Patent ID: 12204239

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The making and using of the embodiments of the camera module are discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that the embodiments provide many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the embodiments, and do not limit the scope of the disclosure.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that each term, which is defined in a commonly used dictionary, should be interpreted as having a meaning conforming to the relative skills and the background or the context of the present disclosure, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal manner unless defined otherwise.

Referring toFIG.1, in an embodiment of the invention, the camera module10can be disposed in an electronic device20and used to take photographs or record video. The electronic device20can be a smartphone or a digital camera, for example. When taking photographs or recording video, the camera module10can receive the light and form an image, wherein the image can be transmitted to a processor (not shown) in the electronic device20, where post-processing of the image can be performed.

As shown inFIG.2, the camera module10primarily comprises a housing100, a lens driving mechanism200, a lens unit300, at least one elastic member400, an image sensor500, and a circuit board600. The lens driving mechanism200comprises a lens holder210, a frame220, at least one first electromagnetic driving assembly230, at least one second electromagnetic driving assembly240, a base250, a coil board260, a plurality of suspension wires270, and a plurality of position detectors280.

The housing100and the base250can form a hollow box, and the housing100surrounds the lens driving mechanism200. Therefore, the lens driving mechanism200, the lens unit300, and the elastic member400can be accommodated in the aforementioned box. The image sensor500and the circuit board600are disposed on a side of the box, and the housing100and the base250respectively have an opening01and an opening02. The light can reach the image sensor500through the opening01, the lens unit300, and the opening02in sequence, so as to form an image on the image sensor500.

The lens holder210has an accommodating space211and a concave structure212, wherein the accommodating space211is formed at the center of the lens holder210, and the concave structure212is formed on the outer wall of the lens holder210and surrounds the accommodating space211. The lens unit300can be affixed to the lens holder210and accommodated in the accommodating space211. The first electromagnetic driving assembly230can be disposed in the concave structure212.

The frame220has a receiving portion221and a plurality of recesses222. The lens holder210is received in the receiving portion221, and the second electromagnetic driving assembly240is affixed in the recess222and adjacent to the first electromagnetic driving assembly230.

The lens holder210and the lens unit300disposed thereon can be driven by the electromagnetic induction between the first electromagnetic driving assembly230and the second electromagnetic driving assembly240to move relative to the frame220along the direction of the Z-axis. For example, in this embodiment, the first electromagnetic driving assembly230can be a driving coil surrounding the accommodating space211of the lens holder210, and the second electromagnetic driving assembly240can comprise at least one magnet.

When a current flows through the driving coil (the first electromagnetic driving assembly230), electromagnetic induction is generated between the driving coil and the magnet. Thus, the lens holder210and the lens unit300disposed thereon can be driven to move relative to the frame220along the direction of the Z-axis, and the purpose of focus adjustment can be achieved.

In some embodiments, the first electromagnetic driving assembly230can be a magnet, and the second electromagnetic driving assembly240can be a driving coil.

Referring toFIG.2, in this embodiment, the camera module10comprises two elastic members400respectively disposed on opposite sides of the lens holder210and the frame220, and the lens holder210and the frame220can be disposed therebetween. The elastic members400can connect the lens holder210to the housing100or the frame220. The lens holder210can be hung in the receiving portion221of the frame220by the elastic members400, and the range of motion of the lens holder210in the direction of the Z-axis can be restricted by the elastic members400.

As shown inFIG.3A, the elastic member400can comprise at least one first fixed portion401, at least one second fixed portion402, and at least one string portion403. The first fixed portion401is affixed to the housing100or frame220, the second fixed portion402is affixed to the lens holder210, and the string portion403is connected to the first fixed portion401and the second fixed portion402.

FIG.3Bis a cross-sectional view along line A-A inFIG.3A. Referring toFIGS.3A and3B, the elastic member400can comprise a metal base410, a first insulation layer420, and at least one first metal wire430, wherein the first insulation layer420is disposed between the metal base410and the first metal wire430.

The thickness of the metal base410in the direction of the Z-axis exceeds the total thickness of the first insulation layer420and the first metal wire430in the direction of the Z-axis. For example, the thickness of the metal base410can be 0.02 mm-0.35 mm. The metal base410and the first metal wire430can have the same coefficient of thermal expansion, such that when the elastic member400is heated, relative displacement is not generated between the metal base410and the first metal wire430.

It should be noted that, as shown inFIGS.3A and3B, the elastic member400can comprise a plurality of first metal wires430. These first metal wires430are separated from each other and electrically independent. These first metal wires430can be extended from the first fixed portion401to the second fixed portion402through the string portion403. The ends of each of the first metal wires430disposed on the first fixed portion401and the second fixed portion402are used to electrically connect the other members (such as the suspension wires270).

Referring toFIG.4A, in another embodiment, the elastic member400can comprise more than two first metal wires430. For example, in this embodiment, the elastic member400comprises four first metal wires430. Referring toFIG.4B, in another embodiment, the electrically independent first metal wires430separated from each other can extend through the same string portion403. That is, a plurality of electrically independent first metal wires430are disposed on each string portion403.

