Camera module and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

To enhance fixing strength of a case and an imaging unit and avoid an influence of a unit length of an imaging unit due to focus adjustment of the imaging unit.SOLUTION: A camera module comprises: an imaging unit (4) that includes a flange portion (23) orthogonal to an optical axis (O) in a lens unit (14) and a folder (lens folder 16) for holding the lens unit; a front case (6) to which the lens unit is fixed; and a rear case (8) that includes strut portions (a first strut portion 36-1, a second strut portion 36-2) for supporting the lens unit by the flange portion, to which the imaging unit is fixed by the flange portion sandwiched between the strut portion and the front case, and includes a buffer area (buffer space portion 38) for absorbing a unit length of the imaging unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a camera module used in, for example, an in-vehicle camera device and a manufacturing method thereof. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art It is already known that vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with a camera device such as a CCD camera, and images of blind spots are displayed on a display device inside the vehicle.

[0003] With regard to such vehicle-mounted camera devices, a structure is known that maintains a constant positional relationship between the wide-angle lens and the shading portion even when the lens unit is moved axially relative to the lens folder, preventing the field of view from shifting or gaps from occurring (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-323079 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Meanwhile, a camera module is mounted on an in-vehicle camera device. This camera module includes a lens unit and a sensor. When the lens unit is fixed to the lens folder, the lens unit needs to be adjusted to a focused state before being fixed to the lens folder. This focus adjustment requires moving the lens unit on the optical axis.

[0006] The focal length of each lens unit varies from product to product. Therefore, the unit length of the focused imaging unit tends to vary depending on the focal length of the lens unit. In other words, the length from the tip of the lens to the bottom of the sensor board is different.

[0007] For this reason, the case that houses the imaging unit is required to have an internal volume and shape that take into account variations in the unit length of the imaging unit; however, assuming a degree of margin, if the imaging unit varies toward the smaller side, gaps will be generated around the lens unit, allowing dust and moisture to enter the module. In addition, if the front and rear cases are narrowed, stress will be applied to the imaging unit when they are combined, impairing the focusing state of the lens unit and further reducing the robustness of the case.

[0008] Patent Document 1 does not disclose or suggest such a problem, and the configuration disclosed therein is unable to solve such a problem.

[0009] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to increase the fixing strength between the case and the imaging unit and to avoid the effect of the unit length of the imaging unit due to focus adjustment of the imaging unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of a camera module of the present disclosure, the camera module includes an imaging unit having a flange portion perpendicular to an optical axis of a lens unit and a folder for holding the lens unit, a front case to which the lens unit is fixed, and a rear case having a support portion supporting the lens unit by the flange portion, the imaging unit is fixed by the flange portion sandwiched between the support portion and the front case, and a buffer region for absorbing the unit length of the imaging unit.

[0011] In this camera module, a flange arrangement portion may be provided around the lens window of the front case, and the imaging unit may be fixed together with the lens unit by sandwiching the flange portion between the flange arrangement portion and the support portion of the rear case.

[0012] This camera module may include a first sealing ring installed between the flange portion of the lens unit and a flange arrangement portion of the front case, and a second sealing ring installed between the front case and the rear case, and the first sealing ring and the second sealing ring may be in a compressed state.

[0013] In this camera module, the support portion may include a first support portion and a second support portion that are different from each other, and the position of the imaging unit may be specified by engagement between the imaging unit and the first support portion and / or the second support portion.

[0014] In this camera module, the plurality of support pillars may be arranged with the optical axis as a midpoint or center. In other words, in the arrangement of the plurality of support pillars, if there are two support pillars, the optical axis coincides with the midpoint, and if there are three or more support pillars, the optical axis coincides with the center point.

[0015] In this camera module, the rear case may include a heat dissipation section that dissipates heat from the space inside the case.

[0016] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the manufacturing method for a camera module of the present disclosure, the method includes a step of forming an imaging unit by attaching the lens unit, which has a flange portion perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens unit, to a folder, a step of adjusting the focus of the lens unit, a step of supporting the lens unit with the flange portion on a support portion of a rear case, sandwiching the flange portion between the support portion and a front case to fix the lens unit, and positioning the rear end portion of the imaging unit in a buffer area whose height is set by the support portion, and a step of connecting the front case and the rear case. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present disclosure, any of the following effects can be obtained. (Camera module) (1) The imaging unit is supported by the flange portion of the lens unit on the support portion of the rear case, and the flange portion can be sandwiched and fixed between the support portion and the front case, so that any variations that occur in the imaging unit can be absorbed by the buffer area set up in the rear case.

