Camera module

Abstract

To provide a camera module in which performance deterioration due to deviation of a focal position caused by curing shrinkage of an adhesive is satisfactorily suppressed.SOLUTION: A camera module (3) includes a camera substrate (6), a lens holder (5), and housing joining materials (7). The camera substrate includes an imaging element (65) arranged on an optical axis (AX) of lenses (4). The lens holder has a lens barrel part (51) and a base part (52) provided on a side closer to the camera substrate side than the lens barrel part in an optical axis direction, and is formed of a visible light impermeable material. The housing joining material is provided so as to join an outer edge part (64) of the camera substrate in an in-plane direction crossing the optical axis, and a base inner wall surface (522) as an inner wall surface facing the optical axis in the base part, and is formed of an ultraviolet curable resin.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera module. [Background technology]

[0002] The solid-state imaging device described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a lens barrel is bonded to a semiconductor chip on which a solid-state imaging element is provided. Specifically, the semiconductor chip constituting the imaging device body has a light receiving section for the solid-state imaging element provided in the center of the top surface, with the periphery serving as a bonding area for bonding the lens barrel. The lens barrel holds a lens therein. The lower end of the lens barrel is then bonded to the bonding area of ​​the semiconductor chip via an adhesive such as a thermosetting resin.

[0003] The bonding area of ​​the semiconductor chip is formed flat. Meanwhile, at the lower end of the lens barrel, a plurality of downwardly protruding focus adjustment bosses are formed on the end surface parallel to the bonding area of ​​the semiconductor chip. The focus adjustment bosses are distributed at predetermined intervals around the optical axis along the entire circumference of the lower end of the lens barrel. Each focus adjustment boss is formed in an area toward the inside of the end surface parallel to the bonding area of ​​the semiconductor chip at the lower end of the lens barrel, with the outside of the boss providing a gap for placing adhesive. The focus adjustment bosses are molded integrally with the lens barrel from a thermoplastic synthetic resin, such as polycarbonate, that melts at 120°C or less. Their tips abut the bonding area of ​​the semiconductor chip, with portions of them being crushed by heating.

[0004] The bonding process for a solid-state imaging device having the above configuration is described below. A semiconductor chip containing a completed solid-state imaging element is preheated to, for example, approximately 100°C to 120°C using a heater or the like. The center of the lens and the center of the light-receiving section of the imaging element are first aligned, and the lens barrel is then placed at the desired centered position on top of the semiconductor chip, which is the main body of the imaging device. Next, the lens barrel is moved downward, and the tip of the focus adjustment boss is pressed against the bonding area of ​​the heated semiconductor chip. The tip of the focus adjustment boss is then heated and melted in the bonding area of ​​the semiconductor chip, deforming according to the pressing position. Pressure is then applied until the lens is positioned at the desired focal depth, and the pressure is stopped at the desired position, resulting in a temporary fixation. Next, adhesive is applied around the focus adjustment boss and heated to harden the adhesive, completely fixing the lens barrel and the semiconductor chip together. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-146946 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, the focal position is adjusted by thermal deformation of the focal position adjustment boss provided at the bottom end of the lens barrel, and a thermosetting resin adhesive is applied around the boss and heated to harden, thereby bonding the semiconductor chip and the lens barrel. Therefore, there is a concern that the focal position may shift due to thermal contraction caused by a temperature drop after the bonding process.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, etc. That is, the present invention provides a camera module in which performance degradation due to, for example, a shift in focal position caused by cure shrinkage of an adhesive is effectively suppressed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The camera module (3) according to claim 1 comprises: a camera board (6) having an image sensor (65) arranged on the optical axis (AX) of the lens (4); a lens holder (5) formed of a material that is opaque to visible light, the lens holder (5) including: a barrel portion (51) formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the optical axis and holding the lens inside; a base portion (52) formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the optical axis and provided on the camera board side of the barrel portion in an optical axis direction parallel to the optical axis; and a connection portion (53) protruding outward in a radial direction intersecting the optical axis from an outer wall surface (511) of one end of the barrel portion on the camera board side in the optical axis direction; The above a housing joining material (7) formed of ultraviolet curing resin and provided at a fixing portion between the lens barrel portion and the base portion of the lens holder; Equipped with the connection portion is adjacent to the housing joining material in the optical axis direction, At least a portion of the lens holder facing the housing bonding material is ultraviolet-transmitting. do.

