Patent Publication Number: US-2022232147-A1

Title: Camera module

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to camera modules, and more particularly to an arrangement configuration of electronic components in a camera module. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A camera module design generally has a photosensitive chip placed in a center of a PCB, and electronic components are arranged around the photosensitive chip. As the number of electronic components increases, but manufactures of camera modules may not be able to reduce the size of the camera module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of embodiments, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic structural diagram of a first camera module provided by an embodiment of the present application. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the first camera module camera module having a first flexible printed circuit (FPC) board. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the first FPC board design. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic structural diagram of the first FPC board. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic structural diagram of a first side wall of the first camera module camera module provided with a groove. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a second camera module. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic structural diagram of electronic components in the second camera module. 
         FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 7 , but shown from another angle. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic structural diagram of the electronic components in the second camera module grounded through a bracket. 
         FIG. 10  shows the second camera module with no bracket. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of electrical conduction paths of electronic components in the second camera module. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic structural diagram of a third camera module. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Additionally, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape, or another word that “substantially” modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, “substantially cylindrical” means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
     In general, the word “module” as used hereinafter refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language such as, for example, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware such as in an erasable-programmable read-only memory (EPROM). It will be appreciated that the modules may comprise connected logic units, such as gates and flip-flops, and may comprise programmable units, such as programmable gate arrays or processors. The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. 
       FIGS. 1-5  show a first embodiment of a camera module  100 . The camera module  100  includes a circuit board  1 , a bracket  2 , and an electronic component  3 . The bracket  2  is arranged on the circuit board  1 . The electronic component  3  is arranged on an inner side wall of the bracket  2 . The electronic component  3  is electrically coupled to the circuit board  1 . 
     The camera module  100  further includes a photosensitive chip  4  and a lens  5 . The photosensitive chip  4  is arranged on the circuit board  1  and accommodated in the bracket  2 . The lens  5  is arranged on the bracket  2 . The lens  5  is located on a light-sensing path of the photosensitive chip  4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bracket  2  is substantially a hollow cylindrical structure, which includes a base portion  21  and a lens barrel portion  22  coupled to the base portion  21 . Each of the base portion  21  and the lens barrel portion  22  is a hollow structure, and a cross-sectional size of the base portion  21  is larger than a cross-sectional size of the lens barrel portion  22 . The base portion  21  includes a first side wall  211 , and the lens barrel portion  22  includes a second side wall  221 . The first side wall  211  encloses a first cavity  212 , and the second side wall  221  encloses a second cavity  222 . A step  23  is formed between the first side wall  211  and the second side wall  221 . The photosensitive chip  4  is received in the first cavity  212 , and the lens  5  is received in the second cavity  222 . The electronic component  3  is arranged on an inner surface of the first side wall  211 . Specifically, the electronic component  3  is disposed on the inner surface of the first side wall  211 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , two specific implementations for electrically coupling the electronic component  3  and the circuit board  1  are provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, a first conductive layer  6  is arranged on the surface of the first side wall  211 , and the first conductive layer  6  is electrically coupled to the circuit board  1 , thereby electrically coupled to the electronic component  3 . The circuit board  1  is provided with a corresponding first window  11  on an outer side of the bracket  2 , and a corresponding copper layer is exposed through the first window  11 . The first conductive layer  6  is electrically coupled to the exposed copper layer at the first opening  11 , and then electrically coupled to the electronic component  3  through a corresponding circuit layer of the circuit board  1  to control the electronic component  3 . 
     In this embodiment, after the first conductive layer  6  is led out of the bracket  2 , the first conductive layer  6  is electrically coupled to the exposed copper layer at the first window  11  by a soldering means. Since tin soldering may burn the bracket  2 , a dot of conductive glue  7  may be used to couple the first conductive layer  6  to the exposed copper layer at the first window  11 . A controller  12  is used to control the electronic component  3 . Compared with the soldering method, the conductive glue  7  is directly used for connection, which is simpler and more convenient to operate, and the conductive glue  7  does not have the hidden danger of burning the bracket  2 . 
