Lens assembly with variable aperture and corresponding camera module

Abstract

The present application relates to a lens assembly with variable aperture, comprising: a housing; an optical lens; and a variable aperture comprising a first cylindrical body, a second cylindrical body, a second suspension system, a second driving device and a leaf group; the first cylindrical body is sleeved outside the second cylindrical body, and the first cylindrical body is movably connected with the second cylindrical body through the second suspension system; wherein the second cylindrical body surrounds the head of the optical lens, the leaf group is installed on the top surface of the second cylindrical body, and each leaf of the leaf group is adapted to move under the driving of the second cylindrical body to adjust the aperture of the light transmission hole in the center of the leaf group. The present application also provides a corresponding camera module. The present application can miniaturize the lens assembly with variable aperture and the corresponding camera module, so as to make them suitable for being carried on electronic devices such as mobile phones.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of camera module technology, and more specifically, to a lens assembly with a variable aperture and a corresponding camera module. Background Technology

[0002] Mobile phone camera modules are a crucial component of smart devices, and their application scope and volume in the market are constantly growing. With technological advancements, both work and life are increasingly emphasizing smart technology, and a key prerequisite for achieving this is effective interaction with the external environment. A crucial method for achieving this interaction is visual perception, which primarily relies on camera modules. It can be said that camera modules have transformed from obscurity into a vital and critical component of smart devices.

[0003] Aperture is a crucial parameter affecting the image quality of a camera module. In recent years, large apertures have become a significant development trend in high-end mobile phone camera modules. However, a large aperture is not always beneficial for improving image quality. For example, in bright sunlight outdoors, an excessively large aperture can lead to overexposure, negatively impacting image quality. Therefore, variable apertures represent a better future direction for mobile phone photography. The working principle of a variable aperture is generally as follows: in bright light, the camera can reduce the aperture to achieve greater depth of field and a sharper image; while in low light conditions at night, increasing the aperture increases the amount of light entering the camera, resulting in a cleaner image with higher exposure and lower noise. Currently, most mainstream mobile phone camera modules cannot change the aperture size, thus failing to adapt to various shooting environments. This leads to many phones experiencing overexposure in bright sunlight outdoors and underexposure, resulting in dark, noisy images and loss of detail when shooting at night.

[0004] Unlike traditional cameras (such as SLR cameras), mobile phone camera modules are limited by the small space within the phone, necessitating miniaturization and compact design. One approach to miniaturization is to fix the aperture itself, adjusting the axial distance between the aperture and the lens (the axial direction refers to the optical axis, and the axial distance is the distance along the optical axis) to regulate the amount of light entering the lens, effectively achieving a variable aperture effect. However, this type of aperture cannot directly adjust the aperture, and its ability to regulate the amount of light remains insufficient. Therefore, there is a growing expectation to apply traditional adjustable apertures to mobile phone camera modules. Adjustable apertures are primarily used in traditional cameras (such as SLR cameras). They typically consist of multiple blades and their driving mechanism. These blades surround each other to form an adjustable aperture, and the driving mechanism is usually positioned around the blades to rotate them and adjust the size of the aperture. This structure results in a relatively large radial dimension of the variable aperture (radial refers to the direction perpendicular to the optical axis). Placing the variable aperture on the object-side end face of the lens significantly increases the radial dimension of the lens assembly head, making it difficult to fit the lens assembly within the back casing of the phone. In other words, adding a variable aperture presents a significant challenge to the miniaturization design of mobile phone camera modules. Furthermore, incorporating a variable aperture requires consideration of its electrical circuit layout and connections; how to power the variable aperture is also a major challenge in mobile phone camera module design.

[0005] In conclusion, there is an urgent need for a miniaturized lens assembly with variable aperture and a corresponding camera module solution. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a solution for a miniaturized lens assembly with a variable aperture and a corresponding camera module.

[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems, the present invention provides a lens assembly with a variable aperture, comprising: a housing having a central through-hole; an optical lens having a main body and a head protruding from the main body, the connection between the main body and the head forming a shoulder, and the head extending from the central through-hole of the housing; and a variable aperture comprising a first cylindrical body, a second cylindrical body, a second suspension system, a second drive device, and a blade assembly; the first cylindrical body is fitted around the outside of the second cylindrical body, and the first cylindrical body is movably connected to the second cylindrical body via the second suspension system. The second cylindrical body surrounds the head of the optical lens, the blade assembly is mounted on the top surface of the second cylindrical body, and each blade of the blade assembly is adapted to move under the drive of the second cylindrical body to adjust the aperture of the light-transmitting hole at the center of the blade assembly.

[0008] The bottom surface of the first cylindrical body is mounted on the shoulder of the optical lens.

[0009] The variable aperture also includes a top cover, which is installed on the top surface of the first cylindrical body and is located above the blade assembly.

