Camera module

Abstract

A camera module is provided. The camera module includes: a lens module including at least one lens; a bearing portion accommodating the lens module and configured to move in an optical axis direction; a housing accommodating the bearing portion; a focus adjustment driving unit including a focus adjustment magnet disposed on the bearing portion and a focus adjustment coil disposed on the housing to face the focus adjustment magnet, and configured to generate a driving force to move the bearing portion in an optical axis direction; the first ball group is arranged between the bearing part and the shell to guide the bearing part to move in the optical axis direction, and a gap between the focus adjusting magnet and the focus adjusting coil is increased or decreased in the longitudinal direction of the focus adjusting magnet.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0023683 filed on February 19, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety for all purposes by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The following description relates to a camera module. Background Art

[0004] Camera modules are implemented in portable electronic devices such as, but not limited to, smartphones, tablet personal computers, and laptop computers.

[0005] Most camera modules implemented in portable electronic devices have autofocus functionality and optical image stabilization functionality, and a zoom function may be added thereto.

[0006] Among the above-mentioned camera module functions, it is important to ensure the linearity of motion in the autofocus function to prevent tilt. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a concise form that will be further described in the Detailed Description below. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0008] In general, the camera module includes: a lens module including at least one lens; a carrier portion accommodating the lens module and configured to move in the optical axis direction; a housing accommodating the carrier portion; a focus adjustment drive unit including a focus adjustment magnet arranged on the carrier portion and a focus adjustment coil arranged on the housing to face the focus adjustment magnet, and configured to generate a driving force to move the carrier portion in the optical axis direction; and a first ball group arranged between the carrier portion and the housing to guide the movement of the carrier portion in the optical axis direction, wherein the gap between the focus adjustment magnet and the focus adjustment coil increases or decreases in the longitudinal direction of the focus adjustment magnet.

[0009] The camera module may include a substrate on which a focus adjustment coil is disposed, wherein the focus adjustment coil is patterned and formed on one surface of the substrate.

[0010] The camera module may include a position sensor provided on one surface of the substrate, wherein the position sensor protrudes further from the one surface of the substrate toward the focus adjustment magnet than the focus adjustment coil.

[0011] A gap between the focus adjustment magnet and the focus adjustment coil may increase in a longitudinal direction from a first side of the focus adjustment magnet to a second side of the focus adjustment magnet, and the position sensor may be disposed to face the second side of the focus adjustment magnet.

[0012] The camera module may include a first yoke disposed to face the focus adjustment magnet, with the focus adjustment coil interposed between the first yoke and the focus adjustment magnet, wherein the first yoke may be provided as a magnetic material to generate an attractive force with the focus adjustment magnet.

[0013] The gap between the focus adjustment magnet and the focus adjustment coil can increase in the longitudinal direction from the first side of the focus adjustment magnet to the second side of the focus adjustment magnet, and the first ball group can include: a first ball member, which is arranged to be close to the first side of the focus adjustment magnet in the longitudinal direction; and a second ball member, which is arranged to be close to the second side of the focus adjustment magnet in the longitudinal direction.

[0014] The number of contact points at which the first ball member contacts the bearing portion and the housing may be greater than the number of contact points at which the second ball member contacts the bearing portion and the housing.

[0015] The carrying portion may include a seating recess including an inclined surface, the inclined surface being provided obliquely with respect to the focus adjustment coil, and the focus adjustment magnet being provided in the seating recess.

[0016] The camera module may include a back yoke disposed between the carrier and the focus adjustment magnet, wherein the back yoke is arranged parallel to the focus adjustment magnet.

[0017] The camera module may further include a first frame and a second frame accommodating the lens module and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0018] In general, a camera module includes: a housing that accommodates a lens module; a bearing portion configured to move relative to the housing in an optical axis direction; a first ball member and a second ball member that are arranged between the housing and the bearing portion, spaced apart from each other in a first axis direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and respectively include one or more balls; a driving unit that includes a focus adjustment magnet arranged on the bearing portion; and a yoke that faces the focus adjustment magnet in a second axis direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and the first axis direction, wherein the number of balls included in the first ball member is greater than the number of balls included in the second ball member, and the gap between the yoke and the focus adjustment magnet decreases at a position closer to the first ball member than to the second ball member.

[0019] The focus adjustment magnet may be provided between the first ball member and the second ball member, a yoke may be provided on the housing, and the focus adjustment magnet may be provided obliquely with respect to the yoke.

[0020] A focus adjustment coil facing the focus adjustment magnet in the second axis direction may be provided on the housing, and the focus adjustment magnet may be provided tilted with respect to the focus adjustment coil.

