Patent Publication Number: US-2023146805-A1

Title: Lens driving device and camera module including lens driving device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(a) of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2021-01 52472 filed on Nov. 8, 2021, 10-2021-01 52473 filed ion Nov. 8, 2021, and 10-2022-0041845 filed on Apr. 4, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a lens driving device and a camera module including a lens driving device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As information communication techniques and semiconductor techniques rapidly develop, supply and use of electronic devices are steeply increasing. The electronic devices do not merely perform functions in their own traditional areas of technology, but functions from various areas of technology, and the combined functions. 
     Camera modules have become standard features in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, and laptop computers, and an autofocus (AF) function, an image stabilization (IS) function, and a zoom function are typically included in the camera modules provided in the portable electronic devices. 
     The image stabilization function may include camera shaking correction and hand shaking correction, and it may prevent images of subjects from being blurry when they are photographed when unintentional hand shaking or camera shaking occurs. 
     The autofocus function allows acquiring of clear images on an imaging plane of an image sensor by moving a lens positioned at the front of the image sensor in the optical axis direction depending on the distance from the subject. 
     As the electronic devices which the camera module is provided have become thinner, the camera module must also become thinner, and to realize the thinner camera module, the constituent elements of the camera module must also become thinner, and great rigidity is simultaneously needed. 
     The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure, and therefore it may contain information that does not constitute prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in 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 lens driving device includes a carrier; and an image stabilization unit including a lens holder configured to hold a lens barrel, and a support frame having a quadrangular frame structure including four corner regions and supporting the lens holder, the support frame and the lens holder being disposed in the carrier, the image stabilization unit being configured to move the lens holder relative to the carrier in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the lens holder, wherein the support frame includes a first sub-frame including a connection-type molded portion connecting three corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure, and an island-type molded portion separated from the connection-type molded portion and disposed in a fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure; and a second sub-frame made of a material having a higher strength than a material of which the first sub-frame is made, the second sub-frame connecting the four corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure and being combined with the connection-type molded portion and the island-type molded portion. 
     The first sub-frame may be made of a resin material, and the second sub-frame may be made of a metal material. 
     A minimum thickness of the second sub-frame in the optical axis direction may be smaller than a minimum thickness of the first sub-frame in the optical axis direction. 
     The connection-type molded portion may include guide grooves in the three corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure, and the island-type molded portion may include guide grooves in the fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure. 
     The guide grooves of the connection-type molded portion and the guide grooves of the island-type molded portion may extend in a same direction. 
     The second sub-frame may further include a bent post that is bent from the second sub-frame in the optical axis direction in the fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure and embedded in the island-type molded portion. 
     The bent post may include two bent posts facing in two directions that are orthogonal to each other. 
     The second sub-frame may include a combining hole extending in the optical axis direction in the fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure and filled by a material of the island-type molded portion. 
     The second sub-frame may include a step portion formed by bending the second sub-frame to lower a portion of the second sub-frame in the optical axis direction in a region of the quadrangular frame structure in which the second sub-frame is combined with the connection-type portion. 
     The step portion may include two steps in the second sub-frame that are disposed parallel to each other in a diagonal direction of the second sub-frame. 
     The lens holder may be disposed on the support frame, and an image stabilization magnet may be disposed on a portion of an external side of the lens holder corresponding to a space between an end portion of the connection-type molded portion and the island-type molded portion. 
     A lower end of the image stabilization magnet may be disposed lower than an upper end of a bottom of the connection-type molded portion. 
     In another general aspect, a camera module includes a housing; a lens barrel in which at least one lens is disposed; a carrier disposed in the housing; a focus unit configured to move the carrier relative to the housing in an optical axis direction of the at least one lens; and an image stabilization unit including a lens holder in which the lens barrel is disposed, and a support frame having a quadrangular frame structure including four corner regions and supporting the lens holder, the support frame, the lens holder, and the lens barrel being disposed in the carrier, the image stabilization unit being configured to move the lens holder and the lens barrel relative to the carrier in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, wherein the support frame includes a first sub-frame including a connection-type molded portion connecting three corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure, and an island-type molded portion separated from the connection-type molded portion and disposed in a fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure; and a second sub-frame made of a material having a higher strength than a material of which the first sub-frame is made, the second sub-frame connecting the four corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure, and being combined with the connection-type molded portion and the island-type molded portion. 
     The first sub-frame may be made of a resin material, and the second sub-frame may be made of a metal material. 
