Camera assembly

Abstract

An embodiment of the utility model discloses a camera assembly which comprises a base, a shell, a bearing piece module, a voice coil motor and a driving module, the shell is connected to the bottom of the base, the side wall of the base surrounds the outer side of the shell, one end of a limiting block of the base is connected with the inner side face of the bottom, and the other end of the limiting block is connected with the driving module. The other end of the limiting block extends towards the interior of the installation opening, the bearing part module is slidably arranged in the shell, the bottom face of the bearing part module makes contact with the limiting block, the voice coil motor is arranged between the outer side face of the bearing part module and the inner side face of the shell, and the driving module is located below the base and electrically coupled with the voice coil motor. According to the camera assembly, the limiting top surface of the limiting block is arranged to be the connecting top surface higher than the bottom, so that the limiting area for limiting the bearing part module is reduced, the manufacturing difficulty is reduced, and the production efficiency and the final product quality are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of camera equipment technology, specifically to a camera component. Background Technology

[0002] Consumer electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops typically include one or more embedded cameras that allow users to capture digital images, videos, or both. For example, a smartphone might be equipped with a pair of cameras, including a rear camera for capturing the scene behind the phone and a front camera for capturing the scene in front of the phone. Users can access a camera app on the phone to activate one of the cameras, view a live display of the images sensed by the camera (e.g., a virtual viewfinder), and select controls to capture and store images or videos. The rear camera is sometimes used as a "point-and-shoot" camera to capture images of the scene in front of the user, while the front camera is typically used to take photos or videos for the user holding the device with the camera embedded, such as for "selfies" or live video conferencing. Some devices place the front camera module within the bezel surrounding the device's main display component, such as the bezel surrounding the touchscreen of a smartphone.

[0003] In current camera components, the base surface area used to limit the connection of the carrier module is relatively large, which makes it difficult to control the flatness of the surface. When the carrier module moves downward and contacts the surface, the carrier module is prone to instability of the center of gravity, resulting in optical axis offset. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the present invention provides a camera assembly that reduces the limiting area of ​​the limiting support module, reduces manufacturing difficulty, and improves production efficiency and final product quality.

[0005] This utility model embodiment provides a camera assembly, the camera assembly comprising:

[0006] The base includes a sidewall, a bottom having an installation opening, and a limiting block. The sidewall extends vertically upward from the outer edge of the bottom. One end of the limiting block is connected to the inner side of the bottom, and the other end of the limiting block extends toward the interior of the installation opening. The limiting top surface of the limiting block is higher than the connecting top surface of the bottom.

[0007] The outer casing is connected to the bottom, and the sidewalls surround the outer side of the outer casing;

[0008] The support module is slidably disposed inside the housing, and the bottom surface of the support module is in contact with the limiting block;

[0009] A voice coil motor is located inside the housing. The voice coil motor is disposed between the outer side of the carrier module and the inner side of the housing. The voice coil motor is used to drive the carrier module to move in the vertical direction.

[0010] A drive module is located below the base and is electrically coupled to the voice coil motor.

[0011] Optionally, the housing includes a top surface structure and an annular side surface, the annular side surface extending vertically downward from the edge of the top surface structure, the annular side surface being connected to the bottom, and the sidewall surrounding the outer side of the annular side surface.

[0012] Optionally, a glue-receiving groove is provided on the bottom.

[0013] Optionally, the adhesive groove is a U-shaped groove, and the two ends of the U-shaped groove are connected to the mounting opening.

[0014] Optionally, the adhesive groove is disposed adjacent to the limiting block, and the two ends of the U-shaped groove are located on both sides of the limiting block.

[0015] Optionally, the limiting block is configured as an isosceles trapezoid and / or a right trapezoid.

[0016] Optionally, the top surface structure includes a first top surface and a second top surface, the second top surface being higher than the first top surface, and the annular side surface extending vertically downward from the edges of the first top surface and the second top surface terminating on the same horizontal line.

[0017] Optionally, the first top surface is provided with a central opening, and the camera assembly further includes a lens assembly, which is fixed inside the central opening.

[0018] Optionally, the carrier module includes:

[0019] The support element is slidably disposed within the housing;

[0020] An image sensor is fixed to the side of the carrier near the base, and the lens assembly is coaxially arranged with the image sensor.