[0021] The camera module may further include a substrate on which the focus adjustment coil is disposed, wherein the focus adjustment coil may be patterned and formed on the first surface of the substrate.

[0022] The camera module may include a position sensor provided on the first surface of the substrate, wherein the position sensor protrudes further from the first surface of the substrate toward the focus adjustment magnet than the focus adjustment coil.

[0023] The gap between the focus adjustment magnet and the focus adjustment coil may increase from a first side of the focus adjustment magnet to a second side of the focus adjustment magnet in a longitudinal direction of the focus adjustment magnet, and the position sensor may be arranged to face the second side of the focus adjustment magnet.

[0024] Other features and aspects will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 A perspective view of an exemplary camera module is shown in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic exploded perspective view of an exemplary camera module according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0027] Figure 3 Shown along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line II'.

[0028] Figure 4 An exploded perspective view of a focus adjustment unit according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0029] Figure 5 A plan view of a focus adjustment unit according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0030] Figure 6 A conceptual diagram illustrating a focus adjustment unit according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0031] Figure 7 and Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a shake correction unit according to one or more embodiments.

[0032] Throughout the drawings and detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. For purposes of clarity, illustration, and convenience, the drawings may not be drawn to scale, and the relative sizes, proportions, and descriptions of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The following specific embodiments are provided to help the reader obtain a comprehensive understanding of the method, device and / or system described herein. However, various changes, modifications and equivalents of the method, device and / or system described herein will be apparent after understanding the disclosure of the application. For example, the order in the operation described herein and / or the order of the operation described herein are merely examples, and except for the order and / or the sequence of operations in the operation that must occur in a specific sequence, are not limited to the order set forth in this article, but can be changed, which will be apparent after understanding the disclosure of the application. As another example, except for at least a portion of the order and / or the sequence of operations in the operation that must occur in a sequence (e.g., a specific sequence), the order in the sequence of operations and / or the operation can be performed in parallel. In addition, for greater clarity and brevity, the description of features known after understanding the disclosure of the application can be omitted.

[0034] Although terms such as "first," "second," and "third," or A, B, (a), (b), etc., may be used herein to describe various members, components, regions, layers, or portions, these members, components, regions, layers, or portions are not limited by these terms. Each of these terms is not intended to define, for example, the importance, sequence, or order of the corresponding member, component, region, layer, or portion, but is merely intended to distinguish the corresponding member, component, region, layer, or portion from other members, components, regions, layers, or portions. Thus, without departing from the teachings of the examples described herein, a first member, first component, first region, first layer, or first portion mentioned in these examples may also be referred to as a second member, second component, second region, second layer, or second portion.

[0035] Throughout this specification, when a component, element, or layer is described as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “engaged to” another component, element, or layer, it may be directly “on,” directly “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “engaged to” another component, element, or layer (e.g., in contact with another component, element, or layer), or one or more other components, elements, or layers may reasonably be present between the component, element, or layer and the other component, element, or layer. When a component, element, or layer is described as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled to,” or “directly engaged to” another component, element, or layer, there are no other components, elements, or layers between the component, element, or layer and the other component, element, or layer. Similarly, expressions such as “between” and “directly between,” as well as “adjacent” and “directly adjacent,” may also be interpreted as described above.

[0036] The terms used herein are only used to describe various examples and are not used to limit the present disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the terms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms. As non-limiting examples, the terms "comprise", "include" and "have" illustrate the presence of the described features, quantities, operations, components, elements and / or their combinations, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, operations, components, elements and / or their combinations, or the presence of alternative features, quantities, operations, components, elements and / or their combinations. In addition, although an embodiment can set forth the terms "comprise", "include" and "have" to illustrate the presence of the described features, quantities, operations, components, elements and / or their combinations, other embodiments may exist in which one or more of the described features, quantities, operations, components, elements and / or their combinations are not present.

[0037] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one of the associated listed items and any combination of any two or more items. The phrases "at least one of A, B, and C," etc. are intended to have a disjunctive meaning, and these phrases "at least one of A, B, and C," etc. also include examples in which one or more of A, B, and C can be present (e.g., any combination of one or more of A, B, and C), unless the corresponding description and implementation require that the enumeration (e.g., "at least one of A, B, and C") be interpreted as having a conjunctive meaning.