[0009] In addition, in each section of the application documents, a reference symbol in parentheses may be assigned to each element. However, such a reference symbol merely indicates an example of the correspondence between the element and the specific means described in the embodiment described below. Therefore, the present invention is not limited in any way by the description of the reference symbols above. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a part of a vehicle equipped with a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the camera module shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a lens barrel portion of a camera module according to a modified example. [Figure 4]FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a lens barrel portion of a camera module according to another modified example. [Figure 5A] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a camera module according to yet another modified example. [Figure 5B] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a camera module according to yet another modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a camera module according to yet another modified example. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the camera module shown in FIG. 6 is assembled. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (Embodiment) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that various modifications applicable to one embodiment may be difficult to understand if they are inserted in the middle of a series of descriptions relating to that embodiment. Therefore, the modifications are described together after the series of descriptions of the embodiment. Furthermore, as will be described later, FIG. 1 and the following description using these drawings are simplified solely to explain the general configuration and functions of this embodiment, and do not necessarily correspond to the specific device configuration that is actually manufactured and sold.

[0012] (composition) FIG. 1 shows an enlarged view of the periphery of a windshield V1 of a vehicle V. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle V is a so-called automobile, and is provided with a windshield V1 and a dashboard V2 at the front of the vehicle body. The windshield V1, which is provided above the dashboard V2, separates a vehicle interior V3 from an external environment V4 in front of the vehicle V. The imaging device 1 is configured to be mounted inside the windshield V1 of the vehicle V, thereby capturing an image of the external environment V4 in front of the vehicle V. In other words, the imaging device 1 is a so-called front camera device, and is attached from inside the vehicle interior V3 to a bracket (not shown) fixed to the windshield V1.

[0013] The imaging device 1 includes a camera case 2 and a camera module 3. The camera case 2 is a box-shaped member made of metal or synthetic resin, and has a shape in which the thickness, i.e., the height dimension, decreases toward the front. The camera module 3 is fixed to the camera case 2.

[0014] The configuration of the camera module 3 according to this embodiment will be described in detail below. For ease of illustration and explanation, an XYZ three-dimensional coordinate system is set so that the Z axis is parallel to the optical axis AX, as shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the camera module 3 includes a lens 4, a lens holder 5, a camera substrate 6, and a housing bonding material 7.

[0015] In this embodiment, the camera module 3 has a configuration in which a plurality of lenses 4 are arranged along a linear optical axis AX. That is, the plurality of lenses 4 are arranged on the optical axis AX.

[0016] The lens holder 5 has a barrel portion 51, a base portion 52, and a connecting portion 53. The barrel portion 51 is formed in a tubular shape surrounding the optical axis AX and is configured to hold the lens 4 inside. Specifically, the barrel portion 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the optical axis AX as its central axis. The base portion 52 is formed in a tubular shape surrounding the optical axis AX and is configured closer to the camera board 6 than the barrel portion 51 in the optical axis direction parallel to the optical axis AX. In this embodiment, the base portion 52 is formed from a wall material of the same thickness as the barrel portion 51 and has larger inner and outer diameters than the barrel portion 51. The connecting portion 53 is configured to connect one end of the barrel portion 51 in the optical axis direction (i.e., the lower end in the figure) to one end of the base portion 52 in the optical axis direction (i.e., the upper end in the figure). Specifically, the connection portion 53 is formed in a flat plate or cone shape having a substantially circular opening corresponding to the inner diameter of the lens barrel portion 51 in a so-called plan view seen from a line of sight parallel to the optical axis AX.

