Camera module and vehicle including same

Abstract

An image pickup apparatus module disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention includes: a lens barrel penetrating from a top to a bottom; a plurality of lenses aligned within the lens barrel along an optical axis; a substrate disposed under the lens barrel; an image sensor disposed on the substrate; a base holder, an interior of which is coupled with the substrate; and an annular holder coupled to an outer side of the lens barrel and an upper portion of the base holder, in which the annular holder may be disposed between the base holder and an outer locking protrusion of the lens barrel, the base holder may be made of a first metal material, and the annular holder may be made of a second metal material. And the annular retainer can be made of a second metal material different from the first metal material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a camera device module and a vehicle having the camera device module. Background Art

[0002] ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) is an advanced driver assistance system for assisting a driver in driving and consists of sensing a front situation, determining a situation based on the sensing result, and controlling the behavior of a vehicle based on the situation determination. For example, an ADAS sensor device detects a vehicle ahead and identifies a lane. Then, when determining a target lane or a target speed and a target ahead, it controls the vehicle's ESC (Electronic Stability Control), EMS (Engine Management System), MDPS (Motor Driven Power Steering), etc. Generally, ADAS can be implemented as an automatic parking system, a low-speed urban driving assistance system, a blind spot warning system, etc. Sensor devices for sensing a front situation in ADAS include a GPS sensor, a laser scanner, a front radar, and a Lidar, but the most representative one is a front camera device for photographing the front of the vehicle.

[0003] Recently, research on a detection system for detecting the surroundings of a vehicle for driver safety and convenience is accelerating. The vehicle detection system is used for various purposes, such as detecting an object around the vehicle to prevent a collision with an object not recognized by the driver, and performing automatic parking by detecting an empty space, and provides the most basic data for automatic vehicle control. In such a detection system, a method using a radar signal and a method using a camera device are generally used. A vehicle camera device module is built in a front and rear monitoring camera and a black box in an automobile and is used to capture a subject in the form of a photo or a video. Since the vehicle camera device module is exposed to the outside, the photographing quality may deteriorate due to humidity and temperature. In particular, the camera device module has a problem that its optical characteristics change according to the surrounding temperature and the material of the lens. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Technical Problem

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a camera device module having an annular holder capable of compensating for a change in the back focal length BFL between an image sensor and a last lens in a lens barrel. Embodiments of the present invention may provide a camera device module capable of separating an annular holder provided on an outer circumference of a lens barrel and a base holder located on a lower portion of the lens barrel in response to a change in the distance between an image sensor and a last lens.

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention can provide an imaging device module in which a holder that supports an outer portion and a lower portion of a lens barrel is divided into an outer portion and a bottom portion in terms of material and physical properties. Embodiments of the present invention can provide an imaging device module having at least one inner lens barrel or / and at least one plastic lens provided on an inner portion of the lens barrel. Embodiments of the present invention can provide a mobile device and a vehicle having the imaging device module.

[0007] Technical solution

[0008] An imaging device module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a lens barrel extending from an upper portion to a lower portion; a plurality of lenses aligned along an optical axis inside the lens barrel; a substrate disposed below the lens barrel; an image sensor disposed on the substrate; a base holder having an interior coupled to the base; and an annular holder coupled to an outer portion of the lens barrel and an upper portion of the base holder, wherein the annular holder is disposed between the base holder and an outer locking projection of the lens barrel, the base holder may be made of a first metal material, and the annular holder may be made of a second metal material different from the first metal.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of lenses is a plastic lens, and the at least one plastic lens may overlap the annular holder in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The plurality of lenses may include glass lenses and a number of plastic lenses less than the number of glass lenses, and the plurality of plastic lenses may be disposed on an interior of the annular holder.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base holder may be made of the same metal material as the lens barrel. The annular holder may be made of stainless steel, and the base holder may be made of aluminum. An upper portion of the base holder and a lower portion of the annular holder may be fastened to each other by a thread.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an upper portion of the annular holder may be joined to the outer locking projection of the lens barrel by an adhesive. An upper surface of the annular holder may have a recessed groove in which a part of the adhesive is disposed.

[0012] An imaging device module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a lens barrel that penetrates from an upper portion to a lower portion; a plurality of lenses that are aligned along an optical axis inside the lens barrel; a substrate disposed below the lens barrel; an image sensor disposed on the substrate; an inner lens barrel disposed between a lens adjacent to the image sensor among the plurality of lenses and the lens barrel; a base holder having a first through hole on the inside and the substrate disposed on a lower portion of the first through hole; and an annular holder having a second through hole on the inside and coupled to an upper portion of the base holder, a part of the lens barrel being inserted into the second through hole, wherein the annular holder is disposed between the base holder and an outer locking protrusion of the lens barrel, and the base holder may be made of a first metal material and the annular holder may be made of a second metal material different from the first metal.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the lens disposed inside the inner lens barrel includes a plastic lens, and the inner lens barrel may be made of a plastic material. An upper end portion of the inner lens barrel may be positioned lower than an upper end portion of the annular holder.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a coefficient of thermal expansion of the annular holder is lower than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the base holder, and the annular holder may have a shape that does not vertically overlap with the lens barrel. The imaging device module may include: a first fastening portion located on an upper outer surface protruding from the base holder; and a second fastening portion disposed on a lower inner surface of the annular holder and fastened to the first fastening portion.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper end portion of the annular holder may be disposed within a range of 40% to 60% of a total length of the lens barrel based on a lower end portion of the lens barrel. A lower end portion of the annular holder may be disposed lower than a sensor side of a last lens, the last lens being closest to the image sensor disposed within the lens barrel. A cover glass may be included on the image sensor; and a filter may be included between the plurality of lenses and the cover glass.

[0016] A vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the imaging device module disclosed above.

