Variable focal length lens device and camera module

Abstract

The application discloses a variable focal length lens device and a camera module, wherein the variable focal length lens device comprises a light-transmitting substrate, a deformable polymer, a bendable light-transmitting film and a driving unit. The polymer is supported on the light-transmitting substrate, the light-transmitting film is supported on the polymer, and the driving unit comprises a ring-shaped movable carrier and a piezoelectric cantilever beam. The movable carrier is connected to the edge of the light-transmitting film and is drivably connected to the movable end of the piezoelectric cantilever beam. When the piezoelectric cantilever beam is bent and deformed, the piezoelectric cantilever beam drives the edge of the light-transmitting film through the movable carrier, so that the light-transmitting film changes the surface shape of the polymer through bending and deformation, and the optical power of the variable focal length lens device is changed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to optical imaging devices, and in particular, to a variable focal length lens device and a camera module. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development and perfection of various functions of portable electronic devices, the camera module, as one of the important components of the portable electronic devices, has also been greatly developed in design and application. In order to meet the development trend of thin and light of the portable electronic devices, the industry attempts to apply the variable focal length lens widely used in the fields of medical treatment, industry, microscope, camera, etc. to the small size camera module. However, due to the complex structure and large volume of the existing variable focal length lens compared with the small size camera module arranged in the portable electronic device, it still has great challenges to apply the existing variable focal length lens to the small size camera module capable of mass production. SUMMARY

[0003] One object of the present application is to provide a variable focal length lens device and a camera module, wherein the variable focal length lens device provides a light transmission substrate, a light transmission film and a high polymer maintained between the light transmission substrate and the light transmission film, and the surface shape of the high polymer can be changed when the light transmission film is extruded or stretched, so as to change the optical power of the variable focal length lens device, thereby realizing the zoom of the camera module.

[0004] One object of the present application is to provide a variable focal length lens device and a camera module, wherein the height dimension of the camera module will not be increased when the light transmission film is extruded or stretched to change the surface shape of the high polymer to realize the zoom of the camera module, so that the portable electronic device does not need to reserve space for the zoom of the camera module, thereby facilitating the development of the portable electronic device towards thin and light.

[0005] One object of the present application is to provide a variable focal length lens device and a camera module, wherein the high polymer has a greater deformation amount of freedom by reserving a clearance space for the deformation of the high polymer between the light transmission substrate and the light transmission film, so that the camera module can zoom in a larger range, thereby improving the imaging ability of the camera module.

[0006] One object of the present application is to provide a variable focus lens device and a camera module, wherein the variable focus lens device provides a driving unit, the driving unit uses piezoelectric cantilever beam to press or stretch the light-transmitting film, so as to change the surface shape of the polymer and the focal length of the variable focus lens device, thus the driving unit can provide larger driving force and has smaller size, so as to facilitate the miniaturization of the camera module, and the driving unit using piezoelectric cantilever beam has higher sensitivity, so as to facilitate the improvement of the zoom response efficiency of the camera module.

[0007] One object of the present application is to provide a variable focus lens device and a camera module, wherein the driving unit has multiple piezoelectric cantilever beams which are uniformly arranged, and the piezoelectric cantilever beams press or stretch the light-transmitting film through the movable carrier, thus avoiding the stress position of the light-transmitting film from being inclined, so as to make the structure of the variable focus lens device more stable, and the zoom effect of the camera module is better.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present application, the present application provides a variable focus lens device, which comprises:

[0009] a light-transmitting substrate;

[0010] a deformable polymer, wherein the polymer is supported on the light-transmitting substrate;

[0011] a bendable light-transmitting film, wherein the light-transmitting film is supported on the polymer; and

