Patent Description:
With the rapid development of terminals, terminals are becoming more and more popular. Terminals have become indispensable equipments in people's lives. People can study and be entertained through the terminals.

Picture taking is one of the most common functions in the terminals. In order to achieve better picture taking capabilities, more and more terminal manufacturers begin to use a dual camera scheme. Compared to a single camera, dual cameras can take pictures having almost double resolution using an algorithm synthesis. In the actual picture taking process, dual cameras can capture more picture detail.

Because the camera module of the terminal includes an additional camera as well as an additional flexible printed circuit (FPC) for the additional camera, a running of the FPCs of the camera module occupies a larger space of a circuit board. Therefore, the layout of the circuit board of the terminal is difficult. <CIT> discloses an imaging module including a flexible circuit board and at least two spaced camera modules. <CIT> discloses a system including a first imager, a second imager, and a processor operably coupled to the first imager and the second imager. <CIT> discloses a <NUM>-D image pick-up device including a PCB mounted with two camera modules including an image sensor. <CIT> discloses a stereo camera unit positioned and fixed relative to three reference surfaces.

The invention is defined by the independent claim. The present disclosure aims to solve at least one problem existing in the prior art. To this end, the present disclosure provides a camera module and a terminal capable of reducing the arrangement space occupied by the camera module on a circuit board of the terminal and reducing the difficulty in the arrangement of the camera module.

A camera module applied to a terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first camera module, a first flexible printed circuit, a second camera module, and a second flexible printed circuit. The first flexible printed circuit is connected to the first camera module. The second camera module is arranged side by side with the first camera module. The second flexible printed circuit is connected to the second camera module. At least one of the first flexible printed circuit and the second flexible printed circuit extends along an arrangement direction of the first camera module and the second camera module.

A terminal in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a housing, a circuit board, and the camera module disposed in the housing.

The camera module and the terminal of the embodiment of the present disclosure changes the arrangement of the flexible printed circuit of the camera module, thus reducing the arrangement space occupied by the camera module on the circuit board of the terminal and reducing the difficulty in the arrangement of the camera module.

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure or related art, the following figures described in the embodiments are briefly introduced. It is obvious that the drawings are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure, a person skilled in the art can obtain other figures according to these figures under the premise that the person does not pay laborious endeavor.

In combination with the drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following is related to a detailed and complete description of the technology of the embodiments of the present disclosure. It is obvious that the disclosed embodiments are only a part of the embodiments available to the present disclosure, rather than the all embodiments thereof. Based on the disclosed embodiments of the present disclosure, other embodiments obtained by a person skilled in the art without endeavor of creativity belong to the protected scope of the present embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that terms such as "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inside," "outside," "clockwise," "counter-clockwise" as well as derivative thereof should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description, do not require that the present disclosure be constructed or operated in a particular orientation, and shall not be construed as causing limitations to the present disclosure. In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. Thus, features limited by "first" and "second" are intended to indicate or imply including one or more than one these features. In the description of the present disclosure, "a plurality of" relates to two or more than two, unless otherwise specified.

In the description of the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, it should be noted that, terms "mounted," "connected," "coupled," and "fastened," etc. may be understood broadly, such as permanent connection or detachable connection, mechanical connection or electronic connection, direct connection or indirect connection via intermediary, inner communication or interreaction between two elements. A person skilled in the art should understand the specific meanings in the present disclosure according to specific situations.

In the description of the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, it should be noted that, a structure in which a first feature is "on" a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature directly contacts the second feature, and may also include an embodiment in which an additional feature is formed between the first feature and the second feature so that the first feature does not directly contact the second feature. Furthermore, a first feature "on," "above," or "on top of" a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is right "on," "above," or "on top of" the second feature, and may also include an embodiment in which the first feature is not right "on," "above," or "on top of" the second feature, or just means that the first feature has a sea level elevation greater than the sea level elevation of the second feature. While first feature "beneath," "below," or "on bottom of" a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is right "beneath," "below," or "on bottom of" the second feature, and may also include an embodiment in which the first feature is not right "beneath," "below," or "on bottom of' the second feature, or just means that the first feature has a sea level elevation less than the sea level elevation of the second feature.

