Digital camera module for detachably mounting with flex printed circuit board

A digital camera module (100) includes a holder, an image sensor chip package (30), a number of conductive elements (24) and a circuit board (40). The holder defines a receiving portion. The holder is mounted on the image sensor chip package. The image sensor chip package has a number of outer pads. The outer pads are positioned in the receiving portion of the holder. The conductive elements are received in the receiving portion. One end of each of the conductive elements is connected to the inner pads, the other end of each of the conductive elements is connected to the circuit board.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a digital camera module, and more particularly, to a digital camera module mounted in a portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

BACKGROUND

With the development of wireless communication technologies, increasing numbers of mobile phones and PDAs now include digital cameras as a special feature.

Generally, digital cameras modules are mounted in printed circuit boards (PCBs) of portable electronic devices by surface mounted technology (SMT) or heat pressing technology. However manufacturers have discovered that this structure is complicated and not suited for assembly.

A typical digital camera module50is illustrated inFIG. 2. The digital camera module50includes a seat51, a barrel52, an image sensor package60and a flex printed circuit board (FPCB)70. The barrel52is mounted in the seat51. The seat51is fixed on the image sensor package60. The FPCB70is set in a connector80at one end thereof. The FPCB70has a flexible characteristic, and may be rotated or twisted. The end of the FPCB70opposite to the connector80is mounted on outside pad area62of the image sensor package60. The connector80is also connected to a corresponding connector of portable electronic device. Accordingly, the connector80may transmit electronically signals from the image sensor package60to a portable electronic device (not shown). Owing to the flexible characteristics of the FPCB70, the digital camera module50can be fitted around other devices in a portable electronic device thus making more efficient use of space. However, after the digital camera module is packaged, the image sensor package is fixedly connected to the FPCB70. If the image sensor package is rejected during quality-control, then FPCB70will be wasted. Thus making this an overly expensive process.

Therefore, a new digital camera module is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings.

SUMMARY

One embodiment of a digital camera module includes a holder, an image sensor chip package, a plurality of conductive elements and a circuit board. The holder defines a receiving portion. The holder is mounted on the image sensor chip package. The image sensor chip package has a plurality of outer pads. The outer pads are positioned in the receiving portion of the holder. The conductive elements are received in the receiving portion. One end of each of the conductive elements is connected to the inner pads, the other end of each of the conductive elements is connected to the circuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, a digital camera module100includes a barrel10, a seat20, a plurality of elastic clips24, an image sensor chip package30, and a circuit board40in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The image sensor chip package30includes a carrier32, a chip34, a number of bonding wires36and a cover38.

The barrel10is substantially a hollow cylinder with two open ends so that light can be transmitted therethrough. Several lens elements12are secured in the barrel10, and receive incoming light that enters from the outside. The barrel10has an outer thread102defined in an outer periphery wall thereof. A glass board14is placed before the lens elements12and covers one end of the barrel10. As such, the glass board14protects the lens elements12from being scraped or otherwise abraded and keeps dust from entering the system.

The seat20includes a seat body202and a flange204formed together. The seat body202is a cylinder. A hole2020is defined in the seat body202and the flange204in a central area. The flange204is formed at a bottom end of the seat body202. The flange204is a long cube, and has a bottom portion2040. The bottom portion2040defines a rectangular cavity2042in a middle thereof opposite to the seat body202. The rectangular cavity2042communicates with the hole2020so that light can be transmitted therethrough. An outer diameter of the seat body202is smaller than that of an edge of the flange204so that a step is formed at a connection between them. An inner periphery wall of the seat body202defines an inner thread203, for engaging with the outer thread102of the barrel10. The flange204defines two parallel spaced grooves22at one side thereof One of the grooves22adjacent to the bottom portion2040communicates with the bottom portion2040.

The elastic clips24are substantially C-shaped. The elastic clips24are arranged to be secured in the grooves22. One of two ends of the clips24and a middle portion are embedded in the flange204, the other portions are contained in the grooves24. The clips24may be formed in the seat20when molding.

