An extended-range lens switching structure and a camera

Abstract

The present invention provides an extended-range lens switching structure, which includes a plurality of functional lenses, a lens carrier, and a positioning mechanism; the lens carrier is in an annular structure, and a plurality of lens through-holes are provided at intervals along its circumferential direction on the annular surface. Each functional lens is correspondingly placed in the lens through-hole. A driving part for driving connection with an external power transmission is provided on the outer side wall of the lens carrier to drive the lens carrier to rotate. Positioning grooves are provided on the inner side wall of the lens carrier corresponding to each lens through-hole. The positioning mechanism is placed at the center of the lens carrier and is in alignment and cooperation with the positioning grooves to realize the positioning of the rotation position of the lens carrier. In this invention, functional lenses with different functions are arranged in a wheel type, and the switching of functional lenses is realized by driving the lens carrier to rotate by an external force. Thus, only one micro camera module can be used to achieve different functions such as telephoto, wide-angle, macro, and high resolution, avoiding the high cost of using multiple modules and reducing the manufacturing cost of the camera.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of the camera structure of electronic devices, and particularly relates to an extended lens switching structure and a camera. Background Art

[0002] The upgrading and replacement of mobile phone camera modules are the vane witnessing the development of smart phones. With the global epidemic prevention and control and the blowout demand of other electronic industries for semiconductor chips, there is a shortage of image chips and an increase in costs at the present stage, which in turn leads to an increase in the overall machine cost, and further increases the cost pressure on camera module manufacturers, and the mobile phone purchase desire of consumers decreases. Currently, the number of camera modules equipped on mobile phones is 4 - 5, including wide-angle, telephoto, high-resolution, macro, and front-facing. The chips used are matched one by one with the modules, and the shortage and price increase of image chips have a great impact on the cost and output of mobile phones. Therefore, how to reduce the number of chips used while ensuring the realization of functions is a technical problem that needs to be solved urgently. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an extended lens switching structure, which can at least solve some defects in the prior art.

[0004] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0005] An extended lens switching structure includes a plurality of different functional lenses, a lens carrier for carrying the functional lenses, and a positioning mechanism; the lens carrier is a circular ring structure, and a plurality of lens through holes are arranged at intervals along its circumferential direction on the circular ring surface. Each of the functional lenses is correspondingly placed in the lens through holes. A driving part for driving the lens carrier to rotate is arranged on the outer side wall of the lens carrier. Positioning grooves are arranged on the inner side wall of the lens carrier corresponding to each lens through hole. The positioning mechanism is placed at the center of the lens carrier, and the positioning mechanism is in alignment and cooperation with the positioning grooves to realize the positioning of the rotation position of the lens carrier.

[0006] Further, the positioning mechanism includes a stator and a limiting snap ring. The stator penetrates through the central hole of the lens carrier. The limiting snap ring is fixedly sleeved on the stator. Limiting protrusions are arranged on the outer side wall of the limiting snap ring, and the limiting protrusions are in alignment and cooperation with the positioning grooves.

[0007] Further, the two opposite side walls of the positioning groove are respectively a first vertical surface and a first inclined surface, and the first vertical surfaces and the first inclined surfaces of each positioning groove are arranged alternately in sequence. The limiting protrusion has a second vertical surface and a second inclined surface respectively corresponding to the first vertical surface and the first inclined surface of the positioning groove.

[0008] Furthermore, the stator includes a chassis and a positioning column, the positioning column is located on the chassis, a first annular limit block is provided at the bottom of the inner side wall of the lens carrier, the positioning column passes through the first annular limit block, and the chassis abuts against the lower surface of the first annular limit block.

[0009] Furthermore, the positioning mechanism also includes a cover, which includes a cover plate and a gear stacked up and down, the cover plate and the gear are coaxially arranged annular structures, a positioning block is provided on the upper surface of the stator, the cover is sleeved on the positioning block, a second annular limit block is provided on the upper part of the inner wall of the lens carrier, the lower surface of the cover plate abuts against the upper surface of the second annular limit block, and the gear is meshed with the inner wall of the second annular limit block.

