Patent Description:
A mobile electronic device, such as a portable communication terminal or a laptop, is capable of transmitting not only text-formed data, but also image data including multimedia such as images and videos. In order to transmit image data, a mobile electronic device may include a camera module.

The camera module may include a lens assembly in which a plurality of lenses are stacked, and light passing through the lens assembly may be recognized by an image sensor and processed by a processor of the electronic device. The processed data may be stored in a memory. Since an image or image clarity can be determined by the light recognized by the image sensor, it is possible to obtain an image with high clarity by preventing reflected or scattered light from being transmitted to the image sensor.

<CIT> discloses a camera module, in particular suitable for a mobile electronic device, the camera module including, among other features, an infrared cut off filter.

<CIT> provides a near-infrared absorbing composition and a near infrared cut filter.

<CIT> discloses a camera module that includes a module structure constituted by a lens unit to which an image pickup lens is attached and a package to which an imaging element is attached so as to be opposite to the image pickup lens. An optical filter is arranged between the imaging element and the image pickup lens.

<CIT> is about a camera module which includes: a housing; lens barrel coupled to or disposed in the housing; an infrared filter fixed to the housing; and a blocking layer disposed on the infrared filter, wherein a width of a corner region of the blocking layer and a width of a central region of the blocking layer are different from each other.

Light incident from a lens may be reflected by a gold wire around an image sensor, causing a flare phenomenon or a blurring phenomenon. Thus, a method for solving this problem is needed.

According to various embodiments of the disclosure, it is possible to prevent reflection of light incident on a light reception surface of an image sensor, and to guide inflow of light required for image capture by setting an effective sensing region, an attachment region, and a masking region of an infrared filter attached to a camera module.

The solution is set out in the appended set of claims.

According to various embodiments, the camera module is capable of preventing light passing through the lens from being incident on a region other than the light reception surface of the image sensor, thereby preventing the light from being reflected from a gold wire or a lens assembly so that a flare phenomenon or a blurring phenomenon can be prevented.

The invention as defined in the appended claims relates to the embodiment of <FIG> and <FIG>. The embodiments described in the remaining figures are considered useful for understanding the invention but do not fall into the scope of the claims.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the front face of a mobile electronic device according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the rear face of the electronic device of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> according to an embodiment may include: a housing <NUM> including a first face (or a front face) 110A, a second face (or a rear face) 110B, and a side face 110C surrounding a space between the first face 110A and the second face 110B. In another embodiment (not illustrated), the term, housing, may refer to a structure forming some of the first face1 10A, the second face 110B, and the side face 110C of <FIG>. According to an embodiment, at least a portion of the first face 110A may be formed by a substantially transparent front plate <NUM> (e.g., a glass plate or a polymer plate including various coating layers). The second face 110B may be formed of a substantially opaque rear plate <NUM>. The rear plate <NUM> may be formed of, for example, coated or colored glass, ceramic, a polymer, or a metal (e.g., aluminum, stainless steel (STS), or magnesium), or a combination of two or more of these materials. The side faces 110C may be formed by a side bezel structure (or a "side member") <NUM> coupled to the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM> and including a metal and/or a polymer. In some embodiments, the rear plate <NUM> and the side bezel structure <NUM> may be integrally formed, and may include the same material (e.g., a metal material such as aluminum).

In the illustrated embodiment, the front plate <NUM> may include two first areas 110D, which are bent from the first face 110A toward the rear plate <NUM> and extend seamlessly, at the long opposite side edges thereof. In the illustrated embodiment (see <FIG>), the rear plate <NUM> may include two second areas 110E, which are bent from the second face 110B toward the front plate <NUM> and extend seamlessly, at the long opposite side edges thereof. In some embodiments, the front plate <NUM> (or the rear plate <NUM>) may include only one of the first areas 110D (or the second areas 110E). In another embodiment, some of the first areas 110D and the second areas 110E may not be included. In the above embodiments, when viewed from a side of the electronic device <NUM>, the side bezel structure <NUM> may have a first thickness (or width) on the side faces, which do not include the first areas 110D or the second areas 110E, and may have a second thickness (or width), which is thinner than the first thickness, on the side faces which include the first areas 110D or the second areas 110E.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may include at least one of a display <NUM>, audio modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, sensor modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, camera modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, key input devices <NUM>, light-emitting elements <NUM>, and connector holes <NUM> and <NUM>. In some embodiments, in the electronic device <NUM>, at least one of the components ((e.g., the key input devices <NUM> or the light-emitting element <NUM>) may be omitted, or other components may be additionally included.

The display <NUM> may be exposed through, for example, a large portion of the front plate <NUM>. In some embodiments, at least a part of the display <NUM> may be exposed through the front plate <NUM> forming the first face 110A and the first areas 110D of the side faces 110C. In some embodiments, the edges of the display <NUM> may be formed to be substantially the same as the contour shape of the front plate <NUM> adjacent thereto. In another embodiment (not illustrated), the distance between the outer contour of the display <NUM> and the outer contour of the front plate <NUM> may be substantially constant in order to enlarge the exposed area of the display <NUM>.

In another embodiment (not illustrated), a recess or an opening is formed in a part of a screen display area of the display <NUM>, and at least one of an audio module <NUM>, a module <NUM>, a camera module <NUM>, and a light-emitting element <NUM> may be aligned with the recess or the opening. In another embodiment (not illustrated), at least one of the audio module <NUM>, the sensor module <NUM>, the camera module <NUM>, the fingerprint sensor <NUM>, and the light-emitting element <NUM> may be included in the rear face of the screen display area of the display <NUM>. In another embodiment (not illustrated), the display <NUM> may be coupled to or disposed adjacent to a touch-sensing circuit, a pressure sensor capable of measuring the intensity of the touch (pressure), and/or a digitizer that detects a stylus pen. In some embodiments, at least some of the sensor modules <NUM> and <NUM> and/or at least some of the key input devices <NUM> may be disposed in the first areas 110D and/or the second areas 110E.

The audio modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a microphone hole <NUM> and speaker holes <NUM> and <NUM>. The microphone hole <NUM> may include a microphone disposed therein so as to acquire external sound, and in some embodiments, multiple microphones may be disposed therein so as to detect the direction of sound. The speaker holes <NUM> and <NUM> may include an external speaker hole <NUM> and a phone call receiver hole <NUM>. In some embodiments, the speaker holes <NUM> and <NUM> and the microphone hole <NUM> may be implemented as a single hole, or a speaker may be included without the speaker holes <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., a piezo speaker).