[0021] Optionally, the carrier includes a movable through hole that extends longitudinally through the carrier, the image sensor is located below the movable through hole, the lens assembly is located above the movable through hole, and the outer diameter of the lens assembly is smaller than the diameter of the movable through hole.

[0022] Optionally, the support member includes a main body and an auxiliary body, the auxiliary body being higher than the main body, the movable through hole being disposed on the main body, the main body corresponding to the first top surface, and the auxiliary body corresponding to the second top surface.

[0023] Optionally, the camera assembly further includes a fixing member having a second mounting groove, the fixing member being installed in the second accommodating cavity, and the outer side of the auxiliary part being provided with a first mounting groove;

[0024] The voice coil motor includes:

[0025] The magnet is fixed in the first mounting slot;

[0026] A wire coil is fixed in the second mounting slot, and the wire coil is arranged opposite to the magnet. The drive module is electrically coupled to the wire coil.

[0027] Optionally, the camera assembly further includes one or more stacked balls disposed between the outer side of the carrier and the inner side of the housing, the carrier sliding linearly within the housing via the balls.

[0028] Optionally, a first sliding groove is provided on the outer side of the auxiliary part, and a second sliding groove is provided on the fixing member. The first sliding groove and the second sliding groove are arranged opposite to each other, and the ball is rolled in the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove.

[0029] Optionally, a protrusion is provided on the side of the main body away from the lens assembly, and the protrusion is located on the side of the main body away from the auxiliary part, and the image sensor is provided with a positioning groove that cooperates with and connects to the protrusion.

[0030] Optionally, a bumper is provided on the side of the main body near the lens assembly, and the bumper is located outside the movable through hole.

[0031] Optionally, the driving module includes a base plate and a driver circuit. The driver circuit is mounted on the base plate and includes a first fixed end, a second fixed end, a third fixed end, and a movable end. The third fixed end and the movable end are arranged opposite each other along a first lateral direction. The first fixed end and the second fixed end are arranged opposite each other along a second lateral direction on the side of the movable end away from the third fixed end. One end of the first fixed end and the second fixed end are respectively connected to both ends of the movable end through a first connecting segment. The other end of the first fixed end and the second fixed end are respectively connected to both ends of the third fixed end through a second connecting segment. The two second connecting segments are respectively arranged parallel to each other outside the two first connecting segments. The first fixed end, the second fixed end, and the third fixed end are fixed on the base plate. The movable end is electrically coupled to the image sensor and the wire coil, respectively.

[0032] The camera assembly of this embodiment includes a base, a housing, a carrier module, a voice coil motor, and a drive module. The bottom end of the housing is connected to the bottom of the base, and the sidewalls of the base surround the outer side of the housing. One end of a limiting block of the base is connected to the inner side of the bottom, and the other end of the limiting block extends towards the interior of the mounting opening. The carrier module is slidably disposed within the housing, with its bottom surface in contact with the limiting block. The voice coil motor is disposed between the outer side of the carrier module and the inner side of the housing. The drive module is located below the base and is electrically coupled to the voice coil motor. By setting the limiting top surface of the limiting block to be higher than the connecting top surface of the bottom, the camera assembly reduces the limiting area of ​​the carrier module, lowers manufacturing difficulty, and improves production efficiency and the quality of the final product. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the camera assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the camera assembly according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0036] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the camera assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the base according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a top view of the base according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0039] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of the outer shell of this utility model connected to the base according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the magnet and ball bearing mounted on the support member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 8 This is a structural schematic diagram showing the relative positions of the support member and the base in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0042] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the camera assembly without the base plate in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0043] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the wire coil mounted on the fixing component according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0044] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the outer shell of an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0045] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the driving module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Figure label:

[0047] 1-Base; 11-Sidewall; 12-Bottom; 121-Connecting top surface; 13-Mounting opening; 14-Receiving groove; 15-Limiting block; 151-Limiting top surface; 2-Outer shell; 20-Top surface structure; 21-Central opening; 22-First top surface; 23-Second top surface; 24-Annular side surface; 3-Lens assembly; 4-Carrier; 41-Moving through hole; 42-First mounting groove; 43-First sliding groove; 44-Main body; 441-Protrusion; 442-Anti-collision block; 45-Auxiliary part; 5-Image sensor; 51-Positioning 6-Gateway; 7-Magnet; 8-Wire coil; 9-Base plate; 9-Driver circuit; 91-First fixed end; 92-Second fixed end; 93-Third fixed end; 94-Moving end; 95-First connecting section; 96-Second connecting section; 10-Accommodating cavity; 101-First accommodating part; 102-Second accommodating part; 100-Fixing component; 110-Second mounting groove; 120-Second sliding groove; 200-Ball bearing; 300-Drive module; 400-Voice coil motor; 500-Carrier module; X-Second transverse; Y-First transverse. Detailed Implementation

