US-12619050-B2 - Camera module

US12619050B2US 12619050 B2US12619050 B2US 12619050B2US-12619050-B2

Abstract

A camera module is provided. The camera module includes a housing configured to have an internal space; a lens module disposed in the internal space, an including at least one lens; a first magnetic body and a second magnetic body disposed on surfaces on which the housing and the lens module face each other, respectively, and configured to have magnetic forces which act on each other; and a plurality of ball members disposed between the housing and the lens module. The lens module includes a plurality of extensions which extend in an optical axis direction and are spaced apart from each other in a direction, perpendicular to an optical axis, and at least one of the plurality of ball members is disposed between the plurality of extensions and the housing.

Inventors

Ik Sun LEE

Assignees

SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20230210
Priority Date: 20220405

Claims (17)

1 . A camera module, comprising: a housing configured to have an internal space; a lens module, disposed in the internal space, and comprising at least one lens; a first magnetic body and a second magnetic body disposed on surfaces on which the housing and the lens module face each other, respectively, and configured to have magnetic forces which act on each other; and a plurality of ball members disposed in respective guide grooves between the housing and the lens module, wherein the lens module comprises a plurality of extensions which extend in an optical axis direction, and are spaced apart from each other in a direction, perpendicular to an optical axis, wherein at least one of the plurality of ball members is disposed between the plurality of extensions and the housing, wherein end edges of the plurality of extensions are configured to have one of a curved surface and an inclined surface in a direction away from the optical axis, and wherein a depth of one guide groove of the respective guide grooves is deeper than depths of other guide grooves of the respective guide grooves.
2 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the lens module comprises: a lens carrier configured to move in the optical axis direction; and a lens barrel, disposed inside the lens carrier, and configured to accommodate the at least one lens, wherein the plurality of extensions are disposed on the lens carrier.
3 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the camera module comprises a reinforcing member disposed between a first side and a second side of the lens carrier.
4 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of extensions comprise: a first protrusion that protrudes from a first side of the lens carrier in the optical axis direction; and a second protrusion that protrudes from a second side of the lens carrier in the optical axis direction, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are spaced apart from each other in a direction, perpendicular to the optical axis.
5 . The camera module of claim 4 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are symmetrical in a direction, perpendicular to the optical axis.
6 . The camera module of claim 4 , wherein the lens module comprises a support member that is configured to connect the first protrusion and the second protrusion, wherein a first surface of the support member is in contact with the lens barrel in the optical axis direction, and a second surface of the support member has a hole shape in the optical axis direction.
7 . The camera module of claim 6 , wherein the camera module comprises a light blocking member disposed between the first side of the lens carrier and the second side of the lens carrier, in contact with the support member, and configured to have a hole shape through which light passes in the optical axis direction.
8 . The camera module of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of ball members comprise: a first ball member disposed between the first protrusion and the housing, a second ball member disposed between the first side of the lens carrier and the housing, a third ball member disposed between the second protrusion and the housing; and a fourth ball member disposed between the second side of the lens carrier and the housing.
9 . The camera module of claim 8 , wherein the second ball member, the third ball member, and the fourth ball member are configured to contact the lens module and the housing, and wherein the first ball member is in contact with one of the lens module and the housing.
10 . The camera module of claim 8 , wherein the first ball member has a diameter that is less than diameters of the second ball member, the third ball member, and the fourth ball member.
11 . The camera module of claim 8 , wherein, of the respective guide grooves: a first guide groove that accommodates the first ball member is respectively disposed on surfaces of the first protrusion and the housing that face each other, a second guide groove that accommodates the second ball member is disposed on surfaces on which the first side of the lens carrier and the housing face each other, respectively, a third guide groove that accommodates the third ball member is respectively disposed on surfaces of the second protrusion and the housing which face each other, a fourth guide groove that accommodates the fourth ball member is respectively disposed on surfaces on which the second side of the lens carrier and the housing face each other, and a depth of the first guide groove of at least one of the first protrusion and the housing is different from a depth of the second guide groove, the third guide groove, and the fourth guide groove.
12 . The camera module of claim 11 , wherein the first ball member and the second ball member are spaced apart from each other in the optical axis direction, and the third ball member and the fourth ball member are spaced apart from each other in the optical axis direction.