The sensor modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may generate electrical signals or data values corresponding to an internal operating state or an external environmental condition of the electronic device <NUM>. The sensor modules <NUM>,<NUM>, and <NUM> may include, for example, a first sensor module <NUM> (e.g., a proximity sensor) and/or a second sensor module (not illustrated) (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) disposed on the first face 110A of the housing <NUM>, and/or a third sensor module <NUM> (e.g., an HRM sensor) and/or a fourth sensor module <NUM> (e.g., a fingerprint sensor) disposed on the second face 110B of the housing <NUM>. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed not only on the first face 110A of the housing <NUM> (e.g., the display <NUM>), but also on the second face 110B. The electronic device <NUM> may further include a sensor module (not illustrated). The sensor module, for example, may comprise at least one of a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an air pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biosensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

The camera modules <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a first camera device <NUM> disposed on the first face 110A of the electronic device <NUM> and a second camera device <NUM> disposed on the second face 110B, and/or a flash <NUM>. The camera devices <NUM> and <NUM> may include one or more lenses, an image sensor, and/or an image signal processor. The flash <NUM> may include, for example, a light-emitting diode or a xenon lamp. In some embodiments, two or more lenses (e.g., an infrared camera lens, a wide-angle lens, and a telephoto lens) and image sensors may be disposed on one face of the electronic device <NUM>.

The key input devices <NUM> may be disposed on the side face 110C of the housing <NUM>. In another embodiment, the electronic device <NUM> may not include some or all of the above-mentioned key input devices <NUM>, and a key input device <NUM>, which is not included therein, may be implemented in another form such as a soft key on the display <NUM>. In some embodiments, the key input devices <NUM> may include a sensor module <NUM> disposed on the second face 110B of the housing <NUM>.

The light-emitting element <NUM> may be disposed, for example, on the first face 110A of the housing <NUM>. The light-emitting element <NUM> may provide, for example, the status information of the electronic device <NUM> in an optical form. In another embodiment, the light-emitting element <NUM> may provide a light source that is interlocked with, for example, the operation of the camera module <NUM>. The light-emitting element <NUM> may include, for example, an LED, an IR LED, and a xenon lamp.

The connector holes <NUM> and <NUM> may include a first connector hole <NUM> capable of accommodating a connector (e.g., a USB connector) for transmitting and receiving power and/or data to and from an external electronic device, and/or a second connector hole <NUM> capable of receiving a connector (e.g., an earphone jack) for transmitting and receiving an audio signal to and from an external electronic device.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the internal configuration of the electronic device of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, an electronic device <NUM> may include a side bezel structure <NUM>, a first support member <NUM> (e.g., a bracket), a front plate <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a printed circuit board <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, a second support member <NUM> (e.g., a rear case), an antenna <NUM>, and a rear plate <NUM>. In some embodiments, at least one of the components (e.g., the first support member <NUM> or the second support member <NUM>) may be omitted from the electronic device <NUM>, or the electronic device <NUM> may additionally include other components. At least one of the components of the electronic device <NUM> may be the same as or similar to at least one of the components of the electronic device <NUM> of <FIG> or <FIG>, and a redundant description thereof is omitted below.

The first support member <NUM> may be disposed inside the electronic device <NUM> and connected to the side bezel structure <NUM> or may be formed integrally with the side bezel structure <NUM>. The first support member <NUM> may be formed of, for example, a metal material and/or a non-metal (e.g., polymer) material. The display <NUM> may be coupled to one face of the first support member <NUM>, and the printed circuit board <NUM> may be coupled to the other face of the first support member <NUM>. On the printed circuit board <NUM>, a processor, a memory, and/or an interface may be mounted. The processor may include at least one of, for example, a central processing unit, an application processor, a graphic processor, an image signal processor, a sensor hub processor, or a communication processor.

The memory may include, for example, a volatile memory or a nonvolatile memory.

The interface may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, and/or an audio interface. The interface may electrically or physically connect, for example, the electronic device <NUM> to an external electronic device, and may include a USB connector, an SD card/an MMC connector, or an audio connector.

The battery <NUM> is a device for supplying power to at least one component of the electronic device <NUM>, and may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary battery, a rechargeable secondary battery, or a fuel cell. At least a part of the battery <NUM> may be disposed to be substantially flush with, for example, the printed circuit board <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be integrally disposed within the electronic device <NUM>, or may be mounted to be detachable from the electronic device <NUM>.

The antenna <NUM> may be disposed between the rear plate <NUM> and the display <NUM>. The antenna <NUM> may include, for example, a near-field Communication (NFC) antenna, a wireless charging antenna, and/or a magnetic secure transmission (MST) antenna. The antenna <NUM> may perform short-range communication with, for example, an external device, or may transmit/receive power required for charging in a wireless manner to/from the external device. In another embodiment, an antenna structure may be formed by the side bezel structure <NUM>, a part of the first support member <NUM>, or a combination thereof.

For example, according to an embodiment, the module may be implemented in a form of an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Various embodiments as set forth herein may be implemented as software (e.g., a program) including one or more instructions that are stored in a storage medium (e.g., internal memory (not illustrated) or external memory (not illustrated)) that is readable by a machine (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>). For example, a processor of the machine (e.g., the electronic device <NUM>) may invoke at least one of the one or more instructions stored in the storage medium, and execute it, with or without using one or more other components under the control of the processor.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a camera module according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the camera module of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the camera module <NUM> may include a housing <NUM>, a lens assembly <NUM>, an infrared filter <NUM>, an image sensor <NUM>, and a printed circuit board <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the housing <NUM> may include a first opening 415a in a first surface <NUM> exposed to the outside and a second opening 415b in a second surface <NUM> facing a printed circuit board <NUM>. The first opening 415a and the second opening 415b may be connected to form a through hole in an inner space <NUM> so as to accommodate the lens assembly <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the second surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may include a step so as to form a groove corresponding to the shape of the infrared filter <NUM> such that the infrared filter <NUM> can be seated in the groove. The infrared filter <NUM> may be seated in a groove formed in the second surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the lens assembly <NUM> may expose a portion of the lens <NUM> through the first opening 415a in the housing <NUM>. The lens assembly <NUM> may include a lens barrel <NUM> and lenses <NUM>. The lens barrel <NUM> may define the inner space <NUM> such that at least one lens <NUM> for imaging a subject can be accommodated therein. The inner space <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to the lens barrel <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the lens barrel <NUM> may be formed in a cylindrical shape. An optical axis is formed in the center of the lens barrel <NUM> so as to form a focus of light introduced from the outside. The lens barrel <NUM> may include a lens <NUM> therein, and a portion of the lens barrel <NUM> may be opened such that the lens <NUM> can be exposed to the outside. A plurality of lenses <NUM> may be stacked such that the optical axes thereof are aligned.