The carrier32of the image sensor chip package30is positioned under the seat20so as to carry the image sensor chip34. The carrier32includes a plurality of conductive pieces322and a plastic base324. The conductive pieces322and the plastic base324cooperatively form the carrier32by insert-molding.

The plastic base324is a long cube, and defines a rectangular receiving groove3240. The base324has a top surface3241. The top surface3241is joined to the bottom portion2040of the flange204. The conductive pieces322are made up of many metal plates. The conductive pieces322are arranged so as to be spaced from each other and partially enclosed in the base324by insert-molding. One end of each of the conductive pieces322is exposed in the receiving groove3240, thus forming a plurality of inner pads326. An opposite end of each of the conductive pieces322is exposed from the top surface3241of the base324, thus forming a number of outer pads328. The outer pads328are also positioned in the groove22adjacent to the base324. The inner pads326are connected to the image sensor34. The outer pads328may be electronically connected to the elastic clips24.

The image sensor chip34is adhered to the bottom of the receiving groove3240of the carrier. A top surface of the image sensor chip34is arranged with a photosensitive area344and a number of chip pads342arrayed around the photosensitive area344.

The bonding wires36can be made of a conductive material such as gold or aluminum alloy. One end of each wire36is connected/joined to a respective chip pad342of the image sensor chip34, and the other end of the wire36is connected/joined to a respective inner pad326so as to transmit electric signals out of the image sensor chip package30to the outer pad328.

The cover38is transparent and is laid over the image sensor chip34which receives light transmitted through the cover38. The cover38is adhered on the base324by glue and therefore seals the image sensor chip34in the cavity of the base324.

The circuit board40is a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB), which is arranged a plurality of wires. One end of the circuit board40is set a connector42, the other end of the circuit board40is set a plurality of conductive terminals (not labeled). The wires are connected the conductive terminals to the connector42. The circuit board40may be inserted into the groove22far from the top surface3241of the base324so as to cause each conductive terminal to be electronically connected to a corresponding clip24.

In making the camera module100, firstly, the conductive pieces322and the plastic base324are together formed by insert-molding, thereby forming the carrier32. Then, the image sensor chip34is adhered in the carrier32. After that, the bonding wires36are connected to the chip pad342and the inner pads326. The cover38is adhered on the base324by glue and therefore seals the image sensor chip34in the cavity of the base324. The clips24are together formed with the seat20by insert-molding, with two parallel grooves22. The clips24are arranged to secure in the grooves22.

Several lens elements12are received in the barrel10. The outer thread102of the barrel10engages with the inner thread201of the seat20, whereby the barrel10and the seat20are connected with each other. The seat20is then mounted on the image sensor chip package30by welding/glue, with the image sensor34aligning with the lens elements12. At the same time, the cover38is received in the rectangular cavity2042. The clips24are electronically connected to the outer pads328of the carrier32. Finally, the circuit board40is inserted into the groove24far from the top surface3241of the base324. Accordingly, the circuit board40is electronically connected to the clips24. Owing to the elastic characteristic of the clips24, the circuit board40is tightly received in the groove22, thereby avoiding the circuit board40become separated from the digital camera module. The assembly process of the digital camera module is thus completed.

In an alternative embodiment, the arrangement of the conductive pieces322can be changed so long as the conductive pieces322are spaced from each other. The base324can be of another shape such as cylinder-shaped, or column-shaped with a pentagonal or hexagonal cross-section.

In the above embodiments, the clips may be replaced with other structures such as metal conductive pieces. The barrel10and the seat20together may act as a holder to be mounted on the image sensor package30. Understandably, the seat20may be omitted. The holder only has a barrel, and is directly mounted on the image sensor package30. Alternatively, the barrel10may be omitted, the holder only has a seat. The lens elements are placed in the seat20, and the seat20is mounted on the image sensor package30.