[0017] The lens holder 5 is made of a material that is opaque to visible light. In this embodiment, the lens holder 5 is configured so that at least the base portion 52 is ultraviolet-transparent. Specifically, the lens holder 5 is seamlessly formed from a synthetic resin colored with a black pigment that is ultraviolet-transparent (for example, high-UV-transparent black pigment UB-1 manufactured by Mitsubishi Materials Electronic Chemicals Co., Ltd.). In other words, the entire lens holder 5 is made of a material that blocks visible light but is transparent to ultraviolet light for curing the ultraviolet-curable resin.

[0018] The thin-plate-shaped camera board 6 is disposed so that its thickness direction is parallel to the optical axis AX. The camera board 6 has a pair of main surfaces, an element support surface 61 and a back surface 62, and an end surface 63. The "main surface" refers to a surface of a plate-shaped member having a normal direction parallel to the thickness direction, and may also be referred to as a "plate surface." That is, the element support surface 61 and the back surface 62 are disposed so as to be parallel to each other and exposed in opposite directions. The end surface 63 is a surface that intersects with the element support surface 61 and the back surface 62, and in this embodiment, is formed as a surface perpendicular to the element support surface 61 and the back surface 62. Hereinafter, a direction parallel to the element support surface 61 or the back surface 62 (i.e., a direction parallel to the XY plane in the figure) is referred to as an "in-plane direction." The "in-plane direction" includes a "radial direction" and a "circumferential direction." The "radial direction" refers to the direction in which a half-ray extends when a half-ray is drawn in an imaginary plane perpendicular to the optical axis AX, starting from the intersection of the optical axis AX and the imaginary plane. In other words, the "radial direction" refers to the radial direction of a virtual circle drawn within the virtual plane with its center at the intersection of the virtual plane and the optical axis AX. The "circumferential direction" refers to the circumferential direction of the virtual circle. The outer edge 64 of the camera board 6 in the in-plane direction includes the end face 63 and the portion in its vicinity.

[0019] An imaging element 65, which is a solid-state imaging element such as a CMOS or CCD, is provided on the element support surface 61 of the camera board 6. CMOS stands for Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor. CCD stands for Charge Coupled Device. The imaging element 65 is disposed on the optical axis AX. That is, the imaging element 65 is mounted on the camera board 6 at a position where an optical image from the external world V4 is formed inside the camera module 3 through the lens 4.

[0020] The mounting structure of the lens 4 and camera board 6 to the lens holder 5 will be described in detail below. The lens barrel portion 51 has a lens barrel outer wall surface 511, which is the outer wall surface exposed to the outside, and a lens support wall surface 512, which is the inner wall surface on the optical axis AX side, i.e., facing the optical axis AX. The lens 4 is fixed to the lens support wall surface 512 with a lens fixing material 513, which is an adhesive. The base portion 52 has a holder outer wall surface 521, which is the outer wall surface exposed to the outside, and a base inner wall surface 522, which is the inner wall surface on the optical axis AX side, i.e., facing the optical axis AX. The camera board 6 is fixed to the base inner wall surface 522 at its outer edge portion 64 with a housing bonding material 7 made of ultraviolet-curing resin. That is, the housing bonding material 7 is provided at the location where the base portion 52 and the camera board 6 are fixed to each other in the lens holder 5. Specifically, the housing bonding material 7 is provided so as to bond the outer edge portion 64 of the camera board 6 and the base inner wall surface 522 of the base portion 52. In other words, the housing bonding material 7 is provided between the end surface 63 of the camera board 6 and the base inner wall surface 522.

[0021] (effect) Hereinafter, the assembly process of the camera module 3 according to this embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the drawings, along with the effects achieved by the configuration of this embodiment.

