Camera modules and electronic devices

Abstract

The present application discloses a camera module and an electronic device, which belong to the imaging technical field. The camera module includes a photosensitive chip, a first barrel, a first lens, a rotating assembly, an elastic member, and a driving mechanism, the first barrel is provided with a first lens arranged opposite to the photosensitive chip, the first barrel is mounted on the rotating assembly, the first barrel is connected to the rotating assembly through a first engagement protrusion and a first spiral guide groove, the rotating assembly includes a main body member and a transmission member arranged separately, a first end of the elastic member is connected to the main body member, a second end of the elastic member is connected to the transmission member, the driving mechanism is connected to the transmission member, the driving mechanism drives the first barrel to move along a first direction under the engagement of the first engagement protrusion and the first spiral guide groove by the transmission member, the elastic member, and the main body member in order, and when the first barrel is subjected to an external force, the elastic member moves the first barrel along a direction approaching the photosensitive chip.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This invention claims priority to a Chinese patent application submitted to the China Patent Office on August 27, 2021, bearing application number 202110997105.9 and titled "Camera Module and Electronic Device," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present application relates to the field of imaging technology, and more particularly to camera modules and electronic devices. [Background technology]

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art Currently, as imaging technology for electronic devices continues to improve, there is a demand for electronic devices to capture higher quality images.

[0004] During actual photography, optical zoom can be used to magnify the subject. Optical zoom magnifies the subject by changing the distance between the lens and the subject, so the lens must be moved during zooming. To achieve lens movement, a locking protrusion may be provided on one lens barrel and a chute on the other, and the locking protrusion may be slidably engaged with the chute, thereby achieving relative movement between the two lens barrels and ultimately achieving lens movement.

[0005] However, when a user uses an electronic device, the camera module in its protruding state is susceptible to pressure from a drop, collision, or manual pressure. This pressure tends to cause the lens barrel of the camera module to retract, but the lens barrel cannot retract because the driving source for outputting driving force in the camera module is not activated. This causes the lens barrels to be pressed against each other at the engaging protrusions, further increasing the risk of damage to the engaging protrusions. This shortens the lifespan of such a camera module. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a camera module and an electronic device that can solve the problem of the short lifespan of camera modules. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application is realized as follows.

[0008] According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a camera module including a photosensitive chip, a first lens barrel, a first lens, a rotating assembly, an elastic member, and a driving mechanism, wherein: The first lens is provided in the first lens barrel, and the first lens and the photosensitive chip are disposed opposite to each other. The first lens barrel is fitted to the rotating assembly, and the first lens barrel is connected to the rotating assembly via a first engaging protrusion and a first spiral guide groove; the pivot assembly includes a main body member and a transmission member that are separately provided, a first end of the elastic member is connected to the main body member, a second end of the elastic member is connected to the transmission member, and the drive mechanism is connected to the transmission member; the driving mechanism drives the first lens barrel, in order, by the transmission member, the elastic member, and the main body member, so as to move along a first direction under engagement between the first engaging protrusion and the first spiral guide groove, the first direction being a direction toward or away from the photosensitive chip; When the first lens barrel is subjected to an external force, the elastic member moves the first lens barrel in a direction approaching the photosensitive chip.