The lens barrel <NUM> may be coupled with the housing <NUM>, and the lens barrel <NUM> may move in the optical axis direction for an auto focus (AF) function. For an optical image stabilization (OIS), the lens barrel <NUM> is also finely movable in a plane direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and thus the side surface of the lens barrel <NUM> and the inner wall of the housing <NUM> can be spaced apart from each other.

According to an embodiment, the infrared filter <NUM> may include an effective filtering region <NUM>, an attachment region <NUM>, and a masking region <NUM>. The effective filtering region <NUM> may pass visible rays and block infrared rays from light introduced through the lens <NUM>. The attachment region <NUM> may be applied with an adhesive <NUM> or may include a coupling structure such that the infrared filter <NUM> can be attached to the housing <NUM>. The attachment region <NUM> may be formed of a transparent material in order to cure the adhesive <NUM> applied between a seating portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the attachment region <NUM> by ultraviolet rays. According to an embodiment, in order to attach the infrared filter <NUM> and the housing <NUM> by curing the applied adhesive <NUM> by ultraviolet rays, the attachment region <NUM> may be formed to be larger than the application area of the adhesive <NUM>. The attachment region <NUM> may be formed to secure a minimum area for securing bonding strength for bonding the infrared filter <NUM> using the applied adhesive <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the masking region <NUM> may be formed between the effective filtering region <NUM> and the attachment region <NUM>. The masking region <NUM> may be a black masking region for blocking reflected light introduced into the image sensor <NUM>. The masking region <NUM> may be formed around the effective filtering region <NUM> in the form of surrounding the effective filtering region <NUM> through which light passes.

According to an embodiment, the image sensor <NUM> may be disposed under the infrared filter <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> may generate an image signal by condensing light incident through the lens <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> may be made of a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor or a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor. The image sensor <NUM> may include a light reception surface facing the lens <NUM> in order to recognize an image. The image sensor <NUM> may be mounted on the printed circuit board <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board <NUM> via a bonding wire.

According to an embodiment, the printed circuit board <NUM> may be disposed under the housing <NUM>, and may include a coupling groove <NUM> in a portion that comes into contact with the housing <NUM>. The second surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may include a protrusion <NUM>, and the protrusion <NUM> may be inserted into the coupling groove <NUM> so as to couple the housing <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> may have a seating groove formed in a direction away from the lens <NUM>, and an image sensor <NUM> may be seated in the seating groove. The printed circuit board <NUM> may be electrically connected to the image sensor <NUM> via a bonding wire. The printed circuit board <NUM> may include an image processing unit <NUM>, and may include a connector <NUM> connected to the image processing unit <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the connector <NUM> may be connected to a main printed circuit board, and may transmit processed image data to a processor. The printed circuit board <NUM> may be made of a flexible printed circuit board, and a cable including the connector <NUM> may be formed to be flexible.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a camera module according to an embodiment, and <FIG> and <FIG> are perspective views of a housing according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the camera module <NUM> may include a housing <NUM>, a lens assembly <NUM> seated on the housing <NUM>, an infrared filter attached to a second surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and a printed circuit board <NUM>, which is in contact with the second surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The printed circuit board <NUM> may include an image sensor <NUM> seated in a seating groove <NUM>, an image processing unit <NUM> configured to process data received from the image sensor <NUM>, and a connector <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the housing <NUM> may include a first surface <NUM>, a second surface <NUM>, and a side surface <NUM>. The first surface <NUM> is a surface through which light is introduced into the lens assembly <NUM>, and the first surface <NUM> may include a first opening 415a through which light can be introduced into the lens assembly <NUM>. The second surface <NUM> is a surface through which light passing through the lens assembly <NUM> is emitted to the infrared filter <NUM> and the image sensor <NUM>, and may include a second opening 415b through which light is capable of being transmitted from the lens assembly <NUM> to the image sensor <NUM>. The first opening 415a and the second opening 415b may have a circular shape centered on the optical axis of the lens <NUM>, and in the housing <NUM>, the lens assembly <NUM> may be disposed in a through hole <NUM> formed therethrough with reference to the first opening 415a and the second opening 415b. According to an embodiment, the housing <NUM> may include chamfered regions <NUM> at corner portions of the side surface <NUM> so as to secure mounting spaces for other electronic components.

According to an embodiment, a seating groove <NUM> may be formed in the second surface <NUM> in a direction away from the image sensor <NUM> such that the infrared filter <NUM> can be seated therein. The infrared filter <NUM> may be spaced apart from the image sensor <NUM>. The space between the infrared filter <NUM> and the image sensor <NUM> may be used as a space for arranging a bonding wire for electrical connection between the image sensor <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM>. The second surface <NUM> may be used as a bonding surface for bonding the printed circuit board <NUM> and the housing <NUM>, and an adhesive is applied thereto such that the printed circuit board <NUM> comes into contact therewith so that the printed circuit board <NUM> and the housing <NUM> can be coupled to each other. At least one of the bonding surface of the printed circuit board <NUM> and the bonding surface of the second surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may be roughened in order to increase the exposed area thereof. The bonding surface of the second surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM> may have irregularities on the surface formed through etching or surface treatment such as formation of oxide film, and the bonding surface on the printed circuit board <NUM> may be widened in the surface area thereof by performing printing thereon. The adhesive applied to the bonding surface may exhibit increased bonding strength due to the widened surface area.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a printed circuit board according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a front view of the printed circuit board on which an image sensor according to an embodiment is mounted.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the printed circuit board <NUM> may include a seating groove <NUM>, a coupling groove <NUM>, an image processing unit <NUM>, and a connector <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the image sensor <NUM> may be mounted in the seating groove <NUM>. The image sensor <NUM> may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board <NUM> via a bonding wire <NUM>. One end of the bonding wire <NUM> may be attached to a marginal portion of the image sensor <NUM>, and the other end may be attached to an outer periphery of the seating groove <NUM>. A plurality of bonding wires <NUM> may be provided, and may be disposed along a marginal portion of the image sensor <NUM> and a marginal portion of the seating groove <NUM>. The bonding wires <NUM> may not be disposed at the corners <NUM> of the image sensor <NUM>. Via the bonding wires <NUM>, the image sensor <NUM> is capable of transmitting a signal generated by recognizing condensed light to the image processing unit <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM>, and the image processing unit <NUM> is capable of transmitting data to a main print circuit board connected to the connector <NUM>.