[0022] First, the lens holder 5 to which the lens 4 is attached and fixed by the lens fixing member 513 and the camera board 6 to which necessary circuit elements such as the image sensor 65 are provided are prepared. Next, the lens holder 5 and the camera board 6 are combined with each other with the image sensor 65 facing the lens 4. Specifically, the camera board 6 is housed in the base 52 so that the end portion of the base 52, i.e., the end farthest from the lens 4, faces the end surface 63 of the camera board 6. Then, after adjusting the focal position so that the light receiving surface of the image sensor 65 is positioned at the focal position of the multiple lenses 4, a housing bonding material 7 made of ultraviolet curing resin is filled between the end surface 63 of the camera board 6 and the inner wall surface 522 of the base and cured by exposure. This bonds the lens holder 5 and the camera board 6 together.

[0023] Here, as a hypothetical example, a configuration is assumed in which the bottom end surface of the base portion 52 in the figure and the element support surface 61 of the camera board 6 are bonded with a housing bonding material 7. In this hypothetical example, there is a concern that the performance of the imaging device 1 may be degraded due to a shift in the focal position caused by cure shrinkage of the housing bonding material 7, which is an adhesive, in the optical axis direction. In contrast, in this embodiment, the housing bonding material 7 is provided between the end surface 63 of the camera board 6 and the base inner wall surface 522. In other words, this embodiment has a configuration in which the portion of the base portion 52 that is bonded to the camera board 6 (i.e., the bottom end in the figure), the housing bonding material 7, and the outer edge portion 64 of the camera board 6 are arranged in an in-plane direction rather than in the optical axis direction. Therefore, cure shrinkage of the housing bonding material 7, which is an adhesive, in the optical axis direction does not affect the positional relationship between the base portion 52, i.e., the lens holder 5, and the camera board 6 in the optical axis direction. Furthermore, because the housing bonding material 7 is an ultraviolet-curing resin, i.e., an ultraviolet-curing adhesive, no thermal process is required in the curing process, and there is no need to consider thermal shrinkage deformation between heating and subsequent cooling. Therefore, according to this embodiment, when assembling the lens holder 5 that holds the lens 4 and the camera board 6, the performance degradation caused by the shift in the focal position due to the hardening shrinkage of the adhesive can be effectively suppressed.

[0024] The housing bonding material 7, which is an ultraviolet-curable adhesive, can be cured by irradiating it with ultraviolet light from, for example, the bottom side or from a diagonally downward direction in FIG. 2. However, in this embodiment, at least the base portion 52 of the lens holder 5 is ultraviolet-transparent. Therefore, it is also possible to irradiate it with ultraviolet light from the side or from a diagonally upward direction in FIG. 2. Therefore, with this configuration, the process flexibility for exposure, i.e., ultraviolet light irradiation, is improved, and performance degradation due to a shift in the focal position caused by cure shrinkage of the adhesive can be effectively suppressed with a simple manufacturing process.

[0025] (Variation) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. Therefore, the above-described embodiment can be modified as appropriate. Representative modifications will be described below. In the following description of the modifications, differences from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described. Furthermore, the same reference numerals are used for parts that are identical or equivalent to each other in the above-described embodiment and the modifications. Therefore, in the following description of the modifications, the description of the above-described embodiment can be used as appropriate for components that have the same reference numerals as the above-described embodiment, unless there is a technical contradiction or special additional explanation.

[0026] The present invention is not limited to the specific device configurations shown in the above embodiments. That is, as described above, the description of the above embodiments is within the scope of the technically necessary and sufficient limits of the present invention, and other details have been omitted. Furthermore, Figures 1 and 2 and the above description using these figures are simplified solely to explain the general configuration and function of this embodiment, and do not necessarily correspond to the specific device configurations that are actually manufactured and sold. Below, specific modifications that can be applied to the above embodiments are listed. However, these modifications are not limited to those listed below.

