Camera module

• US 8,482,665 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Jeon, Hae Jin, Ha, Joo Young, Song, In Taek
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nazrul, Shahbaz
• Application Number:
  US13/270,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20130027607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 348373-376, 348/340, 348/149
• US Class Current: 348/374
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a camera module including: an image sensor which converts an image entering through a lens into an electric signal; a rigid-flexible substrate which includes first and second rigid substrates distanced from each other and a flexible substrate to connect the first and the second rigid substrates to each other; a first connection part which is electrically connected to the rigid-flexible substrate; and a second connection part which has one end electrically connected to the first connection part and the other end connected to a cable, and which is disconnectable from the first connection part and the cable.

Claims

1. A camera module comprising:

an image sensor which converts an image entering through a lens into an electric signal;

a rigid-flexible substrate which includes first and second rigid substrates disposed with a gap therebetween and a flexible substrate to connect the first and the second rigid substrates to each other;

a first connection part which is electrically connected to the rigid-flexible substrate;

a second connection part which has one end electrically connected to the first connection part and the other end connected to a cable, and which is disconnectable from the first connection part and the cable;

a front case;

a rear case which has one end connected to the front case, and comprises a fastening bar having a recess; and

a first fixing means which penetrates through one side of the second rigid substrate to be inserted into the recess of the fastening bar so as to fix the second rigid substrate and the rear case.

2. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the image sensor is mounted on the first rigid substrate and is electrically connected to the first rigid substrate.

3. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first connection part is connected to the second rigid substrate.

4. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the front case mounts the image sensor and the first rigid substrate,

the rear case has the other end connected to the cable, and includes a mounting recess formed on an area corresponding to an area where the second rigid substrate and the first connection part are to be placed, and a fastening hole formed in the shape of a penetrating hole to which a part of the second connection part is fastened, the fastening hole being formed by extending from a part of the mounting recess,

wherein the second rigid substrate is disposed under the first rigid substrate.

5. The camera module as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second connection part includes a first fixing protrusion to be fixed to the rear case, and

the fastening hole includes a first fixing recess formed on an area corresponding to the first fixing protrusion to be fastened to the second connection part.

6. The camera module as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second connection part has one end fastened to the rear case and the other end fastened to the cable.

7. The camera module as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second connection part further includes a waterproofing ring which encloses an area of the second connection part to be fastened to the cable, except for an area inserted into the rear case.

8. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the cable which includes a fastening recess formed at one end to be fastened to the second connection part, and which is fastened to the second connection part and is electrically connected to the second connection part.

9. The camera module as set forth in claim 8, wherein the second connection part further includes a second fixing protrusion formed at the other end of the second connection part to be fixed to the cable, and

the cable further includes a second fixing recess formed on an area corresponding to the second fixing protrusion to be fastened to the second fixing protrusion.

10. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein thicknesses of the first and the second rigid substrates are thicker than a thickness of the flexible substrate.

11. A camera module comprising:

an image sensor which converts an image entering through a lens into an electric signal;

a rigid-flexible substrate which includes first and second rigid substrates disposed with a gap therebetween and a flexible substrate to connect the first and the second rigid substrates to each other, wherein the second rigid substrate being disposed under the first rigid substrate;

a first connection part which is electrically connected to the rigid-flexible substrate;

a second connection part which has one end electrically connected to the first connection part and the other end connected to a cable, and which is disconnectable from the first connection part and the cable;

a front case in which the image sensor and the first rigid substrate are mounted;

a rear case which has one end connected to the front case and the other end connected to the cable, and includes a mounting recess formed on an area corresponding to an area where the second rigid substrate and the first connection part are to be placed, and a fastening hole formed in the shape of a penetrating hole to which a part of the second connection part is fastened, the fastening hole being formed by extending from a part of the mounting recess; and

a first fixing means which penetrates through one side of the second rigid substrate to be inserted into the rear case so as to fix the second rigid substrate and the rear case,

wherein the second connection part includes a first fixing protrusion radially protruding from a surface thereof to be fixed to the rear case, the fastening hole includes a first fixing recess formed on an area corresponding to the first fixing protrusion to be fastened to the second connection part, and the rear case further includes a fastening bar having a recess into which the first fixing means is inserted.

12. The camera module as set forth in claim 11, wherein the image sensor is mounted on the first rigid substrate and is electrically connected to the first rigid substrate.

13. The camera module as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first connection part is connected to the second rigid substrate.

14. The camera module as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second connection part has one end fastened to the rear case and the other end fastened to the cable.

15. The camera module as set forth in claim 11, wherein the second connection part further includes a waterproofing ring which encloses an area of the second connection part to be fastened to the cable, except for an area inserted into the rear case.

16. The camera module as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the cable which includes a fastening recess formed at one end to be fastened to the second connection part, and which is fastened to the second connection part and is electrically connected to the second connection part.

17. The camera module as set forth in claim 16, wherein the second connection part further includes a second fixing protrusion formed at the other end of the second connection part to be fixed to the cable, and

the cable further includes a second fixing recess formed on an area corresponding to the second fixing protrusion to be fastened to the second fixing protrusion.

18. The camera module as set forth in claim 11, wherein thicknesses of the first and the second rigid substrates are thicker than a thickness of the flexible substrate.