Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to lens modules and, particularly, to an electronic device using the lens module. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Generally, electronic device, such as a tablet personal computer or a mobile phone, may include a housing and a lens module engaged in the housing. The lens module may include a barrel and at least one lens mounted in the barrel. The housing may define a through hole for exposing the lens, so that the housing may not shade the lens. However, some gaps may exist between the housing and the lens module or between the lens and the barrel, thus dusts may enter the gap, and thereby affecting the performance of the electronic device. In addition, the lens may be fixed in the barrel by an adhesive tape; but the unevenness of the adhesive force or the uneven thickness of the adhesive tape may both affect the performance of the lens module. 
         [0005]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a partial, exploded isometric view of an embodiment of an electronic device including a housing, and a lens module having a lens and a barrel. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged, isometric view of the barrel of the lens module shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a partial, assembled, isometric view of the electronic device shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an electronic device  100  comprises a housing  10  (only a part is shown), and a lens module  30  mounted in the housing  10 . The housing  10  defines a through hole  11  for mounting the lens module  30 . The through hole  11  comprises an inner sidewall  13 . The housing  10  forms a first fixing portion  131  at the sidewall  13 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fixing portion  131  is an annular depression defined in the sidewall  13  away from an outer surface of the housing  10 . The lens module  30  comprises a barrel  31 , and a lens  33  mounted in the barrel  31 . The barrel  31  matches with the through hole  11  in dimensions, and is made of metallic material. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic device  100  may be a mobile phone. The barrel  31  may be made of aluminum alloy. 
         [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the barrel  31  comprises a containing portion  311 , and a flange  313  extending outwardly from an end edge, along a radial direction of the containing portion  311 . The containing portion  311  is substantially a hollow cylinder, and comprises an inner sidewall  3111  and an outer sidewall  3113 . The inner sidewall  3111  defines a first latching portion  3115  at middle position of the inner sidewall  3111  to engage with the lens  33 . The flange  313  defines a plurality of first locking portions  3131  along the peripheral of the flange  313 . The plurality of first locking portions  3131  are spaced from each other, and extend through the flange  313 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first latching portion  3115  is an annular groove. Each of the plurality of first locking portions  3131  is a circular through hole for the barrel  31  to latch with the lens  33 . 
         [0012]    Referring also to  FIG. 3 , the lens  33  may be made of resin materials or plastic materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the lens  33  may be made of acrylic. The lens  33  may be mounted in the barrel  31  by insert molding. 
         [0013]    The lens  33  with the barrel  31  are assembled with the housing  10  by insert molding. The lens  33  is engaged in the containing portion  311  of the barrel  31  that is fixed to the housing  10 . The lens  33  comprises a main body  331 , an extending portion  333 , a second latching portion (not shown), an identification portion  335 , a second fixing portion  337 , and a plurality of second locking portions  339 . The main body  331  is a cylindrical body received in the containing portion  311 . The extending portion  333  extends outwardly, along a radial direction of the body  331 . The second latching portion extends outward from a side surface of the main body  331 , and is received in the first latching portion  3115  correspondingly. The second fixing portion  337  extends outwardly from a side surface of the extending portion  333  below the second latching portion. The second fixing portion  337  is received in the first fixing portion  131  of the housing  10  correspondingly. The second fixing portion  337  is locked with the first fixing portions  131 . The identification portion  335  is a cutout defined in the extending portion  333  for indentifying a direction of the lens module  30  to the housing  10  during assembly. The plurality of second locking portions  339  are posts formed on the extending portion  333 , and are fixed in the plurality of first locking portions  3131  correspondingly. In the illustrated embodiment, the second latching portion is an annular protrusion, and received in the first latching portion  3115 , and the second fixing portion  337  is an annular protrusion, and received in the first fixing portion  131 . 
         [0014]    During assembling, a mold (not shown) may be provided. The mold may comprise a mold core (not shown), and the mold core may form a protruding portion (not shown) for forming the identification portion  335  of the lens. First, the barrel  31  is inserted to the through hole  11  of the housing  10 , and the outer sidewall  3113  of the barrel  31  is abutted against the inner sidewall  13  of the housing  10 . The housing  10  with the barrel  31  is placed into the mold core, and then molten acrylic material is injected into the mould for forming the lens  33 . Second, the mold may be opened. Third, the mold may be cooled down. At this time, the lens  33 , the barrel  31 , and the housing  10  are combined together to form the electronic device  100 . 
         [0015]    Because the lens  33  of the lens module  30  was inserted into the barrel  31  by insert molding, the lens  33  can be evenly formed. The performance of the lens may not be affected by the molding processing. The lens  33  is tightly connected with the barrel  31  and the housing  10 . Therefore, dusts may not enter the lens module, and a lifetime of the lens module  30  may be increased. Furthermore, since each of the plurality of first locking portions  3131  is locked with each of the plurality of second locking portions  339 , rotating of the lens  33  in the barrel  31  may be avoided. Finally, processes of assembling the lens  33  may be omitted. 
         [0016]    It is noted that the first latching portion  3115  can be other shapes, such as a protrusion, or a serration. Accordingly, a shape of the second latching portion can be a corresponding groove, or a corresponding serration. The first fixing portion  131  can be other shapes, such as a protrusion, or a serration. Accordingly, a shape of the second fixing portion  337  can be a corresponding groove, or a corresponding serration. Each of the plurality of first locking portions  3131  can be other shape, such as a protrusion, or a serration. Accordingly, a shape of each of the second locking portions  339  can be a corresponding groove, or a corresponding serration. The identification portion  335  can be other shapes, such as a protrusion. 
         [0017]    In other embodiments, the plurality of first locking portions  3131  or the first latching portion  3115  can be omitted. The housing  10  and the barrel  31  can be integrated together, thus the first fixing portion  131  can be omitted. Alternatively, the barrel  31  can be fixed in the housing by an adhesive tape after the lens  33  is inserted in the barrel  31 , thus the first fixing portion  131  can be omitted. 
         [0018]    It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages.

Technology Category: 3