Light control assembly, camera module and electronic device

Abstract

A light control assembly, a camera module, and an electronic device. The light control assembly (310) comprises a housing (310a), a variable aperture (313), a neutral density filter (314) and an electrical connection structure, wherein the housing (310a) is provided with a first through hole (3111); the variable aperture (313) is located in the housing (310a) and comprises an aperture hole (3134) arranged in alignment with the first through hole (3111); the neutral density filter (314) is arranged on the housing (310a) and at least partially covers the first through hole (3111), and the neutral density filter (314) comprises a functional layer (3141) arranged in alignment with the first through hole (3111), and is configured to make the functional layer (3141) have different optical transmittances under different power supply voltages; and the electrical connection structure (315) comprises a first connection portion (3151) and a second connection portion (3152), wherein the first connection portion (3151) is configured to electrically connect to an external power supply device; and the second connection portion (3152) is electrically connected to the first connection portion (3151) and the neutral density filter (314). The light control assembly (310) integrates at a relatively small size the variable aperture (313) and the neutral density filter (314), thereby facilitating the realization of a miniaturized design.

Description

A light control component, a camera module, and an electronic device

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411218145.9, filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on August 30, 2024, entitled “A light control component, camera module and electronic device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of electronic equipment technology, and in particular to a light control component, a camera module, and an electronic device. Background Technology

[0004] Mobile phones and other electronic devices achieve their shooting functions by incorporating camera modules. The amount of light entering the camera module is a crucial parameter determining its image quality. This amount of light is affected by ambient light; in excessively bright conditions, images captured by the camera module are prone to overexposure. To address this issue, camera modules can be equipped with neutral density (ND) filters to reduce the amount of light entering the lens, thus preventing overexposure in bright light. Currently, in camera modules used in various electronic devices, the placement of the ND filter typically occupies excessive space along the optical axis, hindering the miniaturization of the camera module design. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a light control component, a camera module, and an electronic device. The light control component integrates a variable aperture and a neutral density filter in a relatively small size, thus helping to achieve miniaturization of the camera module using the light control component.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a light control component, comprising a housing, a variable aperture, a neutral density filter (NDF), and an electrical connection structure. The housing has a first through-hole that connects the interior of the housing to the exterior. The variable aperture is disposed within the housing and includes an aperture hole opposite to the first through-hole; the variable aperture can adjust the amount of light transmitted by adjusting the size of the aperture hole. The NDF is disposed within the housing and can at least partially cover the first through-hole. The NDF includes a functional layer opposite to the first through-hole, and the functional layer can have different optical transmittances under different supply voltages. The electrical connection structure includes a first connection portion and a second connection portion. The first connection portion is used for electrical connection to an external power supply device, and the second connection portion is electrically connected to the first connection portion and also electrically connected to the NDF for supplying power to the NDF. In this application, the variable aperture and the neutral density filter are integrated into one component, making them highly integrated. The neutral density filter and the variable aperture can share a housing that provides support and fixation for both, so there is no need to set up a separate mounting bracket for the neutral density filter. This not only simplifies the structure of the light control component, but also reduces its size, thereby reducing the space occupied by the light control component in the camera module in which it is used, which helps to miniaturize and reduce the cost of camera module design.

[0007] In some implementations, the electrical connection structure further includes a third connection portion, which is connected to the first connection portion and electrically connected to the variable aperture for supplying power to the variable aperture. In other words, the variable aperture and the neutral density filter can be powered by the same electrical connection structure, which can be obtained by simply modifying the existing power supply structure of the variable aperture. This simplifies the overall power supply design of the light control component and helps reduce its manufacturing cost.

[0008] In some implementations, the electrical connection structure can be made of flexible circuit boards, which gives the electrical connection structure better deformability. Therefore, its shape and placement are more flexible, which helps to make the structure of the light control component more compact.

[0009] In some embodiments, the housing includes a base and a cover plate, the base and the cover plate being fixedly connected to form a space for accommodating a variable aperture. The cover plate includes a first surface facing away from the base, the first surface having a groove, and a first through hole being disposed at the bottom of the groove. At least a portion of the neutral density filter is disposed within the groove and covers the first through hole, such that the height space occupied by the neutral density filter at least partially overlaps with the height space occupied by the cover plate, thereby reducing the overall height of the light control assembly.

