Patent Description:
This application relates to the technical field of camera modules, and in particular, to a camera module and an electronic apparatus using such camera module.

With the rapid development and popularization of smart mobile terminals, many emerging industries have been derived, for example, live streaming, vlog, short videos, and other fields that require fast and highquality imaging. These emerging industries have imposed rigid requirements on smart terminal devices, including fast auto focus (auto focus, AF), miniaturized AF module, ultra-small opening in the display, and sharp images in near mode and far mode. At present, common focusing modules prefer voice coil motors, adjustable lenses arranged outside of the lens group, dual-lens modules, and the like because of process capability and cost reasons. However, with their complex structure, large volume, poor mechanical reliability, and high assembly and fitting difficulties, the voice coil motors are not conducive to the miniaturization of modules. In addition, the voice coil motor is at high risk of failures when exposed to strong magnetic interference. The adjustable lens arranged outside of the lens group raises the total camera height, causing poor electrostatic breakdown resistance and high risk on reliability, and cannot be used when the mobile terminal is in front side operating conditions. Due to its unsatisfactory focusing effect, low focusing speed, large volume ratio, and high power consumption, the dual-lens modules are unfavorable for the device to meet requirements such as light weight and low power consumption. In addition, users have higher requirements for the quality and use safety of smart mobile terminals.

<CIT> discloses a camera module, an optical apparatus including the camera module, and a manufacturing method of the camera module. The camera module includes: a housing having an inner space defined therein to receive at least one lens; a liquid lens disposed inside the housing and forming an interface by including two or more liquid; a first lens part received in the housing and disposed on the liquid lens; a second lens part received in the housing and disposed under the liquid lens; a main substrate disposed under the second lens part and having an image sensor mounted thereon; and a cover for receiving the housing, wherein the housing has a first through-hole for aligning the liquid lens at a position corresponding to a side surface of the liquid lens, and a second through-hole for aligning the liquid lens at a position corresponding to a side surface of the second lens part.

<CIT> discloses a camera module and an assembling method thereof, and electronic equipment. The camera module comprises a substrate, a photosensitive element, a first lens group, a second lens group, an adjustable lens and a metal circuit layer; the photosensitive element is arranged on the substrate.

<CIT> discloses a camera module and a mobile terminal.

<NPL>, discloses comparisons between simulation by LTspiceXVII and shows calculated results and also presents the pros and cons of two different approaches.

<CIT>discloses a sensor system including a housing having a front surface and a rear surface.

<CIT>discloses a housing for an infrared camera module.

<CIT> discloses a focusing module for making a video recording.

Further advantageous modification are defined in the dependent claims.

Other aspects or embodiments fall within the scope of the claims if provided with all the features specified in the independent claims.

Parts of the description and drawings referring to embodiments or aspects, which are not covered by the claims, are not presented as embodiments of the inventions but as examples useful for understanding the invention.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, a first aspect of embodiments of this application provides a camera module to resolve a prior-art technical problem of poor capabilities of fast focusing and anti-electrostatic interference caused by external arrangement of an adjustable lens and no electrostatic protection measures or ineffective protection measures taken thereon, to implement pre-positioning of an adjustable lens module to satisfy a requirement of reducing thicknesses of mobile terminal components, to achieve its goal of clarity in both near mode and far mode in live streaming/selfie applications, and to implement miniaturization and low power consumption, thereby building up vlog competitiveness.

A second aspect of the embodiments of this application further provides an electronic apparatus, including the camera module in the first aspect. The electronic apparatus is, for example, a mobile phone. In addition, the camera module may also be applied to a notebook computer, an automobile, a home robot, and the like, to achieve fast auto-focusing and low-power-consumption focusing. In the camera module, the adjustable lens is located between an upper lens barrel and a lower lens barrel, and the overall height of the camera module is relatively low, which is convenient for placing the camera module inside the electronic apparatus. Moreover, the camera module may be used on the front and rear of the electronic apparatus.

Apparently, the described embodiments are some rather than all of the embodiments of this application.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, a camera module <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM>, a base <NUM> located on the circuit board <NUM>, a lower lens barrel <NUM> located on a side of the base <NUM> away from the circuit board <NUM>, and an upper lens barrel <NUM> located on a side of the lower lens barrel <NUM> away from the circuit board <NUM>.