[0012] a driving unit, wherein the driving unit comprises a ring-shaped movable carrier and a piezoelectric cantilever beam, the movable carrier is connected to the edge of the light-transmitting film and is drivably connected to the movable end of the piezoelectric cantilever beam, wherein when the piezoelectric cantilever beam is bent and deformed, the piezoelectric cantilever beam drives the edge of the light-transmitting film through the movable carrier, so as to allow the light-transmitting film to change the surface shape of the polymer by bending and deforming.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present application, the top surface of the polymer is combined with the light-transmitting film.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present application, the variable focus lens device has a clearance space, the clearance space is formed between the light-transmitting substrate and the light-transmitting film, and the clearance space surrounds the polymer.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present application, the variable focus lens device further comprises a base, the base has a through-hole-shaped accommodating cavity, wherein the base is fixedly connected to the edge of the light-transmitting substrate, the polymer is accommodated in the accommodating cavity of the base, and the fixed end of the piezoelectric cantilever beam is connected to the base.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present application, the high polymer is in a flat cylindrical shape, and a cross-sectional shape of the accommodating cavity of the base is circular, wherein a radius dimension of the high polymer is smaller than a radius dimension of the accommodating cavity of the base.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present application, the light-transmitting film is accommodated in the accommodating cavity of the base.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present application, there is a gap between the light-transmitting film and the base.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present application, the driving unit includes an outer frame, and the fixed end of the cantilever beam is connected to the outer frame, and the outer frame is attached to the base.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present application, the piezoelectric cantilever beam includes a cantilever beam body, a first piezoelectric layer, and a second piezoelectric layer, the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer are respectively arranged on opposite surfaces of the cantilever beam body, and the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer are arranged to be able to contract or expand in the length direction of the cantilever beam body.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present application, the number of the piezoelectric cantilever beams of the driving unit is multiple, and these piezoelectric cantilever beams are arranged equidistantly.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present application, the number of the piezoelectric cantilever beams of the driving unit is multiple, and these piezoelectric cantilever beams are arranged in central symmetry with the central axis of the variable focal length lens device as the center of symmetry.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present application, the number of the piezoelectric cantilever beams of the driving unit is odd, and these piezoelectric cantilever beams are arranged at intervals.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present application, the driving unit includes four piezoelectric cantilever beams, the fixed end of each of the four piezoelectric cantilever beams is connected to a corner of the base, and the movable end of each of the four piezoelectric cantilever beams is connected to a position corresponding to the middle of the side of the base of the movable carrier.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present application, the present application further provides a camera module, which includes:

[0026] a photosensitive component;

[0027] a lens component, wherein the lens component is held in the photosensitive path of the photosensitive component; and

[0028] A variable focus lens device, wherein the variable focus lens device is held in a light sensing path of the light sensing assembly, wherein the variable focus lens device comprises:

[0029] A light transmissive film;

[0030] A deformable high polymer, wherein the high polymer is supported on the light transmissive substrate;

[0031] A bendable light transmissive film, wherein the light transmissive film is supported on the high polymer; and

[0032] A driving unit, wherein the driving unit comprises a ring-shaped movable carrier and a piezoelectric cantilever beam, the movable carrier is connected to an edge of the light transmissive film and is drivably connected to a movable end of the piezoelectric cantilever beam, wherein upon bending deformation of the piezoelectric cantilever beam, the piezoelectric cantilever beam drives the edge of the light transmissive film through the movable carrier to allow the light transmissive film to change the surface profile of the high polymer by bending deformation.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present application, the variable focus lens device is attached to the lens assembly.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present application, the variable focus lens device is attached to the light sensing assembly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a camera module according to a preferred embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0036] Figure 2A A perspective view of a variable focus lens device of the camera module according to the preferred embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 2B A perspective view of a variable focus lens device of the camera module according to the preferred embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0037] Figures 3A to 3C A cross-sectional view of a variable focus lens device of the camera module according to the preferred embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0038] Figure 4 A perspective view of another variable focus lens device of the camera module according to the preferred embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0039] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a variable focus lens device of the camera module according to the preferred embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0040] Figure 6 A perspective view of another variable focus lens device of the camera module according to the preferred embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0041] Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a camera module according to another preferred embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0042] Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of a camera module according to another preferred embodiment of the present application is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Before any embodiments of the application are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the application is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The application is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising" or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, "connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

[0044] Also, in the disclosure of the present application, the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", and the like, indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore the above terms cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In the second aspect, the term "one" should be understood as "at least one" or "one or more", that is, in one embodiment, the number of one element can be one, and in another embodiment, the number of the element can be multiple, and the term "one" cannot be understood as limiting the number.

[0045] Reference Signs List Figures 1 to 3C A camera module according to a preferred embodiment of the present application, which includes a photosensitive assembly 10, a lens assembly 20, and a variable focal length lens device 30, the lens assembly 20 and the variable focal length lens device 30 are both held in the photosensitive path of the photosensitive assembly 10, will be disclosed and described in the following description.

[0046] Specifically, the photosensitive assembly 10 includes a circuit board 11 and a photosensitive chip 12, the photosensitive chip 12 being connected to the circuit board 11. Preferably, the photosensitive assembly 10 further includes a lens mount 13, the lens mount 13 being disposed on the circuit board 11, and the lens mount 13 at least surrounding the photosensitive area of ​​the photosensitive chip 12, such that the photosensitive area of ​​the photosensitive chip 12 corresponds to a light path 131 defined by the lens mount 13, so that incident light can reach the photosensitive chip 12 after passing through the light path 131 of the lens mount 13.