In the four vertex regions of the printed circuit board <NUM> on the surface on which the image sensor <NUM> is disposed, coupling grooves <NUM> may be disposed. The coupling grooves <NUM> may be coupled to the protrusions <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM> are coupled, and the lens assembly <NUM> seated in the housing <NUM> is capable of transmitting light to the image sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a housing and an infrared filter of a camera module according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the infrared filter <NUM> of the camera module <NUM> may include an effective filtering region <NUM>, an attachment region <NUM>, and a masking region <NUM>.

The effective filtering region <NUM> may be disposed in the middle of the infrared filter <NUM>. The effective filtering region <NUM> may remove infrared light from incident light entering through the lens <NUM> in the lens barrel <NUM> and through the second opening 415b, and may correspond to an effective sensing region of the image sensor <NUM>. When the light passing through the lens <NUM> passes through the effective filtering region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM>, infrared rays of the light transmitted to the image sensor <NUM> may be blocked.

The masking region <NUM> is positioned on the infrared filter so as to block light incident on a region other than the light reception surface of the image sensor <NUM>. Some of the light passing through the lens assembly <NUM> may be reflected from the inner wall of the housing <NUM> or may be reflected by the bonding wires <NUM> to pass through the infrared filter <NUM> so as to reach the image sensor <NUM>. Light that is reflected and reaches the image sensor <NUM> may cause a flare phenomenon that blurs a captured image or creates spots. In order to prevent the reflected light from reaching the image sensor <NUM>, the masking region <NUM> may be formed in a region adjacent to a marginal portion of the effective filtering region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM> in order to prevent a flare phenomenon. The masking region <NUM> may be a black masking region printed with black ink. The masking region <NUM> may be formed by coating an antireflection material on the top surface or/and the bottom surface of the infrared filter <NUM>.

The attachment region <NUM> may be a region for attaching the infrared filter <NUM> to the seating groove <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The attachment region <NUM> is disposed along a marginal portion of the masking region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM>. A bonding material may be interposed between the attachment region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM> and the seating groove <NUM> in the housing <NUM>, and the infrared filter <NUM> and the housing <NUM> may be coupled to each other by the bonding material. The bonding material may be applied to the recessed seating groove <NUM> in the second surface <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, and may be an ultravioletcurable (UV-curable) adhesive. Ultraviolet rays are capable of reaching the bonding material and curing the bonding material. The attachment region <NUM> may be made of a transparent member so as to transmit ultraviolet rays, and the attachment region <NUM> may be kept transparent by performing black masking only in the masking region of the infrared filter <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate an infrared filter attached to a housing according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the camera module <NUM> may include an infrared filter <NUM> coupled to a housing <NUM>. The masking region <NUM> may have a larger area than the cylindrical lens barrel <NUM> so as to completely wrap the cylindrical lens barrel <NUM>. The masking region <NUM> may be larger than the seating groove <NUM> in the printed circuit board, and the image sensor <NUM> may be disposed inside the seating groove <NUM>. The shape of the seating groove <NUM> may have a shape corresponding to the image sensor <NUM>, and the image sensor <NUM> may have a rectangular shape.

According to various embodiments, in order to secure an attachment region <NUM>, the masking region <NUM> may be kept to a minimum, and the masking region <NUM> may be chamfered in the regions corresponding to the vertices of the housing so as to add edges <NUM>. The chamfered regions may be used as attachment regions, thereby enhancing bonding strength.

According to an embodiment, some of the light incident on the corner regions of the light reception surface of the image sensor <NUM> may not reach the corner regions, and thus an image or picture recognized by the image sensor <NUM> may be displayed to be more blurred in the corner regions than other regions. According to various embodiments, an image or picture recognized by the image sensor <NUM> may be blurred by light reflected from the bonding wires disposed for electrical connection between the image sensor <NUM> and the printed circuit board. According to an embodiment, the masking region <NUM> may be disposed to prevent reflection of light by the bonding wires while securing an area that allows sufficient light to reach the image sensor <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, in order to prevent light from being reflected by the bonding wires (e.g., the bonding wires <NUM> in <FIG>), the effective filtering region <NUM> may have a masking region <NUM> formed to block a region in which the bonding wires are disposed from the image sensor <NUM>. In order to cover the region in which the bonding wires are disposed, the masking region <NUM> may extend from the centers 836a of the edges of the effective filtering region <NUM> to the inner side of the effective filtering region <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, when the infrared filter <NUM> has the effective filtering region <NUM>, mechanical tolerances between components of the camera module, placement of bonding wires, and the like may be considered. In the camera module, the effective filtering region <NUM> may have different widths from a marginal portion of the image sensor <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the effective filtering region <NUM> may include a central region 836a forming a center and a corner region 836b protruding outward from a vertex of the central region 836a. The corner region 836b may be formed in a quadrangle shape.

According to an embodiment, the distance D1 may be a vertical distance from a marginal portion of the image sensor <NUM> to a marginal portion of the seating groove <NUM> in the printed circuit board, and the distance D2 may be a vertical distance from the central region 836a of the effective filtering region <NUM> to the marginal portion of the image sensor <NUM>. The distance D3 may be the length of one side of the quadrangle shape formed in the corner region 836b of the effective filtering region <NUM>. A quadrangle formed in the corner region 836b according to an embodiment may be a square, the distance D2 may be half of the distance D3, and the distance D2 and the distance D1 may be the same.

According to various embodiments, when the distance D2 is greater than the distance D1 or half of the distance D3 is greater than the distance D1, for example, when the corner region 836b is formed greater, light may reach a region other than the surface of the image sensor <NUM> (e.g., the bonding wires <NUM> in <FIG>), the reaching light may be reflected to cause a flare phenomenon.

According to another embodiment, when the distance D2 is smaller than the distance D1 or half of the distance D3 is smaller than the distance D1, for example, when the corner region 836b is formed smaller, the light may reach an area smaller than the light reception area of the image sensor <NUM>, and the reaching light becomes insufficient, resulting in a vignette phenomenon in which edges are blurred.