[0018] (2) Even if there is variation in the overall length of the imaging unit due to intersections or focus adjustments, the imaging unit can be accommodated in the storage space formed by the front case and the rear case and can be firmly fixed, making the camera module more robust and compact.

[0019] (Camera module manufacturing method) (3) The flange that is provided on the lens unit to hold the focused imaging unit can be fixed between the support portion on the rear case side and the front case, and this imaging unit can be accommodated in a storage space formed by the front case and the rear case and fixed integrally to the front case and the rear case.

[0020] (4) The manufacturing process can be simplified, and the reliability of the camera module as a product can be improved by reducing manufacturing errors. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a camera module. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the imaging unit. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the camera module. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a heat dissipation structure of a camera module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a camera module 2 according to an embodiment. The configuration shown in Fig. 1 is an example, and the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration.

[0023] The camera module 2 includes an imaging unit 4, a front case 6, a rear case 8, a first sealing ring 10-1, a second sealing ring 10-2, and an inter-case connection portion 12.

[0024] <Imaging unit 4> The imaging unit 4 includes a lens unit 14, a lens folder 16, and a sensor board 18. The lens unit 14 is slidably attached to the lens folder 16, and the sensor board 18 is attached to the rear part of the lens folder 16. Therefore, the lens unit 14 is held in the lens folder 16 after the focus is adjusted on the lens folder 16.

[0025] The lens unit 14 includes a circular lens portion 20, such as a wide-angle lens, and the lens portion 20 includes a lens holding portion 21, a sealing ring attachment portion 22, and a flange portion 23. The lens holding portion 21 is a frame portion that holds the periphery of the lens portion 20. A first sealing ring 10-1 is attached to the sealing ring attachment portion 22. The flange portion 23 is a fixing member for fixing the lens unit 14 between the front case 6 and the rear case 8, and is perpendicular to the optical axis O of the lens portion 20.

[0026] The lens holder 16 and the sensor board 18 are formed with a first engagement recess 24-1, a second engagement recess 24-2, and a third engagement recess 26 for engaging with the rear case 8. The first engagement recess 24-1 and the second engagement recess 24-2 are formed on either side of the optical axis O, and the third engagement recess 26 is formed by cutting out each corner in an arc shape.

[0027] In this embodiment, the sensor board 18 installed on the rear surface of the lens folder 16 is also formed with a first engagement recess 24-1, a second engagement recess 24-2 and a third engagement recess 26 for engaging with the rear case 8 in the same manner as the lens folder 16.

[0028] <Front case 6> The front case 6 has a lens window 28 and is, for example, a housing made of a molded body integrally formed from a hard synthetic resin. The front case 6 may be formed, for example, by cutting the synthetic resin.

[0029] The lens window 28 is, for example, a circular opening that exposes the lens portion 20 around the optical axis O of the lens unit 14, and is formed with a smaller diameter than the lens portion 20. A flange arrangement portion 30 for arranging the flange portion 23 of the lens unit 14 inside the front case 6 is formed around the periphery of the lens window 28.

[0030] The front case 6 is provided at its inner corners with pillar-shaped reinforcing parts 32, and each reinforcing part 32 has a screw hole 34 formed therein for fixing the rear case 8 thereto.

[0031] <Rear case 8> A first support column 36-1 and a second support column 36-2 are provided in the rear case 8 to support the imaging unit 4 by the flange portion 23 of the lens unit 14. The first support column 36-1 and the second support column 36-2 are set to the same height, and this height forms a buffer space 38 for accommodating the rear portion of the imaging unit 4. This buffer space 38 is an example of a buffer area of ​​the present disclosure.

[0032] The first support column 36-1 has a flange mounting portion 36-11 and an engagement column portion 36-12, and the second support column 36-2 has a flange mounting portion 36-21 and an engagement column portion 36-22. In other words, the tops of the first support column 36-1 and the second support column portion 36-2 have different shapes and areas. The flange mounting portions 36-11 and 36-21 are both rectangular, and the long side of the flange mounting portion 36-11 is set larger than the long side of the flange mounting portion 36-21. The engagement column portions 36-12 and 36-22 are both pyramidal with a gentle slope, and at the same height of the engagement column portions 36-12 and 36-22, the long side of the engagement column portion 36-12 is set longer than the long side of the engagement column portion 36-22. In other words, only the engagement post 36-12 can be fitted and inserted into the first engagement recess 24-1, and only the engagement post 36-22 can be fitted and inserted into the second engagement recess 24-2.

