Patent ID: 12235512

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, in some embodiments, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be disposed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact.

In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. Moreover, the formation of a feature on, connected to, and/or coupled to another feature in the present disclosure that follows may include embodiments in which the features are in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be disposed interposing the features, such that the features may not be in direct contact. In addition, spatially relative terms, for example, “vertical,” “above,” “over,” “below,”, “bottom,” etc. as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) are used in the present disclosure for ease of description of one feature's relationship to another feature. The spatially relative terms are intended to cover different orientations of the device, including the features.

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 disclosure 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.

Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having the same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements.

In addition, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected”, refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

Refer toFIG.1A.FIG.1Ais a schematic view of an optical module1001in some embodiments of the present disclosure. The optical module1001may mainly include a light amount adjusting mechanism1100and an optical element driving mechanism1200. An optical element1230may be disposed in the optical element driving mechanism1200, and the optical element driving mechanism1200may drive the optical element1230to achieve optical image stabilization (OIS) or auto focus (AF). The light amount adjusting mechanism1100may be disposed on the optical element driving mechanism1200to control the amount or characteristic of light incident to the optical element1230. For example, the light amount adjusting mechanism1100may be an aperture to control the depth of field, imaging quality, and amount of light coming in.

In some embodiments, the optical element1230may include a lens, a mirror, a prism, a beam splitter, an aperture, a liquid lens, an image sensor, a camera module, or a ranging module. It should be noted that the definition of the optical element is not limited to the element that is related to visible light, and other elements that relate to invisible light (e.g. infrared or ultraviolet) are also included in the present disclosure. For example, when the optical element1230is a camera lens, the optical element1230may include a lens barrel1231and at least one lens1232. In some embodiments, the lens barrel1231may include nonmetal material, and the heat conductivity of the lens barrel1231may be different from the heat conductivity of the holder1220, such as the heat conductivity of the lens barrel1231may be higher than the heat conductivity of the holder1220.

FIG.2Ais a schematic view of the light amount adjusting mechanism1100.FIG.2Bis an exploded view of the light amount adjusting mechanism1100. As shown inFIG.1A,FIG.2A, andFIG.2B, the light amount adjusting mechanism1100may mainly include a case1111, a bottom1112, a top plate1113, a movable portion1120, a light amount control element1140, a first driving assembly1150, a third resilient element1160, a connecting element1162, a magnetic conductive element1164, and a position sensor1166arranged in a main axis1500. The case1111, the bottom1112, and the top plate1113may be called as a fixed portion1110. The light amount control element1140may include a first light amount control unit1141, a second light amount control unit1142, a third light amount control unit1143, and a fourth light amount control unit1144, or may include other optical control elements such as blades, polarizer, or filter. The case1111and the bottom1112form a accommodating space1130used for accommodating the movable portion1120, the third resilient element1160, the connecting element1162, the magnetic conductive element1164, and the position sensor1166, etc. In some embodiments, the distance between the bottom1112and the optical element1230is less than the distance between the case1111and the optical element1230. The light amount control element1140may be outside the accommodating space1130.

The movable portion1120may be used for connecting to the light amount control element1140and may move relative to the fixed portion1110, such as may be movably connected to the bottom1112through the connecting element1162. The first driving assembly1150may drive the movable portion1120to move relative to the fixed portion1110. For example, the first driving assembly1150may include a first driving element1151and a second driving element1152disposed on the movable portion1120and the fixed portion1110(e.g. the bottom1112), respectively. The first driving element1151and the second driving element1152may be a combination of a magnet and a coil used for generating a driving force to drive the movable portion1120moving relative to the fixed portion1110. In some embodiments, the first driving assembly1150may include other driving elements, such as piezoelectric element or shape memory alloy. The magnetic conductive element1164may be used for guiding the magnetic field direction of the first driving element1151. In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.1AandFIG.2B, the first driving element1151and the second driving element1152may arrange along the main axis1500, and the magnetic conductive element1164and the first driving element1151may arrange along the main axis1500.

The position sensor1166may be used for detecting the magnetic field variation of the first driving element1151when the first driving element1151is moving to get the position of the movable portion1120relative to the fixed portion1110. For example, the position sensor1166may include 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.

