Source: http://patents.com/us-10095085.html
Timestamp: 2018-12-18 14:57:51
Document Index: 22688921

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 10', 'art 245', 'art 245', 'art 245', 'art 245', 'art 245', 'art 245']

US Patent # 1,009,5085. Mobile terminal - Patents.com
United States Patent 10,095,085
A mobile terminal includes: a terminal body; and a camera module provided at one side of the terminal body, wherein the camera module includes: a first lens assembly; a second lens assembly provided below the first lens assembly; a diaphragm disposed between the first and second lens assemblies, and having its aperture changed; and an actuator disposed close to the first lens assembly, and configured to reciprocate the first lens assembly, wherein the diaphragm includes: a first blade having a through hole therein; a second blade having a through hole therein, and configured to change an aperture of the diaphragm by a relative motion with respect to the first blade; a link member coupled to end parts of the first and second blades, and configured to move the first and second blades by being rotated; and a motor coupled to one side of the link member, and configured to rotate the link member.
Kim; Jongpil (Seoul, KR), Lee; Yongho (Seoul, KR), Oh; Gunseek (Seoul, KR)
Family ID: 58094106
15/414,429
US 20170357144 A1 Dec 14, 2017
Jun 10, 2016 [KR] 10-2016-0072687
Current CPC Class: G03B 9/06 (20130101); G03B 11/00 (20130101); G03B 17/12 (20130101); H04M 1/0264 (20130101); H04N 5/2254 (20130101); H04N 5/2257 (20130101); G03B 2205/0069 (20130101)
Current International Class: G03B 9/06 (20060101); G03B 17/12 (20060101); G03B 11/00 (20060101); H04M 1/02 (20060101)
2007/0098398 May 2007 Hagiwara et al.
2009/0052886 February 2009 Watanabe et al.
2012/0189293 July 2012 Cao
2014/0022655 January 2014 Cheng et al.
2016/0044232 February 2016 Kim et al.
20060118788 Nov 2006 KR
European Patent Office Application Serial No. 17000131.7, Search Report dated Sep. 11, 2017, 11 pages. cited by applicant.
1. A mobile terminal, comprising: a terminal body; and a camera module located at one side of the terminal body, wherein the camera module includes: a first lens assembly; a second lens assembly located below the first lens assembly; a diaphragm located between the first lens assembly and the second lens assembly, and being shaped to have an aperture; and an actuator configured to provide reciprocal movement of the first lens assembly relative to the second lens assembly, wherein the diaphragm includes: a first blade shaped to define a hole; a second blade shaped to define a hole and being configured to change the aperture of the diaphragm according to relative motion with respect to the first blade; a link member coupled to respective end parts of the first blade and the second blade, and configured to move the first blade and the second blade according to rotation of the link member; and a motor coupled to one side of the link member and being configured to cause the rotation of the link member, wherein the actuator includes: a bobbin shaped to define a region within which the first lens assembly is located; a housing formed to enclose side surfaces of the bobbin; one or more magnetic members provided between the bobbin and the housing; a coil located proximate to the one or more magnetic members, and being configured to generate an electromagnetic force between the coil and the one or more magnetic members; an upper spring formed on an upper surface of the housing; a lower spring formed on a lower surface of the housing; and a supporting member configured to connect the upper spring with the lower spring.
2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is positioned to pass through the hole of the first blade and the hole of the second blade, and slits are formed at the first and second blades for preventing interference between the supporting member and the first and second blades.
3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is positioned at a plurality of regions of the upper and lower springs, and is formed using one or more wires.
4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the upper spring includes: a corner part formed at a bent part; and an edge part formed along an edge of the bobbin.
5. The mobile terminal of claim 4, wherein the edge part is formed of a metallic material and is bent.
6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm further includes: a fixed member for contacting at least one end of the first and second blades; and a bush formed to pass through a hole formed at one end of the first blade or the second blade.
7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is sized to receive the first lens assembly and the actuator is sized to receive the diaphragm, and wherein the actuator drives the first lens assembly and the diaphragm.
8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the camera module further includes: an infrared ray cut filter (IRCF) located below the second lens assembly and configured to shield infrared rays; and an image sensor located below the IRCF, and configured to convert an optical signal incident through the first and second lens assemblies into an image signal.