[0017] Advantageous Effects

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the following effects are achieved: The design can be changed such that it can respond to the movement amount of the BFL of the optical system with an annular retainer. Additionally, the change amount of the BFL of the optical system can be compensated by compensating with the annular retainer according to the change amount of the BFL (back focal length) of the optical system with respect to temperature change. Therefore, the resolution of the imaging device module according to temperature change can be maintained, and the optical reliability of the imaging device module can be improved.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an inner lens barrel may also be provided in the lens barrel to minimize the stress and eccentricity of the plastic lens according to temperature change. Additionally, an inner lens barrel and a heterogeneous lens are provided in the lens barrel to maintain the resolution according to temperature change and suppress temperature deformation. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the optical reliability of the imaging device module can be improved, and the reliability of the imaging device equipment for a vehicle having the imaging device module can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 is an example of a side sectional view of an imaging device module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a partially enlarged view of the imaging device module;

[0022] Figure 3 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the annular retainer and the base retainer of the lens retainer of.

[0023] Figure 4 is a vehicle having Figure 1 the imaging device module of. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The technical spirit of the present invention is not limited to some embodiments to be described, but can be implemented in various other forms, and within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention, one or more components can be selectively combined and replaced for use. Additionally, unless clearly defined and clearly described, the terms (including technical terms and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention can be interpreted in the meaning generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, and the terms commonly used, such as those defined in a dictionary, should be able to interpret their meanings based on considering the context meaning of the related technology.

[0025] In addition, the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are used to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, unless specifically stated otherwise in a phrase, the singular form may also include the plural form, and in the case of describing at least one (or one or more) of A and (and) B, C, it may include one or more of all combinations that can be combined with A, B, and C. When describing components of embodiments of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. Such terms are only used to distinguish components from other components and may not be determined by terms such as the nature, order, or process of the corresponding constituent elements. And when describing that a component is "connected", "coupled", or "joined" to another component, such description may include not only directly connecting, coupling, or joining to another component, but also "connecting", "coupling", or "joining" between the component and another component through yet another component. In addition, in the case of being described as formed or provided "above (on)" or "below (under)" each component, such description includes not only the case where two components are in direct contact with each other, but also the case where one or more other components are formed or provided between the two components. In addition, when expressed as "above (on)" or "below (under)", it may refer to the downward direction and the upward direction with respect to one element. In addition, several embodiments described below may be combined with each other unless specifically stated that they cannot be combined with each other. In addition, unless otherwise specifically mentioned, the parts omitted from the description of one of the several embodiments may be applied to the description of other embodiments.

[0026] In the description of the present invention, the first lens refers to the lens closest to the object side, and the last lens refers to the lens closest to the image side (or sensor surface). The last lens may include a lens adjacent to the image sensor. Unless otherwise stated in the specification of the present invention, the units of lens radius, thickness / distance, TTL, etc. are all mm. In this specification, the shape of the lens is represented based on the optical axis of the lens. For example, saying that the object side of the lens is convex or concave means that the object side of the lens is convex or concave around the optical axis, rather than referring to the area around the optical axis being convex or concave. Therefore, even if the object side of the lens is described as convex, the portion around the optical axis of the object side of the lens may be concave or of the opposite shape. In this specification, it should be noted that the thickness and radius of curvature of the lens are measured based on the optical axis of the lens. In other words, a convex lens surface means that the lens surface in the area corresponding to the optical axis has a convex shape, and a concave lens surface means that the lens surface in the area corresponding to the optical axis has a concave shape. In addition, the "object side surface" may refer to the surface of the lens facing the object side based on the optical axis, and the "sensor side surface" may refer to the surface of the lens facing the sensor side based on the optical axis.

[0027] Figure 1An example of a side cross-sectional view of an imaging device module according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 is Figure 1 a partially enlarged view of the imaging device module, and Figure 3 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of an annular retainer and a base retainer of the lens holder. Referring to Figures 1 to 3 , an imaging device module 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a lens part 100 having a plurality of lenses; a lens barrel 300 having a through hole therein and having a plurality of lenses stacked thereon; an annular retainer 650 disposed on the outer periphery of the lens barrel 300; and a base retainer 600 disposed on the bottom of the lens barrel 300 and the annular retainer 650. The imaging device module 1000 may include at least one inner barrel 400 disposed on an inner portion of the lens barrel 300, and at least one space holding member disposed on an outer side between the plurality of lenses. The inner barrel 400 may penetrate from an upper portion to a lower portion. A cover 500 coupled to an upper portion of the lens barrel 300 may be included. The space holding member may hold a space between two adjacent lenses and may serve as a light shield, a spacer, or a separator.

[0028] An annular member 191 may be disposed around a circumference between the lens barrel 300 and a first lens 101 closest to an object. The annular member 191 may be made of an elastic material or a resin material such as silicone resin or epoxy resin. As another example, the annular member 191 may be coupled between the lens barrel 300 and the cover. The annular member 191 may perform a waterproof and dustproof function on an inner side and / or an outer side of the lens barrel 300. An additional annular member for sealing between the cover 500 and the lens barrel 300 may also be included.

[0029] The imaging device module 1000 may include an image sensor 112 and a substrate 110 disposed on a sensor side of the lens part 100 (i.e., disposed on a sensor side of the last lens). The imaging device module 1000 may include a cover glass 114 and a filter 116 between the last lens of the lens part 100 and the image sensor 112.

[0030] The image sensor 112 may be disposed on the substrate 110. The substrate 110 may be mounted, positioned, contacted, fixed, temporarily fixed, supported, or coupled to the image sensor 112 on a plane intersecting the optical axis Z0. Alternatively, according to another embodiment, a groove or hole (not shown) capable of accommodating the image sensor 112 may be formed on the substrate 110, and the embodiment is not limited to the specific form in which the image sensor 112 is arranged on the substrate 110. The substrate 110 may be a rigid PCB or FPCB. The image sensor 112 may perform the function of converting light passing through the lens portion 100 into image data. The image sensor 112 may be any one of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor), CPD, or CID. When there are multiple image sensors 112, one may be a color (RGB) sensor and the others may be black-and-white sensors. The filter 116 may be disposed between the lens portion 100 and the image sensor 112. The filter 116 may filter light corresponding to a specific wavelength range of light passing through the lenses 101 to 107. The filter 116 may be an infrared (IR) blocking filter that blocks infrared rays or an ultraviolet (UV) blocking filter that blocks ultraviolet rays, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. The filter 116 may be disposed on the image sensor 112. The cover glass 114 may be disposed between the filter 116 and the image sensor 112, and may protect the upper portion of the image sensor 112 and prevent deterioration of the reliability of the image sensor 112.

