Patent Publication Number: US-2022236518-A1

Title: Camera module

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0009594 filed on Jan. 22, 2021 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The following description relates to a camera module. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Recently, a camera module has been employed in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, laptops, and the like, and an autofocusing function, an image stabilization function, and a zoom function have been added to such a camera module. 
     However, to implement various functions, a structure of a camera module has been complicated, and a size of the camera module has increased, such that a size of the portable electronic device on which the camera module is mounted has also increased. 
     With the growth of the smartphone camera market, attempts to reduce the sizes of components implementing the functions of a general manual camera, such as autofocusing (AF) and optical zoom, so as to integrate the functions have continuously been made. According to structural variations for such attempts, there has been demand for OIS driving methods, other than a general OIS method. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In one general aspect, a camera module includes: a housing; a first frame rotatably mounted in the housing; a second frame rotatably mounted on the first frame; a reflective member mounted on the second frame; a first driver including a first magnet installed on either one of the housing and the first frame, and a first coil opposing the first magnet; and a second driver including a second magnet installed on either one of the housing and the second frame, and a second coil opposing the second magnet. The first frame is configured to rotate in a first axial direction perpendicular to an incident direction of light incident to the reflective member. The second frame is configured to rotate in a second axial direction parallel to an incident direction of light incident to the reflective member. 
     The first axial direction may pass through one point of a path of the light incident to the reflective member. The second axial direction may be spaced apart from the path of the light incident to the reflective member. 
     The first frame may be coupled to the housing by a first hinge member. 
     The first hinge member may include a plurality of first hinge members. The reflective member may be disposed between the plurality of first hinge members. 
     The second frame may be coupled to the first frame by a second hinge member. 
     The second frame may be coupled to the first frame by a hinge member. 
     The hinge member may be disposed between an internal surface of the first frame and an external surface of the second frame. 
     The second frame may include a reflective member installation portion on which the reflective member is installed, a first extension portion extending from one side of the reflective member installation portion, and a second extension portion extending downwardly from an end of the first extension portion. Either one of the second magnet and the second coil may be disposed on an external surface of the second extension portion. 
     The other one of the second magnet and the second coil may be disposed on a side wall of the housing opposing the second extension portion. 
     The first frame may include a main frame portion connected to the second frame, an installation portion disposed below the reflective member, and a connection portion connecting the main frame portion to the installation portion. 
     Either one of the first magnet and the first coil may be installed in the installation portion. The other one of the first magnet and the first coil may be installed on an opposing surface of the housing opposing the installation portion. 
     The housing may include an installation base supporting the first frame. 
     The first driver may further include a first yoke disposed to overlap the first magnet. The second driver may further include a second yoke disposed to overlap the second magnet. 
     The camera module may further include: a lens unit disposed on a rear side of the reflective member on the path of light; and an image sensor disposed on a rear side of the lens unit on the path of the light. 
     The camera module may be mounted on a portable electronic device such that an optical axis of the lens unit extends in a direction perpendicular to a direction from a front surface of the portable electronic device to a rear surface of the portable electronic device. 
     Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram illustrating a portable electronic device, according to an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a camera module, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram illustrating the camera module of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line A-A′ in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line B-B′ in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a plan diagram illustrating a reflective module, according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a reflective module, according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application. For example, the sequences of operations described herein are merely examples, and are not limited to those set forth herein, but may be changed as will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also, descriptions of features that are known in the art may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness. 
     The features described herein may be embodied in different forms, and are not to be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided merely to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein that will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application. 
     Herein, it is to be noted that use of the term “may” with respect to an embodiment or example, e.g., as to what an embodiment or example may include or implement, means that at least one embodiment or example exists in which such a feature is included or implemented while all examples and examples are not limited thereto. 
     Throughout the specification, when an element, such as a layer, region, or substrate, is described as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” the other element, or there may be one or more other elements intervening therebetween. In contrast, when an element is described as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, there can be no other elements intervening therebetween. 
     As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any one and any combination of any two or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used herein to describe various members, components, regions, layers, or sections, these members, components, regions, layers, or sections are not to be limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are only used to distinguish one member, component, region, layer, or section from another member, component, region, layer, or section. Thus, a first member, component, region, layer, or section referred to in examples described herein may also be referred to as a second member, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the examples. 
