Camera module

• US 9,578,242 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2015
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Han, Kwang Joon, Kang, Byung Woo, Kwon, Oh Byoung, Lim, Soo Cheol
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haliyur, Padma
• Application Number:
  US14/658,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20150296143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/09 adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0007 Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur imaging systems in general using optical elements for stabilisation of the position of the image G02B27/64
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0015 by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/10 Power-operated focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/02 Lateral adjustment of lens
• 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 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A camera module including a lens unit configured to move in a direction of an optical axis and a direction perpendicular with respect to the optical axis; a housing unit accommodating the lens unit; and a shock absorbing member disposed between the housing unit and the lens unit to reduce impacts and noise generated when the housing unit and the lens unit collide.

Claims

1. A camera module comprising:

a housing unit in which an actuator unit is mounted, the actuator unit configured to transfer driving force in different directions, and the actuator unit comprising magnets and coils;

a first frame mounted in the housing unit and configured to be movable in a first direction with respect to the housing unit;

a second frame mounted in the first frame and configured to be movable in a second direction with respect to the first frame;

a third frame mounted in the second frame, combined with a lens barrel, and configured to be movable in a third direction with respect to the second frame;

a shock absorbing member disposed between the housing unit and the third frame;

a first ball member disposed between the housing unit and the first frame;

a second ball member disposed between the first frame and the second frame; and

a third ball member disposed between the second frame and the third frame.

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

a yoke mounted in the first frame, to allow magnetic attraction to act between the yoke and at least one magnet among the magnets in the first direction,

wherein the first direction is an optical axis direction.

3. The camera module of claim 1, wherein a first guide groove is elongatedly formed in the first frame in the first direction and has the first ball member disposed therein.

4. The camera module of claim 1, wherein a second guide groove is elongatedly formed in the second frame in the second direction and has the second ball member disposed therein.

5. The camera module of claim 1, wherein a third guide groove is elongatedly formed in the third frame in the third direction and has the third ball member disposed therein.

6. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the actuator unit includes:

a first actuator configured to move the first frame in the first direction; and

a second actuator configured to move the second frame in the second direction and to move the third frame in the third direction,

wherein the first direction is an optical axis direction, the second direction and the third direction are perpendicular to the first direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the third direction.

7. The camera module of claim 6, wherein the first actuator includes:

a first coil attached to the housing unit; and

a first permanent magnet attached to the first frame.

8. The camera module of claim 6, wherein the second actuator includes:

a second coil attached to the housing unit; and

a second permanent magnet attached to the third frame.

9. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the shock absorbing member is configured to be elastically deformed.