According to an embodiment, the masking region <NUM> may be formed by coating or printing an antireflective material. The material applied to the masking region <NUM> may block ultraviolet rays required for curing the bonding material applied to the attachment region <NUM>. When the masking region <NUM> is formed in the entire region other than the effective filtering region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM>, it may be difficult to bond the infrared filter <NUM> to the seating groove <NUM> in the housing <NUM>. When the infrared filter <NUM> is not closely bonded to the housing <NUM>, a defect such a stain may be caused in an image or picture acquired by the image sensor <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the infrared filter <NUM> may include a masking region <NUM> surrounding a marginal portion of the effective filtering region <NUM>, and the remaining regions other than the masking region <NUM> and the effective filtering region <NUM> may form the attachment region <NUM>. The infrared filter <NUM> and the seating groove <NUM> in the housing <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other.

According to an embodiment, the longest distance in the masking region <NUM> may be greater than the diameter of the lens barrel <NUM> or the diameter of the through hole of the housing <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the longest distance in the masking region <NUM> may be the distance D4, the diameter of the lens barrel <NUM> or the diameter of the through hole of the housing <NUM> may be the distance D5, and the separation distance between the infrared filter <NUM> and the seating groove <NUM> may be the distance D6. The relationship between the distances D4, D5, and D6 may be D5 <= D4 <= (D5+<NUM>*D6). According to various embodiments, the longest distance in the masking region <NUM> may be greater than the diameter of the lens barrel <NUM> or the diameter of the through hole in the housing <NUM>, and may be smaller than the sum of the diameter of the lens barrel <NUM> or the through hole in the housing <NUM> and twice the spacing distance between the infrared filter <NUM> and the seating groove <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, when the longest distance D4 in the masking region <NUM> is smaller than the diameter of the lens barrel <NUM> or the diameter D5 of the through hole in the housing <NUM>, light entering through the lens barrel <NUM> is incident on a region other than the light reception surface of the image sensor, and is reflected by electronic components near the image sensor, causing a flare phenomenon. When the longest distance D4 in the masking region <NUM> is greater than the sum of the diameter of the lens barrel <NUM> or the diameter of the through hole in the housing <NUM> and twice the separation distance between the infrared filter <NUM> and the seating groove <NUM> (D5+<NUM>*D6), the area of the attachment region <NUM> is not sufficient when a bonding material is applied to the attachment region <NUM> so as to bond the infrared filter <NUM> and the housing <NUM> to each other, and thus bonding strength may decrease.

<FIG> and <FIG> illustrate an infrared filter attached to a housing according to various embodiments.

According to an embodiment, the masking region <NUM> may be formed in a quadrangle shape, but in order to secure the attachment region <NUM>, an edge <NUM> adjacent to the lens barrel <NUM> may be added.

Referring to <FIG>, when the corner region <NUM> is curved, the distance D1 may be a vertical distance from a marginal portion of the image sensor <NUM> to a marginal portion of the seating groove <NUM>. The distance D2 may be a diameter of a circle formed in a corner region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, D2 may be <NUM>*D1. That is, the diameter of the circle formed in the corner region <NUM> may be twice the separation distance between the image sensor <NUM> and the seating groove <NUM>. When the diameter of the circle formed in the corner region <NUM> is greater, a flare phenomenon may occur. When the diameter of the circle formed in the corner region <NUM> is smaller, a vignette phenomenon may occur.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate various masking regions in an infrared filter according to various embodiments.

Referring to <FIG>, the infrared filter <NUM> of the camera module <NUM> may include a circular masking region 1033a, different from <FIG> and <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, a masking region 1033b having rounded edges may be included.

In <FIG>, the distance D5 may be the diameter of a through hole <NUM> in the housing <NUM>, and the distance D4 may be the diameter of a black masking region 1133a. D6 may be the distance between a marginal portion of an infrared filter <NUM> and a marginal portion of a seating groove <NUM>. In order to secure the bonding strength of the attachment region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM> with respect to the housing <NUM>, D5 <= D4 <= (D5 + 2D6) may be satisfied. In <FIG>, the distance D4 may be the width of the central region of the masking region 1133b, and in order to secure the bonding strength of the attachment region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM> with respect to the housing <NUM>, D5 <= D4 < = (D5 + 2D6) may be satisfied.

According to an embodiment, the corner regions <NUM> of the effective filtering region <NUM> may protrude from the central region of the effective filtering region <NUM>, may have a circular shape or a quadrangle shape, and may satisfy the conditions described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the camera module <NUM> may include a masking region 1133c of the infrared filter <NUM> formed in a polygonal shape. Among the polygonal edges of the masking region 1133c, at least a pair of opposite edges 1135a and 1135b may be designed to protrude. Each edge of the masking region 1133c may be formed to be in contact with the through hole <NUM> in the housing <NUM>, and the area of the attachment region <NUM> may be maximized by minimizing the masking region 1133c.

The effective filtering region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM>, the image sensor <NUM>, and the seating groove <NUM> may be rectangular and may have two long edges. The masking region 1133c may be formed to be in contact with the through hole <NUM> in the housing <NUM>. In the long edge regions, the pair of edges 1135a and 1135b may be formed to face each other in protruding shapes in order to increase the area of the attachment region <NUM>.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate masking regions and attachment regions of various shapes according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an infrared filter <NUM> may be disposed to overlap a masking region <NUM> and an attachment region <NUM>. An effective filtering region <NUM> may be formed such that corner regions <NUM> protrude, as described above. A hole <NUM> may be fabricated as a hole penetrating the infrared filter <NUM> and may be formed such that masking is not formed.

According to an embodiment, the attachment region <NUM> may include holes <NUM> through which ultraviolet rays are capable of passing. A bonding material may be injected into the holes <NUM>, and the infrared filter <NUM> can be bonded to the housing by curing the bonding material using ultraviolet rays.

According to various embodiments, the holes <NUM> formed in the attachment region <NUM> are unmasked regions, and the bonding material applied to one surface of the housing may be cured by ultraviolet rays passing through the holes <NUM> so that the infrared filter <NUM> can be bonded to the housing.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the attachment region <NUM> may overlap the masking region <NUM>, and masked regions <NUM> formed in the attachment region <NUM> and unmasked regions <NUM> may be alternately arranged. The unmasked regions <NUM> may be arranged at regular intervals to be parallel to respective edges of the masking region <NUM>, or the unmasked regions <NUM> may be arranged at regular intervals to be perpendicular to respective edges of the masking region <NUM>.

