CAMERA MODULE WITH LIQUID CRYSTAL MODULE

• US 20100321595A1
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polight Technologies Limited
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chiu, Chi-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 8,248,544 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 349/2
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
• 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

An exemplary camera module, includes a lens group, an image sensor, and a liquid crystal module disposed between the lens group and the image sensor. The liquid crystal module includes a first glass substrate adjacent to the image sensor, an opposite second glass substrate, a plurality of liquid crystal molecules arranged between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, a first transparent electrode layer formed on the first glass substrate and facing the liquid crystal molecules, and a second transparent electrode layer formed on the second glass substrate and facing the liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal molecules are configured for adjusting light path of the light transmitting therethrough in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrode layers, thus adjusting depth of field of the camera module.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising:

a lens group;

an image sensor; and

a liquid crystal module disposed between the lens group and the image sensor, the liquid crystal module comprising a first glass substrate adjacent to the image sensor, an opposite second glass substrate, a plurality of liquid crystal molecules arranged between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, a first transparent electrode layer formed on the first glass substrate and facing the liquid crystal molecules, and a second transparent electrode layer formed on the second glass substrate and facing the liquid crystal molecules, the liquid crystal molecules being configured for adjusting light path of the light transmitting therethrough in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrode layers, thus adjusting depth of field of the camera module.

2. The camera module as described in claim 1, further comprising an IR-cut filter formed on the second glass substrate.

3. The camera module as described in claim 1, wherein the image sensor is proximate to the first glass substrate.

4. The camera module as described in claim 3, wherein the first glass substrate is disposed on the image sensor.

5. The camera module as described in claim 3, wherein a gap is maintained between the first glass substrate and the image sensor.

6. The camera module as described in claim 1, wherein all areas of the first transparent electrode layer are applied a same first voltage.

7. The camera module as described in claim 6, wherein all areas of the second transparent electrode layer are applied a same second voltage different from the first voltage.

8. The camera module as described in claim 1, wherein both of the first and second transparent electrode layers are circular.

9. A camera module, comprising:

a lens group;

a barrel receiving the lens group therein;

a holder threadedly engaged with the barrel;

an image sensor and a liquid crystal module received in the holder, the liquid crystal module disposed in front of the image sensor, the liquid crystal module comprising a first glass substrate adjacent to the image sensor, an opposite second glass substrate, a plurality of liquid crystal molecules arranged between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate, a first transparent electrode layer formed on the first glass substrate and facing the liquid crystal molecules, and a second transparent electrode layer formed on the second glass substrate and facing the liquid crystal molecules, the liquid crystal molecules being configured for adjusting light path of the light transmitting therethrough in response to an electric field between the first and second transparent electrode layers, such that the light transmitting through the liquid crystal module focuses on a desired position.

10. The camera module as described in claim 9, further comprising an IR-cut filter formed on the second glass substrate.

11. The camera module as described in claim 9, wherein the image sensor directly faces the first glass substrate.

12. The camera module as described in claim 11, wherein a gap is maintained between the first glass substrate and the image sensor.