Camera module and intelligent terminal

Abstract

The invention provides a camera module. The camera module comprises a main shell, a lens, a suspension wire assembly, an image sensor assembly and a circuit board assembly, the lens is a flexible lens and is arranged in the main shell; the suspension wire assembly comprises a plurality of suspension wires with shape memory characteristics and a plurality of connecting strips, the suspension wires are connected between the lens and the connecting strips, and the connecting strips are fixed on the main shell; the image sensor assembly is arranged in the main shell and is used for converting an optical image signal generated by the lens into an electronic image signal; and the circuit board assembly is arranged on the main shell, is electrically connected with the image sensor assembly and the connecting strip, is used for transmitting the electronic image signal, and is also used for electrifying the suspension fiber assembly to control the suspension fiber to generate memory deformation so as to drive the lens to deform or move. The invention further provides an intelligent terminal comprising the camera module.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of imaging technology, and particularly relates to an imaging module and an intelligent terminal having the imaging module. Background Art

[0002] Currently, various common intelligent terminals, such as smart phones, tablets, etc., are usually equipped with built-in imaging modules to enable the shooting function at any time and place. With the continuous improvement of the overall technical level in the field of intelligent terminals, the functions of the built-in imaging modules of intelligent terminals are becoming more and more perfect, and many of them have the functions of automatic focus (hereinafter referred to as AF) and optical image stabilization (hereinafter referred to as OIS) to improve the shooting effect of the imaging module and broaden the applicable scenarios of the imaging module.

[0003] In most existing imaging modules, the AF function and the OIS function are both realized based on the principle of electromagnetic force, that is, a movable magnet and coil are arranged in the imaging module, and the electromagnetic force received by the coil after being energized in the magnetic field of the magnet is used to drive the optical elements in the imaging module, thereby changing the optical parameters of the imaging module to realize the AF function and the OIS function. The disadvantage of this kind of prior art is that, relative to the entire imaging module, the magnet and the coil both have a large volume and weight, and require a large movement space, which is not conducive to the further miniaturization and light weight of the imaging module.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an imaging module with a more novel structure and an intelligent terminal with the imaging module built therein to overcome the above-mentioned defects existing in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide an imaging module with a more novel structure and an intelligent terminal having the imaging module, so as to solve the problems that the magnet and the coil used to realize the AF function and the OIS function in the existing imaging module have a large volume and weight, require a large movement space, and the assembly method is relatively complex.

[0006] An embodiment of one aspect of the present application provides an imaging module, which includes a main housing, a lens, a suspension wire assembly, an image sensor assembly, and a circuit board assembly; the lens is a flexible lens and is installed in the main housing; the suspension wire assembly includes a plurality of suspension wires with shape memory characteristics and a plurality of connecting bars, the suspension wires are connected between the lens and the connecting bars, and the connecting bars are fixed on the main housing; the image sensor assembly is installed in the main housing and is used to convert the optical image signal generated by the lens into an electronic image signal; the circuit board assembly is installed on the main housing and is electrically connected to the image sensor assembly and the connecting bars, and is used to transmit the electronic image signal, and is also used to energize the suspension wire assembly to control the suspension wires to generate memory deformation, and the memory deformation of the suspension wires is used to drive the lens to deform or move.

[0007] In some embodiments, each of the suspension wires includes two inner cores made of polyvinyl alcohol material, and a first memory alloy layer made of nickel-titanium memory alloy material is formed outside the inner cores, and the two inner cores are wound into a twisted pair structure.

[0008] In some embodiments, a second memory alloy layer made of nickel-titanium memory alloy material is formed outside the overall twisted pair structure.

[0009] In some embodiments, the connecting bar is made of a rigid conductive material and includes a connecting section and a clamping section; the connecting section is fixed on the inner wall of the main housing, one end is electrically connected to the circuit board assembly, and the other end is connected to the clamping section; the clamping section includes at least two clamping pieces, and the at least two clamping pieces are folded to clamp the suspension wire.

[0010] In some embodiments, adjacent clamping pieces among the at least two clamping pieces are arranged side by side and a part of their side edges are connected to each other, and a gap that remains after the adjacent clamping pieces are folded is formed between the other part of their side edges.

