A variable aperture module and camera module thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a variable aperture module and a camera module thereof. The variable aperture module includes a base, which forms a light hole, and the light hole defines a light transmission direction from the outside to the inside of the variable aperture module; a bracket, which includes a main body and a plurality of guide pillars, the main body being rotatably connected to the base, the guide pillars extending from the top surface of the main body parallel to the light transmission direction, the guide pillars including a straight section and a gradient section, and the straight section has a consistent diameter in a cross section perpendicular to the light transmission direction; the gradient section is connected between the straight section and the main body, and the diameter of the gradient section gradually increases from one end connected to the guide pillar to the other end connected to the main body; and a plurality of blades, which are rotatably connected to the gradient section of the guide pillar and are slidably connected to the base; an aperture is defined between the blades, and when the bracket rotates relative to the base, the aperture of the aperture can be adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of camera modules, and in particular to a variable aperture module and a camera module thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the advancement of technology, variable aperture has become a key technical component in camera modules for portable electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets, aiming to improve image quality and adapt to complex and changing lighting conditions. The variable aperture controls the aperture diameter, dynamically adjusting the amount of light entering the lens and effectively widening the dynamic range of imaging. Furthermore, the variable aperture can be used to actively control depth of field, enhancing creative flexibility in shooting. Therefore, the performance of the variable aperture directly impacts the imaging quality and adaptability of mobile terminal cameras.

[0003] Among related technologies, variable aperture technology is limited by factors such as size and process, and its optical performance is difficult to achieve an ideal state. This deficiency will be comprehensively reflected in the final image, which may lead to a decrease in picture clarity, increased stray light interference, and difficulty in achieving the expected depth of field effect.

[0004] Therefore, improving the comprehensive performance of the variable aperture is an important direction for optimizing the imaging effect of mobile terminals. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a variable aperture module with good optical performance, which helps to improve the imaging quality of the camera module.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a camera module having the above-mentioned variable aperture module.

[0007] To achieve at least one of the above purposes, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a variable aperture module, comprising: a base, the base forming a light hole, the light hole defining a light transmission direction from the outside to the inside of the variable aperture module; a bracket, the bracket comprising a main body and a plurality of guide posts, the main body rotatably connected to the base, the guide posts extending from the top surface of the main body parallel to the light transmission direction, the guide posts comprising a straight section and a gradient section, the straight section having a uniform diameter in a cross section perpendicular to the light transmission direction; the gradient section connected between the straight section and the main body, the diameter of the gradient section gradually increasing from one end connected to the guide post to the end connected to the main body; and a plurality of blades, the blades rotatably connected to the gradient section of the guide post, and the blades being slidably connected to the base; an aperture is defined between each of the blades, and when the bracket rotates relative to the base, the aperture of the aperture is adjusted.

[0008] As a preference, the angle between the outer side surface of the gradient section and the light transmission direction is denoted as α, which satisfies: 10°≤α≤20°.

[0009] As a preference, the blades are divided into a first blade group and a second blade group arranged at intervals along the light-passing direction, and the blades of the first blade group and the blades of the second blade group are alternately arranged along the circumference of the base to form the aperture hole; the spacing between the first blade group and the second blade group along the light-passing direction is recorded as h, satisfying: 20μm≤h≤100μm.

[0010] Preferably, at least part of the blade is made of metal material.

[0011] As a preference, the blade includes a blade body, and the blade body of each blade forms the aperture hole; the blade body is made of metal material, and the Mohs hardness of the blade body is recorded as HM1; the surface of the guide column is provided with a coating, and the Mohs hardness of the coating is recorded as HM2, satisfying: HM1≤HM2.

[0012] As a preference, the Mohs hardness HM1 of the blade body satisfies: 2≤HM1≤3; and the Mohs hardness HM2 of the coating satisfies: 6≤HM2≤9.

[0013] As a preference, the blade includes a blade body and a reinforcement layer, the blade body of each blade surrounds the aperture hole, and the blade body is plastic; the reinforcement layer is arranged on the side of the blade body away from the guide column, and the reinforcement layer is made of metal material.

[0014] As a preference, the elastic modulus of the blade body is recorded as E1, and the elastic modulus of the reinforcement layer is recorded as E2, satisfying: 0.1 GPa≤E1≤5 GPa, 50 GPa≤E2≤150 GPa.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment, the blade includes a blade body and a magnetic layer, the blade body of each blade surrounds the aperture hole, and the magnetic layer is connected to the blade body; the base and / or the bracket is provided with a magnetic part, and during the rotation of the blade, at least part of the magnetic part and at least part of the magnetic layer are arranged relative to each other along the light-transmitting direction, and the magnetic part is attracted to the magnetic layer to provide a force that drives the blade close to the base and the bracket.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment, a hinge hole and a slide groove are provided on the blade body, the hinge hole and the guide post are cooperatively connected so that the blade body rotates around the guide post, and the slide groove and the base are cooperatively connected so that the blade body slides relative to the base; the magnetic attraction layer includes a first magnetic attraction layer, and at least part of the projection of the first magnetic attraction layer along the light-through direction is located between the first virtual circle and the second virtual circle; the magnetic part includes a first magnetic part, and the first magnetic part is connected to the base, and the projection of the first magnetic part along the light-through direction is located between the first virtual circle and the third virtual circle; wherein, when the aperture of the aperture is the largest, the virtual circle formed by connecting the centers of the hinge holes is defined as the first virtual circle, and the virtual circle formed by connecting the edges of the slide grooves close to the light-through hole is defined as the second virtual circle; the circumscribed circle of the aperture is defined as the third virtual circle.

