Camera module and method for assembling the same

Disclosed are a camera module and a method for assembling the camera module, the camera module including a cover part having an opening formed therein and a lens guide formed in the opening to prevent removal of a lens to an outside, a lens mounted to the opening of the cover part, and a back cap coming into close contact with the lens and mounted to the opening.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a camera module and a method for assembling the camera module.

BACKGROUND ART

As various kinds of portable terminals have been widely popularized with the public and wireless interne service becomes commonly available, consumer demands for the portable terminals become diversified. Thereby, various kinds of peripheral devices have been applied to the portable terminals.

Further, development of information and communication technology enhances improvement on data communication speed or expands data traffic. Currently, a mobile electronic device including a mobile phone or a notebook computer is equipped with an image capturing device such as a CCD image sensor or a CMOS image sensor.

Such an image capturing device takes a subject in a form of a photograph or a video, stores an image data associated with the subject, and then edits or transmits the data if necessary. A modularized camera module becomes commercially available.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention provides a camera module and method capable of simplifying an assembly process and reducing the number of parts.

Solution to Problem

In one general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a camera module, the camera module comprising: a cover part having an opening formed therein, and a lens guide formed in the opening to prevent removal of a lens to an outside; a lens mounted to the opening of the cover part; and a back cap coming into close contact with the lens and mounted to the opening.

Preferably, the lens guide is integrated with the cover part into a single structure.

Preferably, an O-ring is interposed between the lens and the cover part.

Preferably, the back cap is fixed to the cover part.

Preferably, one side of the lens is in close contact with the lens guide, and the other side of the lens is in close contact with the back cap.

The camera module further includes a protrusion provided on the lens guide to protrude toward the lens.

Preferably, an O-ring is mounted between the protrusion of the lens guide and the opening.

Preferably, a stepped portion is formed on an edge of an object-side of the lens, and the protrusion is in close contact with the stepped portion, so that the lens comes into close contact with the lens guide.

Preferably, a first stepped portion is formed in the opening of the cover part, and a second stepped portion is formed on an outer circumference of the back cap, so that when the back cap is mounted to the opening, the first stepped portion is engaged with the second stepped portion.

Preferably, a recess is formed in the cover part, the opening is formed inside the recess, and cover-part coupling portions are formed on the outer circumference of the back cap to be engaged with the recess and the opening of the cover part.

Preferably, a width of the opening is narrower than a width of the recess.

Preferably, the lens includes a projecting portion, and the back cap includes a depression to be engaged with the projecting portion, so that when the back cap is mounted to the opening of the cover part, the projecting portion of the lens is inserted into the depression of the back cap.

Preferably, a through hole is formed in the depression of the back cap to allow light of a subject to pass therethrough.

Preferably, the back cap is fastened to the cover part in a threaded manner.

In another general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling a camera module, the method comprising: preparing a cover part, the cover part including an opening, a lens guide formed in the opening to prevent removal of a lens to an outside, a protrusion provided on the lens guide to come into close contact with the lens, and a groove formed between the protrusion of the lens guide and the cover part; fitting an O-ring into the groove; mounting the lens to the opening so that the lens comes into close contact with the O-ring; and fixing the back cap to the cover part after mounting the back cap to the opening to come into close contact with the lens.

Preferably, the fixing the back cap to the cover part is configured to fasten the back cap to the cover part in a threaded manner.

Preferably, after fixing the back cap to the cover part, one side of the lens comes into close contact with the lens guide, and the other side of the lens comes into close contact with the back cap.

Preferably, the fitting the O-ring into the groove is configured such that the O-ring is mounted between the protrusion of the lens guide and the opening.

Preferably, a first stepped portion is formed in the opening of the cover part, and a second stepped portion is formed on an outer circumference of the back cap, so that when the back cap is fixed to the opening, the first stepped portion is engaged with the second stepped portion.

Preferably, the lens includes a projecting portion, and the back cap includes a depression to be engaged with the projecting portion, so that when the back cap is fixed to the opening of the cover part, the projecting portion of the lens is securely inserted into the depression of the back cap.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The camera module of the present invention is advantageous in that an assembly process can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced by installing a lens in a cover part and fixing the lens with a back cap.

Further, the camera module of the present invention is advantageous in that a back cap is fastened to a cover part in a threaded manner, thus making an assembly process simple.

Furthermore, the camera module of the present invention is advantageous in that it is assembled in a single direction, thus shortening assembly time.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a schematic sectional view illustrating a camera module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The camera module according to the present invention includes a cover part100, a lens200, and a back cap300. An opening110is formed in the cover part100, and a lens guide120is formed in the opening110. The lens200is installed in the opening110of the cover part100. The back cap300is brought into close contact with the lens200and is installed in the opening110.

Here, the lens guide120prevents the lens200from moving out of the cover part100.

Further, the lens guide120is formed on an inner wall of the opening110to block a portion of the opening110and thereby prevent removal of the lens200from the opening110.

That is, the lens guide120takes a shape of a ring, and a width of the lens guide120is smaller than that of the opening110, so that the removal of the lens200from the opening110is prevented by the lens guide120.

Further, the lens guide120defines a width of an optical path of a subject incident into the lens200.

Further, the lens guide120may be integrated with the cover part100into a single structure.

For example, the cover part100may be formed into a shape having the lens guide120thereon. In this way, the integration of the lens guide120and the cover part100may be implemented.