[0010] The variable aperture further includes a top cover, which is mounted on the top surface of the first cylindrical body and is located above the blade assembly. The inner side of the first cylindrical body, the upper surface of the shoulder of the optical lens, the outer side of the head of the optical lens, and the top cover are encapsulated into a receiving cavity, and the second cylindrical body is located in the receiving cavity.

[0011] The second drive device and the second suspension system are both located within the receiving cavity.

[0012] The lens assembly further includes: a lens carrier disposed within the housing, wherein the main body of the optical lens is fixed to the lens carrier; a first suspension system, wherein the housing is movably connected to the lens carrier via the first suspension system; and a first driving device disposed within the housing and adapted to drive the lens carrier to move relative to the housing; wherein the bottom surface of the first cylindrical body rests against and is mounted on the lens carrier and / or the shoulder of the optical lens.

[0013] The variable aperture also includes a second circuit board, which surrounds the outer side of the first cylindrical body.

[0014] The second circuit board has a flexible connecting strip, which is electrically connected to an electrode sheet disposed on the top surface of the lens carrier.

[0015] The first suspension system includes a spring plate, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the housing and the lens carrier. The flexible connecting strip is electrically connected to a wire disposed on the housing through the electrode sheet and the spring plate.

[0016] The spring includes an upper spring and a lower spring. The upper spring connects the housing to the top of the lens carrier, and the lower spring connects the housing to the bottom of the lens carrier. The flexible connecting strip is electrically connected to the wires disposed on the housing through the electrode sheet and the upper spring.

[0017] The second suspension system includes ball bearings disposed between the outer side of the second cylindrical body and the inner side of the first cylindrical body. The ball bearings support the first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body in the radial direction, and restrict the degree of freedom of movement of the second cylindrical body relative to the first cylindrical body to the direction of rotation about a central axis, where the central axis is the central axis of the second cylindrical body and the radial direction is perpendicular to the central axis.

[0018] The outer surface of the second cylindrical body is provided with a ball groove, and the ball is disposed in the ball groove.

[0019] The second suspension system further includes a second spring plate, and the first cylindrical body is movably connected to the second cylindrical body through the second spring plate.

[0020] The second driving device includes a second coil and a second magnet, with the second coil fixed to the first cylindrical body and the second magnet fixed to the second cylindrical body.

[0021] The top of the first cylindrical body extends inward to form a first extension, the bottom of the first cylindrical body extends inward to form a second extension, and the sidewall of the second cylindrical body is located between the first extension and the second extension.

[0022] The top of the second cylindrical body extends inward to form a third extension, the upper surface of which has a second positioning post. Each blade of the blade assembly has a strip-shaped guide hole. The second positioning post passes through the guide hole and is adapted to move along the trajectory defined by the guide hole when the second cylindrical body rotates.

[0023] The upper surface of the first extension has a first positioning post, each blade of the blade group has a positioning hole, the first positioning post passes upward through the positioning hole, and the blade is adapted to rotate about the first positioning post as an axis when the second cylindrical body rotates.

[0024] The top cover is attached with a light-absorbing layer, which is formed of a blackbody material. The light reflectivity of the blackbody material is less than that of the materials used to make the lens barrel, the first cylindrical body, the second cylindrical body, and the blade.

[0025] According to another aspect of this application, a camera module is also provided, comprising: a lens assembly as described in any of the preceding embodiments; and a photosensitive assembly, wherein the lens assembly is mounted on the top surface of the photosensitive assembly, and the photosensitive assembly includes a photosensitive chip for receiving imaging light passing through the lens assembly and outputting imaging data.

[0026] The photosensitive component further includes a first circuit board; the variable aperture further includes a second circuit board, which surrounds the outer side of the first cylindrical body; the second circuit board has a flexible connecting strip, which is electrically connected to an electrode sheet disposed on the top surface of the lens carrier; and the first suspension system includes a spring, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the housing and the lens carrier, the flexible connecting strip being electrically connected to a wire disposed on the housing through the electrode sheet and the spring, and the wire disposed on the housing extending downward along the housing and connecting to the first circuit board of the photosensitive component.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, this application has at least one of the following technical effects:

[0028] 1. This application designs the fixed and movable parts of the variable aperture as cylindrical and nests them around the head of the optical lens, thereby significantly reducing the radial dimension occupied by the variable aperture. This allows the shoulder height of the camera module with the variable aperture to be reduced, which in turn makes it easier to reduce the thickness of electronic devices (such as mobile phones) equipped with the camera module.

[0029] 2. In some embodiments of this application, the movable part of the variable aperture can be encapsulated in a cavity between its fixed part and the outer side of the lens barrel, thereby protecting the movable part of the variable aperture.

[0030] 3. In some embodiments of this application, the movable part of the variable aperture can be encapsulated in a cavity between its fixed part and the outer side of the lens barrel. Since the outer side of the lens barrel is used to form the encapsulation cavity, only a cylindrical fixed part needs to be added to encapsulate the variable aperture. In other words, the size of the outer shell added for encapsulating the variable aperture can be reduced, thereby helping to reduce the space occupied by the variable aperture.