[0010] Furthermore, a glass sheet is provided on the upper surface of the lens carrier, and the glass sheet covers each of the functional lenses.

[0011] Furthermore, the functional lens is any one of a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, a macro lens, a high-resolution lens, and a front lens, and the functional lenses installed in the through holes of each lens are different.

[0012] In addition, the present invention also provides a camera, including a camera module, a driving module, and the above-mentioned extended-range lens switching structure; the extended-range lens switching structure is placed above the camera module, the lens through hole of the lens carrier corresponds to the lens of the camera module, the driving module is connected to the driving member of the lens carrier, driving the lens carrier to rotate, thereby realizing the switching of different functional lenses to correspond to and cover the lens of the camera module.

[0013] Furthermore, the above-mentioned camera also includes a back sticker module, which is provided with a plurality of lens holes. The back sticker module is placed between the lens carrier and the camera module, and the lens holes correspond to the lens through holes on the lens carrier. The back sticker module is fixedly connected to the bottom of the extended-range lens switching structure.

[0014] Furthermore, a magnet positioning groove for installing a first magnet is provided at the bottom of the positioning mechanism, and a second magnet adsorbed to the first magnet in the magnet positioning groove is pasted on the upper surface of the back-sticking module.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0016] The extended-range lens switching structure provided by the present invention adopts a wheel-type layout for functional lenses with different functions, and drives the switching of functional lenses by driving the lens carrier to rotate through external force, so that only one miniature camera module can be used to achieve different functions such as telephoto, wide angle, macro, high resolution, etc., avoiding the high cost of using multiple modules and greatly reducing the manufacturing cost of the camera.

[0017] The present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the extended-range lens switching structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 is an assembly schematic diagram of the extended-range lens switching structure of the present invention and the back sticker module;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of the lens carrier structure in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 is an assembly schematic diagram of the functional lens and the lens carrier in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of the stator in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 is an assembly schematic diagram of the stator and the lens carrier in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 is an assembly schematic diagram of the limit snap ring, the stator, and the lens carrier in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 is an assembly schematic diagram of the cover in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 9 is an assembly schematic diagram of the glass sheet in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 10 is an assembly schematic diagram of the extended-range lens switching structure in the camera of the present invention and the camera module.

[0028] Description of the Reference Numerals: 1. Lens carrier; 2. Positioning mechanism; 3. Lens through hole; 4. Functional lens; 5. Glass sheet; 6. Back sticker module; 7. Lens hole; 8. Second magnet; 9. Positioning card slot; 10. First annular limiting block; 11. Second annular limiting block; 12. Driving member; 13. Stator; 14. Positioning block; 15. Positioning post; 16. Chassis; 17. Magnet positioning groove; 18. First magnet; 19. First vertical surface; 20. First inclined surface; 21. Limit snap ring; 22. Second vertical surface; 23. Second inclined surface; 24. Limit convex block; 25. Cover; 26. Cover plate; 27. Gear; 28. Camera module. Detailed Embodiments

[0029] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0030] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and thus should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

[0031] The terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features; in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more.

