Camera lens assembly for portable terminal

• US 20070009250A1
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hong-Bae, Kim, Jae-Shik, Bae, Chang-Suk
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/144
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/001 Miniaturised objectives for electronic devices, e.g. portable telephones, webcams, PDAs, small digital cameras G02B23/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/04 with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0218 The hinge comprising input and/or output user interface means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

Disclosed is a camera lens assembly of a portable terminal, which includes a lens housing; and a drive plate provided at a position adjacent to the lens housing, wherein the lens housing rotates as the drive plate moves linearly. Because of the camera lens assembly, the lens housing need not be directly manipulated to rotate the lens housing. Therefore, since the lens housing is installed in the housing of the terminal, even in a state in which the lens housing is rotatably installed on the housing of the terminal, damage and breakage due to exterior impacts can be prevented and the restrictive terminal design problem due to the lens housing is overcome.

Claims

1. A camera lens assembly for a portable terminal, comprising:

a lens housing; and

a drive plate provided at a position adjacent to the lens housing, wherein the lens housing rotates as the drive plate moves linearly.

2. A camera lens assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a rack provided on one side of the lens housing to rotate the lens housing as the drive plate moves linearly.

3. A camera lens assembly according to claim 2, further comprising:

a guide boss provided in the drive plate; and

at least one screw recess formed on an outer peripheral surface of the rack,

wherein the guide boss is engaged with the screw recess so that the rack and the housing rotate when the drive plate moves linearly.

4. A camera lens assembly according to claim 3, wherein the screw recess is formed on the outer surface of the rack along the circumferential direction of the rack for greater than 180 degrees.

5. A camera lens assembly according to claim 2, further comprising:

an assembling hole formed on an end surface of one side of the lens housing; and

an assembling boss provided at one end of the rack to be engaged with the assembling hole,

wherein the assembling hole and the assembling boss are engaged with each other, thereby preventing the lens housing and the rack from rotating with respect to each other.

6. A camera lens assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lens housing is rotatably received in a terminal housing and photographs a subject through exposing windows formed in the housing of the terminal.

7. A camera lens assembly according to claim 6, wherein the exposing windows are formed on at least both side surfaces of the terminal housing and a subject is photographed through one of the exposing windows selected as the lens housing rotates.

8. A camera lens assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a rotation support shaft extending from an end surface of the lens housing.