[0027] The imaging device 1, which is an in-vehicle camera device, is not limited to a front camera, but may be a rear camera or a side camera, or may be an interior camera that captures images inside the vehicle compartment V3. Furthermore, when the imaging device 1 is a front camera, the imaging device 1 may be a so-called monocular camera device equipped with only one camera module 3, or may be a so-called compound eye camera device equipped with multiple (for example, two) camera modules 3.

[0028] There is no limit to the number of lenses 4 provided in the camera module 3, and it may be one. Also, an optical filter may be provided between the lens 4 and the image sensor 65. In other words, the camera module 3 is not limited to a configuration in which the lens 4 and the image sensor 65 face each other in the optical axis direction.

[0029] There are no particular limitations on the outer shape of the lens holder 5. That is, for example, the lens barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 may be cylindrical, or may be polygonal such as a square or hexagonal cylinder, or may be elliptical.

[0030] The lens barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 may have the same shape. That is, the lens barrel portion 51 may be on one side of a single cylindrical member in the optical axis direction, and the base portion 52 may be on the other side. In other words, the connecting portion 53 may be omitted.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 3 , the barrel portion 51 may be UV-transparent. In this case, the lens 4 is fixed to a lens support wall surface 512, which is the inner wall surface of the barrel portion 51 facing the optical axis AX, by a lens fixing member 513 formed of an UV-curable resin. The lens fixing member 513 may be hardened by irradiating the lens support wall surface 512 with UV light from the outside of the barrel portion 51 toward the optical axis AX. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4 , the barrel portion 51 may have a lens fixing protrusion 514 protruding from the lens support wall surface 512 toward the optical axis AX. The lens fixing protrusion 514 may be provided continuously in the circumferential direction. That is, the lens fixing protrusion 514 may be formed over the entire circumferential direction. The lens fixing member 513 may be provided adjacent to the lens fixing protrusion 514 in the optical axis direction. That is, the lens fixing protrusion 514 may function as a protrusion to prevent the lens fixing material 513 from sagging before hardening.

[0032] The lens holder 5 only needs to be UV-transparent at least in the portion facing the housing bonding material 7. Therefore, the entire lens holder 5 does not need to be UV-transparent. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , the lens holder 5 can be constructed by forming the barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 as separate bodies or components using different materials and then joining them together. Of the barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52, at least the portion facing the housing bonding material 7 and positioned radially outward can be made of a UV-transparent material. Specifically, for example, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5A , the barrel portion 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape using a typical black-pigmented resin that blocks both visible light and UV light. One end of the barrel portion 51 in the optical axis direction, i.e., the end facing away from the lens 4 or the camera board 6, that is, the barrel base end 515, is housed inside the base portion 52. The connecting portion 53 is provided as a protrusion or flange that protrudes radially outward from the barrel base end 515 or the barrel outer wall surface 511 near the base end 515. The base portion 52 is cylindrically formed from synthetic resin colored with a black pigment that blocks visible light but transmits ultraviolet light. The base portion 52 is radially joined to the barrel base end 515 using a housing bonding material 7, with one end of the base portion 52 in the optical axis direction, i.e., the end face that houses the barrel base end 515, facing the connecting portion 53. That is, the housing bonding material 7 is provided at the location where the barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 are fixed to the lens holder 5. In other words, the housing bonding material 7 is provided so as to be sandwiched radially between the barrel base end 515 and the base portion 52. The barrel base end 515 faces the base portion 52 radially, with the housing bonding material 7 sandwiched therebetween. The camera board 6 is fixed to the base portion 52 using screws S. The screw S penetrates the camera board 6 in the thickness direction, ie, in the optical axis direction, and is screwed into the end of the base part 52 on the side close to the camera board 6 in the optical axis direction (ie, the lower end in the figure).

