阅读说明：本技术 镜头模块 (Lens module ) 是由 崔泰寿 安钟颢 康永锡 郭宰源 黄敏洙 于 2017-06-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种镜头模块。所述镜头模块包括透镜和容纳所述透镜的透镜镜筒。所述透镜镜筒的内表面与光轴之间的距离沿所述透镜镜筒的周向变化。(The invention provides a lens module. The lens module includes a lens and a lens barrel accommodating the lens. The distance between the inner surface of the lens barrel and the optical axis varies along the circumferential direction of the lens barrel.)

1. A lens module, comprising:

a plurality of lenses;

a spacer disposed between adjacent lenses among the plurality of lenses; and

a lens barrel accommodating the plurality of lenses and the partition,

wherein a plurality of protruding portions and a plurality of recessed portions are alternately provided on an inner surface of the lens barrel in a circumferential direction of the lens barrel,

wherein each of the plurality of protruding portions and each of the plurality of recessed portions have a curved surface having a curvature, and

wherein a curvature of the curved surface of each of the plurality of protruding portions is smaller than a curvature of the curved surface of each of the plurality of recessed portions.

2. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion protrudes toward an optical axis, and the recessed portion is recessed in a direction away from the optical axis.

3. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of protruding portions and the plurality of recessed portions has a length in an optical axis direction.

4. The lens module of claim 3, wherein a width of each of the plurality of protruding portions is wider than a width of each of the plurality of recessed portions.

5. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein an inflection point is provided in a position where the plurality of protruding portions and the plurality of recessed portions are connected to each other.

6. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein a width of each of the plurality of protruding portions is wider than a width of each of the plurality of recessed portions, wherein a distance between inflection points provided on both sides of each of the plurality of protruding portions is defined as the width of each of the plurality of protruding portions, and a distance between inflection points provided on both sides of each of the plurality of recessed portions is defined as the width of each of the plurality of recessed portions.

7. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protruding portions are provided on a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel adjacent to a lens closest to an image side among the plurality of lenses.

8. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of protruding portions are provided on portions of the inner surface of the lens barrel that are provided between the respective lenses of the plurality of lenses.

9. The lens module according to claim 1, wherein a surface of an inner periphery of the lens barrel is configured to be stepped to accommodate lenses of different diameters along a length of the lens barrel.

Technical Field

The following description relates to a lens barrel, a lens module, and a camera module including the lens module.

Background

Recently, camera modules have been commonly installed in mobile communication terminals (such as smart phones). The camera module is provided with a plurality of lenses, and light passing through the lenses is collected by an image sensor to form an image. Light reflected from the object and incident on the inside of the camera module may be refracted by the plurality of lenses. The refracted light may be reflected from an inner surface of a lens barrel of the camera module. When the reflected light is incident on the image sensor, a flare phenomenon (flare phenomenon) occurs.

The captured image may be blurred or show a circular white spot due to the sparkle phenomenon, so that the quality of the captured image is degraded. In particular, with the recent trend of miniaturization, the sizes of the respective components of the camera module are reduced. Therefore, the frequency at which light is undesirably reflected in the camera module increases.

Disclosure of Invention

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 lens module includes a lens and a lens barrel accommodating the lens. The distance between the inner surface of the lens barrel and the optical axis varies along the circumferential direction of the lens barrel.

A portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel of the lens module may have an uneven pattern. A protruding portion may be formed on a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel of the lens module. The protruding portion may also have a length in the optical axis direction and protrude toward the optical axis. A surface of the protruding portion of the lens module may have a curvature.

The lens module may have a plurality of protruding portions formed along the circumferential direction. The lens module may have edge portions respectively formed between every adjacent two of the plurality of protruding portions. The lens module may have a lens barrel accommodating a plurality of lenses, and the protruding portion may be formed on a portion of an inner surface of the lens barrel adjacent to a lens closest to an image side among the plurality of lenses. The lens module may have a lens barrel accommodating a plurality of lenses, and the protruding portion may be formed on a portion of an inner surface of the lens barrel disposed between respective lenses of the plurality of lenses.

A plurality of protruding portions and a plurality of recessed portions may be alternately formed on the inner surface of the lens barrel in the circumferential direction, wherein the protruding portions may protrude toward the optical axis, and the recessed portions may be recessed in a direction away from the optical axis. The protruding portion and the recessed portion may have a length in the optical axis direction, wherein a width of the protruding portion may be wider than a width of the recessed portion. A surface of each of the protruding portion and the recessed portion may be a curved surface having a corresponding curvature. The respective curvatures of the surfaces of the protruding portions may be less than the respective curvatures of the surfaces of the recessed portions.