[0031] 4. In some embodiments of this application, the blade assembly may have multiple blades, and the rotation of these blades can flexibly adjust the size of the light-transmitting aperture, thereby adjusting the amount of light entering and thus helping to improve the imaging quality.

[0032] 5. In some embodiments of this application, a circuit board for the variable aperture can be disposed around its fixing portion, and a flexible connecting strip can be led out from the circuit board. This flexible connecting strip achieves electrical connection with the photosensitive component through a lens carrier of a motor structure and its spring. This design facilitates the assembly of the camera module.

[0033] 6. In some embodiments of this application, a light-absorbing layer is provided on the top cover of the variable aperture, thereby reducing stray light entering the optical lens. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1A longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of a lens assembly with a variable aperture according to an embodiment of this application is shown;

[0035] Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of a variable aperture in one embodiment of this application is shown;

[0036] Figure 3 A perspective view of the second cylindrical body in one embodiment of this application is shown;

[0037] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the first cylindrical body, the second cylindrical body, and the blade assembly assembled together in one embodiment of this application is shown;

[0038] Figure 5 This illustration shows a schematic diagram of a first cylindrical body, a second cylindrical body, a second drive device, a second suspension system, and a blade assembly assembled together in one embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 6 An embodiment of this application is shown in Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the assembly of the second circuit board based on the existing circuit board.

[0040] Figure 7 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the variable aperture after its top cover and the rest of the part are separated in one embodiment of this application is shown;

[0041] Figure 8 An exploded perspective view of a camera module according to one embodiment of this application is shown;

[0042] Figure 9 A perspective view of a camera module with a variable aperture in one embodiment of this application is shown;

[0043] Figure 10 A perspective view of a lens assembly with the optical lens head removed, according to one embodiment of this application, is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0044] To better understand this application, various aspects of this application will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these detailed descriptions are merely illustrative of exemplary embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of this application in any way. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The expression "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0045] It should be noted that in this specification, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish one feature from another and do not imply any limitation on the features. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of this application, the first subject discussed below may also be referred to as the second subject.

[0046] In the accompanying drawings, the thickness, size, and shape of the objects have been slightly exaggerated for ease of illustration. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not drawn to scale.

[0047] It should also be understood that the terms "comprising," "including," "having," "containing," and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, indicate the presence of the stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. Furthermore, when expressions such as "at least one of..." appear after a list of listed features, they modify the entire listed feature, not individual elements in the list. Additionally, when describing embodiments of this application, the word "may" is used to mean "one or more embodiments of this application." And the term "exemplary" is intended to refer to an example or illustration.

[0048] As used herein, the terms “basically,” “approximately,” and similar terms are used as terms of approximation rather than terms of degree, and are intended to describe inherent biases in measured or calculated values ​​that will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

[0049] Unless otherwise specified, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains. It should also be understood that terms (e.g., those defined in common dictionaries) shall be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so specified herein.

