CAMERA MODULE

• US 20160173757A1
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: CHOI, Kyung Hoon
• Application Number:
  US14/957,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20160173757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/282 Autofocusing of zoom lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/38 measured at different points on the optical axis , e.g. focussing on two or more planes and comparing image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• 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 23/611 where the recognised objects include parts of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

There is provided a camera module including a first camera unit, a second camera unit, and an actuator. The actuator is configured to obtain a resolving power value of an image captured by the second camera unit and move a lens barrel of the first camera unit in an optical axis direction to adjust the focal length of the first camera unit according to the resolving power value.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising:

a first camera unit;

a second camera unit; and

an actuator configured to obtain a resolving power value of an image captured by the second camera unit and move a lens barrel of the first camera unit in an optical axis direction to adjust the focal length of the first camera unit according to the resolving power value.

2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the first camera unit comprises an adjustable focal length and the second camera unit comprises a fixed focal length.

3. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the second camera unit comprises an angle of view wider than an angle of view of the first camera unit.

4. The camera module of claim 1, wherein an imaging area of the second camera unit overlaps with an imaging area of the first camera unit.

5. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the first camera unit comprises a higher resolution than that of the second camera unit.

6. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the second camera unit comprises a focal length longer than a focal length of the first camera unit.

7. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the second camera unit is inclined at a first angle with respect to an optical axis of the first camera unit.

8. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:

a permanent magnet in the lens barrel; and

a coil in a first housing accommodating the lens barrel.

9. The camera module of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing comprising the first camera unit and the second camera unit.

10. A camera module, comprising:

a first camera unit;

a second camera unit;

a third camera unit; and

an actuator configured to obtain resolving power values of images captured by the second camera unit and the third camera unit, and move a lens barrel of the first camera unit in an optical axis direction to adjust the focal length of the first camera unit according to the resolving power values.

11. The camera module of claim 10, wherein the first camera unit comprises an adjustable focal length, the second camera unit comprises a fixed focal length, and the third camera unit comprises a fixed focal length.

12. The camera module of claim 10, wherein the second camera unit and the third camera unit comprise an angle of view wider than an angle of view of the first camera unit.

13. The camera module of claim 10, wherein the second camera unit and the third camera unit are inclined at a first angle with respect to an optical axis of the first camera unit.

14. The camera module of claim 10, wherein the third camera unit is symmetrical to the second camera unit in relation to the first camera unit.

15. The camera module of claim 10, wherein the third camera unit comprises an angle of view equal to an angle of view of the second camera unit.

16. The camera module of claim 10, wherein imaging areas of the second camera unit and the third camera unit overlap with an imaging area of the first camera unit.

17. A method of a camera module, comprising:

simultaneously capturing an image of a subject using a first camera unit and a second camera unit;

analyzing a resolving power of the captured image at the second camera unit;

calculating a distance between the camera module and the subject based on the resolving power value;

adjusting a focal length at the first camera unit based on the distance; and

performing imaging of the subject using the first camera unit.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

correcting a position of a first lens barrel of the first camera unit to fit a distance to the subject.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein in response to the distance determined by the second camera unit being less than a preset distance, further comprising:

moving a first lens barrel of the first camera unit in a direction toward a first image sensor of the first camera unit.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein in response to the distance determined by the second camera unit being greater than the preset distance, further comprising:

moving a first lens barrel of the first camera unit in a direction away from a first image sensor of the first camera unit.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the first camera unit comprises an adjustable focal length and the second camera unit comprises a fixed focal length.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the second camera unit comprises an angle of view wider than an angle of view of the first camera unit.