[0038] The features described herein may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. On the contrary, the examples described herein are provided merely to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, devices and / or systems described herein that will be apparent after understanding the disclosure of the present application. In this article, the use of the wording "may" with respect to an example or embodiment (e.g., with respect to what an example or embodiment may include or implement) means that there is at least one example or embodiment in which such a feature is included or implemented, and all examples or embodiments are not limited thereto. The phrases "example" or "implementation" used herein have the same meaning (e.g., the phrase "in one example" has the same meaning as "in one embodiment", and "in one or more examples" has the same meaning as "in one or more embodiments").

[0039] One or more embodiments may provide a camera module having improved focusing performance while having a reduced number of components and a lower price.

[0040] The following description relates to a camera module 1000 that may be applied to or implemented in a portable electronic device such as, but not limited to, a smartphone and may be used to capture images or videos of external objects.

[0041] Figure 1 A perspective view showing an exemplary camera module according to one or more embodiments, and Figure 2 A schematic exploded perspective view of an exemplary camera module according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0042] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 An exemplary camera module 1000 according to one or more embodiments may include a lens module 200, a focus adjustment unit that moves the lens module 200 in an optical axis direction (Z-axis direction), a shake correction unit that moves the lens module 200 in directions (X-axis directions and Y-axis directions) perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis), an image sensor module 500 that converts light incident on the lens module 200 into an electrical signal, and a housing 110 and a casing 120 that accommodate the components listed above.

[0043] The housing 110 may have a quadrilateral (e.g., rectangular) box shape with an interior space. For example, the housing 110 may have an open top and bottom and at least three sides. The lens module 200, the focus adjustment unit, and the shake correction unit may be accommodated in the interior space of the housing 110, and the image sensor module 500 may be disposed below the housing 110. In an example, a substrate 600, on which portions of the focus adjustment unit and the shake correction unit are mounted, may be disposed on a side of the housing 110.

[0044] The housing 120 may be coupled to the housing 110 with the above-listed components accommodated and disposed in the housing 110. In an example, the housing 120 may cover the internal space while surrounding four sides of the housing 110.

[0045] The housing 120 may be coupled to the case 110 and may have a function of protecting components accommodated and provided in the case 110 .

[0046] In addition, the housing 120 can perform the function of shielding the components within the housing from electromagnetic waves. Therefore, the electromagnetic waves generated by the camera module 1000 may not affect other electronic components within the portable electronic device, or conversely, the electromagnetic waves generated by other electronic components within the portable electronic device may not affect the camera module 1000.

[0047] Therefore, the housing 120 may be formed of a metal material and may be grounded to a ground pad of a printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as a sensor substrate 520 ) of the image sensor module 500 disposed below the case 110 .

[0048] The image sensor module 500 may include an image sensor 510 and a sensor substrate 520 on which the image sensor 510 is mounted.

[0049] The image sensor 510 may convert light incident through the lens module 200 into an electrical signal. In an example, the image sensor 510 may be a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The electrical signal converted by the image sensor 510 may be output as an image or video through a display device of the portable electronic device.

[0050] The image sensor 510 may be electrically connected to the sensor substrate 520 by wire bonding or the like as an example.

[0051] Although not shown in the drawings, the image sensor module 500 may further include an infrared (IR) cut filter. The IR cut filter may be provided above the image sensor 510 to block light in the infrared region of light incident through the lens module 200 from entering the image sensor 510.

[0052] The lens module 200 may include a lens barrel 210 in which at least one lens L is accommodated. In an example, the lens barrel 210 may have a hollow cylindrical shape, and the at least one lens L may be installed in the lens barrel 210 in an optical axis direction (Z-axis direction).

[0053] The lens module 200 can be configured to move in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) and in directions perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction). For example, the lens module 200 can be moved in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) by the focus adjustment unit during focus adjustment, and can be moved in directions perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction) by the shake correction unit during shake correction.

[0054] Reference Figure 3 , the lens module 200, the focus adjustment unit, and the shake correction unit may be movable parts housed in the interior space of the housing 110 and movable relative to the housing 110 and the outer shell 120, and the housing 110 and the outer shell 120 may be fixed parts. In an example, a portion of the focus adjustment unit and a portion of the shake correction unit may be provided on the housing 110, and the housing 110 may be a fixed part that does not move in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) and / or in directions perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction).

[0055] In the following, reference Figures 3 to 6 A focus adjustment unit according to one or more embodiments is described.

[0056] Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line II' of Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a focus adjustment unit according to one or more embodiments, Figure 5 is a plan view of a focus adjustment unit according to one or more embodiments, and Figure 6 is a conceptual diagram of a focus adjustment unit according to one or more embodiments.