[0010] In some implementations, the surface of the neutral density filter facing away from the base is located within a recess, or the surface of the neutral density filter facing away from the base is flush with the first surface. With this design, the neutral density filter does not occupy additional height space of the light control component. In other words, the height of the light control component obtained by integrating the neutral density filter with the variable aperture is essentially the same as the original height of the variable aperture, thus allowing for a more effective reduction in the overall size of the camera module.

[0011] In some implementations, the variable aperture includes multiple blades arranged around the optical axis, forming an aperture opening, with a cover plate positioned opposite the blades. Along the optical axis, the distance between the surface of the neutral density filter facing the base and the blades is greater than or equal to 0.43 mm to reduce the risk of collision between the neutral density filter and the blades, thereby improving the structural reliability of the light control assembly.

[0012] In some embodiments, the groove can be an annular stepped groove. The groove includes a first sub-groove and a second sub-groove, the first sub-groove being disposed on a first surface, the second sub-groove being disposed at the bottom of the first sub-groove, and a first through hole being formed at the bottom of the second sub-groove. The neutral density filter includes a first substrate and a second substrate, which are disposed on opposite sides of the functional layer. The first substrate includes a first peripheral region extending beyond the edge of the functional layer, and the second substrate includes a second peripheral region extending beyond the edge of the functional layer, with the first peripheral region extending beyond the outer periphery of the second peripheral region. The first substrate is fixed to the bottom of the first sub-groove, and the second peripheral region is fixed to the bottom of the second sub-groove, thus allowing the neutral density filter to be integrally mounted in the stepped groove.

[0013] For example, the first peripheral area can be bonded and fixed to the bottom of the first sub-groove, and the second peripheral area can also be bonded and fixed to the bottom of the second sub-groove.

[0014] In some embodiments, the light control assembly further includes a buffer ring disposed within the first sub-groove and radially along the cover plate, between the outer periphery of the first substrate and the groove wall of the first sub-groove. The buffer ring can prevent the first substrate from breaking due to rigid collision with the cover plate, thereby improving the reliability of the neutral density filter.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first substrate includes a first central region disposed opposite to the functional layer. A first transparent conductive film is disposed on the surface of the first central region facing the second substrate. A first electrode is disposed on the surface of a first peripheral region facing the second substrate. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first transparent conductive film and is used to apply a voltage output from the second connection portion to the first transparent conductive film. The second substrate includes a second central region disposed opposite to the functional layer. A second transparent conductive film is disposed on the surface of the second central region facing the first substrate. A second electrode is disposed on the surface of the second peripheral region facing the first substrate. The second electrode is electrically connected to the second transparent conductive film and is used to apply a voltage output from the second connection portion to the second transparent conductive film. When the first electrode applies a voltage to the first transparent conductive film and the second electrode applies a voltage to the second transparent conductive film, an electric field is generated between the first and second transparent conductive films. Under the action of the electric field, the optical transmittance of the functional layer changes, thereby enabling the neutral density filter to achieve different degrees of light reduction effect.

[0016] In one implementation, the functional layer can be an electrochromic material. For example, the functional layer can be composed of inorganic electrochromic materials and / or organic electrochromic materials. For instance, the inorganic electrochromic material can include one or more of the following: tungsten trioxide, nickel oxide, or indium tin oxide. The organic electrochromic material can include one or more of the following: iridoids, polythiophene polymers, polyaniline, or fullerenes and their derivatives.

[0017] In one implementation, the functional layer can be a liquid crystal material. Exemplarily, the functional layer can be composed of a dye-based liquid crystal material. Specifically, the dye-based liquid crystal material can include a liquid crystal substrate and dye additives. The liquid crystal substrate can refer to a material whose arrangement changes under the influence of an electric field, pressure, etc., such as biphenyl liquid crystal, phenylcyclohexane liquid crystal, or lipid liquid crystal. The dye additives can include azo dyes and / or anthraquinone derivatives.