[0009] According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electronic device, which includes the camera module described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] In an embodiment of the present application, when the camera module needs to zoom, the driving mechanism sequentially drives the first lens barrel to move along a first direction through the transmission member, the elastic member, and the main body member under the engagement of the first engaging protrusion and the first spiral guide groove, thereby moving the first lens toward or away from the photosensitive chip. When the camera module in its protruding state receives a pressing force due to a drop, collision, or manual pressure, the first lens barrel rotates the main body member, which applies a pressing force to the elastic member, deforming the elastic member, while the transmission member remains stationary. The elastic member converts the kinetic energy generated when the camera module receives a pressing force into its own elastic potential energy, thereby providing a buffering effect, making the first engaging protrusion less likely to break under pressure. This embodiment therefore solves the problem of short camera module lifespans. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the camera module disclosed in the first embodiment of the present application. [Figure 2] 3A to 3C are structural schematic diagrams of the camera module disclosed in the first embodiment of the present application in different states; [Figure 3] 3A to 3C are structural schematic diagrams of the camera module disclosed in the first embodiment of the present application in different states; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a camera module disclosed in a second embodiment of the present application. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module disclosed in a second embodiment of the present application. [Figure 6] 5A to 5C are structural schematic diagrams of the camera module disclosed in the second embodiment of the present application in different states; [Figure 7] 5A to 5C are structural schematic diagrams of the camera module disclosed in the second embodiment of the present application in different states; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The following clearly and completely describes the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only some of the embodiments of the present application, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without any creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0013] The terms "first," "second," etc. in the specification and claims of this application are intended to distinguish between similar objects and are not intended to describe a particular order or sequence. It is to be understood that terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate, so that embodiments of this application may be performed in orders other than those illustrated or described herein, and that objects distinguished by "first," "second," etc. are generally of the same type and do not limit the number of objects; for example, a first object may be one or more. Furthermore, "and / or" in the specification and claims indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates an "or" relationship between the related objects.

[0014] Hereinafter, a camera module and an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present application will be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments and application scenarios thereof in conjunction with the drawings.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, an embodiment of the present application provides a camera module including a base 600, a photosensitive chip, a first lens barrel 100, a first lens 500, a rotating assembly 200, an elastic member 400, and a driving mechanism.

[0016] The photosensitive chip is mounted on a base 600, and in addition to the photosensitive chip, other devices of the camera module may also be mounted on the base 600. Note that the base 600 may further include other parts in addition to the parts shown in FIG. 5. A first lens 500 is mounted on the first lens barrel 100, and the first lens 500 and the photosensitive chip are disposed opposite each other and may be disposed along the optical axis direction of the camera module. The photosensitive chip may be used to receive light rays incident from the first lens 500 and finally convert the optical signal into a digital image signal, thereby obtaining an image.

[0017] The first barrel 100 is fitted to a rotating assembly 200, and the first barrel 100 is connected to the rotating assembly 200 via a first engaging protrusion and a first spiral guide groove. The rotating assembly 200 includes a main body 210 and a transmission member 220, which are installed separately. A first end of an elastic member 400 is connected to the main body 210, and a second end of the elastic member 400 is connected to the transmission member 220. Optionally, one of the main body 210 and the first barrel 100 is provided with a first engaging protrusion, and the other is provided with a first spiral guide groove, so that the first barrel 100 can be directly extended and retracted by the main body 210. Because the main body 210 and the transmission member 220 are installed separately, their movements can be separated. In other words, the transmission member 220 transmits a driving force to the body member 210 via the elastic member 400 to rotate the body member 210; however, when the transmission member 220 does not transmit a driving force to the body member 210, the body member 210 can rotate relative to the transmission member 220 due to the action of an external force. Alternatively, the elastic member 400 may be a spring, and the elastic member 400 and the body member 210 may simply abut against each other, or may be connected by welding, locking, or other methods. Similarly, the elastic member 400 and the body member 210 may simply abut against each other, or may be connected by welding, locking, or other methods. The cross-sectional shape of the elastic member 400 may be the same as the shape of the portion of the transmission member 220 where the elastic member 400 is installed. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the elastic member 400 may be circular, rectangular, triangular, or other shapes, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0018] The driving mechanism is connected to the transmission member 220. The driving mechanism, through the transmission member 220, the elastic member 400, and the main body member 210, drives the first lens barrel 100 to move along a first direction under the engagement between the first engaging protrusion and the first spiral guide groove, where the first direction is a direction toward or away from the photosensitive chip. Optionally, the driving mechanism here may include components such as a motor and a transmission gear. When the driving mechanism outputs a driving force, the transmission member 220 rotates under the action of the driving force, and the transmission member 220 rotates the main body member 210 through the elastic member 400. Under the engagement between the first engaging protrusion and the first spiral guide groove, the first lens barrel 100 moves along a direction away from the photosensitive chip, thereby causing the first lens barrel 100 to protrude. When the driving mechanism outputs a driving force in the opposite direction, the transmission member 220 rotates the main body member 210 by the elastic member 400, and under the engagement between the first engaging protrusion and the first spiral guide groove, the first lens barrel 100 moves along a direction approaching the photosensitive chip, thereby allowing the first lens barrel 100 to be retracted.