[0057] The focus adjustment unit may be a portion that adjusts the focus so that the subject is focused. Specifically, the focus adjustment unit may adjust the focus by moving the lens module 200 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction).

[0058] The focus adjustment unit may include a carrier 310 guiding movement of the lens module 200 in the optical axis direction (Z axis direction) and a focus adjustment driving unit 330 generating a driving force in the optical axis direction (Z axis direction).

[0059] The carrier portion 310 may be provided with a space into which the lens barrel 210 may be inserted. The lens barrel 210 may be arranged to pass through the carrier portion 310 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction).

[0060] The carrier 310 can move relative to the housing 110 in the optical axis direction (Z axis direction) while being accommodated in the housing 110. The lens barrel 210 can move together with the carrier 310 in the optical axis direction (Z axis direction) while being accommodated in the carrier 310.

[0061] The focus adjustment driving unit 330 may generate a driving force to move the carrier 310 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction).

[0062] The focus adjustment drive unit 330 may include a focus adjustment magnet 331 and a focus adjustment coil 333 arranged to face each other. In an example, the focus adjustment magnet 331 may be provided on one side of the carrier 310, and the focus adjustment coil 333 may be provided on one side of the housing 110 to face the focus adjustment magnet 331. Thus, the focus adjustment magnet 331 may be a movable member that moves in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) together with the carrier 310, and the focus adjustment coil 333 may be a fixed member fixed to the housing 110. However, the positions of the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the focus adjustment coil 333 may be interchanged.

[0063] The focus adjustment coil 333 may be mounted on the housing 110 via a printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as a substrate 600). According to one or more embodiments, the focus adjustment coil 333 may be a fine pattern coil (FP coil) formed by patterning a metal layer on an insulating layer of the substrate 600. In the case of a fine pattern coil, the driving force may increase as the gap between patterns decreases.

[0064] When the focus adjustment coil 333 is configured as a fine pattern coil, a separate process for electrically connecting the focus adjustment coil 333 to the substrate 600 may not be required, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process. Furthermore, since the fine pattern coil can be thinner than a wound coil, the gap between the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the focus adjustment coil 333 can be reduced, which is advantageous in miniaturizing the camera module 1000.

[0065] According to one or more embodiments, the gap between the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the focus adjustment coil 333 may be increased or decreased in the longitudinal direction of the focus adjustment magnet 331, and thus the focus adjustment magnet 331 may be disposed obliquely relative to the focus adjustment coil 333. Since the focus adjustment magnet 331 is disposed obliquely relative to the focus adjustment coil 333, the gap between one side 331a of the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the focus adjustment coil 333 may be smaller than the gap between the other side 331b of the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the focus adjustment coil 333.

[0066] The focus adjustment magnet 331 may be disposed in a seating recess 311 formed on one side of the carrier 310 , and the seating recess 311 may be provided as an inclined surface such that the focus adjustment magnet 331 is inclined relative to the focus adjustment coil 333 .

[0067] A back yoke 332 that focuses the magnetic force generated by the focus adjustment magnet 331 may be provided between the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the carrier 310. In an example, the back yoke 332 may be insert-molded into the carrier 310 so as to be integrally provided therewith, and may be exposed to the outside through the seating recess 311. The back yoke 332 may be provided on an inclined surface of the seating recess 311 and thus may be provided parallel to the focus adjustment magnet 331.

[0068] The focus adjustment drive unit 330 may use a closed-loop control method that detects the position of the lens module 200 during focus adjustment and provides feedback. Therefore, the focus adjustment drive unit 330 may include a position sensor 335 that senses the position of the lens module 200 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) via the focus adjustment magnet 331. In a non-limiting example, the position sensor 335 may be a Hall sensor.

[0069] The position sensor 335 may be provided on the substrate 600 together with the focus adjustment coil 333 and may face the focus adjustment magnet 331. The position sensor 335 may be provided so as not to overlap with the pattern of the focus adjustment coil 333 provided on one surface of the substrate 600 facing the focus adjustment magnet 331. In an example, the position sensor 335 may be provided inside or outside the focus adjustment coil 333.

[0070] In this example, the position sensor 335 can be positioned facing the other side 331b of the focus adjustment magnet 331, where the gap between the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the focus adjustment coil 333 is relatively large. In this example, since the focus adjustment coil 333 can be configured as a fine pattern coil, the position sensor 335 can protrude further from one surface of the substrate 600 toward the focus adjustment magnet 331 than the focus adjustment coil 333. In other words, the thickness of the position sensor 335 can be greater than the thickness of the focus adjustment coil 333. Therefore, in this example, by positioning the focus adjustment magnet 331 at an angle relative to the focus adjustment coil 333, space for the position sensor 335 can be ensured.

