Image sensor module with zooming function

• US 20030214727A1
• Filed: 12/26/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Chan Soo, Min, Sung Won
• Granted Patent: US 6,710,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/696
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/102 controlled by a microcomputer cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

An image sensor module with a zooming function is disclosed. The sensor module consists of first and second barrels for respectively holding condensing lenses used for image capture, and a housing having a guide channel at a sidewall thereof and movably and stably receiving the first extensions of the first and second barrels in the guide channel such that the first and second barrels are moved along a focusing axis of the condensing lenses. The sensor module also has a motor for generating a rotating force, a motor gear formed on the output shaft of the motor, and a means for controlling the interval between the first and second barrels by converting a rotating action of the motor gear into a linear movement of the first and second barrels in a horizontal direction. In the sensor module used in a variety of electronic apparatuses, the condensing lenses are movable to change their positions, thus accomplishing a zooming effect while precisely condensing light beams to produce clear images.

Claims

1. An image sensor module with a zooming function, comprising:

first and second barrels for respectively holding condensing lenses used for image capture;

a housing having a guide channel at a sidewall thereof and movably and stably receiving first extensions of said first and second barrels in the guide channel such that the first and second barrels are moved along a focusing axis of the condensing lenses and are stably held at selected positions;

a motor for generating a rotating force;

a motor gear formed on an output shaft of said motor; and

means for controlling an interval between said first and second barrels by converting a rotating action of the motor gear into a linear movement of the first and second barrels in a horizontal direction.

2. The image sensor module according to claim 1, wherein said interval control means comprises:

a rotary cam disc rotatably provided outside said housing, with a plurality of arc-shaped guide slots formed on said cam disc at opposite positions spaced apart from each other at an angular interval, said cam disc receiving second extensions of said first and second barrels in said guide slots, respectively; and

a rotary cam gear formed on said rotary cam disc, and engaging with said motor gear such that said rotary cam gear is rotated by the rotating force of the motor gear in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of said motor gear.

3. The image sensor module according to claim 1, wherein said interval control means comprises:

two cam gears positioned to be opposite each other and jointed to second extensions of the first and second barrels, respectively, said two cam gears also engaging with said motor gear such that the cam gears convert the rotating action of the motor gear into the linear movement of the first and second barrels in the horizontal direction.