[0033] In this configuration, when joining the lens barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52, even if the housing bonding material 7 is covered by the base portion 52 and the connecting portion 53, the housing bonding material 7 can be effectively cured by irradiating ultraviolet light from the outside of the UV-transparent base portion 52. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5A , the joining portion of the lens holder 5 between the lens barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 and the fixing portion between the lens holder 5 and the camera board 6 do not have a structure that could cause a shift in the focal position due to cure shrinkage of the adhesive. Therefore, this configuration effectively prevents performance degradation due to a shift in the focal position caused by cure shrinkage of the adhesive. In this case, the base portion 52 may be seamlessly formed as a single unit from a material that is opaque to visible light and transparent to UV. Alternatively, the base portion 52 may have a structure in which a cylindrical member made of a material that is opaque to visible light and transparent to UV and a cylindrical member made of a material that blocks both visible light and UV are joined in the axial direction, i.e., the optical axis direction.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 5A , the lens holder 5 may be provided with a bonding material support protrusion 523 that can function as a protrusion to prevent sagging of the housing bonding material 7 before hardening. That is, in this example, the base portion 52 has a bonding material support protrusion 523 that protrudes radially from the base portion 52 toward the barrel base end 515. The bonding material support protrusion 523 may be provided continuously along the circumferential direction. That is, the bonding material support protrusion 523 may be formed over the entire circumferential direction. The housing bonding material 7 is provided adjacent to the bonding material support protrusion 523 in the optical axis direction. This allows for even better bonding between the barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 using the housing bonding material 7, which is an ultraviolet-curing resin.

[0035] 5B shows another example of a lens holder 5 in which the lens barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 are formed as separate bodies or separate members using different materials and then joined together. Similar to the above embodiment, this example uses a housing bonding material 7 made of ultraviolet-curable resin at the location where the base portion 52 and the camera board 6 of the lens holder 5 are fixed. Specifically, in this example, the base portion 52 has an inner diameter that forms a predetermined fit intersection with the outer diameter of the lens barrel portion 51 so that the base inner wall surface 522, which is the inner wall surface facing the optical axis AX, can accommodate the lens barrel portion 51 while slidably contacting the lens barrel outer wall surface 511. In this case, for example, the base portion 52 can be radially bonded to the lens barrel base end 515 using an adhesive. Alternatively, for example, the lens barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 can be joined by forming a male thread on the lens barrel outer wall surface 511 at the lens barrel base end 515 and forming a female thread on the opposing base inner wall surface 522, and screwing the two together.

[0036] In the configuration shown in FIG. 5B , the lens holder 5 only needs to be UV-transparent at the base portion 52, which is the joint with the camera board 6. In this configuration, the end of the barrel portion 51 on which the connecting portion 53 is provided is inserted into the base portion 52 until the connecting portion 53 abuts the end face of the base portion 52 in the optical axis direction, and then the barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 are joined and fixed together. This forms the lens holder 5. Note that, at this time, a lens 4 may be attached and fixed to the barrel portion 51 before it is joined to the base portion 52. Note that the entire base portion 52 does not need to be UV-transparent. Therefore, for example, it is sufficient that only a portion of the base portion 52 in the optical axis direction is UV-transparent. Alternatively, by making the entire base portion 52 UV-transparent in the optical axis direction, it is possible to use a housing bonding material 7 as an ultraviolet-curable resin at the joint between the barrel portion 51 and the base portion 52 in the lens holder 5, as in the case of FIG. 5A .

[0037] As shown in FIG. 6 , even in a configuration example in which a housing bonding material 7, which is an ultraviolet-curable resin, is used at the fixing location between the base portion 52 of the lens holder 5 and the camera board 6, a bonding material support protrusion 523 may be provided. In this case, the base portion 52 protrudes from the base inner wall surface 522 toward the optical axis AX. The housing bonding material 7 may be provided adjacent to the bonding material support protrusion 523 in the optical axis direction. Specifically, for example, the bonding material support protrusion 523 may be provided inside the housing bonding material 7, i.e., on the lens 4 side. This configuration facilitates attachment of the camera board 6 to the lens holder 5. As shown in FIG. 7 , the bonding material support protrusion 523 may function as a protrusion to prevent sagging of the housing bonding material 7 before hardening.