[0071] The first yoke 337 may be provided on another surface of the substrate 600 (in this example, the other surface refers to the surface opposite to the surface on which the focus adjustment coil 333 is provided). The first yoke 337 may prevent leakage of the magnetic flux generated by the focus adjustment magnet 331. In addition, the first yoke 337 may form an attractive force with the focus adjustment magnet 331. Details of this will be described below.

[0072] The first ball set 340 may be disposed between the bearing portion 310 and the housing 110 to guide movement of the bearing portion 310 and maintain a gap between the bearing portion 310 and the housing 110 .

[0073] The first ball group 340 may include a first ball member 341 disposed adjacent to one side 331a of the focus adjustment magnet 331 in the longitudinal direction of the focus adjustment magnet 331, and a second ball member 343 disposed adjacent to the other side 331b of the focus adjustment magnet 331 in the longitudinal direction of the focus adjustment magnet 331. In an example, the first ball member 341 and the second ball member 343 may be spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction).

[0074] The first ball member 341 and the second ball member 343 may respectively include one or more ball members arranged in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction), and may respectively include different numbers of ball members.

[0075] Referring to the drawings, in an example, the first ball member 341 may include three ball members, and the second ball member 343 may include two ball members. In another example, the number of ball members included in the first ball member 341 and the second ball member 343 may vary. However, in an example, the first ball member 341 may include more ball members than the second ball member 343.

[0076] In the example, when a driving force is generated in the optical axis direction (Z axis direction) of the bearing portion 310, the first ball group 340 (i.e., the first ball member 341 and the second ball member 343) can guide the movement of the bearing portion 310 in the optical axis direction (Z axis direction).

[0077] The carrying portion 310 and the shell 110 may include guide recesses 313, 315, 113 and 115, which extend in the optical axis direction (Z axis direction) on surfaces of the carrying portion 310 and the shell 110 facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis (Z axis) (for example, based on the first axis direction (Y axis direction) of the drawing).

[0078] In an example, the bearing portion 310 may include a first guide recess 313 disposed adjacent to one side 331a of the focus adjustment magnet 331 and a second guide recess 315 disposed adjacent to the other side 331b of the focus adjustment magnet 331, and the housing 110 may include a third guide recess 113 disposed facing the first guide recess 313 and a fourth guide recess 115 disposed facing the second guide recess 315.

[0079] The first ball member 341 can roll in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) while being inserted into the first guide recess 313 and the third guide recess 113, and the second ball member 343 can roll in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) while being inserted into the second guide recess 315 and the fourth guide recess 115.

[0080] In an example, the first guide recess 313 and the second guide recess 315 provided on the bearing portion 310 may have different cross-sectional shapes. Therefore, the number of contact points between the first ball member 341 and the first guide recess 313 and the number of contact points between the second ball member 343 and the second guide recess 315 may be different from each other.

[0081] Reference Figure 6 , the first ball member 341 may contact each of the two sides of the first guide recess 313 while being inserted into the first guide recess 313. That is, in the example, the first ball member 341 may form two contact points with the first guide recess 313. In the example, the second ball member 343 may contact the bottom surface of the second guide recess 315 while being inserted into the second guide recess 315. That is, in the example, the second ball member 343 may form one contact point with the second guide recess 315.

[0082] According to this structure, the first guide recess 313 provided on one side 331a of the focus adjustment magnet 331 can be a main guide member that guides the movement of the bearing part 310 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) by providing a movement direction to the first ball member 341, and the second guide recess 315 provided on the other side 331b of the focus adjustment magnet 331 can be an auxiliary guide member that stably supports the movement of the bearing part 310 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) by allowing the second ball member 343 to roll smoothly therein.

[0083] In an example, the third guide recess 113 in the housing 110 facing the first guide recess 313 and the fourth guide recess 115 in the housing 110 facing the second guide recess 315 may have the same cross-sectional shape, and for example, the third guide recess 113 may have the same cross-sectional shape as the first guide recess 313. Therefore, the first ball member 341 and the second ball member 343 may each form two contact points with the corresponding third guide recess 113 and fourth guide recess 115.

[0084] Regarding the above description, not all of the plurality of ball members included in the first ball member 341 and the second ball member 343 may be in contact with the guide recesses 313, 315, 113, and 115. For example, at least some of the plurality of ball members included in the first ball member 341 and the second ball member 343 may have a diameter smaller than that of the other ball members, and the corresponding ball members may not be in contact with the guide recesses 313, 315, 113, and 115. Instead, the corresponding ball members may be in contact with ball members disposed adjacent to each other in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) and may roll together in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction).