The lower lens barrel <NUM> includes a connecting portion <NUM> and a bearing portion <NUM> that is configured for carrying a lens (for example, an adjustable lens and/or a non-adjustable lens hereinafter). The connecting portion <NUM> and the bearing portion <NUM> connect to each other and may be integrally formed. The connecting portion <NUM> is roughly rectangular and is fastened to the base <NUM>. The outer contour of the bearing portion <NUM> is roughly a circular boss. The bearing portion <NUM> is fastened to the upper lens barrel <NUM>.

A first conductive track <NUM>, a second conductive track <NUM>, and a third conductive track <NUM> are spaced on the external surface of the lower lens barrel <NUM>, and each of the first conductive track <NUM>, the second conductive track <NUM>, and the third conductive track <NUM> extends from the external surface of the bearing portion <NUM> straight to a connection between the connecting portion <NUM> and the base <NUM>.

The base <NUM> has a portion extending beyond the lower lens barrel <NUM>. On this portion, the base <NUM> includes a first recess <NUM>, a second recess <NUM>, and a third recess <NUM> that correspond to the first conductive track <NUM>, the second conductive track <NUM>, and the third conductive track <NUM>, respectively. The first recess <NUM>, the second recess <NUM>, and the third recess <NUM> all penetrate two opposite surfaces of the base <NUM>, with a surface of the circuit board <NUM> exposed.

<FIG> is an exploded view of the camera module in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the camera module <NUM> includes an image sensor <NUM> and a driver circuit <NUM> that are spaced on the circuit board <NUM>, a filter <NUM> located between the lower lens barrel <NUM> and the image sensor <NUM>, and an adjustable lens <NUM> located between the upper lens barrel <NUM> and the lower lens barrel <NUM>. The bearing portion <NUM> of the lower lens barrel <NUM> includes an accommodating recess <NUM> recessed toward the connecting portion <NUM>. The accommodating recess <NUM> is configured to accommodate the adjustable lens <NUM>.

The circuit board <NUM> may be a flexible circuit board, a rigid circuit board, or a rigid-flex circuit board. The image sensor <NUM> is a device that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal, for example, a charge-coupled device (Charge-coupled Device, CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor, CMOS) photosensitive chip. The image sensor <NUM> is electrically connected to the circuit board <NUM> through, for example, a wire. In addition, other electronic elements (not shown in the figure) may also be mounted on the circuit board <NUM>. The electronic element is, for example, a resistor, a capacitor, a diode, a transistor, a potentiometer, a relay, or a driver. The driver circuit <NUM> is, for example, a driver integrated chip (driver integrated chip, driver IC). Further, the circuit board <NUM> may connect the camera module <NUM> to the main board of the electronic apparatus, for example, electrically connecting the image sensor <NUM> and the adjustable lens <NUM> to the main board of the electronic apparatus, so that the camera module <NUM> communicates with the main board of the electronic apparatus. For example, the image sensor <NUM> performs imaging under the control of the main board, and the adjustable lens <NUM> performs focusing under the control of the main board.

In some embodiments, the base <NUM> is formed on the circuit board <NUM> by molding. The base <NUM> wraps the driver circuit <NUM>, and the base <NUM> includes an optical aperture <NUM> configured for light to travel through to the image sensor <NUM>. The lower lens barrel <NUM> and the upper lens barrel <NUM> are located on a side of the image sensor <NUM> away from the circuit board <NUM>. The lower lens barrel <NUM> is mounted on the base <NUM>.

Specifically, the base <NUM> includes a body portion <NUM> that is roughly rectangular annular and a holding portion <NUM> that extends inward from the body portion <NUM> (where extending inward may be understood as extending toward the optical center of the camera module <NUM>). The body portion <NUM> is fastened to the lower lens barrel <NUM>, and an edge of a side the body portion <NUM> has a portion beyond the lower lens barrel <NUM>. The first recess <NUM>, the second recess <NUM>, and the third recess <NUM> are formed on the body portion <NUM> and penetrates two opposite surfaces of the body portion <NUM>. The holding portion <NUM> is also roughly rectangular annular. The optical aperture <NUM> is opened at a position of the base <NUM> corresponding to the image sensor <NUM> and is roughly rectangular. An L-shaped step is formed at a connection between the body portion <NUM> and the holding portion <NUM>.