[0017] As a preference, a hinge hole is provided on the blade body, and the hinge hole and the guide post are cooperatively connected to enable the blade body to rotate around the guide post; the magnetic layer includes a second magnetic layer, and the second magnetic layer surrounds the outer circumference of the hinge hole; the magnetic part includes a second magnetic part, and the second magnetic part is connected to the bracket, and the projection of the second magnetic part along the light-through direction is located within a fourth virtual circle; wherein, when the aperture of the aperture hole is the largest, the virtual circle formed by connecting the edges of each blade away from the light-through hole is defined as the fourth virtual circle.

[0018] As a preference, the thickness of the blade body is recorded as d1, and the thickness of the magnetic attraction layer is recorded as d2, which satisfy: 40 μm≤d1≤100 μm, 10 μm≤d2≤40 μm.

[0019] As a preference, the edge of the blade facing the light-passing hole has a plurality of convex portions and concave portions, and within the plane where the blade is located, the convex portions extend toward the light-passing hole, and the concave portions are recessed away from the light-passing hole, and the convex portions and the concave portions are alternately arranged; the convex portions and the concave portions of each blade surround the aperture.

[0020] To achieve at least one of the above purposes, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a camera module, comprising: the variable aperture module as described above; a driving assembly, the driving assembly comprising a driving coil and a driving magnet, the driving coil being arranged on one of the base or the bracket of the variable aperture module, and the driving magnet being arranged on the other of the base or the bracket of the variable aperture module, the driving coil and the driving magnet being arranged relative to each other to drive the bracket to rotate relative to the base.

[0021] Preferably, the projection of the driving coil along the light-passing direction is a broken line or an arc, extending along the outer wall of the base; the driving magnet includes a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, and the projections of the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole along the light-passing direction are arranged at an angle to match the extension direction of the driving coil.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0023] From one end close to the main body to the end farthest from the main body, the diameter of the gradient section of the guide post gradually decreases, and the blades are connected to the gradient section, thereby improving the tightness of the contact between the blades and the guide post, reducing the assembly error between the blades and the guide post, and helping to improve the optical performance of the variable aperture module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a variable aperture module according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0025] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a variable aperture module according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0026] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure of a bracket according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0027] Figure 4 is a side schematic diagram of a bracket according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0028] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0029] Figure 6 is a front schematic diagram of a blade according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0030] Figure 7 is a top view schematic diagram of a variable aperture module according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0031] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the position of the magnetic attraction layer in the variable aperture module according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0032] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the position of the magnetic layer in the variable aperture module according to other embodiments of the present application.

[0033] Figure 10 It is a structural schematic diagram of a base according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0034] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of blades forming an aperture according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0035] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a drive assembly according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0036] In the figure: 1. variable aperture module; 10. base; 11. base; 111. magnet slot; 12. slide rod; 13. magnetic part; 14. light hole; 20. bracket; 21. main body; 211. coil slot; 22. guide column; 221. gradient section; 222. straight section; 30. blade; 31. blade body; 311. hinge hole; 312. slide groove; 32. reinforcement layer; 33. magnetic layer; 331. first magnetic layer; 332. second magnetic layer; 34. first blade group; 35. second blade group; 36. outer protrusion; 37. inner concave portion; 40. aperture hole; 50. drive assembly; 51. drive magnet; 511. first sub-magnet; 512. second sub-magnet; 52. drive coil. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with specific implementation methods. It should be noted that, under the premise of no conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0038] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, for directional words, such as the terms "center", "horizontal", "longitudinal", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and the like, indicating directions and positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and cannot be understood as limiting the specific scope of protection of the present invention.

[0039] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the description and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0040] A variable aperture module 1, such as Figures 1-11As shown, it includes a base 10 , a bracket 20 and a blade 30 . The base 10 forms a light hole 14, which defines a light transmission direction O from the outside to the inside of the variable aperture module 1. The bracket 20 includes a main body 21 and a plurality of guide posts 22. The main body 21 is rotatably connected to the base 10. The guide posts 22 extend from the top surface of the main body 21 parallel to the light transmission direction O. The guide posts 22 include a straight section 222 and a gradient section 221. In a cross section perpendicular to the light transmission direction O, the straight section 222 has a uniform diameter. The gradient section 221 is connected between the straight section 222 and the main body 21. The diameter of the gradient section 221 gradually increases from the end connected to the guide post 22 to the end connected to the main body 21. The blades 30 are rotatably connected to the gradient section 221 of the guide post 22 and are slidably connected to the base 10. The aperture 40 is defined between each blade 30. When the bracket 20 rotates relative to the base 10, the aperture diameter of the aperture 40 can be adjusted.

[0041] It should be understood that the diameter of the straight section 222 is equal to the minimum diameter of the gradient section 221, so that the outer side walls of the straight section 222 and the gradient section 221 transition smoothly, which is beneficial to avoid structural mutations and improve the structural strength of the guide column 22; the straight section 222 and the main body 21 are connected by the gradient section 221, and the connection strength between the guide column 22 and the main body 21 is also enhanced.

[0042] Furthermore, the diameter of the straight section 222 is smaller than the diameter of the hinge hole 311 of the blade 30, allowing the blade 30 to smoothly pass through the straight section 222 and fit within the gradient section 221, thereby reducing the risk of collision between the blade 30 and the guide post 22 during installation. Furthermore, the coordination between the straight section 222 and the gradient section 221 ensures close contact between the blade 30 and the gradient section 221 while ensuring that the guide post 22 has sufficient height and a small radial dimension.

[0043] In addition, the diameter of the straight section 222 may also be smaller than the minimum diameter of the gradient section 221 to form a step structure, which is convenient for assembling other components. This application does not impose any specific restrictions on this.