[0019] The above describes the process by which the driving mechanism drives and moves the first barrel 100. When the first barrel 100 is in the extended state, if an external force acts on the first barrel 100, the first barrel 100 tends to retract. In this case, even if the driving mechanism does not operate, the first barrel 100 can still move due to the existence of the elastic member 400. That is, when the first barrel 100 is subjected to an external force, the elastic member 400 moves the first barrel 100 in a direction approaching the photosensitive chip. Specifically, when the first barrel 100 tends to move in a direction approaching the photosensitive chip, the first barrel 100 can rotate the main body 210, which in turn moves one end of the elastic member 400. The other end of the elastic member 400 is connected to the transmission member 220, but because the transmission member 220 does not move, the elastic member 400 deforms, thereby absorbing the external force applied to the first barrel 100. When the external force applied to the first barrel 100 is eliminated, the elastic member 400 recovers its deformation, allowing the main body 210 to reset the first barrel 100 to its extended state. This allows the camera module to continue operating with the first barrel 100 extended, without the need for a driving mechanism to re-drive the first barrel 100 to extend.

[0020] In this embodiment, when the camera module needs to be zoomed, the driving mechanism sequentially drives the first barrel 100 to move in a first direction through the transmission member 220, the elastic member 400, and the body member 210 under the engagement between the first engaging protrusion and the first spiral guide groove, thereby moving the first lens 500 closer to or farther from the photosensitive chip. When the camera module in the protruding state receives a pressing force due to a drop, collision, or manual pressure, the first barrel 100 rotates the body member 210, which then applies a pressing force to the elastic member 400, deforming it, while the transmission member 220 remains stationary. The elastic member 400 converts the kinetic energy generated when the camera module receives a pressing force into its own elastic potential energy, thereby providing a buffering effect. This makes the first engaging protrusion less likely to break under pressure, and other components of the camera module are less likely to be subjected to impact forces. This embodiment solves the problem of a short lifespan of the camera module.

[0021] As described above, the body member 210 can directly drive the first lens barrel 100. In other embodiments, the camera module may further include a second lens barrel 300 and a driving lens barrel 700. The body member 210 is at least partially mounted in the base 600. The base 600 is provided with a second spiral guide groove and a first position-limiting straight groove. The body member 210 is provided with a third spiral guide groove 214 and a second position-limiting straight groove 215. The second lens barrel 300 is provided with a second engaging protrusion. The second engaging protrusion is provided with a second The second engaging protrusion is engaged with the second position restricting straight groove 215 of the main body member 210, a third engaging protrusion 710 and a third position restricting straight groove 720 are provided on the driving lens barrel 700, and this third engaging protrusion 710 is engaged with both the third spiral guide groove 214 and the first position restricting straight groove, a first engaging protrusion is provided on the first lens barrel 100, and a first spiral guide groove is provided on the second lens barrel 300, and the first engaging protrusion is engaged with both the first spiral guide groove and the third position restricting straight groove 720. Here, the first position restricting straight groove, the second position restricting straight groove 215, and the third position restricting straight groove 720 all extend along the first direction. When the driving mechanism drives the body member 210 to rotate, the second barrel 300 rotates and moves along the first direction due to the engagement between the second engaging protrusion and the second spiral guide groove and between the second engaging protrusion and the second straight position restricting groove 215; the driving barrel 700 moves only along the first direction due to the engagement between the third engaging protrusion 710 and the third spiral guide groove 214 and between the third engaging protrusion 710 and the first straight position restricting groove; and the first barrel 100 moves only along the first direction due to the engagement between the first engaging protrusion and the first spiral guide groove and between the first engaging protrusion and the third straight position restricting groove 720. In this embodiment, because the first barrel 100 and the second barrel 300 can both move in the first direction, the position change range of the photosensitive chip of the first lens 500 is greater, thereby improving the zoom effect of the camera module.When the first lens barrel 100 is subjected to an external force, the first lens barrel 100 moves in a direction approaching the photosensitive chip, thereby rotating the second lens barrel 300 and gradually approaching the photosensitive chip, and the second lens barrel 300 then moves the driving lens barrel 700 in a direction approaching the photosensitive chip, and the driving lens barrel 700 further rotates the main body member 210, and the transmission member 220 does not move.

