structures to the internal support structures. Outer wall structures in the camera module such as a ferromagnetic shield structures may surround and enclose at least some of the internal support structures. The outer wall structures may have openings. The internal support structures may have pins or other alignment structures that protrude through the openings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera module configured to be mounted in an electronic device that has alignment structures, comprising:
lens support structures containing at least one lens;
internal support structures;
outer wall structures that surround and enclose at least part of the internal support structures;
an actuator that moves the lens support structures relative to the internal support structures;
a digital image sensor that receives light through the lens, wherein the internal support structures have alignment structures configured to mate with the alignment structures of the electronic device; and
flexible coupling structures with which the internal support structures support the lens support structures.

2. The camera module defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a voice coil motor including a magnet and a coil and wherein the outer wall structures comprise a ferromagnetic shield.

3. The camera module defined in claim 2 wherein the alignment structures of the internal support structures comprise protrusions.

4. The camera module defined in claim 3 wherein the internal support structures comprise a plastic member and wherein the protrusions comprise pins that are integral portions of the plastic member.

5. The camera module defined in claim 4 wherein the ferromagnetic shield has openings through which the pins protrude.

6. The camera module defined in claim 3 wherein the internal support structures comprise a plastic member and wherein the protrusions of the alignment structures of the internal support structures comprise metal pins that are insert molded within the plastic member.

7. The camera module defined in claim 6 wherein the ferromagnetic shield has openings through which the pins protrude.

8. The camera module defined in claim 2 wherein the alignment structures of the electronic device comprise at least one protrusion and wherein the alignment structures of the internal support structures comprise at least one recess configured to receive the protrusion.

9. The camera module defined in claim 3 , wherein the flexible coupling structures comprise at least one spring.

10. The camera module defined in claim 9 wherein the ferromagnetic shield comprises a lip configured to arrest motion of the lens support structures relative to the internal support structures.

11. An electronic device, comprising:
structures that include alignment features; and
a camera module having a ferromagnetic shield and internal support structures within the ferromagnetic shield that have portions that mate with the alignment features, wherein the ferromagnetic shield has openings and wherein the portions pass through the openings to mate with the alignment features.

12. The electronic device defined in claim 11 wherein the portions comprise alignment pins.

13. The electronic device defined in claim 12 wherein the alignment features comprise an alignment ring and wherein the alignment pins protrude into the alignment ring.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13 wherein the camera module comprises lens structures and a voice coil motor configured to move the lens structures relative to the alignment pins.

15. The electronic device defined in claim 14 further comprising:
a display having a display cover layer with an opaque masking layer, wherein the opaque masking layer has a camera window opening, and wherein the structures that include the alignment features comprise an alignment structure having an opening that is aligned with the camera window opening.

16. The electronic device defined in claim 15 wherein the alignment structure has a recess that is configured to receive one of the alignment pins to serve as part of the alignment features.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 12 further comprising:
a housing wall having a camera window opening; and
a transparent camera window member, wherein the structures that include the alignment features comprise a camera window trim member with which the transparent camera window member is installed in the camera window opening.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 17 wherein the camera window trim member has a recess that is configured to receive one of the alignment pins to serve as part of the alignment features.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 12 further comprising:
a housing wall having a camera window opening; and
a transparent camera window member aligned with the camera window opening, wherein the housing wall has a recess that is configured to receive one of the alignment pins to serve as part of the alignment features.

20. A camera module configured to be mounted in an electronic device that has alignment structures, comprising:
lens support structures containing at least one lens;
internal support structures;
outer wall structures that surround and enclose at least part of the internal support structures;
an actuator that moves the lens support structures relative to the internal support structures; and
a digital image sensor that receives light through the lens, wherein the internal support structures have alignment structures configured to mate with the alignment structures of the electronic device, wherein the alignment structures of the internal support structures comprise protrusions, wherein the internal support structures comprise a plastic member, and wherein the protrusions of the alignment structures of the internal support structures comprise metal pins that are insert molded within the plastic member.

Assignees

• Shukla Ashutosh Y
• Williams Kenta K
• Hegde Shashikant G
• Tan Tang Yew
• Pakula David A
• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Shukla Ashutosh Y
• Williams Kenta K
• Hegde Shashikant G
• Tan Tang Yew
• Pakula David A

Classifications

• H04N23/57

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

• G03B17/12 Primary

  with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets · CPC title

• H04N23/00

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

• H04N5/2257

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N17/00

  Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details · CPC title