[0044] It's worth noting that the more circular the aperture 40 formed by the blades 30, the smaller the diffraction and reflection losses caused by the edges of the blades 30. In other words, the smaller the true circularity of the aperture 40 and the closer it is to a perfect circle, the better the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1, which in turn helps improve the imaging quality of the camera module. True circularity is defined as the difference between the minimum radii of two concentric circles that can enclose the aperture 40, i.e., the difference between the radii of the concentric circumcircle and incircle of the actual contour of the aperture 40.

[0045] Furthermore, when the plurality of blades 30 are mounted on the bracket 20 via the guide posts 22, the installation errors between each blade 30 and the guide posts 22 can affect the true roundness of the aperture 40. For example, during installation or use, the blades 30 may move toward or away from the center of the light-transmitting hole 14 relative to the guide posts 22, thereby increasing the difference in distance between each blade 30 and the light-transmitting direction O. This results in a greater deviation between the actual contour of the aperture 40 and a true circle, i.e., an increase in true roundness. In other words, while maintaining the same machining accuracy of the bracket 20 and blades 30, reducing the installation errors between each blade 30 and the guide posts 22 can help reduce the true roundness of the aperture 40, making the aperture 40 closer to a true circle, thereby improving the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1.

[0046] In this application, if Figure 3-Figure 5 As shown, the diameter of the gradient section 221 gradually increases from the end away from the main body 21 to the end close to the main body 21; the blade 30 has a hinge hole 311 for cooperating with the guide post 22. When the blade 30 is sleeved on the gradient section 221 of the guide post 22, the hole wall of the hinge hole 311 gradually contacts the gradient section 221, and finally the blade 30 is rotated and connected to the gradient section 221. This can improve the tightness of the contact between the blade 30 and the guide post 22, reduce the assembly error between the blade 30 and the guide post 22, and help prevent the blade 30 from moving relative to the guide post 22 in a plane perpendicular to the light-transmitting direction O. Then, the position of each blade 30 can be positioned by the guide post 22, thereby improving the assembly accuracy of the blade 30, thereby reducing the true roundness of the aperture hole 40 and improving the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1.

[0047] It is worth mentioning that the diameter of the gradient section 221 close to one end of the main body 21, that is, the maximum diameter of the gradient section 221 is larger than the aperture of the hinge hole 311. Even if there is a processing error within the allowable range in the hinge hole 311 of the blade 30, it can be in close contact with the gradient section 221 of the guide column 22 to achieve the effect of reducing the true roundness of the aperture hole 40. This is conducive to reducing the processing accuracy required for the blade 30, thereby reducing the processing difficulty of the blade 30 and reducing the production cost of the variable aperture module 1.

[0048] In some embodiments, as Figure 5 As shown, the angle α between the outer surface of the gradient section 221 and the light transmission direction O satisfies the following conditions: 10° ≤ α ≤ 20°. It will be appreciated that if the angle α is too large, the blade 30 may easily slip along the guide post 22 when rotating rapidly relative to the guide post 22. If the angle α is too small, the height of the blade 30 mounted on the guide post 22 may deviate significantly if machining errors occur in the diameter of the hinge hole 311. In this embodiment, the angle α satisfies the following conditions: 10° ≤ α ≤ 20°, thereby improving both the assembly accuracy of the blade 30 and the stability of the blade 30 during rotation.

[0049] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the blades 30 are divided into a first blade group 34 and a second blade group 35 which are arranged at intervals along the light-passing direction O. The blades 30 of the first blade group 34 and the blades 30 of the second blade group 35 are alternately arranged along the circumference of the base 10 to form an aperture 40; the spacing between the first blade group 34 and the second blade group 35 along the light-passing direction O is recorded as h, satisfying: 20μm≤h≤100μm.

[0050] It should be understood that, when projected along the light transmission direction O, the blades 30 of the first blade assembly 34 and the blades 30 of the second blade assembly 35 have overlapping areas, thereby enabling the aperture 40 to be formed by the edges of each blade 30 on the side closest to the light transmission hole 14. Furthermore, because the ends of the blades 30 closest to the light transmission hole 14 are not supported by the bracket 20 and the base 10, they are prone to deformation. For example, the blades 30 of the first blade assembly 34 located above may sag, thereby contacting the blades 30 of the second blade assembly 35, which increases the friction between the blades 30.

[0051] In the present application, the spacing h between the first blade group 34 and the second blade group 35 along the light transmission direction O satisfies 20 μm ≤ h ≤ 100 μm. This helps prevent contact between the blades 30, reduces friction on the blades 30, and thus reduces the rotational torque and translational force required to drive the blades 30. In other words, while maintaining the same driving force, the opening and closing speed of the aperture blades 30 is increased, allowing the aperture of the aperture 40 to be adjusted more quickly to adapt to varying light conditions.

[0052] In some embodiments, at least a portion of the blades 30 is made of metal. It should be understood that if the blades 30 were made of plastic, due to their inherent lack of strength, they could easily warp, making it difficult for the blades 30 to operate normally, or droop, causing scratches on the lens. Furthermore, this could lead to increased friction between the blades 30, which could cause wear of the black coating on the surface of the blades 30 and adversely affect the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1. In the present application, at least a portion of the blades 30 is made of metal, which improves the overall structural strength of the blades 30, helps ensure that the blades 30 extend within a plane perpendicular to the light transmission direction O, reduces the risk of deformation such as warping or sagging, and improves the overlap between the blades 30.