The protruding portion and the recessed portion may have an inflection point formed in a position where the protruding portion and the recessed portion are connected to each other. When a distance (as a distance between inflection points formed on both sides of each of the plurality of protruding portions of the lens module) is defined as a width of the protruding portion, and a distance (as a distance between inflection points formed on both sides of each of the plurality of recessed portions) is defined as a width of the recessed portion, the width of the protruding portion may be wider than the width of the recessed portion. A distance between the inner surface of the lens barrel and the optical axis may be repeatedly changed in the circumferential direction.

In another general aspect, a camera module includes: a housing having a lens barrel, wherein the lens barrel houses a lens; and an image sensor module coupled to the housing. A plurality of protruding portions are formed on an inner surface of the lens barrel in a circumferential direction of the lens barrel, and the protruding portions have a length in an optical axis direction.

In another general aspect, a lens barrel includes a periphery having a constant radius with respect to a point on an optical axis. The optical axis is an axis passing through the center of the lens barrel. The lens barrel further includes an inner circumference having a varying radius with respect to a point on an optical axis. The lens barrel is configured to accommodate a lens.

The lens barrel may have an inner circumference of varying radius that repeats in a repeating pattern from a maximum distance to the optical axis to a minimum distance to the optical axis. The repeating pattern may be a pattern having a repeating relief pattern. The surface of the inner circumference of the lens barrel is configured to be stepped to accommodate lenses of different diameters along the length of the lens barrel.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an example.

Fig. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of a lens barrel according to an example.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of a lens barrel according to an example.

Fig. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating light being reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel.

Fig. 5A, 5B, and 5C are modifications of the shapes of a plurality of protruding portions and a plurality of edge portions provided on an inner surface of a lens barrel according to an example.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module according to another example.

Fig. 7 is a cut-away perspective view of a lens barrel according to another example.

Wherever applicable, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to refer to the same or like elements. The figures may not be drawn to scale and the relative sizes, proportions and depictions of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration or convenience.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in obtaining a thorough understanding of the methods, devices, and/or systems described herein. However, various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and/or systems described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this disclosure. The order of operations described herein is merely an example and is not limited to the order set forth herein, but rather, obvious modifications are possible in light of the disclosure, other than the operations necessarily occurring in a particular order. Moreover, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The features described herein may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the full scope of the disclosure after understanding the present application.

Throughout the specification, it will be understood that when an element such as a layer or region is referred to as being "on," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element, it can be directly on, "connected to" or "coupled to" the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Although terms such as "first," "second," and "third" may be used herein to describe various components, regions, or sections, these components, regions, or sections are not limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are only used to distinguish one element, region or section from another element, region or section. Thus, a first component, region or section referred to in an example described herein can also be referred to as a second component, region or section without departing from the teachings of the example.

The singular is also intended to include the plural unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," and "having" specify the presence of stated features, quantities, operations, elements, components, and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, operations, components, elements, and/or combinations thereof.

Variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, may be expected. Accordingly, the examples described herein are not limited to the particular shapes shown in the drawings, but include variations in shapes that occur during manufacturing.

As will be apparent after understanding the disclosure of the present application, the features of the examples described herein may be combined in various ways. Further, while the examples described herein have various configurations, other configurations are possible, as will be apparent after understanding the disclosure of the present application.

Examples provide a lens module that can prevent light incident to the inside of the lens module from being reflected from the inner surface of the lens module to cause a flare phenomenon. Next, examples will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter, based on the lens barrel 10, the optical axis direction refers to a longitudinal direction, and the circumferential direction refers to a clockwise or counterclockwise direction of the lens barrel 10. Further, the optical axis is an axis passing through the center of the lens barrel 10.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an example. Referring to fig. 1, a camera module according to an example includes a lens module 100, a housing 200, and an image sensor module 300. The housing 200 accommodates the lens module 100.

In one example, the housing 200 has an open upper portion and an open lower portion, and accommodates the lens module 100 therein. The image sensor module 300 is disposed under the case 200. The image sensor module 300 is provided as a device that converts light incident into the lens module 100 into an electrical signal.

In one example, image sensor module 300 includes a printed circuit board 310, an image sensor 330 connected to printed circuit board 310, and an infrared filter 350. The infrared filter 350 blocks light of an infrared region among light incident to the lens module 100. The image sensor 330 converts light incident to the lens module 100 into an electrical signal.

In one example, the image sensor 330 is a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS). The electrical signal converted by the image sensor 330 may be displayed as an image on a display of the portable electronic device. The image sensor 330 is fixed to the printed circuit board 310 and electrically connected to the printed circuit board 310 using wire bonding.

The lens module 100 includes a lens barrel 10 and a plurality of lenses L disposed in the lens barrel 10. The lens barrel 10 has a cylindrical shape so that at least one lens of a plurality of lenses L for imaging a subject can be accommodated therein. At least one lens L is disposed in the lens barrel 10 along the optical axis O. The at least one lens L includes an optical portion and a flange portion. The optical portion refracts light reflected from the subject, and the flange portion fixes the lens L to the lens barrel 10.