[0031] The lens portion 100 may include an optical system in which five or more lenses are stacked, or an optical system in which nine or fewer lenses are stacked. The lens portion 100 may include six to eight solid lenses. All of the lenses in the lens portion 100 may be provided as glass lenses, or all of the lenses in the lens portion 100 may be provided as plastic lenses. The lens portion 100 may include lenses of different materials, and may include, for example, lenses made of plastic and lenses made of glass. For example, the lens portion 100 may include one or more plastic lenses and four or more glass lenses. The ratio of the number of lenses made of plastic material to the number of lenses made of glass material may include 1:2 to 2:5. As another example, the number of lenses made of glass material may be greater than the number of lenses made of plastic material.

[0032] In the lens part 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of lenses made of glass material may be at least 2 more than the number of lenses made of plastic material. Here, the lens part 100 may be laminated with plastic lenses and / or (one or more) glass lenses. Here, the plastic material has a higher (e.g., 5 times higher) linear thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) than the glass material, and the change value of the refractive index according to the temperature function may be higher (e.g., 10 times higher) than the glass material. However, since lenses made of plastic material are easier to manufacture and more convenient to design than lenses made of glass material, the demand for the use of lenses made of plastic material is increasing.

[0033] The lens having the largest effective diameter in the imaging device module 1000 may be a lens closer to the object side, or one of the lenses between the two object-side lenses and the two sensor-side lenses. Preferably, the lens having the largest effective diameter may be made of glass. The effective diameter may be the diameter of the effective area where the effective light is incident on each lens. The effective diameter is the average of the effective diameters of the object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of each lens. An embodiment of the present invention may reduce the weight of the imaging device module 1000 by further mixing plastic lenses, may provide a lower manufacturing cost, may suppress the deterioration of optical characteristics due to temperature changes, and may allow various types of plastic lenses to replace glass lenses, and may facilitate the polishing and processing of lens surfaces such as aspherical or free-form surfaces. Each of the lenses may include an effective area and an ineffective area. The effective area may be the area through which the light incident on each of the lenses passes. That is, the effective area may be defined as the effective area or effective diameter where the incident light is refracted to achieve optical characteristics. The ineffective area may be provided around the effective area and may be defined as a flange part. The ineffective area may be an area where the effective light is not incident from the plurality of lenses. That is, the ineffective area may be an area irrelevant to the optical characteristics. In addition, the end of the ineffective area may be an area fixed to a lens barrel or the like that houses the lens.

[0034] The lens barrel 300 penetrates from the upper part to the lower part, and a plurality of lenses are coupled inside it, and the plurality of lenses can be coupled through the upper opening of the lens barrel 300 or the opening 501 of the cover 500. The plurality of lenses can be sequentially stacked from the last lens 107 closest to the sensor side to the lens 101 closest to the object side. As another example, the lenses can be coupled from the sensor side towards the object side, or can be coupled in both directions. The lens closest to the object side can be the first lens 101, and the sensor side lens closest to the filter 116 or the image sensor 112 can be the nth lens or the last lens, and can be the seventh lens 107, and n can be an integer greater than or equal to 5, such as one of 6, 7, 8, and 9.

[0035] The lens part 100 may have a plurality of lenses aligned along the optical axis Z0 from the object side towards the image sensor 112. For example, the first lens 101, the second lens 102, the third lens 103, the fourth lens 104, the fifth lens 105, the sixth lens 106, and the seventh lens 107 may be aligned. The second lens 102 may be disposed between the first lens 101 and the third lens 103. The fourth lens 104 may be disposed between the third lens 103 and the fifth lens 105, and the sixth lens 106 may be disposed between the fifth lens 105 and the seventh lens 107.

[0036] The imaging device module 1000 according to an embodiment may include an aperture stop 121. The aperture stop 121 may control the amount of light incident on the optical system 1000. The aperture stop 121 may be positioned at a set position. For example, the aperture stop 121 may serve as a first spacer that separates the first lens 101 and the second lens 102 from each other at the periphery between the first lens 101 and the second lens 102. As another example, the aperture stop 121 may be implemented with a light-blocking material coated on the surface of the first spacer. Alternatively, the periphery of the sensor side surface of the first lens 101 or the periphery of the object side surface of the second lens 102 may be coated with a light-blocking material to serve as an aperture for controlling the amount of light, and in this case, the first spacer may be provided separately.

[0037] The aperture stop 121 is disposed around the first lens 101 and the second lens 102, may be in contact with the inner surface of the lens barrel 300, and may be provided in an annular shape. The aperture stop 121 may be made of a metal material or a non-metal material, and may be formed of, for example, an aluminum material or a plastic material.

[0038] For ease of explanation, the present invention will be described using seven lenses, and the lenses 101 to 107 in the lens barrel 300 will be described as being coupled from the sensor side toward the object side. The first lens 101 may have a positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power on the optical axis Z0. The first lens 101 may have a negative (-) refractive power. The first lens is arranged to be closest to the object side among the lenses, and may have, for example, a convex object-side surface and a concave sensor-side surface on the optical axis. Since the object-side surface of the first lens has a convex shape on the optical axis, problems of accumulation of external foreign substances or dust can be suppressed. In addition, the first lens may be formed of a maintenance material. The first lens may be provided in an injection-molded shape using a glass material, and the object-side surface and the sensor-side surface may be aspherical. The first lens 101 made of a glass material can reduce changes in the central position and the radius of curvature due to temperature changes in the surrounding environment, and can protect the incident-side surface of the optical system 1000. In addition, the flange portion 101A of the first lens 101 may have a flat object-side surface, and this flat surface can block foreign substances from entering from the outside. In addition, since the first lens 101 is made of a molded material, the adhesion to the cover 500 can be improved.