[0048] The present application is described below based on embodiments, but it is not limited to these embodiments. In the detailed description of the present application below, certain specific details are described in detail. Those skilled in the art can fully understand the present application without these details. To avoid obscuring the substance of the present application, well-known methods, processes, flows, elements, and circuits are not described in detail.

[0049] Furthermore, those skilled in the art should understand that the accompanying drawings provided herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0050] Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0051] Unless the context explicitly requires it, words such as "including" or "contains" throughout the application should be interpreted as including rather than exclusive or exhaustive; that is, meaning "including but not limited to".

[0052] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0053] This application describes a camera assembly such that a lens assembly can be moved relative to an image sensor to provide autofocus capability. In some embodiments, the camera assembly is configured to be embedded in an electronic device or display assembly, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, television, or computer monitor. The camera assembly may be mounted near the top edge of the display screen, for example, in a bezel forming the perimeter of the screen.

[0054] like Figures 1-3 As shown, the camera assembly includes a base 1, a housing 2, a lens assembly 3, a carrier module 500, a voice coil motor 400, and a drive module 300. The housing 2 is connected to the base 1, and the base 1 and housing 2 together form a receiving cavity 10, which supports the carrier module 500 and the voice coil motor 400. The drive module 300 is located below the base 1 and is electrically coupled to a wire coil 7. The carrier module 500 is slidably disposed within the housing 2 to adjust the distance between itself and the lens assembly 3, thereby achieving focusing.

[0055] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the carrier module 500 includes a carrier 4 and an image sensor 5. The carrier 4 is slidably disposed within the housing 2, and the image sensor 5 is fixed on the side of the carrier 4 near the base 1. The lens assembly 3 is coaxially disposed with the image sensor 5 to meet imaging requirements. The carrier 4 is used to drive the image sensor 5 to move relative to the lens assembly 3 under the drive of the voice coil motor 400, thereby adjusting the distance between the carrier 4 and the lens assembly 3 and thus achieving the focusing function.

[0056] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the housing 2 has a central opening 21, and the lens assembly 3 is fixed inside the central opening 21. The size of the central opening 21 is adapted to the size of the lens assembly 3 so that the lens assembly 3 can be fixed inside the central opening 21. The lens assembly 3 may include one or more lenses that can interact to focus light onto the image sensor 5.

[0057] The carrier 4 is received within the receiving cavity 10 and is laterally fixed (along the x and y axes) within the receiving cavity 10 during assembly. The carrier 4 is capable of sliding vertically (along the z-axis, also known as the "optical axis") within the receiving cavity 10. An image sensor 5 can be mounted on the carrier 4. In some embodiments, the image sensor 5 is located within the receiving cavity 10, fixed to the side of the carrier 4 near the base 1, and the lens assembly 3 is coaxially arranged with the optical axis of the image sensor 5. The carrier 4 can slide vertically within the receiving cavity 10 with the image sensor 5, changing the distance between the image sensor 5 and the lens assembly 3, thereby adjusting the focus of the camera assembly.

[0058] In this application, by directly fixing the lens assembly 3 inside the central opening 21 of the housing 2, light can directly pass through the lens assembly 3 to reach the image sensor 5, ensuring that the normal passage of light is not obstructed under any circumstances. In the prior art, light must first enter the lens assembly through the hole in the top cover and then reach the image sensor 5. The size of the hole in the top cover must be set large enough to ensure that it does not become a limiting factor for light entry (i.e., it does not obstruct the field of view of the lens).

