Camera module and imaging apparatus

• US 20080131112A1
• Filed: 11/26/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Maxell, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Aoki, Susumu, Shinta, Ikuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,980,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/429
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/48 adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus
• 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

Abstract

A camera module includes a sensor for converting incident light incident thereto into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal therefrom, a glass cover for transmitting therethrough light to the sensor, the light being the incident light; a flexible printed circuit for receiving as an input thereto the electric signal outputted from the sensor, a lens unit for focusing the incident light onto the sensor, and a pedestal for holding the lens unit, the pedestal including a sidewall section which includes a lower end surface being fixed onto the flexible printed circuit by use of adhesive. A depression is formed along the sidewall section of the mount to discard the adhesive therein.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising:

an imaging element for converting incident light incident thereto into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal therefrom;

a cover member for transmitting therethrough light to the imaging element, the light being the incident light;

a printed circuit for holding the imaging element and the cover member and receiving as an input thereto the electric signal outputted from the imaging element;

a lens for focusing the incident light onto the imaging element; and

a pedestal mount for holding the lens, the pedestal mount comprising a sidewall section which comprises a lower end surface being fixed onto the printed circuit by use of adhesive, wherein

the sidewall section comprises discard means to discard the adhesive.

2. A camera module according to claim 1, wherein the discard means is a depression formed, along the sidewall section, on a surface opposing to the cover member in the pedestal mount.

3. A camera module according to claim 2, further comprising a curved surface in a corner area of the depression, the corner area having a larger groove width than areas other than the corner area.

4. A camera module according to claim 1, wherein the discard means is a notch formed on an inner side of the corner area of the sidewall section, the notch reducing an area of the lower end surface of the sidewall section.

5. A camera module according to claim 1, wherein the discard means is a thin area in which a portion of the lower end surface of the sidewall section has a smaller thickness.

6. A camera module, comprising:

an imaging element for converting incident light incident thereto into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal therefrom;

a cover member for transmitting therethrough light to the imaging element, the light being the incident light;

a printed circuit for holding the imaging element and the cover member and receiving as an input thereto the electric signal outputted from the imaging element;

a lens for focusing the incident light onto the imaging element; and

a pedestal mount for holding the lens, the pedestal mount comprising a sidewall section being attached onto the printed circuit, wherein

the sidewall section comprises an inner surface on which projections are formed, the projections being brought into contact with side end surfaces of the cover member and thereby determining a position of the cover member.

7. A camera module according to claim 6, wherein:

the sidewall section surrounds the cover member having a contour of a rectangle or a square; and

the number of the projections is at least three, two projections thereof sandwiching a corner area of the sidewall section.

8. A camera module according to claim 6, wherein:

the sidewall section surrounds the cover member having a contour of a rectangle or a square; and

at least two projections are formed respectively in opposing ones of the inner surfaces of the sidewall section and at least one projection is formed in an inner surface adjacent to either one of the opposing inner surfaces.

9. A camera module according to claim 6, further comprising:

a middle ring for interrupting light in an infrared wavelength zone and for limiting an amount of light transmitting therethrough; and

a plurality of the lenses, wherein

the middle ring is held between the plural lenses.

10. A camera module, comprising:

an imaging element for converting incident light incident thereto into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal therefrom;

a cover member for transmitting therethrough light to the imaging element, the light being the incident light;

a printed circuit for holding the imaging element and the cover member and receiving as an input thereto the electric signal outputted from the imaging element;

a lens for focusing the incident light onto the imaging element; and

a pedestal mount for holding the lens, the pedestal mount comprising a lower end surface being attached onto the printed circuit, wherein

a depression is formed, along the sidewall section, in the pedestal mount.

11. A camera module according to claim 10, further comprising a curved surface in a corner area of the depression, the corner area having a larger groove width than areas other than the corner area.

12. A camera module according to claim 10, wherein a notch is formed on an inner side of the corner area of the sidewall section of the pedestal mount, the notch reducing an area of the lower end surface of the sidewall section.

13. A camera module according to claim 10, wherein bosses are formed in the pedestal mount, the bosses being brought into touch with the cover member and being apart from the depression.

14. A camera module, comprising:

an imaging element for converting incident light incident thereto into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal therefrom;

a cover member for transmitting therethrough light to the imaging element, the light being the incident light;

a printed circuit for holding the imaging element and the cover member and receiving as an input thereto the electric signal outputted from the imaging element;

a lens for focusing the incident light onto the imaging element; and

a pedestal mount for holding the lens, the pedestal mount comprising a sidewall section being attached onto the printed circuit, the pedestal mount comprising a depression formed along the sidewall section, the camera module comprising a signal processing module connected to the printed circuit for processing the electric signal outputted from the printed circuit.

15. A camera module, comprising:

an imaging element for converting incident light incident thereto into an electric signal and outputting the electric signal therefrom;

a cover member for transmitting therethrough light to the imaging element, the light being the incident light;

a printed circuit for holding the imaging element and the cover member and receiving as an input thereto the electric signal outputted from the imaging element;

a lens for focusing the incident light onto the imaging element; and

a pedestal mount for holding the lens, the pedestal mount comprising a sidewall section being attached onto the printed circuit, wherein

the sidewall section comprises an inner surface on which projections are formed, the projections being brought into contact with side end surfaces of the cover member and thereby determining a position of the cover member.