The unmasked regions <NUM> and the holes <NUM> may be arranged at regular intervals such that ultraviolet rays are uniformly transmitted, thereby improving curing efficiency.

<FIG> illustrates an infrared filter and a seating groove, which may have various shapes, according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, an infrared filter <NUM> of a camera module <NUM> may include an effective filtering region <NUM>, a masking region <NUM>, and an attachment region <NUM>. The shapes of the effective filtering region <NUM> and the masking region <NUM> may be formed as described above, and the attachment region <NUM> may be formed in a polygonal shape, rather than in a quadrangle shape. Edges <NUM> may be added to the infrared filter <NUM> through chamfering in the vertex regions of the housing <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the seating groove <NUM> in the housing <NUM> may be formed to correspond to the shape of the infrared filter <NUM>, and a coupling region <NUM> to be coupled with a printed circuit board may be formed to have a large area, so that the bending strength between the printed circuit board and the housing <NUM> can be increased.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a process of bonding a housing of a camera module to a printed circuit board according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a perspective view of the printed circuit board.

Referring to <FIG>, the housing <NUM> of the camera module may include a coupling region <NUM> on the surface of the housing <NUM> to be attached to a printed circuit board <NUM>. The coupling region <NUM> may be disposed around the seating groove <NUM> in the housing <NUM>. In order to fix the printed circuit board <NUM> and the housing <NUM> in a bonding region <NUM> located on the surface <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> facing the housing <NUM>, a bonding layer <NUM> may be disposed between the housing <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM>. According to an embodiment, depending on the arrangement of the components on the printed circuit board <NUM>, the bonding layer <NUM> may be adjacent to the attachment region of the infrared filter <NUM>, and the bonding region <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> may be narrow. In the narrow bonding region <NUM>, an adhesive <NUM> may be insufficient to attach the housing <NUM> to the printed circuit board <NUM>, and thus the housing <NUM> may be separated from the printed circuit board <NUM>. Light may leak out due to the separation of the printed circuit board <NUM> and the housing <NUM>, or light may be introduced from the outside to affect the quality of the camera module <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, in order to increase the bonding strength between the housing <NUM> and the printed circuit board <NUM>, it is possible to widen the area of the coupling region <NUM> between the bonding region <NUM> of the printed circuit board <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

In order to widen the coupling region <NUM> and the bonding region <NUM>, the seating groove <NUM> and the infrared filter <NUM> may be formed in a shape having chamfered edges, the chamfered edge regions may be used as coupling regions <NUM> to be coupled with printed circuit board <NUM>, and the coupling region <NUM> coupled with the printed circuit board <NUM> may be widened by the area of the chamfered regions.

<FIG> is a plan view illustrating an infrared filter including a masking region according to an embodiment, and <FIG> is a plan view illustrating a housing to which an infrared filter is attached according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the infrared filter <NUM> may include an effective filtering region <NUM>, a masking region <NUM>, and an attachment region <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the effective filtering region <NUM> may have a groove recessed inward from the centers of the edges, and corner regions <NUM> may have protruding shapes with grooves recessed at four edges. The masking region <NUM> may be formed to have edges parallel to the outer edges of the infrared filter <NUM>, and may be formed to surround the effective filtering region <NUM>. In the masking region <NUM>, protrusions <NUM> may be formed at the edges parallel to the long edges of the effective filtering region <NUM>, and additional edges <NUM> may be included in the regions corresponding to the chamfered edges <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM>. Edges <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the masking region <NUM> may be formed to be in contact with a through hole in the housing.

According to an embodiment, the distance D8 between the chamfered edges <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM> and the chamfered edges <NUM> of the masking region may be greater than the maximum distance D7 between the edges of the infrared filter <NUM> and the edges <NUM> of the masking region.

Referring to <FIG>, the edges of an infrared filter <NUM> of a camera module <NUM> may be chamfered, and the housing <NUM> and the seating groove <NUM> in the housing <NUM> may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the infrared filter. With the housing <NUM> having edges corresponding to the chamfered edges of the infrared filter <NUM>, it is possible to further secure a space for coupling a printed circuit board to the housing <NUM>. According to various embodiments, a sufficient attachment region <NUM> may be secured in order to maintain bonding between the infrared filter <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the infrared filter bonding material <NUM> may be disposed in consideration of the appearance of the infrared filter <NUM> and the shape of the masking region <NUM>. In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, a bonding material <NUM> may be disposed on the attachment regions <NUM> positioned between the outline of the infrared filter <NUM> and the masking region <NUM>, and may be bent at an obtuse angle and extend in chamfered regions 1632a of the attachment regions <NUM>.

<FIG> is a plan view of a chamfered housing according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the camera module <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> and an infrared filter <NUM>. The distances D9 and D10 may be the shortest distance between the marginal portion of the effective filtering region of the infrared filter <NUM> and the effective region <NUM> of the image sensor <NUM>. The distance D11 may be the distance between the corner regions of the effective region <NUM> of the image sensor <NUM> and the corner regions of the effective filtering region. The effective region <NUM> of the image sensor <NUM> and the effective filtering region of the infrared filter <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other in consideration of the tolerance of the assembly.

The distance D12 may be the distance between the corners of the effective region of the infrared filter and the chamfered edges of the masking region. The distance D12 may be larger than the difference between the width of the masking region <NUM> and the diameter of the through hole in the housing <NUM>.

The distance D13 may be the distance between the chamfered edges <NUM> of the masking region <NUM> and the chamfered edges of the infrared filter. The area of the attachment region <NUM> between the infrared filter <NUM> and the housing <NUM> may be determined based on the distance D13. The distance D13 may be twice the width of an applied adhesive or more, and the distance D13 may be determined as a distance capable of securing the bonding strength of the adhesive.

The distance D14 may be the shortest distance between the edges of the housing <NUM> and the edges of the infrared filter <NUM>. The distance D14 may be associated with the bonding region <NUM> between the housing <NUM> and the printed circuit board. A sufficient bonding area is required in order to increase the adhesion between the housing <NUM> and the printed circuit board. However, since the dimensions of the housing <NUM> are limited, the distance D14 may also be limited.

The distance D15 may be a distance between the chamfered edges of the infrared filter <NUM> and the chamfered edges of the housing <NUM>. Since the distance D14 is limited, it is possible to secure the bonding area between the housing <NUM> and the printed circuit board by securing the distance D15 so that bonding strength can be secured. Since the corner regions of the housing <NUM> including the distance D15 have large bonding areas, the areas of the corner regions may be reduced in order to mount components of the printed circuit board.