[0032] Such as Figures 1 to 9As shown in the figure, this embodiment provides a range extender lens switching structure, which includes several different functional lenses 4, a lens carrier 1 for carrying the functional lenses 4, and a positioning mechanism 2. The lens carrier 1 is in a circular ring structure, and several lens through holes 3 are arranged at intervals along its circumferential direction on the ring surface. Each of the functional lenses 4 is correspondingly placed in the lens through hole 3. A driving member 12 for driving connection with an external power transmission is arranged on the outer side wall of the lens carrier 1 to drive the lens carrier 1 to rotate. A positioning slot 9 is arranged on the inner side wall of the lens carrier 1 corresponding to each lens through hole 3. The positioning mechanism 2 is placed at the center of the lens carrier 1, and the positioning mechanism 2 is in alignment and cooperation with the positioning slot 9 to realize the positioning of the rotation position of the lens carrier 1. Among them, the functional lens 4 can adopt any one of a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, a macro lens, a high-resolution lens, and a front lens, and is designed and combined according to actual production requirements. In this embodiment, taking the functional lens 4 realizing four functions of wide-angle, telephoto, high-resolution, and macro as an example, correspondingly, four lens through holes 3 are arranged on the lens carrier 1. When in use, the lens carrier 1 is driven by an external force to rotate around its ring center point. At the same time, the positioning mechanism 2 is in alignment and cooperation with the positioning slots 9 corresponding to different functional lenses 4 to control the rotation angle, so as to switch different functional lenses 4 to be combined with an external lens for imaging adjustment effect range extension. This embodiment realizes different functions by wheel-type rotating functional lenses 4 in cooperation with a camera module, thereby avoiding the high cost of using multiple modules. Compared with the traditional method of matching one chip with one camera module, this embodiment only uses one image chip to realize the functions of telephoto, wide-angle, macro, and high-resolution, greatly reducing the manufacturing cost of the camera.

[0033] As a specific implementation manner, as shown in Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 shown, the positioning mechanism 2 includes a stator 13 and a limit retaining ring 21. The stator 13 penetrates the central hole of the lens carrier 1, and the lens carrier 1 rotates around the stator 13. The limit retaining ring 21 is fixedly sleeved on the stator 13, and the limit retaining ring 21 is located between the stator 13 and the lens carrier 1. A limit convex block 24 is arranged on the outer side wall of the limit retaining ring 21. The limit convex block 24 is in alignment and cooperation with the positioning slot 9. During the rotation of the lens carrier 1, when a certain functional lens 4 needs to be used, the positioning slot 9 corresponding to this functional lens 4 is rotated to the limit convex block 24 on the limit retaining ring 21 and cooperates with it to limit the position of this functional lens 4.

[0034] Specifically, as shown in Figure 7As shown, the outer wall of the limiting clamp 21 is provided with an arc groove, and the limiting protrusion is an arc structure. One end of the limiting protrusion 24 is connected to the arc groove, and a certain gap is formed between the other end and the arc groove, and its end protrudes radially from the arc groove along the limiting clamp 21, which is used to align with the positioning groove 9 on the lens carrier 1.

[0035] Furthermore, the two opposite side walls of the positioning slot 9 are respectively a first vertical surface 19 and a first inclined surface 20, and the first vertical surface 19 and the first inclined surface 20 of each positioning slot 9 are arranged alternately in sequence, and the limiting protrusion 24 has a second vertical surface 22 and a second inclined surface 23 corresponding to the first vertical surface 19 and the first inclined surface 20 of the positioning slot 9 respectively; through the structural design of the positioning slot 9 and the limiting clamp ring 21, the lens carrier 1 can only rotate in one direction relative to the positioning mechanism 2, as in this embodiment. Figure 7 As shown, the lens carrier 1 rotates in the clockwise direction. When the positioning slot 9 is aligned with the limiting protrusion 24, the arc-shaped groove portion of the limiting protrusion 24 protruding from the limiting snap ring 21 is engaged in the positioning slot 9. When switching the functional lens 4, the lens carrier 1 is rotated clockwise. At this time, the first inclined surface 20 of the positioning slot 9 cooperates with the second inclined surface 23 of the limiting protrusion 24, so that the portion of the limiting protrusion 24 engaged in the positioning slot 9 is rotated out of the positioning slot 9, thereby achieving the purpose of switching different functional lenses 4; at the same time, when the limiting protrusion 24 is engaged in the positioning slot 9, the lens carrier 1 rotates in the opposite direction (i.e., counterclockwise). At this time, the first vertical surface 19 of the positioning slot 9 will abut against the second vertical surface 22 of the limiting protrusion 24, thereby preventing the lens carrier 1 from rotating. This step-by-step limiting method of the positioning slot 9 and the limiting snap ring 21 in this embodiment can effectively improve the positioning accuracy when switching functional lenses.