The following description provides various embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the present disclosure. To simplify the description of the present disclosure, parts and settings of specific examples are described as follows. Certainly, they are only illustrative, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Further, reference numerals and reference letters may be repeated in different examples. This repetition is for purposes of simplicity and clarity and does not indicate a relationship of the various embodiments and/or the settings. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides specific examples of various processes and materials, however, a person skilled in the art may be aware of applications of other processes and/or other materials.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a camera module and a terminal, which are described in detail below.

Referring to <FIG>, a terminal <NUM> in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a rear cover <NUM>, a light emitting diode (LED) lamp <NUM>, a camera module <NUM>, a receiver <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a display screen <NUM>, and a cover plate <NUM>.

The rear cover <NUM> includes a body <NUM> and a side wall <NUM> disposed on a periphery of the body <NUM>. The periphery of the body <NUM> of the rear cover <NUM> includes a first camera hole, a second camera hole, and a LED lamp hole for a camera to take picture. The LED lamp <NUM> can be used for instantaneous illumination when the camera module <NUM> captures an image in the case of dark ambient light, and the LED lamp <NUM> also provides a local lighting for an object to be photographed in the case where the ambient light is bright.

The camera module <NUM> is configured to capture an external image. The camera module <NUM> includes a rear camera module and a front camera module. A position of the rear camera module corresponds to positions of the first camera hole and the second camera hole. In some embodiments, the front camera module can be removed, at such situation the rear camera module constructs the camera module <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> which may be a motherboard includes a control circuit <NUM>. The LED lamp <NUM>, the camera module <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM> are disposed on the circuit board <NUM>.

The battery <NUM> is mounted in the rear cover <NUM> and is electrically connected to the circuit board <NUM> to provide power to the circuit board <NUM>.

The display screen <NUM> includes a non-display area <NUM> and a display area <NUM>. A top of the non-display area <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> and a front camera hole <NUM>. The opening <NUM> is used for the receiver <NUM> to emit sound. The front camera hole <NUM> is used for the front camera module to take picture. In some embodiments, the front camera hole <NUM> may be omitted, or removed. A printed ink layer is disposed on a lower surface of a transparent glass corresponding to the non-display area <NUM> except the opening <NUM> and the front camera hole <NUM> for shielding an internal structure of the terminal <NUM>. The display screen <NUM> may be made of material such as glass, ceramic, or sapphire, etc..

The cover plate <NUM> is mounted on the display screen <NUM> and includes a non-display area <NUM> and a display area <NUM>. The display area <NUM> of the cover plate <NUM> may be used for displaying an image and/or for a user to perform touch manipulation, etc. A top of the display area <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> for the receiver <NUM> to emit the sound. The receiver <NUM> is disposed corresponds to a position of the opening <NUM>. A fingerprint identification module <NUM> is disposed on a bottom of the non-display area <NUM>. The fingerprint identification module <NUM> may be used to acquire fingerprint information of the user.

The control circuit <NUM> may be electrically connected with the LED lamp <NUM>, the camera module <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, and the fingerprint identification module <NUM> to control the entire terminal <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in the embodiment, the camera module <NUM> includes a first camera module <NUM>, a first flexible printed circuit <NUM>, a second camera module <NUM>, and a second flexible printed circuit <NUM>. The first flexible printed circuit <NUM> is connected to the first camera module <NUM>. The second camera module <NUM> is arranged side by side with the first camera module <NUM>. The second flexible printed circuit <NUM> is connected to the second camera module <NUM>. At least one of the first flexible printed circuit <NUM> and the second flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends along an arrangement direction of the first camera module <NUM> and the second camera module <NUM> to electrically connect to the circuit board <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the first camera module <NUM> includes a first camera <NUM> and a base <NUM> supporting the first camera <NUM>. The first flexible circuit board <NUM> is electrically connected with the first camera <NUM>. A lens of the first camera <NUM> faces the rear cover <NUM> of the terminal <NUM>. The first camera <NUM> is used for photographing an image behind the terminal <NUM>. It is to be understood that the base <NUM> can be made of plastic.

In some embodiments, the second camera module <NUM> includes a second camera <NUM>, a light guide component <NUM>, and a frame <NUM>. The frame <NUM> accommodates and fixes the second camera <NUM> and the light guide component <NUM>. The second camera <NUM> is arranged side by side with the light guide component <NUM>. The second camera <NUM> is electrically connected with the second flexible printed circuit <NUM>.