[0059] Furthermore, the image sensor 5 is mounted on the carrier 4 and driven synchronously, which reduces the height of the camera assembly. Simultaneously, the lens assembly 3 is directly fixed within the central opening 21 of the housing 2, avoiding the need to increase the aperture to meet the light entry requirements, thereby reducing the area of ​​the camera assembly and thus shrinking its overall size. In addition, existing technologies require the lens assembly, carrier, and image sensor to be arranged sequentially, necessitating multiple active alignments, which is highly demanding. In this application, the housing and lens assembly are fixed in place from the outset; during assembly, only the coaxiality of the image sensor and lens assembly needs to be ensured to guarantee assembly accuracy, facilitating optimization of the assembly process.

[0060] The voice coil motor 400 drives the carrier 4 and the image sensor 5 to move along the optical axis of the camera to adjust the distance between the image sensor 5 and the lens assembly, thereby achieving autofocus capability. In some embodiments, the voice coil motor 400 is disposed between the outer side of the carrier 4 and the inner side of the housing 2, and the voice coil motor 400 is used to drive the carrier 4 to move in the vertical direction after being energized.

[0061] Among them, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the voice coil motor 400 includes a magnet 6 and a wire coil 7. The magnet 6 is located on the first lateral outer surface of the carrier 4, and the wire coil 7 is located on the first lateral inner surface of the housing 2. The magnet 6 and the wire coil 7 are arranged opposite to each other in the camera assembly. Due to the close proximity between the magnet 6 and the wire coil 7, the wire coil 7 can be excited by an electric current to generate a magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet 6. The attractive or repulsive force between the magnetic fields drives the carrier 4 and the image sensor 5 upward or downward (along the optical axis) within the accommodating cavity 10. Optionally, the carrier 4 also includes a first mounting groove 42, which is disposed on the first lateral outer surface of the carrier 4. The magnet 6 is mounted in the first mounting groove 42 so that changes in the magnetic field of the magnet 6 cause the carrier 4 to move.

[0062] like Figures 1-3 As shown, the drive module 300 includes a base plate 8 and a driver circuit 9. The driver circuit 9 is mounted on the base plate 8, which is located below the base 1. The driver circuit 9 is electrically coupled to the image sensor 5 and the lead coil 7, respectively. The driver circuit 9, for example, a driver IC, supplies power to the lead coil 7 to excite the lead coil 7 and generate a second magnetic field that interacts with the magnetic field of the magnet 6. The driver IC can excite the lead coil 7 in response to control signals provided to the driver IC from an external controller, such as a microprocessor or other data processing device. In some embodiments, the driver IC can adjust the magnetic field emitted from the lead coil 7 to drive the carrier 4 up or down to a precise position, for example, by reversing the direction of the current supplied to the lead coil 7 (thus reversing the polarity of the magnetic field emitted from the lead coil 7) and adjusting the effective strength of the magnetic field (e.g., using pulse width modulation) to adjust the amount of attractive or repulsive force between the magnet 6 and the lead coil 7, thereby causing the image sensor 5 to move up and down by the magnet 6 through the carrier 4. The image sensor 5 can transmit the detected image information back to the control module of the camera assembly, etc., via the driver circuit 9. Furthermore, the driver circuit 9 also has a flexible function, which can help the image sensor 5 reset after movement, and at the same time make the image sensor 5 more stable when moving up and down.

[0063] In one embodiment, such as Figure 12As shown, the driver circuit 9 includes a first fixed terminal 91, a second fixed terminal 92, a third fixed terminal 93, and a movable terminal 94. The third fixed terminal 93 and the movable terminal 94 are arranged opposite each other along a first transverse direction Y. The first fixed terminal 91 and the second fixed terminal 92 are arranged opposite each other along a second transverse direction X on the side of the movable terminal 94 away from the third fixed terminal 93. The length of the third fixed terminal 93 along the second transverse direction X is greater than the length of the movable terminal 94, and both ends extend outside the movable terminal 94. The outer ends of the first fixed terminal 91 and the second fixed terminal 92 extend outside the movable terminal 94 along the second transverse direction X. One end of the first fixed terminal 91 and the second fixed terminal 92 are respectively connected to both ends of the movable terminal 94 through a first connecting segment 95, and the other end of the first fixed terminal 91 and the second fixed terminal 92 are respectively connected to both ends of the third fixed terminal 93 through a second connecting segment 96. The two first connecting segments 95 are parallel, and the two second connecting segments 96 are respectively arranged parallel to each other outside the two first connecting segments 95, thereby forming a U-shaped structure for the driver circuit 9. The first fixed end 91, the second fixed end 92 and the third fixed end 93 are fixed on the base plate 8, and the movable end 94 is electrically coupled to the image sensor 5 and the wire coil 7 respectively. This allows the driver circuit 9 to enhance the stability of the connection, as well as the stability of the image sensor 5 during reset and up-and-down movement.

