Solid-state image pickup device and electronic apparatus including same

• US 20090219433A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Higuchi, Masatomo
• Granted Patent: US 8,072,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/340
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/022 lens and mount having complementary engagement means, e.g. screw/thread
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/025 using glue
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14618 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• 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 23/811 by dust removal, e.g. from surfaces of the image sensor or processing of the image signal output by the electronic image sensor

Abstract

A camera module 100 of the present invention is arranged such that a lens barrel 32 is provided with an internal screw thread 32a on its internal side, and that a holding section 41, which is a portion of a lens holder 4, the portion holding a lens unit 3, is provided with an external screw thread 41a on its external side, the external screw thread 41a being engaged with the internal screw thread 32a. As a result, it is possible to provide the camera module 100 capable of preventing contamination by dirt into a light path and thereby reducing imaging defects.

Claims

1. A solid-state image pickup device comprising:

a lens unit for forming an object image;

a solid-state image pickup element for converting the object image, formed by the lens unit, into an electric signal; and

a lens holder containing the solid-state image pickup element and holding the lens unit,

the lens unit having a first internal screw section on its internal side,

the lens holder having a holding section holding the lens unit,

the holding section having a first external screw section on its external side, the first external screw section being engaged with the first internal screw section.

2. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein

the lens unit includes:

a lens;

a lens barrel holding the lens; and

a macro ring holding the lens barrel,

the first internal screw section being formed on an internal side of the macro ring.

3. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein

the lens barrel has a second external screw section on its external side,

the macro ring has a second internal screw section on its internal side, the second internal screw section being engaged with the second external screw section, and

the first internal screw section is formed closer to a light path than the second internal screw section is.

4. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the lens holder includes a surrounding section surrounding a bottom part and an outer periphery part of the lens unit.

5. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein the lens holder includes a surrounding section surrounding a bottom part and an outer periphery part of the lens unit.

6. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 4, further comprising a buffer member on a surface of the surrounding section, the surface facing the bottom part of the lens unit, the buffer member cushioning impact caused by contact between the lens holder and the lens unit.

7. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 5, further comprising a buffer member on a surface of the surrounding section, the surface facing the bottom part of the lens unit, the buffer member cushioning impact caused by contact between the lens holder and the lens unit.

8. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the lens holder includes an unthreaded section which extends upward from the first external screw section and has no screw cutting.

9. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2, wherein the lens holder includes an unthreaded section which extends upward from the first external screw section and has no screw cutting.

10. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 4, wherein the lens holder includes an unthreaded section which extends upward from the first external screw section and has no screw cutting.

11. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 5, wherein the lens holder includes an unthreaded section which extends upward from the first external screw section and has no screw cutting.

12. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 4, wherein an adhesive is applied to an internal surface of the surrounding section.

13. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 5, wherein an adhesive is applied to an internal surface of the surrounding section.

14. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 6, wherein an adhesive is applied to the buffer member.

15. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 7, wherein an adhesive is applied to the buffer member.

16. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 8, wherein an adhesive is applied to the unthreaded section.

17. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 9, wherein an adhesive is applied to the unthreaded section.

18. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 1, further comprising a light-transmitting member provided above the solid-state image pickup element so as to cover a light-receiving section of the solid-state image pickup element and so that a spacing is provided between the light-transmitting member and the light-receiving section.

19. The solid-state image pickup device according to claim 2, further comprising a light-transmitting member provided above the solid-state image pickup element so as to cover a light-receiving section of the solid-state image pickup element and so that a spacing is provided between the light-transmitting member and the light-receiving section.

20. An electronic apparatus comprising a solid-state image pickup device,

the solid-state image pickup device including:

a lens unit for forming an object image;

a solid-state image pickup element for converting the object image, formed by the lens unit, into an electric signal; and

a lens holder containing the solid-state image pickup element and holding the lens unit,

the lens unit having a first internal screw section on its internal side,

the lens holder having a holding section holding the lens unit,

the holding section having a first external screw section on its external side, the first external screw section being engaged with the first internal screw section.