[0050] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0051] Figure 1 A longitudinal cross-sectional schematic diagram of a lens assembly with a variable aperture according to an embodiment of this application is shown. (Reference) Figure 1 In this embodiment, the lens assembly includes a variable aperture 100, a housing 310, an optical lens 200, a lens carrier, a first drive device, and a first suspension system. In this embodiment, the housing 310, lens carrier, first drive device, and first suspension system can constitute a motor structure, which can be used to achieve functions such as optical image stabilization and / or autofocus. Note that... Figure 1The details of the lens carrier, first drive device, and first suspension system in the motor structure are not shown in the original drawing. In this embodiment, the housing 310 has a central through-hole. The optical lens 200 includes a lens barrel and a lens group mounted within the lens barrel. Externally, the optical lens 200 has a main body 210 and a head 220 protruding from the main body 210. The main body 210 is located inside the housing 310, and the head 220 extends from the central through-hole of the housing 310. A shoulder 211 is formed at the connection between the main body 210 and the head 220 (this shoulder 211 may be part of the main body 210; typically, the upper surface of the shoulder 211 can be flat). The lens carrier is located inside the housing 310, and the housing 310 is movably connected to the lens carrier via the first suspension system, allowing the lens carrier to be suspended within the housing 310. The optical lens 200 is mounted on the lens carrier. The first drive device is disposed within the housing 310 and is adapted to drive the lens carrier to move relative to the housing 310. Furthermore, Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of a variable aperture in one embodiment of this application is shown; Figure 3 A perspective view of the second cylindrical body in one embodiment of this application is shown; Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing the first cylindrical body, the second cylindrical body, and the blade assembly assembled together in one embodiment of this application is shown; Figure 5 This diagram illustrates a combination of a first cylindrical body, a second cylindrical body, a second drive device, a second suspension system, and a blade assembly in one embodiment of this application. (See reference) Figure 2-5 In this embodiment, the variable aperture 100 includes a first cylindrical body 110, a second cylindrical body 120, and a second suspension system 160 (which may include, for example, ball bearings and elastic elements). Figure 2 The image shows an elastic element (not shown), a second drive unit 170 (which may include, for example, a second coil and a second magnet), a blade assembly 140, and a top cover 150. (Refer to reference...) Figure 1 and Figure 2A first cylindrical body 110 is fitted over the outer side of a second cylindrical body 120, and the first cylindrical body 110 is movably connected to the second cylindrical body 120 via a second suspension system 160, allowing the first cylindrical body 110 to suspend the second cylindrical body 120. The second cylindrical body 120 surrounds the head 220 of the optical lens 200. The blade assembly 140 is mounted on the top surface of the second cylindrical body 120. Specifically, the blade assembly 140 includes a plurality of blades; in this embodiment, the blade assembly 140 has six blades. Each blade of the blade assembly 140 is arranged in a circular pattern to form a light-transmitting hole in the center of the blade assembly 140. Each blade is adapted to rotate under the drive of the second cylindrical body 120 to adjust the aperture of the light-transmitting hole in the center of the blade assembly 140. The top cover 150 is mounted on the top surface of the first cylindrical body 110, and the top cover 150 is located above the blade assembly 140 (in this embodiment, "above" refers to the object side). The top cover 150 also has a light-transmitting hole, and the diameter of the light-transmitting hole of the top cover 150 is larger than the maximum diameter of the light-transmitting hole of the blade assembly 140. The top cover 150 can protect the blades from damage during shooting and can also effectively block external dust, preventing external dust from falling into the blades and affecting the lens imaging.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the first cylindrical body 110 serves as the fixed part of the variable aperture 100, and the second cylindrical body 120 serves as the movable part of the variable aperture 100, so that the fixed part and the movable part can be nested together. Furthermore, the movable part is disposed around the outer side of the head 220 of the optical lens 200. With this design, the fixed part, the upper surface of the shoulder 211 of the optical lens 200, the outer side of the head 220 of the optical lens 200, and the top cover 150 can be encapsulated into a receiving cavity. The movable part of the variable aperture 100 can be disposed within this receiving cavity, and the second drive device and the second suspension system can also be disposed within this receiving cavity located outside the head 220 of the optical lens 200, thereby preventing the radial dimension (radial refers to the direction perpendicular to the optical axis) of the variable aperture 100 from being too large. Furthermore, this receiving cavity can also protect the movable part of the variable aperture 100 and the corresponding second drive device and second suspension system. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the variable aperture 100 can be assembled independently first, and then the variable aperture 100 can be integrally mounted onto the optical lens 200 (for example, the bottom surface of the first cylindrical body 110 can be bonded to the shoulder 211 of the optical lens 200, which can be referred to in conjunction with the reference). Figure 8 , Figure 8An exploded perspective view of a camera module according to one embodiment of this application is shown. This assembly process helps reduce manufacturing difficulty and facilitates mass production. In a modified embodiment, the bottom surface of the first cylindrical body 110 may also rest on and be mounted on the lens carrier; or the bottom surface of the first cylindrical body 110 may also rest on and be mounted on the shoulder 211 of the lens carrier and the optical lens 200.

[0053] Furthermore, Figure 6 An embodiment of this application is shown in Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the assembly of the second circuit board based on the existing circuit board. (Refer to the reference.) Figure 1-6 In one embodiment of this application, the variable aperture 100 may further include a second circuit board 130, which surrounds the outer side of the first cylindrical body 110. The second circuit board 130 has a flexible connecting strip 131, which is electrically connected to an electrode sheet disposed on the top surface of the lens carrier. In this embodiment, the housing 310 is rectangular, and the flexible connecting strip 131 may be disposed in the area corresponding to the corner of the housing 310 to improve space utilization, minimize the space occupied by the connecting mechanism of the flexible connecting strip 131, and reduce the volume of the lens assembly and the corresponding camera module. Specifically, there may be two flexible connecting strips 131, which are respectively connected to the two corner areas on the diagonal of the housing 310. The second circuit board 130 may have a position sensor circuit and a coil driving circuit. The coil driving circuit is used to provide a driving current to the second coil so as to drive the second cylindrical body 120 to move based on the electromagnetic induction effect. The sensor circuit can be used to detect the position of the blade so that the light-transmitting aperture of the variable aperture 100 can be adjusted to a suitable diameter (i.e., aperture), thereby obtaining the appropriate aperture parameters during the shooting process.

[0054] Furthermore, still referencing Figure 1-6 and in conjunction with references Figure 8 In one embodiment of this application, the first suspension system includes a spring, with its two ends connected to the housing 310 and the lens carrier, respectively. The flexible connecting strip 131 is electrically connected to a wire disposed on the housing 310 via the electrode sheet and the spring. This wire can extend downwards along the housing 310 and further connect to the photosensitive assembly 400 (see reference 1). Figure 9 and Figure 10 The circuit board of the photosensitive component 400 is electrically connected. The circuit board of the photosensitive component 400 can also be referred to as the first circuit board.