When the size of the housing <NUM> is reduced, a space for securing an active region <NUM> of the image sensor <NUM> may be reduced. Thus, the size may be determined in consideration of the distance from the active region of the housing. In order to reduce the size of the housing <NUM>, distances D11, D12, and D13 should be minimized.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrate various types of infrared filters and seating grooves in a camera module according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the camera module <NUM> may include an infrared filter <NUM>. The infrared filter <NUM> according to an embodiment includes an effective filtering region <NUM>, a masking region <NUM>, and attachment regions 1832a and 1832b. The attachment regions may include a central region 1832b and chamfered regions 1832a.

An adhesive <NUM> may be disposed parallel to the edges of the infrared filter in the central region 1832b of the attachment regions, and may be bent in the chamfered regions 1832a to extend a predetermined length. In the central region 1832b in which the adhesive <NUM> is disposed, an attachment region of a distance D7, which is about twice the width of the adhesive <NUM>, may be secured. The shortest distance D8 in the chamfered regions 1832a may be longer than the distance D7.

According to an embodiment, the attachment regions 1832a and 1832b of the infrared filter <NUM> may be formed in various shapes, as long as the distance D8 can be secured. The infrared filter <NUM> and the seating groove <NUM> may be spaced apart from each other, and the shapes of the corner regions <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM> and the corner regions <NUM> of the seating groove <NUM> may be arranged in a multi-stage bent shape as illustrated in <FIG>, may be arranged in a chamfered shape as illustrated in <FIG>, or may be arranged such that some edges are arranged in a multi-stage bent shape and remaining edges are arranged in a chamfered shape as illustrated in <FIG>.

According to various embodiments, the corner regions <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM> and the corner regions <NUM> of the seating groove <NUM> may have a shape of a protruding curve, a curve having a recessed center, or the like.

Each of <FIG> and <FIG> illustrates a coupling relationship between an infrared filter and a housing according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a camera module <NUM> may include an infrared filter <NUM> and a housing <NUM>. The seating groove <NUM> in the housing <NUM> may include a protrusion <NUM>. According to an embodiment, the infrared filter <NUM> may include an effective filtering region <NUM>, a masking region <NUM>, and an attachment region <NUM>, and the attachment region <NUM> may have a coupling hole <NUM>. The infrared filter <NUM> may be coupled to the housing <NUM> by inserting the protrusion <NUM> into the coupling hole <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, one or more coupling holes <NUM> and protrusions <NUM> may be formed in various positions, and the shape of the seating groove <NUM> may be variously formed.

Each of <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrates an infrared filter attached to a seating groove of a housing according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, as described above in <FIG> and <FIG>, the housing <NUM> of the camera module <NUM> may include a seating groove <NUM>. The infrared filter <NUM> may be disposed in the seating groove <NUM> to be spaced apart from the inner wall of the seating groove <NUM>. The infrared filter <NUM> may be coupled to the protrusions formed in the seating groove <NUM> in the housing <NUM> via the coupling holes <NUM> formed in the attachment region <NUM> of the infrared filter <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the bonding strength may be increased by applying bonding members around the coupling holes <NUM>. Two first bonding members 2036a and 2036b formed along the outer periphery of the masking region <NUM> may be applied to the seating groove <NUM>. In addition, second bonding members 2037a, 2037b, 2037c, and 2037d extending along the edges of the infrared filter <NUM> at the bent portions of the first bonding members 2036a and 2036b may be applied to the seating groove <NUM>. According to various embodiments, third bonding members 2038a, 2038b, 2038c, and 2038d connecting the ends of the first bonding members 2036a, and 2036b and the ends of the second bonding members 2037a, 2037b, 2037c, and 2037d may be included.

Each of <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrates an infrared filter attached to a seating groove in a housing according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a camera module <NUM> may include an infrared filter <NUM> and a housing <NUM>. The infrared filter <NUM> may include an effective filtering region <NUM>, a masking region <NUM>, and an attachment region <NUM>. The attachment region <NUM> may include coupling grooves <NUM> one or more pairs of opposite edges. The housing <NUM> may include a seating groove <NUM> formed around a through hole <NUM>, and may include protrusions <NUM> protruding from the coupling region <NUM> to be coupled with the printed circuit board, and corresponding to the coupling grooves <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the infrared filter <NUM> may be disposed in the seating groove <NUM>, and may be fixed when the coupling grooves <NUM> and the protrusions <NUM> are engaged with each other.

Referring to <FIG>, bonding members <NUM> may be additionally applied to the infrared filter <NUM>. The bonding members <NUM> may be applied along the masking region <NUM>, and when the bonding members <NUM> are additionally applied to the attachment region <NUM>, it is possible to enhance the bonding strength between the infrared filter <NUM> and the housing <NUM>.

Each of <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> illustrates a process of manufacturing a camera module.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, a lens unit (e.g., the lens assembly <NUM> in <FIG>) may be attached to a housing (e.g., the housing <NUM> in <FIG>). The lens unit may be seated in a through hole (the through hole <NUM> in <FIG>) in the housing.

In operation <NUM>, an infrared filter may be attached to the surface of the housing. The infrared filter (e.g., the infrared filter <NUM> in <FIG>) may be attached to a surface (e.g., the second surface <NUM> in <FIG>) through which light that is incident and passes through the through hole is emitted.

In operation <NUM>, an image sensor (e.g., the image sensor <NUM> in <FIG>) may be attached to a flexible printed circuit board (e.g., the printed circuit board <NUM> in <FIG>). In operation <NUM>, the image sensor and the flexible printed circuit board may be electrically connected via a bonding wire.

In operation <NUM>, the housing may be mounted on the flexible printed circuit board. A protrusion of the housing may be fastened to a coupling groove in the flexible printed circuit board.

Referring to <FIG>, operation <NUM> of attaching the infrared filter to the housing is illustrated in detail. In operation <NUM>, a second surface (the second surface <NUM> in <FIG>) of the housing may be prepared for working. In operation <NUM>, an adhesive (e.g., the adhesive <NUM> in <FIG>) may be applied to the second surface of the housing. In operation <NUM>, the infrared filter (e.g., the infrared filter <NUM> in <FIG>) may be attached to the housing, and in operation <NUM>, the adhesive can be cured with ultraviolet rays passing through the attachment region of the infrared filter (e.g., the attachment region <NUM> in <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG>, operation <NUM> for bonding the flexible printed circuit board to the housing is illustrated in detail. In operation <NUM>, a bonding material may be applied to the flexible printed circuit board, and in operation <NUM>, the flexible circuit board may be attached by fastening the protrusion of the housing to the coupling groove in the flexible printed circuit board. In operation <NUM>, bonding of the flexible printed circuit board to the housing may be completed by curing the bonding material.