[0047] It is worth mentioning that the way the photosensitive chip 12 is connected to the circuit board 11 is not limited. For example, in the attached... Figures 1 to 3C In this specific example of the camera module shown, after the back of the photosensitive chip 12 is mounted on the front of the circuit board 11, a connecting wire 14 connects the pads of the photosensitive chip 12 and the pads of the circuit board 11 to achieve the connection between the photosensitive chip 12 and the circuit board 11. Optionally, when the front of the photosensitive chip 12 is mounted on the back of the circuit board 11, the pads of the photosensitive chip 12 and the pads of the circuit board 11 can be directly soldered to achieve the connection between the photosensitive chip 12 and the circuit board 11. In this case, the photosensitive area of ​​the photosensitive chip 12 corresponds to the reserved light-perforation hole of the circuit board 11.

[0048] It is worth mentioning that the manner in which the mirror mount 13 is disposed on the circuit board 11 is not limited. For example, in the attached... Figures 1 to 3C In this specific example of the camera module shown, the lens mount 13 is integrally formed with a portion of the non-photosensitive area of ​​the circuit board 11 and the photosensitive chip 12 during the molding process, and the lens mount 13 forms the light channel 131 during the molding process to allow the photosensitive area of ​​the photosensitive chip 12 to correspond to the light channel 131. Optionally, the lens mount 13 is integrally formed only with the circuit board 11 during the molding process, while simultaneously forming the light channel 131, wherein the photosensitive chip 12 is allowed to be mounted to the circuit board 11 via the light channel 131 of the lens mount 13. Optionally, the lens mount 13 is a prefabricated part, and after the photosensitive chip 12 is mounted to the circuit board 11, the lens mount 13 is adhered to the circuit board 11 by an adhesive such as glue, and the photosensitive area of ​​the photosensitive chip 12 corresponds to the light channel 131 of the lens mount 13.

[0049] In addition, please continue to refer to the appendix. Figure 1The photosensitive component 10 includes at least one electronic component 15, which may be, but is not limited to, a resistor, capacitor, processor, driver, etc., wherein the electronic component 15 is mounted on the circuit board 11 and the electronic component 15 can be embedded in the lens mount 13.

[0050] In addition, please continue to refer to the appendix. Figure 1 The photosensitive component 10 further includes a filter 16, which may be, but is not limited to, an infrared cut-off filter. The filter 16 is attached to the inner side of the top surface of the lens mount 13 to maintain the photosensitive path of the filter 16 to the photosensitive chip 12, so that the incident light can reach the photosensitive chip 12 through the light channel 131 of the lens mount 13 after being filtered by the filter 16.

[0051] In the appendix Figures 1 to 3C In this specific example of the camera module shown, the lens assembly 20 is mounted on the outer side of the top surface of the lens mount 13 to maintain the light-sensing path of the lens assembly 20 to the photosensitive chip 12 of the photosensitive assembly 10. The variable focal length lens device 30 is integrated inside the lens assembly 20 to maintain the light-sensing path of the variable focal length lens device 30 to the photosensitive chip 12 of the photosensitive assembly 10. Thus, incident light, after passing through the lens assembly 20 and the variable focal length lens device 30 respectively, can reach the photosensitive chip 12 for photoelectric conversion to form an image. By changing the optical power of the variable focal length lens device 30, the camera module can achieve zoom.

[0052] It is worth mentioning that the specific structure of the lens assembly 20 is not limited in the camera module of the present invention, for example, in the attached... Figures 1 to 3C In this specific example of the camera module shown, the lens assembly 20 includes a top-side lens 21 and a bottom-side lens 22. The top-side lens 21 includes a top-side lens barrel 211 and at least one top-side lens element 212 assembled to the top-side lens barrel 211. The bottom-side lens 22 includes a bottom-side lens barrel 221 and at least one bottom-side lens element 222 assembled to the bottom-side lens barrel 221. The bottom side of the top-side lens barrel 211 and the top side of the bottom-side lens barrel 221 are attached to each other, and the bottom... The bottom side of the side lens barrel 221 is attached to the top surface of the lens mount 13 of the photosensitive assembly 10. The variable focal length lens device 30 is attached between the top side lens barrel 211 of the top side lens 21 and the bottom side lens barrel 221 of the bottom side lens 22, so as to integrate the variable focal length lens device 30 into the lens assembly 20. Thus, the lens assembly 20 and the variable focal length lens device 30 are respectively held in the light-sensing path of the photosensitive chip 12 of the photosensitive assembly 10.

[0053] Referring to the drawings Figures 2A to 3C The variable focal length lens device 30 comprises a light-transmitting substrate 31, a bendable light-transmitting film 32 and a deformable polymer 33, wherein the polymer 33 is supported by the light-transmitting substrate 31 to provide good support for the polymer 33 and define the surface shape of the bottom surface 331 of the polymer 33, and the light-transmitting film 32 is supported by the polymer 33 to define the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the polymer 33, so that the polymer 33 is kept between the light-transmitting substrate 31 and the light-transmitting film 32. When the light-transmitting film 32 is pressed towards the direction close to the light-transmitting substrate 31, the light-transmitting film 32 can change the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the polymer 33 to change the focal power of the variable focal length lens device 30, thereby realizing zooming of the camera module.