[0038] In the above description, multiple components that were formed seamlessly and integrally with each other may be formed by bonding separate members together. Similarly, multiple components that were formed by bonding separate members together may be formed seamlessly and integrally with each other. Furthermore, in the above description, multiple components that were formed from the same material may be formed from different materials. Similarly, multiple components that were formed from different materials may be formed from the same material. The material that constitutes each part may also be selected appropriately from multiple selectable candidates.

[0039] It goes without saying that the elements constituting the above-described embodiments are not necessarily essential unless expressly stated as essential or clearly considered essential in principle. Furthermore, when numerical values ​​such as the number, amount, range, etc. of components are mentioned, the present invention is not limited to those specific numerical values ​​unless expressly stated as essential or clearly limited to specific numerical values ​​in principle. Similarly, when the shape, direction, positional relationship, etc. of components are mentioned, the present invention is not limited to those shapes, directions, positional relationship, etc. unless expressly stated as essential or clearly limited to specific shapes, directions, positional relationship, etc. in principle.

[0040] The modifications are not limited to the above examples. That is, for example, multiple modifications may be combined with each other. Thus, the disclosure of this specification is not limited to the exemplified embodiments. The disclosure encompasses the exemplified embodiments and modifications made by those skilled in the art based on them. For example, the disclosure is not limited to the combinations of parts and elements shown in the embodiments, but can be implemented in various modifications. The disclosure can be implemented in various combinations. The disclosure can have additional parts that can be added to the embodiments. The disclosure encompasses the omission of parts and elements from the embodiments. The disclosure encompasses the substitution or combination of parts and elements between one embodiment and another embodiment. The disclosed technical scope is not limited to the description of the embodiments. The disclosed technical scope is defined by the claims, and should be interpreted as including all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0041] As is apparent from the above description, the disclosure of this specification includes the features described as the following aspects. <Point 1> The camera module (3) a camera board (6) having an image sensor (65) arranged on the optical axis (AX) of the lens (4); a lens holder (5) formed of a material that is opaque to visible light, the lens holder (5) including: a barrel portion (51) formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the optical axis and holding the lens inside; and a base portion (52) formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the optical axis and provided closer to the camera board than the barrel portion in an optical axis direction parallel to the optical axis; a housing joining material (7) formed of ultraviolet curing resin and provided at a fixing portion between the camera board and the base portion of the lens holder or at a fixing portion between the lens barrel portion and the base portion of the lens holder; Equipped with At least a portion of the lens holder that faces the housing bonding material is ultraviolet-transmissive. <Point 2> In view point 1, the housing joining material is provided at a fixing portion between the lens barrel portion and the base portion of the lens holder, The base portion has a bonding material support protrusion (523) protruding along a radial direction intersecting the optical axis, The housing bonding material is provided adjacent to the bonding material support protrusion in the optical axis direction. <Point 3> In point 2, the housing joining material is provided so as to be sandwiched in the radial direction between a lens barrel base end (515) that is an end of the lens barrel portion on the camera board side in the optical axis direction and the base portion, The bonding material support protrusion protrudes from the base portion toward the base end of the lens barrel. <Point 4> In view point 1, The housing joining material is arranged to join the outer edge portion (64) of the camera board in an in-plane direction intersecting the optical axis and the base inner wall surface (522), which is the inner wall surface of the base portion facing the optical axis. <Point 5> The camera module (3) a camera board (6) having an image sensor (65) arranged on the optical axis (AX) of the lens (4); a lens holder (5) formed of a material that is opaque to visible light, the lens holder (5) including: a barrel portion (51) formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the optical axis and holding the lens inside; and a base portion (52) formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the optical axis and provided closer to the camera board than the barrel portion in an optical axis direction parallel to the optical axis; a housing joining material (7) made of ultraviolet curing resin, provided to join an outer edge portion (64) of the camera board in an in-plane direction intersecting the optical axis and a base inner wall surface (522) that is an inner wall surface of the base portion facing the optical axis; Equipped with. <Point 6> In point 5, The housing joining material is provided between an end face (63) of the camera board that intersects with an element support surface (61) on which the imaging element is provided, and the base inner wall surface of the base portion. <Point 7> In point 5 or 6, At least the base portion of the lens holder is ultraviolet-transmissive. <Point 8> In points 5 to 7, The base portion has a bonding material support protrusion (523) protruding from the inner wall surface of the base toward the optical axis, The housing bonding material is provided adjacent to the bonding material support protrusion in the optical axis direction. <Point 9> In points 1 to 8, the lens barrel portion is ultraviolet-transmissive, The lens is fixed to a lens support wall surface (512), which is the inner wall surface facing the optical axis of the lens barrel, by a lens fixing material (513) made of ultraviolet curing resin. <Point 10> In point 9, The lens barrel portion has a lens fixing protrusion (514) protruding from the lens support wall surface toward the optical axis, The lens fixing member is provided adjacent to the lens fixing protrusion in the optical axis direction. <Point 11> In terms of points 1 to 10, The camera is configured to be mounted inside the windshield (V1) of a vehicle (V) to capture an image of the outside world (V4) of the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 3 Camera Module 4 lenses 5 Lens holder 51 Telescope tube 52 Base 522 Base inner wall 6 Camera board 64 outer edge 65 image sensor 7 Housing bonding material