Further, an O-ring130may be interposed between the lens200and the cover part100.

The O-ring130prevents moisture and a pollution source from entering between the lens200and the cover part100.

Moreover, the back cap300is fixed to the cover part100using an additional fastening means or fixing means.

Various fastening means or fixing means may be applied to fix the back cap300to the cover part100.

As such, one side of the lens200is inserted into the opening110of the cover part100to be in close contact with the lens guide120, while the other side of the lens200is in close contact with the back cap300. Thereby, the lens200is fixed to the cover part100, so that optical alignment of the lens200is realized.

As described above, the camera module of the present invention is advantageous in that the lens is installed in the cover part and is fixed by the back cap, so that an assembly process can be simplified and the number of parts can be reduced.

FIG. 2is a schematic sectional view illustrating a part of the camera module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

In the camera module of this embodiment, a protrusion121is provided on the lens guide120formed in the opening110of the cover part100to be in close contact with the lens200.

Here, the protrusion121protrudes vertically from the lens guide120toward the lens200.

Further, a surface of the lens200facing an object may be defined as an “object side” while a surface of the lens200facing an image sensor may be defined as an “image-sensor side”.

Here, the camera module according to the present invention may have a stepped portion210along an edge of the object side of the lens200.

That is, the protrusion121comes into contact with the stepped portion210, thus allowing the lens200to come into close contact with the lens guide120.

The object side of the lens200has a lens portion270which is spaced apart from the edge of the lens200, and the protrusion121of the lens guide120comes into close contact with the edge of the object-side of the lens200.

Further, a groove122is formed between the protrusion121of the lens guide120and the cover part100, and an O-ring (not shown) is fitted into the groove122.

In other words, the O-ring is fitted between the protrusion121of the lens guide120and the opening110.

FIG. 3is a schematic sectional view illustrating a part of the camera module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

The camera module according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured to smoothly mount the back cap300to the cover part100.

That is, a first stepped portion (seeFIG. 4) is formed in the opening110of the cover part100into which the back cap300is installed, and a second stepped portion (seeFIG. 4) is formed on an outer circumference of the back cap300. Thereby, when the back cap300is inserted into the opening110, the first stepped portion is engaged with the second stepped portion.

Here, the first and second stepped portions are shaped to be engaged with each other when the back cap300is coupled to the cover part100.

Turning back toFIG. 3, a recess150is formed in the cover part100, and the opening110of the cover part100is formed inside the recess150.

Further, cover-part coupling portions331and332are formed on the outer circumference of the back cap300, and are shaped to be engaged with the opening110and the recess150of the cover part100, respectively.

Here, a width W1of the opening110is narrower than a width W2of the recess150.

Further, according to other structural characteristics, a projecting portion220may be formed on the image-sensor side of the lens200, and a depression310may be formed in the back cap300to be engaged with the projecting portion220.

Therefore, when the back cap300is mounted to the opening110of the cover part100, the projecting portion220of the lens200is inserted into the depression310of the back cap300.

Further, a through hole320may be formed in the depression310of the back cap300to serve as a path into which light of a subject is incident.

Also, an IR filter and an image sensor are sequentially arranged on the back cap300.

Furthermore, the light of the subject is incident into the image sensor via the through hole320.

FIG. 4is a schematic sectional view illustrating a method for assembling a camera module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The method for assembling the camera module according to the present invention first prepares the cover part100. The opening110is formed in the cover part100, and the lens guide120is formed in the opening110to prevent the removal of the lens200to the outside, and the protrusion121is formed on the lens guide120to come into close contact with the lens200, and the groove122is formed between the protrusion121of the lens guide120and the cover part100.

Next, the O-ring130is fitted into the groove122.

Subsequently, the lens200is mounted to the opening110so that the lens200comes into close contact with the O-ring130.

Further, after the back cap300is mounted to the opening110to come into close contact with the lens200, the back cap300is fixed to the cover part100.

As such, the camera module of the present invention is advantageous in that the number of assembly parts is small and the assembly process is simple, so that a manufacturing cost is reduced.

Further, the camera module of the present invention is advantageous in that the assembly is performed in a single direction, so that assembly time can be shortened.

FIG. 5is a schematic partial sectional view illustrating an example of a method for fastening the back cap to the cover part of the camera module in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

There are various methods for fixing the back cap300to the cover part100, andFIG. 5shows one example of the methods.

That is, the recess150is formed in the cover part100, and the opening110is formed inside the recess150.

Further, the cover-part coupling portions331and332engaging with the opening110and the recess150of the cover part100are formed on the outer circumference of the back cap300. A first threaded portion151is formed on an inner surface of the recess150, while a second threaded portion332ais formed on the outer circumference of the back cap300to be engaged with the first threaded portion151.

Here, the back cap300is provided with an area inserted into the opening110of the cover part100, and an area inserted into the recess150of the cover part100.

Thus, if the back cap300is inserted into the opening110of the cover part100and thereafter the back cap300is rotated, the first threaded portion151is engaged with the second threaded portion332a.

Therefore, the present invention is advantageous in that the back cap is fastened to the cover part in a threaded manner, so that the assembly process can be simplified.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention provides a camera module, which is capable of simplifying an assembly process and reducing the number of parts by installing a lens in a cover part and fixing the lens with a back cap.