It is to be understood that the frame <NUM> can be made of metallic material. In the embodiment, the light guide component <NUM> is a prism.

A light exit surface of the light guide component <NUM> faces the rear cover <NUM> of the terminal <NUM>, and a lens of the second camera <NUM> faces the light guide component <NUM>. External light is transmitted to the second camera <NUM> by the light guide component <NUM> so that the second camera <NUM> takes a picture behind the terminal <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in some embodiments, the camera module <NUM> further includes a first connector A (such as board to board, BTB) and a second connector B. The first flexible printed circuit <NUM> is fastened to the circuit board <NUM> by the first connector A to realize electrical connection with the circuit board <NUM>. The second flexible printed circuit <NUM> is fastened to the circuit board <NUM> by the second connector B to realize electrical connection with the circuit board <NUM>.

It is to be understood that the flexible printed circuit can be arranged in the following ways.

In some embodiments, the first flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends from a side wall of the first camera module <NUM> parallel to the arrangement direction, and twists to be adjacent to a side wall of the second camera module <NUM>, and extends along the side wall of the second camera module <NUM> to exceed an end of the second camera module <NUM> away from the first camera module <NUM> to electrically connect to the circuit board <NUM>.

Because of physical properties of the flexible printed circuit, the flexible printed circuit has a high wiring density, light weight, and thin thickness. The flexible printed circuit can be bent, folded, wound, twisted, and stretched in three-dimensional space to realize light weight, miniaturization, and thin thickness so as to achieve integration of component and wire connection. Therefore, when the first flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends from the first camera module <NUM>, the first flexible printed circuit <NUM> can be twisted to be adjacent to the side wall of the first camera module <NUM>. The first flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends along the side wall of the second camera module <NUM> to exceed the end of the second camera module <NUM> away from the first camera module <NUM>. The first flexible printed circuit <NUM> can be twisted again so as to be adjacent to an end of the second camera module <NUM> adjacent to the side wall of the second camera module <NUM>. The first flexible printed circuit <NUM> is fastened to the circuit board <NUM> by the first connector A to realize electrical connection with the circuit board <NUM>.

In practical application, in order to facilitate twisting, a shape of the first flexible printed circuit <NUM> can be an L shape.

In some embodiments, the second flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends from a side wall of the second camera module <NUM> parallel to the arrangement direction, the second flexible printed circuit <NUM> is adjacent to a side wall of the first camera module <NUM>, and the second flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends exceed an end of the first camera module <NUM> away from the second camera module <NUM> to electrically connect to the circuit board <NUM>.

Similarly, the second flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends from the second camera module <NUM> and can be twisted to be adjacent to a side wall of the second camera module <NUM>. The second flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends along the side wall of the first camera module <NUM> to exceed an end of the first camera module <NUM> away from the second camera module <NUM>. The second flexible printed circuit <NUM> can be twisted again so as to be adjacent to an end of the first camera module <NUM> adjacent to the side wall of the first camera module <NUM>. The second flexible printed circuit <NUM> is fastened to the circuit board <NUM> by the second connector B to realize electrical connection with the circuit board <NUM>.

In practical application, in order to facilitate twisting, a shape of the second flexible printed circuit <NUM> can be an L shape.

In some embodiments, the first flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends from an end of the first camera module <NUM> being perpendicular to the arrangement direction and away from the second camera module <NUM> to realize electrical connection with the circuit board <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the positions of the first camera module <NUM> and the second camera module <NUM> may be exchanged.

It is to be understood that in such situation the first flexible printed circuit <NUM> and the second flexible printed circuit <NUM> can be arranged in the following ways.

In some embodiments, the terminal <NUM> may further include a third flexible printed circuit <NUM> connected to the light guide component <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the camera module may further include a third connector C. The third flexible printed circuit <NUM> is electrically connected with the circuit board <NUM> via the third connector C.

In some embodiments, the third flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends from a side wall of the light guide component <NUM> parallel to the arrangement direction, is adjacent to a side wall of the second camera <NUM>, and further extends to exceed an end of the second camera module <NUM> away from the first camera module <NUM> to electrically connect to the circuit board <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the third flexible printed circuit <NUM> extends from an end of the light guide component <NUM> being perpendicular to the arrangement direction and away from the first camera module <NUM> to realize electrical connection with the circuit board <NUM>.