Referring toFIG.4C, in another embodiment, the elastic member400further comprises a second insulation layer440and at least one second metal wire450. The metal base410is disposed between the first insulation layer420and the second insulation layer440, and the second insulation layer440is disposed between the metal base410and the second metal wire450.

Similarly, the thickness of the metal base410in the direction of the Z-axis exceeds the total thickness of the second insulation layer440and the second metal wire450in the direction of the Z-axis. The metal base410and the second metal wire450can have the same coefficient of thermal expansion, such that when the elastic member400is heated, relative displacement is not generated between the metal base410and the second metal wire450. When a plurality of second metal wires450are disposed on the second insulation layer440, these second metal wires450can be separated from each other and electrically independent, and the arrangement of the second metal wires450can be similar to that of the first metal wires430inFIGS.3A,3B, or4B.

Since the electrically independent first metal wires430and the electrically independent second metal wires450can be arranged on the elastic member400, the elastic member400does not need to be divided even when two or more conductive paths are needed. Thus, the integration of the elastic member400can be achieved, and the assembly of the elastic member400is facilitated. Furthermore, since the integrated elastic member400can be achieved, the elastic force applied on the lens holder210can be uniform, and the displacement of the lens unit300driven by the lens driving mechanism200is more accurate. Moreover, the integrated elastic member400has a larger fixed area relative to the divided elastic member. Therefore, the separation of the elastic member400from the housing100, the frame220or the lens holder210due to collision of the camera module10can be avoided.

The first metal wires430and the second metal wires450can be respectively formed on the first insulation layer420and the second insulation layer440by using a molded interconnect device (MID), for example, by laser direct structuring (LDS), microscopic integrated processing technology (MIPTEC), laser induced metallization (LIM), laser restructuring print (LRP), an aerosol jet process, or a two-shot molding method. In some embodiments, the first metal wires430and the second metal wires450can be respectively formed on the first insulation layer420and the second insulation layer440by coating.

Referring toFIG.2, the coil board260is disposed on the base250. When a current flows through the coil board260, electromagnetic induction is generated between the coil board260and the second electromagnetic driving assembly240(or the first electromagnetic driving assembly230). Thus, the lens holder210and the frame220can be driven to move relative to coil board260along the direction of the X-axis and/or the direction of the Y-axis, and the lens unit300can be driven to move relative to image sensor500along the direction of the X-axis and/or the direction of the Y-axis. The purpose of image stabilization can be achieved.

In this embodiment, the camera module10comprises four suspension wires270. Four suspension wires270are respectively disposed on the four corners of the coil board260and connect the base250, the coil board260, and the elastic member400. When the lens holder210and the lens unit300moves along the direction of the X-axis and/or the direction of the Y-axis, the suspension wires270can restrict their range of motion. Moreover, since the suspension wires270comprise metal (for example, copper or an alloy thereof), the suspension wires270can be used as a conductor, for example, the current can flow into the first electromagnetic driving assembly230through the base250, the suspension wires270, and the first metal wires430of the elastic member400.

The position detectors280are disposed on the base250, wherein the position detectors280can detect the movement of the second electromagnetic driving assembly240to confirm the position of the lens holder210and the lens unit300in the direction of the X-axis and the direction of the Y-axis.

For example, the position detector280can be a Hall sensor, a magnetoresistance effect sensor (MR sensor), a giant magnetoresistance effect sensor (GMR sensor), a tunneling magnetoresistance effect sensor (TMR sensor), or a fluxgate sensor.

Referring toFIGS.5-7, in another embodiment of the invention, the housing100comprises a metal member110, an insulation layer120, and at least one metal wire130, wherein the insulation layer120is disposed between the metal member110and the metal wire130. One end of the metal wire130is connected to the elastic member400, and the metal wire130and the insulation layer120are extended from the inner surface101of the housing100to the outer surface102. Therefore, the other end of the metal wire130can be exposed, and the other electronic members in the electronic device20can be electrically connected to the metal wire130via the exposed end.

The thickness of the metal member110exceeds the total thickness of the insulation layer120and the metal wire130. For example, the thickness of the metal member110can be 0.10 mm-0.35 mm. The metal member110and the metal wire130can have the same coefficient of thermal expansion.

Since further circuit boards are not needed for connecting the lens driving mechanism200in the camera module10and the electronic members in the electronic device20, the volume of the camera module10can be reduced, and the camera module10can be disposed in a miniaturized electronic device20. Moreover, the manufacturing process can be simplified, and the heat dissipation efficiency of the camera module10can be improved.

In summary, a camera module is provided, wherein a plurality of electrically independent metal wires can be arranged on the elastic member of camera module, and the integrated elastic member can be achieved. Furthermore, the housing of the camera module can comprise metal wires for connecting the lens driving mechanism to the external electronic members.

Although some embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that many of the features, functions, processes, and materials described herein may be varied while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. Moreover, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.