[0085] A first yoke 337 may be provided in the housing 110 to maintain contact between the first ball set 340 and the guide recesses 313, 315, 113, and 115. The first yoke 337 may be formed of a magnetic material. In an example, the first yoke 337 may be provided in the housing 110 so as to face the focus adjustment magnet 331 in a first axial direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the optical axis. Therefore, an attractive force F may be generated between the first yoke 337 and the focus adjustment magnet 331 in the first axial direction (Y-axis direction), and the carrier 310 may be pressed toward the housing 110 by the attractive force.

[0086] In an example, the focus adjustment magnet 331 may be disposed obliquely with respect to the focus adjustment coil 333 , and thus, the focus adjustment magnet 331 may also be disposed obliquely with respect to the first yoke 337 .

[0087] Reference Figure 6, a gap between one side 331 a of the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the first yoke 337 may be shorter than a gap between the other side 331 b of the focus adjustment magnet 331 and the first yoke 337 .

[0088] In an example, the first guide recess 313 corresponding to the main guide may be provided on one side 331a of the focus adjustment magnet 331, and the second guide recess 315 corresponding to the auxiliary guide may be provided on the other side 331b of the focus adjustment magnet 331. Therefore, the magnitude of the pressure F1 applied to the first ball member 341 provided in the main guide may be greater than the magnitude of the pressure F2 applied to the second ball member 343 provided in the auxiliary guide.

[0089] According to the above structure, the first ball member 341 can be stably contacted with the first guide recess 313 and the third guide recess 113 serving as the main guide members, and the second ball member 343 can roll smoothly in the second guide recess 315 and the fourth guide recess 115 serving as the auxiliary guide members, and therefore, the linearity of the movement of the bearing part 310 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) can be ensured, and the tilt defect can be improved.

[0090] Next, refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 A shake correction unit according to one or more embodiments is described.

[0091] The shake correction unit may be a portion that corrects shake of an image or video due to factors such as hand shaking of a user during imaging. Specifically, the shake correction unit may correct the shake by moving the lens module 200 in directions perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction) based on a relative displacement corresponding to the shake that occurs when capturing an image or video.

[0092] The shake correction unit includes a first frame 410 and a second frame 420 that guide the movement of the lens module 200 in directions perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction) and a shake correction driving unit 430 that generates a driving force in directions perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction).

[0093] The first frame 410 and the second frame 420 can be accommodated in the carrier 310, and the first frame 410, the second frame 420 and the carrier 310 can be arranged in sequence along the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction). In an example, the first frame 410 can be arranged on the second frame 420, and the second frame 420 can be arranged on the carrier 310.

[0094] The first and second frames 410 and 420 may be provided with a space into which the lens barrel 210 may be inserted. The lens barrel 210 may be coupled to the first frame 410 and may be disposed to pass through the first and second frames 410 and 420 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction).

[0095] The first frame 410 and the second frame 420 can be moved relative to the carrier 310 in directions perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction) while being accommodated in the carrier 310. Since the lens barrel 210 is coupled to the first frame 410, the lens barrel 210 can move together with the first frame 410. In addition, since the first frame 410 is disposed on the second frame 420, the first frame 410 can move together with the second frame 420. In an example, the first frame 410 can move in a first axis direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis), and the second frame 420 can move in a second axis direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the optical axis (Z-axis) and the first axis (Y-axis).

[0096] The shake correction driving unit 430 may generate a driving force to move the first frame 410 and the second frame 420 .

[0097] The shake correction drive unit 430 may include a first shake correction drive unit 431 that generates a driving force in a first axis direction (Y axis direction) and a second shake correction drive unit 433 that generates a driving force in a second axis direction (X axis direction). The first shake correction drive unit 431 and the second shake correction drive unit 433 may be arranged perpendicular to each other.

[0098] The first shake correction drive unit 431 may include a shake correction magnet 4311 and a shake correction coil 4313 arranged to face each other, and the second shake correction drive unit 433 may include a shake correction magnet 4331 and a shake correction coil 4333 arranged to face each other. In this example, the respective shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331 may be provided on two sides of the first frame 410 that are perpendicular to each other, and the respective shake correction coils 4313 and 4333 may be provided on two sides of the housing 110 that are perpendicular to each other so as to face the respective shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331. Therefore, the shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331 may be movable components that move together with the first frame 410 in directions perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis and Y-axis directions), and the shake correction coils 4313 and 4333 may be fixed components fixed to the housing 110. However, the positions of the shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331 and the positions of the shake correction coils 4313 and 4333 may be changed.