[0033] Therefore, the first engagement recess 24-1 fits into the engagement pillar 36-12 and engages with the first support pillar 36-1, and the second engagement recess 24-2 fits into the engagement pillar 36-22 and engages with the second support pillar 36-2. Due to this relationship, the orientation of the lens unit 14 and the sensor board 18 is specified in a unified manner.

[0034] The rear case 8 has a cable insertion hole 40 and a heat dissipation protrusion 42 formed on the back surface, and a columnar reinforcing portion 44 is formed at an inner corner at a position common to the reinforcing portion 32 of the front case 6. The third engagement recess 26 of the lens holder 16 engages with the reinforcing portion 44, and the lens holder 16 is supported by the rear case 8. Each reinforcing portion 44 has a fixing screw insertion hole 46 formed at the same position as the screw hole 34 of the reinforcing portion 32.

[0035] <First sealing ring 10-1> The first sealing ring 10-1 is, for example, a rubber ring having a sealing function, which is disposed around the lens portion 20 of the lens unit 14 and is held between the front case 6 and the lens unit 14 to perform the sealing function.

[0036] <Second sealing ring 10-2> The second sealing ring 10-2 is, for example, a rubber ring having a sealing function, which is installed between the joint surfaces of the front case 6 and the rear case 8 and is held between the front case 6 and the rear case 8 to seal the space inside the cases.

[0037] <Inter-case connection part 12> The inter-case connection part 12 includes a rear panel 48 that is arranged on the rear surface of the rear case 8. This rear panel 48 is formed of a rigid material such as a metal plate, the outer edge shape of which matches the rear surface shape of the rear case 8, and on the inside thereof is formed a notch 50 similar to the cable insertion hole 40 of the rear case 8, and is provided with opposing fixing pieces 54. Each fixing piece 54 may be provided with an attachment hole or the like.

[0038] Fixing screw insertion holes 52 corresponding to the screw holes 34 of the front case 6 and the fixing screw insertion holes 46 of the rear case 8 are formed in the corners of the rear panel 48. Fixing screws 56 are screwed from the fixing screw insertion holes 52 through the fixing screw insertion holes 46 into the screw holes 34, thereby connecting the front case 6 to the rear case 8. In this case, the rear panel 48 functions as a washer for the fixing screws 56 and reinforces the rear surface of the rear case 8.

[0039] <Imaging unit 4> Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the imaging unit 4. In Fig. 2, the same parts as in Fig. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0040] A cylindrical light guide 58 is provided on the rear side of the lens unit 14, and this light guide 58 is formed integrally with the flange portion 23. The lens folder 16 has a cylindrical lens unit support portion 60 standing upright in the center of a plate-shaped folder base portion 59.

[0041] A sliding mechanism 62 is provided between the lens unit support part 60 and the light guide part 58, by which the lens unit support part 60 slidably supports the lens unit 14. The sliding mechanism 62 is capable of adjusting the position of the lens unit 14 on the optical axis O with respect to the lens unit support part 60 by relative movement of a screw part 64 formed on the outer surface of the light guide part 58 and a screw part 66 formed on the inner surface of the lens unit 14 on the optical axis O.

[0042] A sensor board 18 is provided on the back surface of the lens unit support part 60, and an image sensor part 68 such as a CCD element is provided on this sensor board 18 at a position on the optical axis O. This image sensor part 68 is an example of a sensor of the present disclosure. Therefore, by moving the lens unit 14 on the optical axis O, it is possible to adjust the focus of the image sensor part 68, and the lens unit support part 60 can hold the lens unit 14 in an optimal position.

[0043] <Assembly structure of camera module 2> Fig. 3 shows a vertical cross section of the camera module 2. In Fig. 3, the same parts as in Figs. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0044] A first sealing ring 10-1 is attached to a sealing ring attachment portion 22 of the lens unit 14 in which the lens portion 20 is disposed.

[0045] The flange portion 23 is sandwiched between the front case 6 and the first support portion 36-1 of the rear case 8 together with the first sealing ring 10-1, and similarly, the flange portion 23 is sandwiched between the front case 6 and the second support portion 36-2 of the rear case 8 together with the first sealing ring 10-1.

[0046] A second sealing ring 10-2 is installed in a sealing ring installation portion 69 of the front case 6.