[0054] Preferably, the light-transmitting film 32 and the top surface 332 of the polymer 33 are combined, so that when the light-transmitting film 32 is stretched towards the direction away from the light-transmitting substrate 31, the light-transmitting film 32 can change the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the polymer 33 to change the focal power of the variable focal length lens device 30, thereby realizing zooming of the camera module.

[0055] It is worth mentioning that the material of the light-transmitting substrate 31 is not limited in the camera module of the present application, as long as it can provide good support for the polymer 33 to define the surface shape of the bottom surface 331 of the polymer 33 and has high light transmittance to visible light, for example, the light-transmitting substrate 31 can be glass.

[0056] Referring to the drawings Figure 1 The light-transmitting substrate 31 of the variable focal length lens device 30 can be attached to the bottom side lens barrel 211 of the bottom side lens 21 of the lens assembly 20, so that the variable focal length lens device 30 is integrated inside the lens assembly 20. Preferably, the light-transmitting substrate 31 is circular, and the size of the light-transmitting substrate 31 is consistent with the size of the bottom side lens barrel 211 of the bottom side lens 21, or the size of the light-transmitting substrate 31 is smaller than the size of the bottom side lens barrel 211 of the bottom side lens 21, so as to avoid the side of the variable focal length lens device 30 protruding from the side of the lens assembly 20.

[0057] It is worth mentioning that the material of the light-transmitting film 32 is not limited in the camera module of the present application, as long as it can have good bending performance to define the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33, and has good light transmittance. For example, the light-transmitting film 32 can be a bendable glass film, so that the light-transmitting film 32 can change and maintain the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33 when the light-transmitting film 32 is bent by being pressed or stretched.

[0058] The deformable high polymer 33 is located between the light-transmitting substrate 31 and the light-transmitting film 32, the bottom surface 331 of the high polymer 33 is attached to the light-transmitting substrate 31 to define the surface shape of the bottom surface 331 of the high polymer 33 by the light-transmitting substrate 31, the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33 is attached to the light-transmitting film 32 to define the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33 by the light-transmitting film 32, and the high polymer 33 has a high elastic modulus and a high refractive index, which can converge or diverge light rays in different shapes.

[0059] In the following, the camera module of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 2A to 3C In this specific example of the variable focal length lens device 30 shown in the drawings, in the initial state, the high polymer 33 is in a flat cylindrical shape, and the central axis of the high polymer 33, the central axis of the light-transmitting substrate 31, and the central axis of the light-transmitting film 32 coincide. When the edge of the light-transmitting film 32 is pressed toward the direction close to the light-transmitting substrate 31, the curved light-transmitting film 32 can press the high polymer 33 toward the direction close to the light-transmitting substrate 31, so that the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33 becomes convex, so that the variable focal length lens device 30 can converge light rays, and the deformation amplitude of the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33 increases successively from the central axis to the edge, i.e., the deformation amplitude of the edge portion of the high polymer 33 is greater than that of the central portion. Correspondingly, when the edge of the light-transmitting film 32 is stretched toward the direction away from the light-transmitting substrate 31, the curved light-transmitting film 32 can stretch the high polymer 33 toward the direction away from the light-transmitting substrate 31, so that the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33 becomes concave, so that the variable focal length lens device 30 can diverge light rays, and the deformation amplitude of the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33 increases successively from the central axis to the edge, i.e., the deformation amplitude of the edge portion of the high polymer 33 is greater than that of the central portion.

[0060] Preferably, the diameter size of the light-transmitting film 32 is larger than the diameter size of the high polymer 33, so that the variable focal length lens device 30 forms a relief space 34 between the light-transmitting substrate 31 and the light-transmitting film 32, and the relief space 34 surrounds the high polymer 33, when the edge of the light-transmitting film 32 is pressed towards the direction close to the light-transmitting substrate 31, the high polymer 33 is pressed by the light-transmitting film 32 to deform and expand towards the relief space 34, so that the high polymer 33 has a larger freedom degree of deformation, in this way, the camera module can zoom in a larger range to improve the imaging capability of the camera module.

[0061] And, when the edge of the light-transmitting film 32 is pressed towards the direction close to the light-transmitting substrate 31, by allowing the high polymer 33 to deform and expand towards the relief space 34, the consistency of the density of the central part and the edge part of the deformed high polymer 33 can be ensured, so as to facilitate the control of the optical power of the variable focal length lens device 30, and further control the imaging quality of the camera module.

