Patent Abstract:
An exemplary lens module includes a barrel and a plurality of deformable lenses received in the barrel. The barrel includes an inner wall. The inner wall has a plurality of circular retaining portions. The plurality of deformable lenses is deformed and retained in the plurality of circular retaining portions. Diameters of the lenses are greater than an inner diameter of the barrel. The lenses each has a curved surface.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to lens modules, and particularly, to a lens module having flexible lenses, and a camera module having the lens module. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Currently, glass lenses and plastic lenses are two typical optical lenses. Usually, each of the two typical optical lenses has a given curvature when it is produced, such that a certain optical effect can be achieved soon after the lens is produced. 
         [0005]    However, a method of producing such lenses each having a preformed curvature is usually complex or expensive, because a mold having the curvature is needed. 
         [0006]    Therefore, what is needed, is a lens module and a camera module having the lens module, which can overcome the above shortcomings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the present lens module and camera module can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present lens module and camera module. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a lens module in accordance with a first embodiment, wherein the lens module includes a barrel. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a schematic, exploded view of the lens module of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the barrel of the lens module of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic, exploded view of a lens module in accordance with a second embodiment. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a camera module having the lens module of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe in detail of the exemplary embodiments of the lens module and the camera module. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a lens module  1 , in accordance with a first embodiment, includes a barrel  10  and three lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16 . 
         [0015]    The barrel  10  is a columnar, and includes a first end  101  and an inner wall  102 . The first end  101  defines a through hole  103  to allow outside light beams passing through and enters the barrel  10 . The inner wall  102  defines a plurality of annular grooves  104  surrounding the inner wall  102 , configured for holding and fixing the at least one lens. The grooves  104  are spaced apart from each other and longitudinally defined in the barrel  10 . In the present embodiment, corresponding to the three lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16 , the barrel  10  has three grooves  104  for respectively holding and fixing the three lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16 . 
         [0016]    The three lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are transparent, flexible circular lenses. The lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are flat lenses when they are produced and before they are mounted to the barrel  10 . The diameters of the lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are all greater than the inner diameter of the barrel  10 . Each of the lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  can have a same diameter with each other. In the present embodiment, the three lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are made of transparent plastic with excellent flexibility. The three lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are bent about the central axis of the barrel  10 , and are respectively engaged with the three grooves  104  of the inner wall  102  of the barrel  10 . The centers of three lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are located on the central axis of the barrel  10 . Since the lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are flexible and the diameters of the lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are greater than the inner diameter of the barrel  10 , the lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are capable of being bent to form a certain curvature, for implementing a certain optical effect. 
         [0017]    Assembly of the lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  to the barrel  10  can be done by the following steps. Firstly, the lens  12  is bent to a certain curvature by a clamp (not shown). Secondly, the lens  12  is held by a suction device (not shown) with the suction device catching the convexity of the lens  12  to keep the lens  12  in a bent state. Thirdly, the lens  12  is put into the corresponding groove  104  of the barrel  10  by the suction device. Fourthly, the suction device exits the barrel  10  and the lens  12  is engaged with the groove  104 . Then, the lenses  14 ,  16  can be assembled with the barrel  10  using the same method. 
         [0018]    The three lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are flat lenses before assembly, such that the lenses  12 ,  14 ,  16  are easy to be produced and the cost of the product is relatively cheap. Meanwhile, the assembly of the lens module is simple and easy, such that the cost of the lens module is also relatively cheap. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a lens module  3 , in accordance with a second embodiment, includes a barrel  30  and three lenses  32 ,  34 ,  36 . Comparing with the first embodiment, the barrel includes a first barrel part  302  and a second barrel part  304 . The first barrel part  302  is symmetric with the second barrel part  304  about the central axis of the barrel  30 . The first barrel part  302  is a hollow semi-cylinder, and includes an inner wall  3021  and an end  3022 . The inner wall  3021  defines a plurality of group of annular protrusions  3023  surrounding the inner wall, for respectively fixing the three lenses  32 ,  34 ,  36 . One group of the annular protrusions  3023  includes two annular protrusions  3023 , and the two annular protrusions  3023  cooperatively form a receiving space  3025  for receiving a lens therein. The end  3022  defines a semi-circular hole  3024  configured for allowing outside light beams to enter the barrel  30 . The second barrel part  304  has the same structure with the first barrel part  302 . The two barrel part  302 ,  304  engaged with each other and form the barrel  30 . The first barrel part  302  and the second barrel part  304  can be engaged with each other by adhesive. 
         [0020]    Assembly of the lenses  32 ,  34 ,  36  to the barrel  10  can be done by the following steps, firstly, the three lenses  32 ,  34 ,  36  are bent to certain curvature and put into the three groups of annular protrusions  3023  of the first barrel part  302  by a clamp (not shown). Secondly, the second barrel part  304  is engaged with the first barrel part  302  by adhesive as well as the clamp is moved away. Then, the three lenses  32 ,  34 ,  36  are fixed in the barrel  30 . 
         [0021]    It is understood that the number of lenses can be decided by practical need, and the number of grooves or groups of annular protrusions depends on the number of lenses. It is not limited to the present embodiments. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a camera module  5  includes the above lens module  1 , a holder  52 , a circuit board  54  and an image sensor  56 . The holder  52  is attached on the circuit board  54 , and a receiving cavity  58  is formed. The image sensor  56  is attached on the circuit board  54  and arranged in the receiving cavity  58 . The image sensor  56  is electrically connected with the circuit board  54  and the outer circuit (not shown). The lens module  1  is engaged with the holder  52 , configured for focusing light beams to the image sensor  56 . 
         [0023]    While the present invention has been described as having preferred or exemplary embodiments, the embodiments can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the embodiments using the general principles of the invention as claimed. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims or equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6