[0053] In some embodiments, as Figure 2As shown, the blades 30 include a body portion 31, each of which encloses an aperture 40. The body portion 31 is made of metal, with a Mohs hardness of HM1. The surface of the guide post 22 is provided with a coating, with a Mohs hardness of HM2, satisfying the following relationship: HM1 ≤ HM2. In other words, the entire blade 30 is made of metal, thereby enhancing its structural strength and preventing deformation such as warping or sagging. Furthermore, when the metal blade 30 rotates relative to the guide post 22, the blade 30 may cut into the guide post 22 due to close contact between the blade 30 and the gradient section 221. In this application, HM1 ≤ HM2, meaning the Mohs hardness of the metal material of the blade 30 is less than or equal to the Mohs hardness of the coating, helps prevent the blade 30 from cutting into the guide post 22 during use of the variable aperture module 1. This improves the structural reliability and optical stability of the variable aperture module 1, and extends the service life of the variable aperture module 1.

[0054] It is worth mentioning that the use of metal material for the blade body 31 can also improve the processing accuracy of the edge of the blade 30, that is, improve the processing accuracy of the edge of the blade 30 used to form the aperture hole 40, which is beneficial to prevent the edge of the blade 30 from shrinking, notching, and other deformations, thereby further reducing the true roundness of the aperture hole 40; in addition, it can also reduce the sharp edges formed by the deformation of the blade 30, which is beneficial to prevent light from scattering at the sharp edges, can reduce stray light, and further improve the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1.

[0055] In some embodiments, the Mohs hardness HM1 of the blade body 31 satisfies the following: 2≤HM1≤3; and the Mohs hardness HM2 of the coating satisfies the following: 6≤HM2≤9. That is, the Mohs hardness of the coating is twice or even higher than the Mohs hardness of the blade body 31, thereby further reducing the risk of the blade 30 cutting the guide post 22 during use of the variable aperture module 1.

[0056] In at least one embodiment, the coating on the surface of the guide post 22 is silicon carbide, such that the coating has a Mohs hardness of 9. In at least one embodiment, the coating on the surface of the guide post 22 is wear-resistant ceramic, such that the coating has a Mohs hardness between 6 and 9. Furthermore, the blade body 31 can be made of materials such as copper and aluminum, such that the Mohs hardness HM1 of the blade body 31 satisfies 2≤HM1≤3. It is worth noting that the coating can be applied only to the outer surface of the transition section 221 or the entire outer surface of the guide post 22, and this application does not impose specific limitations on this.

[0057] In some embodiments, as Figure 6As shown, the blade 30 includes a body portion 31 and a reinforcement layer 32. The body portion 31 is made of plastic, and the reinforcement layer 32 is provided on the side of the body portion 31 away from the guide post 22. The reinforcement layer 32 is made of metal. It should be understood that, as previously described, the end of the blade 30 near the light hole 14 lacks support from the bracket 20 and base 10, making it susceptible to deformation. In this embodiment, by providing the reinforcement layer 32 on the side of the body portion 31 away from the guide post 22, the structural strength of the blade 30 is locally enhanced, thereby reducing deformation on the side of the blade 30 near the light hole 14. This helps maintain the blade 30 extending within a plane perpendicular to the light transmission direction O, reducing the risk of deformation such as warping or sagging of the blade 30. Furthermore, the remaining portion of the blade 30, namely the body portion 31, is made of plastic, making the overall weight of the blade 30 relatively light, thereby reducing the rotational torque and translational force required to drive the blade 30. In addition, the plastic blade body 31 contacts the guide post 22. Since the hardness of the blade body 31 is relatively low, it is beneficial to prevent the blade 30 from cutting the guide post 22. It can also avoid setting a coating on the surface of the guide post 22, thereby reducing the manufacturing difficulty of the bracket 20 and saving production costs.

[0058] It is worth mentioning that the reinforcement layer 32 can be embedded in the blade body 31 to improve the connection strength between the reinforcement layer 32 and the blade body 31; the reinforcement layer 32 can also be fixed to the surface of the blade body 31 by bonding or other means to reduce the manufacturing difficulty of the blade 30. This application does not impose any specific restrictions on this.

[0059] In some embodiments, the elastic modulus of the blade body 31 is denoted as E1, and the elastic modulus of the reinforcement layer 32 is denoted as E2, satisfying the following conditions: 0.1 GPa ≤ E1 ≤ 5 GPa, and 50 GPa ≤ E2 ≤ 150 GPa. In at least one embodiment, the elastic modulus E1 of the blade body 31 satisfies 0.1 GPa ≤ E1 ≤ 1 GPa. For example, the blade body 31 is made of a plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene. In at least one embodiment, the elastic modulus E1 of the blade body 31 satisfies 2 GPa ≤ E1 ≤ 3 GPa. For example, the blade body 31 is made of an engineering plastic such as polycarbonate, polyurethane, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyoxymethylene, polypropylene, or polyphenylene sulfide. Furthermore, the reinforcement layer 32 can be made of a metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, or aluminum alloy. This helps prevent deformation of the blade 30, such as warping or sagging, while reducing the risk of the blade 30 cutting the guide post 22 and reducing the overall mass of the blade 30.

[0060] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 and Figure 6As shown, the blade 30 includes a blade body 31 and a magnetic layer 33, wherein the magnetic layer 33 is connected to the blade body 31. The base 10 and / or the bracket 20 is provided with a magnetic member 13. During the rotation of the blade 30, at least a portion of the magnetic member 13 and at least a portion of the magnetic layer 33 are arranged opposite each other along the light transmission direction O. The magnetic member 13 and the magnetic layer 33 are attracted to each other, thereby providing a force that drives the blade 30 toward the base 10 and the bracket 20. In other words, the mutual attraction between the magnetic layer 33 and the magnetic member 13 causes the blade 30 to tend to approach the base 10 and the bracket 20, which helps prevent the blade 30 from tilting and can keep the blade 30 extending within a plane perpendicular to the light transmission direction O, or reduce the degree of beveling of the blade 30, thereby maintaining close contact between the blade 30 and the gradient section 221 of the guide post 22, thereby reducing the true roundness of the aperture 40.