     Spatially relative terms such as “above,” “upper,” “below,” and “lower” may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element&#39;s relationship to another element as illustrated in the figures. Such spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, an element described as being “above” or “upper” relative to another element will then be “below” or “lower” relative to the other element. Thus, the term “above” encompasses both the above and below orientations depending on the spatial orientation of the device. The device may also be oriented in other ways (for example, rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative terms used herein are to be interpreted accordingly. 
     The terminology used herein is for describing various examples only, and is not to be used to limit the disclosure. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “includes,” and “has” specify the presence of stated features, numbers, operations, members, elements, and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, operations, members, elements, and/or combinations thereof. 
     Due to manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, variations of the shapes illustrated in the drawings may occur. Thus, the examples described herein are not limited to the specific shapes illustrated in the drawings, but include changes in shape occurring during manufacturing. 
     The features of the examples described herein may be combined in various ways as will be apparent after an understanding of this disclosure. Further, although the examples described herein have a variety of configurations, other configurations are possible as will be apparent after an understanding of this disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective diagram illustrating a portable electronic device, according to an example embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a portable electronic device  1  may be a portable electronic device such as, for example, a mobile communication terminal, a smartphone, or a tablet PC. For example, the portable electronic device  1  may include a camera module  10  and another camera module  50 , to image a subject. 
     In the example embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the camera module  10  may include a plurality of lenses, and an optical axis (Z-axis) of the plurality of lenses may extend in a direction perpendicular to a thickness direction (Y-axis direction, a direction directed from a front surface to a rear surface of the portable electronic device  1 , or an opposite direction thereof) of the portable electronic device  1 . 
     For example, the optical axis (Y-axis) of a plurality of lenses provided in the other camera module  50  may be arranged in the thickness direction (Y-axis direction) of the portable electronic device  1 . 
     Therefore, even when the camera module  10  includes functions such as autofocusing (hereinafter, AF), zooming, and optical image stabilizing (hereinafter, OIS), the thickness of the portable electronic device  1  may not increase. Accordingly, the portable electronic device  1  may have a reduced size. 
     The camera module  10  according to an example embodiment may include any one or any combination of any two or more of AF, zooming, and OIS functions. 
     The camera module  10  having AF, zoom, and OIS functions may have various components, such that a size of the camera module  10  may increase as compared to a general camera module. 
     When the size of a camera module increases, it may be difficult to reduce the size of a portable electronic device in which the camera module is mounted. 
     For example, in a camera module, the number of stacked lenses may increase for the zoom function, and when the plurality of stacked lenses are stacked in the thickness direction of the portable electronic device, the thickness of the portable electronic device may also increase according to the number of stacked lenses. Accordingly, when the thickness of the portable electronic device is not increased, a sufficient number of stacked lenses may not be provided, such that the zooming performance may be weakened. 
     Also, to implement the AF and OIS functions, an actuator for moving a lens group in the optical axis direction or in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis may need to be installed, and when the optical axis (Y-axis) of the lens group is arranged in the thickness direction of the portable electronic device, an actuator for moving the lens group may also need to be installed in the thickness direction of the portable electronic device. Accordingly, the thickness of the portable electronic device may increase. 
     However, in the camera module  10 , the optical axis (Z-axis) of the plurality of lenses may be disposed to be perpendicular to the thickness direction of the portable electronic device  1 . Therefore, even when the camera module  10  including the AF, zoom and OIS functions is mounted, the portable electronic device  1  may have a reduced size. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the camera module  10 , according to an example embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a perspective diagram illustrating the camera module  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the camera module  10  may include a reflective module  100 , a lens module  200  and an image sensor  300  disposed in a housing  20 . 
     The reflective module  100  may be configured to change a traveling direction of light. For example, the traveling direction of light incident through an opening  22  provided in the housing  20  enclosing the camera module  10  may change to be directed toward the lens module  200  by the reflective module  100 . To this end, the reflective module  100  may include a reflective member  140  (see  FIG. 4 ) configured to reflect light. 
     For example, the path of light incident in the thickness direction (Y-axis direction) of the camera module  10  may change to coincide (or substantially coincide) with the optical axis (Z-axis) direction by the reflective module  100 . 