The filter <NUM> is configured to reduce red light or infrared ray entering the image sensor <NUM> and suppress stray light, so as to improve imaging quality. The filter <NUM> is a roughly rectangular shape, and the filter <NUM> is loaded on L-shaped steps of the base <NUM>. The filter <NUM> is located between the adjustable lens <NUM> and the image sensor <NUM>. Further, the filter <NUM> is located between the lower lens barrel <NUM> and the image sensor <NUM>. The arrangement of the L-shaped steps facilitates fast assembly of the filter <NUM> on the base <NUM>. In addition, a side wall of the step can further limit the position of the filter <NUM> so as to ensure accuracy of the position of the filter <NUM> with respect to the image sensor <NUM>.

The adjustable lens <NUM> is configured to deform after being energized so as to adjust the focal length. The adjustable lens <NUM> is disposed inside between the upper lens barrel <NUM> and the lower lens barrel <NUM> and is accommodated in the accommodating recess <NUM> of the lower lens barrel <NUM>. The adjustable lens <NUM> and the lower lens barrel <NUM> are fastened by gluing or fitting, so as to ensure assemblage and imaging stability of the adjustable lens <NUM>. In the camera module <NUM>, the adjustable lens <NUM> is located between the upper lens barrel <NUM> and the lower lens barrel <NUM>, so that the overall height of the camera module <NUM> can be reduced, thereby reducing volume and facilitating placing the adjustable lens <NUM> inside the electronic apparatus. In addition, compared with a focusing mode of a voice coil motor, the camera module <NUM> can also reduce structural complexity and assembly difficulties, and has a compact structure, which is beneficial to implement miniaturization design of the module. Moreover, the problem of the voice coil motor being at high risk when exposed to strong magnetic interference can be avoided. In addition, compared with an adjustable lens being arranged outside of the lens group, there are also advantages of low overall height and compact structure of the camera module. Compared with a dual-lens module, there are also advantages of low overall height and compact structure of the camera module. Furthermore, because the adjustable lens <NUM> is a power-zoom lens and does not require a mechanical structure for driving in the focusing process, the focusing speed is fast and the power consumption is low.

As shown in <FIG>, the lower lens barrel <NUM> is provided with a connecting circuit <NUM>, and the adjustable lens <NUM> is electrically connected to the driver circuit <NUM> through the connecting circuit <NUM>, so as to deform under driving of the driver circuit <NUM> to adjust a focal power of the camera module <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of the adjustable lens in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, the adjustable lens <NUM> includes a supporting layer <NUM>, a piezoelectric layer <NUM>, and a glass plate <NUM> that are stacked in sequence.

The supporting layer <NUM> is roughly rectangular, is transparent, and is made of, for example, glass, to support film layers (for example, the piezoelectric layer <NUM> and the glass plate <NUM>) thereon. The piezoelectric layer <NUM> is roughly circular and can deform after being energized, and is made of, for example, a piezoelectric polymer or piezoelectric ceramic. The glass plate <NUM> is roughly annular and is located on the piezoelectric layer <NUM>. The piezoelectric layer <NUM> is partially covered by the glass plate <NUM> and partially exposes from a hole formed in the inner circle of the glass plate <NUM>.

The adjustable lens <NUM> includes a first energization member <NUM> and a second energization member <NUM> that are spaced at two corners of the adjustable lens <NUM>. The first energization member <NUM> has one end partially covering the glass plate <NUM> to be electrically connected to the piezoelectric layer <NUM> (or, in other words, to be electrically connected to a negative electrode of the adjustable lens <NUM>) through a via hole (not shown in the figure) that penetrates the glass plate <NUM>. The first energization member <NUM> has another end extending to cover the supporting layer <NUM> to be electrically connected to the driver circuit <NUM>. Similarly, the second energization member <NUM> has one end partially covering the glass plate <NUM> to be electrically connected to the piezoelectric layer <NUM> (or, in other words, be electrically connected to a positive electrode of the adjustable lens <NUM>) through a via hole (not shown in the figure) that penetrates the glass plate <NUM>. The second energization member <NUM> has another end extending to cover the supporting layer <NUM> to be electrically connected to the driver circuit <NUM>.

The adjustable lens <NUM> further includes a transparent deformable layer (not shown in the figure) located between the supporting layer <NUM> and the piezoelectric layer <NUM>. The deformable layer is made of a high-molecular polymer, for example, gel. The driver circuit <NUM> can apply a voltage to the piezoelectric layer <NUM> through the first energization member <NUM> and the second energization member <NUM>. After being energized, the piezoelectric layer <NUM> deforms due to the piezoelectric effect (for example, changing from a flat surface to a spherical surface), which drives the deformable layer to deform, so as to change a radius of curvature of the optical curved surface of the adjustable lens <NUM>.

Refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. After light is transferred to the adjustable lens <NUM> through the upper lens barrel <NUM>, the adjustable lens <NUM> changes a convergent path or divergent path of light based on the change of the radius of curvature, so as to adjust a focal power. The light focused by the adjustable lens <NUM> is then transferred to the image sensor <NUM> through the filter <NUM> for imaging.

In <FIG>, the supporting layer <NUM> may be a piece of light transmitting glass. After the piezoelectric layer <NUM> is energized, a surface of the deformable layer close to the supporting layer <NUM> may not deform due to restriction of the supporting layer <NUM>. Alternatively, the radius of curvature of a surface of the deformable layer attached to the supporting layer <NUM> does not change, so that a shape variable of the deformable layer is presented on a surface of the deformable layer away from the supporting layer <NUM>. To be specific, stretching of the piezoelectric layer <NUM> drives the surface of the deformable layer away from the supporting layer <NUM> to convex or concave, which further causes the light to converge or diverge, making the adjustable lens <NUM> act as a convex lens or concave lens to implement the function of focusing.

Further, the radius of curvature of the deformed curved optical surface of the adjustable lens <NUM> is positively correlated with the absolute value of the voltage applied to the adjustable lens <NUM>. In other words, the shape variable of the adjustable lens <NUM> is proportional to magnitude of the voltage applied to the piezoelectric layer <NUM>. In some embodiments, as the voltage applied to the piezoelectric layer <NUM> gradually increases from <NUM>, <NUM> V, <NUM> V, <NUM> V, <NUM> V, <NUM> V, and so on, the curved optical surface of the adjustable lens <NUM> is gradually convex upwards from a flat surface to a side away from the supporting layer <NUM>, and the radius of curvature of the curved optical surface of the adjustable lens <NUM> gradually increases. As the voltage applied to the piezoelectric layer <NUM> gradually decreases from <NUM>, -<NUM> V, -<NUM> V, -<NUM> V, -<NUM> V, -<NUM> V, and so on, the curved optical surface of the adjustable lens <NUM> is gradually concave downwards from a flat surface to a side close to the supporting layer <NUM>, and the radius of curvature of the curved optical surface of the adjustable lens <NUM> gradually increases. As such, the radius of curvature of the deformed curved optical surface of the adjustable lens <NUM> can be adjusted by adjusting the magnitude and direction of the voltage applied to the adjustable lens <NUM>, so as to adjust the focal power of the camera module <NUM>, implementing objectives of fast auto-zooming and low-power-consumption focusing, and providing sharp images of the camera module with a built-in adjustable lens in near mode and far mode.

Persons of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or some of the steps in the foregoing method for applying a voltage to the adjustable lens to adjust the focal power can be implemented by a program to instruct relevant hardware, where the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when the program is executed, one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiment are included.

Refer to <FIG>. The adjustable lens <NUM> may be electrically connected to the driver circuit <NUM> on the circuit board <NUM> through the first energization member <NUM>, the second energization member <NUM>, and the connecting circuit <NUM> on the lower lens barrel <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the connecting circuit <NUM> is directly formed on the external surface of the lower lens barrel <NUM> by laser direct structuring (Laser-Direct Structuring, LDS). The connecting circuit <NUM> includes a first conductive track <NUM> and a second conductive track <NUM>. The first conductive track <NUM> and the second conductive track <NUM> may be formed directly through plating a metal conductive track (such as a gold track) on the external surface of the lower lens barrel <NUM> by laser engraving. Two opposite ends of the first conductive track <NUM> are configured to be electrically connected to the driver circuit <NUM> and the adjustable lens <NUM>, respectively, and two opposite ends of the second conductive track <NUM> are also configured to be electrically connected to the driver circuit <NUM> and the adjustable lens <NUM>, respectively. The driver circuit <NUM> provides electrical energy to the adjustable lens <NUM> through the first conductive track <NUM> and the second conductive track <NUM>.