[0039] The cover 500 is coupled to the upper circumference of the flange portion 101A of the first lens 101, and the cover 500 may be coupled to the upper circumference of the lens barrel 300.

[0040] The second lens 102 may have a positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power on the optical axis Z0. The second lens 102 may have a positive (+) refractive power. For example, the second lens may have a concave object-side surface and a convex sensor-side surface on the optical axis. Alternatively, the second lens 102 may have a meniscus shape convex toward the object side or a shape concave on both sides. The second lens may be formed of a plastic material or a glass material, and may be formed of a glass material, for example.

[0041] The third lens 103 may have a positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power on the optical axis Z0. The third lens 103 may have a positive (+) refractive power. The third lens 103 may have a convex object-side surface and a convex sensor-side surface on the optical axis. Alternatively, the third lens 103 may have a meniscus shape convex toward the sensor side or a concave shape on both sides. The third lens 103 may be formed of a plastic material or a glass material, and may be formed of a glass material, for example.

[0042] The fourth lens 104 may have a positive (+) refractive power or a negative (-) refractive power on the optical axis Z0. The fourth lens 104 may have a positive (+) refractive power. The fourth lens 104 may have a convex object-side surface and a concave sensor-side surface on the optical axis. Alternatively, the fourth lens 104 may have a meniscus shape convex toward the sensor side or a concave shape on both sides. The fourth lens 104 may be formed of a plastic material or a glass material, and may be formed of a glass material, for example.

[0043] The fifth lens 105 may have a positive (+) refractive power or a negative (-) refractive power on the optical axis Z0. The fifth lens 105 may have a negative (-) refractive power. The fifth lens 105 may include a plastic or a glass material. For example, the fifth lens 105 may be provided as a glass material. The fifth lens 105 may have a convex object-side surface and a concave sensor-side surface on the optical axis, for example. Alternatively, the fifth lens 105 may have a convex meniscus shape toward the sensor side or a concave shape on both sides.

[0044] The fourth lens 104 and the fifth lens 105 may be joined. The sensor-side surface of the fourth lens 104 and the object-side surface of the fifth lens 105 may be joined. The fourth lens 104 and the fifth lens 105 may have opposite refractive powers. The combined refractive power of the fourth lens 104 and the fifth lens 105 may have a positive (+) refractive power. The product of the refractive power of the object-side lens of the joined lens and the refractive power of the sensor-side lens may be less than 0. The product of the focal length of the object-side lens of the joined lens and the focal length of the sensor-side lens may be less than 0. Therefore, the aberration characteristics of the optical system can be improved. If the refractive powers of the two lenses of the joined lens are the same, there are limitations to the improvement of the aberration. The combined refractive power of the joined lens mentioned above has a positive refractive power, and based on the above-mentioned object-side third lens 103 and sensor-side sixth lens 106 of the joined lens may have a positive refractive power. Therefore, the third lens 103, the joined lens, and the sixth lens 106 may refract some of the incident light in the optical axis direction. The diameter of the fifth lens 105 may be larger than the diameter of the fourth lens 104, and the outer surface of the fourth lens 104 may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the lens barrel 300, and the outer surface of the flange portion 105A of the fifth lens 105 may be in contact with the inner surface of the lens barrel 300.

[0045] The sixth lens 106 may have a positive (+) refractive power or a negative (-) refractive power on the optical axis Z0. The sixth lens 106 may have a positive (+) refractive power. The sixth lens 106 may include a plastic or glass material. For example, the sixth lens 106 may be provided as a plastic material. The sixth lens 106 may have a convex object-side surface and a convex sensor-side surface on the optical axis. As another example, the sixth lens 106 may have a meniscus shape convex toward the object side, a meniscus shape convex toward the sensor side, or a shape concave on both sides. The seventh lens 107 may have a positive (+) refractive power or a negative (-) refractive power on the optical axis Z0.

[0046] The seventh lens 107 may have a negative (-) refractive power. The seventh lens 107 may include a plastic or glass material. For example, the seventh lens 107 may be a plastic material. The seventh lens 107 may have a meniscus shape convex toward the object side on the optical axis. Conversely, the seventh lens 107 may have a convex meniscus shape toward the sensor on the optical axis Z0 or a concave shape on both sides. The seventh lens 107 may be the plastic lens closest to the image sensor 300. By arranging the plastic lens closest to the image sensor 112, the optical performance can be improved by the lens surface having an aspherical surface, thereby controlling the influence on the aberration characteristics and the resolution. Additionally, by arranging the plastic lens as the lens closest to the image sensor 112, the lens may be less sensitive to assembly tolerances compared to a glass lens. In other words, being less sensitive to assembly tolerances means that even if the assembly is slightly different from the design during assembly, the optical performance may not be significantly affected.

[0047] In the lens unit 100, the glass lenses may be defined as the first lens group, and the (one or more) plastic lenses may be defined as the second lens group. The optical axis distance of the first lens group is the optical axis distance from the object-side surface of the first lens 101 to the sensor-side surface of the fifth lens 105, while the optical axis distance of the second lens group is the optical axis distance from the object-side surface of the sixth lens 106 to the sensor-side surface of the seventh lens 107.