[0061] It should be understood that, especially when a reinforcing layer 32 is provided on the side of the blade body 31 near the light hole 14, compared to a blade 30 made of a single material, the provision of the reinforcing layer 32 may cause the overall center of mass of the blade 30 to shift toward the light hole 14. As previously mentioned, the end of the blade 30 near the light hole 14 lacks support from the bracket 20 and base 10, which may increase the risk of the blade 30 tilting. In this embodiment, however, the attractive force between the magnetic member 13 provided on the bracket 20 and / or base 10 and the magnetic layer 33 of the blade 30 helps reduce the risk of the blade 30 tilting, thereby reducing the true roundness of the aperture 40 and improving the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1.

[0062] It is worth mentioning that the magnetic layer 33 can be made of materials that can be attracted by magnets, such as iron and nickel. In addition, the magnetic layer 33 can be embedded in the blade part 31 to improve the connection strength between the magnetic layer 33 and the blade part 31; the magnetic layer 33 can also be fixed to the surface of the blade part 31 by bonding or other methods to reduce the manufacturing difficulty of the blade 30. This application does not impose specific restrictions on this. Furthermore, the magnetic part 13 can be embedded in the base 10 or the bracket 20 to make the structure of the variable aperture module 1 more compact. The magnetic part 13 can also be fixed to the surface of the base 10 or the bracket 20 by bonding or other methods to reduce the manufacturing difficulty of the base 10 and the bracket 20. This application does not impose specific restrictions on this.

[0063] In some embodiments, as Figure 2 、 Figure 6 、 Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, a slide groove 312 is provided on the blade body 31, and the slide groove 312 is cooperatively connected to the base 10 so that the blade body 31 can slide relative to the base 10; the magnetic attraction layer 33 includes a first magnetic attraction layer 331, and at least part of the projection of the first magnetic attraction layer 331 along the light-transmitting direction O is located between the first virtual circle Q1 and the second virtual circle Q2; the magnetic component 13 includes a first magnetic component, and the first magnetic component is connected to the base 10, and the projection of the first magnetic component along the light-transmitting direction O is located between the first virtual circle Q1 and the third virtual circle Q3; wherein, when the aperture hole 40 has the largest aperture, the virtual circle formed by connecting the centers of the hinge holes 311 is defined as the first virtual circle Q1, and the virtual circle formed by connecting the edges of the slide grooves 312 close to the light-transmitting hole 14 is defined as the second virtual circle Q2; the circumscribed circle of the aperture hole 40 is defined as the third virtual circle Q3.

[0064] It should be understandable that Figure 6 As shown, the first magnetic layer 331 is disposed in the area between the hinge hole 311 and the slide slot 312 on the blade body 31, thereby shifting the overall center of mass of the blade 30 away from the light-through hole 14. In other words, the center of mass of the blade 30 can be closer to the portion of the blade 30 supported by the bracket 20 and the base 10, thereby reducing the risk of the blade 30 tilting. In addition, the movement of the blade 30 can be simplified to rotational movement around the guide post 22. Because the first magnetic layer 331 is disposed near the hinge hole 311, the attractive force acting on the blade 30 is closer to the blade 30's rotation center, reducing the torque between the attractive force and the rotation center, thereby helping to prevent the blade 30 from tilting.

[0065] In at least one embodiment, the projection of the first magnetic component along the light-transmitting direction O is also located between the first virtual circle Q1 and the second virtual circle Q2. Therefore, while ensuring that at least a portion of the first magnetic component and at least a portion of the first magnetic attraction layer 331 are arranged relative to each other along the light-transmitting direction O, the space occupied by the first magnetic component can be reduced, making the structure of the variable aperture module 1 more compact.

[0066] In at least one embodiment, the first magnetic layer 331 is arranged in the area near the sliding groove on the blade body 31. For example, in the process of the aperture space changing from minimum to maximum, the area covered by the line connecting the two ends of the sliding groove and the center of the light-through hole 14 is conducive to reducing the volume of the first magnetic layer 331, thereby reducing the overall mass of the blade 30, and allowing the first magnetic layer 331 and the first magnetic member to have a greater attraction force.

[0067] In at least one embodiment, Figure 10As shown, the base 10 includes a base portion 11 and a slide rod 12. The slide rod 12 extends from the top surface of the base portion 11 parallel to the light transmission direction O and is inserted into the slide groove 312 of the blade 30. The slide rod 12 then controls the relative movement of the blade 30 to the base 10 through the cooperation between the guide post 22 and the hinge hole 311, and the cooperation between the slide rod 12 and the slide groove 312, thereby adjusting the aperture of the aperture 40. It is worth noting that the slide rod 12 can be cylindrical or composed of a gradient section 221 and a straight section 222, which is not specifically limited in this application.

[0068] In some embodiments, as Figure 6 、 Figure 7 and Figure 9 As shown, the magnetic attraction layer 33 includes a second magnetic attraction layer 332, and the second magnetic attraction layer 332 surrounds the outer peripheral side of the hinge hole 311; the magnetic part 13 includes a second magnetic part, and the second magnetic part is connected to the bracket 20, and the projection of the second magnetic part along the light-transmitting direction O is located within the fourth virtual circle Q4; wherein, when the aperture of the aperture hole 40 is the largest, the virtual circle formed by connecting the edges of each blade 30 away from the light-transmitting hole 14 is defined as the fourth virtual circle Q4.