[0022] It should be noted that the method of absorbing external force using the elastic member 400 disclosed in the embodiments of the present application can be used in any camera module having a main body member 210 and a transmission member 220, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0023] The body member 210 may have an arc-shaped structure with a notch, but such a body member 210 may easily change the overall center of gravity of the camera module when rotated, thereby reducing the stability of the camera module. Based on this, the body member 210 may be installed as an annular member, and in this case, the transmission member 220 and the elastic member 400 are both installed along the circumferential direction of the body member 210. The elastic member 400 may be designed to correspond to a local area of ​​the transmission member 220, so that the length of the elastic member 400 is neither too large nor too small, which further ensures the elastic deformation ability of the elastic member 400 and reduces the space occupied by the elastic member 400, making it easier to arrange other components of the camera module.

[0024] 1 to 3 , in one alternative embodiment, transmission member 220 has third end 221 and fourth end 222, with a gap between third end 221 and fourth end 222. That is, transmission member 220 is not a closed annular structure but an arc-shaped member with a notch, and the presence of this notch allows elastic member 400 to be fitted into transmission member 220 through this notch. In this embodiment, transmission member 220 is a rod-shaped member with a relatively simple structure, and elastic member 400 can be directly fitted to transmission member 220, thereby simplifying the structure and assembly of the camera module, reducing the processing costs of the camera module, and allowing the camera module to have more space for installing other components.

[0025] The transmission member 220 may be located entirely outside the main body member 210. In another alternative embodiment, the main body member 210 is provided with a guide groove 211 and a first acting portion 212. The guide groove 211 may extend circumferentially around the main body member 210. The transmission member 220 is engaged with the guide groove 211, and the first acting portion 212 is connected to a first end of the elastic member 400. A portion of the transmission member 220 is located between the side wall of the guide groove 211 and the first acting portion 212. When the first lens barrel 100 is subjected to an external force, the main body member 210 rotates relative to the transmission member 220. At this time, the guide groove 211 and the transmission member 220 are engaged with each other to provide a guiding function, thereby making the rotation of the main body member 210 smoother. At the same time, the first acting portion 212 applies an acting force to the elastic member 400, thereby driving the deformation of the elastic member 400. In this embodiment, the guide groove 211 accommodates at least a portion of the transmission member 220, thereby reducing the extra space occupied by the transmission member 220 and facilitating the placement of other components of the camera module.

[0026] Optionally, the transmission member 220 may include a rack portion 223 and a rod-shaped portion 224, the rack portion 223 being connected to the driving mechanism, one end of the rack portion 223 being provided with a second acting portion 226, and the second end of the elastic member 400 being connected to the second acting portion 226. In this embodiment, the connection between the transmission member 220 and the elastic member 400 is achieved by directly utilizing the structure of the rack portion 223, without the need for additional components to achieve the connection between the transmission member 220 and the elastic member 400, thereby simplifying the structure of the camera module and favoring the component layout of the camera module. Furthermore, when the guide groove 211 and the first acting portion 212 are provided in the main body member 210, a relief notch may be provided on the side of the guide groove 211 away from the optical axis of the first lens 500, allowing the rack portion 223 to escape so that the driving mechanism can be connected to the rack portion 223.