9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first and second lens assemblies, the diaphragm, and the actuator are accommodated in the case.
10. A mobile terminal, comprising: a terminal body; and a camera module located at one side of the terminal body, wherein the camera module includes: a first lens assembly; a second lens assembly located below the first lens assembly; a diaphragm located between the first lens assembly and the second lens assembly, and being shaped to have an aperture; and an actuator configured to provide reciprocal movement of the first lens assembly relative to the second lens assembly, wherein the diaphragm includes: a first blade shaped to define a hole; a second blade shaped to define a hole and being configured to change the aperture of the diaphragm according to relative motion with respect to the first blade; a link member coupled to respective end parts of the first blade and the second blade, and configured to move the first blade and the second blade according to rotation of the link member; and a motor coupled to one side of the link member and being configured to cause the rotation of the link member, wherein the diaphragm is sized to receive the first lens assembly and the actuator is sized to receive the diaphragm, and wherein the actuator drives the first lens assembly and the diaphragm, and wherein the actuator includes: a carrier shaped to define a hole, and being formed to define an inner space by a side wall; a second magnetic member located on the side wall of the carrier; a housing sized to receive the carrier by a side wall, and shaped to define a hole at a region corresponding to the second magnetic member; a second coil located at an inner region of the hole of the housing and facing the second magnetic member, and configured to generate an electromagnetic force; and a printed circuit board configured to supply power to the second coil.
11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the carrier and the diaphragm move together with the first lens assembly according to an electromagnetic force generated by the second magnetic member and the second coil, wherein first and second guide grooves are respectively formed on an outer side wall of the carrier and an inner side wall of the housing, in a thickness direction, and wherein when the carrier moves, balls slide in the first and second guide grooves.
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date of and right of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2016-0072687, filed on Jun. 10, 2016, the contents of which are all hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
This specification relates to a mobile terminal having a camera module provided with two lens assemblies.
Unlike a general camera, a camera module mounted to the mobile terminal is not provided with a function to change an aperture of a diaphragm. That is, the camera module mounted to the mobile terminal is formed to have a fixed aperture, not a changeable aperture.
In this case, an electric motor may be used to change the aperture. In case of using the electric motor, it should be determined whether to move the electric motor when an auto focusing (AF) function is executed by a weight of the electric motor.
Therefore, an aspect of the detailed description is to provide a camera module capable of executing an auto focusing (AF) function with changing an aperture of a diaphragm.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a mobile terminal, including: a terminal body; and a camera module provided at one side of the terminal body, wherein the camera module includes: a first lens assembly; a second lens assembly provided below the first lens assembly; a diaphragm disposed between the first and second lens assemblies, and having its aperture changed; and an actuator disposed close to the first lens assembly, and configured to reciprocate the first lens assembly, wherein the diaphragm includes: a first blade having a through hole therein; a second blade having a through hole therein, and configured to change an aperture of the diaphragm by a relative motion with respect to the first blade; a link member coupled to end parts of the first and second blades, and configured to move the first and second blades by being rotated; and a motor coupled to one side of the link member, and configured to rotate the link member.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the actuator may include: a bobbin having therein a through hole where the first lens assembly is mounted; a housing formed to enclose side surfaces of the bobbin; one or more magnetic members provided between the bobbin and the housing; a coil disposed close to the magnetic member, and configured to generate an electromagnetic force between itself and the magnetic member; an upper spring formed on an upper surface of the housing; a lower spring formed on a lower surface of the housing; and a supporting member configured to connect the upper spring with the lower spring.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the supporting member may be formed to pass through the first and second blades, and slits may be formed at the first and second blades for prevention of interference between the first and second blades and the supporting member.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the supporting member may be formed at a plurality of regions of the upper and lower springs, and may be formed as one or more wires.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the upper spring may include: a corner part formed at a bent part; and an edge part formed along an edge of the bobbin.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the edge part may be formed of a metallic material, and may be formed to be bent a plurality of times.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm may further include: a fixed member to which at least one end of the first and second blades contacts; and a bush formed to pass through a through hole formed at one end of the first blade or the second blade.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the first lens assembly may be accommodated in the diaphragm, the diaphragm may be accommodated in the actuator, and the actuator may drive the first lens assembly and the diaphragm.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the actuator may include: a carrier provided with a through hole therein, and formed to define an inner space by a side wall; a second magnetic member provided on the side wall of the carrier; a housing formed to accommodate therein the carrier by a side wall, and having a through hole at a region corresponding to the second magnetic member; a second coil provided at an inner region of the through hole of the housing so as to face the second magnetic member, and configured to generate an electromagnetic force; and a printed circuit board configured to supply power to the second coil.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier and the diaphragm may move together with the first lens assembly by an electromagnetic force generated from the second magnetic member and the second coil. First and second guide grooves may be formed on an outer side wall of the carrier and an inner side wall of the housing, in a thickness direction. When the carrier moves, balls may slide in the first and second guide grooves.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the camera module may further include: an infrared ray cut filter (IRCF) disposed below the second lens assembly and configured to shield infrared rays; and an image sensor disposed below the IRCF, and configured to convert an optical signal incident through the first and second lens assemblies into an image signal.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the first and second lens assemblies, the diaphragm and the actuator may be accommodated in the case.