     The second sub-frame may include a bent post that is bent from the second sub-frame in the optical axis direction in the fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure and is embedded in the island-type molded portion. 
     The second sub-frame may include a step portion formed by bending the second sub-frame to lower a portion of the second sub-frame in the optical axis direction in a region of the quadrangular frame structure in which the second sub-frame is combined with the connection-type molded portion. 
     The lens holder may be disposed on the support frame, and an image stabilization magnet may be disposed on a portion of an external side of the lens holder corresponding to a space between an end portion of the connection-type molded portion and the island-type molded portion. 
     A lower end of the image stabilization magnet may be disposed lower than an upper end of a bottom of the connection-type molded portion. 
     The housing may include a damper disposed on an internal bottom surface of the housing and protruding upward in the optical axis direction toward an external bottom surface of the carrier. 
     The damper may include an elastic member. 
     In another general aspect, a lens driving device includes a carrier; and an image stabilization unit including a lens holder configured to hold a lens barrel, and a support frame having a quadrangular frame structure including four corner regions and supporting the lens holder, the support frame and the lens holder being disposed in the carrier, the image stabilization unit being configured to move the lens holder relative to the carrier in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the lens holder, wherein the support frame includes a first sub-frame including two molded portions separated from each other and not connected to any other portion of the first sub-frame; and a second sub-frame made of a material having a higher strength than a material of which the first sub-frame is made, the second sub-frame connecting the four corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure and being combined with the two molded portions of the first sub-frame, and the lens holder includes an image stabilization magnet mounting surface corresponding to a space between the two molded portions of the first sub-frame. 
     The lens holder may further include another image stabilization magnet mounting surface corresponding to another space between the two molded portions of the first sub-frame. 
     The image stabilization mounting surface and the other image stabilization magnet mounting surface may be perpendicular to each other and parallel to the optical axis direction. 
     One of the two molded portions of the first sub-frame may be a connection-type molded portion connecting three corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure, and another one of the two molded portions of the first sub-frame may be an island-type molded portion separated from the connection-type molded portion and disposed in a fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure. 
     The second sub-frame may further include a bent post that is bent from the second sub-frame in the optical axis direction in the fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure and embedded in the island-type molded portion. 
     Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    shows a perspective view of a camera module according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    shows an exploded perspective view of the camera module shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4    show perspective views of examples of a support frame of the camera module shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
         FIG.  5    shows a cross-sectional view of the support frame shown in  FIG.  4    taken along the line V-V′ in  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  6    shows a lateral side view of an assembled state of the support frame and a lens holder of the camera module shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
         FIG.  7    shows a top plan view of a housing of the camera module shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
         FIG.  8    shows a cross-sectional view of the housing shown in  FIG.  7    taken along the line VIII-VIII′ in  FIG.  7   . 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. 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. 
     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 shown 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 by 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. 
     The phrase “in a plan view” or “on a plane” means viewing a target portion from the top, and the phrase “in a cross-sectional view” or “on a cross-section” means viewing a cross-section formed by perpendicularly cutting a target portion from the side. 
       FIG.  1    shows a perspective view of a camera module according to an embodiment, and  FIG.  2    shows an exploded perspective view of the camera module shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , a camera module  200  according to the present embodiment includes a lens barrel  220 , a lens driving device  250  for moving the lens barrel  220 , an image sensor unit  260  for converting light input through the lens barrel  220  into electric signals, and a housing  210  for accommodating the lens barrel  220  and the lens driving device  250 , and a cover  213 . 
     The lens barrel  220  may have a hollow space in a cylindrical shape for receiving a plurality of lenses for photographing a subject into the lens barrel  220 , and the lenses are mounted in the lens barrel  220  along an optical axis. A required number of lenses may be disposed according to a design of the lens barrel  220 , and the respective lenses may have optical characteristics such as identical or different refractive indexes. The optical axis may be set to be a z-axis in the drawing. 
     The lens driving device  250  moves the lens barrel  220 , and includes a focus unit  230  for adjusting a focus of the camera module  200  and an image stabilization unit  240  for correcting hand trembling or shaking of the camera module  200 . 
     For example, the lens driving device  250  may use the focus unit  230  to move the lens barrel  220  in an optical axis direction (i.e., the z-axis direction in the drawing) to control the focus, and it may use the image stabilization unit  240  to move the lens barrel  220  in a direction (i.e., an x-axis or y-axis direction in the drawing) that is perpendicular to the optical axis direction to correct the hand trembling or shaking at the time of photographing. 