[0018] In some embodiments, there is one first electrode arranged in a ring around a first central region. A first lead-out is provided on the outer periphery of the first electrode, which can be used for electrical connection with a second connecting portion. Alternatively, there are multiple first electrodes, distributed circumferentially along a first peripheral region. Each first electrode includes an arcuate portion and a first lead-out. The arcuate portion extends circumferentially around the first central region, and the first lead-out is located on the side of the arcuate portion facing away from the first central region. The arcuate portion is used for electrical connection with a first transparent conductive film, and the first lead-out is used for electrical connection with the second connecting portion. When there are multiple first electrodes, each first electrode can be independently energized to control the distribution of the electric field between the first and second transparent conductive films, thereby enabling different regions of the neutral density filter to achieve different optical transmittances.

[0019] In some embodiments, there is one second electrode, which is arranged in a ring around the second central region, and a second lead-out terminal is provided on the outer periphery of the second electrode. A transfer electrode is provided on the surface of the first peripheral region facing the second substrate. The transfer electrode is insulated from the first electrode, electrically connected to the second lead-out terminal, and electrically connected to the second connecting portion. With this design, both the first lead-out terminal and the transfer electrode for connecting the neutral density filter to the second connecting portion are located in the first peripheral region, thus reducing the difficulty of electrically connecting the neutral density filter to the second connecting portion and simplifying the structural design of the second connecting portion.

[0020] In some embodiments, the cover plate is formed with a receiving groove having a first opening and a second opening that communicate with each other. The first opening communicates with a recess, and the second opening faces the end of the first connecting portion for connection with the second connecting portion. The second connecting portion is disposed within the receiving groove, which facilitates both the connection of the second connecting portion with the bent portion of the first connecting portion and the electrical connection of the second connecting portion with the light-reducing sheet disposed within the recess.

[0021] In some implementations, the first opening of the receiving groove is formed at the bottom of the first sub-groove, and the second opening of the receiving groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the cover plate. By properly designing the positions of the first lead and the adapter electrode, the first lead and the adapter electrode can be exposed in the first opening, so that the second connection part can be electrically connected to the first lead and the adapter electrode through the first opening.

[0022] In some implementations, the cover plate includes a second surface facing the base, the second surface being provided with a plurality of clearance slots that can be used to avoid portions of the variable aperture structure. The orthographic projection of the receiving slot in the thickness direction of the cover plate does not coincide with the orthographic projection of the plurality of clearance slots in the thickness direction of the cover plate, so as to reduce the thickness requirement of the cover plate while avoiding interference between the receiving slot and the clearance slots, thereby helping to reduce the overall height of the light control assembly.

[0023] In some implementations, the first connecting part may include a main body and a bent part. The main body is fixed to the base, one end of the bent part is connected to the main body, and the other end of the bent part extends toward the cover plate. The other end of the bent part is electrically connected to the second connecting part, so that electrical energy can be transmitted to the second connecting part through the bent part.

[0024] In some embodiments, the base may include a base plate and multiple fixing parts connected to the periphery of the base plate. Each fixing part extends away from the base plate, and the end of each fixing part away from the base plate is fixedly connected to a cover plate. The fixing parts are provided with fixing grooves extending along the height direction of the base, and bent portions are disposed within these grooves to improve the installation reliability of the first connecting part on the base.

[0025] In some implementations, the first surface of the cover plate is provided with one or more gaskets, with the side of the gasket facing away from the base protruding from the first surface. The gaskets can reduce the risk of the side of the light-reducing filter facing away from the base colliding with other external structures, thereby improving the structural reliability of the light control assembly.

[0026] For example, the height difference between the side surface of the gasket facing away from the base and the first surface can be greater than or equal to 50 μm, and the cross-sectional area of ​​each gasket in the direction perpendicular to the thickness of the cover plate can be greater than or equal to 1 mm². 2 .

[0027] Secondly, this application also provides a camera module, which includes an optical lens and a light control component as described in any of the embodiments of the first aspect. The light control component is disposed on the light-incident surface of the optical lens to control the amount of light entering the optical lens, enabling the optical lens to achieve different imaging effects in different usage scenarios. Since the light control component highly integrates the variable aperture and the neutral density filter, its size is relatively small, thus contributing to the miniaturization design of the camera module.

