US-12625345-B2 - Camera module

US12625345B2US 12625345 B2US12625345 B2US 12625345B2US-12625345-B2

Abstract

A camera module includes a housing having an internal space, a carrier accommodated in the housing and being movable relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, a ball member disposed between the housing and the carrier, a lens module accommodated in the carrier and movable in an optical axis direction relative to the carrier, an elastic unit connected to the carrier and the lens module, and a driving unit providing driving force to the lens module and the carrier, wherein the driving unit includes a magnet unit disposed on the carrier, a first coil unit disposed in the lens module, and a second coil unit disposed in the housing, and a first signal pattern is disposed in the housing, and the first signal pattern is electrically connected to the elastic unit.

Inventors

Young Hwan Kwon
Su Kyeong Kim

Assignees

SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230807
Priority Date: 20221128

Claims (20)

1 . A camera module comprising: a housing comprising an internal space; a carrier disposed in the housing and configured to be movable relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis; a ball member disposed between the housing and the carrier; a lens module disposed in the carrier and configured to be movable relative to the carrier in an optical axis direction; an elastic unit directly connected to the housing, the carrier, and the lens module; a first conductive pattern disposed in the housing outside the lens module and electrically connected to the elastic unit; and a driving unit configured to apply driving forces to the lens module and the carrier, wherein the driving unit comprises a magnet unit disposed on the carrier, a first coil unit disposed in the lens module, and a second coil unit disposed in the housing.
2 . The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising a wiring pattern disposed inside the lens module and electrically connected to the first coil unit and the elastic unit.
3 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein an end of the wiring pattern is exposed on an upper surface of the lens module and is electrically connected to the elastic unit.
4 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein an end of the wiring pattern is exposed on a lower surface of the lens module and is electrically connected to the elastic unit.
5 . The camera module of claim 4 , wherein the elastic unit comprises a first elastic member connecting an upper surface of the lens module to an upper surface of the carrier and to an upper surface of the housing, and a second elastic member connecting a lower surface of the lens module to a lower surface of the carrier, the second elastic member comprises a first fixed portion coupled to the lower surface of the lens module and a second fixed portion coupled to the lower surface of the carrier, and the end of the wiring pattern exposed on the lower surface of the lens module is electrically connected to the first fixed portion.
6 . The camera module of claim 5 , further comprising a second conductive pattern disposed inside the carrier, wherein one end of the second conductive pattern is exposed on the upper surface of the carrier, and another end of the second conductive pattern is exposed on the lower surface of the carrier, the one end of the second conductive pattern exposed on the upper surface of the carrier is electrically connected to the first elastic member, and the other end of the second conductive pattern exposed on the lower surface of the carrier is electrically connected to the second fixed portion of the second elastic member.
7 . The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising: a column portion disposed in the housing and extending in the optical axis direction; and a wiring pattern is disposed inside the lens module and electrically connected to the elastic unit, wherein the first conductive pattern is disposed in the column portion.
8 . The camera module of claim 7 , wherein the column portion is disposed in a corner region of the housing.
9 . The camera module of claim 7 , wherein a guide recess in which the ball member is disposed is formed on either one or both of a surface of the housing and a surface of the carrier facing each other in the optical axis direction, and a maximum distance from a center of the guide recess to an edge of the guide recess is greater than a shortest distance from the center of the guide recess to a sidewall of the guide recess.
10 . The camera module of claim 7 , wherein the second coil unit comprises a plurality of coils, a plurality of guide recesses in which the ball member is disposed are formed on either one or both of a surface of the housing and a surface of the carrier facing each other in the optical axis direction, each of the guide recesses is disposed between the column portion and a respective coil of the plurality of coils of the second coil unit, a first region is defined by lines extending in a longitudinal direction of each coil of the plurality of coils of the second coil unit along a centerline of each coil and intersecting each other, a second region is defined by lines connecting centers of the plurality of guide recesses to each other, and the second region is inclined relative to the first region.
11 . The camera module of claim 10 , wherein an area of the first region is greater than an area of the second region.
12 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the elastic unit comprises a first elastic member connecting an upper surface of the lens module to an upper surface of the carrier and to an upper surface of the housing, and a second elastic member connecting a lower surface of the lens module a lower surface of the carrier, the first elastic member comprises a first coupling portion coupled to the upper surface of the lens module, a second coupling portion coupled to the upper surface of the carrier, and a third coupling portion coupled to the upper surface of the housing, and the first conductive pattern is electrically connected to the third coupling portion.
13 . The camera module of claim 12 , wherein the first elastic member further comprises a first support portion connecting the first coupling portion to the second coupling portion, and a first bent portion and a second bent portion connecting the second coupling portion to the third coupling portion.
14 . The camera module of claim 13 , wherein the first bent portion and the second bent portion are bent multiple times in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a direction in which the first bent portion is bent and a direction in which the second bent portion is bent are different from each other.
15 . The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising a yoke member disposed in the housing and facing the magnet unit in the optical axis direction.
16 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the first coil unit and the magnet unit are disposed to face each other in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and the second coil unit and the magnet unit are disposed to face each other in the optical axis direction.
