Lens holder apparatus of camera lens module

• US 7,095,572 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Sang-Ho, Lee, Hyun-Ju, Lee, Do-Hyung, Lee, Yeong-Seop
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, BRANDI N
• Application Number:
  US10/926,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 359/808, 359/809, 359/810, 359/811, 359/813, 359/819, 359/821, 359/822, 359/823, 359/827, 359/830
• US Class Current: 359/808
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/023 permitting adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A lens holder apparatus of a camera lens module is provided and includes a printed circuit board, an image sensor provided on a printed circuit board, a plurality of lenses, and a spacer The lenses are assembled within the lens holder allow focal lengths between the sensor and respective lenses to be adjusted freely, and a stopper is detachably provided at a lower portion of the space of the lens holder, such that the stopper can be separated from the lower portion and then recombined therewith after the readjustment of the focal length.

Claims

1. An adjustable lens holder apparatus comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an image sensor provided on the printed circuit board;

a plurality of lenses;

a spacer for allowing a predetermined space between the lenses;

a stopper;

a lens holder for housing an assembly of the lenses, the spacer, and said stopper between said plurality of lenses and said image sensor,

wherein said stopper is formed with a stopper side tooth around an outer periphery of the stopper such that the stopper side tooth can be detachably engaged with a holder side tooth formed on said lens holder; and

wherein said stopper and said lens holder are configured for relative translation, between said stopper and said holder, to selectively adjust a focal length between the image sensor and respective lenses.

4. The lens holder apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lens holder is further provided at an upper end thereof with a lens protector for protecting a surface of the lens.

5. The lens holder apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the lens protector is formed at a center thereof with a lens hole such that an image of an object outside the camera can be captured through respective lenses.

6. The lens holder apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stopper has a ring shape.

7. The lens holder apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stopper is formed of an elastic rubber material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said stopper and said lens holder are further configured for mutual engagement during the selective adjustment.

2. A lens holder apparatus comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an image sensor provided on the printed circuit board;

a plurality of lenses;

a spacer for allowing a predetermined space between the lenses;

a lens holder for housing an assembly of the lenses and the spacer for allowing a focal length between the image sensor and respective lenses to be selectively adjusted; and

a stopper detachably provided at a lower portion of the lens holder in contact with the assembly, such that the stopper can be detachably separated from the lower during the adjustment of the focal length.

3. The lens holder apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the lens holder has an inner wall formed of a holder side tooth to be engaged with a stopper side tooth formed on the stopper.

8. A method for providing a lens holder comprising the steps of:

providing a lens housing containing an assembly of a plurality of lenses and a spacer therebetween, the lens hosing including a tooth inside thereof, providing an image sensor in aligned with the assembly on a printed circuit board;

providing a stopper having a tooth around the outer periphery thereof to engage, via press fitting, with the inside of the tooth of the lens housing.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, providing a lens protector to the upper end of the lens housing.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9, providing an opening on the center of the lens protector in aligned with the lenses to capture an image.

11. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the stopper has a ring shape and is formed of an elastic rubber material such that the stopper can be press-fitted into inside the tooth of the lens housing.

12. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein a focal length between the image sensor on the printed circuit board and respective lenses is selectively adjusted manually by a user.

14. An adjustable lens holder comprising:

a lens housing containing an assembly of a plurality of lenses and an intervening lens spacer, the lens housing including an inner tooth;

an image sensor aligned with the assembly so as to receive light that passes through the plural lenses; and

a stopper having an outer periphery, and a tooth around said periphery to engage, via press fitting, with an inside of said inner tooth.

15. The adjustable lens holder of claim 14, wherein said image sensor is aligned with said assembly on a printed circuit board, said lens housing having an end on the printed circuit board, and an opposite end at which lens protector resides.