In some embodiments, the optical element driving mechanism1200may mainly include a shell1211, a base1212, a holder1220, and a second driving assembly1240. The shell1211and the base1212may be affixed with each other to form a shell of the optical element driving mechanism1200for accommodating other elements. The holder1220may move relative to the shell1211and the base1212and may used for connecting to the optical element1230.

The second driving assembly1240may include a third driving element1241and a fourth driving element1242disposed on the holder1220and the shell1211. The third driving element1241and the fourth driving element1242may be a combination of a magnet and a coil used for generating a driving force to drive the holder1220moving relative to the shell1211. In some embodiments, the second driving assembly1240may include other driving elements, such as piezoelectric element or shape memory alloy.

In some embodiments, the holder1220may suspended in the second accommodating space1260formed from the shell1211and the base1212by a first resilient element1251and a second resilient element1252. Therefore, the holder1220may movably connected to the shell1211through the first resilient element1251and the second resilient element1252.

In some embodiments, when the first driving assembly1150drives the movable portion1120to move relative to the fixed portion1110, the first driving assembly1150may generate heat. However, excess heat may affect the imaging quality of the optical element1230. Therefore, a heat control assembly1300may be disposed in the optical module1001to adjust the temperature of the optical element1230, so the image quality may be enhanced. In some embodiments, the heat control assembly1300may correspond to the holder1220or the optical element1230, and may include a first heat control element1311, and a second heat control element1320.

FIG.1Bis a schematic view of some elements inFIG.1A. For example, the first heat control element1311may isolate heat, and may be disposed between the light amount adjusting mechanism1100and the optical element driving mechanism1200, such as between the optical element1230and the light amount adjusting mechanism1100to prevent the heat generated from the first driving assembly1150(heat source) to the optical element1230.

The second heat control element1320may perform heat conduction or heat dissipation, so the heat generated by the first driving assembly1150(heat source) may be taken away from the optical element1230. In some embodiments, the second heat control element1320may include metal, and the bottom1112does not include metal, such as the bottom1112may include nonmetal materials (e.g. plastic or resin, etc.). For example, the second heat control element1320may be affixed on the fixed portion1110, such as may be embedded in the bottom1112, may expose from a first surface1116of the bottom1112facing away from the optical element1230, and does not expose from a second surface1117of the bottom1112facing the optical element1230. In some embodiments, the second heat control element1320may connect to the case1111, and the material of the case1111may include metal, so the heat generated from the first driving assembly1150may be transferred from the case1111by the second heat control element1320. Afterwards, the heat may be dissipated by the metal case1111. Moreover, in some embodiments, since the second heat control element1320is exposed from the bottom1112, the heat may be further dissipated from the portion of the second heat control element1320exposed from the bottom1112. Therefore, the optical element1230may be prevented from being affected by the heat generated by the first driving assembly1150.

In some embodiments, the heat conductivity of the first heat control element1311is less than the heat conductivity of the second heat control element1320. The heat conductivity of the bottom1112is less than the heat conductivity of the case1111. The heat conductivity of the second heat control element1320is higher than the heat conductivity of the case1111. In some embodiments, the distance between the first heat control element1311and the optical element1230is less than the distance between the second heat control element1320and the optical element1230. The first heat control element1311is disposed between the optical element1230and the second heat control element1320.

In some embodiments, the first adhesive element1400may connect the holder1220and the optical element1230. For example, as shown inFIG.1AandFIG.1B, the first adhesive element1400may in direct contact with the holder1220and the optical element1230, and the first adhesive element1400may include nonmetal material (e.g. plastic or resin). In some embodiments, the first heat control element1311may be called as a second adhesive element, and the second heat control element1320may be (indirectly) connected to the optical element1230through the first heat control element1311. In some embodiments, the material of the first heat control element1311and the first adhesive element1400may be different, such the heat conductivity of the first heat control element1311may be less than the heat conductivity of the first adhesive element1400.

FIG.1Cis a schematic view of an optical module1002in some embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.1Dis a schematic view of some elements inFIG.1C. In some embodiments, the elements of the optical module1002may be substantially similar to the elements of the optical module1001, and the difference is that a first heat control element1312of the optical module1002may be a gap positioned between the bottom1112and the optical element1230to prevent heat conduction. In such embodiment, a third adhesive element1313may be used for connecting the bottom1112and the holder1220. The third adhesive element1313may be glue or solder material, and the heat conductivity of the third adhesive element1313may be different from the heat conductivity of the first adhesive element1400. This configuration also prevents the heat generated from the first driving assembly1150(heat source) to reach the optical element1230.