[0064] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 and Figure 11 As shown, the outer shell 2 includes a top surface structure 20 and an annular side surface 24. The annular side surface 24 extends vertically downward from the edge of the top surface structure 20 and is connected to the bottom 12. The side wall 11 surrounds the outside of the annular side surface 24, which can improve the stability of the connection between the outer shell 2 and the base 1.

[0065] Specifically, the top surface structure 20 includes a first top surface 22 and a second top surface 23, such as... Figure 3 As shown. The first top surface 22 and the second top surface 23 are parallel and adjacent to each other along the left-right direction (i.e., the Y-axis), with the second top surface 23 higher than the first top surface 22. The first top surface 22 and the second top surface 23 are connected by a vertical plane. An annular side surface 24 extends vertically downwards from the edges of the first top surface 22 and the second top surface 23, reaching the same horizontal line, forming a box structure with an opening facing downwards, as shown. Figure 3 and Figure 11As shown. The outer casing 2 is configured as a box structure with its opening facing downwards, which can cover the outside of the support member 4, the image sensor 5, and the voice coil motor 400, forming a physical barrier to protect the internal components of the camera assembly from external forces and damage. Furthermore, the first top surface 22 of the outer casing 2 has a central opening 21 for mounting and fixing the lens assembly 3, so as to collect a larger range of external light, allowing the image sensor to capture a wider field of view image. Optionally, the first top surface 22 and the second top surface 23 are rectangular, and the annular side surface 24 is formed by four rectangles connected in sequence, thus making the outer casing 2 a cuboid box structure with its opening facing downwards.

[0066] Additionally, in some embodiments, the housing 2 is at least partially formed of a metallic material and serves to protect the camera assembly from electromagnetic interference (EMI) that may occur in the environment.

[0067] The accommodating cavity 10 formed by the outer shell 2 and the base 1 of the above structure includes two parts: a first accommodating part 101 and a second accommodating part 102 that are laterally connected. The second accommodating part 102 is higher than the first accommodating part 101. The second accommodating part 102 is located below the second top surface 23, and the first accommodating part 101 is located below the first top surface 22.

[0068] like Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, the carrier 4 includes a movable through-hole 41 that extends longitudinally through the carrier 4, with the image sensor 5 located below the movable through-hole 41. The lens assembly 3 is located above the movable through-hole 41, allowing light to pass through the lens assembly 3 and then through the movable through-hole 41 to reach the image sensor 5 and obtain an image. The outer diameter of the lens assembly 3 is smaller than the aperture of the movable through-hole 41, which allows the lens assembly 3 to slide relative to the image sensor 5 within the movable through-hole 41 of the carrier as the carrier 4 moves, thus improving the focusing range.

[0069] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the carrier 4 includes a main body 44 and an auxiliary part 45, with the auxiliary part 45 being higher than the main body 44. A movable through-hole 41 is provided on the main body 44, and the image sensor 5 is fixed on the main body 44 on the side away from the lens assembly 3, with the image sensor 5 located directly below the movable through-hole 41. The main body 44 and the image sensor 5 are located within the first accommodating part 101, while the auxiliary part 45 and the voice coil motor 400 (i.e., the magnet 6 and the wire coil 7) are located within the second accommodating part 102. This allows for longitudinal movement of the carrier 4 while ensuring that the voice coil motor 400 and the image sensor 5 are in a position where they do not interfere with each other. A first mounting groove 42 is provided on the outer surface of the auxiliary part 45, and the magnet 6 is fixed within the first mounting groove 42 of the auxiliary part 45.

[0070] Optionally, a protrusion 441 is provided on the side of the main body 44 opposite to the lens assembly, and the protrusion 441 is disposed opposite to the auxiliary part 45. A positioning groove 51 is provided on the image sensor 5. The image sensor 5 is installed between the auxiliary part 45 and the protrusion 441, and the protrusion 441 is limited within the positioning groove 51, thereby fixing the image sensor 5. Optionally, a shock absorber 442 is provided on the top surface of the main body 44, so that when the support member 4 moves upward, the main body 44 contacts the outer shell 2 through the shock absorber 442, thus preventing damage to the main body 44.