Firstly, an aperture of the diaphragm may be changed by the motor.
Further, an auto focusing (AF) function may be executed as the lens assembly is moved. That is, the camera module having the diaphragm of which aperture is changeable, may be provided with an AF function.
FIGS. 1B and 10 are conceptual views of a mobile terminal of the present invention, which are viewed from different directions;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a camera module according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of the camera module according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a first actuator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a diaphragm according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view and a partial enlargement view illustrating a state where a case has been removed from the camera module according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line `AA` in FIG. 2;
FIG. 9 is a conceptual view of a camera module according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the camera module according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a second actuator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
A first embodiment of the present invention is related to a case where a diaphragm 230 of a camera module 200 used in the mobile terminal 100 is changed. Especially, the first embodiment is related to a case where two lens assemblies 210, 220 are accommodated in lens barrels 210a, 220a, respectively. That is, the first embodiment discloses a camera module having dual barrels.
Generally, an actuator performs an auto focusing function by moving the diaphragm 230 in a thickness direction.
The actuator for generating a driving force may include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, an encoder actuator, a piezoelectric (PZT) actuator, and a rotation motor actuator. In the present invention, the camera module 200 adopts a VCM actuator and an encoder actuator. The PZT actuator indicates an actuator driven through deformation of a piezoelectric device when a voltage is applied thereto by using the piezoelectric device.
In this case, the diaphragm 230 may be driven by an electric motor 234. A method to execute an auto focusing (AF) function may be classified into a method according to a first embodiment, and a method according to a second embodiment.
More specifically, the first embodiment relates to a case of executing an AF function by using a voice coil motor (VCM), and the second embodiment relates to a case of executing an AF function by using an encoder. However, this is merely exemplary. That is, the contents of the first and second embodiments may be changeable from each other, or the present invention may be applied to only one of the first and second embodiments. The first embodiment may adopt an encoder actuator, an SMA actuator and an MEMS actuator as well as a VCM actuator, because the first lens assembly 210 is positioned above the diaphragm 230. For convenience, a VCM actuator will be referred to as a first actuator 240. An actuator according to the first embodiment is represented as a VCM actuator, and an actuator according to the second embodiment is represented as an encoder actuator. However, the first actuator 240 according to the first embodiment should not be limited to a VCM actuator, and a second actuator 250 according to the second embodiment should not be limited to an encoder actuator.
A camera module 200 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a first lens assembly 210, a second lens assembly 220 provided below the first lens assembly 210, a diaphragm 230 provided between the first and second lens assemblies 210, 220 and having its aperture changed, and an actuator 240, 250 disposed close to the first lens assembly 210 and configured to drive the first lens assembly 210. In the first embodiment of the present invention, two lens assemblies 210, 220 are provided, and the two lens assemblies 210, 220 are spaced apart from each other. For instance, the first lens assembly 210 may be provided at the first lens barrel 210a, and the second lens assembly 220 may be provided at the second lens barrel 220a.