[0011] In some embodiments, the lens includes an internal lens core, an intermediate layer covering the outside of the lens core, and a deformation layer covering the outside of the intermediate layer. The rigidity of the lens core, the intermediate layer, and the deformation layer decreases in turn while the elasticity increases in turn; the plurality of suspension wires are respectively inserted into the deformation layer from multiple directions and fixed therein.

[0012] In some embodiments, the imaging module further includes a top cover. The main housing has a first open end and a second open end arranged opposite to each other. The top cover and the circuit board assembly respectively seal the openings formed by the main housing at the first open end and the second open end.

[0013] In some embodiments, the camera module further includes damping glue encapsulated between the main housing, the top cover and the circuit board assembly, and the lens and the suspension wire are suspended in the damping glue.

[0014] In some embodiments, the image sensor assembly includes a sensor frame and an image sensor mounted on the sensor frame. The sensor frame is fixed to the inner wall of the main housing, and the image sensor is fixed to the circuit board assembly and electrically connected to the circuit board assembly.

[0015] Another embodiment of the present application further provides an intelligent terminal, which includes the camera module described in the foregoing embodiments.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the camera module and the intelligent terminal provided by the embodiments of the present application do not need to use traditional magnets and coils to generate electromagnetic force to drive optical elements to achieve AF function and OIS function. Instead, only a suspension wire assembly is needed to drive the flexible lens to deform or move to achieve AF function and OIS function. The volume, weight and required moving space of the suspension wire assembly are significantly smaller than those of the driving mechanism composed of magnets and coils in the prior art, which is beneficial to the further miniaturization and light weight of the camera module. Therefore, the camera module provided by the above embodiments of the present application and the intelligent terminal having the camera module can achieve more excellent technical effects. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required to be used in the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present application, and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0018] Figure 1 is an overall structural schematic diagram of a camera module provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a top view schematic diagram of the camera module shown after removing the top plate and the protective cover.

[0020] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a schematic diagram of the camera module shown after partially disassembling the structure.

[0021] Figure 4 is Figure 1 a structural schematic diagram of the connection between the suspension wire assembly and the lens in the camera module shown.

[0022] Figure 5Yes Figure 4 Schematic diagram for comparing the shapes of the lens shown in different focusing states.

[0023] Figure 6 Yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the working principle of the suspension wire assembly in the camera module shown to drive the lens to achieve the AF function.

[0024] Figure 7 It is used for collaborative control Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the functional components and control method for the camera module shown to achieve the AF function.

[0025] Figure 8 Yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the working principle of the suspension wire assembly in the camera module shown to drive the lens to achieve the OIS function.

[0026] Figure 9 It is used for collaborative control Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the functional components and control method for the camera module shown to achieve the OIS function. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] Next, specific embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all of the embodiments. Based on the description of the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0028] The main purpose of the present application is to provide a camera module with a more novel structure and an intelligent terminal having the camera module, so as to solve the problems that the magnets and coils used to achieve the AF function and the OIS function in the existing camera module have a relatively large volume and weight, require a relatively large movement space, and the assembly method is relatively complex.

[0029] Please first refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 , an embodiment of one aspect of the present application provides a camera module, and the camera module can be used in intelligent terminals such as smart phones and tablet computers as an in-built camera module of the intelligent terminal.

[0030] The camera module includes a main housing 1, a top cover 2, a lens 3, a suspension wire assembly 4, an image sensor assembly 5, a circuit board assembly 6, and damping glue 7.

[0031] In this embodiment, the main housing 1 is in the shape of a quadrangular prism with openings at both ends. Specifically, the main housing 1 includes four rectangular side plates 10. The four side plates 10 are connected end to end in sequence to enclose the main housing 1, and a first opening end 10a and a second opening end 10b are formed on the main housing 10 and are arranged opposite to each other. It can be understood that in other embodiments, the number of the side plates 10 may not be limited to four, as long as a columnar structure with openings at both ends can be formed as the main housing 1.

[0032] The top cover 2 includes a top plate 21 and a protective cover 22. The shape and size of the top plate 21 correspond to those of the main housing 1. The top plate 21 is installed at the first opening end 10a of the main housing 1 to seal the opening formed at the first opening end 10a of the main housing 1. A sunken assembly groove 211 is formed in the middle of the top plate 21, and a light incident hole 210 penetrating the top plate 21 is opened in the central area of the bottom of the assembly groove 211 for collecting external light. The shape and size of the protective cover 22 correspond to those of the assembly groove 211, and the protective cover 22 is embedded in the assembly groove 211 and fixed to the top plate 21; a transparent shooting window 220 is formed in the middle of the protective cover 22. The shape and size of the shooting window 220 correspond to those of the light incident hole 210, and the shooting window 220 is arranged opposite to the light incident hole 210, so that external light can enter the interior of the main housing 1 in sequence through the shooting window 220 and the light incident hole 210. It can be understood that in other embodiments, the entire protective cover 22 can also be set as a transparent structure.