[0062] Referring to the drawings Figures 2A to 3C The variable focal length lens device 30 further comprises a base 35, the base 35 has a through-hole-shaped accommodating cavity 351, wherein the base 35 is fixedly connected to the light-transmitting substrate 31, and the high polymer 33 is deformedly retained in the accommodating cavity 351 of the base 35, so as to allow the base 35 to surround the outside of the high polymer 33, so that the base 35 can avoid the exposure of the high polymer 33 and prevent the light from being incident from the side of the high polymer 33.

[0063] Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the accommodating cavity 351 of the base 35 is circular, the central axis of the high polymer 33 coincides with the central axis of the accommodating cavity 351 of the base 35, and the radius size of the high polymer 33 is smaller than the radius size of the accommodating cavity 351 of the base 35, so that the relief space 34 can be formed on the inside of the base 35 to allow the high polymer 33 to deform and expand towards the direction of the base 35 when pressed by the light-transmitting film 32. Referring to the drawings Figure 1 In this specific example of the camera module of the present application, the base 35 of the variable focal length lens device 30 can be attached to the top side lens barrel 211 of the top side lens 21 of the lens assembly 20, so as to integrate the variable focal length lens device 30 inside the lens assembly 20.

[0064] Preferably, the light-transmitting film 32 is held in the accommodating cavity 351 of the base 35, so that the base 35 can be wrapped around the outside of the light-transmitting film 32, thus avoiding the lateral exposure of the light-transmitting film 32 and preventing light from entering from the side of the light-transmitting film 32, thereby reducing stray light.

[0065] In the following detailed description of the application, specific embodiments of the variable focal length lens device 30 are described with reference made to the accompanying drawings. Figures 2A to 3C In this specific example of the variable focal length lens device 30 shown, the light-transmitting film 32 is circular, and the radius of the light-transmitting film 32 is smaller than the radius of the accommodating cavity 351 of the base 35, so that there is a gap 36 between the light-transmitting film 32 and the inner wall of the base 35 defining the accommodating cavity 351, which communicates the relief space 34 with the external space of the variable focal length lens device 30, so that when the high polymer 33 is extruded or stretched by the light-transmitting film 32, the gas inside the relief space 34 can be discharged to the external space through the gap 36, or the gas from the external space can be supplemented into the relief space 34 through the gap 36. Preferably, the gap 36 of the variable focal length lens device 30 is located inside the lens assembly 20, so as to avoid the entry of dust and other pollutants from the external environment into the interior of the variable focal length lens device 30 through the gap 36.

[0066] Alternatively, in other examples of the variable focal length lens device 30 of the application, the sides of the light-transmitting film 32 can extend to and be connected to the base 35, in which case the variable focal length lens device 30 needs to be provided with an escape hole to allow the exchange of gas inside the relief space 34 and the external space when the high polymer 33 is extruded or stretched by the light-transmitting film 32. It is worth mentioning that the shape and position of the escape hole of the variable focal length lens device 30 are not limited in the camera module of the application, for example, the escape hole of the variable focal length lens device 30 can be formed in the light-transmitting film 32, or the escape hole of the variable focal length lens device 30 can be formed in the base 35, or the escape hole of the variable focal length lens device 30 can be formed between the light-transmitting film 32 and the base 35.

[0067] Alternatively, in other examples of the variable focal length lens device 30 of the application, the variable focal length lens device 30 can not be provided with an escape hole, i.e., the relief space 34 of the variable focal length lens device 30 is a sealed space, so that after the high polymer 33 is extruded or stretched and deformed and the external force applied to the high polymer 33 is removed, the high polymer 33 can quickly recover to its original state.

[0068] It is worth mentioning that the way the base 35 is fixedly connected to the light-transmitting substrate 31 is not limited in the camera module of the present application. For example, in some embodiments, the base 35 can be attached to the light-transmitting substrate 31 after being pre-fabricated to fixedly connect the base 35 to the light-transmitting substrate 31. In other embodiments, the base 35 can be integrally formed on the light-transmitting substrate 31. Specifically, first, glass material is selected as the light-transmitting substrate 31, and then the base 35 is formed on the edge of the light-transmitting substrate 31 by etching silicon-based material to fixedly connect the base 35 to the light-transmitting substrate 31. In this process, the glass material of the light-transmitting substrate 31 is advantageous to ensure the flatness of the base 35 and the stability of the connection between the light-transmitting substrate 31 and the base 35.

[0069] With continued reference to the drawings Figures 2A to 3C The variable focal length lens device 30 further comprises a driving unit 37, which comprises a movable carrier 371 and at least one piezoelectric cantilever beam 372.

[0070] The movable carrier 371 is annular and has a carrier passage 3711 in the middle. The movable carrier 371 is attached to the edge of the light-transmitting film 32 to allow incident light to pass through the light-transmitting film 32, the polymer 33 and the light-transmitting substrate 31 in sequence after passing through the carrier passage 3711 of the movable carrier 371. Preferably, the annular width of the movable carrier 371 is small to avoid the movable carrier 371 from blocking the light-transmitting area of the variable focal length lens device 30.