     The focus unit  230  includes a carrier  231  for accommodating the lens barrel  220  and a focus driver for generating a driving force for moving the lens barrel  220  and the carrier  231  in the optical axis direction. The focus driver includes a focus magnet  232  and a focus coil  233 . 
     When a power voltage is applied to the focus coil  233 , the carrier  231  may be moved in the optical axis direction by an electromagnetic force between the focus magnet  232  and the focus coil  233 . Since the lens barrel  220  is disposed in the carrier  231 , the lens barrel  220  may also move in the optical axis direction with the carrier  231 , and the focus may be adjusted. 
     For example, the focus magnet  232  may be installed on one side of the carrier  231 , and the focus coil  233  may be installed on the housing  210  via a substrate  214 . In this example, the focus magnet  232  is a moving member that is mounted on the carrier  231  and moves in the optical axis direction together with the carrier  231 , and the focus coil  233  is a stationary member that is fixed to the housing  210 . However, this is only an example, and positions of the focus magnet  232  and the focus coil  233  may be exchanged with each other. 
     Rolling members  270  may be disposed between the carrier  231  and the housing  210  to reduce friction between the carrier  231  and the housing  210  when the carrier  231  moves. The rolling members  270  may have a ball shape, and may be disposed on opposite sides of one side of the carrier  231 . Guide grooves  231   a  may be formed in the carrier  231  so that the rolling member  270  may be received therein and may be guided in the optical axis direction. 
     The image stabilization unit  240  corrects blurring of images or shaking of videos by factors such as vibration of a hand of a user when the images or the videos are photographed. That is, when the images are shaken while they are photographed by the hand shaking of the user, the image stabilization unit  240  compensates the shaking by providing a relative displacement that corresponds to the shaking to the lens barrel  220 . For example, the image stabilization unit  240  corrects the shaking by moving the lens barrel  220  in the x-axis and y-axis directions that are perpendicular to the optical axis direction. 
     The image stabilization unit  240  includes a guide assembly for guiding the movement of the lens barrel  220 , and an image stabilization driver for generating a driving force for moving the guide assembly in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis direction. 
     The guide assembly includes a support frame  241  and a lens holder  242 . The support frame  241  and the lens holder  242  are inserted into the carrier  231  and are disposed in the optical axis direction, and guide the movement of the lens barrel  220 . 
     The support frame  241  and the lens holder  242  provide a space into which the lens barrel  220  may be inserted, and the lens barrel  220  is fixed to the lens holder  242 . The lens holder  242  may have a quadrangular cast shape, and the support frame  241  may have a quadrangular frame structure corresponding to the quadrangular frame shape of the lens holder  242 . Image stabilization magnets  244   a  and  245   a  may be provided on two external sides of the lens holder  242  that are adjacent to each other and orthogonal to each other. 
     The image stabilization driver includes a first image stabilization driver  244  and a second image stabilization driver  245 , and the first and second image stabilization drivers  244  and  245  include the image stabilization magnets  244   a  and  245   a  and image stabilization coils  244   b  and  245   b.    
     The first image stabilization driver  244  generates a driving force in the first axis direction (the x-axis direction) that is perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and the second image stabilization driver  245  generates a driving force in the second axis direction (the y-axis direction) that is perpendicular to the optical axis direction and the first axis direction. The second axis (the y-axis) is perpendicular to the optical axis (the z-axis) and the first axis (the x-axis). The first image stabilization driver  244  and the second image stabilization driver  245  may be orthogonal to each other in a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis. 
     The image stabilization magnets  244   a  and  245   a  of the first and second image stabilization drivers  244  and  245  are mounted on the lens holder  242 , and the image stabilization coils  244   b  and  245   b  respectively facing the image stabilization magnets  244   a  and  245   a  are mounted on the housing  210  via the substrate  214 . In another example, the image stabilization coils  244   b  and  245   b  may be installed to face the image stabilization magnets  244   a  and  245   a  by using another structure that is not the substrate  214  and the housing  210 . 
     The image stabilization magnets  244   a  and  245   a  are moving members that move in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis direction together with the lens holder  242 , and the image stabilization coils  244   b  and  245   b  are stationary members that are fixed to the housing  210 . However, this is only an example, and the positions of the image stabilization magnets  244   a  and  245   a  and the image stabilization coils  244   b  and  245   b  may be exchanged with each other. 