As described above, a camera module according to various embodiments is capable of preventing a blurring phenomenon through a combination of a housing and an infrared filter including a masking region, and is capable of enhancing the collection rate of light using a protrusion in an effective filtering region formed in a corner of the masking region, thereby preventing a flare phenomenon.

According to various embodiments, since it is possible to reduce the area of an attachment region while maintaining the bonding strength of the attachment area of the infrared filter, it is possible to reduce the size of the housing of the camera module, and thus to secure a space in which components of a printed circuit board are mounted.

As described above, a camera module according to various embodiments may include: a housing including a through hole and a lens assembly disposed in the through hole to face a first surface on which light is incident; an infrared filter attached to a second surface of the housing, positioned on a side opposite to the first surface; an image sensor configured to recognize the light passing through the infrared filter; and a printed circuit board coupled to the housing. The infrared filter may include an effective filtering region configured to transmit visible light, and a masking region surrounding the effective filtering region and having chamfered edges, the infrared filter having a shape corresponding to a shape of the chamfered edges of the masking region.

According to an embodiment, the masking area may have a polygonal shape, and the edges of the masking region may be disposed adjacent to the through hole.

According to an embodiment, when the through hole is projected onto the infrared filter, the edges of the masking region may be tangential lines of the through hole.

According to an embodiment, the effective filtering region may have a rectangular shape, and among the edges of the masking region, edges parallel to a pair of long edges of the effective filtering region may be formed to protrude.

According to an embodiment, the infrared filter may include an attachment region surrounding the masking region, and an adhesive may be applied to the second surface to be adjacent to at least two opposite edges of the attachment area.

According to an embodiment, the housing may include, in the second surface, a seating groove to which the infrared filter is attached.

According to an embodiment, among the edges of the housing, the edges parallel to the optical axis of the lens assembly may be chamfered.

The adhesive may be applied along a marginal portion of the infrared filter, and may be bent and extend in a chamfered region of the attachment region of the infrared filter.

The camera module may further include a printed circuit board including a seating groove in which the image sensor is mounted and a first coupling region formed around the seating groove to be coupled with the housing.

According to an embodiment, the housing may include, around the infrared filter, a second coupling region to be coupled with the printed circuit board.

According to an embodiment, a corner region of the first coupling region may include a coupling groove, and a corner region of the second coupling region may include a protrusion corresponding to the coupling groove.

According to an embodiment, a bonding layer may be disposed between the first coupling region and the second coupling region.

According to an embodiment, a surface of the first coupling region or the second coupling region may have irregularities.

According to various embodiments, an electronic device, which includes an inner space, may include a main printed circuit board disposed in the inner space, and a camera module connected to the main printed circuit board. The camera module may include: a housing disposed in the inner space and including a first opening, a second opening formed in a surface opposite a surface in which the first opening is disposed, and an accommodation portion formed as a hole penetrating the first and second openings; a lens assembly disposed in the accommodation portion and exposed to an outside of the electronic device through the first opening such that external light is incident on the lens assembly; an infrared filter attached to a seating groove formed in the surface in which the second opening is formed; an image sensor configured to recognize light passing through the infrared filter and having a rectangular shape; and a printed circuit board on which the image sensor is mounted, the printed circuit being coupled to the housing. The infrared filter may include an effective filtering region configured to transmit visible light, and a masking region surrounding the effective filtering region and having chamfered edges. The infrared filter may have a shape corresponding to a shape of the chamfered edges of the masking region.

According to an embodiment, the infrared filter may include an attachment region formed at a marginal portion of the masking region, and the attachment region may be formed of a transparent member, and the adhesive applied to the seating groove may be cured with ultraviolet rays passing through the attachment region so as to couple the infrared filter with the housing.

According to an embodiment, the image sensor and the printed circuit board may be electrically connected via a bonding wire.

According to an embodiment, the infrared filter may include an edge chamfered to correspond to a shape of the masking region, and the seating groove may include an edge chamfered to correspond to a shape of the infrared filter.

According to an embodiment, the shortest distance from the chamfered edge of the attachment region to the chamfered edge of the housing may be determined based on a distance from a vertex of the image sensor to the chamfered edge of the masking region.

According to an embodiment, the adhesive may be applied according to the shape of the attachment region.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may further include a coupling region formed along a marginal portion of the seating grove, and the housing may be coupled with the printed circuit board by a bonding layer applied to the coupling region.

In the above-described specific embodiments of the disclosure, components included in the disclosure have been expressed in singular or plural terms according to the presented specific embodiments. However, the singular or plural terms are selected appropriately for the situation presented for convenience of description, and the disclosure is not limited to singular or plural constituent elements. A constituent element expressed using plural terms may be configured as a single element, or a constituent element expressed using a singular term may be configured as multiple elements.

Claim 1:
A camera module (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) including a first surface (<NUM>), a through hole (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a lens assembly (<NUM>) disposed in the through hole to face the first surface (<NUM>) on which light is incident;
an infrared filter (<NUM>, <NUM>) attached to a second surface (<NUM>) of the housing, positioned on a side opposite to the first surface (<NUM>);
an image sensor (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to recognize the light passing through the infrared filter; and
a printed circuit board (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) coupled to the housing,
wherein the infrared filter includes an effective filtering region (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) configured to transmit visible light, and a masking region (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, 1133a, 1133b, 1133c, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) surrounding the effective filtering region and having chamfered edges (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in regions corresponding to vertices of the housing, the infrared filter having a shape corresponding to a shape of the chamfered edges of the masking region, and
wherein the effective filtering region includes a central region (836a) forming a center and a corner region (<NUM>) protruding outward from a vertex of the central region, characterised in that a circle is being formed in the corner region (<NUM>), and in that the printed circuit board includes a seating groove (<NUM>,<NUM>) inside which the image sensor is disposed, the seating groove having a shape corresponding to the shape of the image sensor,
wherein a diameter (D2) of the circle is twice a separation distance (D1) between the image sensor and the seating groove.