13 . The camera module of claim 8 , wherein the first ball member is in two-point contact with one of the lens module and the housing, and the second ball member is in two-point contact with one of the lens module and the housing and is in one-point contact with another of the lens module and the housing, and wherein the third ball member and the fourth ball member are in contact with the lens module and the housing at two points, respectively.
14 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the lens carrier is configured to have an H-shape structure based on relative positions of the plurality of extensions and a supporting member configured to connect the plurality of extensions.
15 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein any one of the plurality of ball members is configured to be in contact with one of the lens module and the housing, and wherein remaining ball members among the plurality of ball members are configured to be in contact with the lens module and the housing.
16 . The camera module of claim 15 , wherein a virtual line that connects centers of the remaining ball members has a triangular shape.
17 . The camera module of claim 16 , wherein a center of magnetic attraction acting between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body is located inside the triangular shape connecting the centers of the remaining ball members.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0042282, filed on Apr. 5, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. BACKGROUND 1. Field The following description relates to a camera module. 2. Description of Related Art Camera modules that capture still or moving images have been widely implemented in portable electronic devices, including, but not limited to, smartphones. It is desirable that portable electronic devices have a slim form factor in accordance with market demand, and accordingly, it is desirous that a size of the camera module be miniaturized. On the other hand, apart from the desire to miniaturize the camera module, performance improvements of the camera module are also desirous. For example, a camera module included in a portable electronic device has widely adopted functions or operations such as autofocusing (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS), and there is a limit to reducing the overall size of the camera module to perform these functions or operations. To solve this problem, a camera module having a reflective member that changes the path of incident light has been proposed. Such a camera module may have a longer total track length (TTL) by changing the path of the incident light one or more times, and may perform more advanced autofocusing or zooming functions or operations. However, such a camera module may have a flare phenomenon due to unnecessary light reflection due to a relatively long total track length, and the quality of the image may be deteriorated due to the flare phenomenon. Additionally, when implementing the autofocusing or zoom function or operation, the lens travel distance is relatively long, and thus, there may be a problem in that securing stable performance may be difficult. SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that is further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. In a general aspect, a camera module includes a housing configured to have an internal space; a lens module, disposed in the internal space, and comprising at least one lens; a first magnetic body and a second magnetic body disposed on surfaces on which the housing and the lens module face each other, respectively, and configured to have magnetic forces which act on each other; and a plurality of ball members disposed between the housing and the lens module, wherein the lens module comprises a plurality of extensions which extend in an optical axis direction, and are spaced apart from each other in a direction, perpendicular to an optical axis, and at least one of the plurality of ball members is disposed between the plurality of extensions and the housing. The lens module may include a lens carrier configured to move in the optical axis direction; and a lens barrel, disposed inside the lens carrier, and configured to accommodate the at least one lens, wherein the plurality of extensions are disposed on the lens carrier. The camera module may include a reinforcing member disposed between a first side and a second side of the lens carrier. The plurality of extensions may include a first protrusion that protrudes from a first side of the lens carrier in the optical axis direction; and a second protrusion that protrudes from a second side of the lens carrier in the optical axis direction, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are spaced apart from each other in a direction, perpendicular to the optical axis. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are symmetrical in a direction, perpendicular to the optical axis. The lens module may include a support member that is configured to connect the first protrusion and the second protrusion, wherein a first surface of the support member may be in contact with the lens barrel in the optical axis direction, and a second surface of the support member has a hole shape in the optical axis direction. The camera module may include a light blocking member disposed between the first side of the lens carrier and the second side of the lens carrier, in contact with the support member, and configured to have a hole shape through which light passes in the optical axis direction. End edges of the first protrusion and the second protrusion may be configured to have one of a curved surface and an inclined surface in a direction away from the optical axis. Any one of the plurality of ball members may be configured to be in contact with one of the lens module and the housing, and wherein remaining ball members among the plurality of ball members may be configured to be in contact with the lens module and the hous