     The present embodiment provides a plurality of ball members for supporting the image stabilization unit  240 . The ball members facilitate movement of the support frame  241  and the lens holder  242  in the image stabilization process. The ball members maintain gaps among the carrier  231 , the support frame  241 , and the lens holder  242 . 
     The ball members include first ball members  272  and second ball members  274 . The first ball members  272  facilitate movement of the image stabilization unit  240  in the second axis direction (the y-axis direction), and the second ball members  274  facilitate movement of the image stabilization unit  240  in the first axis direction (the x-axis direction). The first ball members  272  include a plurality of ball members disposed between the carrier  231  and the support frame  241 , and the second ball members  274  include a plurality of ball members disposed between the support frame  241  and the lens holder  242 . 
     A first guide groove portion  281  for receiving the first ball members  272  is formed on a side of the carrier  231  facing the support frame  241  in the optical axis direction. The first guide groove portion  281  includes a plurality of guide grooves. 
     The first ball members  272  are disposed in the first guide groove portion  281  so that the first ball members  272  are disposed between the carrier  231  and the support frame  241 . While they are disposed in the first guide groove portion  281 , the first ball members  272  may not move in the optical axis direction and the first axis direction (the x-axis direction), and may move only in the second axis direction (the y-axis direction). 
     Second guide groove portions  282  and  283  for receiving the second ball members  274  are formed on a side of the support frame  241  facing the lens holder  242  in the optical axis direction. There are three second guide groove portions  282  and one second guide groove portion  283 . 
     The second ball members  274  are disposed in the second guide groove portions  282  and  283  so that the second ball members  274  are disposed between the support frame  241  and the lens holder  242 . While they are disposed in the second guide groove portions  282  and  283 , the second ball members  274  may not move in the optical axis direction and the second axis direction (the y-axis direction), and may move only in the first axis direction (the x-axis direction). For this purpose, the guide grooves of the second guide groove portions  282  and  283  in a plan view in the optical axis direction may have a rectangular shape in which a length in the second axis direction is greater than a width of the first axis direction. 
     The image sensor unit  260  converts light input through the lens barrel  220  into electrical signals. For example, the image sensor unit  260  may include an image sensor and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) on which the image sensor is mounted, and may further include an infrared ray filter. The infrared ray filter blocks light of an infrared ray region in the light input through the lens barrel  220 . 
     The lens barrel  220  and the lens driving device  250  are disposed in an internal space of the housing  210 . For example, the housing  210  may have a box shape having openings in the top and bottom. The image sensor unit  260  is mounted on the bottom of the housing  210 . The housing  210  includes a damper  216  shown in  FIG.  2    that is described below in connection with  FIGS.  7  and  8   . 
     A stopper  222  is disposed over the lens barrel  220  and fastened to the carrier  231  to hold the lens barrel  220 , the lens holder  242 , the first ball members  272 , the support frame  241 , and the second ball members  274  in place. 
     The cover  213  is fastened to the housing  210  to surround the housing  210  and protect internal components of the camera module  200 . The cover  213  may shield electromagnetic waves generated by the camera module  200 . For example, the cover  213  may shield the electromagnetic waves generated by the camera module  200  so that they may not influence other electronic parts in the portable electronic device. 
       FIGS.  3  and  4    show perspective views of examples of a support frame of the camera module shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , and  FIG.  5    shows a cross-sectional view of the support frame shown in  FIG.  4    taken along the line V-V′ in  FIG.  4   . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  3  to  4   , the support frame  241  according to the present embodiment has a quadrangular frame structure in which a circular hole is formed in a center of the quadrangular frame structure. The quadrangular frame structure includes four corner regions. As described above in connection with  FIG.  2   , the support frame  241  supports the lens holder  242  with the second ball members  274  disposed therebetween so that the movement in of the lens holder  242  is guided in the first axis direction (the x-axis direction) that is perpendicular to both the optical axis direction (i.e., the direction of the optical axis of the lens barrel  220 ) and the second axis direction (the y-axis direction). 
     The support frame  241  includes a first sub-frame  2411  including the three second guide groove portions  282  and the one second guide groove portion  283 , and a second sub-frame  2412  made of a material having a higher strength than a material of which the first sub-frame  2411  is made. For example, the first sub-frame  2411  may be made of a resin material, and the second sub-frame  2412  may be made of a metal material. Therefore, the thickness of the second sub-frame  2412  in the optical axis direction may be smaller than the thickness of the first sub-frame  2411  in the optical axis direction. In one example, the thickness may be the minimum thickness of the thinnest portion of the respective components, and in another example, the thickness may be a mean thickness of the respective components. 