FIG.3Ais a schematic view of some elements of the light amount adjusting mechanism1100.FIG.3Bis a top view of some elements of the light amount adjusting mechanism1100, wherein the top plate1113is omitted.FIG.3Cis a top view of some elements of the light amount adjusting mechanism1100, wherein the elements on the case1111is omitted.FIG.3Dis a top view of some elements of the light amount adjusting mechanism1100, wherein the case1111and the elements on the case1111are omitted.

As shown inFIG.3AtoFIG.3D, the first light amount control unit1141, the second light amount control unit1142, the third light amount control unit1143, and the fourth light amount control unit1144of the light amount control element1140may form an opening with a size D1. The opening may be used for allowing light passing through. Moreover, the first light amount control unit1141, the second light amount control unit1142, the third light amount control unit1143, and the fourth light amount control unit1144may be movably connected to the movable portion1120.

Specifically, in some embodiments, when viewed along the main axis1500, the first light amount control unit1141include a first guiding recess1181extending in a first direction (e.g. the Y direction). The second light amount control unit1142includes a second guiding recess1182extending in the first direction. The third light amount control unit1143includes a second guiding recess1182extending in a second direction (e.g. the X direction). The fourth light amount control unit1144may include a fourth guiding recess1184extending in the second direction.

Furthermore, the movable portion1120may include a first guiding portion1121, a second guiding portion1122, a third guiding portion1123, and a fourth guiding portion1124extending in the main axis1500. The first guiding portion1121may be disposed in the first guiding recess1181, the second guiding portion1122may be disposed in the second guiding recess1182, the third guiding portion1123may be disposed in the third guiding recess1183, and the fourth guiding portion1124may be disposed in the fourth guiding recess1184.

In some embodiments, when the movable portion1120rotates, the first guiding portion1121, the second guiding portion1122, the third guiding portion1123, and the fourth guiding portion1124may slide in the first guiding recess1181, the second guiding recess1182, the third guiding recess1183, and the fourth guiding recess1184, respectively, to move the first light amount control unit1141, the second light amount control unit1142, the third light amount control unit1143, and the fourth light amount control unit1144in specific directions. Therefore, the size of the opening may be controlled to adjust the size of the aperture.

In some embodiments, the first light amount control unit1141may further include a first positioning recess1191and a second positioning recess1192extending in the second direction (the X direction). The second light amount control unit1142may further include a third positioning recess1193and a fourth positioning recess1194extending in the second direction. The third light amount control unit1143may further include a fifth positioning recess1195extending in the first direction (the Y direction). The fourth light amount control unit1144may further include a sixth positioning recess1196extending in the first direction.

In some embodiments, the case1111may include a first positioning portion1171, a second positioning portion1172, a third positioning portion1173, a fourth positioning portion1174, a fifth positioning portion1175, a sixth positioning portion1176, a seventh positioning portion1177, and an eighth positioning portion1178extending along the main axis1500. The first positioning portion1171may be disposed in the first positioning recess1191. The second positioning portion1172may be disposed in the second positioning recess1192. The third positioning portion1173may be disposed in the third positioning recess1193. The fourth positioning portion1174may be disposed in the fourth positioning recess1194. The fifth positioning portion1175and the sixth positioning portion1176may be disposed in the fifth positioning recess1195. The seventh positioning portion1177and the eighth positioning portion1178may be disposed in the sixth positioning recess1196. The first positioning portion1171and the second positioning portion1172may arrange in the second direction. The third positioning portion1173and the fourth positioning portion1174may arrange in the second direction. The fifth positioning portion1175and the sixth positioning portion1176may arrange in the first direction. The seventh positioning portion1177and the eighth positioning portion1178may arrange in the first direction.

Therefore, the movable directions of the first light amount control unit1141, the second light amount control unit1142, the third light amount control unit1143, and the fourth light amount control unit1144may be controlled by the positioning portions arranged in specific directions. For example, since the first positioning portion1171and the second positioning portion1172arrange in the second direction, the movable direction of the first light amount control unit1141is restricted in the second direction. Moreover, the movable range of the first light amount control unit1141, the second light amount control unit1142, the third light amount control unit1143, and the fourth light amount control unit1144may be defined by the first positioning portion1171, the second positioning portion1172, the third positioning portion1173, the fourth positioning portion1174, the fifth positioning portion1175, the sixth positioning portion1176, the seventh positioning portion1177, and the eighth positioning portion1178.

