Patent Publication Number: US-2010110283-A1

Title: Camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 30, 2008 and assigned Serial No. 2008-107315, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to a camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly having a camera lens module and a speaker module integrated in a speaker housing. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The recent development of digital camera fabrication technology is a driving force behind small, lightweight camera lens assemblies. Thus a camera can be mounted in a mobile terminal and mobile terminals equipped with an optical lens and a camera device have become popular. At the early development stage of a mobile terminal with a camera, the performance of cameras included in mobile terminals was much lower than that of commercial digital cameras (not included in mobile terminals) at that time. For example, a popular digital camera not included within a mobile terminal may have been capable to capturing an image with 4 million pixels, while a camera equipped in a mobile terminal may have typically captured only 30 thousand pixels at that time of early development. Even a camera equipped in a premium mobile terminal was not capable of capturing more than 1 million pixels for a single image. Recently, 1 million-pixel cameras have become more commonly provided in mobile terminals. For a premium mobile terminal, an included camera may capture as many pixels per image as popular digital cameras not included within a mobile terminal, for example, 3 million pixels. Also, mobile terminals with cameras that captures 7 or more million-pixels per image have been successfully commercialized. The improvement of the camera function of mobile terminals is attributed to an increased precision in the technology for fabricating a camera lens assembly. A structure of the camera lens assembly is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008-0253003 (filed Apr. 10, 2008) and commonly assigned to the present assignee. A camera module is typically provided on the front or rear surface of a mobile terminal so as to capture an image. In a typical sliding-type terminal, the camera module is inside the terminal and, for image capturing, the camera is exposed by a sliding operation. Today, camera lens modules are provided on the front and rear surfaces of a portable terminal, and an interactive video call may be conducted through a camera lens module on the front surface of the mobile terminal, on which a display is also provided. The front-surface camera lens module for video calls may also be able to capture image, or a second camera lens may be separately provided on the rear surface of the mobile terminal for image capturing. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an inner engagement state of a conventional portable terminal with a camera lens module and a speaker module on a front surface thereof and  FIG. 2  illustrates the exterior of the conventional portable terminal of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a portable terminal  10  is provided, on a front surface thereof, with a speaker module  13  for transmission and reception in an upper portion of a body housing  11  and a microphone module  14  in a lower portion of the body housing  11 . A display  12  is interposed between the speaker module  13  and the microphone module  14 . The speaker module  13  is provided in a speaker hole  11   a  of the body housing  10 . A camera lens module  15  is provided on a side of the speaker module  13  such that the camera lens module  15  is close to the speaker module  13 , in misalignment with the center of the body housing  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the speaker module  13  for transferring voice and the camera module  15  are alongside in the upper portion of the body housing  11 . That is, the speaker module  13  and the camera lens module  15  occupy their own spaces within the body housing  11 . As a result, the speaker module  13  and the camera lens module  15  make it difficult to utilize space in a slim portable terminal  10 . The speaker module  13  and the camera lens module  15  are also an obstacle to creating a small and lightweight terminal. Moreover, as the speaker module  13  and the camera lens module  15  are separately mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), the assembly process of the mobile terminal  10  is complex, which increases the cost of the mobile terminal  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the speaker module  13  is positioned in the speaker hole  11   a  at the center of the body housing  11  and the camera lens module  15  is neighboring to the speaker module in an upper portion of the portable terminal  10 . 
     Therefore, the speaker module  13  and the camera lens module  15  both appear on the top surface of the portable terminal  10 , harming the outward aesthetic appearance of the portable terminal  10 . In general, the speaker module  13  is positioned at an upper center of the body housing  11  and the camera lens module  15  is misaligned with the center of the body housing  11 . Thus, when a user conducts a video call or takes a photograph, the user or an object to be photographed is captured in misalignment to one side. The resulting gap between the captured image and the user or the object on a display of the user or the other party causes a feeling of unbalance to the user. The user must inconveniently re-position the camera lens module  15  to compensate for the misalignment, when the user takes a photograph. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus having a camera module and a speaker module integrated with each other to save installation space and reduce cost through a simplified assembly process. There is also a need for an apparatus having a camera module and a speaker module integrated with each other, in which the camera lens module is at the center of a body housing to prevent an object from being captured in misalignment to one side, and enables photographing and transmission of a better-quality image to another party. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aspect of the present invention is to address at least the problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of embodiments of the present invention provides a camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly having a speaker module and a camera lens module integrated in a single housing in a portable terminal. 
     Another aspect of embodiments of the present invention provides a camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly having a camera lens module within a speaker module, to be positioned at the center of a body housing to thereby enhance the outward appearance of the body housing. 
     A further aspect of embodiments of the present invention provides a camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly having a camera lens module within a speaker module, to be positioned at the center of a body housing, thereby enabling accurate image capturing, facilitating video calling or image capturing compared to a conventional lens module, and allowing transmission of a better-quality image to the other party. 