     The first sub-frame  2411  may include a connection-type molded portion  2411   a  connecting three corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure, and an island-type molded portion  2411   b  separated from the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  and disposed in a fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure. That is, the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  may have substantially an L shape including three of the four corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure, and the island-type molded portion  2411   b  may be disposed in the fourth corner region of the that quadrangular frame structure that is not connected by the connection-type molded portion  2411   a.    
     Although  FIG.  3    appears to show that the second sub-frame  2412  only connects three corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure, this is because part of the second sub-frame  2412  in  FIG.  3    is hidden by the connection type molded member  2411   a , and the second sub-frame  2412  in  FIG.  3    actually connects all four corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure as shown in  FIG.  4   . 
     The three second guide groove portions  282  may be formed on the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  in the three corner regions of the quadrangular frame structure connected by the connection-type molded portion  2411   a , and the one second guide groove portion  283  may be formed on the island-type molded portion  2411   b  in the fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure. The second guide groove portions  282  and  283  may receive the second ball members  274  as described above, and may guide the lens holder  242  to move in the first axis direction (the x-axis direction) with respect to the support frame  241 . Therefore, the three second guide groove portions  282  of the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  and the one second guide groove portion  283  of the island-type molded portion  2411   b  may extend in the same direction, that is, in the first axis direction. 
     The second sub-frame  2412  may connect the four regions of the quadrangular frame structure and may be combined with the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  and the island-type molded portion  2411   b . The second sub-frame  2412  may have a circular internal edge, and the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  may have a round internal side along the internal edge of the second sub-frame  2412 . 
     The first sub-frame  2411  made of a resin material may be formed on the second sub-frame  2412  made of a metal material by an insert molding process. Therefore, as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , part of the second sub-frame  2412  may be embedded in the first sub-frame  2411 , and part of the second sub-frame  2412  may be exposed outside the first sub-frame  2411 . 
     The second sub-frame  2412  includes bent posts  2412   a  and  2412   b  that are bent from the second sub-frame  2412  in the optical axis direction in a corner region combined to the island-type molded portion  2411   b . The bent posts  2412   a  and  2412   b  may be embedded in the island-type molded portion  2411   b  by the insert molding process, and may face in directions that are orthogonal to each other. For example, the bent post  2412   a  may face in the first axis direction (the x-axis direction), and the bent post  2412   b  may face in the second axis direction (the y-axis direction) perpendicular to, i.e., orthogonal to, the first axis direction (the x-axis direction). The bent posts  2412   a  and  2412   b  may be bent upward from the second sub-frame  2412  in the optical axis direction, and may be completely embedded in the island-type molded portion  2411   b.    
     The second sub-frame  2412  may include a combining hole  2412   c  extending in the optical axis direction in the fourth corner region of the quadrangular frame structure and filled with a resin material of the island-type molded portion  2411   b . When the second sub-frame  2412  and the island-type molded portion  2411   b  are manufactured by the insert molding process, the resin material flows into and fills the combining hole  2412   c , which may increase bonding strength between the island-type molded portion  2411   b  and the second sub-frame  2412 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the second sub-frame  2412  may include step portions  2412   e  and  2412   f  formed by bending the second sub-frame  2412  to form two steps in the second sub-frame  2412  to lower a portion of the second sub-frame  2412  in the optical axis direction in the region of the quadrangular frame structure in which the second sub-frame  2412  is combined with the connection-type molded portion  2411   a . The step portions  2412   e  and  2412   f  may be configured so that the two steps may be parallel to each other in a diagonal direction of the second sub-frame  2412  as indicated by the dashed lines in  FIG.  4   . 
     That is, when the step portions  2412   e  and  2412   f  disposed in the region of the quadrangular frame structure in which the second sub-frame  2412  is combined with the connection-type molded portion  2411   a , the step portions  2412   e  and  2412   f  may be disposed on opposite sides of the second sub-frame  2412 . The two steps of the step portions  2412   e  and  2412   f  may be parallel to each other in the diagonal direction of the second sub-frame  2412  as indicated by the dashed lines in  FIG.  4   . 
     The step portions  2412   e  and  2412   f  formed in the second sub-frame  2412  may increase the bonding strength between the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  and the second sub-frame  2412  by causing part of the second sub-frame  2412  made of a metal material to be completely embedded in the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  made of a resin material when the support frame  241  is manufactured by the insert molding process. 