The diaphragm 230 is a diaphragm having its aperture changed. For this, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the diaphragm 230 is driven by the electric motor 234. However, the electric motor 234 may not be provided. That is, the camera module 200 having the two lens assemblies and the diaphragm 230 without the electric motor 234, may be included in the scope of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera module 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of the camera module 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The first embodiment to be explained hereinafter discloses the camera module 200 which executes an AF function by the actuator 240 of a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator.
The VCM actuator 240, a small electric motor actuator, is mainly used to micro-control compact electronic equipment owing to a fast responsiveness, a linear characteristic, a small size, and a low power driving thereof. The VCM has a structure where a magnetic circuit is formed by steel and a permanent magnet, and a coil is positioned at an air gap inside the magnetic circuit. In this case, the VCM is operated by the Lorentz force, the combination of electric and magnetic force on a point charge due to electromagnetic fields.
Hereinafter, the VCM actuator 240 will be referred to as the first actuator 240, and an encoder actuator according to a second embodiment to be explained later will be referred to as the second actuator 250.
In case of changing the diaphragm 230 using the electric motor 234, the electric motor 234 should be positioned on a top surface of the camera module 200, due to its large volume. Further, the diaphragm 230 and the electric motor 234 should be reciprocated for an AF function, since the electric motor 234 is formed at one side of the diaphragm 230 as shown in FIG. 4. However, there does not exist the VCM actuator 240 which drives the diaphragm 230 and the electric motor 234 to reciprocate.
For instance, a maximum mass of an object which can be reciprocated by the VCM actuator 240 is about 250 mg, and a total mass of the diaphragm 230 and the electric motor 234 is about 800 mg. This may cause an AF function by the VCM actuator 240 not to be executable. In order to solve such a problem, in the first embodiment, the diaphragm 230 and the electric motor 234 are disposed between the first and second lens assemblies 210, 220. With such a configuration, only the first lens assembly 210 is reciprocated by the first actuator 240, whereas the diaphragm 230 and the electric motor 234 are fixed when an AF function is executed.
That is, the first lens assembly 210 and the first actuator 240 are provided at an upper side, whereas the diaphragm 230 and the second lens assembly 220 are provided at a lower side. And only the first lens assembly 210 is moved when an AF function is executed.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first lens assembly 210 and the first actuator 240 are accommodated in the first lens barrel 210a, and the second lens assembly 220 and the diaphragm 230 are accommodated in the second lens barrel 220a. The first lens barrel 210a may be a case 202 having a through hole 202a, and the second lens barrel 220a may be a case including the electric motor 234. The first and second lens barrels 210a, 220a may be accommodated in the case 201 which forms appearance of the mobile terminal.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the diaphragm 230 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The diaphragm 230 of FIG. 6 may be applicable to all of the first and second embodiments.
Referring to FIG. 6, the diaphragm 230 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a first blade 231 having a through hole 231b therein; a second blade 232 having a through hole 232b therein, and configured to change an aperture of the diaphragm 230 by a relative motion with respect to the first blade 231; a link member 233 coupled to end parts of the first and second blades 231, 232, and configured to move the first and second blades 231, 232; and a motor 234 coupled to one side of the link member 233, and configured to rotate the link member 233.
The motor 234 is coupled to one point of the link member 233, and is configured to rotate the link member 233. Since the link member 233 is long formed in one direction and is rotated as coupling portions 231a, 232a of the first and second blades 231, 232 are coupled to two ends thereof, the first and second blades 231,232 are moved in opposite directions. As the first and second blades 231,232 are moved in opposite directions, an aperture of the diaphragm 230 may be controlled. In this case, the link member 233 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and the first and second blades 231, 232 are moved according to a rotation direction.
For instance, if an aperture of the diaphragm 230 is gradually decreased by the first and second blades 231, 232 as the link member 233 is rotated clockwise, the aperture of the diaphragm 230 is gradually increased by the first and second blades 231, 232 as the link member 233 is rotated counterclockwise.
The motor 234 may be coupled to a through hole 233a formed at a middle part of the link member 233. The first blade 231 is provided with a through hole 231b at a middle part thereof, and is provided with the first coupling portion 231a at one side thereof, thereby being coupled to one end of the link member 233. And the second blade 232 is provided with a through hole 232b at a middle part thereof, and is provided with the second coupling portion 232a at one side thereof, thereby being coupled to another end of the link member 233.