[0028] Thirdly, this application also provides an electronic device, which includes a housing and the camera module described in the second aspect, the camera module being disposed within the housing. The miniaturized design of the camera module prevents it from occupying excessive internal space of the electronic device, thus contributing to a reduction in the overall size of the electronic device. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a mobile phone provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0030] Figure 2 is a partial exploded view of the mobile phone shown in Figure 1;

[0031] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a cross-sectional structure of the mobile phone shown in Figure 1 at point AA;

[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of a camera module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the light control component provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 6 is an exploded structural diagram of the light control component shown in Figure 5;

[0035] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 8 is a partial exploded view of the light control component provided in the embodiment of this application;

[0037] Figure 9 is an exploded view of the neutral density filter provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a first substrate and a second substrate of an anti-light filter provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the first substrate and the second substrate of another light-reducing film provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the first substrate and the second substrate of another light-reducing film provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0041] Figure 13 is a partial structural cross-sectional view of the light control component shown in Figure 5 at section BB;

[0042] Figure 14 is a structural schematic diagram of the cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application from one view.

[0043] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the cover plate shown in Figure 13 at section CC;

[0044] Figure 16 is a structural schematic diagram of the cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application from another perspective.

[0045] Reference numerals: 1-Mobile phone; 100-Display screen; 110-Display panel; 120-First cover plate; 200-Housing casing; 210-Back cover; 211-Mounting hole; 212-Camera decorative piece; 2121-Light inlet hole; 213-Second cover plate; 220-Middle frame; 300-Camera module; 310-Light control assembly; 311-Cover plate; 311a-First surface; 311b-Second surface; 3111-First through hole; 3112-Fixing hole; 3113-Groove; 31131-First sub-groove; 31132-Second sub-groove; 3114-Slot; 3115-Accommodating groove; 31151-First opening; 31152-Second opening; 3116-First clearance groove; 3117-Second clearance groove; 312-Base; 3121-Second through hole; 3122-Base plate; 31221-Protrusion; 312211-Second hinge shaft; 3123-Fixing part; 31231-Fixing post; 31232-Fixing groove; 3124-Annular gap; 313-Variable aperture; 3131-Rotating ring; 31311-First hinge shaft; 3132-Drive structure; 31321-Coil; 31322-Magnet; 3133-Blade; 31331-Guide hole; 31332-Rotating hole; 3134-Aperture hole; 314-Neutral neutral density filter; 3141-Functional layer; 3142-First substrate; 31421-First central area; 31422-First peripheral area; 3143-Second substrate; 31431-Second central area; 31432-Second peripheral area; 3144-Sealant; 3145-First transparent conductive film; 3146-First electrode; 31461-First lead-out terminal; 31462-Arc-shaped portion; 3147-Second transparent conductive film; 3148-Second electrode; 31481-Second lead-out terminal; 3149-Adapter electrode; 315-Electrical connection structure; 3151-First connecting portion; 31511-Main body portion; 31512-Bending portion; 3152-Second connecting portion; 3153-Third connecting portion; 316-Gasket; 3161-Slot; 317-Buffer ring; 320-Optical lens; 321-Light-inlet surface; 322-Light-outlet surface; 330-Photosensitive chip; 340 - Module circuit board; 350 - Filter. Detailed Implementation

[0046] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The same reference numerals in the figures denote the same or similar structures, and therefore repeated descriptions of them will be omitted. The terms expressing position and direction described in the embodiments of this application are illustrative based on the accompanying drawings, but changes can be made as needed, and all such changes are included within the scope of protection of this application. The accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this application are only for illustrating relative positional relationships and do not represent actual scale.

[0047] It should be noted that specific details are set forth in the following description to facilitate understanding of this application. However, the embodiments of this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar extensions without departing from the spirit of the embodiments of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0048] This application provides an electronic device, which can be a mobile phone, tablet personal computer, laptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wearable device (such as smartwatch, smart bracelet), virtual reality (VR) device, augmented reality (AR) device, or other forms of device with photography and video recording functions. This application does not limit the types of devices.