     The lens module  200  may include a plurality of lenses through which light of which the traveling direction has been changed by the reflective module  100  may pass. For example, the lens module  200  may include first and second lens modules  210  and  220  including the plurality of lenses. However, the disclosure is not limited to this example configuration of the lens module  200 , and the lens module  200  may include only one lens module, or may include two or more lens modules. 
     As an example, the lens module  200  may be installed to be able to slide in the housing  20  in the optical axis (Z-axis) direction. To this end, the lens module  200  may include an AF driver (not illustrated). For example, the AF driver may include an AF magnet (not illustrated) and an AF coil (not illustrated). Accordingly, the AF function may be performed. 
     The image sensor  300  may be configured to convert light passing through the plurality of lenses into an electrical signal, and the image sensor  300  may be mounted on a printed circuit board (not illustrated). Also, an optical filter (not illustrated) configured to filter light incident from the lens module  200  may be disposed on the front end of the image sensor  300 . The optical filter (not illustrated) may be an infrared cut-off filter. 
     In the internal space of the housing  20 , the reflective module  100  may be provided on a front side of the lens module  200  around the lens module  200 , and the image sensor  300  may be provided on a rear side of the lens module  100 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line A-A′ in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional diagram taken along line B-B′ in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 6  is a plan diagram illustrating a reflective module.  FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a reflective module, according to another embodiment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the reflective module  100  may be disposed below the opening  22  of the housing  20 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , for example, the reflective module  100  may include a first frame  110 , a second frame  120 , a reflective member  130 , a first driver  140  and a second driver  150 . 
     The first frame  110  may be rotatably installed in the housing  20 . As an example, the first frame  110  may rotate about a first axial direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the incident direction (Y-axis direction) of light incident to the reflective member  130 . Also, the first axial direction, which may be the rotational axis of the first frame  110 , may be disposed to pass through one of points of the path of light incident to the reflective member  130 . The first frame  110  may include, for example, a main frame portion  112 , an installation portion  114 , and a connection portion  116 . 
     The main frame portion  112  may be connected to the first frame  120  and may be disposed to surround a region other than one side of the reflective member  130 . The main frame  112  may be installed on an installation base  24  of the housing  20  by a first hinge member  160 . As an example, the first hinge member  160  may include a 1-1 hinge member  162  disposed on one side of the main frame  112  and a 1-2 hinge member  164  disposed on the other side of the main frame  112 . Also, the reflective member  130  may be disposed between the 1-1 hinge member  162  and the 1-2 hinge member  164 . In the example embodiment, the first hinge member  160  may include two hinges, but the disclosure is not limited to this embodiment, and the number of hinge members may be varied. 
     Also, a mounting member  24   a  for installation of the hinge member  160  may be provided on the installation base  24  of the housing  20 . 
     The installation portion  114  may be disposed below the reflective member  130 , and one of the components included in the first driver  140  may be installed in the installation portion  114 . A detailed description of the first driver  140  will be provided later. 
     The connection portion  116  may connect the main frame  120  to the installation portion  114 , and may extend from one side of the main frame  112 . 
     The second frame  120  may rotatably installed on the first frame  110 . As an example, the second frame  120  may rotate about a second axial direction (Y-axis direction) parallel to the incident direction of light incident to the reflective member  130 . The second axial direction, which is the rotational axis of the second frame  120 , may be spaced apart from the path of light incident to the reflective member  130 . The second frame  120  may include, for example, a reflective member installation portion  122 , a first extension portion  124 , and a second extension portion  126 . 
     The reflective member  130  may be installed in the reflective member installation portion  122 . As an example, the reflective member installation portion  122  may be disposed to surround a side surface and a rear surface of the reflective member  130  other than an upper surface and a front surface of the reflective member  130 . Also, a second hinge member  170  may be disposed between the rear surface of the reflective member installation portion  122  and the first frame  110 , and the reflective member installation portion  122  may rotate from the first frame  110  by the second hinge member  170 . 
     The first extension portion  124  may be configured to extend from one side surface of the side surfaces of the reflective member installation portion  122 . 
     The second extension  126  may be configured to extend downwardly from an end of the first extension  124 . As an example, one of the components included in the second driver  150  may be installed in the second extension portion  126 . A detailed description of the second driver  150  will be provided later. 