[0071] The piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 has a fixed end 3721 and a movable end 3722 corresponding to the fixed end 3721, the fixed end 3721 of the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 is fixedly connected to the base 35, and the movable end 3722 of the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 is fixedly connected to the movable carrier 371. The piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 can squeeze or stretch the edge of the light-transmitting film 32 through the movable carrier 371 to change the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33 from the light-transmitting film 32, thereby changing the focal length of the variable focal length lens device 30, thereby realizing the zoom of the camera module. It can be understood that by arranging the movable carrier 371 between each piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 and the movable carrier 371, and allowing the movable carrier 371 to transmit the squeezing force or the stretching force to the light-transmitting film 32, the entire circumferential direction of the light-transmitting film 32 can be uniformly stressed, thereby subsequently deforming the high polymer 33 more uniformly, so as to control the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the high polymer 33, thereby facilitating the control of the focal length of the variable focal length lens device 30, and further facilitating the control of the zoom of the camera module.

[0072] Specifically, the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 includes a cantilever beam body 3723, a first piezoelectric layer 3724, and a second piezoelectric layer 3725. The first piezoelectric layer 3724 is attached to the upper surface of the cantilever beam body 3723 and is arranged to contract or expand in the length direction of the cantilever beam body 3723. The second piezoelectric layer 3725 is attached to the lower surface of the cantilever beam body 3723 and is arranged to contract or expand in the length direction of the cantilever beam body 3723. The first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 are substrates with inverse piezoelectric effect and contract or expand according to the polarization direction and the electric field direction. They can be used by polarizing the substrate in the thickness direction of single crystal, polycrystalline ceramic, polymer, etc. Thus, the first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 can be arranged to contract or expand in the length direction of the cantilever beam body 3723. It can be understood that inverse piezoelectric effect refers to mechanical deformation of a dielectric when an electric potential difference is generated in the dielectric when an electric field is applied in the polarization direction of the dielectric. Preferably, the first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 of the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 can be electrically connected to the circuit board 11 of the photosensitive assembly 10, so that the circuit board 11 of the photosensitive assembly 10 can respectively provide power excitation to the first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 of the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 to make the first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 respectively contract or expand in the length direction of the cantilever beam body 3723.

[0073] More specifically, referring to the attached drawings Figure 3B When the circuit board 11 of the photosensitive assembly 10 applies a pulse voltage of a certain frequency to the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 of the driving unit 37 so that the first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 of the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 are respectively excited by power, the first piezoelectric layer 3724 expands in the length direction of the cantilever beam body 3723 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 shrinks in the length direction of the cantilever beam body 3723, so that the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 bends downward to allow the movable end 3722 of the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 to swing downward. At this time, the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 presses the edge of the light-transmitting film 32 toward the direction close to the light-transmitting base 31 through the movable carrier 371, so as to change the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the polymer 33 by the light-transmitting film 32. For example, the light-transmitting film 32 can make the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the polymer 33 convex to allow the variable focal length lens device 30 to have the effect of converging light rays. In this way, the optical power of the variable focal length lens device 30 is changed to achieve zooming of the camera module.

[0074] Correspondingly, referring to the attached drawings Figure 3C When the circuit board 11 of the photosensitive assembly 10 applies a pulse voltage of a certain frequency to the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 of the driving unit 37 so that the first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 of the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 are respectively excited by power, the first piezoelectric layer 3724 expands in the length direction of the cantilever beam body 3723 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 shrinks in the length direction of the cantilever beam body 3723, so that the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 bends downward to allow the movable end 3722 of the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 to swing downward. At this time, the piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 presses the edge of the light-transmitting film 32 toward the direction close to the light-transmitting base 31 through the movable carrier 371, so as to change the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the polymer 33 by the light-transmitting film 32. For example, the light-transmitting film 32 can make the surface shape of the top surface 332 of the polymer 33 convex to allow the variable focal length lens device 30 to have the effect of converging light rays. In this way, the optical power of the variable focal length lens device 30 is changed to achieve zooming of the camera module.

[0075] Preferably, a plurality of piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 of the driving unit 37 are equidistantly arranged to facilitate ensuring the stability of the overall structure of the variable focal length lens device 30. For example, referring to the attached drawings Figures 2A to 3CIn the specific example of the variable focal length lens device 30 shown, the number of the piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 of the driving unit 37 is four, and the four piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 are distributed at intervals of 90° along the circumference of the movable carrier 371, which is conducive to ensuring the stability of the overall structure of the variable focal length lens device 30, and when the piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 press or stretch the light-transmitting film 32 through the movable carrier 371, the force position of the light-transmitting film 32 is prevented from tilting, which makes the structure of the variable focal length lens device 30 more stable, so that the zooming effect of the camera module is better.