[0036] Specifically, Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the stator 13 includes a chassis 16 and a positioning column 15, the positioning column 15 is located on the chassis 16, a first annular limit block 10 is provided at the bottom of the inner wall of the lens carrier 1, the positioning column 15 passes through the first annular limit block 10, the chassis 16 abuts against the lower surface of the first annular limit block 10, and the first annular limit block 10 can also play a limiting support role for the limiting clamp 21, thereby ensuring the stability of the connection between the positioning mechanism 2 and the lens carrier 1.

[0037] Optional, such as Figure 8As shown, the positioning mechanism 2 also includes a cover 25, through which the movable part between the lens carrier 1 and the positioning mechanism 2 is sealed to prevent debris from entering and affecting the service life of the extended-range lens switching structure. Specifically, the cover 25 includes a cover plate 26 and a gear 27 stacked up and down, and the cover plate 26 and the gear 27 are coaxially arranged annular structures. The upper surface of the stator 13 is provided with a positioning block 14, and the cover 25 is sleeved on the positioning block 14 to achieve the fixation of the cover 25 and the stator 13. The upper part of the inner side wall of the lens carrier 1 is provided with a second annular limit block 11, and the lower surface of the cover plate 26 abuts against the upper surface of the second annular limit block 11. The gear 27 meshes with the inner side wall of the second annular limit block 11. This structural form of the cover 25 ensures the sealing between the cover 25 and the lens carrier 1 without affecting the rotation of the lens carrier 1.

[0038] Further, such as Figure 9 As shown, a glass sheet 5 is provided on the upper surface of the lens carrier 1 , and the glass sheet 5 covers each of the functional lenses 4 to prevent external oil from contaminating the functional lenses 4 .

[0039] In addition, if Figure 10 As shown, this embodiment further provides a camera, including a camera module 28, a driving module, and the extended-range lens switching structure in the above embodiment; the extended-range lens switching structure is placed above the camera module 28, the lens through hole 3 of the lens carrier 1 corresponds to the lens of the camera module 28, the driving module is connected to the driving member 12 of the lens carrier 1 by transmission, and drives the lens carrier 1 to rotate, thereby switching different functional lenses 4 to correspond to and cover the lens of the camera module 28. Among them, the camera module 28 is a prior art, and its specific structure is not repeated here.

[0040] Furthermore, the camera also includes a back-sticking module 6, on which a plurality of lens holes 7 are provided, and the back-sticking module 6 is placed between the lens carrier 1 and the camera module 28, and the lens holes 7 correspond to the lens through holes 3 on the lens carrier 1, and the back-sticking module 6 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the extended-range lens switching structure. As for a specific connection method between the back-sticking module 6 and the extended-range lens switching structure, a magnetic part can be used for adsorption and fixation; specifically, as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, a magnet positioning groove 17 for installing a first magnet 18 is provided at the bottom of the positioning mechanism 2. Specifically, the magnet positioning groove 17 is installed on the chassis 16 of the stator 13. A second magnet 8 adsorbed to the first magnet 18 in the magnet positioning groove 17 is pasted on the upper surface of the back-stick module 6. The back-stick module 6 is fixed to the positioning mechanism 2 by the adsorption effect of the first magnet 18 and the second magnet 8.

[0041] In summary, the extended-range lens switching structure provided by the present invention adopts a wheel layout for functional lenses with different functions, and drives the rotation of the lens carrier by an external force to drive the switching of the functional lenses. Thus, only one micro camera module can be used to achieve different functions such as telephoto, wide-angle, macro, and high resolution, avoiding the high cost of using multiple modules and greatly reducing the manufacturing cost of the camera. Moreover, when the extended-range lens switching structure is applied to a mobile phone, the occupied size of the module inside the mobile phone can be reduced, the utilization rate of the internal space of the mobile phone can be improved, and at the same time, it can be modularized and externally placed as a component peripheral and assembled on the back of the mobile phone, with a wide range of applications.