The driver circuit <NUM> includes, for example, a positive electrode welding pad (not shown in the figure) and a negative electrode welding pad (not shown in the figure). The first recess <NUM> and the second recess <NUM> on the base <NUM> are each provided with a conductive material (not shown in the figure) inside. The conductive material is, for example, a conductive silver paste, but is not limited thereto. The conductive material in the first recess <NUM> is located on the circuit board <NUM> and is electrically connected to the positive electrode welding pad of the driver circuit <NUM>. The conductive material in the second recess <NUM> is located on the circuit board <NUM> and is electrically connected to the negative electrode welding pad of the driver circuit <NUM>.

Refer to <FIG> and <FIG>. The camera module <NUM> includes a first conductive member <NUM> and a second conductive member <NUM>. One end of the first conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the adjustable lens <NUM> through the first energization member <NUM>, and one end of the second conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the adjustable lens <NUM> through the second energization member <NUM>. Another end of the first conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the first conductive track <NUM>, and another end of the second conductive member <NUM> is electrically connected to the second conductive track <NUM>.

After one end of the first conductive track <NUM> is connected to the first conductive member <NUM>, the first conductive track <NUM> extends along the external surface of the lower lens barrel <NUM> to be in direct contact with the conductive material in the first recess <NUM> and is electrically connected to the positive electrode welding pad of the driver circuit <NUM> through the conductive material in the first recess <NUM>. Similarly, after one end of the second conductive track <NUM> is connected to the second conductive member <NUM>, the second conductive track <NUM> extends along the external surface of the lower lens barrel <NUM> to be in direct contact with the conductive material in the second recess <NUM> and is electrically connected to the negative electrode welding pad of the driver circuit <NUM> through the conductive material in the second recess <NUM>. In this way, the driver circuit <NUM> on the circuit board <NUM> can provide electrical energy (for example, applying a linear voltage) to the adjustable lens <NUM> through the conductive materials in the first recess <NUM> and the second recess <NUM>, the first conductive track <NUM>, the second conductive track <NUM>, the first conductive member <NUM>, the second conductive member <NUM>, the first energization member <NUM>, and the second energization member <NUM>, so as to change a focal power of the adjustable lens <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the first conductive member <NUM> and the second conductive member <NUM> may be copper wires or conductive cloth, or the like. The copper wires or conductive cloth are easy-to-obtain conductive wires, and have the advantages of easy assembly and low material costs.

In some embodiments, the first conductive tracks <NUM> and the second conductive tracks <NUM> are distributed in straight lines, which means that projections of the first conductive track <NUM> and the second conductive track <NUM> on the circuit board <NUM> are each a straight line segment. In this way, no curved and complicated line slots are required to distribute for the first conductive track <NUM> and the second conductive track <NUM>, which ensures that laser direct structuring LDS can be performed simply and efficiently, that a working voltage of the connecting circuit <NUM> is stable, and that the metal conductive tracks can be quickly and automatically produced, thereby improving overall production efficiency. In addition, because the first conductive track <NUM> and the second conductive track <NUM> are distributed in straight lines, compared with arrangement of winding wires, a phenomenon of disorderly wires can be avoided, and thus the wire layout is more reasonable and efficient.

It should be noted that in existing camera modules, the adjustable lens is arranged outside of the lens barrel with no electrostatic protection measures taken or with ineffective protection measures taken, resulting in poor capabilities of fast focusing and preventing electrostatic interference. The following describes design of electrostatic protection for the camera module according to this embodiment of this application when the connecting circuit is formed on the external surface of the lower lens barrel.

To be specific, the camera module <NUM> includes an anti-electrostatic assembly to provide electrostatic discharge (Electro-Static Discharge, ESD) protection, so as to prevent external static electricity from damaging elements such as the adjustable lens <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the anti-electrostatic assembly includes a grounding element electrically connected to the adjustable lens <NUM>, where the grounding element includes a grounding wire. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a circuit with an anti-electrostatic assembly being a grounding wire according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the grounding wire is electrically connected to the adjustable lens and the circuit board, so that the external static electricity is discharged through the grounding wire.

Refer to <FIG> again. The third conductive track <NUM> is located between the first conductive track <NUM> and the second conductive track <NUM> and may be formed on the external surface of the lower lens barrel <NUM> by LDS. The third conductive track <NUM> is the grounding wire <NUM>. To be specific, the grounding wire <NUM> may alternatively be formed by plating a metal conductive track (for example, a gold track) directly on the external surface of the lower lens barrel <NUM> by laser engraving. A conductive material (for example, a conductive silver glue) is provided in the third recess <NUM> of the base <NUM> corresponding to the grounding wire <NUM>. After one end of the grounding wire <NUM> is electrically connected to the adjustable lens <NUM>, the grounding wire <NUM> extends along the external surface of the lower lens barrel <NUM> to be in direct contact with the conductive material in the third recess <NUM> and is electrically connected to the circuit board <NUM> through the conductive material in the third recess <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> is provided with, for example, a grounding welding pad (not shown in the figure), and the grounding wire <NUM> is electrically connected to the grounding welding pad through the conductive material in the third recess <NUM> so as to implement grounding.

