Camera module

A camera module comprises a circuit board and a base. A circuit board comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. At least one receiving groove is defined in the first surface. The receiving groove has not extended through the second surface. Each the at least one receiving groove receives an electronic component, and a height of the electronic component is less than a depth of the receiving groove. A base is fixed on the top surface. The at least one receiving groove is covered by the base to seal electronic components. A side surface of the base is aligned with a wall of the receiving groove.

FIELD

The subject matter relates to a camera module.

BACKGROUND

A camera module comprises a circuit board, electronic components, an image sensor, and a plastic base. During assembly, the electronic components and the image sensor are fixed on the circuit board, and the plastic base is mounted on and covers the image sensor. The lateral size of the plastic base may need to increase to further cover the electronic components. Therefore, the electronic components and plastic base increase the total size of the camera module.

Accordingly, there is room for improvement within the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.

The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or other feature that the term modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially rectangular” means that the object resembles a rectangle, but can have one or more deviations from a true rectangle.

The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, assembly, series, and the like.

Referring toFIG. 1, the camera module100is an auto focus camera module. The camera module100includes a circuit board10, an image sensor20, a plurality of gold wires30, a plurality of electronic components40, a base50, a filter glass60, a voice coil motor70, and a lens barrel80.

InFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the circuit board10includes a first surface12and a second surface14. The first surface12and the second surface14are located on opposite surfaces of the circuit board10. Typically, when in use, the first surface12is an upper surface and the second surface14is a lower surface. In the embodiment, the first surface12is parallel to the second surface14.

A plurality of receiving grooves122are defined on the first surface12. The receiving grooves122does not go through the second surface14. In the embodiment, each of the receiving grooves122has a same shape. The receiving grooves122surround the image sensor20.

The image sensor20is fixed on the first surface12, and is electrically connected to the circuit board10. In the embodiment, the image sensor20is located at a central position of the first surface12.

The gold wires30are configured to electrically connect the circuit board10and the image sensor20. One end of the gold wire30is connected to the circuit board10, and the other end of the gold wire30is connected to the image sensor20.

The electronic components40are received in the receiving grooves122. Each of the electronic components40corresponds to one of the receiving grooves122. A height of the electronic component40is less than the depth of its corresponding receiving groove122.

The base50is hollow, and is fixed on the first surface12. The base50covers the receiving grooves122, the electronic components40, the gold wires30, and edges of the image sensor20, to embed the electronic components40, the gold wires30, and the image sensor20in the base50. The base50further infills gaps between each receiving groove12and the corresponding electronic components40. A side surface of the base50is aligned with an inner wall of the receiving groove122. An opening52is defined in the base50. The base50covers peripherals of the image sensor20to fix the image sensor20on the circuit board10. The center of the image sensor20is exposed from the opening52to form an image area (not labeled). In the embodiment, the base50is formed on the first surface12by injection molding. A portion of the plastic is injected into the at least one receiving groove122to infill the receiving groove122and cover the electronic components40. The base50includes a first flange54. The first flange54protrudes from a center of an inner wall of the opening52. The image sensor20is fixed between the circuit board10and the first flange54.

The filter glass60is fixed on the first flange54, and is positioned above and spaced apart from the image sensor20.

The voice coil motor70is fixed on the base50. A side wall of the voice coil motor70is aligned with the side wall of the base50. A hole72is defined in the voice coil motor70. The hole72goes through the voice coil motor70. The filter glass60is exposed from the hole72.

The lens barrel80is housed in the hole72. The lens barrel80is driven by the voice coil motor70to achieve autofocus function.

During assembly, the image sensor20is fixed at the center of the first surface12, the gold wires30electrically connects the circuit board10and the image sensor20, and the electronic components40are placed in the receiving groove122. The base50is formed on the circuit board10and the image sensor20by injection molding, and the base50is positioned on the receiving groove122and covers the receiving grooves122, the electronic components40, the gold wires30, and edges of the image sensor20. At this time, a side surface of the base50is aligned with the inner wall of the receiving groove122. The filter glass60and the voice coil motor70are sequentially assembled on the base50, and the lens barrel80is installed in the hole72, thereby completing assembly of the camera module100.

FIG. 3shows a camera module200of a second embodiment. Different from the camera module100, the camera module200is a fixed-focus camera module. The camera module200includes a circuit board110, an image sensor120, a base150, a filter glass160, and a lens barrel170. An opening152is defined in the base150. The image sensor120is fixed on the circuit board110and housed in the opening152. The base150includes a first flange154and a second flange156. The first flange154and the second flange156both protrude from a center of an inner wall of the opening152. The first flange154is disposed adjacent to the circuit board110, and the second flange156is disposed away from the circuit board110. The filter glass160is fixed between the first flange154and the second flange156. The lens barrel170is positioned on the second flange156, and is spaced apart from the filter glass160.

FIG. 4shows a camera module300of a third embodiment. Different from the camera module100, the camera module300is a dual lens module. The camera module300includes a circuit board210, two image sensors220, a base250, two filter glasses260, two voice coil motors270, and two lens barrels280. Two openings252are defined in the base250. The openings252go through the base250and are spaced apart from each other. The two image sensors220are respectively received in the two openings252and are in contact with the circuit board210. The base250includes two first flanges254. The two first flanges254protrude from a center of an inner wall of its corresponding opening252. The image sensor220is located between the circuit board210and the first flange254. The two filter glasses260are respectively positioned on the two first flanges254and are respectively spaced apart from the two image sensors220. The two voice coil motors270are spaced apart from the base250, and correspond to the two openings252, respectively. Each voice coil motors270define a hole272. The two lens barrels280are respectively received in the two holes272.

In the camera modules100,200, and300, the plurality of receiving grooves122are defined in the circuit boards10,110, and210, and the electronic components40are received in the plurality of receiving grooves122. Therefore, the electronic components40are embedded in the circuit board10,110,210, so that the lateral size of the base50,150,250does not need to be increase. It can reduce the lateral size of the camera module, thereby reducing the total size of the camera module.