Camera module and optical device including liquid lens

• US 10,386,546 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Yong Bok
• Primary Examiner(s): Spinks, Antoinette T
• Application Number:
  US15/896,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20190129076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/12 Fluid-filled or evacuated lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/021 for more than one lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0084 using other types of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/10 Power-operated focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A camera module according to an embodiment includes a liquid lens unit including a cavity, a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid disposed in the cavity, “n” individual electrodes (n being an integer of 2 or more), and a common electrode, an interface being formed between the conductive liquid and the non-conductive liquid, a main board including an element constituting a control circuit for controlling the operation of the liquid lens unit, and a holder coupled to the main board such that the open area of an insertion hole for insertion of the liquid lens unit is disposed along a first side of the main board.

Claims

1. A camera module comprising:

a holder comprising a first side surface having a first opening and a second side surface having a second opening;

a first lens unit disposed in the holder;

a second lens unit disposed in the holder;

a liquid lens unit disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, at least a portion of the liquid lens unit disposed in the first opening and the second opening; and

a board disposed under the holder, a plurality of circuit elements and an image sensor being disposed on the board,

wherein the board comprises a first long side, a second long side opposite the first long side, and a short side connecting the first long side and the second long side,

wherein the second opening faces the first opening in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the liquid lens unit, and

wherein the first opening is opened toward the first long side of the board, and the second opening is opened toward the second long side of the board.

2. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the liquid lens unit is inserted through at least one of the first opening and/or the second opening, and wherein a portion of the liquid lens unit protrudes out from at least one of the first side surface and the second side surface of the holder.

3. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the liquid lens unit has a center thickness smaller than a size of the first opening in the holder, in a second direction parallel to the optical axis of the liquid lens unit.

4. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the circuit elements do not overlap a virtual plane, which passes through the first opening and the second opening, in a second direction parallel to the optical axis of the liquid lens unit.

5. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the liquid lens unit comprises a liquid lens, and wherein the liquid lens comprises:

a first plate comprising a cavity in which a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid are disposed;

an individual electrode disposed on one surface of the first plate; and

a common electrode disposed on another surface of the first plate.

6. The camera module according to claim 5, wherein the liquid lens unit further comprises:

a first connection substrate disposed on the liquid lens and configured to electrically connect the common electrode and the board;

a second connection substrate disposed on the liquid lens and configured to electrically connect the individual electrode and the board; and

a first side surface located at the first long side of the board and a second side surface located at the second long side of the board, and

wherein the first connection substrate comprises a first bending portion, which is connected to the common electrode, bends toward the board, and is disposed at a first position corresponding to a center of the first side surface of the liquid lens unit.

7. The camera module according to claim 6, wherein the second connection substrate comprises a second bending portion, which is connected to the individual electrode, bends toward the board, and is disposed at a position corresponding to a center of the second side surface of the liquid lens unit.

8. The camera module according to claim 7, further comprising a first pad portion configured to be electrically connected to the first connection substrate, wherein the first pad portion is disposed on the board at a second position corresponding to the center of the first side surface of the liquid lens unit and extends away from the circuit elements.

9. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises:

a first hole accommodating the first lens unit; and

a second hole accommodating the second lens unit,

wherein the first hole and the second hole overlap each other in a second direction parallel to the optical axis of the liquid lens unit.

10. The camera module according to claim 1, further comprising a middle base disposed between the holder and the board.

11. The camera module according to claim 10, further comprising a sensor base disposed between the middle base and the board, an infrared light blocking filter being disposed on the sensor base.

12. The camera module according to claim 10, wherein the middle base comprises an opening into which a portion of the holder is inserted.

13. The camera module according to claim 12, wherein the holder comprises:

an upper plate;

a lower plate; and

a first sidewall and a second sidewall interconnecting the upper plate and the lower plate, and

wherein the middle base has a thickness greater than an outer thickness of the lower plate of the holder.

14. The camera module according to claim 6, further comprising an insulation material and a cover covering an upper surface and a side surface of the holder,

wherein the first connection substrate is a metal plate,

wherein the metal plate comprises:

a lower terminal configured to be electrically connected to the board; and

an upper terminal configured to be electrically connected to the liquid lens, and

wherein the insulation material is disposed on the metal plate in an area that faces an inner side surface of the cover.

15. A camera module, comprising:

a holder comprising a first side surface comprising a first opening and a second side surface comprising a second opening;

a first lens unit disposed in the holder;

a second lens unit disposed in the holder;

a liquid lens unit disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, at least a portion of the liquid lens unit being disposed in the first opening and the second opening in the holder;

a board disposed under the holder, a plurality of circuit elements and an image sensor being disposed on the board; and

a middle base disposed between the liquid lens unit and the board, a portion of the holder being inserted into the middle base,

wherein the second opening faces the first opening in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the liquid lens unit.

16. The camera module according to claim 15, further comprising a sensor base disposed between the middle base and the board, an infrared light blocking filter being disposed on the sensor base.

17. The camera module according to claim 15, wherein the middle base has a length, measured in the first direction, greater than a length of the holder, measured in the first direction.

18. The camera module according to claim 15,

wherein the middle base comprises an opening into which a portion of the holder is inserted.

19. The camera module according to claim 15, wherein the holder comprises:

an upper plate;

a lower plate; and

a first sidewall and a second sidewall interconnecting the upper plate and the lower plate, and

wherein the middle base has a thickness greater than an outer thickness of the lower plate of the holder.

20. An optical device, comprising:

a camera module;

a display unit outputting an image;

a battery supplying power to the camera module; and

a housing in which the camera module, the display unit, and the battery are mounted,

wherein the camera module comprises;

a holder comprising a first side surface having a first opening and a second side surface having a second opening;

a first lens unit disposed in the holder;

a second lens unit disposed in the holder;

a liquid lens unit disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, at least a portion of the liquid lens unit disposed in the first opening and the second opening; and

a board disposed under the holder, a plurality of circuit elements and an image sensor being disposed on the board,

wherein the board comprises a first long side, a second long side opposite the first long side, and a short side connecting the first long side and the second long side,

wherein the second opening faces the first opening in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the liquid lens unit, and

wherein the first opening is opened toward the first long side of the board, and the second opening is opened toward the second long side of the board.