In some embodiments, the third conductive track <NUM> (that is, the grounding wire <NUM>) is distributed in straight lines, which means that a projection of the third conductive track <NUM> on the circuit board <NUM> is a straight line segment. In this way, the grounding wire is arranged without curved and complicated line slots, which ensures that the laser direct structuring LDS process can be performed simply and efficiently, and that a working voltage of the connecting circuit is stable, thereby producing metal conductive tracks quickly and automatically, so as to improve the overall production efficiency. In addition, because the third conductive track is distributed in straight lines, compared with arrangement of the winding wires, a phenomenon of disorderly wires can be avoided, and therefore the wire layout is more reasonable and efficient.

It should be noted that, in <FIG>, the first conductive track <NUM>, the second conductive track <NUM>, and the third conductive track <NUM> that are formed on a same side of the lower lens barrel <NUM> (which defines in <FIG> that they are formed on the front side of the lower lens barrel <NUM>) and the first recess <NUM>, the second recess <NUM>, and the third recess <NUM> that are formed on a same side of the base <NUM> (which defines in <FIG> that they are formed on the front side of the base <NUM>) are described as an example. In other embodiments, the first conductive track and the second conductive track that are used as conductive lines for the positive and negative electrodes of the adjustable lens and the third conductive track used as the grounding wire may all be formed in any one of front, rear, left, and right directions of the lower lens barrel. For example, the first conductive track and the second conductive track are located in one of the front, rear, left, and right directions of the lower lens barrel, while the third conductive track used as the grounding wire is located in a direction of the front, rear, left, and right directions of the lower lens barrel different from that of the first conductive track and the second conductive track. Correspondingly, the first recess, the second recess, and the third recess are formed on the base in directions corresponding to the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the third conductive track, respectively. Alternatively, the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the third conductive track are located in different directions of the front, rear, left, and right directions of the lower lens barrel. Alternatively, the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the third conductive track are formed in a same direction of the lower lens barrel, any two of the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the third conductive track are used as conductive lines of the positive and negative electrodes of the adjustable lens, and the remaining one of the third of the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the third conductive track is used as a conductive line of the grounding wire.

In some embodiments, in the anti-electrostatic assembly, the grounding element electrically connected to the adjustable lens <NUM> includes a grounding capacitor. <FIG> is a schematic diagram of a circuit with the anti-electrostatic assembly being a grounding capacitor according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the grounding capacitor C1 has a terminal connected to the circuit board for grounding and another terminal electrically connected to the adjustable lens. Similarly, the grounding capacitor C2 has a terminal connected to the circuit board for grounding and another terminal electrically connected to the adjustable lens. The grounding capacitor C1 and the grounding capacitor C2 each are connected to the driver circuit in parallel. To be specific, the grounding capacitor C1 is electrically connected between the driver circuit and the conductive material in the first recess. The grounding capacitor C2 is electrically connected between the driver circuit and the conductive material in the second recess.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of a circuit with a driver circuit being connected to a grounding capacitor according to an embodiment of this application. In <FIG>, Driver IC is the driver circuit, and Load is the adjustable lens. In <FIG>, the circuit board is omitted. The Driver IC includes a plurality of input interfaces and output interfaces. The input interfaces include a voltage drain VDD interface, a grounding GND interface, a serial data line (Serial Data Line, SDA) interface, and a serial clock line (Derail Clock Line, SCL) interface of a device, but are not limited thereto. The output interfaces include OUTP and OUTN, but are not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a simulation diagram of curves of contact discharge electric field distribution of a camera module with no grounding wire and no capacitor. Through contact discharge, the peak-to-peak value of the static electricity (in <FIG>, the peak-to-peak value of the static electricity is the maximum value of differences between a peak of <NUM> V and a valley of -<NUM> V) of the camera module is approximately <NUM> V. At this point, the camera module has a risk electrostatic breakdown.