[0027] Furthermore, the transmission member 220 further includes a guide portion 225, which is connected to the rod-shaped portion 224 via the rack portion 223, and the guide portion 225 can be engaged with the guide groove 211, thereby further enhancing the smoothness and stability of the rotation of the main body member 210.

[0028] In another optional embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 , the pivot assembly 200 further includes a mounting member 240, which is installed separately from the transmission member 220 and connected to the transmission member 220, and the elastic member 400 is mounted on the mounting member 240. In this embodiment, the second end of the elastic member 400 is connected to the transmission member 220 via the mounting member 240, and the elastic member 400 is attached via the additional mounting member 240. This reduces the structural design of the elastic member 400 from being restricted by the transmission member 220. This allows the elastic member 400 to be installed more flexibly, improving the elastic member 400's ability to absorb external forces. Optionally, the mounting member 240 may be an arc-shaped rod-like member to facilitate the installation of the elastic member 400.

[0029] Furthermore, the transmission member 220 may be configured as a ring-shaped member, which makes the camera module more stable when it extends and retracts, and the ring-shaped transmission member 220 has higher structural strength, which is advantageous for transmitting the driving force output from the driving mechanism, and can withstand the force applied by the elastic member 400, preventing damage to the transmission member 220 and the driving mechanism due to the force of this portion. In this embodiment, the transmission member 220 may include a rack portion 223, which may be configured locally on the transmission member 220 or in a ring-shaped configuration, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited thereto.

[0030] The elastic member 400 may be installed inside or outside the transmission member 220, i.e., the elastic member 400 and the transmission member 220 may be arranged along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the camera module. In another embodiment, the transmission member 220 and the elastic member 400 are arranged along a direction parallel to the optical axis of the camera module. While the space inside and outside the transmission member 220 is generally tight, the space above or below the transmission member 220 is relatively large, so the latter embodiment is more advantageous for designing a compact camera module.

[0031] Optionally, a first support protrusion 227 and a second support protrusion 228 are provided on the transmission member 220, and the mounting member 240 is connected to the first support protrusion 227 and the second support protrusion 228, respectively. Optionally, the first support protrusion 227 and the second support protrusion 228 may both be provided with a groove, and both ends of the mounting member 240 are respectively placed in the grooves of the first support protrusion 227 and the grooves of the second support protrusion 228, and at least one end of the mounting member 240 is positionally engaged with the grooves to prevent the mounting member 240 from moving relative to the transmission member 220. It should be noted that the mounting member 240 may be rotatable relative to the transmission member 220, or may be completely fixed so as not to move relative to the transmission member 220.

[0032] The first support protrusion 227 and the second support protrusion 228 may be used only to support the mounting member 240. However, to fully utilize the structure of the second support protrusion 228, a third action portion 213 may be provided on the main body member 210. This third action portion 213 may protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the main body member 210, a first end of the elastic member 400 may be connected to the third action portion 213, and the third action portion 213 may be positionally restricted and engaged with the second support protrusion 228, and a second end of the elastic member 400 may be connected to the first support protrusion 227. In this embodiment, the second support protrusion 228 can be used to help limit the position of the main body member 210 relative to the transmission member 220, thereby preventing the main body member 210 from rotating excessively or becoming unstable due to the action of the elastic member 400 or other factors, thereby enabling the camera module to zoom more stably and reliably.

[0033] The number of elastic members 400 may be one or more, and when the body member 210 is an annular member, the number of elastic members 400 is at least two, and the elastic members 400 are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the body member 210. In this case, the elastic members 400 can absorb external forces at multiple positions, thereby preventing uneven load problems in the camera module and increasing the reliability of the camera module during operation.