[0099] The shake correction coils 4313 and 4333 may be mounted on the housing 110 via the substrate 600. In one example, the shake correction coils 4313 and 4333 may be provided as winding coils, unlike the focus adjustment coil 333. In another example, similar to the focus adjustment coil 333, the shake correction coils 4313 and 4333 may be provided as fine pattern (FP) coils.

[0100] Although not shown in the drawings, a back yoke may be provided between the shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331 and the first frame 410 to focus the magnetic force generated by the shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331. The back yoke may be insert-molded into the first frame 410 and may be provided integrally with the first frame 410.

[0101] Similarly, a second yoke 4317 and a third yoke (not shown) may be disposed on another surface of the substrate 600 (here, the other surface refers to a surface opposite to the surface on which the jitter correction coils 4313 and 4333 are disposed) to prevent leakage of magnetic flux generated by the jitter correction magnets 4311 and 4331.

[0102] A second ball group 440 that guides movement of the first frame 410 and the second frame 420 and maintains a gap therebetween may be disposed between the first frame 410 and the second frame 420 and between the second frame 420 and the bearing portion 310 .

[0103] The second ball set 440 may include a third ball member 441 disposed between the first frame 410 and the second frame 420 , and a fourth ball member 443 disposed between the second frame 420 and the bearing portion 310 .

[0104] The third and fourth ball members 441 and 443 may include a plurality of ball members. According to the drawings, in a non-limiting example, the third and fourth ball members 441 and 443 may each include three ball members, and the third and fourth ball members 441 and 443 may include three or more ball members.

[0105] In the example, when a driving force is generated in the first axis direction (Y axis direction), the third ball member 441 can guide the movement of the first frame 410 in the first axis direction (Y axis direction), and when a driving force is generated in the second axis direction (X axis direction), the fourth ball member 443 can guide the movement of the first frame 410 and the second frame 420 in the second axis direction (X axis direction).

[0106] The first frame 410 and the second frame 420 may include, on surfaces thereof facing each other in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction), fifth and sixth guide recesses 411 and 421, each extending in the first axis direction (Y-axis direction). The third ball member 441 may be inserted between the fifth and sixth guide recesses 411 and 421 while rolling in the first axis direction (Y-axis direction), and movement of the third ball member 441 in the second axis direction (X-axis direction) may be restricted.

[0107] The second frame 420 and the carrier 310 may include, on surfaces thereof facing each other in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction), a seventh guide recess 423 and an eighth guide recess 317, each extending in the second axis direction (X-axis direction). The fourth ball member 443 may roll in the second axis direction (X-axis direction) while being inserted between the seventh guide recess 423 and the eighth guide recess 317, and movement of the fourth ball member 443 in the first axis direction (Y-axis direction) may be restricted.

[0108] A traction yoke 450 may be provided on the carrier 310 to maintain contact between the second ball group 440 and the guide recesses 411, 421, 423, and 317. The traction yoke 450 may be formed of a magnetic material. In an example, the traction yoke 450 may be provided on the carrier 310 so as to face the shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331 provided on the first frame 410 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction). Therefore, an attractive force may be generated between the traction yoke 450 and the shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction), and the first frame 410 and the second frame 420 may be pressed toward the carrier 310 by the attractive force.

[0109] The shake correction drive unit 430 can use a closed-loop control method that detects the position of the lens module 200 during shake correction and provides feedback. Therefore, the first shake correction drive unit 431 and the second shake correction drive unit 433 can include position sensors 4315 and 4335 that sense the position of the lens module 200 in the first axis direction (Y axis direction) and the second axis direction (X axis direction) via the shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331, respectively. In an example, the position sensors 4315 and 4335 can be Hall sensors. The position sensors 4315 and 4335 can be mounted on the substrate 600 so as to be disposed inside the shake correction coils 4313 and 4333 and can face the shake correction magnets 4311 and 4331.

[0110] The camera module according to one or more examples can improve posture differences when moving in the optical axis direction. In addition, since some components are omitted, manufacturing costs can be reduced and driving stability can be ensured.

[0111] Although the present disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent after understanding the disclosure of the present application that various changes in form and detail may be made to these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are to be understood in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The description of features or aspects in each example should be considered applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Appropriate results may still be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and / or if the components in the described systems, architectures, devices, or circuits are combined in different ways and / or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents.