[0033] The lens 3 is accommodated inside the main housing 1 and is used to collect the light that enters the interior of the main housing 1 in sequence through the shooting window 220 and the light incident hole 210. The lens 3 is a transparent flexible lens and can generate elastic deformation under the action of external pressure or tension. In this embodiment, the overall shape of the lens 3 is a sphere or an ellipsoid, and includes an internal lens core, an intermediate layer coated outside the lens core, and a deformation layer coated outside the intermediate layer. The lens core, the intermediate layer, and the deformation layer can all be made of transparent resin materials, but the specific types of materials of the three are different, so that the rigidity of the lens core, the intermediate layer, and the deformation layer decreases in sequence and the elasticity increases in sequence. Specifically, the lens core can be made of a relatively hard transparent resin material, which can keep the overall shape and size of the lens 3 stable within a certain limit and will not undergo overly obvious or even irreversible deformation. The intermediate layer can be made of a transparent resin material with a hardness between that of the lens core and the deformation layer, so that the intermediate layer has a slight elasticity and can cooperate with the deformation layer to deform slightly. In this way, it can not only prevent the lens core from hindering the deformation of the deformation layer, but also buffer the tension and pressure acting on the lens core when the deformation layer deforms. The deformation layer can be made of a highly elastic transparent resin material such as polyurethane resin, and a plasticizer can also be added to improve the flexibility, so that the deformation layer can deform quickly when subjected to pressure or tension and can quickly return to its initial shape after the pressure or tension is removed.

[0034] Please refer to Figure 4 , the suspension wire assembly 4 includes a plurality of suspension wires 41 and a plurality of connection bars 42 corresponding to the suspension wires 41. The suspension wire 41 is made of a conductive material with shape memory characteristics, such as memory alloy, which can deform when energized and automatically return to its initial shape after power-off. In this embodiment, the suspension wire 41 preferably adopts a twisted pair structure, that is, each suspension wire 41 includes two elastic inner cores, and the inner cores are preferably made of polyvinyl alcohol material, which helps to improve the tensile strength; a first memory alloy layer is plated on the outside of each inner core, and the first memory alloy layer is preferably made of nickel-titanium memory alloy material and is plated on the outside of the inner core by a method such as physical vapor deposition. The two inner cores plated with the first memory alloy layer are wound into a twisted pair structure, that is, the suspension wire 41 is formed. In a further embodiment, a second memory alloy layer made of nickel-titanium memory alloy material can also be plated on the outside of the whole twisted pair structure by a method such as physical vapor deposition to increase the content of the memory alloy material in the suspension wire 41. In the suspension wire 41 made by the above means, when the temperature of the suspension wire 41 reaches the phase transition temperature point of the memory alloy layer, the metallographic structure of the memory alloy material will change from the low-temperature martensite phase to the austenite phase, and this change in the metallographic structure will cause its volume to change; when the temperature of the suspension wire 41 drops below the phase transition temperature point, its metallographic structure will return to the martensite phase again, and the volume will also return to the initial volume, thus realizing the shape memory function. One end of each suspension wire 41 is fixed in the deformation layer of the lens 3 by means such as bonding, welding, in-mold forming, etc., and the other end is fixedly connected to the corresponding connection bar 42.

[0035] The connection bar 42 is made of a rigid conductive material, such as a metal material, and includes a connection section 421 and a clamping section 422. In this embodiment, the connection section 421 of each connection bar 42 is in the shape of an L-shaped flat plate, that is, it is bent into a right-angled flat plate shape in the same plane, and one side surface of the connection section 421 is fixed to the inner wall of the side plate 10 of the main housing 1 by means such as bonding or welding; one end of each connection section 421 extends to the second opening end 10b of the main housing 10, and the other end is connected to the clamping section 422. The clamping section 422 includes at least two clamping pieces 423, and the clamping pieces 423 can be thin pieces formed by stamping at least a part of the clamping section 422; adjacent clamping pieces 423 are arranged in parallel and a part of their side edges are connected to each other, and a gap 424 is formed between the other part of their side edges by means such as etching, that is to say, the gap 424 is separated between the part of the side edges of adjacent clamping pieces 423.