The diaphragm 230 further includes a fixed member 236 to which at least one end of the first and second blades 231, 232 contacts, and a bush 237 formed to pass through a through hole 236b formed at one end of the first blade 231 or the second blade 232. A through hole 235a is formed at a stair-stepped portion 235 stair-stepped from a main surface of the second blade 232. The bush 237 passes through the through hole 236b of the fixed member 236 and the through hole 235a of the first blade 231 or the second blade 232, thereby preventing the first blade 231 or the second blade 232 from being separated from the fixed member 236.
A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) configured to control the diaphragm 230, and a supporting plate 238 are formed below the fixed member 236.
FIG. 6 illustrates that the through hole 235a is formed at the second blade 232. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the through hole 235a may be formed at the first blade 231, or may be formed at both of the first and second blades 231,232. If the through hole 235a is formed at both of the first and second blades 231,232, the through hole 236b should be formed in one pair such that two bushes 237 pass through the first and second blades 231, 232, respectively. The bush 237 passes through the through hole 236b, and a movement of the first and second blades 231, 232 may be restricted by the through hole 236b. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the bush 237 is formed as a slit, such that a space where the bush 237 is moveable in the through hole 236b is obtainable. Accordingly, the first and second blades 231,232 are reciprocated without interference with the bush 237.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a first actuator 240 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 5, the first actuator 240 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a bobbin 241 having therein a through hole 241a where the first lens assembly 210 is mounted, a housing 242 formed to enclose side surfaces of the bobbin 241, one or more first magnetic members 243 provided between the bobbin 241 and the housing 242, a first coil 244 disposed close to the first magnetic member 243 and configured to generate an electromagnetic force between itself and the first magnetic member 243, an upper spring 245 formed on an upper surface of the housing 242, a lower spring 246 formed on a lower surface of the housing 242, and a supporting member 247 configured to connect the upper spring 245 with the lower spring 246.
Referring to FIG. 5, the first magnetic member 243 is formed in four, and the first coil 244 is formed to have a shape corresponding to that of the bobbin 241. In FIG. 5, the bobbin 241 and the housing 242 are formed to have a quadrangular shape, but may be formed to have a polygonal shape or a circular shape.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line `AA` in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 8, the first magnetic member 243 and the first coil 244 are disposed close to each other, and the housing 242 is formed outside the first magnetic member 243.
The supporting member 247 may be formed at a plurality of regions of the upper and lower springs 245, 246, and may be formed as one or more wires. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the supporting member 247 is formed at corners of the bobbin 241 as two wires. An upper end of the supporting member 247 may be coupled to the upper spring 245, and a lower end of the supporting member 247 may be coupled to the lower spring 246. With such a configuration, an upward movement of the bobbin 241 is restricted by the upper spring 245, and a downward movement of the bobbin 241 is restricted by the lower spring 246.
Hereinafter, coupling of the supporting member 247 will be explained in more detail.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view and a partial enlargement view illustrating a state where the case 201 has been removed from the camera module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained with reference to FIGS. 7 and 5.
The upper spring 245 is formed of an elastic material, and is divided into two parts in an approximate `L` shape as shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the upper spring 245 may be formed as a single body. This may be also applied to the lower spring 246. FIG. 5 illustrates that the upper spring 245 is divided into two parts, and the lower spring 246 is formed as a single body. In the case where the upper spring 245 is divided into two parts, each end thereof should be coupled to the bobbin 241 or the housing 242.
The upper spring 245 includes a corner part 245a formed at a bent part, and an edge part 245b formed along an edge of the bobbin 241. The corner part 245a may be provided with a through hole such that the supporting member 247 may be coupled thereto. And the edge part 245b is formed to have a zigzag shape for elasticity. That is, the corner part 245a to which the supporting member 247 is coupled is a region where an elastic transformation scarcely occurs, whereas the edge part 245b is a region where an elastic transformation occurs by a movement of the bobbin 241. Accordingly, the upper spring 245 may be formed to have a shape that a metallic wire is bent a plurality of times.