When the plurality of lenses L are provided in the lens barrel 10, the plurality of lenses L have different diameters, and the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 is formed to have a stepped portion to accommodate the plurality of lenses L having different diameters. In one example, the inner diameters of the lens barrels 10 are of different sizes. Referring to fig. 1, this example shows three lenses L1, L2, and L3 sequentially arranged from a lens closest to an object to a lens located at an image side, but the present disclosure does not limit the number of lenses. For example, the lens module 100 includes five or less lenses or five or more lenses based on a target resolution to be achieved.

The lenses L are sequentially stacked in the lens barrel 10 with the partitions disposed between the lenses L to maintain the interval between the lenses L and intercept unnecessary light. The spacer is coated with a light-shielding material or has a light-shielding film attached to block unnecessary light. The separator is formed of an opaque material.

For example, the separator is formed of a non-ferrous metal such as copper or aluminum. Light reflected from the subject and incident to the inside of the lens barrel 10 is refracted by the lens L. Here, the refracted light is reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10. When such reflected light is incident on the image sensor 330, a flare phenomenon occurs. When the sparkle phenomenon occurs, the captured image may be blurred or may show a circular white spot, so that the quality of the captured image is degraded.

In one example, the lens module 100 according to an example may be configured such that a distance between an inner surface of the lens barrel 10 and the optical axis O may vary in a circumferential direction. Accordingly, the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 may be configured such that the reflection angle of light when the light is reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 varies according to the reflection position of the light.

At least a part of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 has a convex pattern and a concave pattern repeatedly formed thereon in the circumferential direction. For example, the lens barrel 10 has a plurality of protruding portions 11 formed thereon in the circumferential direction. The protruding portion protrudes toward the optical axis O. Each of the protruding portions 11 has a length in the optical axis direction, and a surface of each protruding portion 11 may be a curved surface having a curvature. Each of the protruding portions 11 having a convexly curved surface is formed in a circumferential direction such that the respective edge portions 13 are formed between the respective protruding portions 11.

In another example, a protruding portion 11 protruding toward the optical axis O and a recessed portion 15 formed to be recessed in a direction away from the optical axis O are alternately formed on the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 (refer to fig. 5B and 5C). The protruding portions 11 and the recessed portions 15 are provided as a plurality of protruding portions 11 and a plurality of recessed portions 15, respectively. Accordingly, the convex pattern and the concave pattern are repeatedly formed on at least a part of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 in the circumferential direction.

The at least a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 has an uneven pattern. Therefore, when light is reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10, the reflection angle of the light may vary according to the reflection position of the light. As a result, the light reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 may be scattered, thereby preventing the occurrence of the flare phenomenon due to the undesirably reflected light generated in the lens barrel 10.

Fig. 2 is a cut-away perspective view of a lens barrel according to an example. Fig. 3 is a rear view of a lens barrel according to an example. Fig. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating light being reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel. Referring to fig. 2 and 3, at least a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 has an inner diameter varying in a circumferential direction of the lens barrel 10 to scatter light reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10.

In one example, at least a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 is configured such that the distance between the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 and the optical axis O varies in the circumferential direction. At least a part of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 has a convex pattern and a concave pattern repeatedly formed thereon in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the distance between the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 and the optical axis O can be repeatedly changed in the circumferential direction.

A distance R1 between the convex portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 and the optical axis O and a distance R2 between the concave portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 and the optical axis O are different from each other. In one example, a distance R1 between the convex portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 and the optical axis O is smaller than a distance R2 between the concave portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 and the optical axis O.

The protruding portions 11 are formed on the inner surface of the lens barrel 10, and each adjacent two of the protruding portions 11 have an edge portion 13 formed therebetween. The convex portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 is a portion in which the protruding portion 11 is formed, and the concave portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 is a portion in which the edge portion 13 is formed. The protruding portions 11 and the edge portions 13 are alternately arranged on the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 may have an uneven pattern formed by the protruding portion 11 and the edge portion 13 in the circumferential direction.

Further, each of the protruding portion 11 and the edge portion 13 may have a length in the optical axis direction. Fig. 1 to 4 show that the edge portion 13 is formed in a single line form, and the edge portion 13 has a length in the optical axis direction. In a different manner, the edge portion 13 also has a length in the optical axis direction and a width in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The width of the protruding portion 11 may be wider than the width of the edge portion 13.

The protruding portion 11 and the edge portion 13 are formed on the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 adjacent to the lens L3 closest to the image sensor 330 or the image side among the lenses L. In one example, the protruding portion 11 and the edge portion 13 are formed on a portion of the lens barrel 10 whose inner diameter is significantly increased.