[0036] One end of the suspension wire 41 for fixedly connecting with the connecting bar 42 is specifically connected to the clamping section 422. The specific connection method can be, for example, placing one end of the suspension wire 41 in the connecting area of two adjacent clamping pieces 423, then folding the two adjacent clamping pieces 423 towards each other, clamping the end of the suspension wire 41 between the two folded clamping pieces 423, and then pressing the connected part of the two folded clamping pieces 423, so as to clamp the end of the suspension wire 41 in the clamping section 42 to form a fixation. At the same time, the suspension wire 41 is also in close contact with the connecting bar 42 to form an electrical connection. When folding the two clamping pieces 423, the gap 424 reduces the total length of the part to be bent, making the folding operation more labor-saving. After the folding operation is completed, the two originally juxtaposed clamping pieces 423 become overlapped, and the unconnected parts of the two clamping pieces 423, that is, the parts jointly forming the gap 424, are not pressed, so the gap 424 still remains between the unconnected parts of the two clamping pieces 423; when the suspension wire 41 deforms during operation, the gap 424 can provide more deformation space for the suspension wire 41, making the deformation process of the suspension wire 41 smoother. In a further embodiment, after clamping the end of the suspension wire 41 in the clamping section 42 to form a fixation, the suspension wire 41 and the clamping section 42 can be welded again, such as pressure diffusion welding, to make their connection more firm.

[0037] It can be understood that based on the above structural design, the lens 3 can be suspended inside the main housing 10 through the suspension wire assembly 4. In this embodiment, the multiple connecting bars 42 of the suspension wire assembly 4 are respectively fixed on the inner walls of the four side plates 10 of the main housing 1, and the distribution positions of the multiple connecting bars 42 inside the main housing 10 are set as evenly as possible; and the multiple suspension wires 41 of the suspension wire assembly 4 also respectively fixedly connect to the deformation layer of the lens 3 from multiple different side directions, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 the four side directions shown in, and the specific fixed connection method can be bonding or welding each suspension wire 41 to the outer surface of the deformation layer 3 through methods such as dispensing and welding, or implanting one end of each suspension wire 41 into the deformation layer material before curing when manufacturing the deformation layer by injection molding, etc., so as to fix the end of the suspension wire 41 inside the deformation layer after the deformation layer is cured. The connection positions of the multiple suspension wires 41 outside and / or inside the deformation layer 3 are also set as evenly as possible. In this way, when driving the lens 3 to deform through the suspension wire assembly 4, a relatively uniform driving force can be generated, maximizing the accuracy of AF operation and OIS operation.

[0038] The image sensor assembly 5 can be an existing image sensor assembly, such as a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor assembly, which can be used to convert an optical image signal into an electronic image signal. In this embodiment, the image sensor assembly 5 includes a sensor frame 51 and an image sensor 50. The shape and size of the sensor frame 51 correspond to those of the main housing 10. The sensor frame 51 is installed in the main housing 10 and is disposed adjacent to the second opening end 10b of the main housing 10. Preferably, it can be fixed on the inner wall of the main housing 10. The image sensor 50 can be, for example, a CMOS sensor, preferably a curved CMOS sensor, which is installed on the sensor frame 51 and is aligned with the lens 3, and is used to receive the optical image signal generated by the lens 3 and convert it into an electronic image signal.

[0039] The circuit board assembly 6 can be an existing Printed Circuit Board (PCB), Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC), or a combination thereof. In this embodiment, the circuit board assembly 6 includes a main board 61 and an extension board 62. The main board 61 preferably uses a rigid circuit board such as a PCB. Its shape and size correspond to those of the main housing 10. The main board 61 is installed at the second opening end 10b of the main housing 10 and seals the opening formed at the second opening end 10b of the main housing 10. The sensor chip 50 of the image sensor assembly 5 is electrically connected to the main board 61. Preferably, it can also be directly fixed on the main board 61. One end of the connecting segment 421 of each connecting strip 42 that extends to the second opening end 10b is also electrically connected to the main board 61 by means such as welding. The extension board 62 preferably uses a flexible circuit board such as an FPC, which is connected to one side of the main board 61 and extends outward, and is used to be electrically connected to other external electronic devices such as the main board of a smart terminal. In this way, both the suspension wire assembly 4 and the image sensor assembly 5 can be electrically connected to the outside through the circuit board assembly 6.