Since the first actuator 240 is a VCM actuator, the first magnetic member 243 and the first coil 244 are provided. The bobbin 241 is moved up and down (or back and forth) by the first actuator 240. As the bobbin 241 is moved, the first lens assembly 210 accommodated in one surface of the bobbin 241 is moved. That is, in the first embodiment of the present invention, when an AF function is executed, only the first lens assembly 210 and the bobbin 241 are moved while the remaining components are fixed. In this case, the first lens assembly 210 is mounted to a middle region of the first actuator 240 where the through hole 240a is formed.
The second lens assembly 220 is mounted to a lens supporting plate 229.
The bobbin 241 may reciprocate by an electromagnetic force generated from the first magnetic member 243 and the first coil 244 of the first actuator 240.
The supporting member 247 is formed to pass through the first and second blades 231, 232, and slits 231c, 232c are formed at the first and second blades 231, 232 for prevention of interference between the first and second blades 231, 232 and the supporting member 247. This will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
Referring to FIG. 7, the supporting member 247 formed of a pair of wires is formed at each of four corners of the bobbin 241. The supporting member 247 is formed to pass through a through hole 232c of the second blade 232 and a through hole 236a of the fixed member 236. Since the second blade 232 is moveable, the through hole 232c should be formed as a slit such that the supporting member 247 does not hinder a horizontal movement of the second blade 232. In case of the first blade 231, a through hole 231c (refer to FIG. 6) is formed as a slit not to hinder a movement of the supporting member 247. However, the through hole 236a may be formed to have any other type rather than a slit, since the fixed member 236 is not moved.
In the second embodiment of the present invention, used is the encoder actuator 250 capable of moving an object heavier than that by the VCM actuator 240. That is, in case of changing an aperture of the diaphragm 230 by the motor 234, the second actuator 250 may move the diaphragm 230, the motor 234 and the first lens assembly 210.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual view of a camera module 200' according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 9, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the second actuator 250 is disposed below the diaphragm 230, and the diaphragm 230, the motor 234 and the first lens assembly 210 are reciprocated by the second actuator 250 when an AF function is executed by a movement of the first lens assembly 210. Hereinafter, features of the second embodiment which are differentiated from those of the first embodiment will be explained. However, the descriptions aforementioned in the first embodiment may be also applied to the second embodiment.
In the second embodiment of the present invention, the first lens assembly 210, the diaphragm 230 and the second actuator 250 may be formed at an upper part of the camera module 200', and the second lens assembly 220 may be formed at a lower part of the camera module 200'. The components formed at the upper part of the camera module 200' are accommodated in the first lens barrel 210a, and the components formed at the lower part of the camera module 200' are accommodated in the second lens barrel 220a. That is, the first lens barrel 210a serves to accommodate the first lens assembly 210 therein, and the second lens barrel 220a serves to accommodate the second lens assembly 220 therein.
In this case, the first lens barrel 210a may be the upper case 202 having the through hole 202a therein, and the second lens barrel 220a may be a lower case 203 formed below the upper case 202. The upper case 202 and the lower case 203 may be accommodated in the case 201.
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the camera module 200' according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 10, the diaphragm 230 is accommodated in the second actuator 250, and the diaphragm 230 and the first lens assembly 210 are moveable by the second actuator 250.
The camera module 200 according to the first embodiment of the present invention further includes an infrared ray cut filter (IRCF) 261 disposed below the second lens assembly 220 and configured to shield infrared rays, an image sensor 262 disposed below the IRCF 261 and configured to convert an optical signal incident through the first and second lens assemblies 210, 220 into an image signal, and a first printed circuit board (PCB) 263 where the image sensor 262 is mounted. The IRCF 261, the image sensor 262 and the first PCB 263 may be accommodated in the second lens barrel 220a. The first PCB 263 is electrically connected to a main PCB inside the mobile terminal 100 by a connector 270. An insulating tape 264 may be formed outside the first PCB 263, thereby forming appearance of the camera module 200,200' (refer to FIGS. 2, 3 and 10).
The image sensor 262 converts an optical signal incident through the first lens assembly 210, the diaphragm 230, the second lens assembly 220 and the IRCF 261, into an electric signal. In this case, a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) may be used as the image sensor 262.