     In accordance with an aspect of embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly in which there is a speaker housing, a camera lens module mounted through a center of the speaker housing, and a speaker module surrounds the camera lens module along an outer circumference of the camera lens module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an inner engagement state of a camera lens module and a speaker module in a conventional portable terminal; 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the exterior of the conventional portable terminal of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled perspective view of the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly illustrated in  FIG. 4 , taken along line A-A′; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the exterior of a portable terminal with the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly installed according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features and structures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , a camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a speaker housing  110 , a camera lens module  120 , and a speaker module  130 . The camera lens module  120  is provided at the center of the speaker housing  110  so that the camera lens module  120  is installed through the center of the speaker housing  110 . The speaker module  130  is provided inside the speaker housing  110  so that the speaker module  130  may surround the camera lens module  120  along the outer circumference of the camera lens module  120 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the speaker housing  110  includes a top frame  111  and a bottom frame  112  to be engaged with the top frame  111 . The speaker module  130  resides within the engaged top and bottom frames  111  and  112 . The speaker housing  110  and the speaker module  130  are hollow at their respective centers to accommodate the camera lens module  120 . 
     A mount portion  1111  is provided on the top frame  111 . The mount portion  1111  passes through an upper center of the top frame  111  to allow a window  124  of the camera lens module  120  to be mounted therein. A sensor hole  1121  is formed into the bottom frame  112 , passing through a bottom center of the bottom frame  112  to allow an image sensor portion  121  of the camera lens module  120  to installed therein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the mount portion  1111  includes a mount surface  1111   a  and a through hole  1111   b . The mount surface  1111   a  is formed around the outer circumference of the through hole  1111   b  so that the window  124  may be mounted on the mount surface  1111   a . The through hole  111   b  is at the center of the top frame  111  so that the window  124  may be inserted through the center of the top frame  111 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , at least one sound well hole  112  is provided around the through hole  1111   b , apart from the mount surface  1111   a  for emitting sound generated from the speaker module  130  outward. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the speaker module  120  includes a magnet portion  131 , a coil portion  133 , and a diaphragm  132 . The magnet portion  131  is mounted within the bottom frame  112 . A lens hole  1311  is formed into the magnet portion  131  at a position corresponding to the sensor hole  1121  of the bottom frame  112  so that a lens portion  122  and an InfraRed (IR) filter portion  123  of the camera lens module  120  may be inserted into the center of the lens hole  1311 . The coil portion  133  is wound around the outer circumference of the magnet portion  131 . The diaphragm  132  is mounted on the magnet portion  131  to generate sound in engagement with the coil portion  133 . The diaphragm  132  has a hole  1321  engaged with the lens hole  1311 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 6 , a dust shield  134  is provided to the top frame  111 . The dust shield  134  is engaged with a top inner side surface of the top frame  111  in order to prevent introduction of foreign materials into the speaker housing  110  through the sound well holes  1112 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the camera lens module  120  includes an image sensor portion  121 , a lens portion  122 , and an IR filter portion  123 . The image sensor portion  121  is mounted on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)  1211 , for capturing an image of an object through the window  124  mounted on the mount portion  1111 . The image sensor portion  121 , which has been mounted on the PCB  1211 , is inserted into the sensor hole  1121 . At least one lens portion  122  is engagedly stacked in the lens hole  1311  of the magnet portion  131 . The IR filter portion  123  is provided between the image sensor portion  121  and the lens portion  122 . Preferably, the IR filter portion  123  is inserted into the lens hole  1311 . 
     Referring to FIG. t, the image sensor portion  121  is mounted on the PCB  1211  and then the PCB  1211  is engaged with the bottom frame  112  such that the image sensor portion  121  is positioned in the sensor hole  1121  of the bottom frame  112 . 
     The PCB  1211  may be attached to the bottom frame  112  by epoxy. Also, the PCB  1211  and the bottom frame  112  may be combined by UltraViolet (UV) epoxy, in a manner that adjusts the distance between the image sensor portion  121  and the lens portion  122 , or they may be welded together. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the camera lens module  120  is further provided with the window  124  mounted on the mount surface  1111   a  of the top frame  111 , for protecting the lens portion  122  and introducing an external image to the image sensor  121  through the lens portion  122 . While not shown, the window  124  is formed of transparent glass so that an image incident on the window  124  is captured by the image sensor portion  121  through the lens portion  122 . Also, the window  124  may be formed of transparent plastic so that an image incident on the window  124  is captured by the image sensor portion  121  through the lens portion  122 . 