[0040] In this embodiment, the imaging module preferably further includes a damping adhesive 7. The damping adhesive 7 can be an existing damping adhesive, which is a transparent and insulating colloid with a certain fluidity and is filled in the main housing 10. After the top cover 2 and the main board 6 are installed on the main housing 10 according to the above structural design, the main housing 10, the top cover 2, and the main board 61 can form a closed space to encapsulate the damping adhesive 7 therein. In this way, both the lens 3 and the suspension wire 41 are suspended in the damping adhesive 7 and are protected. The damping adhesive 7 can suppress the instantaneous oscillation generated by the change in the motion state of the lens 3 before and after the suspension wire 41 adjusts the lens 3, and can also eliminate the influence of the slight jitter of the imaging module under external force on the lens 3.

[0041] When the camera module is working, external light enters the main housing 1 in sequence through the shooting window 220 and the light incident hole 210. After the lens 3 receives the light, an optical image signal is generated accordingly. After the image sensor 50 receives the optical image signal generated by the lens 3, it converts it into an electronic image signal, and the electronic image signal is transmitted to an external processor or storage device through the circuit board assembly 6, and then the image captured by the camera module can be obtained.

[0042] In the above working process, if the camera module needs to focus or jitter occurs, the shape and / or position of the lens 3 can be adjusted through the suspension wire assembly 4 to achieve the AF function or the OIS function. The following will explain the specific principles and technical solutions for the camera module to achieve the AF function and the OIS function through the suspension wire assembly 4 and the lens 3.

[0043] In the prior art, the principle of realizing the focusing function in a camera module is usually to move the lens along its optical axis direction and perform focusing by changing the image distance. Different from the prior art, in this embodiment, the principle of realizing the AF function is to drive the flexible lens 3 to change its shape through the suspension wire assembly 4, so as to change the optical parameters of the lens 3 and achieve the effect of adjusting the focal length.

[0044] Specifically, in this embodiment, the suspension wire 41 of the suspension wire assembly 4 is set to be in a relaxed state when not energized and will not apply a force to the lens 3. When an AF operation is required, electrical energy from the outside can be provided to the suspension wire assembly 4 through the circuit board assembly 6, so that a current flowing into the suspension wire 41 via the connection bar 42 is generated in the suspension wire assembly 4. The current will generate heat in the suspension wire 41, causing the temperature of the suspension wire 41 to rise. When the temperature of the suspension wire 41 rises to the phase change temperature of its shape memory alloy layer, its shape memory alloy layer will undergo a phase change and change its volume, causing the length of the suspension wire 41 to change. In this embodiment, the phase change mode of the shape memory alloy layer of the suspension wire 41 is set to reduce its volume when its temperature rises to the phase change temperature, so that the length of the suspension wire 41 is shortened. In this way, when the suspension wire 41 is energized and heated to reach the phase change temperature of its shape memory alloy layer, it will apply a pulling force to the deformation layer of the lens 3 due to the shortening of its length, causing the lens 3 to change its shape. Since the suspension wire 41 is fixed to the deformation layer of the lens 3 from multiple side directions respectively in this embodiment, as long as the suspension wires 41 in the opposite directions of the lens 3 are controlled to be energized simultaneously, so that they are heated to the phase change temperature and shortened simultaneously, the deformation layer of the lens 3 can be pulled outwards, making the overall shape of the lens 3 flatter and the curvature smaller, so that the focal length of the lens 3 can be adjusted and the AF function can be achieved. Further, by specifically selecting which suspension wires 41 are energized, as well as the energization time and current magnitude of each suspension wire 41, the contraction amount of each suspension wire 41 can be accurately adjusted, so as to adjust the specific shape of the lens 3 during deformation and achieve a more accurate AF operation.