[0049] The following uses a mobile phone as an example to illustrate the electronic device provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0050] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a mobile phone 1 provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 2 is a partially exploded schematic diagram of the mobile phone 1 shown in Figure 1. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 together, the mobile phone 1 includes a display screen 100, a housing 200, a camera module 300, and a main circuit board. The display screen 100 and the housing 200 are fixedly connected, and the two can enclose a receiving space, in which the camera module 300 and the main circuit board are disposed. It should be noted that Figures 1, 2, and the related figures below only schematically show some components included in the mobile phone 1, and the actual shape, size, position, and structure of these components are not limited by Figures 1, 2, and the figures below.

[0051] The host circuit board can be used to house chips, such as a central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), or universal flash storage (UFS). The camera module 300 is electrically connected to the host circuit board. Specifically, the camera module 300 is electrically connected to the CPU via the host circuit board. When the CPU receives a user command, it can send a signal to the camera module 300 through the host circuit board to control the camera module 300 to capture images or videos.

[0052] The display screen 100 can be used to display images, text, etc. The display screen 100 can be a flat screen or a curved screen. Additionally, the display screen 100 includes a display panel 110 and a first cover plate 120. The first cover plate 120 is stacked on the light-emitting side of the display panel 110, and its main function is to protect the display panel 110 and prevent dust. The material of the first cover plate 120 can be, but is not limited to, glass or plastic.

[0053] The display panel 110 can be a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED), a flexible light-emitting diode (FLED), a mini light-emitting diode (Mini-LED), a micro light-emitting diode (MicroLED), a micro organic light-emitting diode (Micro-OLED), a quantum dot light-emitting diode (QLED), etc. Additionally, in some implementations, the display panel 110 can also integrate touch functionality.

[0054] The housing 200 may include a rear shell 210 and a mid-frame 220. One side of the mid-frame 220 is fixedly connected to the display screen 100, and the other side of the mid-frame 220 is fixedly connected to the rear shell 210. In one embodiment, the rear shell 210 is fixedly connected to the mid-frame 220 by adhesive. In another embodiment, the rear shell 210 and the mid-frame 220 form an integral structure, that is, the rear shell 210 and the mid-frame 220 are a single integral structure.

[0055] In some embodiments, the phone may also be foldable, in which case it may include two housings. Furthermore, the phone may include a hinge mechanism, with each housing rotatably connected to the hinge mechanism to switch between an unfolded and folded state when rotated around the hinge mechanism. A display screen is fixed to one side of the two housings, and to accommodate both the folded and unfolded states, the display screen may be a flexible screen.

[0056] In mobile phone 1, depending on the orientation of the light-receiving side of the camera module 300, the camera module 300 can be used as a rear camera module or a front camera module, thereby enabling mobile phone 1 to perform rear-facing or front-facing shooting functions. For example, when the light-receiving side of the camera module 300 is set towards the back cover 210, mobile phone 1 can perform rear-facing shooting based on the camera module 300; when the light-receiving side of the camera module 300 is set towards the display screen 100, mobile phone 1 can perform front-facing shooting based on the camera module 300. Here, the light-receiving side of the camera module 300 is the side of the camera module 300 facing the subject.

[0057] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the mobile phone 1 shown in Figure 1 at point AA. Referring also to Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the camera module 300 is used as a rear camera module. In a specific implementation, the back cover 210 is provided with a mounting hole 211, and a camera decorative piece 212 is fixed at the mounting hole 211. Exemplarily, the camera decorative piece 212 can be fixed to the mounting hole 211 by means of adhesive bonding or interference fit. The camera decorative piece 212 is provided with a light inlet hole 2121, and a second cover plate 213 is provided at the light inlet hole 2121. The second cover plate 213 can separate the inside of the mobile phone 1 from the outside, thereby reducing the risk of water or dust from the outside entering the inside of the mobile phone through the light inlet hole 2121. The second cover plate 213 is made of a transparent material, for example, the second cover plate 213 can be glass or plastic. The light-receiving side of the camera module 300 is positioned opposite to the second cover plate 213. The camera module 300 can capture ambient light that passes through the second cover plate 213 and enters the inside of the mobile phone 1 to form an image or video.

[0058] In addition, there can be multiple rear camera modules, each of which can serve as a main camera module, a wide-angle camera module, a telephoto camera module, or a macro camera module, etc.