[0071] like Figure 2 , Figure 9 As shown, the camera assembly also includes a retainer 100, which is installed within the receiving cavity 10 and located outside the first lateral outer side of the carrier 4. The retainer 100 is used to receive and fix the wire coil 7. Specifically, the retainer 100 is installed within the second receiving portion 102 and has a second mounting groove 110 with its opening facing the carrier 4. Figure 10 As shown, the wire coil 7 is fixed in the second mounting groove 110, thereby achieving a relative arrangement with the magnet 6, and thus completing the driving of the carrier 4.

[0072] In some embodiments, the camera assembly further includes one or more stacked balls 200, such as Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown. Ball bearings 200 are arranged between the outer surface of the support member 4 and the inner surface of the housing 2. The support member 4 slides linearly within the receiving cavity 10 via the ball bearings 200, which reduces friction and improves the smoothness of sliding. For example, some of the stacked ball bearings 200 are partially enclosed within the support member 4, while others may protrude beyond the defined plane.

[0073] Among them, the first transverse outer surface of the support member 4 (i.e., the auxiliary part 45) is also provided with a first sliding groove 43, and the fixing member 100 is provided with a second sliding groove 120. The first sliding groove 43 and the second sliding groove 120 are arranged opposite to each other, such as Figure 7 and Figure 10 As shown. The ball bearing 200 is rolled within the first groove 43 and the second groove 120, thereby enabling the sliding of the carrier 4. A bottom limiting member is provided at the bottom end of the first groove 43, and a top limiting member is provided at the top end of the second groove 120. When the carrier 4 and the fixing member 100 are installed within the receiving cavity 10, the bottom limiting member can partially extend into the second groove 120, and the top limiting member can partially extend into the first groove 43, thereby limiting the upper and lower positions of the ball bearing 200 and preventing it from falling out.

[0074] In some embodiments, magnet 6 is preferably a permanent magnet (e.g., ceramic, ferrite, neodymium iron boron, samarium cobalt, or alnico), but in other embodiments, the magnet can be an electromagnet that requires an electric current to generate a magnetic field. Magnet 6 is part of voice coil motor 400, and the magnetic field it emits is partially utilized to physically drive the carrier up and down. In particular, in the assembled camera assembly, magnet 6 is positioned adjacent to wire coil 7 to allow the respective magnetic fields emitted by magnet 6 and wire coil 7 to interact when wire coil 7 is energized.

[0075] In some embodiments, the image sensor 5 is a charge-coupled device (CCD). In other embodiments, the image sensor is a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. The image projected onto the image sensor can, for example, be captured, stored, and / or presented to a user.

[0076] In one embodiment, the base 1 includes a bottom 12 and a sidewall 11 disposed on the bottom 12, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown. Figure 6 As shown, the sidewall 11 extends around the periphery of the housing 2 (i.e., the annular sidewall 24), allowing the bottom surface of the housing 2 to be adhesively connected to the bottom 12 of the base 1, with the horizontal (i.e., X-axis and Y-axis) sidewall 11 surrounding the outside of the annular sidewall 24. This connection between the housing 2 and the base 1 ensures a more secure bond. Simultaneously, the base 1 provides a more precise mounting position for the housing 2, enabling the lens assembly 3 on the housing 2 to quickly achieve optical axis coaxiality with the internal image sensor 5. The bottom 12 has a mounting opening 13 located in the middle. The size of the mounting opening 13 is smaller than the inner size of the sidewall 11, allowing a certain width of the bottom 12 to be exposed to support the housing 2, reducing manufacturing difficulty and increasing product stability. The mounting opening 13 allows for electrical connection between the voice coil motor 400 and the external driver circuit 9, etc.

[0077] In one embodiment, a receiving groove 14 is provided on the bottom 12, formed by a downward indentation from the upper surface of the bottom 12, such as... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown. The adhesive reservoir 14 is used to store a small amount of adhesive used when bonding the outer shell 2 to the base 1, preventing adhesive overflow, reducing the probability of product defects, and ensuring the product's functional characteristics. The shape, number, and position of the adhesive reservoir 14 are not limited and can be set according to the implementation requirements. Optionally, the adhesive reservoir 14 is configured as a U-shaped groove, with both ends connected to the mounting opening 13, and the middle portion of the U-shaped groove adjacent to the side wall 11. This allows excess adhesive on both the inner and outer sides of the outer shell 2 to be squeezed into the adhesive reservoir 14.