     In this embodiment, the first conductive layer  6  may be a conductive adhesive layer or a conductive metal plating layer. Specifically, the first conductive layer  6  is a conductive adhesive layer. The conductive adhesive layer not only realizes electrical connection between the electronic component  3  and the circuit board  1 , but also fixedly mounts the electronic component  3  on the first side wall  211 . Thus, there is no need to add an additional fixing structure for mounting the electronic component  3  to the first side wall  211 , which simplifies installation of the electronic component  3  and frees up space inside the bracket  2 . 
     In this embodiment, when the first conductive layer  6  is a conductive adhesive layer, the conductive adhesive layer is formed by laser direct structuring (LDS) on the inner surface of the first side wall  211 . Where the electronic component  3  is arranged, conductive glue is applied along the inner surface of the first side wall  211  to form the conductive adhesive layer, and then lead to the position of the first opening  11  of the circuit board  1  outside the bracket  2  to achieve electrical connection between the electronic component  3  and the exposed copper layer at the first opening  11 . 
     It is understandable that the arrangement of the first conductive layer  6  can be designed according to the specific number of the electronic component  3 . If the number of the electronic component  3  is only one, then the one electronic component  3  only needs to be led out of the bracket  2  through a piece of the first conductive layer  6  to achieve electrical connection with the circuit board  1 . In order to realize multi-functionalization of the camera module  100 , a plurality of the electronic components  3  are arranged in the camera module  100 . The plurality of electronic components  3  are staggered and distributed on the inner surface of the first side wall  211 . The first conductive layer  6  corresponding to the plurality of electronic components  3  is led out of the bracket  2  to the circuit board  1  through a circuit layout design to realize electrical connection. If the first conductive layer  6  is in the form of a conductive adhesive layer, the conductive adhesive layer can be precisely set on the surface of the bracket  2  by laser direct structuring (LDS). Two adjacent conductive adhesive layers can be controlled at the same time and do not overlap each other, so that electrical properties of different electronic components  3  are respectively guided to the outside of the bracket  2  and coupled to the corresponding circuit layers of the circuit board  1  through the first opening  11  on the circuit board  1 , and the controller  12  controls the different electronic components  3  in a unified manner. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , and further to  FIG. 1  in combination, in another embodiment, the electronic component  3  is electrically led out in the form of a first flexible printed circuit (FPC) board  8 , and the electronic component  3  is electrically coupled to the circuit board  1  through the first FPC board  8 . The first FPC board  8  includes a circuit  81  for realizing electrical connection. One end of the circuit  81  is coupled to the electronic component  3 , and another end of the circuit  81  is coupled to the circuit board  1  to realize electrical connection between the electronic component  3  and the circuit layer of the circuit board  1 . The circuit  81  may be set on the first FPC board  8  in advance, and then the first FPC board  8  is adhered to the inner surface of the first side wall  211 . A wire outlet  13  is defined adjacent to a bottom of the first side wall  211 , and the first FPC board  8  is bent and led out to outside of the bracket  2  and led to the circuit board  1 . The corresponding first window  11  is defined in the circuit board  1  on the outer side of the bracket  2 , and the circuit  81  of the first FPC board  8  is led out to the first window  11 . In this embodiment, the two ends of the circuit  81  are electrically coupled to the electronic component  3  and the exposed copper layer at the first window  11  through soldering or the conductive glue  7 . 
     The design of the first FPC board  8  corresponds to the number and arrangement of the electronic components  3  included in the camera module  100 . When the camera module  100  contains only one electronic component  3 , only one first FPC board  8  is provided, only one circuit  81  is provided on the first FPC board  8 , and the first FPC board  8  is led through the outlet  13  to outside of the bracket  2  to the first window  11  on the circuit board  1 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the camera module  100  contains more than one electronic component  3 , more than one circuit  81  can be set on one first FPC board  8 . A portion of the first FPC board  8  located on the inner side of the first side wall  211  is cut to diverge the circuits  81  to couple to the corresponding electronic components  3 . A portion of the first FPC board  8  located on the outer side of the first side wall  211  is not cut and directly leads through the wire outlet  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . If the mounting positions of different electronic components  3  are relatively spaced apart and cannot be led out through the same first FPC board  8 , each circuit  81  may be arranged on separate first FPC boards  8 . In this way, the design of the first FPC board  8  is more flexible, and it is not necessary to set the entire inner side of the first side wall  211  as the first FPC board  8 . 