[0055] Furthermore, still referencing Figure 1-6 and in conjunction with references Figure 8In one embodiment of this application, the spring sheet may include an upper spring sheet and a lower spring sheet. The upper spring sheet movably connects the housing 310 to the top of the lens carrier, and the lower spring sheet movably connects the housing 310 to the bottom of the lens carrier. A flexible connecting strip 131 is electrically connected to a wire disposed on the housing 310 via the electrode sheet and the upper spring sheet. This wire can extend downwards along the housing 310, further connecting to the photosensitive assembly 400 (see reference 400). Figure 9 and Figure 10 The circuit board is electrically connected.

[0056] Furthermore, still referencing Figure 1-6 and in conjunction with references Figure 8 In one embodiment of this application, the second suspension system may include ball bearings 162 disposed between the outer surface of the second cylindrical body 120 and the inner surface of the first cylindrical body 110. The ball bearings radially support the first cylindrical body 110 and the second cylindrical body 120, restricting the degree of freedom of movement of the second cylindrical body 120 relative to the first cylindrical body 110 to the direction of rotation about a central axis. The central axis is the central axis of the second cylindrical body 120, and the radial direction is perpendicular to the central axis. In this embodiment, the first cylindrical body 110 and the second cylindrical body 120 are coaxially nested, therefore the central axis of the second cylindrical body 120 is actually the central axis of the first cylindrical body 110. The outer surface of the second cylindrical body 120 is provided with a ball bearing groove 121, and the ball bearings 162 are disposed within the ball bearing groove 121. In this embodiment, a ball bearing structure is provided between the movable part (i.e., the second cylindrical body 120) and the fixed part (i.e., the first cylindrical body 110) of the variable aperture 100. The ball bearing structure can be used to assist the movement of the movable part relative to the fixed part. A coil magnet structure is provided on both the movable part and the fixed part. When energized, the movable part moves relative to the fixed part, causing a change in the diameter of the variable aperture 100, thus altering the amount of light entering the optical lens 200. An electrical line connected to the fixed part extends into the motor structure 300 of the module and connects to the energizing device within the motor structure 300, thereby energizing the variable aperture 100. In this embodiment, the housing 310, lens carrier, first drive device, and first suspension system can constitute the motor structure 300, which can be used to achieve functions such as optical image stabilization and / or autofocus.

[0057] Furthermore, Figure 9 A perspective view of a camera module with a variable aperture in one embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 10 A perspective view of a lens assembly with the optical lens head removed, according to one embodiment of this application, is shown. Figure 10The connection between the flexible connecting strip 131 and the lens carrier of the motor 300 can be shown more clearly in the reference. Figure 2 , Figure 8-10 In one embodiment of this application, the motor structure 300 of the lens assembly, compared to a conventional motor structure, has a reserved connection position for the second circuit board 130 of the variable aperture 100. A certain gap is left between the housing 310 (i.e., the motor housing) and the upper end surface of the lens carrier (i.e., the top surface of the lens carrier), and a connection position (also called an electrode plate) for the variable aperture 100 circuit is provided in this gap. This connection position can be implemented as a solder pad, or other electrical connection structure. The flexible connecting strip 131 of the second circuit board 130 of the variable aperture 100 is connected to the solder pad (or other electrical connection structure) provided on the upper end surface of the motor. For example, the flexible connecting strip 131 and the solder pad can be fixed by welding, thereby achieving both mechanical and electrical connection. In this way, the motor can provide operating current for the operation of the variable aperture 100. The gap between the motor housing and the upper surface of the lens carrier can, on the one hand, provide space for the installation of the flexible connecting strip 131 of the variable aperture 100, and on the other hand, accommodate the motor's wiring structure inside the motor housing, thereby protecting the wiring structure and improving the stability and reliability of the product.

[0058] Further, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 In one embodiment of this application, the second suspension system 160 may include a second spring 161 and a ball bearing 162 (note that...). Figure 2 (The second spring is not shown in the diagram). The first cylindrical body 110 is movably connected to the second cylindrical body 120 via the second spring 161. That is, in this embodiment, the bottom of the movable part of the variable aperture 100 (i.e., the second cylindrical body 120) does not contact its fixed part (i.e., the first cylindrical body 110), but the movable part of the variable aperture 100 (i.e., the second cylindrical body 120) is suspended in the fixed part (i.e., the first cylindrical body 110) via the second spring 161.

[0059] Further, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 In one embodiment of this application, the second driving device 170 includes a second coil 171 and a second magnet 172, the second coil 171 being fixed to the first cylindrical body 110, and the second magnet 172 being fixed to the second cylindrical body 120. (Referring to the reference...) Figure 3 The outer surface of the second cylindrical body 120 may be provided with a magnet mounting groove 122, and the second magnet 172 may be fixed in the magnet mounting groove 122.