[0045] For details, please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 . When the camera module is used to photograph a nearby object, the lens 3 can be maintained in its initial state, that is Figure 5 the near-focus state shown. As Figure 6 shown, in this near-focus state, the suspension wire 41 is in a relaxed state, the thickness and curvature of the lens 3 are larger, the degree of refraction of light is larger, correspondingly making the focal length of the lens 3 shorter, and at the same time the distance between the lens 3 and the image sensor 50 is smaller. The light reflected from a nearby object and having a relatively large divergence angle with respect to the lens 3 can be collected by the lens 3 and can produce a relatively large degree of refraction, so as to be focused as precisely as possible on the image sensor 50 that is closer to the lens 3. When the camera module is used to photograph a distant object, multiple suspension wires 41 in multiple groups in opposite directions of the lens 3 can be controlled to be energized simultaneously, so that they are simultaneously heated to the phase change temperature and shortened, and respectively pull the deformation layer of the lens 3 outward from multiple groups in opposite directions, making the overall shape of the lens 3 flatter and the curvature smaller, so as to adjust the lens 3 to Figure 5 the telephoto state shown. As Figure 6 shown, in this telephoto state, the degree of refraction of light by the lens 3 is smaller, correspondingly making the focal length of the lens 3 longer, and at the same time the distance between the lens 3 and the image sensor 50 is larger. The light reflected from a distant object and having a relatively small divergence angle with respect to the lens 3 can be collected by the lens 3 and can produce a relatively small degree of refraction, so as to be effectively focused on the image sensor 50 that is farther from the lens 3 to form a clear image. Based on the above principle, the camera module can achieve the AF function through the suspension wire assembly 4 and the lens 3.

[0046] Figure 7 Further shown are the functional components and control methods for cooperatively controlling the camera module to achieve the AF function. As Figure 7As shown, the functional modules for cooperatively controlling the camera module to implement the AF function in this embodiment may include a main board, a control chip, and the image sensor 50, the suspension wire assembly 4, and the lens 3 in the camera module. The main board may be an existing main board in the intelligent terminal applying the camera module, on which, for example, an existing Image Signal Processor (ISP) is provided. The control chip may be, for example, an existing main control chip of the camera module, which includes a Microcontroller Unit (MCU), a Flash memory, and a Driver IC; in this embodiment, the control chip is preferably built into the camera module. For example, it may be integrally installed on the circuit board assembly 6, or its respective components may be separately installed on the circuit board assembly 6. It may also be integrated with the image sensor assembly 50 to form a chip assembly, or a part of its components may be installed in the circuit board assembly 6 while another part of its components is integrated with the image sensor assembly 50. When assembling the camera module, the microcontroller of the control chip is electrically connected to the image sensor 50, the Driver IC is electrically connected to the suspension wire assembly 4, and the image signal processor on the main board is electrically connected to the control chip and the image sensor 50 respectively.

[0047] In this embodiment, the control method for cooperatively controlling the camera module to implement the AF function may adopt the following specific operations: During the use of the camera module, after the image sensor 50 receives the optical image signal generated by the lens 3, it converts the optical image signal into an electronic image signal, and in real time, transmits the electronic image signal to the image signal processor through, for example, the existing Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI). The image signal processor determines the clarity of the electronic image signal, and judges whether the camera module is accurately focused according to the clarity parameter; if it is judged that the camera module is not accurately focused, then further according to the current optical parameters of the electronic image signal and, for example, the existing focusing algorithm, it is determined how much contraction amount each of the suspension wires 41 in the suspension wire assembly 4 needs to generate to adjust the lens 3 to the optimal form that makes the focusing most accurate. After determining the contraction amount that each of the suspension wires 41 needs to generate, the image signal processor transmits the contraction amount parameter information corresponding to the contraction amount that each of the suspension wires 41 needs to generate to the microcontroller in the control chip through, for example, the existing Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) or Inter-Integrated Circuit (IIC). The microcontroller generates corresponding suspension wire current parameter information according to the contraction amount parameter information of each of the suspension wires 41 and provides it to the driving integrated circuit. The driving integrated circuit energizes each of the suspension wires 41 that need to generate a contraction amount according to the suspension wire current parameter information, so that the corresponding suspension wires 41 generate the required contraction amount after being heated, drive the lens 3 to generate the required deformation, and adjust the lens 3 to the optimal form that makes the focusing most accurate, thereby implementing the AF function.