[0047] The rear case 8 is joined to the front case 6, a rear panel 48 is installed on the rear side of the rear case 8, and fixing screws 56 are screwed from the fixing screw insertion holes 52 through the fixing screw insertion holes 46 of the rear case 8 into the screw holes 34 of the front case 6, so that the front case 6 and the rear case 8 are fixed together with the fixing screws 56.

[0048] The first sealing ring 10-1 is sandwiched and held in a compressed state between the front case 6 and the flange portion 23, and the second sealing ring 10-2 is sandwiched between the front case 6 and the rear case 8 in a compressed state.

[0049] Due to the action of the restoring forces of first sealing ring 10-1 and second sealing ring 10-2, the fixation between lens unit 14 and front case 6, and the fixation between front case 6 and rear case 8 are both maintained firmly.

[0050] Before assembling the camera module 2, the sensor board 18 is attached to the back surface of the folder base portion 59, and the lens unit 14 is attached to the lens unit support portion 60. The lens unit 14 is slidably supported by the lens unit support portion 60 by a sliding mechanism 62, so that focus adjustment is performed for the imaging sensor portion 68. The height from the bottom surface of the flange portion 23 to the bottom surface of the sensor board 18 (including the electronic components 19 mounted on the back surface side of the sensor board 18 in this case) is defined as H1. This is defined as the height H1 of the imaging unit 4. In contrast, if the height of the first support portion 36-1 and the second support portion 36-2 of the rear case 8 is defined as H2, the height H3 of the buffer space portion 38 can be expressed by Equation 1.

[0051] H3=H2-H1 Equation 1

[0052] Therefore, the height H3 of the buffer space 38 ensures a spatial area with a sufficient height to accommodate the imaging unit 4 within the case space. In other words, even if the imaging unit 4 becomes longer in the optical axis direction due to focus adjustment or the like, it can be installed with plenty of room inside the buffer space 38, which is an example of a buffer area.

[0053] <Cable retention structure> A cable holder 70 is disposed in a cutout portion 50 of a rear panel 48 disposed on the rear portion of the rear case 8, and holds a cable 72 drawn out from the rear case 8. The cable 72 is connected to the sensor board 18, and is used for connection to an external circuit.

[0054] A third sealing ring 10-3 is installed between the cable holding part 70 and the rear case 8. The cable holding part 70 is fixed to the rear case 8 with a fixing screw 73, and the third sealing ring 10-3 is kept in a compressed state. This seals the lead-out portion of the cable 72.

[0055] <Engagement mechanism 25 between imaging unit 4 and rear case 8> FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, and shows an engagement mechanism 25 between the imaging unit 4 and the rear case 8. As shown in FIG.

[0056] The first engagement recess 24-1 of the folder base portion 59 is inserted into and engages with the first support portion 36-1 of the rear case 8, and the second engagement recess 24-2 of the folder base portion 59 is inserted into and engages with the second support portion 36-2 of the rear case 8.

[0057] In the imaging unit 4, the orientation of the lens unit 14 and the sensor board 18 is determined by the fixation of the flange portion 23 of the lens unit 14 by the first support portion 36-1 and the second support portion 36-2 of the rear case 8 and the front case 6, the engagement of the first engagement recess 24-1 of the lens folder 16 with the first support portion 36-1, and the engagement of the second engagement recess 24-2 of the lens folder 16 with the second support portion 36-2. The imaging unit 4, in which such a relationship is centrally determined, is fixed to the combined front case 6 and rear case 8.

[0058] <Sealing Structure of Front Case 6 and Rear Case 8> Fig. 5 shows a cross section taken along line VV in Fig. 4. The first sealing ring 10-1 is sandwiched and held in a compressed state between the front case 6 and the flange portion 23, and the second sealing ring 10-2 is sandwiched in a compressed state between the front case 6 and the rear case 8. The restoring forces of the first sealing ring 10-1 and the second sealing ring 10-2 act on their respective contact portions, sealing the space between the front case 6 and the lens unit 14 as well as sealing the front case 6 and the rear case 8.

[0059] <Heat dissipation structure of camera module 2> 6 shows a part of a cross section of the camera module 2 cut in the longitudinal direction of the heat dissipation protrusion 42 of the rear case 8. The heat dissipation protrusion 42 protrudes into the rear case 8, and a heat dissipation recess 76 is formed in the outer surface of the rear case 8 at the heat dissipation protrusion 42. A curved uneven surface portion is formed in the rear case 8 by the heat dissipation protrusion 42 and the heat dissipation recess 76, and the heat dissipation area of ​​the rear case 8 is expanded. A heat conductive member 74 is provided between the heat dissipation protrusion 42 and the rear side of the sensor board 18 of the imaging unit 4.