[0078] like Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the base 1 also includes a limiting block 15, one end of which is connected to the inner side of the bottom 12, and the other end extends toward the interior of the mounting opening 13. The limiting block 15 is used to receive the carrier module 500 (i.e., the carrier 4) and prevent the carrier 4 from moving out of the receiving cavity 10. The limiting block 15 also restricts the downward movement of the carrier 4. When the carrier 4 moves to its lowest position, the bottom surface of the carrier 4 abuts against the limiting top surface 151 (i.e., the upper surface) of the limiting block 15. Optionally, the limiting top surface 151 of the limiting block 15 is higher than the connecting top surface 121 of the bottom 12. This makes the area of ​​the limiting block 15 smaller, making it easier to control its flatness, so that the carrier 4 can still maintain coaxiality with the lens assembly 3 when in contact with it. At the same time, the limiting block 15 can prevent adhesive from being squeezed onto the surface of the limiting block 15 when the housing is connected to the base 1, thus affecting the movement of the carrier 4.

[0079] In some embodiments, the adhesive receiving groove 14 is arranged adjacent to the limiting block 15, and the two ends of the U-shaped groove are located on both sides of the limiting block 15, which can store the adhesive near the limiting block 15 and prevent excess adhesive from overflowing onto the limiting block 15.

[0080] In some embodiments, the limiting block 15 is configured as an isosceles trapezoid, which allows for force balance when the bearing member 4 contacts, preventing the corners from warping. Alternatively, the limiting block 15 can also be configured as a right trapezoid, etc. The shape, number, and position of the limiting blocks 15 are not limited and can be set according to the implementation requirements. Optionally, the limiting blocks 15 can also be disposed on the base plate 8, etc., wherein the number and distribution of the limiting blocks 15 are sufficient to stably support the bearing member 4.

[0081] The camera assembly in this embodiment includes a base, a housing, a carrier module, a voice coil motor, and a drive module. The bottom end of the housing is connected to the bottom of the base, and the sidewalls of the base surround the outer side of the housing. One end of a limiting block of the base is connected to the inner side of the bottom, and the other end of the limiting block extends towards the interior of the mounting opening. The carrier module is slidably disposed within the housing, with its bottom surface in contact with the limiting block. The voice coil motor is disposed between the outer side of the carrier module and the inner side of the housing. The drive module is located below the base and is electrically coupled to the voice coil motor. By setting the limiting top surface of the limiting block to be higher than the connecting top surface of the bottom, the camera assembly reduces the limiting area of ​​the carrier module, lowers manufacturing difficulty, and improves production efficiency and the quality of the final product.

[0082] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A camera assembly, characterized by The camera assembly includes: The base (1) includes a sidewall (11), a bottom (12) having a mounting opening (13), and a limiting block (15). The sidewall (11) extends vertically upward from the outer edge of the bottom (12). One end of the limiting block (15) is connected to the inner side of the bottom (12), and the other end of the limiting block (15) extends toward the interior of the mounting opening (13). The limiting top surface (151) of the limiting block (15) is higher than the connecting top surface (121) of the bottom (12). The outer casing (2) is connected to the bottom (12), and the sidewall (11) surrounds the outside of the outer casing (2); The support module (500) is slidably disposed inside the outer shell (2), and the bottom surface of the support module (500) is in contact with the limiting block (15); A voice coil motor (400) is located inside the housing (2). The voice coil motor (400) is disposed between the outer side of the carrier module (500) and the inner side of the housing (2). The voice coil motor (400) is used to drive the carrier module (500) to move in the vertical direction. A drive module (300) is located below the base (1) and is electrically coupled to the voice coil motor (400).

2. The camera assembly of claim 1, wherein, The outer casing (2) includes a top surface structure (20) and an annular side surface (24), the annular side surface (24) extending vertically downward from the edge of the top surface structure (20), the annular side surface (24) being connected to the bottom (12), and the sidewall (11) surrounding the outside of the annular side surface (24).

3. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein, A glue-receiving groove (14) is provided on the bottom (12).

4. The camera assembly of claim 3, wherein, The adhesive groove (14) is a U-shaped groove, and the two ends of the U-shaped groove are connected to the mounting opening (13).