[0048] On the other hand, please refer to Figure 8, in this embodiment, the principle of implementing the OIS function is to drive the lens 3 to move in a direction perpendicular to its optical axis through the suspension wire assembly 4 to compensate for the position offset caused by jitter. As mentioned above, the suspension wires 41 of the suspension wire assembly 4 are set to be in a relaxed state when not energized. Therefore, if only the suspension wire 41 fixed to one side of the lens 3 is energized, rather than simultaneously energizing the suspension wire 41 fixed to the opposite side of the lens 3, based on the aforementioned working principle of the suspension wire 41, the energized suspension wire 41 will heat up and shorten, pulling the lens 3 towards the side where it is located. At the same time, the suspension wire 41 on the opposite side remains in a relaxed state and will not hinder the movement of the lens 3 due to insufficient length. Through the above principle, the suspension wire assembly 4 can be used to drive the lens 3 to move in a direction perpendicular to its optical axis to compensate for the position offset caused by jitter and implement the OIS function. By specifically selecting which suspension wires 41 to energize, as well as the energization time and current magnitude of each suspension wire 41, the contraction amount of each suspension wire 41 can be precisely adjusted, thereby accurately adjusting the specific movement direction and movement amplitude of the lens 3 to achieve an ideal OIS operation. Specifically, for example Figure 8 As shown, if the camera module generates jitter to the right, only the left suspension wire 41 can be controlled to energize and contract, pulling the lens 3 to move to the left to compensate for the rightward position deviation caused by the jitter and achieve the anti-shake function. At the same time, the right suspension wire 41 remains in a relaxed state, so it has sufficient stretching margin and will not cause the right suspension wire 41 to be tightened when the lens 3 moves to the left, thus not affecting the movement of the lens 3.

[0049] Figure 9 Further shows the functional components and control methods for cooperatively controlling the camera module to implement the OIS function. As Figure 9 shown, in this embodiment, the functional module for cooperatively controlling the camera module to implement the OIS function can still include the main board, control chip, and the image sensor 50, suspension wire assembly 4, and lens 3 in the camera module for cooperatively implementing the AF function as described above. However, in addition to the image signal processor as described above, the main board should also be provided with, for example, an existing Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). When assembling the camera module, the microcontroller of the control chip is electrically connected to the image sensor 50, the drive integrated circuit is electrically connected to the suspension wire assembly 4, the image signal processor on the main board is electrically connected to the control chip and the image sensor 50 respectively, and the inertial measurement unit on the main board is also electrically connected to the image signal processor and the control chip respectively.

[0050] In this embodiment, the control method for cooperatively controlling the camera module to implement the OIS function may adopt the following specific operations: When the camera module shakes, the inertial measurement unit can detect the change information of the speed and acceleration generated by the camera module due to the shake, and transmit the change information of the speed and acceleration of the camera module to the microcontroller in the control chip through, for example, the existing serial peripheral interface. The microcontroller uses, for example, the existing shake processing algorithm stored in the flash memory, calculates how much contraction each suspension wire 41 needs to generate based on the change information of the speed and acceleration of the camera module to compensate for the current shake, and then generates corresponding suspension wire current parameter information according to the contraction amount required for each suspension wire 41 and provides it to the driving integrated circuit. The driving integrated circuit energizes each suspension wire 41 that needs to generate a contraction amount according to the suspension wire current parameter information, so that the corresponding suspension wire 41 generates the required contraction amount after being heated, and drives the lens 3 to move in the required direction and amplitude in the direction perpendicular to its optical axis, thereby compensating for the position deviation caused by the shake of the camera module and implementing the OIS function.

[0051] In some other embodiments, the following specific operations may also be adopted to implement the OIS function: The image signal processor determines whether the camera module shakes according to the clarity of the electronic image signal generated by the image sensor 50. If it is determined that the camera module shakes, it further calculates how much contraction each suspension wire 41 needs to generate based on the current optical parameters of the electronic image signal and, for example, the existing shake processing algorithm to compensate for the current shake, and then transmits the contraction amount parameter information corresponding to the contraction amount required for each suspension wire 41 to the microcontroller in the control chip; The microcontroller generates corresponding suspension wire current parameter information according to the contraction amount parameter information of each suspension wire 41 and provides it to the driving integrated circuit. The driving integrated circuit energizes each suspension wire 41 that needs to generate a contraction amount according to the suspension wire current parameter information, so that the corresponding suspension wire 41 generates the required contraction amount after being heated, and drives the lens 3 to move in the required direction and amplitude in the direction perpendicular to its optical axis, thereby compensating for the position deviation caused by the shake of the camera module and implementing the OIS function.