[0060] The image sensor section 68 is in contact with the heat dissipating protrusion 42 via the sensor substrate 18 and the heat conductive member 74, and is capable of dissipating heat.

[0061] <Camera module 2 manufacturing process> The manufacturing process of the camera module 2 is an example of a manufacturing method of the camera module 2 of the present disclosure.

[0062] The manufacturing process of this camera module 2 includes a step of forming the imaging unit 4, a step of adjusting the focus, a step of installing the imaging unit 4, a step of connecting the cases, and the like.

[0063] Step of forming the imaging unit 4: In this step of forming the imaging unit 4, the optical guide portion 58 of the lens unit 14 is attached to the lens unit support portion 60 of the lens folder 16 to combine the lens unit 14 and the lens folder 16, thereby forming the imaging unit 4.

[0064] Focus Adjustment Step: In this focus adjustment step, the lens unit 14 attached to the lens holder 16 is adjusted by the sliding mechanism 62, and the focus of the lens holder 16 with respect to the imaging sensor unit 68 is adjusted.

[0065] Installation process of the imaging unit 4: In this installation process of the imaging unit 4, the imaging unit 4 is installed in the storage space of the front case 6 and the rear case 8. That is, the flange portion 23 of the lens unit 14 is sandwiched and supported between the front case 6 and the first support portion 36-1 and the second support portion 36-2 on the rear case 8 side, and the rear portion of the imaging unit 4 is engaged with the first engagement recess 24-1 of the folder base portion 59 and the first support portion 36-1, and with the second engagement recess 24-2 of the folder base portion 59 and the second support portion 36-2. As a result, the imaging unit 4 is installed in the buffer space portion 38 whose height is set by the first support portion 36-1 and the second support portion 36-2.

[0066] Inter-case connecting step: In this inter-case connecting step, the front case 6 and the rear case 8 are joined and fixed together at the inter-case connecting portion 12 .

[0067] Therefore, the camera module 2 can be manufactured through the above steps.

[0068] <Effects of the embodiment> According to this embodiment, any one of the following effects can be obtained. (1) According to this camera module 2, the variation in the overall length of the imaging unit 4 can be absorbed by the buffer space portion .

[0069] (2) The first sealing ring 10-1 interposed between the flange portion 23 of the lens unit 14 and the front case 6, and the second sealing ring 10-2 interposed between the front case 6 and the rear case 8, serve to seal the front case 6 and the rear case 8 as well as to prevent the intrusion of dust and moisture and to prevent problems such as stray light.

[0070] (3) In combination with the compression of the first sealing ring 10-1 and the second sealing ring 10-2, the flange portion 23 of the lens unit 14, the front case 6, and the rear case 8 can be firmly fixed, thereby achieving a highly robust fixing and housing structure and improving the reliability of the camera module.

[0071] (4) In this camera module 2, the first support pillar 36-1 and the second support pillar 36-2 are arranged with the optical axis O as the midpoint, so that the imaging unit 4 can be fixed and held in a balanced state to the rear case 8. Also, multiple support pillars may be arranged with the optical axis O as the midpoint. That is, in an arrangement of multiple support pillars, if there are two support pillars, the optical axis coincides with the midpoint, and if there are three or more support pillars, the optical axis can coincide with the center point.

[0072] (5) The heat dissipation properties of the rear case 8 can be improved, and the heat resistance of the camera module can be improved.

[0073] (6) The front case 6 and the rear case 8 can be firmly fixed together, which increases the robustness and reliability of the camera module 2.

[0074] (7) The imaging unit 4 can be fixed in the space between the front case 6 and the rear case 8 without affecting the focus adjustment state of the imaging unit 4, and the imaging unit 4 can be protected.

[0075] (8) According to this camera module 2, the buffer space 38 can absorb variations in the overall length of the imaging unit 4.

[0076] (9) The first sealing ring 10-1 interposed between the flange portion 23 of the lens unit 14 and the front case 6, and the second sealing ring 10-2 interposed between the front case 6 and the rear case 8, seal the front case 6 and the rear case 8 as well as prevent the intrusion of dust and moisture and avoid the effects of noise light, such as stray light that interferes with actual images.