<FIG> is a simulation comparison diagram of curves of contact discharge electric field distribution of a camera module when an anti-electrostatic assembly includes a grounding wire and includes no grounding wire under a premise that no capacitor is included. As shown in <FIG>, after a grounding wire is added, part of the energy obviously flows away from the grounding wire. It is seen from simulation results that after the grounding wire is added, the peak-to-peak value of the static electricity (in <FIG>, the peak-to-peak value of the static electricity is the maximum value of differences between a peak of <NUM> V and a valley of -<NUM> V) is approximately <NUM> V, which is <NUM>% lower than <NUM> V, a value before the grounding wire is added.

<FIG> is a simulation comparison diagram of curves of contact discharge electric field distribution of a camera module when an anti-electrostatic assembly includes a capacitor and includes no capacitor under a premise that no grounding wire is included. <FIG> is a simulation comparison diagram of curves of contact discharge electric field distribution of a camera module when an anti-electrostatic assembly includes a capacitor and includes no capacitor under a premise that a grounding wire is included. <FIG> is a table of parameters of the capacitors included in <FIG> and <FIG> that are in simulation comparison. As shown in <FIG>, a capacitance of the capacitor is <NUM>µF, that is, <NUM> nF. In other embodiments, a specific parameter of the grounding capacitor is not limited to those shown in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG>, when no grounding wire is added, only a capacitor of <NUM> nF is added, and it is seen that magnitude of the static electricity is significantly reduced. Similarly, as shown in <FIG>, when a grounding wire is added, a capacitor of <NUM> nF is added, it is seen that magnitude of the static electricity is also significantly reduced. It can be learned that after a capacitor is added, the static electricity is greatly reduced whether the grounding wire is added or not.

In some embodiments, the anti-electrostatic assembly includes insulation glue (not shown in the figure) covering the connecting circuit. The insulation glue covers surfaces of the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the third conductive track, so as to prevent electrostatic breakdown. Specifically, the insulation glue may be selected from any one of low-viscosity transparent glue, low-viscosity fluorescent ultraviolet (UV) curing glue, or high-viscosity blue glue, or a combination thereof. The insulation glue prevents static electricity from entering the conductive tracks (for example, the first conductive track, the second conductive track, and the third conductive track), thereby avoiding electrostatic breakdown failures of the driver circuit and the adjustable lens. The transparent insulation glue is convenient for production line inspection, which improves production efficiency, and has a significant effect of preventing electrostatic breakdown, which can improve the reliability of the camera module.

In some embodiments, the anti-electrostatic assembly may include any one of a grounding wire, a grounding capacitor, and insulation glue; or, a combination of any two of the grounding wire, the grounding capacitor, and the insulation glue; or all three of the grounding wire, the grounding capacitor, and the insulation glue. In other words, the anti-electrostatic assembly may be designed by disposing a conductive track in any one of the front, rear, left, and right directions of the external surface of the side wall of the lower lens barrel to connect to the circuit board for linear grounding. Alternatively, the anti-electrostatic assembly may be designed by grounding a capacitor connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the driver circuit, so as to prevent electrostatic breakdown of the driver circuit and the adjustable lens. Alternatively, the anti-electrostatic assembly may be designed by applying insulation glue on the connecting circuit to prevent static electricity from entering the connecting circuit, so as to prevent electrostatic breakdown of the driver circuit and the adjustable lens. This facilitates operability of actual mass production and improves reliability of small-head camera modules.

As shown in <FIG>, the connecting circuit <NUM> electrically connected to the adjustable lens <NUM> is embedded in the barrel wall of the lower lens barrel <NUM>. The connecting circuit <NUM> is formed by insert molding. Body forming of the lower lens barrel <NUM> and assembly of the connecting circuit <NUM> and the lower lens barrel <NUM> are completed synchronously, which facilitates production and improves production efficiency. In addition, because the connecting circuit <NUM> is embedded in the barrel wall of the lower lens barrel <NUM>, the connecting circuit <NUM> is protected by the barrel wall of the lower lens barrel <NUM>, and is not affected by static electricity in the air. Therefore, failures in the driver circuit <NUM> and adjustable lens <NUM> can be avoided, thereby improving the reliability and stability of the camera module. In this way, only two energized circuits are needed to be electrically connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the adjustable lens, respectively, with no need to prepare an additional element for preventing electrostatic breakdown.