The IRCF 261 is disposed between the diaphragm 230 and the image sensor 262. And the IRCF 261 is configured to pass visible rays among light incident from the outside therethrough, but to prevent infrared rays from reaching the image sensor 262.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the second actuator 250 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 11, the second actuator includes a carrier 251, a second magnetic member 254, a housing 252, a second coil 253 and a second printed circuit board (PCB) 255. The carrier 251 is provided with a through hole 251d therein, and is formed to define an inner space by a side wall 251a. The carrier 251 accommodates therein the diaphragm 230 and the first lens assembly 210, and controls the diaphragm 230 and the first lens assembly 210 to reciprocate. The second magnetic member 254 is provided on one outer side surface of the carrier 251, and the second coil 253 is provided at an inner region of a through hole 252b formed at a side wall 252a of the housing 252. The second coil 253 is disposed to face the second magnetic member 254, and generates an electromagnetic force to move the carrier 251. The carrier 251 performs the same function as the bobbin 241 according to the first embodiment. That is, the bobbin 241 and the carrier 251 are configured to move the first lens assembly 210.
The housing 252 is formed to accommodate the carrier 251 therein by the side wall 252a, and is provided with the through hole 252b at a region corresponding to the second magnetic member 254. The second PCB 255 configured to supply power to the second coil 253 is disposed close to the second coil 253. The second coil 253 and the second magnetic member 254 may be called a driving unit, because they are configured to move the carrier 251 by generating an electromagnetic force. And the second PCB 255 may be called a PCB for actuator because it controls the second actuator 250.
A guide hole 251f is formed at a protruding region of the side wall 251a, and a protrusion (not shown) of a pillar shape formed at the housing 252 is inserted into the guide hole 251f. With such a configuration, the carrier 251 may be coupled to the housing 252 in a slidable manner.
The carrier 251 and the housing 252 have similar shapes, parallelepiped shapes by which upper surfaces thereof are open and lower surfaces are provided with through holes 251d, 252d, respectively. That is, the carrier 251 has four side walls 251a, and is provided with the through hole 251d at a lower surface thereof. And the housing 252 has four side walls 252a, and is provided with the through hole 252d at a lower surface thereof. In this case, the through hole 251d may be formed to be smaller than the through hole 252d. The side wall 252a of the housing 252 is formed to be covered by a housing cover 259, and the housing cover 259 is provided with a through hole 259b. The through hole 259b is formed such that the diaphragm 230 is exposed to the outside therethrough.
Guide grooves 251b, 252c are formed in upper and lower directions, at one side of a region where the second magnetic member 254 is provided. The guide grooves 251b,252c provide a space where balls 257 are slidable. The first guide groove 251b of the guide grooves 251b, 252c is formed on an outer surface of the side walls 251a of the carrier 251, and the second guide groove 252c of the guide grooves 251b,252c is formed on an inner surface of the side walls 252a of the housing 252. And the first and second guide grooves 251b,252c are formed to face each other. As the balls 257 and a ball housing 258 slide on the first and second guide grooves 251b, 252c, a frictional force may be minimized when the carrier 251 is reciprocated. The balls 257 may be formed in at least two.
That is, the carrier 251 and the diaphragm 230 are moved together with the first lens assembly 210 by an electromagnetic force generated from the second magnetic member 254 and the second coil 253. In this case, the second magnetic member 254 may be provided at the carrier 251, and the second coil 253 may be provided at the housing 252. Here, since the second magnetic member 254 is moved together with the carrier 251, the second magnetic member 254 is a moving magnet.
The second magnetic member 254 may be provided at a second magnetic member accommodation portion 251e recessed from the carrier 251, such that at least part of the second magnetic member 254 may be overlapped with the side walls 251a of the carrier 251. If the second magnetic member 254 is overlapped with the side walls 251a of the carrier 251, a width of the camera module 200, 200' may be reduced.
A yoke 256 of a plate shape is provided outside the second PCB 255, so as to cover the through hole 252b of the housing 252. The yoke 256 is used to increase an electromagnetic force by preventing the electromagnetic force from being discharged to the outside, and may be formed of a metallic material.
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