US-12627887-B2 - Sensor shifting module and camera module including the same

US12627887B2US 12627887 B2US12627887 B2US 12627887B2US-12627887-B2

Abstract

A camera module is provided. The camera module includes a housing; a carrier, disposed in the housing, and configured to move in a first direction; an image sensor movably disposed in the carrier and having an imaging plane oriented in the first direction; and an autofocusing driver including an autofocusing actuator configured to move the carrier in the first direction with respect to the housing and a ball member disposed between the carrier and the housing.

Inventors

Su Bong Jang
Sang Jong Lee
Hee Soo Yoon
Tae Ho Yun

Assignees

SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20221014
Priority Date: 20211118

Claims (20)

1 . A camera module, comprising: a housing; a carrier, disposed in the housing, and configured to move in a first direction; an image sensor movably disposed in the carrier, and configured to move in a second direction different from the first direction with respect to the carrier; a first movable body movably disposed in the carrier; a second movable body movably disposed in the first movable body and coupled to the image sensor; and an autofocusing driver comprising an autofocusing actuator configured to move the carrier in the first direction with respect to the housing, and a ball member disposed between a first side surface of the carrier and a first sidewall of the housing.
2 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor has an imaging plane oriented in the first direction.
3 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the autofocusing actuator comprises an autofocusing coil disposed on a first side of the carrier and coupled to one of the housing and the carrier, and an autofocusing magnet coupled to the other of the housing and the carrier and opposing the autofocusing coil in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.
4 . The camera module of claim 3 , further comprising a yoke disposed on one side of the autofocusing coil.
5 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the autofocusing actuator comprises an autofocusing coil disposed below the carrier and coupled to one of the housing and the carrier, and an autofocusing magnet coupled to the other of the housing and the carrier and opposing the autofocusing coil in the first direction.
6 . The camera module of claim 5 , further comprising: a first elastic member disposed between the carrier and the housing, wherein the ball member is disposed on a first side of the carrier, and the first elastic member is disposed on a second side of the carrier, and is configured to push the carrier toward the ball member.
7 . The camera module of claim 5 , further comprising: a second elastic member disposed between a lower portion of the carrier and the housing, and configured to support the carrier in the first direction.
8 . The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising: a first driver configured to move the second movable body in a direction orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the first movable body; a second driver configured to rotate the second movable body about an axis parallel to the first direction with respect to the first movable body; and a third driver configured to rotate the first movable body about an axis orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the carrier, wherein the third driver is disposed between the carrier and the first movable body and provides a tilt center of the first movable body with respect to the carrier.
9 . The camera module of claim 8 , wherein the first driver comprises a first actuator disposed between the first movable body and the second movable body, and the first actuator comprises a first driving magnet disposed on the second movable body, and a first driving coil disposed on the first movable body to oppose the first driving magnet in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.
10 . The camera module of claim 9 , wherein the second driver comprises a second actuator disposed between the first movable body and the second movable body, and the second actuator comprises a second driving magnet disposed on the second movable body, and a second driving coil disposed on the first movable body to oppose the second driving magnet in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.
11 . The camera module of claim 10 , wherein the second movable body comprises four side surfaces which form a quadrangular shape, and the first driving magnet and the second driving magnet are disposed on different side surfaces among the four side surfaces.
12 . The camera module of claim 11 , wherein the second movable body comprises a first side surface and a second side surface which form a corner, and the second driving magnet is disposed on one of the first side surface and the second side surface, and is disposed adjacent to the corner.
13 . The camera module of claim 10 , wherein the third driver comprises a third actuator disposed between the first movable body and the carrier, and the third actuator comprises a third driving magnet disposed on the second movable body, and a third driving coil disposed on the carrier to oppose the third driving magnet in the first direction.
14 . The camera module of claim 13 , wherein the third driving magnet is one of the first driving magnet and the second driving magnet.
15 . The camera module of claim 8 , further comprising: a substrate which mechanically connects the second movable body to the first movable body, and is deformed based on a movement of the second movable body with respect to the first movable body.
16 . The camera module of claim 15 , wherein the substrate comprises electrical wirings which are electrically connected to the image sensor.
