Camera module and method for assembling the same

• US 9,235,107 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Innotek Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Han, Sangyeal, Son, Sukwoo, Kim, Daeseung, Kim, Heungsun, Cho, Bumsig
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Linda B
• Application Number:
  US14/123,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20140212121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 396/439
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

Disclosed are a camera module and a method for assembling the camera module, the camera module including a cover part having an opening formed therein and a lens guide formed in the opening to prevent removal of a lens to an outside, a lens mounted to the opening of the cover part, and a back cap coming into close contact with the lens and mounted to the opening.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising:

a cover part having an opening;

a lens mounted to the opening of the cover part, the lens including a downward stepped portion formed on an edge of an upper surface of the lens;

a lens guide formed in the opening at an upper portion of the cover part to prevent removal of the lens;

a protrusion protruded from a portion of the lens guide toward the lens; and

a back cap coming into close contact with the lens and mounted to the opening,

wherein the protrusion is coupled to the downward stepped portion, and

wherein a recess is formed in the cover part, the opening is formed inside the recess, and cover-part coupling portions are formed on the outer circumference of the back cap to be engaged with the recess and the opening of the cover part.

2. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lens guide is integrated with the cover part into a single structure.

3. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein an O-ring is interposed between the downward stepped portion of the lens and the cover part.

4. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back cap is fixed to the cover part.

5. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the upper surface of the lens is in close contact with the lens guide, and a portion of a bottom surface of the lens is in close contact with the back cap.

6. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein an O-ring is mounted between the protrusion of the lens guide and the opening.

7. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first stepped portion is formed in the opening of the cover part, and a second stepped portion is formed on an outer circumference of the back cap, so that when the back cap is mounted to the opening, the first stepped portion is engaged with the second stepped portion.

8. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein a width of the opening is narrower than a width of the recess.

9. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lens includes a projecting portion on a bottom surface of the lens, and the back cap includes a depression to be engaged with the projecting portion, so that when the back cap is mounted to the opening of the cover part, the projecting portion of the lens is inserted into the depression of the back cap.

10. The camera module as set forth in claim 1, wherein the back cap is fastened to the cover part in a threaded manner.

11. The camera module as set forth in claim 9, wherein a through hole is formed in the depression of the back cap.

12. A method for assembling a camera module, comprising:

preparing a cover part, the cover part including an opening, a lens guide formed in the opening at an upper portion of the cover part to prevent removal of a lens, a protrusion protruded from a portion of the lens guide towards the lens, and a groove formed between the protrusion of the lens guide and the cover part;

fitting an O-ring into the groove;

mounting the lens to the opening so that a downward stepped portion on an edge of an upper surface of the lens comes into close contact with the protrusion; and

fixing the back cap to the cover part after mounting the back cap to the opening to come into close contact with the lens,

wherein a recess is formed in the cover part, the opening is formed inside the recess, and cover-part coupling portions are formed on the outer circumference of the back cap to be engaged with the recess and the opening of the cover part.

13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein fixing the back cap to the cover part is configured to fasten the back cap to the cover part in a threaded manner.

14. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein after fixing the back cap to the cover part, a portion of the upper surface of the lens is in close contact with the lens guide, and a portion of a bottom surface of the lens is in close contact with the back cap.

15. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the O-ring is mounted between the protrusion of the lens guide and the opening.

16. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein a first stepped portion is formed in the opening of the cover part, and a second stepped portion is formed on an outer circumference of the back cap, so that when the back cap is fixed to the opening, the first stepped portion is engaged with the second stepped portion.

17. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the lens includes a projecting portion on a bottom surface of the lens, and the back cap includes a depression to be engaged with the projecting portion, so that when the back cap is fixed to the opening of the cover part, the projecting portion of the lens is securely inserted into the depression of the back cap.