[0048] The second spacer 122 is a member that maintains the distance between the flange portion 102A and the flange portion 103A between the second lens 102 and the third lens 103. The second spacer 122 can be made of a metallic material or a non-metallic material (e.g., aluminum or copper, or plastic). The inner protrusion P11 of the second spacer 122 can be combined with a stepped portion formed around the periphery of the convex sensor side surface of the second lens 102. The third spacer 123 can maintain the distance between the flange portion 103A of the third lens 103 and the flange portion 105A of the fifth lens 105. The third spacer 123 can maintain the distance between the third lens 103 and the joining lens. The third spacer 123 can be made of a metallic material or a non-metallic material (e.g., aluminum or copper, or plastic). The third spacer 123 is disposed between the outer surface of the fourth lens 104 and the inner surface of the lens barrel 300, and the inner protrusion P12 of the third spacer 123 can support the outer periphery of the fourth lens 104. When the second spacer 122 and the third spacer 123 are made of a metallic material, the second spacer 122 and the third spacer 123 can conduct the heat transferred from the inner lens to the lens barrel 300. That is, the heat conducted through the flange portion of the glass lens can be dissipated. If the spacers 121, 122, and 123 are made of a metallic material, the spacers 121, 122, and 123 can include at least one of In, Ga, Zn, Sn, Al, Ca, Sr, Ba, W, U, Ni, Cu, Hg, Pb, Bi, Si, Ta, H, Fe, Co, Cr, Mn, Be, B, Mg, Nb, Mo, Cd, Sn, Zr, Sc, Ti, V, Eu, Gd, Er, Lu, Yb, Ru, Y, and La. The oxide film can be an oxide material that is subjected to black oxide or brown oxide treatment using copper. Here, the lens barrel 300 can be made of a metallic or non-metallic material, for example, it can be made of aluminum or copper. Therefore, if the lens barrel 300 is made of a metal, the lens barrel 300 can dissipate the heat generated from the spacers 121, 122, and 123 and the flange portions of each lens, thereby preventing a reduction in the reliability of the optical characteristics due to temperature changes of the imaging device module exposed to the outside.

[0049] The lens barrel 300 can have an upper diameter X1 of an inner portion that is larger than the lower diameter X2. Here, the upper diameter X1 can be the maximum distance of a region facing the outer surface of the flange portion 101A of the first lens 101. The lower diameter X2 can be the maximum distance of a region facing the outer surface of the flange portion 107A of the last lens 107.

[0050] In an embodiment of the present invention, the endoscope barrel 400 can be combined within the lens barrel 300. Each of the lens barrel 300 and the endoscope barrel 400 can have at least one different lens inside. Here, the inside of the lens barrel 300 can be in contact with the outer surfaces of at least two or three or more lenses. The inside of the endoscope barrel 400 can be in contact with the outer surfaces of at least one or more lenses. The endoscope barrel 400 can be an endoscope barrel arranged on a part of the inside of the lens barrel 300. For example, the endoscope barrel 400 can be provided on the sensor side rather than the object side in the inner region of the lens barrel 300. The endoscope barrel 400 can be provided on the outside of at least one lens arranged closest to the sensor side in the inner region of the lens barrel 300. The endoscope barrel 400 can be provided on the lower locking projection 505 of the lens barrel 300.

[0051] The endoscope barrel 400 is arranged of a plastic material and can contract and expand together with the internal lens according to temperature changes. The endoscope barrel 400 can be provided between the lens barrel 300 and the outer surface of at least one lens. The endoscope barrel 400 can be provided between the lens barrel 300 and the outer surface of at least one plastic lens. The endoscope barrel 400 can be provided between the lens barrel 300 and the outer surfaces of at least one plastic lens and at least one glass lens. The lens barrel 300 can be formed of a first material, and the endoscope barrel 400 can be formed of a second material. The first barrel 300 and the second barrel 400 can be made of different materials. The first barrel 300 and the second barrel 400 can have different coefficients of thermal expansion.

[0052] The coefficient of thermal expansion of the endoscope barrel 400 can be a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than that of the lens barrel 300. For example, the lens barrel 300 can be made of a metal such as aluminum, and the endoscope barrel 400 can be made of a non-metal such as resin or plastic. The lens barrel 300 can have a coefficient of thermal expansion less than 30, and the endoscope barrel 400 can have a coefficient of thermal expansion of 50 or greater. The difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion between the first barrel 300 and the second barrel 400 can be 20 or greater. The difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the endoscope barrel 400 and the lens made of plastic material can be less than or equal to 3, less than or equal to 2, or can have the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the lens made of plastic material.

[0053] The height of the endoscope barrel 400 can be less than 50% or 40% of the height of the lens barrel 300. The height of the endoscope barrel 400 is the vertical distance from the lower end portion to the upper end portion, and can be greater than the center thickness of the plastic lens or the optical axis distance of the second lens group. The height of the endoscope barrel 400 can be greater than the sum of: the center thickness of the plastic lens and the center distance between the plastic lenses. For example, the height of the endoscope barrel 400 can be greater than the center thicknesses of the sixth lens 106 and the seventh lens 107, and can be greater than the sum of: the center thicknesses of the sixth lens 106 and the seventh lens 107 and the center distance between the sixth lens 106 and the seventh lens 107. The height of the endoscope barrel 400 can be higher than the top height of the flange portion 106A of the sixth lens 106. The height of the endoscope barrel 400 can be less than the optical axis distance of the first lens group and greater than the optical axis distance of the second lens group. The height of the endoscope barrel 400 can be less than the optical axis distance from the center of the object side surface of the fifth lens 105 to the center of the sensor side surface of the seventh lens 107. The height of the endoscope barrel 400 can be greater than the optical axis distance between two lenses adjacent to the image sensor and less than the optical axis distance between three lenses. The height of the endoscope barrel 400 can be 5 mm or greater, for example, in the range of 5 mm to 20 mm or in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm. If the height of the endoscope barrel 400 exceeds the above range, the imaging device module may become larger or cover the outer surface of the glass lens, which may cause problems due to temperature changes. If the height of the endoscope barrel 400 is less than the above range, the plastic lenses 106 and 107 may not all be covered, or it may be difficult to align the lower periphery of the fifth lens 105 on the sixth lens 106. The height of the lens barrel 300 is the height in the optical axis direction from the lower end portion to the upper end portion of the lens barrel 300.

[0054] The lenses in contact with the inner surface of the endoscope barrel 400 can be two, three, four or more lenses. For example, the lenses in contact with the inner surface of the endoscope barrel 400 can be the fifth lens 105, the sixth lens 106 and the seventh lens 107. The inner surface of the endoscope barrel 400 can extend from the outer surface of the flange portion 105A of the fifth lens 105 to the outer surface of the flange portion 107A of the seventh lens 107. As another example, a plurality of endoscope barrels can be provided between the outer surface of the lens and the lens barrel 300. Each of the plurality of endoscope barrels can be provided between two adjacent lenses and on the outer surfaces of two adjacent lenses to maintain the distance between two adjacent lenses and separate two adjacent lenses from the lens barrel.