[0069] It should be understood that the second magnetic layer 332 is disposed around the outer periphery of the hinge hole 311. The mutual attraction between the second magnetic layer 332 and the second magnetic member maintains close contact between the wall of the hinge hole 311 and the gradient section 221 of the guide post 22, thereby preventing the blade 30 from moving axially relative to the guide post 22 during rotation. It also makes the force acting parallel to the light transmission direction O between the blade 30 and the gradient section 221 more uniform, thus preventing the blade 30 from tilting about the guide post 22. Furthermore, the second magnetic layer 332 is disposed around the outer periphery of the hinge hole 311, so that the attractive force acting on the blade 30 is closer to the blade 30's center of rotation, thereby reducing the torque between the attractive force and the center of rotation, thereby further reducing the risk of the blade 30 tilting.

[0070] In at least one embodiment, the base 10 is provided with a plurality of second magnetic members, and each second magnetic member is respectively arranged around each guide column 22, so that the attraction between the second magnetic member and the second magnetic attraction layer 332 is concentrated near the guide column 22. This can make the attraction exerted on the blade 30 more stable and is conducive to reducing the volume of the second magnetic member, thereby saving the manufacturing cost of the variable aperture module.

[0071] In at least one embodiment, the second magnetic member is annular in shape to fit on the top surface of the bracket 20 . This can reduce the number of second magnetic members, thereby simplifying the structural complexity of the bracket 20 .

[0072] It is worth mentioning that the blade 30 can have only one of the first magnetic layer 331 or the second magnetic layer 332, so as to simplify the structure of the blade 30 and simplify the stress condition of the blade 30; the blade 30 can also have both the first magnetic layer 331 and the second magnetic layer 332 to further improve the stability of the blade 30, reduce the risk of the blade 30 tilting, and thus reduce the true roundness of the aperture hole 40.

[0073] In at least one embodiment, the blade 30 includes both a first magnetic layer 331 and a second magnetic layer 332, and the projection of the magnetic member 13 along the light transmission direction O is located between a fourth virtual circle Q4 and a fifth virtual circle Q5. This reduces the space occupied by the magnetic member 13 while ensuring that at least a portion of the magnetic member 13 is positioned opposite at least a portion of the first magnetic layer 331 and the second magnetic layer 332 of the blade 30 along the light transmission direction O, thereby making the variable aperture module 1 more compact. When the aperture 40 is at its maximum diameter, the fifth virtual circle Q5 is defined by the virtual circle formed by connecting the ends of the blades 30 away from the hinge hole 311.

[0074] In some embodiments, the thickness of the blade body 31 is recorded as d1, and the thickness of the magnetic attraction layer 33 is recorded as d2, satisfying: 40μm≤d1≤100μm, 10μm≤d2≤40μm, that is, the thickness d2 of the magnetic attraction layer 33 is less than or equal to the thickness d1 of the blade body 31, thereby reducing the impact of setting the magnetic attraction layer 33 on the overall thickness of the blade body 31 while ensuring that the blade 30 has better structural strength.

[0075] In at least one embodiment, the shape of the magnetic layer 33 is consistent with the shape of the blade body 31, thereby reducing the manufacturing difficulty and assembly difficulty of the blade 30. For example, the magnetic layer 33 can be formed by a stamping process to improve the accuracy of the edge shape of the magnetic layer 33 and the manufacturing yield of the magnetic layer 33, thereby preventing light from scattering at the edge of the blade 30, reducing stray light, and further improving the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1.

[0076] Furthermore, the magnetic layer 33 can be fixed to the bottom surface of the blade portion 31 by bonding or other means to enhance the overall structural strength of the blade 30. In other words, in addition to attracting the magnetic member 13, the magnetic layer 33 also functions as a reinforcement layer 32. Furthermore, the exposed surface of the magnetic layer 33 can be coated with a light-shielding material by bonding or other means to reduce the reflectivity of the blade 30 and further enhance the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1.

[0077] In some embodiments, as Figure 11As shown, the edge of the blade 30 facing the light-through hole 14 has multiple outer protrusions 36 and inner recesses 37. In the plane where the blade 30 is located, the outer protrusions 36 extend toward the light-through hole 14, and the inner recesses 37 are recessed away from the light-through hole 14. The outer protrusions 36 and the inner recesses 37 are arranged alternately; the outer protrusions 36 and the inner recesses 37 of each blade 30 form an aperture 40.

[0078] It should be understood that the edges of the blades 30 that form the aperture 40 have burrs, which may cause diffraction and thus reduce the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1. In this embodiment, the edges of the blades 30 facing the light-passing hole 14 are configured as a sawtooth shape with multiple convex portions 36 and concave portions 37. Moreover, the portion of the aperture 40 where the two blades 30 meet, as projected along the light-passing direction O, is also formed by convex portions 36 and concave portions 37. This reduces light diffraction and stray light from the edges of the blades 30, thereby improving the imaging quality of the variable aperture module 1. It is worth noting that the apex portions of the convex portions 36 and the apex portions of the concave portions 37 are curved, which reduces the sharp edges of the blades 30, thereby reducing light scattering and stray light, further improving the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1.

[0079] Furthermore, the outer convex portion 36 and the inner concave portion 37 are provided with a roughened surface or a light-blocking layer. Specifically, the outer convex portion 36 and the inner concave portion 37 can be roughened by a process such as etching, or a light-blocking layer can be provided on the surface of the outer convex portion 36 by bonding, coating, or the like. In this way, the outer convex portion 36 blocks stray light, and the linear light at the edge of the aperture hole 40 can be dispersed by the outer convex portion 36, thereby suppressing flare and further improving the optical performance of the variable aperture module 1.