[0034] An embodiment of the present application further discloses an electronic device, which includes the camera module of any of the above embodiments.

[0035] The electronic devices disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be devices such as smartphones, tablet computers, e-book readers, wearable devices (e.g., smart watches), electronic game consoles, etc., and the embodiments of the present application do not limit the specific types of electronic devices.

[0036] Although the embodiments of the present application have been described above in conjunction with the drawings, the present application is not limited to the above specific embodiments. The above specific embodiments are merely illustrative and not limiting. Those skilled in the art can take the teachings of the present application into account and implement many forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 - First telescope, 200 - rotating assembly, 210 - main body member, 211 - guide groove, 212 - first acting portion, 213 - third acting portion, 214 - third spiral guide groove, 215 - second position restricting straight groove, 220 - transmission member, 221 - third end, 222 - fourth end, 223 - rack portion, 224 - rod-shaped portion, 225 - guide portion, 226 - second acting portion, 227 - first support protrusion, 228 - second support protrusion, 240 - mounting member, 300-Second telescope, 400 - elastic member, 500-first lens, 600-Base, 700—drive barrel, 710—third engaging protrusion, 720—third position regulating straight groove.

Claims

1. A camera module including a photosensitive chip, a first lens barrel, a first lens, a rotating assembly, an elastic member, and a driving mechanism, the first lens is provided in the first lens barrel, the first lens and the photosensitive chip are disposed opposite to each other, the rotating assembly covers the first lens barrel like a sleeve, and the first lens barrel is connected to a main body member of the rotating assembly via a first engaging protrusion and a first spiral guide groove; the pivot assembly includes a main body member and a transmission member that are separately provided, a first end of the elastic member is connected to the main body member, a second end of the elastic member is connected to the transmission member, and the drive mechanism is connected to the transmission member; the driving mechanism drives the first lens barrel, in order, by the transmission member, the elastic member, and the main body member, so as to move along a first direction under engagement between the first engaging protrusion and the first spiral guide groove, the first direction being a direction toward or away from the photosensitive chip; A camera module in which the main body member is provided with a first action portion connected to the first end, and when the first lens barrel is subjected to an external force, the first lens barrel pushes the elastic member through the first action portion and moves along a direction approaching the photosensitive chip.

2. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the main body member is an annular member, and the transmission member and the elastic member are both installed along the circumferential direction of the main body member.

3. 2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the transmission member has a third end and a fourth end, a gap between the third end and the fourth end, and the elastic member covers a portion of the transmission member like a sleeve.

4. 4. The camera module according to claim 3, wherein the main body member is further provided with a guide groove, the transmission member is engaged with the guide groove, and a portion of the transmission member is positioned between a side wall of the guide groove and the first acting portion.

5. 4. The camera module according to claim 3, wherein the transmission member includes a rack portion and a rod-shaped portion, the rack portion being connected to the drive mechanism, a second acting portion being provided at one end of the rack portion, and the second end being connected to the second acting portion.

6. 2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the pivot assembly further includes a mounting member, the mounting member being installed separately from the transmission member and the two being connected to each other, and the elastic member covering the mounting member like a sleeve.

7. The camera module according to claim 6 , wherein the transmission member is an annular member.

8. The camera module according to claim 6 , wherein the transmission member and the elastic member are arranged along a direction parallel to an optical axis of the camera module.

9. 7. The camera module of claim 6, wherein the transmission member is provided with a first support protrusion and a second support protrusion, the mounting member is connected to the first support protrusion and the second support protrusion, respectively, the main body member is provided with a third action portion, the first end is connected to the third action portion, and the third action portion is positionally restricted and engageable with the second support protrusion, and the second end is connected to the first support protrusion.

10. 2. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the main body member is an annular member, the number of the elastic members is at least two, and the elastic members are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction of the main body member.

11. An electronic device comprising a camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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