[0052] The camera module and the smart terminal provided by the above embodiments of the present application are provided with a flexible lens and a suspension wire assembly. The suspension wire with shape memory characteristics in the suspension wire assembly is fixed on the flexible lens, and the recoverable contraction generated by the suspension wire when electrified is used to drive the flexible lens to deform or move, so as to achieve the AF function and the OIS function respectively. It can be understood that the camera module provided by the embodiments of the present application does not need to use traditional magnets and coils to generate electromagnetic force to drive optical elements to achieve the AF function and the OIS function, but only needs to use the suspension wire assembly 4 to drive the flexible lens 3 to deform or move to achieve the AF function and the OIS function. The volume, weight and the required moving space of the suspension wire assembly 4 are significantly smaller than those of the driving mechanism composed of magnets and coils in the prior art, which is beneficial to the further miniaturization and light weight of the camera module. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the camera module provided by the above embodiments of the present application can obtain more excellent technical effects.

[0053] An embodiment of another aspect of the present application provides a smart terminal. The smart terminal may be, for example, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, a wearable device, etc., and the smart terminal includes the camera module as described in the foregoing embodiments. It can be understood that since the smart terminal includes the camera module as described in the foregoing embodiments, it can also obtain the above-mentioned beneficial technical effects in various aspects compared with the prior art.

[0054] The above are only the specific embodiments of the present application, but the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any changes or substitutions that can be easily thought of by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed by the present application should be covered by the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the protection scope of the present application should be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A camera module, characterized in that: It includes a main shell, a lens, a suspension wire assembly, an image sensor assembly, and a circuit board assembly; the lens is a flexible lens, which is installed in the main shell; the suspension wire assembly includes a plurality of suspension wires with shape memory characteristics and a plurality of connecting bars, the suspension wires are connected between the lens and the connecting bars, and the connecting bars are fixed on the main shell; the image sensor assembly is installed in the main shell, and is used to convert the optical image signal generated by the lens into an electronic image signal; the circuit board assembly is installed on the main shell and is electrically connected to the image sensor assembly and the connecting bars, and is used to transmit the electronic image signal, and is also used to energize the suspension wire assembly to control the suspension wire to produce memory deformation, and the memory deformation of the suspension wire is used to drive the lens to deform or move.

2. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The suspension wire comprises two inner cores made of polyvinyl alcohol material, a first memory alloy layer made of nickel-titanium memory alloy material is formed outside the inner core, and the two inner cores are wound into a twisted pair structure.

3. The camera module according to claim 2, characterized in that: A second memory alloy layer made of nickel-titanium memory alloy material is formed on the outside of the entire twisted pair structure.

4. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting strip is made of a rigid conductive material, and includes a connecting section and a clamping section; the connecting section is fixed on the inner wall of the main shell, one end of which is electrically connected to the circuit board assembly, and the other end is connected to the clamping section; the clamping section includes at least two clamping pieces, and the at least two clamping pieces are folded in half to clamp the suspension wire.

5. The camera module according to claim 4, characterized in that: Adjacent clamping sheets of the at least two clamping sheets are arranged in parallel and have a part of their side edges connected to each other, and a gap is formed between the other part of the side edges which remains after the adjacent clamping sheets are folded in half.

6. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lens includes an internal lens core, an intermediate layer covering the outside of the lens core, and a deformation layer covering the outside of the intermediate layer. The rigidity of the lens core, the intermediate layer and the deformation layer decreases successively while the elasticity increases successively. The multiple suspension wires are inserted into the deformation layer from multiple directions and fixed therein.

7. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein: The camera module also includes a top cover, and the main shell has a first opening end and a second opening end that are arranged opposite to each other. The top cover and the circuit board assembly respectively seal the openings formed by the main shell at the first opening end and the second opening end.

8. The camera module according to claim 7, characterized in that: The camera module also includes a damping glue encapsulated between the main shell, the top cover and the circuit board assembly, and the lens and the suspension wire are suspended in the damping glue.

9. The camera module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The image sensor assembly includes a sensor frame and an image sensor mounted on the sensor frame. The sensor frame is fixed to the inner wall of the main housing. The image sensor is fixed to the circuit board assembly and is electrically connected to the circuit board assembly.

10. An intelligent terminal, characterized in that: Comprising a camera module as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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