[0060] Further, refer to Figure 1-5 In one embodiment of this application, the top of the first cylindrical body 110 extends inward to form a first extension 113, the bottom of the first cylindrical body 110 extends inward to form a second extension 114, and the sidewall of the second cylindrical body 120 is located between the first extension 113 and the second extension 114. (See reference...) Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 In specific implementation, the first cylindrical body 110 can be assembled from two independently formed components: an upper component 111 and a lower component 112. The upper component 111 may include a first sidewall and a first extension 113 extending inward from the top of the first sidewall. The lower component may include a second sidewall and a second extension 114 extending inward from the bottom of the second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls together constitute the sidewalls of the first cylindrical body 110. The connection between the first and second sidewalls may have a hollow area 119 to accommodate the installation of the second coil 171 (see reference). Figure 5 This design facilitates electrical connection between the coil and the second circuit board 130 located on the outside (i.e., the second circuit board 130 located around the side wall of the first cylindrical body 110), while also allowing the second coil 171 to be positioned closer to the second magnet 172 without any obstructions between them.

[0061] Further, refer to Figure 1-6 In one embodiment of this application, the top of the second cylindrical body 120 extends inward to form a third extension 115. The upper surface of the third extension 115 has a second positioning post 117. Each blade of the blade assembly 140 has a strip-shaped guide hole 141. The second positioning post 117 passes through the guide hole 141, and when the second cylindrical body 120 rotates, the second positioning post 117 is adapted to move along the trajectory defined by the guide hole 141 within the guide hole 141. The upper surface of the first extension 113 has a first positioning post 116. Each blade of the blade assembly 140 has a positioning hole 142. The first positioning post 116 passes upward through the positioning hole 142, and when the second cylindrical body 120 rotates, the blade is adapted to rotate about the first positioning post 116 as an axis. Therefore, when the second cylindrical body 120 rotates, under the guidance of the first positioning post 116, the second positioning post 117 and the strip guide hole 141, each blade of the blade group 140 can be rotated in a controlled manner with the first positioning post 116 as the axis, thereby adjusting the aperture of the light-transmitting hole and changing the amount of light entering the optical lens 200.

[0062] Furthermore, Figure 7 A perspective view of the variable aperture top cover and the rest of the device after separation is shown in one embodiment of this application. (Refer to reference...) Figure 1-7 In one embodiment of this application, the top cover 150 is attached with a light-absorbing layer, which is formed of a blackbody material. The light-absorbing capacity of the blackbody material is greater than that of the lens barrel of the optical lens 200, the first cylindrical body 110, the second cylindrical body 120, and the blades. The top cover 150 can protect the blades from damage during shooting and effectively block external dust, preventing external dust from falling into the blades and affecting the lens imaging. Further, in this embodiment, the top cover 150 can be molded from plastic material, and then a film is coated on the surface of the molded plastic main structure to obtain a top cover 150 with a light-absorbing layer. Plastic material reflects light to a certain extent, and the reflected light enters the lens and forms stray light, affecting the imaging quality of the module. Therefore, in this embodiment, by setting a light-absorbing layer formed of blackbody material on the top cover, the top cover can absorb the light shining on it, thereby reducing some stray light. The top cover 150 may also be provided with limiting holes and guide holes that match the first positioning post 116 and the second positioning post 117, so that the first positioning post 116 and the second positioning post 117 can extend into the top cover 150. This design can help to further reduce the height of the variable aperture and the corresponding lens assembly and camera module.