As shown in fig. 4A, when the lens barrel 10 has a constant inner diameter at a specific position on the inner surface thereof, light reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 is focused on any one point. For example, when reflected light is incident on the image sensor 330, the reflected light is focused on any one point of the image sensor 330, resulting in a flare phenomenon.

As shown in fig. 4B, when the inner diameter of the lens barrel 10 varies in the circumferential direction, light reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 is scattered. Therefore, even when light is reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10, the flare phenomenon can be prevented.

For example, the lens module 100 according to the example allows light reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 to be scattered in all directions without being focused on any one point. Therefore, the lens module 100 according to the example can prevent the flare phenomenon even when light passing through the lens L is reflected from the inner surface of the lens barrel 10. As a result, the quality of the captured image can be improved.

The lens L is inserted into and fixed to the inside of the lens barrel 10, and an adhesive is applied to the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 to increase the fixing force of the lens L. As described above, when the lens L is bonded to the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 by the adhesive, the protruding portion 11 and the edge portion 13 may increase a contact area between the lens L and the adhesive, and thus, the lens L may be more firmly bonded to the inner surface of the lens barrel 10.

Fig. 5A, 5B, and 5C are modifications of the shapes of a plurality of protruding portions and a plurality of edge portions provided on an inner surface of a lens barrel according to an example. Referring to fig. 5A, 5B, and 5C, the shapes of the protruding portion 11 and the edge portion 13 scatter light so that the reflected light is not focused on any one point. In one example, as shown in fig. 5A, the protruding portion 11 and the edge portion 13 are pointed. Alternatively, the protruding portion 11 and the edge portion 13 may be formed in a zigzag pattern or a tooth pattern. Alternatively, as shown in fig. 5B and 5C, protruding portions 11 protruding toward the optical axis O and recessed portions 15 formed to be recessed in a direction away from the optical axis O are alternately formed on the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 in the circumferential direction. The protruding portions 11 and the recessed portions 15 are provided as a plurality of protruding portions 11 and a plurality of recessed portions 15, respectively. Accordingly, at least a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 has a convex pattern and a concave pattern repeatedly formed thereon in the circumferential direction.

At least one of the surfaces of the protruding portion 11 and the recessed portion 15 is a curved surface having a degree of curvature. When the surfaces of the protruding portion 11 and the recessed portion 15 are curved surfaces having curvature, an inflection point I is formed on a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 where the protruding portion 11 and the recessed portion 15 are connected to each other. Here, the inflection point I refers to a point at which a convex portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 becomes a concave portion or a point at which a concave portion becomes a convex portion.

The curvature C1 of the convex portion (e.g., the portion of the inner surface on which the protruding portion 11 is formed) is different from the curvature C2 of the concave portion (e.g., the portion of the inner surface on which the concave portion 15 is formed). For example, the curvature C1 of the convex portion in which the protruding portion 11 is formed is smaller than the curvature C2 of the concave portion in which the concave portion 15 is formed. Therefore, the width of the protruding portion 11 may be wider than the width of the recessed portion 15. When used in this sense, width refers to the distance between inflection points I.

For example, when a distance between inflection points I formed on both sides of the protruding portion 11 is defined as a width of the protruding portion 11, and a distance between inflection points I formed on both sides of the recessed portion 15 is defined as a width of the recessed portion 15, the width of the protruding portion 11 is wider than the width of the recessed portion 15. The width of the protruding portion 11 may be formed to be wider than the width of the recessed portion 15. Therefore, the function of scattering reflected light can be significantly enhanced.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module according to another example. Fig. 7 is a cut-away perspective view of a lens barrel according to another example. As shown in the examples of fig. 1 to 5, the protruding portion 11, the edge portion 13, or the recessed portion 15 is formed on a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10 adjacent to the lens L3 closest to the image sensor 330 or the image side among the lenses L. However, as shown in the examples of fig. 6 and 7, a plurality of protruding portions 11, a plurality of edge portions 13, or a plurality of recessed portions 15 are also formed on a portion of the inner surface of the lens barrel 10' disposed between the plurality of lenses L. For example, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, a lens module 100 'according to another example has a protruding portion 11, an edge portion 13, or a recessed portion 15 formed on a portion of the inner surface of a lens barrel 10' to which a lens L is not bonded.

As described above, according to an example, the lens module prevents light incident to the inside thereof from being reflected from the inner surface thereof to cause a flare phenomenon. While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent after understanding this application that various changes in form and detail may be made to these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

The description of features or aspects in each example will be understood to be applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in the described systems, architectures, devices, or circuits are combined in a different form and/or replaced or added by other components or their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined not by the detailed description but by the claims and their equivalents, and all modifications within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be understood as being included in the present disclosure.