     The first FPC board  8  is used to electrically couple the electronic component  3  to the circuit board  1 . During assembly, the electronic component  3  can be fixed on the first FPC board  8 , and then the first FPC board  8  is fixed to the inner surface of the first side wall  211 . Thus, assembly is convenient, and manufacturing costs are reduced. 
     It is understandable that by adopting the above two different methods in the first embodiment for fixing the electronic component  3  on the inner surface of the first side wall  211 , the electronic component  3  will not interfere with the photosensitive chip  4  sensing light entering the first cavity  212  through the lens  5 . In addition, in order to further prevent the electronic component  3  from interfering with the photosensitive chip  4 , a portion of the inner surface of the first side wall  211  may be recessed to define a groove  213 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . A portion or all of the electronic component  3  is fixed in the groove  213 , so that the electronic component  3  will not interfere with the photosensitive chip  4  from sensing light, thereby preventing issues such as light spots. 
       FIGS. 6-12  show a second embodiment of a camera module  200 . In the second embodiment, the electronic component  3  is embedded in a first side wall  214  of the bracket  2 . It should be noted that, within the scope of the spirit or basic features of the present disclosure, the specific solutions applicable to the first embodiment can also be correspondingly applied to the second embodiment, and will not be repeated here. 
     It is understandable that the specific position where the electronic component  3  is embedded in the first side wall  214  can be changed, and an electrical lead-out method of the electronic component  3  may be changed correspondingly. 
     In one embodiment, the electronic component  3  is located at an edge of the first side wall  214  facing the circuit board  1 . A mounting hole  215  is defined in the side of the first side wall  214  facing the circuit board  1 , and the electronic component  3  is embedded in the mounting hole  215 . The circuit board  1  defines a second opening  14  corresponding to the mounting hole  215 , and a circuit layer of the circuit board  1  is exposed in the second opening  14 . The electronic component  3  is electrically coupled to the circuit layer at the second opening  14  through a second conductive layer  10 . In this way, the electronic component  3  is directly fixed on the circuit board  1 , so the electronic component  3  does not occupy an internal space of the bracket  2 , which improves a space utilization of the camera module  200  and is beneficial for miniaturization of the camera module  200 . 
       FIGS. 7-12  show different ways for mounting the electronic component  3  in the mounting hole  215 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in one embodiment, the electronic component  3  can be directly arranged in the mounting hole  215 , and the electronic component  3  is electrically coupled to the circuit layer at the second opening  14  through the second conductive layer  10 . 
     In order to improve stability of the electronic component  3 , a thermosetting glue can be added between the electronic component  3  and a side wall of the mounting hole  215  for bonding and fixing. The thermosetting glue can fill a gap between the electronic component  3  and the mounting hole  215  to prevent light leakage. 
     The second conductive layer  10  may be conductive glue or solder paste. It is convenient and quick to bond the electronic component  3  with conductive glue. When the electronic component  3  is fixed by solder paste, a bonding force between the electronic component  3  and the circuit board  1  is stronger, which can improve the stability of the electronic component  3 , which is beneficial to improving the overall stability of the camera module  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , in another embodiment, the electronic component  3  is mounted in the mounting hole  215  through a second FPC board  9 . The electronic component  3  faces a side of the circuit board  1 . The electronic component  3  is electrically coupled to the circuit board  1  through the second conductive layer  10 . The second FPC board  9  can facilitate alignment and bonding of the electronic component  3  in the mounting hole  215  and improve a surface flatness of the first side wall  214  after the electronic component  3  is bonded. 
     The second FPC board  9  may be fixed in the mounting hole  215  through a thermosetting adhesive layer  20 . 
     The second conductive layer  10  may adopt the same design as the first conductive layer  6  in the first embodiment and will not be repeated here. 
     After the electronic component  3  is mounted in the mounting hole  215 , if there is a gap, a thermosetting adhesive can be used to fill in the gap to prevent light leakage of the camera module  200 . 
     In one embodiment, the electronic component  3  may be mounted on a metal sheet (not shown), and the metal sheet can improve flatness of the surface of the first side wall  214 . 
     A size of the mounting hole  215  can be designed according to the actual number and size of the electronic components  3 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the electronic component  3  is arranged such that two ends of the electronic component  3  are arranged horizontally in the mounting hole  215 . 