17 . The camera module of claim 16 , wherein the driving unit comprises a first position sensor unit facing the magnet unit in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a second position sensor unit and a third position sensor unit facing the magnet unit in the optical axis direction, and either one of the second position sensor unit and the third position sensor unit comprises two Hall sensors.
18 . The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the magnet unit comprises a first magnet and a second magnet disposed on an inner side surface of the carrier, the second coil unit comprises a first coil facing the first magnet and a second coil facing the second magnet, and the two Hall sensors each face one of the first magnet and the second magnet in the optical axis direction.
19 . The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the magnet unit comprises two first magnets spaced apart from each other in a first axis direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and two second magnets spaced apart from each other in a second axis direction perpendicular to both the optical axis and the first axis direction, the second coil unit comprises two first coils facing the two first magnets, respectively, and two second coils facing the two second magnets, respectively, and one of the two Hall sensors faces one of the two first magnets, and another one of the two Hall sensors faces one of the two second magnets.
20 . A camera module comprising: a housing comprising an internal space; a carrier disposed in the housing and configured to be movable relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis; a ball member disposed between the housing and the carrier; a lens module disposed in the carrier and configured to be movable relative to the carrier in an optical axis direction; an elastic unit directly connected to the housing, the carrier, and the lens module; a driving unit comprising a magnet unit disposed in the carrier and comprising a plurality of magnets, a first coil unit disposed in the lens module, and a second coil unit disposed in the housing and comprising a plurality of coils; a first position sensor unit disposed to face the magnet unit in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis; and a second position sensor unit and a third position sensor unit disposed to face the magnet unit in the optical axis direction, wherein the plurality of magnets comprise at least one magnet facing the second position sensor unit, and at least one magnet facing the third position sensor unit and disposed perpendicular to the at least one magnet facing the second position sensor unit, and either one of the second position sensor unit and the third position sensor unit comprises two Hall sensors.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(a) of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2022-0162068 filed on Nov. 28, 2022, and 10-2022-0187747 filed on Dec. 28, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure relates to a camera module. 2. Description of the Background Camera modules may be adopted in mobile communication terminals, such as smartphones, tablet PCs, and laptop computers. In addition, camera modules may be equipped with an actuator having a focus adjustment function and an optical image stabilization function in order to generate a high-resolution image. For example, the focus may be adjusted by moving a lens module in a direction of an optical axis, or image stabilization may be performed by moving the lens module in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. A plurality of suspension wires may be used to support movement of the lens module during shake correction. In this case, the plurality of suspension wires may also serve to supply power to an image stabilization coil. However, there may be a problem in that the plurality of suspension wires may be deformed because they are vulnerable to external impact. In addition, the lens module may be rotated for reasons, such as a variation in driving force during image stabilization, but it may be difficult to prevent the lens module from being rotated through a plurality of suspension wires. The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure. SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are 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 one general aspect, a camera module includes a housing having an internal space, a carrier accommodated in the housing and being movable relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis, a ball member disposed between the housing and the carrier, a lens module accommodated in the carrier and movable in an optical axis direction relative to the carrier, an elastic unit connected to the carrier and the lens module, and a driving unit providing driving force to the lens module and the carrier, wherein the driving unit includes a magnet unit disposed on the carrier, a first coil unit disposed in the lens module, and a second coil unit disposed in the housing, and a first signal pattern is disposed in the housing, and the first signal pattern is electrically connected to the elastic unit. A wiring pattern may be disposed inside the lens module, and the wiring pattern may be electrically connected to the first coil unit and the elastic unit. An end of the wiring pattern may be exposed to an upper portion of the lens module and may be electrically connected to the elastic unit. An end of the wiring pattern may be exposed to a lower portion of the lens module and may be electrically connected to the elastic unit. The elastic unit may include a first elastic member connecting an upper portion of the lens module to an upper portion of the carrier and a second elastic member connecting a lower portion of the lens module to a lower portion of the carrier, the second elastic member may include a first fixed portion coupled to the lower portion of the lens module and a second fixed portion coupled to the lower portion of the carrier, and the end of the wiring pattern may be electrically connected to the first fixed portion. A second signal pattern may be disposed inside the carrier, one end and the other end of the second signal pattern may be exposed to upper and lower portions of the carrier, the one end of the second signal pattern exposed to the lower portion of the carrier may be electrically connected to the second fixed portion, and the other end of the second signal pattern exposed to the upper portion of the carrier may be electrically connected to the first elastic member. A column portion extending in the optical axis direction may be disposed in the housing, and the first signal pattern may be disposed in the column portion, and a wiring pattern may be disposed inside the lens module, and the elastic unit may be electrically connected to the wiring pattern. The column portion may be disposed in a corner region of the housing. A guide recess in which the ball member may be disposed may be formed on at least one of surfaces of the housing and the carrier facing each other in the optical axis direction, and a distance from a center of t