[0063] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of this application, a camera module with a variable aperture 100 is also provided. The camera module may include a lens assembly and a photosensitive assembly. The lens assembly may be the lens assembly of any of the foregoing embodiments. (Reference) Figure 8-10The lens assembly is mounted on the top surface of the photosensitive assembly 400. The photosensitive assembly 400 includes a photosensitive chip for receiving imaging light passing through the lens assembly and outputting imaging data. In this embodiment, the photosensitive assembly 400 also includes a first circuit board. The variable aperture 100 also includes a second circuit board 130, which surrounds the outer side of the first cylindrical body 110. The second circuit board 130 has a flexible connecting strip 131, which is electrically connected to an electrode sheet disposed on the top surface of the lens carrier. The first suspension system includes a spring, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the housing 310 and the lens carrier. The flexible connecting strip 131 is electrically connected to a wire disposed on the housing 310 through the electrode sheet and the spring. The wire disposed on the housing 310 extends downward along the housing 310 and connects to the first circuit board of the photosensitive assembly 400. In this way, the variable aperture 100 can be connected to the first circuit board (usually the module circuit board of the entire module) located in the photosensitive component 400 to supply power to the variable aperture 100. In recent years, with the increase in consumer demand for mobile phone photography, the functions of mobile phone camera modules have become increasingly rich. Features such as portrait shooting, telephoto shooting, optical zoom, and optical image stabilization are all integrated into camera modules with limited space. Among them, autofocus and optical image stabilization often rely on optical actuators (optical actuators can sometimes also be called motors) to drive the lens movement. Therefore, more and more mobile phone camera modules need to be equipped with motors to realize the various functions required by consumers. In this embodiment, the housing 310, lens carrier, first driving device, and first suspension system can basically use the existing motor structure in the prior art. Therefore, its manufacturing process is relatively mature and easy to mass-produce. In the motor structure 300 comprised of the housing 310, lens carrier, first drive device, and first suspension system described in this embodiment, a certain gap is left between the housing 310 (i.e., the motor housing) and the upper end surface of the lens carrier (i.e., the top surface of the lens carrier). A connection point (also called an electrode plate) for the variable aperture 100 circuitry is provided in this gap. This connection point can be implemented as a solder pad, or other electrical connection structure. The flexible connecting strip 131 of the second circuit board 130 of the variable aperture 100 is connected to the solder pad (or other electrical connection structure) provided on the upper end surface of the motor. For example, the flexible connecting strip 131 and the solder pad can be fixed by welding, thereby achieving both mechanical and electrical connection. In this way, the motor can provide operating current for the operation of the variable aperture 100. The gap between the motor housing and the upper surface of the lens carrier can, on the one hand, provide space for the installation of the flexible connecting strip 131 of the variable aperture 100, and on the other hand, accommodate the motor's wiring structure inside the motor housing, thereby protecting the wiring structure and improving the stability and reliability of the product.

[0064] Furthermore, still referencing Figure 8-10 In one embodiment of this application, the flexible connecting strip 131 of the second circuit board 130 of the variable aperture 100 is disposed in a corner area of ​​the housing 310 (motor housing). There are two flexible connecting strips 131 on the side of the variable aperture 100, so the mounting positions on the upper surface of the lens carrier are located in two corner areas of the housing 310. Preferably, these two corner areas are two diagonally opposite corner areas of the housing 310. This design can reduce the installation space occupied by the variable aperture 100 circuitry. The bottom of the motor structure 300 has a solder joint structure, which connects the solder joint structure to the circuitry on the first circuit board of the photosensitive component 400 (e.g., through soldering), thus connecting it to the power supply circuitry. The motor circuitry can then be powered through the flexible connecting strip 131 of the variable aperture 100, connecting the functional circuitry of the variable aperture 100.

[0065] Furthermore, still referencing Figure 8-10 In one embodiment of this application, the photosensitive component 400 includes a photosensitive chip, a first circuit board, a molding base, and several gold wires and electronic components. The photosensitive chip is disposed on the upper surface of the first circuit board and electrically connected to the first circuit board via the gold wires. The electronic components are disposed on the side of the first circuit board. The molding base molds the electronic components and the gold wires inside it, and its shape is configured as a support for mounting the color filter. In this embodiment, the molding base can be directly formed on the first circuit board based on a molding process, thereby covering the electronic components and the gold wires inside the molding base. This solution can reduce the height of the camera module, thereby reserving more space (especially in the height direction) for the variable aperture 100. In this embodiment, the circuit of the variable aperture 100 is connected to the electrode sheet disposed on the upper end face of the lens carrier of the motor structure 300, and is electrically connected to the circuit of the photosensitive component 400 through the circuit of the motor structure 300 to achieve power supply. The blade group 140 of the variable aperture 100 is located at the front end of the optical lens 200 (i.e., the end closer to the object side). When the diameter of the variable aperture 100 changes, the area of ​​the blade group 140 covering the end face of the optical lens 200 changes, thereby flexibly adjusting the amount of light entering the optical lens 200 based on the environmental conditions of the actual shooting scene, thereby improving the imaging quality of the camera module.

[0066] Furthermore, according to some embodiments of this application, a multi-camera module is also provided, comprising at least one variable aperture camera module. This variable aperture camera module can be assembled with another camera module via a pre-formed bracket (which can be a metal bracket or a molded bracket with a metal core). In this configuration, the bracket can be used to maintain the collimation of the center rays of the variable aperture camera module and other camera modules. The variable aperture camera module can be combined with various different types of camera modules, such as gimbal camera modules, split camera modules, or liquid lens modules. Assembling the variable aperture camera module with other types of camera modules using a bracket to form a multi-camera module also allows for a more compact arrangement of the camera modules, saving space occupied by the modules in the terminal electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone).