[0059] In some other embodiments, the light-receiving side of the camera module 300 faces the display screen 100. The display panel 110 is provided with a clearance hole opposite to the light-receiving side of the camera module 300, and the camera module 300 can collect light that passes through the first cover plate 120 and enters the clearance hole to form an image or video. In this case, the camera module 300 is used as a front-facing camera module.

[0060] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional structural diagram of a camera module 300 provided in an embodiment of this application. Referring to Figure 4, the camera module 300 includes a light control component 310, an optical lens 320, and a photosensitive chip 330. The optical lens 320 includes a light-incident surface 321 and a light-exit surface 322. The light-incident surface 321 is the side of the optical lens 320 closest to the light-incident side of the camera module 300, and the light-exit surface 322 is the side of the optical lens 320 furthest from the light-exit side of the camera module 300. The light control component 310 is disposed on the side of the light-incident surface 321 of the optical lens 320, and the photosensitive chip 330 is disposed on the side of the light-exit surface 322 of the optical lens 320.

[0061] The light control component 310 can control the amount of light entering the optical lens 320, so that the optical lens 320 can achieve different imaging effects in different usage scenarios.

[0062] The optical lens 320 is used to image the subject being photographed. Exemplarily, the optical lens 320 can be a vertical optical lens, with its optical axis extending along the thickness direction of the phone. Alternatively, the optical lens 320 can also be a periscope optical lens, with its optical axis extending along the width or length direction of the phone. The optical lens 320 includes a lens barrel and optical lenses disposed within the lens barrel. The number of optical lenses can be one or more; in the case of multiple lenses, the multiple lenses can be spaced apart along the axial direction of the lens barrel. By rationally designing the number of optical lenses and the optical parameters of each optical lens, the optical lens 320 can achieve shooting characteristics such as standard, wide-angle, telephoto, and macro.

[0063] The photosensitive chip 330 can collect light emitted from the light-emitting surface 322 of the optical lens 320, convert the light into an electrical signal, and transmit it to the host circuit board. The chip or processing circuit in the host circuit board processes the signal to generate an image. For example, the photosensitive chip 330 can be an image sensor such as a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device or a charge-coupled device (CCD).

[0064] In some embodiments, the camera module 300 further includes a module circuit board 340, which is disposed on one side of the light-emitting surface 322 of the optical lens 320 and is electrically connected to the host circuit board. A photosensitive chip 330 may be disposed on the surface of the module circuit board 340 facing the optical lens 320, and is electrically connected to the module circuit board 340 to be electrically connected to the host circuit board via the module circuit board 340.

[0065] In some embodiments, the camera module 300 may further include a light filter 350. The light filter 350 is disposed between the light-emitting surface 322 of the optical lens 320 and the image sensor 330. The light filter 350 filters stray light from the ambient light passing through the optical lens 320 and allows the filtered ambient light to propagate to the image sensor 330, thereby ensuring better image clarity when captured by the mobile phone. For example, the light filter 350 may be, but is not limited to, a blue glass light filter.

[0066] In some embodiments, the camera module 300 may further include a motor (not shown). The motor can drive the optical lens 320 as a whole or the optical lenses in the optical lens 320 to move or rotate, so that the camera module 300 can achieve automatic focusing (AF) and / or optical image stabilization (OIS) functions.

[0067] In relevant applications, the camera module 300 typically adjusts the variable aperture, shutter speed, and ISO to regulate the amount of light entering the camera. Specifically, the variable aperture is an aperture opening formed by several movable blades. By adjusting the position of the blades, the diameter of the aperture opening can be changed, thereby controlling the amount of light reaching the image sensor. The shutter is a device in the camera module used to control the exposure time. During the image capture process, the shorter the exposure time controlled by the shutter, the less light enters the camera module, resulting in less light reaching the image sensor and a lower image brightness. ISO refers to the sensitivity of the image sensor (such as CCD or CMOS) to light. A higher ISO value indicates a stronger light-sensing capability of the image sensor, resulting in a brighter image.