[0077] (10) In combination with the compression of first sealing ring 10-1 and second sealing ring 10-2, flange portion 23 of lens unit 14, front case 6, and rear case 8 can be firmly fixed, resulting in a highly robust fixing and housing structure and improving the reliability of the camera module.

[0078] (11) The heat dissipation properties of the rear case 8 can be improved, and the heat resistance of the camera module can be improved.

[0079] Other Embodiments The present disclosure includes the following embodiments. (1) In the above embodiment, a screw sliding mechanism is exemplified as the sliding mechanism 62. However, the sliding mechanism 62 may be a slide mechanism that has a plurality of longitudinal grooves and slides.

[0080] (2) Although rectangular support surfaces are formed on the tops of the first support column 36-1 and the second support column 36-2, these support surfaces may also be circular.

[0081] (3) The recess of the first engagement recess 24-1 may be semicircular, and the corresponding engagement pillar portion 36-12 of the first support portion 36-1 may also be cylindrical, and the recess of the second engagement recess 24-2 may be semicircular, and the corresponding engagement pillar portion 36-22 of the second support portion 36-2 may also be cylindrical.

[0082] As explained above, the most preferred embodiment of the present disclosure has been described, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above description, and it goes without saying that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes based on the gist of the invention described in the claims or disclosed in the specification, and such modifications and changes are naturally included in the scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0083] The camera module and manufacturing method thereof disclosed herein can increase the fixing strength between the case and the imaging unit and can avoid the effect of the unit length of the imaging unit due to focus adjustment of the imaging unit, thereby improving convenience. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 2 Camera module 4 Imaging unit 6 Front case 8 Rear case 10-1 First sealing ring 10-2 Second sealing ring 10-3 Third sealing ring 12 Case connection 14 Lens unit 16 Lens Folder 18 Sensor board 19 Electronic Components 20 Lens section 21 Lens holder 22 Sealing ring attachment part 23 Flange 24-1 First engagement recess 24-2 Second engagement recess 25 Engagement mechanism 26 Third engagement recess 28 Lens window 30 Flange placement section 32 Reinforcement 34 Screw hole 36-1 1st pillar section 36-11, 36-21 Flange mounting part 36-2 2nd pillar section 36-12, 36-22 Engagement pillar part 38 Buffer space 40 Cable insertion hole 42 Heat dissipation protrusion 44 Reinforcement 46 Fixing screw insertion hole 48 Rear Panel 50 Notch 52 Fixing screw insertion hole 54 Fixed piece 56, 73 Fixing screw 58 Light guide 59 Folder base 60 Lens unit support 62 Sliding Mechanism 64, 66 Threaded part 68 Image sensor section 69 Sealing ring installation part 70 Cable holder 72 Cable 74 Thermal Conductive Materials 76 Heat dissipation recess

Claims

1. an imaging unit including a lens unit and a flange portion perpendicular to an optical axis, the lens unit being held by a folder; a front case to which the lens unit is fixed; a rear case including a support portion that supports the lens unit at the flange portion, the imaging unit is fixed at the flange portion sandwiched between the support portion and the front case, and the rear case includes a buffer region that absorbs a unit length of the imaging unit; a camera module including:

2. The camera module according to claim 1 , further comprising a flange arrangement portion around a lens window of the front case, the flange portion being sandwiched between the flange arrangement portion and the support portion of the rear case, thereby fixing the imaging unit together with the lens unit.

3. a first sealing ring disposed between the flange portion of the lens unit and a flange placement portion of the front case; a second sealing ring disposed between the front case and the rear case; Including, the first sealing ring and the second sealing ring are in compression; The camera module of claim 1 , comprising:

4. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the support portion comprises a first support portion and a second support portion that are different from each other, and the position of the imaging unit is determined by engagement between the first support portion and / or the second support portion and the imaging unit.

5. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the support members are arranged with the optical axis as a midpoint or center.

6. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the rear case comprises a heat dissipation section that dissipates heat from a space inside the case.

7. a step of attaching the lens unit having a flange portion perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens unit to a folder to form an imaging unit; a step of adjusting the focus of the lens unit; a step of supporting the lens unit with the flange portion on a support portion of a rear case, sandwiching the flange portion between the support portion and a front case to fix the lens unit, and locating a rear end portion of the imaging unit in a buffer area whose height is set by the support portion; a case-to-case connecting step of the front case and the rear case; A method for manufacturing a camera module, comprising:

Images