Claims

1. A camera module (3), a camera board (6) having an image sensor (65) arranged on the optical axis (AX) of the lens (4); a lens holder (5) formed of a material that is opaque to visible light, the lens holder having: a barrel portion (51) formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the optical axis and holding the lens inside; a base portion (52) formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the optical axis and provided on the camera board side of the barrel portion in an optical axis direction parallel to the optical axis; and a connection portion (53) protruding outward in a radial direction intersecting the optical axis from an outer wall surface (511) of one end of the barrel portion on the camera board side in the optical axis direction; a housing joining material (7) formed of ultraviolet curing resin and provided at a fixing location between the lens barrel portion and the base portion of the lens holder; Equipped with the connection portion is adjacent to the housing joining material in the optical axis direction, At least a portion of the lens holder facing the housing bonding material is ultraviolet-transmitting. Camera module.

2. The base portion has a bonding material support protrusion (523) protruding along the radial direction, the housing bonding material is provided adjacent to the bonding material support protrusion in the optical axis direction between the connection portion and the bonding material support protrusion, which is a fixing portion between the lens barrel portion and the base portion of the lens holder; The camera module of claim 1 .

3. the housing joining material is provided so as to be sandwiched in the radial direction between a lens barrel base end portion (515) which is an end portion of the lens barrel portion on the camera board side in the optical axis direction and the base portion, The bonding material support protrusion protrudes from the base portion toward the base end of the lens barrel. The camera module according to claim 2 .

4. the lens barrel portion is ultraviolet-transmissive, The lens is fixed to a lens support wall surface (512), which is an inner wall surface of the lens barrel facing the optical axis, by a lens fixing material (513) formed of an ultraviolet curing resin. The camera module of claim 1 .

5. The lens barrel portion has a lens fixing protrusion (514) protruding from the lens support wall surface toward the optical axis, The lens fixing member is provided adjacent to the lens fixing protrusion in the optical axis direction. The camera module according to claim 4 .

6. The camera is configured to be mounted inside a windshield (V1) of a vehicle (V) to capture an image of an external environment (V4) of the vehicle. The camera module of claim 1 .

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