     An operation of the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly having the above-described configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 6 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly  100  is installed at an upper center of the display in the portable terminal  610 . In camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly  100 , speaker module  130  is accommodated within the speaker housing  110 . The speaker housing  110  and the speaker module  130  are donut-shaped, having the holes  1111   b ,  1321 ,  1311  and  1121  in this order at their centers, for allowing the camera lens module  120  to be inserted therethrough. More specifically, the speaker housing  110  includes the top frame  111  and the bottom frame  112 . The top frame  111  is provided with the mount surface  1111   a  for mounting the window  124  of the camera lens module  120  thereon and the through hole  1111   b  for allowing an external object to be captured by the image sensor portion  121  through the window  124 . The bottom frame  112  is fixed to the PCB  1211  electrically connected to a PCB (not shown) of the body housing  11  by epoxy, UV epoxy or welding. Also, the bottom frame  112  may be combined with the PCB  1211  in a manner that adjusts the distance between the image sensor portion  121  and the lens portion  122 . The sensor hole  1121  is formed on the bottom frame  112 , for engaging with the image sensor portion  121  mounted on the PCB  1211 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the sensor hole  1121  is preferably shaped into a square because the image sensor  121  inserted into the sensor hole  1121  is a square. Therefore, the window  124  and the image sensor portion  121  are inserted into the through hole  1111   b  and the sensor hole  1121  at the center of the top and bottom frames  111  and  112 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the holes  1111   b ,  1321 ,  1311  and  1121  are formed so that the camera lens module  130  resides at the center of the speaker module  130 . The donut-shaped magnet portion  131  with the lens hole  1311  into which the lens portion  122  is inserted is provided within the bottom frame  112 . The magnet portion  131  is preferably a permanent magnet. 
     The lens hole  1311  and the sensor hole  1121  communicate with each other. Therefore, an image of an object may be captured by the image sensor portion  121  through the lens portion  122  mounted in the lens hole  1311 . Also, the coil portion  133  is wound around the magnet portion  131  between the inner circumference of the bottom frame  112  and the outer circumference of the magnet portion  131 , for generating sound onto the diaphragm  132 . The coil portion  133  is connected to the diaphragm  132  mounted on the magnet portion  131 . The diaphragm  132  is also shaped into a donut, having the hole  1321  at its center. When current flows in the coil portion  133 , the diaphragm  132  vibrates and thus generates sound. The sound well holes  1112  are formed in the top frame  111  in order to emit the sound generated by the diaphragm  132  outward. The dust shield  134  is formed to prevent introduction of foreign materials into the speaker housing  110  through the sound well holes  1112  of the top frame  111 . The dust shield  134  is preferably donut-shaped. The lens portion  122  of the camera lens module  120  may be positioned anywhere between the through hole  111   b  of the speaker module  130  and the sensor hole  1121 , preferably mounted in the lens hole  1311  of the magnet portion  131 . Also, the IR filter portion  123  is installed between the lens portion  122  and the image sensor portion  121 . Therefore, it is preferred that the IR filter  123  is also mounted in the lens hole  1311  of the magnet portion  131 . Accordingly, the camera lens module  120  is integrated at the center of the speaker module  130 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly  100  is provided at an installation position of the speaker module  130  of the portable terminal  610 . Hence, the camera lens module  120  is positioned at the center of the portable terminal  610  above a display  12  formed on the front surface of the portable terminal  610 , so as to capture an object from the center of the portable terminal  610 . Also, as the speaker module  130  is around the camera lens module  120 , it emits sound outward from the portable terminal  610 . 
     Therefore, when a video call is conducted through the portable terminal  610 , a user or an object is captured, by the camera lens module  120 , without misalignment to one side, thus enabling transmission of an aligned image to the other party. While conventionally the camera lens module is positioned at one side away from the center in the portable terminal  10  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly  100  is in the speaker hole  611   a  of the body housing  611  in the present invention, thereby rendering balanced aesthetic of the portable terminal  610 . Since both the camera lens module  120  and the speaker module  130  are provided in the single speaker housing  110 , installation space is reduced and a more slim and lightweight portable terminal can be produced. 
     As is apparent from the above description, since a camera lens module is integrated in a speaker module in the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly of the present invention, installation space is reduced for the camera lens module, and thus a slim portable terminal can be produced. Also, the speaker module with the camera lens module integrated therein is positioned at the center of a body housing, thereby allowing the portable terminal to appear more sophisticated. Compared to a conventional camera lens module positioned at one side away from a center of a body housing, the camera lens module of the present invention can produce a better-quality image. Hence, the present invention enables photographing and transmission of high-quality images to other parties. Due to the integration of the camera lens module and the speaker module, an assembly process is simplified and an assembly time is shortened. 
     The above embodiments of the present invention and the drawings as described above do not limit the camera lens module-integrated speaker assembly of the present invention, and many replacements, modifications, and changes can be made within the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, while a single lens portion is shown in the present invention, the number of lens portions is not restricted. Also, although the through hole is square-shaped according to an embodiment of the present invention, any other shape is available such that the image sensor portion can be mounted in the through hole. While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.