It is to be understood that the first flexible printed circuit <NUM>, the second flexible printed circuit <NUM>, and the third flexible printed circuit <NUM> can be arranged in the following ways.

In addition, the first flexible printed circuit <NUM>, the second flexible printed circuit <NUM>, and the third flexible printed circuit <NUM> are arranged in other combinations, and are not exemplified here.

In some embodiments, a length of the first camera <NUM> is less than a length of the second camera <NUM>. The length of the second camera <NUM> is greater than the length of the first camera <NUM>, in order to reduce an overall thickness of the camera module <NUM> and keep a thickness of the terminal <NUM> unchanged. The first camera module <NUM> and the second camera module <NUM> are arranged side by side when assembling the first camera module <NUM> and the second camera module <NUM>. The detail arrangement is as follows.

The first camera <NUM>, the second camera <NUM>, and the light guide component <NUM> are arranged side by side to form a "linear" shape. A light exit surface of the second camera <NUM> faces the first camera module <NUM> (that is, a light exit surface of the second camera <NUM> faces the first camera <NUM>). A light exit surface of the light guide component <NUM> and a light exit surface of the first camera module <NUM> are arranged in parallel. The light guide component <NUM> is disposed between the first camera module <NUM> and the second camera <NUM>. A base <NUM> of the first camera module <NUM> abuts against the second camera module <NUM>. For example, the base <NUM> of the first camera module <NUM> and the frame <NUM> of the second camera module <NUM> are jointed at the bottom of the terminal by glue.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a working principle of the camera module is as follows.

The first camera module <NUM> is used at the time of taking a picture. The first camera module <NUM> is a wide-angle lens. The lens of the first camera module <NUM> captures a scene behind the terminal <NUM>, generates an optical image, projects the optical image onto a surface of an image sensor, converts the optical image into an electrical signal, converts the electrical signal into a digital image signal after analog-to-digital conversion, and transmits the digital image signal to a digital signal processing chip for processing to obtain a first image. The second camera module <NUM> is used at the time of taking a picture. The second camera module <NUM> is a long-focus lens. External light is transmitted into the second camera <NUM> by the light guide component <NUM>. The lens of the second camera module <NUM> captures a scene behind the terminal <NUM>, generates an optical image, projects the optical image onto a surface of an image sensor, converts the optical image into an electrical signal, converts the electrical signal into a digital image signal after analog-to-digital conversion, and transmits the digital image signal to a digital signal processing chip for processing to obtain a second image. The first image and the second image are combined to obtain a final image.

In some embodiments, the first camera and the second camera may also be dislocated, as follows.

The first camera <NUM> and the second camera <NUM> are dislocated to form an "L" shape. The first camera module <NUM> and the light guide component <NUM> are arranged side by side. The light exit surface of the second camera <NUM> faces the first camera module <NUM>, and the light exit surface of the light guide component <NUM> is arranged parallel to the light exit surface of the first camera module <NUM>. The base <NUM> of the first camera module <NUM> abuts against the second camera module <NUM>. For example, the base <NUM> of the first camera module <NUM> and the frame <NUM> of the second camera module <NUM> are jointed at the bottom of the terminal by glue.

The terminal of the embodiment of the present disclosure changes the arrangement of the flexible printed circuit of the camera module. The flexible printed circuit extends along the arrangement direction of the first camera module and the second camera module to electrically connect to the circuit board, reducing the arrangement space occupied by the camera module on the circuit board of the terminal and reducing the difficulty in the arrangement of the camera module.

Claim 1:
A camera module (<NUM>), comprising:
a first camera module (<NUM>);
a second camera module (<NUM>) arranged side by side with the first camera module (<NUM>);
a first flexible printed circuit (<NUM>) connected to the first camera module (<NUM>);
a second flexible printed circuit (<NUM>) connected to the second camera module (<NUM>);
wherein at least one of the first flexible printed circuit (<NUM>) and the second flexible printed circuit (<NUM>) extends along the arrangement direction of the first camera module (<NUM>) and the second camera module (<NUM>),
wherein the second camera module (<NUM>) comprises a second camera (<NUM>), a light guide component (<NUM>), and a frame (<NUM>), the frame (<NUM>) accommodates and fixes the second camera (<NUM>) and the light guide component (<NUM>), and the light guide component (<NUM>) is disposed between the first camera module (<NUM>) and the second camera (<NUM>).