[0042] The above examples are only illustrative of the present invention and do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention. Any design identical or similar to the present invention falls within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An extended-range lens switching structure, characterized in that: It includes several different functional lenses, a lens carrier for carrying the functional lenses, and a positioning mechanism; the lens carrier is of an annular structure, and several lens through-holes are arranged at intervals along its circumferential direction on the annular surface, and each of the functional lenses is correspondingly placed in the lens through-holes. A driving member for driving connection with an external power transmission is provided on the outer side wall of the lens carrier to drive the lens carrier to rotate. Positioning grooves are provided on the inner side wall of the lens carrier corresponding to each lens through-hole. The positioning mechanism is placed at the center of the lens carrier, and the positioning mechanism is in alignment and cooperation with the positioning grooves to realize the positioning of the rotation position of the lens carrier; The positioning mechanism includes a stator and a limit retaining ring. The stator penetrates through the central hole of the lens carrier, and the limit retaining ring is fixedly sleeved on the stator. Limit protrusions are provided on the outer side wall of the limit retaining ring; an arc-shaped groove is provided on the outer side wall of the limit retaining ring. The limit protrusions are of an arc-shaped structure. One end of the limit protrusion is connected to the arc-shaped groove, and a certain gap is formed between the other end and the arc-shaped groove, and its end protrudes radially from the arc-shaped groove along the limit retaining ring for alignment and cooperation with the positioning grooves on the lens carrier; the two opposite side walls of the positioning groove are respectively a first vertical surface and a first inclined surface, and the first vertical surfaces and the first inclined surfaces of each positioning groove are arranged alternately in sequence. The limit protrusion has a second vertical surface and a second inclined surface respectively corresponding to the first vertical surface and the first inclined surface of the positioning groove; The positioning mechanism further includes a cover. The cover includes a cover plate and a gear stacked up and down. The cover plate and the gear are of annular structures arranged coaxially. A positioning block is provided on the upper surface of the stator. The cover is sleeved on the positioning block. A second annular limit block is provided on the upper part of the inner side wall of the lens carrier. The lower surface of the cover plate abuts against the upper surface of the second annular limit block, and the gear meshes with the inner side wall of the second annular limit block.

2. The extended-range lens switching structure according to claim 1, wherein: The stator includes a chassis and a positioning column. The positioning column is located on the chassis. A first annular limit block is provided on the bottom of the inner side wall of the lens carrier. The positioning column penetrates through the first annular limit block, and the chassis abuts against the lower surface of the first annular limit block.

3. The range-extended lens switching structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A glass sheet is provided on the upper surface of the lens carrier, and the glass sheet covers each of the functional lenses.

4. The range-extended lens switching structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The functional lens is any one of a wide-angle lens, a telephoto lens, a macro lens, a high-resolution lens, and a front lens, and the functional lenses installed in each lens through-hole are different.

5. A camera, characterized in that: It includes a camera module, a driving module, and an extended-range lens switching structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4; the extended-range lens switching structure is placed above the camera module. The lens through-holes of the lens carrier correspond to the lens of the camera module. The driving module is in transmission connection with the driving member of the lens carrier to drive the lens carrier to rotate, so as to realize switching different functional lenses to correspond to and cover the lens of the camera module.

6. The camera according to claim 5, characterized in that: It further includes a back sticker module. A plurality of lens holes are provided on the back sticker module. The back sticker module is placed between the lens carrier and the camera module, and the lens holes correspond to the lens through-holes on the lens carrier. The back sticker module is fixedly connected to the bottom of the extended-range lens switching structure.

7. The camera according to claim 6, characterized in that: A magnet positioning groove for installing a first magnet is provided at the bottom of the positioning mechanism, and a second magnet adsorbed to the first magnet in the magnet positioning groove is pasted on the upper surface of the back sticker module.

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