[0055] The inner surface of the lens barrel 300 can be in contact with the outer surface of a lens made of glass. The inner surface of the inner lens barrel 400 can be in contact with the outer surface of a lens made of plastic. The inner surface 45 of the inner lens barrel 400 can be in contact with the outer surfaces of the flange portions 106A of the sixth lens 106 and 107A of the seventh lens 107. The upper portion of the inner surface 45 of the inner lens barrel 400 can be in contact with the outer surface of the fifth lens 105. The material of the inner lens barrel 400 and the materials of the sixth lens 106 and the seventh lens 107 can be the same material, for example, a plastic material. The plastic material can expand more than an aluminum material at high temperatures (i.e., 85 degrees or higher) and contract less than the aluminum material at low temperatures (i.e., -40 degrees or lower). Therefore, when the sixth lens 106 and the seventh lens 107 expand or contract according to temperature changes, the inner lens barrel 400 can expand or contract, thereby suppressing the misalignment of the centers of the sixth lens 106 and the seventh lens 107. That is, the inner lens barrel 400 can minimize the stress and eccentricity of the (one or more) plastic lenses according to temperature changes. In addition, since the inner lens barrel 400 has the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the sixth lens 106 and the seventh lens 107, the inner lens barrel 400 can deform (flow) together to minimize the stress generated when the plastic lens expands at high temperatures and can minimize the eccentricity with the glass lens generated when the plastic lens contracts at low temperatures. The imaging device module 1000 can minimize the resolution change caused by temperature changes.

[0056] The lower end portion 405 of the inner lens barrel 400 extends to the sensor side of the flange portion 107A of the seventh lens 107, which is the last lens, and can separate the flange portion 107A of the seventh lens 107 from the locking projection 505 of the lens barrel 300. The inner surface of the inner lens barrel 400 facing the outer surface of the lens can be provided in a form where the upper width is wider than the lower width. In addition, the lower end portion 405 of the inner lens barrel 400 can be provided between the flange portion 107A of the seventh lens 107, which is the last lens, and the filter 116. Therefore, the filter 116 can be mounted on the locking projection 505 of the lens barrel 300 and can be joined with an adhesive, and the detachment can be prevented by the inner lens barrel 400.

[0057] Meanwhile, the holders 600 and 650 can be coupled to the outer periphery of the lens barrel 300. The holders 600 and 650 can support the lens barrel 300 and can set the back focal length BFL between the last lens in the lens barrel 300 and the image sensor 112. The holder can include a base holder 600 and an annular holder 650 coupled to the upper portion of the base holder 600. That is, the holder is not a single body but is arranged as two separate holders 600 and 650. The base holder 600 and the annular holder 650 can be connected to each other through a fastening portion 620. The imaging device module 1000 installed in a vehicle undergoes temperature changes from a low temperature (e.g., -40 degrees) to a high temperature (e.g., 120 degrees), and thus, the lenses, lens barrels, etc. in the imaging device module contract and expand. That is, the lenses contract and expand more than the lens barrel 300, which affects the optical characteristics. In addition, plastic lenses can contract and expand more than glass lenses. Here, the contraction and expansion according to temperature can occur not only in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis Z0 but also in the direction of the optical axis. If the holder is a single body, the resolution of the imaging device module of the vehicle can vary according to the temperature change from low temperature to high temperature, and since no actuator is used outside the lens barrel or the holder, there are limitations in compensating for the change in resolution. In the case of such a single-body holder, the back focal length BFL between the last lens and the image sensor is designed to match the fixed height (BFL) of the holder, so if the fixed height of the holder or the internal back focal length BFL changes, the resolution may be reduced.

[0058] In addition, when designing the lens, if the changes in BFL and the lens barrel according to temperature are accurately known and designed, it can be compensated for by itself, but there is a problem that the amount of movement of BFL varies from company to company, and it is difficult to control BFL if the resolution changes. In addition, the amount of movement of the BFL of the optical system or the lens according to temperature change cannot be compensated by the thermal expansion coefficient of the holder with a single body, so there is a problem that the reduction in resolution cannot be solved.

[0059] In an embodiment of the present invention, the holder is divided into a base holder 600 and an annular holder 650 such that the movement amount of the BFL of the optical system or the lens portion according to temperature change can be responded to by the annular holder 650, thereby preventing a reduction in resolution. The base holder 600 has a first through hole 605 therein, and a lower portion of the first through hole 605 may have a circular or polygonal shape (e.g., polygonal shape), while an upper portion 612 may have a circular shape. The substrate 110 is disposed in the lower portion of the first through hole 605, and the substrate 110 may be fastened to the fastening groove 611 and the fastening member 181 of the base holder 600. The substrate 110 may have a circular or polygonal shape, and preferably has a polygonal shape. The image sensor 112 is provided on the substrate 110, and the image sensor 112 may have a polygonal shape. The cover glass 114 may be combined on the image sensor 112 to protect the image sensor 112. The image sensor 112 and the cover glass 114 may face the filter 116 in the optical axis direction.

[0060] The back focal length BFL between the surface of the image sensor 112 and the last lens 107 may be the space for mounting the cover glass 114 and the filter 116, and may be defined as the back focal length, which is the distance from the sensor side of the last lens 107 to the focal point, and may be an optical reference distance. When the temperature changes from low to high, the BFL may change in the optical axis direction based on the upper surface of the substrate 110 or the surface of the image sensor 112. The upper portion 612 of the base holder 600 may protrude in the optical axis direction from the upper surface of the base holder 600, and may be provided with a first fastening portion 620A. The first fastening portion 620A may be a thread formed on the outer surface of the upper portion 612 of the base holder 600. The annular holder 650 may be coupled to the upper portion 612 of the base holder 600. The annular holder 650 may be provided with a second fastening portion 620B on the lower portion 652. The second fastening portion 620B may be a thread formed on the inner surface of the lower portion 652 of the annular holder 650. By coupling the second fastening portion 620B to the outside of the first fastening portion 620A, the annular holder 650 may be coupled to the base holder 600. As another example, the first fastening portion 620A may have a thread inside, while the second fastening portion 620B may have a thread formed on the outside, such that the second fastening portion 620B may be fastened to the inside of the first fastening portion 620A. The first fastening portion 620A and the second fastening portion 620B may be fastened as the fastening portion 620 using an adhesive to prevent screw loosening.