[0076] More preferably, in the attached Figures 2A to 3C In the specific example of the variable focal length lens device 30 shown, the fixed ends 3721 of the four piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 of the driving unit 37 are respectively connected to the four corners of the base 35, and the movable ends 3722 of the four piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 are respectively connected to the positions corresponding to the middle of the side edges of the movable carrier 371, so that the piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 have sufficient length, which is conducive to changing the optical power of the variable focal length lens device 30 in a larger range, so that the camera module zooms in a larger range.

[0077] Optionally, referring to the attached Figure 6 In other examples of the variable focal length lens device 30 of the present application, the number of the piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 of the driving unit 37 can be an odd number, such as three or five, and the piezoelectric cantilever beams 372 are arranged at intervals, and by controlling the contraction or expansion of the first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 of each piezoelectric cantilever beam 372, the high polymer 33 can be deformed or rotated in the horizontal direction to achieve optical image stabilization of the camera module.

[0078] The attached Figure 4 And Figure 5 Another specific embodiment of the variable focal length lens device 30 of the present application is shown, which is different from the attached Figures 2A to 3C The variable focal length lens device 30 shown in the attached Figure 4 And Figure 5In this specific example of the variable focal length lens device 30 shown, the drive unit 37 further includes an outer frame 373 with a frame through-hole 3731 formed in the middle. The fixed end 3721 of each piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 is connected to the outer frame 373, and the movable end 3722 of each piezoelectric cantilever beam 372 is connected to the movable carrier 371 to hold the movable carrier 371 within the frame through-hole 3731 of the outer frame 373. The movable carrier 371 of the drive unit 37 is attached to the edge of the light-transmitting film 32, and the outer frame 373 of the drive unit 37 is attached to the base 35.

[0079] Appendix Figure 7 In another specific example of the camera module shown, with attached Figures 1 to 3C The difference between the camera module shown and the one in question is that, in the attached... Figure 7 In this specific example of the camera module shown, the variable focal length lens device 30 is mounted on the top lens barrel 211 of the top lens 21 of the lens assembly 20. That is, the lens assembly 20 is located between the variable focal length lens device 30 and the photosensitive assembly 10, so that incident light, after passing through the variable focal length lens device 30 and the lens assembly 20 in sequence, can reach the photosensitive chip 12 of the photosensitive assembly 10 for photoelectric conversion to form an image. By changing the optical power of the variable focal length lens device 30, the camera module can achieve zoom.

[0080] Understandably, in the appendix Figure 7 In this specific example of the camera module shown, when the zoom of the camera module is achieved by changing the optical power of the variable focal length lens device 30, the height space of the camera module is not increased, thereby making the camera module suitable for use in electronic devices that pursue thinness and lightness.

[0081] It is worth mentioning that, in the appendix Figure 7 In this specific example of the camera module shown, the variable focal length lens device 30 further includes a light-transmitting dust cover 38, which is attached to the base 35 and covers the drive unit 37. In this way, the dust cover 38 can prevent dust and other contaminants from the external environment from entering the interior of the variable focal length lens device 30 through the gap 36.

[0082] Appendix Figure 8 In another specific example of the camera module shown, with attached Figures 1 to 3C The difference between the camera module shown and the one in question is that, in the attached... Figure 8In the shown specific example of the camera module, the lens assembly 20 is attached to the outer side of the top surface of the lens holder 13 to keep the lens assembly 20 in the light path of the photosensitive chip 12 of the photosensitive assembly 10, and the variable focal length lens device 30 is attached to the inner side of the top surface of the lens holder 13 to keep the variable focal length lens device 30 in the light path of the photosensitive chip 12 of the photosensitive assembly 10, and the variable focal length lens device 30 is located between the lens assembly 20 and the photosensitive assembly 10, so that the incident light can reach the photosensitive chip 12 of the photosensitive assembly 10 after sequentially passing through the lens assembly 20 and the variable focal length lens device 30, and the incident light is photoelectrically converted by the photosensitive chip 12 to form an image. By changing the focal power of the variable focal length lens device 30, the camera module can be zoomed.

[0083] It can be understood that, in the accompanying drawings Figure 8 In the shown specific example of the camera module, the lens assembly 20 surrounds the variable focal length lens device 30, and in this way, the setting of the variable focal length lens device 30 and the zooming of the camera module by changing the focal power of the variable focal length lens device 30 do not increase the height space of the camera module, so that the camera module is suitable for being applied to electronic devices pursuing thinness.