[0112] Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure includes the claims and their equivalents in addition to the above disclosure and all accompanying drawings, that is, all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. Camera module, including: A lens module comprising at least one lens; a carrying portion, accommodating the lens module and configured to move in the optical axis direction; a housing for accommodating the bearing portion; an image sensor module, which converts light incident on the lens module into an electrical signal; a focus adjustment drive unit including a focus adjustment magnet provided on the carrier and a focus adjustment coil provided on the housing to face the focus adjustment magnet, and configured to generate a drive force to move the carrier in the optical axis direction; as well as a first ball group, disposed between the bearing portion and the housing to guide the movement of the bearing portion in the direction of the optical axis; Wherein, the gap between the focus adjustment magnet and the focus adjustment coil increases or decreases in the longitudinal direction of the focus adjustment magnet.

2. The camera module according to claim 1, further comprising: a substrate, the focus adjustment coil being arranged on the substrate, Wherein, the focus adjustment coil is patterned and formed on one surface of the substrate.

3. The camera module according to claim 2, further comprising: a position sensor disposed on the one surface of the substrate, The position sensor protrudes further from the one surface of the substrate toward the focus adjustment magnet than the focus adjustment coil.

4. The camera module according to claim 3, wherein: The gap between the focus adjustment magnet and the focus adjustment coil increases in the longitudinal direction from a first side of the focus adjustment magnet to a second side of the focus adjustment magnet, and The position sensor is disposed to face the second side of the focus adjustment magnet.

5. The camera module according to claim 1, further comprising: a first yoke disposed so as to face the focus adjustment magnet, with the focus adjustment coil interposed between the first yoke and the focus adjustment magnet, Wherein, the first yoke is configured to be a magnetic material to generate an attractive force with the focus adjustment magnet.

6. The camera module according to claim 5, wherein: the gap between the focus adjustment magnet and the focus adjustment coil increases in the longitudinal direction from a first side of the focus adjustment magnet to a second side of the focus adjustment magnet, and The first ball set includes: a first ball member disposed close to the first side of the focus adjustment magnet in the longitudinal direction; and A second ball member is provided close to the second side of the focus adjustment magnet in the longitudinal direction.

7. The camera module according to claim 6, wherein: The number of contact points at which the first ball member contacts the bearing portion and the housing is greater than the number of contact points at which the second ball member contacts the bearing portion and the housing.

8. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein: The carrying portion includes a seating recess including an inclined surface that is provided obliquely with respect to the focus adjustment coil, and the focus adjustment magnet is provided in the seating recess.

9. The camera module according to claim 1, further comprising: a back yoke disposed between the bearing portion and the focus adjustment magnet, Wherein, the back yoke is arranged parallel to the focus adjustment magnet. 10 . The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising a first frame and a second frame accommodating the lens module and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

11. Camera module, including: a housing for accommodating the lens module; a bearing portion configured to move relative to the housing in the direction of the optical axis; an image sensor module, which converts light incident on the lens module into an electrical signal; a first ball member and a second ball member, disposed between the housing and the bearing portion, spaced apart from each other in a first axis direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and each including one or more balls; a driving unit comprising a focus adjustment magnet disposed on the carrying portion; as well as a yoke facing the focus adjustment magnet in a second axis direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and the first axis direction, wherein the number of balls included in the first ball member is greater than the number of balls included in the second ball member, and The gap between the yoke and the focus adjustment magnet is reduced at a position closer to the first ball member than to the second ball member.

12. The camera module according to claim 11, wherein: The focus adjustment magnet is provided between the first ball member and the second ball member, and the yoke is provided on the housing, and The focus adjustment magnet is disposed obliquely with respect to the yoke.

13. The camera module according to claim 11, wherein: A focus adjustment coil facing the focus adjustment magnet in the second axis direction is provided on the housing, and The focus adjustment magnet is disposed obliquely with respect to the focus adjustment coil.

14. The camera module according to claim 13, further comprising: a substrate, the focus adjustment coil being arranged on the substrate, The focus adjustment coil is patterned and formed on the first surface of the substrate.

15. The camera module according to claim 14, further comprising: a position sensor disposed on the first surface of the substrate, The position sensor protrudes further from the first surface of the substrate toward the focus adjustment magnet than the focus adjustment coil.

16. The camera module of claim 15, wherein: a gap between the focus adjustment magnet and the focus adjustment coil increases from a first side of the focus adjustment magnet to a second side of the focus adjustment magnet in a longitudinal direction of the focus adjustment magnet, and The position sensor is disposed to face the second side of the focus adjustment magnet.

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