[0061] The annular retainer 650 may have a second through-hole 625 therein, the second through-hole 625 having a circular shape, and the second through-hole 625 may have an outer diameter greater than the lower outer diameter of the lens barrel 300. The lens barrel 300 may be inserted into the second through-hole 625, that is, the lower portion of the lens barrel 300 may be inserted. The upper surface of the annular retainer 650 may face the outer locking projection 350 of the lens barrel 300. The annular retainer 650 and the outer locking projection 350 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and an adhesive 355 may be applied. The adhesive 355 may adhere the annular retainer 650 and the locking projection 350. A recessed groove 655 is disposed on the upper surface of the annular retainer 650, and a part of the adhesive 650 may be applied to the groove 655, thereby enhancing the adhesive strength between the annular retainer 650 and the locking projection 350. Here, the height B1 of the annular retainer 650 is the distance in the optical axis direction between the upper end portion and the lower end portion, and may be less than or equal to the distance B2 in the optical axis direction between the lower end portion of the lens barrel 300 and the outer locking projection 350.

[0062] The position of the upper end portion of the annular retainer 650 may be positioned lower than the center of the object side surface of the fourth lens 104 and higher than the center of the sensor side surface. The position of the upper end portion of the annular retainer 650 may be positioned higher than the upper end portion of the inner lens barrel 400. The position of the upper end portion of the annular retainer 650 may be positioned as a member for supporting the outside of the lens barrel 300, and may be based on the lower end portion of the lens barrel being positioned at 30% or more (for example, in the range of 30% to 70% or 40% to 60%) of the total length of the lens barrel 300. Additionally, the position of the upper end portion of the annular retainer 650 may be positioned lower than the center of the object side surface of the cemented lens and higher than the center of the sensor side surface. The distance B1 in the optical axis direction between the outer engagement projection 350 of the lens barrel 300 and the upper surface of the substrate 110 may be less than the sum of the BFL and B3. The position of the lower end portion of the annular retainer 650 may be positioned lower than the center of the object side surface of the last lens 107, for example, lower than the center of the sensor side surface. The annular retainer 650 may be arranged parallel to the outside of the lens barrel 300. Therefore, the annular retainer 650 may be arranged such that it does not overlap with the lens barrel 300 in the optical axis direction, enabling easy vertical thermal expansion and allowing for vertical height adjustment.

[0063] The material of the base holder 600 may be a first metallic material, e.g., an aluminum material or a copper material. For example, the materials of the base holder 600 and the lens barrel 300 may preferably include aluminum. The material of the annular holder 650 may be a second metallic material and may be a second metallic material different from the first metallic material of the base holder 600. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the annular holder 650 may be lower than that of the base holder 600. The material of the annular holder 650 may include stainless steel. The annular holder 650 may be easily replaceable within the imaging device module 1000.

[0064] Accordingly, the annular holder 650 may be arranged in a shape capable of contracting and expanding in the vertical direction according to the amount of change in the BFL in the imaging device module 1000. That is, the amount of change in the BFL of the lens part 1000 caused by a temperature change is the amount of movement of the BFL occurring at a high temperature or the amount of movement of the BFL occurring at a low temperature and may be the same as the amount of thermal expansion of the annular holder 650. Thus, thermal compensation may be adjusted by the annular holder 650 according to the amount of movement of the BFL of the imaging device module 1000. In addition, the amount of movement of the BFL caused by a temperature change may be compensated for by using the annular holder 650 made of a material different from that of the base holder 600 and capable of moving vertically. Since the plastic lens arranged in the lens barrel 300 is arranged inside the annular holder 650, the amount of vertical expansion may be greater than that of the glass lens. That is, at least one plastic lens may overlap the annular holder 650 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. The amount of change in the BFL caused by these plastic lenses may be compensated for by adjusting the height of the annular holder 650. When optimizing the change in the BFL according to the temperature change from a high temperature to a low temperature, the imaging device module 1000 may compensate for or adjust the amount of movement of the BFL according to the amount of temperature change by combining the configurations of the lower end portion of the lens barrel 300, the base holder 600, and the annular holder 650.

[0065] Since the embodiment of the present invention separates the base holder 600 and the annular holder 650 and then combines them, there is an effect of having a degree of freedom in designing the annular holder 650 (i.e., the height of the annular holder 650) that can be freely expanded or changed. Thus, the degree of freedom in optical design may be increased, and even if the amount of change in the BFL according to the temperature is large, it may be adjusted by the height of the annular holder 650. In addition, even if the lens has a different material or shape according to the customer's requirements, the height of the annular holder 650 may be adjusted according to the amount of movement of the BFL. Thus, a holder capable of responding to minute and accurate changes in the BFL within the imaging device module may be provided. In addition, the imaging device module sop may be replaced with an annular holder having a different height.

[0066] Figure 4 This is an example of a top view of a vehicle equipped with a camera device module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Refer to Figure 4 , a vehicle camera device system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an image generation unit 11, a first information generation unit 12, second information generation units 21, 22, 23, 24, and a control unit 14. The image generation unit 11 may include at least one camera device module 20 provided in the host vehicle, and may generate a front image or an in-vehicle image of the host vehicle by photographing the front of the host vehicle and / or the driver. In addition, the image generation unit 11 may generate an image of the surroundings of the host vehicle or captured by the driver in one or more directions and in front of the host vehicle by using the camera device module 20. Here, the front image and the surrounding image may be digital images, and may include color images, black-and-white images, and infrared images. In addition, the front image and the surrounding image may include still images and moving images. The image generation unit 11 provides the driver image, the front image, and the surrounding image to the control unit 14. Next, the first information generation unit 12 may include at least one radar and / or camera device provided on the host vehicle, and generates first detection information by detecting the front of the host vehicle. Specifically, the first information generation unit 12 is provided in the host vehicle, and generates first sensing information by detecting the position and speed of a vehicle located in front of the host vehicle, the presence and position of a pedestrian, and the like.