[0080] A camera module, such as Figures 1-12 As shown, the iris diaphragm module 1 and the driving assembly 50 are shown. The driving assembly 50 includes a driving coil 52 and a driving magnet 51. The driving coil 52 is disposed on one of the base 10 or the bracket 20 of the iris diaphragm module 1, and the driving magnet 51 is disposed on the other of the base 10 or the bracket 20 of the iris diaphragm module 1. The driving coil 52 and the driving magnet 51 are disposed opposite each other to drive the bracket 20 to rotate relative to the base 10.

[0081] It should be understood that the driving coil 52 and the driving magnet 51 can be arranged relative to each other along the light transmission direction O to reduce the radial size of the variable aperture module 1; the driving coil 52 and the driving magnet 51 can also be arranged relative to each other along the radial direction of the base 10 to reduce the height of the variable aperture module 1. This application does not impose any specific restrictions on this.

[0082] In some embodiments, as Figure 12As shown, the projection of the drive coil 52 along the light transmission direction O forms a broken line or arc, extending along the outer wall of the base 10. The drive magnet 51 includes a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, whose projections along the light transmission direction O are arranged at an angle to match the extension direction of the drive coil 52. This can further concentrate the magnetic field of the drive coil 52, which is beneficial for improving the driving force of the variable aperture module 1, thereby more accurately controlling the instantaneous aperture of the aperture hole 40 and improving the imaging quality of the camera module. It should be understood that the first magnetic pole can be either the north pole or the south pole, and the second magnetic pole can be the other of the north pole and the south pole.

[0083] In at least one embodiment, Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 10 and Figure 12 As shown, the driving coil 52 is disposed in the coil slot 211 of the bracket 20, and the driving magnet 51 is disposed in the magnet slot 111 of the base 10, so that the driving coil 52 and the driving magnet 51 are disposed opposite to each other along the radial direction of the base 10, and at the same time, the structure of the variable aperture module 1 can be made more compact, which is conducive to miniaturization of the variable aperture module 1 and the camera module. Figure 12 As shown, the driving magnet 51 includes a first sub-magnet 511 and a second sub-magnet 512 arranged at an angle. The first sub-magnet 511 and the second sub-magnet 512 both have first and second magnetic poles distributed radially along the base 10. The first magnetic pole of the first sub-magnet 511 faces the driving coil 52, and the second magnetic pole of the first sub-magnet 511 faces the wall of the magnet slot 111; the second magnetic pole of the second sub-magnet 512 faces the driving coil 52, and the first magnetic pole of the second sub-magnet 512 faces the wall of the magnet slot 111. The Lorentz force between the magnetic fields of the first sub-magnet 511 and the second sub-magnet 512 and the driving coil 52 drives the bracket 20 to rotate relative to the base 10. It is worth mentioning that the driving magnet 51 can also be implemented as a single integral magnet, with the projection of the magnet along the light transmission direction O being a broken line or an arc, so that the first and second magnetic poles are arranged at an angle. This is not specifically limited in this application.

[0084] In at least one embodiment, Figure 12As shown, the angle β between the first sub-magnet 511 and the second sub-magnet 512 satisfies 165°≤β≤175°. This allows the first sub-magnet 511 and the second sub-magnet 512 to be more closely aligned with the extension direction of the outer wall of the base 10 while ensuring a strong driving force, thereby facilitating a reduction in the size of the variable aperture module 1. Furthermore, in a predetermined position, such as at the zero potential point, the bending angle of the drive coil 52 is consistent with the angle β, thereby creating a smaller gap between the drive coil 52 and the first sub-magnet 511 and the second sub-magnet 512. This allows the drive coil 52 and the drive magnet 51 to be closer together while ensuring they do not interfere with each other, further enhancing the driving force and enabling faster adjustment of the aperture diameter of the aperture 40.

[0085] In at least one embodiment, in a preset position, such as at the zero potential point, the bending angle of the drive coil 52 is greater than the angle β. It should be understood that in order to increase the effective travel of the bracket 20, that is, to increase the rotation angle of the bracket 20, the length of the drive coil 52 needs to be increased. If the bending angle of the drive coil 52 is too small, it may interfere with other components such as the base 10 and the drive magnet 51 during rotation, especially at the end of the travel. In this embodiment, the bending angle of the drive coil 52 is greater than the angle β. This increases the effective travel of the bracket 20 while further reducing the risk of interference between the drive coil 52 and other components, thereby improving the reliability and stability of the movement of the variable aperture module 1.

[0086] In some embodiments, a magnetic yoke is provided on the base 10 and / or the bracket 20, and the magnetic yoke covers the driving coil 52 and the driving magnet 51 to constrain the magnetic field of the driving coil 52 and the driving magnet 51, so as to improve the utilization efficiency of the magnetic field, thereby improving the driving force of the driving component 50 on the bracket 20; in addition, it is also beneficial to reduce the influence of the driving magnetic field of the lens on the driving magnetic field of the variable aperture module 1, thereby improving the driving stability of the variable aperture module 1.

[0087] It is worth mentioning that the reinforcement layer 32 and the magnetic attraction layer 33 of the blade 30 can also act as a magnetic yoke, thereby reducing the diffusion of the magnetic field of the driving magnet 51 and the driving coil 52 along the light-transmitting direction O, thereby making the magnetic field of the driving magnet 51 more concentrated, which is conducive to further improving the driving force.