     The reflective member  130  may be installed on and fixed to the second frame  120  and may have a triangular pole shape. The reflective member  130  may be configured to change the traveling direction of light incident through the opening  22  of the housing  20  to the side of the lens module  200 . For example, the path of light incident to the reflective member  130  (light traveling in the Y-axis direction) may change to coincide (or substantially coincide) with the optical axis (Z-axis) direction by the reflective member  130 . As described above, since the reflective member  130  is installed on and fixed to the second frame  120 , the reflective member  130  may rotate in two axial directions. Accordingly, the OIS function may be implemented. As an example, the reflective member  130  may be implemented by a prism. 
     The first driver  140  may be disposed below the reflective member  130 . As an example, the first driver  140  may include a first magnet  142  installed on one of the housing  20  and the first frame  110 , and a first coil  144  disposed opposite to the first magnet  142  (e.g., on the other one of the housing  20  and the first frame  110 ). In the example, the first magnet  142  may be installed on a bottom surface of the installation portion  114  of the first frame  110 , and the first coil  144  may be installed on an opposing surface (e.g., a top surface) of a portion of the housing  20  disposed opposite to the bottom surface of the installation portion  114  of the first frame  110 . However, the disclosure is not limited to the foregoing embodiment, and the installation positions of the first magnet  142  and the first coil  144  may be varied. 
     As an example, the size of the first coil  144  may be larger than the size of the first magnet  142 . Accordingly, the first frame  110  may rotate by interaction between the first magnet  142  and the first coil  144 . In this case, as described above, the first frame  110  may rotate about the first axial direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the incident direction of light incident to the reflective member  130 . 
     The second driver  150  may be disposed on the side surface of the reflective member  130 . As an example, the second driver  150  may include a second magnet  152  installed on one of the housing  20  and the second frame  120 , and a second coil  154  disposed opposite to the second magnet  152  (e.g., on the other one of housing  20  and the second frame  120 ). In the example embodiment, the second magnet  152  may be installed on an external surface of the second extension  126  of the second frame  120 , and the second coil  154  may be installed on an opposing surface (e.g., an internal surface) of a portion of the housing  20  disposed opposite to an external surface of the second extension  126  of the second frame  120 . 
     As an example, the size of the second coil  154  may be larger than the size of the second magnet  152 . Accordingly, the second frame  120  may rotate by interaction between the second magnet  152  and the second coil  154 . In this case, as described above, the first frame  120  may rotate about the second axial direction (Y-axis direction) parallel to the incident direction of light incident to the reflective member  130 . 
     As described above, the OIS function of the camera module  10  may be implemented through the reflective member  130  rotating about two axes. Accordingly, miniaturization of the camera module  10  may be implemented. 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating a reflective module, according to another embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in a reflective module  100 - 1 , a first driver  440  may be disposed below the reflective member  130 . As an example, the first driver  440  may include a first magnet  442  installed on one of the housing  20  and the first frame  110 , a first coil  444  disposed opposite to the first magnet  442  (e.g., on the other one of the housing  20  and the first frame  110 ), and a first yoke  446  disposed on the first magnet  442 . 
     As an example, the size of the first coil  444  may be greater than the size of the first magnet  442 . Accordingly, the first frame  110  may rotate by interaction between the first magnet  442  and the first coil  444 . In this case, as described above, the first frame  110  may rotate about the first axial direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the incident direction of light incident to the reflective member  130 . 
     A second driver  450  may be disposed on the side of a side surface of the reflective member  130 . As an example, the second driver  450  may include a second magnet  452  installed on one of the housing  20  and the second frame  120 , a second coil  454  disposed opposite to the second magnet  452  (e.g., on the other one of housing  20  and the second frame  120 ), and a second yoke  456  disposed on a rear surface of the second magnet  452 . 
     As an example, the size of the second coil  554  may be larger than the size of the second magnet  552 . Accordingly, the second frame  120  may rotate by interaction between the second magnet  552  and the second coil  554 . In this case, as described above, the first frame  120  may rotate about the second axial direction (Y-axis direction) parallel to the incident direction of light incident to the reflective member  130 . 
     According to the aforementioned example embodiments, miniaturization of a camera module may be implemented. 
     While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner, and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the disclosure.