[0067] By using the first detection information generated by the first information generation unit 12, control can be performed to maintain a constant distance between the host vehicle and the vehicle in front, and the stability of vehicle operation can be improved in a preset specific situation, such as when the driver wants to change the driving lane of the host vehicle or when reversing and parking. The first information generation unit 12 provides the first detection information to the control unit 14. The second information generation units 21, 22, 23, 24 detect each side of the host vehicle and generate second sensing information based on the front image generated by the image generation unit 11 and the first sensing information generated by the first information generation unit 12. Specifically, the second information generation units 21, 22, 23, 24 may include at least one radar and / or camera device provided on the host vehicle, and detect the position and speed of a vehicle located on the side of the host vehicle, or may capture video. Here, the second information generation units 21, 22, 23, 24 may be respectively provided on the front and rear sides of the host vehicle.

[0068] Such a vehicle camera device system may include the following camera device modules, and may protect the vehicle and objects from the impact of autonomous driving or surrounding safety by providing or processing information obtained from the front, rear, each side, or corner areas of its own vehicle to the user. The optical system of the camera device module according to an embodiment of the present invention may be installed in multiple units in the vehicle to enhance safety adjustment, autonomous driving functions, and improve convenience. The optical system of the camera device module according to an embodiment of the present invention may be installed in the vehicle for safety adjustment, enhancing autonomous driving functions, and improving convenience. In addition, the optical system of the camera device module is part of the control for systems such as a lane keeping assist system (LKAS), a lane departure warning system (LDWS), and a driver monitoring system (DMS), and is applied in the vehicle. Such a vehicle camera device module can achieve stable optical performance even when the ambient temperature changes, and provides a module with a competitive price, thereby ensuring the reliability of vehicle components.

[0069] The features, structures, effects, etc. described in the above embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to only one embodiment. In addition, those skilled in the art to which the embodiments pertain may combine or modify the features, structures, effects, etc. shown in each embodiment for other embodiments. Therefore, the content related to such combinations and modifications should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention. In addition, although described above, this is only an example and does not limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will recognize that various modifications and applications not shown above can be made without departing from the basic features of this embodiment. For example, each component specifically shown in this embodiment can be modified and implemented. In addition, the differences related to these modifications and applications should be construed as being included within the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An imaging device module, comprising: A lens barrel that extends from an upper portion to a lower portion; A plurality of lenses that are aligned along an optical axis inside the lens barrel; A substrate disposed below the lens barrel; An image sensor disposed on the substrate; A base holder having an interior coupled to the substrate; And An annular holder coupled to an exterior of the lens barrel and an upper portion of the base holder, Wherein the annular holder is disposed between the base holder and an external locking projection of the lens barrel, Wherein the base holder is made of a first metallic material, and The annular holder is made of a second metallic material different from the first metal.

2. The imaging device module according to claim 1, Among them, At least one of the plurality of lenses is a plastic lens, and Wherein at least one plastic lens overlaps the annular holder in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

3. The imaging device module according to claim 1, Among them, The plurality of lenses includes glass lenses and a number of plastic lenses less than that of the glass lenses, and Wherein a plurality of plastic lenses are disposed on an interior of the annular holder.

4. The imaging device module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Among them, The base holder is made of the same metallic material as the lens barrel.

5. The imaging device module according to claim 4, Among them, The annular holder is made of stainless steel and the base holder is made of aluminum.

6. The imaging device module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Among them, An upper portion of the base holder and a lower portion of the annular holder are fastened to each other by a thread.

7. The imaging device module according to claim 6, wherein, An upper portion of the annular holder is joined to an external hook-shaped projection of the lens barrel by an adhesive.

8. The imaging device module according to claim 7, wherein, An upper surface of the annular holder has a recessed groove, and a portion of the adhesive is disposed in the recessed groove.

9. An imaging device module, comprising: A lens barrel that penetrates from an upper portion to a lower portion; A plurality of lenses that are aligned along an optical axis inside the lens barrel; A substrate disposed below the lens barrel; An image sensor arranged on the substrate; An inner barrel disposed between a lens adjacent to the image sensor among the plurality of lenses and the lens barrel; A base holder having a first through hole on an inner side and having the substrate disposed on a lower portion of the first through hole; and An annular holder having a second through hole on an inner side and coupled to an upper portion of the base holder, with a portion of the lens barrel inserted into the second through hole, Wherein the annular holder is disposed between the base holder and an external locking projection of the lens barrel, Wherein the base holder is made of a first metallic material, and The annular holder is made of a second metallic material different from the first metal.

10. The imaging device module according to claim 9, Among them, The lens provided on the inner part of the endoscope tube includes a plastic lens, and the endoscope tube is made of a plastic material.

11. The imaging device module according to claim 10, Among them, The upper end portion of the endoscope tube is positioned lower than the upper end portion of the annular retainer.

12. The imaging device module according to claim 10, Among them, The coefficient of thermal expansion of the annular retainer is lower than that of the base retainer, and wherein, the annular retainer has a shape that does not overlap with the lens barrel in the vertical direction.

13. The imaging device module according to claim 10, comprising: A first fastening portion located on the upper outer surface protruding from the base retainer; And a second fastening portion provided on the lower inner surface of the annular retainer and fastened to the first fastening portion.

14. The imaging device module according to claim 1 or 10, Among them, The upper end portion of the annular retainer is provided within a range of 40% to 60% of the total length of the lens barrel based on the lower end portion of the lens barrel, and wherein, the lower end portion of the annular retainer is provided lower than the sensor side surface of the last lens, and the last lens is closest to the image sensor provided in the lens barrel.

15. A vehicle, comprising: The imaging device module according to claim 1 or 10, and The lens barrel and the base retainer are made of the same metallic material.

Images