As shown in <FIG>, the lower lens barrel <NUM> further accommodates a non-adjustable lens <NUM> (also called a conventional lens, or a non-adjustable focus lens) inside. The non-adjustable lens <NUM> and the adjustable lens <NUM> work together to implement convergence or divergence of light.

The non-adjustable lens <NUM> may be provided by one or plurality. Upper and lower positions of the non-adjustable lens <NUM> and the adjustable lens <NUM> are not limited. For example, the non-adjustable lens <NUM> is provided by one, and the adjustable lens <NUM> is located above or below the non-adjustable lens <NUM>. Alternatively, as shown in (a) of <FIG>, the non-adjustable lens <NUM> is provided by plurality, and the adjustable lens <NUM> may be a lens closest to the image sensor; or as shown in (b), (c), and (d) of <FIG>, the non-adjustable lens <NUM> is provided by plurality, and the adjustable lens <NUM> is located between two non-adjustable lenses <NUM>; or, as shown in (e) of <FIG>, the non-adjustable lens <NUM> is provided by plurality, and the adjustable lens <NUM> is a lens farthest from the image sensor.

It should be noted that, when the connecting circuit is located on the external surface of the lower lens barrel, the camera module may further include a non-adjustable lens, and similarly the non-adjustable lens is accommodated in the lower lens barrel. The non-adjustable lens may be provided by one or plurality. Upper and lower positions of the non-adjustable lens and the adjustable lens are not limited.

In conclusion, in the camera module of this embodiment of this application, the adjustable lens is disposed inside between the upper lens barrel and the lower lens barrel to perform focusing. In comparison with the existing camera modules that use a voice coil motor, an adjustable lens arranged outside of the lens group, a dual-lens module, or the like, to adjust focusing, an overall height of the module is low and the volume ratio thereof is small, which reduces assembly and fitting difficulties and is beneficial to satisfy requirements of miniaturization of the module and light weight of the device. In addition, compared with the structure of the voice coil motor, the use of the camera module can avoid the problem that a voice coil motor is at high risk of failures when exposed to strong magnetic interference. Moreover, the adjustable lens in this embodiment of this application is a power-zoom lens and does not require a mechanical structure for driving in the focusing process. Therefore, the focusing speed is fast while the power consumption is low.

In some embodiments, the connecting circuit of the adjustable lens is formed directly on the external surface of the lower lens barrel by LDS, and is distributed in straight lines, so that the connecting circuit of the adjustable lens has no curved and complicated arrangement, which ensures that the laser direct structuring LDS process can be performed simply and efficiently and that a working voltage of the connecting circuit is stable, thereby producing metal conductive tracks quickly and automatically, so as to improve overall production efficiency. In addition, because the connecting circuit of the adjustable lens is distributed in straight lines, and compared with the arrangement of winding wires, the phenomenon of disorderly wires can be avoided, and thus the wire layout is more reasonable and efficient. Further, in a case that the connecting circuit of the adjustable lens is directly formed on the external surface of the lower lens barrel by LDS, the camera module may further include an anti-electrostatic assembly, where the anti-electrostatic assembly may include any one or a combination of more than two of a grounding wire, a grounding capacitor, and insulation glue to prevent electrostatic breakdown of the driver circuit and the adjustable lens. In addition, the grounding wire may be directly formed on the external surface of the lower lens barrel by LDS, and the grounding wire is distributed in straight lines, so as to produce metal conductive tracks quickly and automatically, thereby improving the overall production efficiency, avoiding disorderly wires, making the wire layout more reasonable and efficient.

Claim 1:
A camera module (<NUM>), comprising:
a circuit board (<NUM>);
an image sensor (<NUM>) and a driver circuit (<NUM>) that are located on the circuit board;
an upper lens barrel (<NUM>) and a lower lens barrel (<NUM>) that are located on a side of the image sensor away from the circuit board;
a connecting circuit, located on the lower lens barrel; and
an adjustable lens (<NUM>), disposed inside between the upper lens barrel and the lower lens barrel, wherein the adjustable lens is electrically connected to the driver circuit through the connecting circuit, so as to deform under driving of the driver circuit to adjust a focal power of the camera module;
characterised in that the camera module further comprises an anti-electrostatic assembly to provide electrostatic discharge, ESD, protection comprising insulation glue, the insulation glue covering the connecting circuit; and
wherein the connecting circuit is embedded in the barrel wall of the lower lens barrel.