17 . The camera module of claim 16 , wherein the substrate comprises a movable portion fixedly coupled to the second movable body, a fixed portion fixedly coupled to the first movable body, and a supporting portion that interconnects the movable portion and the fixed portion, and wherein the supporting portion comprises a plurality of bridges configured to embed the electrical wirings therein.
18 . The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the supporting portion comprises a guide disposed between the movable portion and the fixed portion, and connected to the movable portion and the fixed portion through the plurality of bridges.
19 . A camera module, comprising: a housing; a carrier, disposed in the housing, and configured to move in a first direction; a first movable body movably disposed in the carrier; a second movable body movably coupled to the first movable body; an image sensor coupled to the second movable body, and having an imaging plane oriented in the first direction; and a substrate that mechanically connects the second movable body to the first movable body, and is configured to deform based on a movement of the second movable body with respect to the first movable body.
20 . The camera module of claim 19 , wherein the substrate comprises a movable portion fixedly coupled to the second movable body, a fixed portion fixedly coupled to the first movable body, and a supporting portion that interconnects the movable portion and the fixed portion, wherein the supporting portion comprises a plurality of bridges embedding electrical wirings electrically connected to the image sensor therein.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit under 35 USC § 119 (a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0159647 filed on Nov. 18, 2021, 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 sensor shifting module and a camera module including the same. 2. Description of Related Art With the development of communications technology, mobile devices, such as, but not limited to, smartphones, have been widely distributed, and accordingly, the demand for increased functionalities of cameras included in mobile devices has also been increased. For example, a camera included in a mobile device may be implemented to provide advanced imaging functions (e.g., an autofocus function, an anti-shake function, and the like) implemented in a typical digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera despite a small size thereof. An optical image stabilization (OIS) function may be to prevent image blurring from occurring when a camera is shaken during the exposure time, and the OIS function may be necessary when imaging in low-light environments in which a camera is shaken and the exposure time is long. The OIS may include digital IS (DIS), electronic IS (EIS), and optical IS (OIS). Among these functions, optical IS (OIS) may fundamentally prevent image deterioration caused by shaking by correcting an optical path by moving a lens or image sensor in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. Since a mechanical actuator is necessary, it may be complicated to be implemented as a device, and although relevant costs are expensive, excellent compensation performance may be obtained. Since a lens barrel includes an optical system therein, a relatively large amount of force may be necessary to drive the lens barrel. Since an image sensor is relatively lightweight, it may be advantageous to implement an excellent optical image stabilization (OIS) function even with a relatively small force. A camera implemented in a mobile device may mainly provide a shaking correction function that prevents only the shaking in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis when obtaining an image. Recently, mobile devices have been used to obtain videos, and accordingly, it has been necessary to move an image sensor in more various directions to correct shaking in a more dynamic environment. 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; a carrier, disposed in the housing, and configured to move in a first direction; an image sensor movably disposed in the carrier; and an autofocusing driver comprising an autofocusing actuator configured to move the carrier in the first direction with respect to the housing, and a ball member disposed between the carrier and the housing. The image sensor may have an imaging plane oriented in the first direction. The autofocusing actuator may include an autofocusing coil disposed on a first side of the carrier and coupled to one of the housing and the carrier, and an autofocusing magnet coupled to the other of the housing and the carrier and opposing the autofocusing coil in a direction orthogonal to the first direction. The camera module may include a yoke disposed on one side of the autofocusing coil. The autofocusing actuator may include an autofocusing coil disposed below the carrier and coupled to one of the housing and the carrier, and an autofocusing magnet coupled to the other of the housing and the carrier and opposing the autofocusing coil in the first direction. The camera module may include a first elastic member disposed between the carrier and the housing, wherein the ball member may be disposed on a first side of the carrier, and the first elastic member is disposed on a second side of the carrier, and is configured to push the carrier toward the ball member. The camera module may include a second elastic member disposed between a lower portion of the carrier and the housing, and configured to support the carrier in the first direction. The camera module may include a first movable body movably disposed in the carrier; a second movable body movably disposed in the first movable body and coupled to the image sensor; a first driver configured to move the second movable body in a direction orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the first movable body; a second driver configured to rotate the second movable body about an axis parallel to the first direction with respect to the first movable body; and a third driver configured to rotate the first movable body about an axis orthogonal