[0084] In the accompanying drawings Figure 8 In the shown specific example of the camera module, the lens holder 13 is integrally combined with the circuit board 11 by a molding process, and the variable focal length lens device 30 is attached to the inner side of the top surface of the lens holder 13, on the one hand, by virtue of the mold advantage, the top surface of the lens holder 13 has good flatness, so that the lens holder 13 can ensure the flatness of the variable focal length lens device 30 to improve the imaging quality of the camera module, on the other hand, the lens holder 13 has good heat dissipation performance, and the heat generated by the first piezoelectric layer 3724 and the second piezoelectric layer 3725 of the driving unit 37 of the variable focal length lens device 30 during work can be quickly dissipated through the lens holder 13, so that the lens holder 13 enables the driving unit 37 to work in a lower temperature environment to ensure the reliability and stability of the driving unit 37.

[0085] Those skilled in the art can understand that the above embodiments are only examples, and features of different embodiments can be combined with each other to obtain embodiments that are easily thought of according to the disclosure of the present application but are not explicitly indicated in the accompanying drawings.

[0086] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments of the application described above and shown in the drawings are merely illustrative and that numerous other modifications and configurations can be devised without departing from the principles of the present application. The scope of the application is best defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A variable focal length lens device, characterized in that, include: Translucent substrate; A deformable polymer, wherein the polymer is supported on the light-transmitting substrate; A flexible, light-transmitting film, wherein the light-transmitting film is supported on the polymer; as well as A driving unit, wherein the driving unit includes an annular movable carrier and a piezoelectric cantilever beam, the movable carrier being connected to the edge of the light-transmitting film and drivably connected to the movable end of the piezoelectric cantilever beam, wherein when the piezoelectric cantilever beam bends and deforms, the piezoelectric cantilever beam drives the edge of the light-transmitting film through the movable carrier to allow the light-transmitting film to change the surface shape of the polymer by bending and deformation, wherein the movable carrier has a carrier channel in the middle to allow incident light to pass through the light-transmitting film, the polymer and the light-transmitting substrate in sequence after passing through the carrier channel of the movable carrier.

2. The variable focal length lens device according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the polymer is bonded to the light-transmitting film.

3. The variable focal length lens device according to claim 1, wherein the variable focal length lens device has a clearance space formed between the light-transmitting substrate and the light-transmitting film, and the clearance space surrounds the polymer.

4. The variable focal length lens device according to claim 1, further comprising a base having a through-hole accommodating cavity, wherein the base is fixedly connected to the edge of the light-transmitting substrate, and the polymer is accommodated in the accommodating cavity of the base, wherein the fixed end of the piezoelectric cantilever beam is connected to the base.

5. The variable focal length lens device according to claim 4, wherein the polymer is in the shape of a flattened cylinder, the cross-sectional shape of the receiving cavity of the base is circular, and wherein the radius of the polymer is smaller than the radius of the receiving cavity of the base.

6. The variable focal length lens device according to claim 4, wherein the light-transmitting film is housed in the receiving cavity of the base.

7. The variable focal length lens device according to claim 6, wherein there is a gap between the light-transmitting film and the base.

8. The variable focal length lens device according to claim 4, wherein the drive unit includes an outer frame, the fixed end of the cantilever beam is connected to the outer frame, and the outer frame is attached to the base.

9. The variable focal length lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the piezoelectric cantilever beam comprises a cantilever beam body, a first piezoelectric layer and a second piezoelectric layer, the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer are respectively disposed on opposite surfaces of the cantilever beam body, and the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer are configured to contract or expand in the length direction of the cantilever beam body.

10. The variable focal length lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the number of the piezoelectric cantilever beams of the drive unit is multiple, and the piezoelectric cantilever beams are arranged at equal intervals.

11. The variable focal length lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the number of the piezoelectric cantilever beams of the drive unit is multiple, and the piezoelectric cantilever beams are arranged centrally symmetrically about the central axis of the variable focal length lens device.

12. The variable focal length lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the number of the piezoelectric cantilever beams of the drive unit is an odd number, and the piezoelectric cantilever beams are arranged at intervals between each other.

13. The variable focal length lens device according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the driving unit comprises four piezoelectric cantilever beams, the fixed ends of the four piezoelectric cantilever beams are respectively connected to the four corners of the base, and the movable ends of the four piezoelectric cantilever beams are respectively connected to the middle of the side of the movable carrier corresponding to the base.

14. A camera module, characterized in that, include: Photosensitive components; A lens assembly, wherein the lens assembly is held in the light-sensitive path of the photosensitive assembly; as well as The variable focal length lens device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the variable focal length lens device is held in the photosensitive path of the photosensitive component.

15. The camera module of claim 14, wherein the variable focal length lens device is mounted on the lens assembly.

16. The camera module according to claim 14, wherein the variable focal length lens device is mounted on the photosensitive component.

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