     The two ends of the electronic component  3  are a power supply terminal and a ground terminal, respectively. Power connection and grounding of the electronic component  3  are realized through two second conductive layers  10  and two second openings  14 , respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the electronic component  3  is arranged such that the power supply terminal and the ground terminal of the electronic component  3  are arranged vertically in the mounting hole  215 . The power supply terminal of each electronic component  3  is electrically coupled to the circuit layer of the circuit board  1  at the second opening  14  through the second conductive layer  10 , thereby achieving electrical connection with the controller  12  on the circuit board  1 . The ground terminal of the electronic component  3  is grounded through the bracket  2 . 
     There are three specific ways for grounding the electronic component  3  through the bracket  2 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , in a first way for grounding the electronic component  3  through the bracket  2 , the first side wall  214  of the bracket  2  is provided with a plating layer, or the bracket  2  is made of metal, and the conductive glue  7  is applied between the electronic component  3  and the first side wall  214  and between the first side wall  214  and the circuit board  1 , so that the electronic component  3  is indirectly electrically coupled and grounded to the circuit board  1  through the first side wall  214 . The conductive glue  7  may be fully or partially applied between the first side wall  214  and the circuit board  1 . When partially applied between the first side wall  214  and the circuit board  1 , a thermosetting glue can be applied to remaining portions between the first side wall  214  and the circuit board  1 , thereby reducing use of the conductive glue  7  and saving costs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , in a second way for grounding the electronic component  3  through the bracket  2 , the first side wall  214  of the bracket  2  is provided with a plating layer, or the bracket  2  is made of metal, and the electronic component  3  is grounded through an electrical contact point a between the bracket  2  and an outer casing of the camera module  200  (not shown). The bracket  2  and the circuit board  1  can be fixed together by a thermosetting glue, so that conductive glue is not required, which saves costs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in a third way for grounding the electronic component  3  through the bracket  2 , the first way and the second way are combined. Specifically, the electronic component  3  is electrically coupled to the circuit board  1  through the second conductive layer  10 , and the electronic component  3  is electrically coupled and grounded to the circuit board  1  through the first sidewall  214  and the conductive glue  7 . In addition, the electronic component  3  is grounded through the electrical contact point a between the first side wall  214  and the housing. 
     In summary of the second embodiment, the electronic component  3  is embedded in the bracket  2 . Besides saving space and facilitating miniaturization of the camera module  200 , the electronic component  3  mounted in the mounting hole  215  helps to improve the stability of the electronic component  3  due to the limiting effect of the side walls of the mounting hole  215 . The electronic component  3  is directly mounted on the circuit board  1  and fixedly coupled to the first side wall  214 , which improves a lateral stability of the bracket  2  and the camera module  200 . In addition, the surface of the first side wall  214  is provided with a plating layer, which is beneficial for improving an electromagnetic shielding ability of the camera module  200 . Furthermore, the electronic component  3  grounded to the housing through the first side wall  214  can pass high-frequency noise to the housing through the first side wall  214 , thereby reducing an influence of the high-frequency noise on the photosensitive chip  4  or other components. 
       FIG. 12  shows a third embodiment of a camera module  300 . The third embodiment of the camera module  300  combines the solutions of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. In other words, one or more electronic components  3  is embedded in the first side wall  214  of the bracket  2 , and one or more electronic components  3  is mounted on an inner side of the first side wall  214 . The electronic components  3  may be capacitors, resistors, driver chips, memories, and the like. Depending on the number and size of the electronic components  3 , the specific solutions applicable to the first embodiment and the second embodiment are also correspondingly applied to the third embodiment, and will not be repeated. 
     In summary, the space of the first side wall  214  of the bracket  2  can be fully utilized, the space utilization rate is improved, and the size of the camera module  300  is reduced. The electronic components  3  do not affect the sensitivity of the photosensitive chip  4  or cause stray light, and performance of the camera module is improved. The electronic component  3  attached or embedded in the first side wall  214  increases a surface area of heat dissipation, thereby improving a heat dissipation efficiency of the electronic component  3 . Since the surface of the bracket  2  is provided with a plating layer, the electromagnetic shielding ability of the camera module is improved, and high-frequency noise reduction is achieved. Furthermore, a surface flatness of the bracket  2  is improved, and no SMT process is required, thereby reducing an assembly process of the camera module. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.