As shown inFIG.3D, the third resilient element1160may be disposed on the bottom1112, the movable portion1120may include a recess1125, and the third resilient element1160may be disposed in the recess1125. The size of the recess1125may be greater than the size of the third resilient element1160. Therefore, the movable range of the movable portion1120may be defined by the third resilient element1160when the movable portion1120rotates in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction.

FIG.4AtoFIG.4Care schematic views of some elements of the light amount adjusting mechanism1100when the movable portion1120rotates in the clockwise direction (first dimension), wherein similar elements inFIG.3AtoFIG.3Care shown. As shown inFIG.4AtoFIG.4C, when the movable portion1120rotates in the clockwise direction until the first guiding portion1121being in contact with a first stopping portion1114of the case1111, the opening defined by the first light amount control unit1141, second light amount control unit1142, third light amount control unit1143, fourth light amount control unit1144has a size D2, wherein the size D2is greater than the size D1. Therefore, the size of the opening may be adjusted.

FIG.5AtoFIG.5Care schematic views of some elements of the light amount adjusting mechanism1100when the movable portion1120rotates in the counterclockwise direction (second dimension), wherein similar elements inFIG.3AtoFIG.3Care shown. As shown inFIG.5AtoFIG.5C, when the movable portion1120rotates in the clockwise direction until the first guiding portion1121being in contact with a second stopping portion1115of the case1111, the opening defined by the first light amount control unit1141, second light amount control unit1142, third light amount control unit1143, fourth light amount control unit1144has a size D3, wherein the size D3is less than the size D1and the size D2. Therefore, the size of the opening may be adjusted.

FIG.6is a schematic view of a light amount adjusting mechanism2100in some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the light amount adjusting mechanism2100may mainly include a case2111, a bottom2112, a top plate2113, a movable portion2120, a light amount control element2140, a first driving element2151, a first driving element2152, a connecting element2162, and a magnetic conductive element2164arranged in a main axis2500. The light amount adjusting mechanism2100may substitute the light amount adjusting mechanism1100to be disposed in the optical module1001or the optical module1002to control the amount or characteristic of light incident to the optical element1230. The case2111, the bottom2112, the top plate2113may form an accommodating space2300to accommodating other elements. The functions of the case2111, the bottom2112, the top plate2113, the movable portion2120, the light amount control element2140, the first driving element2151, the first driving element2152, the connecting element2162, the magnetic conductive element2164may be identical or similar to the case1111, the bottom1112, the top plate1113, the movable portion1120, the light amount control element1140, the first driving element1151, the second driving element1152, the connecting element1162, and the magnetic conductive element1164, and are not descripted again.

As shown inFIG.6, in some embodiments, the first driving element2151and the first driving element2152may arrange in a direction that is perpendicular to the main axis2500, and the magnetic conductive element2164and the first driving element2151are also arranged in the direction that is perpendicular to the main axis2500. The first driving element2152may be between the magnetic conductive element2164and the first driving element2151. Therefore, the movable portion2120may be driven to move relative to the case2111or the bottom2112to control the light amount control element2140, so the amount or characteristic of the light incident to the optical element1230may be controlled.

An optical module is provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure. The optical module includes a holder for connecting to an optical element and a heat control assembly used for controlling the temperature of the optical element. The heat control assembly corresponds to the optical element or the holder. Therefore, the heat generated from elements other may be prevented from affecting the optical element, and miniaturization may be achieved.

The relative positions and size relationship of the elements in the present disclosure may allow the driving mechanism achieving miniaturization in specific directions or for the entire mechanism. Moreover, different optical modules may be combined with the driving mechanism to further enhance optical quality, such as the quality of photographing or accuracy of depth detection. Therefore, the optical modules may be further utilized to achieve multiple anti-vibration systems, so image stabilization may be significantly improved.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages already have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, and composition 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 also intended to include within their scope of such processes, machines, manufacture, and compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps. In addition, each claim herein constitutes a separate embodiment, and the combination of various claims and embodiments are also within the scope of the disclosure.