[0088] The above describes the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments. The foregoing embodiments and description merely illustrate the principles of the present invention. Various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such changes and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention. The scope of protection claimed by the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A variable aperture module, characterized in that: include: A base, wherein the base forms a light hole, and the light hole defines a light transmission direction from the outside to the inside of the variable aperture module; A bracket, the bracket comprising a main body and a plurality of guide posts, the main body being rotatably connected to the base, the guide posts extending from a top surface of the main body parallel to a light transmission direction, the guide posts comprising a straight section and a gradient section, and the straight section having a uniform diameter in a cross section perpendicular to the light transmission direction; The gradient section is connected between the straight section and the main body, and the diameter of the gradient section gradually increases from the end connected to the guide post to the end connected to the main body; and a plurality of blades, wherein the blades are rotatably connected to the gradient section of the guide post and are slidably connected to the base; An aperture is defined between each of the blades, and when the bracket rotates relative to the base, the aperture of the aperture can be adjusted; At least a portion of the blade is made of metal material; the blade includes a blade body and a magnetic layer, and the blade body of each blade forms the aperture; a hinge hole and a slide groove are provided on the blade body, the hinge hole and the guide post are cooperatively connected to allow the blade body to rotate around the guide post, and the slide groove and the base are cooperatively connected to allow the blade body to slide relative to the base; the magnetic layer is connected to the blade body; the base and / or the bracket are provided with a magnetic member, and during the rotation of the blade, at least a portion of the magnetic member and at least a portion of the magnetic layer are arranged opposite to each other along the light transmission direction, and the magnetic member and the magnetic layer are attracted to each other to provide a force that drives the blade to approach the base and the bracket; The magnetic attraction layer includes a first magnetic attraction layer, wherein at least a portion of a projection of the first magnetic attraction layer along the light transmission direction is located between a first virtual circle and a second virtual circle; The magnetic member includes a first magnetic member connected to the base, and a projection of the first magnetic member along the light transmission direction is located between the first virtual circle and the third virtual circle; Among them, when the aperture of the aperture is the largest, the virtual circle formed by connecting the centers of the hinge holes is defined as the first virtual circle, the virtual circle formed by connecting the edges of the slide grooves close to the light-through hole is defined as the second virtual circle; the circumscribed circle of the aperture is defined as the third virtual circle.

2. The variable aperture module according to claim 1, wherein: The angle between the outer side surface of the gradient section and the light transmission direction is denoted as α, which satisfies the following: 10°≤α≤20°.

3. The variable aperture module according to claim 1, wherein: The blades are divided into a first blade group and a second blade group arranged at intervals along the light-passing direction. The blades of the first blade group and the blades of the second blade group are alternately arranged along the circumference of the base to form the aperture hole; the spacing between the first blade group and the second blade group along the light-passing direction is recorded as h, satisfying: 20μm≤h≤100μm.

4. The variable aperture module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The blade includes a blade body, and the blade body of each blade surrounds the aperture hole; the blade body is made of metal material, and the Mohs hardness of the blade body is recorded as HM1. The surface of the guide column is provided with a coating, and the Mohs hardness of the coating is recorded as HM2, satisfying: HM1≤HM2.

5. The variable aperture module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The Mohs hardness HM1 of the blade body satisfies: 2≤HM1≤3; and the Mohs hardness HM2 of the coating satisfies: 6≤HM2≤9.

6. The variable aperture module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The blade includes a blade body and a reinforcement layer. The blade body of each blade surrounds the aperture hole, and the blade body is made of plastic. The reinforcement layer is arranged on a side of the blade body away from the guide column, and the reinforcement layer is made of metal material.

7. The variable aperture module according to claim 6, wherein: The elastic modulus of the blade body is recorded as E1, and the elastic modulus of the reinforcement layer is recorded as E2, which satisfies: 0.1 GPa≤E1≤5 GPa, 50 GPa≤E2≤150 GPa.

8. The variable aperture module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: A hinge hole is formed on the blade body, and the hinge hole is connected to the guide post so that the blade body rotates around the guide post; the magnetic attraction layer includes a second magnetic attraction layer, and the second magnetic attraction layer surrounds the outer circumference of the hinge hole; The magnetic member includes a second magnetic member, the second magnetic member is connected to the bracket, and the projection of the second magnetic member along the light transmission direction is located within a fourth virtual circle; When the aperture of the aperture is the largest, a virtual circle formed by connecting the edges of the blades on a side away from the light-through hole is defined as a fourth virtual circle.

9. The variable aperture module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The thickness of the blade body is recorded as d1, and the thickness of the magnetic attraction layer is recorded as d2, which satisfies: 40 μm≤d1≤100 μm, 10 μm≤d2≤40 μm.

10. The variable aperture module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The edge of the blade facing the light-through hole has multiple convex parts and concave parts. In the plane where the blade is located, the convex parts extend toward the light-through hole, and the concave parts are recessed away from the light-through hole. The convex parts and the concave parts are arranged alternately; the convex parts and the concave parts of each blade surround the aperture.

11. A camera module, characterized in that: include: The variable aperture module according to any one of claims 1 to 10; A drive assembly comprising a drive coil and a drive magnet, wherein the drive coil is disposed on one of the base or the bracket of the variable aperture module, and the drive magnet is disposed on the other of the base or the bracket of the variable aperture module. The drive coil and the drive magnet are disposed relative to each other to drive the bracket to rotate relative to the base.

12. The camera module according to claim 11, wherein: The projection of the driving coil along the light-passing direction is a broken line or an arc, extending along the outer wall of the base; the driving magnet includes a first magnetic pole and a second magnetic pole, and the projections of the first magnetic pole and the second magnetic pole along the light-passing direction are arranged at an angle to match the extension direction of the driving coil.

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