[0067] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions to the technical solutions of the present invention do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lens assembly with a variable aperture, characterized in that, include: The casing has a central through-hole; An optical lens having a main body and a head protruding from the main body, a shoulder being formed at the connection between the main body and the head, and the head extending from the central through-hole of the housing; as well as The variable aperture includes a top cover, a first cylindrical body, a second cylindrical body, a second suspension system, a second drive device, and a blade assembly; the first cylindrical body is fitted over the outside of the second cylindrical body, and the first cylindrical body is movably connected to the second cylindrical body through the second suspension system; the top cover is installed on the top surface of the first cylindrical body, and the top cover is located above the blade assembly; The second cylindrical body surrounds the head of the optical lens, the blade assembly is mounted on the top surface of the second cylindrical body, and each blade of the blade assembly is adapted to move under the drive of the second cylindrical body to adjust the aperture of the light-transmitting hole in the center of the blade assembly. The bottom surface of the first cylindrical body is mounted on the shoulder of the optical lens. The inner side of the first cylindrical body, the upper surface of the shoulder of the optical lens, the outer side of the head of the optical lens, and the top cover are encapsulated to form a receiving cavity, and the second cylindrical body is located in the receiving cavity. The top cover is attached with a light-absorbing layer, which is formed of a blackbody material. The light reflectivity of the blackbody material is less than that of the materials used to make the lens barrel, the first cylindrical body, the second cylindrical body, and the blade.

2. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein, The variable aperture also includes a top cover, which is mounted on the top surface of the first cylindrical body and is located above the blade assembly.

3. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein, Both the second drive device and the second suspension system are disposed within the receiving cavity.

4. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein, The lens assembly also includes: A lens carrier is disposed within the housing, and the main body of the optical lens is fixed to the lens carrier; A first suspension system, wherein the housing is movably connected to the lens carrier via the first suspension system; and A first driving device is disposed within the housing and adapted to drive the lens carrier to move relative to the housing; The bottom surface of the first cylindrical body rests on and is mounted on the lens carrier and / or the shoulder of the optical lens.

5. The lens assembly of claim 4, wherein, The variable aperture also includes a second circuit board, which surrounds the outer side of the first cylindrical body.

6. The lens assembly of claim 5, wherein, The second circuit board has a flexible connecting strip, which is electrically connected to an electrode sheet disposed on the top surface of the lens carrier.

7. The lens assembly according to claim 6, wherein, The first suspension system includes a spring plate, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the housing and the lens carrier, and the flexible connecting strip is electrically connected to a wire disposed on the housing through the electrode plate and the spring plate.

8. The lens assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The spring includes an upper spring and a lower spring. The upper spring connects the housing to the top of the lens carrier, and the lower spring connects the housing to the bottom of the lens carrier. The flexible connecting strip is electrically connected to the wires disposed on the housing through the electrode sheet and the upper spring.

9. The lens assembly of claim 1, wherein, The second suspension system includes ball bearings disposed between the outer side of the second cylindrical body and the inner side of the first cylindrical body. The ball bearings support the first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body in the radial direction, and restrict the degree of freedom of movement of the second cylindrical body relative to the first cylindrical body to the direction of rotation about a central axis, the central axis being the central axis of the second cylindrical body, and the radial direction being the direction perpendicular to the central axis.

10. The lens assembly according to claim 9, wherein, The outer surface of the second cylindrical body is provided with a ball groove, and the ball is disposed in the ball groove.

11. The lens assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second suspension system further includes a second spring, and the first cylindrical body is movably connected to the second cylindrical body through the second spring.

12. The lens assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second driving device includes a second coil and a second magnet, the second coil being fixed to the first cylindrical body and the second magnet being fixed to the second cylindrical body.

13. The lens assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that, The top of the first cylindrical body extends inward to form a first extension, the bottom of the first cylindrical body extends inward to form a second extension, and the sidewall of the second cylindrical body is located between the first extension and the second extension.

14. The lens assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that, The top of the second cylindrical body extends inward to form a third extension, the upper surface of which has a second positioning post. Each blade of the blade assembly has a strip-shaped guide hole. The second positioning post passes through the guide hole and is adapted to move along the trajectory defined by the guide hole in the guide hole when the second cylindrical body rotates.

15. The lens assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that, The upper surface of the first extension has a first positioning post, each blade of the blade group has a positioning hole, the first positioning post passes upward through the positioning hole, and the blade is adapted to rotate about the first positioning post as an axis when the second cylindrical body rotates.

16. A camera module, characterized in that, include: The lens assembly according to any one of claims 1-15; as well as A photosensitive component, wherein the lens assembly is mounted on the top surface of the photosensitive component, the photosensitive component includes a photosensitive chip for receiving imaging light passing through the lens assembly and outputting imaging data.

17. The camera module according to claim 16, characterized in that, The photosensitive component also includes a first circuit board; The variable aperture also includes a second circuit board, which surrounds the outer side of the first cylindrical body; the second circuit board has a flexible connecting strip, which is electrically connected to an electrode sheet disposed on the top surface of the lens carrier; as well as The first suspension system includes a spring, the two ends of which are respectively connected to the housing and the lens carrier. The flexible connecting strip is electrically connected to a wire disposed on the housing through the electrode sheet and the spring. The wire disposed on the housing extends downward along the housing and is connected to the first circuit board of the photosensitive component.

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