5. The camera assembly of claim 4, wherein, The adhesive groove (14) is arranged adjacent to the limiting block (15), and the two ends of the U-shaped groove are located on both sides of the limiting block (15).

6. The camera assembly of claim 5, wherein, The limiting block (15) is configured as an isosceles trapezoid and / or a right trapezoid.

7. The camera assembly of claim 2, wherein, The top surface structure (20) includes a first top surface (22) and a second top surface (23), the second top surface (23) being higher than the first top surface (22), and the annular side surface (24) extending vertically downward from the edges of the first top surface (22) and the second top surface (23) terminating on the same horizontal line.

8. The camera assembly of claim 7, wherein, The first top surface (22) is provided with a central opening (21), and the camera assembly also includes a lens assembly (3), which is fixed inside the central opening (21).

9. The camera assembly of claim 8, wherein, The carrier module (500) includes: The support member (4) is slidably disposed within the outer casing (2); An image sensor (5) is fixed on the side of the support (4) near the base (1), and the lens assembly (3) is coaxially arranged with the image sensor (5).

10. The camera assembly of claim 9, wherein, The carrier (4) includes a movable through hole (41) that extends longitudinally through the carrier (4). The image sensor (5) is located below the movable through hole (41), and the lens assembly (3) is located above the movable through hole (41). The outer diameter of the lens assembly (3) is smaller than the aperture of the movable through hole (41).

11. The camera assembly of claim 10, wherein, The support member (4) includes a main body (44) and an auxiliary part (45). The auxiliary part (45) is higher than the main body (44). The movable through hole (41) is disposed on the main body (44). The main body (44) corresponds to the first top surface (22), and the auxiliary part (45) corresponds to the second top surface (23).

12. The camera assembly of claim 11, wherein, The camera assembly also includes a fastener (100) having a second mounting groove (110), the fastener (100) being installed inside the housing (2), and the outer side of the auxiliary part (45) being provided with a first mounting groove (42); The voice coil motor (400) includes: The magnet (6) is fixed in the first mounting slot (42); The wire coil (7) is fixed in the second mounting groove (110), and the wire coil (7) is arranged opposite to the magnet (6). The drive module (300) is electrically coupled to the wire coil (7).

13. The camera assembly of claim 12, wherein, The camera assembly also includes one or more stacked balls (200) arranged between the outer side of the carrier (4) and the inner side of the housing (2), the carrier (4) sliding linearly within the housing (2) via the balls (200).

14. The camera assembly of claim 13, wherein, The auxiliary part (45) is provided with a first slide groove (43) on its outer side surface, and the fixing member (100) is provided with a second slide groove (120). The first slide groove (43) and the second slide groove (120) are arranged opposite to each other, and the ball (200) is rolled in the first slide groove (43) and the second slide groove (120).

15. The camera assembly of claim 11, wherein, The main body (44) has a protrusion (441) on the side away from the lens assembly (3), and the protrusion (441) is located on the side of the main body (44) away from the auxiliary part (45). The image sensor (5) has a positioning groove (51) that cooperates with and connects to the protrusion (441).

16. The camera assembly of claim 11, wherein, A bumper block (442) is provided on the side of the main body (44) near the lens assembly (3), and the bumper block (442) is located outside the movable through hole (41).

17. The camera assembly of claim 12, wherein, The drive module (300) includes a base plate (8) and a driver circuit (9). The driver circuit (9) is mounted on the base plate (8). The driver circuit (9) includes a first fixed end (91), a second fixed end (92), a third fixed end (93), and a movable end (94). The third fixed end (93) and the movable end (94) are arranged opposite each other along a first transverse direction (Y). The first fixed end (91) and the second fixed end (92) are arranged opposite each other along a second transverse direction (X) on the side of the movable end (94) away from the third fixed end (93). 2) One end is connected to both ends of the movable end (94) through a first connecting segment (95), and the other ends of the first fixed end (91) and the second fixed end (92) are connected to both ends of the third fixed end (93) through a second connecting segment (96). The two second connecting segments (96) are respectively arranged parallel to each other on the outside of the two first connecting segments (95). The first fixed end (91), the second fixed end (92) and the third fixed end (93) are fixed on the base plate (8). The movable end (94) is electrically coupled to the image sensor (5) and the wire coil (7).

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