       FIG.  6    shows a lateral side view of an assembled state of the support frame and a lens holder of the camera module shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , the image stabilization magnet  245   a  shown in  FIG.  2    is disposed on the lens holder  242  of the camera module  200  according to the present embodiment, and the lens holder  242  may be mounted on an upper surface of the support frame  241  in the optical axis direction. The image stabilization magnet  245   a  may be disposed on the lens holder  242  between an end portion of the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  of the support frame  241  and the island-type molded portion  2411   b . That is, the image stabilization magnet  245   a  may be disposed on a portion of an external side of the lens holder  242  corresponding to a space between the end portion of the connection-type molded portion  2411   a  and the island-type molded portion  2411   b.    
     The light portion of the image stabilization magnet  245   a  in  FIG.  6    may be a north pole of the image stabilization magnet  245   a , and the dark portion of the image stabilization magnet  245   a  in  FIG.  6    may be a south pole of the image stabilization magnet  245   a . Alternatively, the light portion may be a south pole, and the dark portion may be a north pole. 
     When the image stabilization magnet  245   a  is mounted on the support frame  241 , a lower end of the image stabilization magnet  245   a  may be disposed lower than an upper end of a bottom of the connection-type molded portion  2411   a . As shown in  FIG.  6   , regarding a depth measured downward from the top end of the image stabilization magnet  245   a , a depth d 2  to the lower end of the image stabilization magnet  245   a  may be greater than a depth d 1  to the upper end of the bottom of the connection-type molded portion  2411   a.    
     That is, the first sub-frame  2411  of the support frame  241  has no molded portion formed in the portion of the quadrangular frame structure where the image stabilization magnet  245   a  is disposed so that the lower end of the image stabilization magnet  245   a  may be disposed lower than the upper end of the bottom of the connection-type molded portion  2411   a . Therefore, even when the height of the lens driving device  250  is reduced, the height of the image stabilization magnet  245   a  in the optical axis direction may not be reduced or may be increased so that the image stabilization driving force may not be reduced or may be increased. 
       FIG.  6    does not show a positional relationship between the image stabilization magnet  244   a  shown in  FIG.  2   , the end of the connection-type molded portion  2411   a , and the island-type molded portion  2411   b . However, the image stabilization magnet  244   a  may be disposed in the same way the image stabilization magnet  245   a  is disposed as shown in  FIG.  6   . 
       FIG.  7    shows a top plan view of a housing of the camera module shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , and  FIG.  8    shows a cross-sectional view of the housing shown in  FIG.  7    taken along the line VIII-VIII′ in  FIG.  7   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , the housing  210  of the camera module  200  according to the present embodiment may have a quadrangular shape having four corner regions when viewed in the optical axis direction (the z-axis direction). The housing  210  may include two dampers  215  and two dampers  216  that protrude upward from an internal bottom surface of the housing  210 . The two dampers  216  may be disposed in two corner regions of the housing  210  in which the guide grooves  231   a  are not formed. The guide grooves  231   a  in which the rolling members  270  are disposed are formed in the other two corner regions of the housing  210 . Accordingly, to avoid interference with the guide grooves  231   a , the two dampers  215  may be disposed at positions that are offset from the other two corner regions of the housing in the second axis direction (the y-axis direction) toward a center of the housing  210 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  8   , the dampers  215  include a round head portion  2151 , a neck portion  2152  having a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the round head portion  2151 , and a leg portion  2153  having a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the neck portion  2152 . The head portion  2151  may protrude from the internal bottom surface of the housing  210 , the neck portion may be inserted in a through-hole  210   a  of the housing  210 , and the leg portion  2153  may be disposed on the external bottom surface of the housing  210 . The structure of the dampers  216  is the same as the structure of the dampers  215 . The dampers  215  and  216  may be made of an elastic resin material, and may be integrally combined with the housing  210  during the insert molding process. 
     As described above with reference to  FIG.  2   , the carrier  231  in which the support frame  241 , the lens holder  242 , and the lens barrel  220  are disposed is driven in the optical axis direction by the focus unit  230  in the internal space of the housing  210 , and an external bottom surface of the carrier  231  may face the internal bottom surface of the housing  210 . Accordingly, the dampers  215  and  216  may function as buffers for absorbing impacts when the external bottom surface of the carrier  231  collides with the dampers  215  and  216 . 
     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 are 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.