[0068] In practical applications, the camera module 300 adjusts the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity according to the shooting scene requirements. However, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity also affect the quality of the captured image. For example, when the exposure time is shorter, the camera module needs to correspondingly increase the aperture diameter and / or increase the ISO sensitivity to ensure image brightness. However, the aperture size also affects the depth of field, and ISO sensitivity affects image sharpness and resolution. Therefore, the camera module 300 adjusts the amount of light entering the captured image through aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity. Aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity not only affect brightness but also other image parameters (such as depth of field, sharpness, and resolution), making it difficult to achieve specific shooting requirements. Therefore, camera modules 300 in related applications have begun to introduce neutral density filters (ND filters). ND filters are structures independent of aperture, shutter speed, and the image sensor, providing the camera module 300 with an independent method for adjusting the amount of light entering the image. ND filters can at least partially absorb some of the light in the optical path, thereby adjusting the amount of light reaching the image sensor. However, the neutral density filter occupies space in the optical axis direction of the camera module, which is not conducive to the miniaturization design of the camera module.

[0069] Based on this, Figure 5 is a structural schematic diagram of the light control component 310 provided in an embodiment of this application, and Figure 6 is an exploded structural schematic diagram of the light control component shown in Figure 5. Referring to Figures 5 and 6 together, in this embodiment of the application, the light control component 310 includes a housing 310a, a variable aperture 313, a neutral density filter 314, and an electrical connection structure 315. The housing 310a provides support and fixation for the variable aperture 313, the neutral density filter 314, and the electrical connection structure 315, and the electrical connection structure 315 provides power to the variable aperture 313 and the neutral density filter 314. The housing 310a is provided with a first through hole 3111, which connects the interior of the housing to the exterior. The variable aperture 313 is located inside the housing 310a, and the amount of light entering the optical lens can be adjusted by changing the size of its aperture opening; the neutral density filter 314 is disposed in the housing 310a, and the amount of light entering the optical lens can be changed by changing its optical transmittance.

[0070] The variable aperture 313, used in conjunction with the neutral density filter 314, can meet the light intake requirements of the optical lens in different scenarios, enabling the camera module to capture high-quality images or videos. When the camera module selects the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO for shooting, the neutral density filter 314 can at least partially absorb the light passing through the optical lens, further adjusting the image brightness to achieve a balance between brightness and image quality, thus meeting the shooting needs of specific scenarios. For example, in scenarios with a large aperture (the variable aperture 313 has a large aperture opening), the camera module can use the neutral density filter 314 to reduce the amount of light entering the optical lens while extending the exposure time. This controls the amount of light reaching the image sensor from the optical lens, thereby reducing the risk of overexposure and allowing the camera module to obtain clear images, achieving a unique "slow shutter" photography style.

[0071] In some embodiments, the housing 310a can be made of metal to ensure that it has a certain rigidity. The housing 310a may include a cover plate 311 and a base 312. The cover plate 311 and the base 312 are fixedly connected and enclose a cavity for accommodating the variable aperture 313. The first through hole 3111 may be provided in the cover plate 311. Correspondingly, the base 312 may be provided with a second through hole 3121. The first through hole 3111 and the second through hole 3121 are arranged opposite to each other. The second through hole 3121 is arranged opposite to the light-emitting surface of the optical lens so that the optical lens receives the light emitted by the light control component 310.

[0072] In this embodiment, the variable aperture 313 and the neutral density filter 314 are housed in a single component, or the neutral density filter 314 can be understood as being integrated into the variable aperture 313. The neutral density filter 314 is installed using the cover plate 311 of the variable aperture 313, eliminating the need for a separate mounting bracket. The high degree of integration between the neutral density filter 314 and the variable aperture 313 allows them to share a common support structure. This not only simplifies the structural composition of the light control component 310 but also reduces its size, thereby reducing the space occupied by the light control component 310 in the camera module. This contributes to the miniaturization and low-cost design of the camera module.

[0073] In this embodiment, the electrical connection structure 315 may be used solely for powering the neutral density filter 314, or the variable aperture 313 and the neutral density filter 314 may share the electrical connection structure 315 for power supply.

[0074] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection structure 315 provided in an embodiment of this application. Referring to Figures 6 and 7 together, in this embodiment, the electrical connection structure 315 includes a first connection portion 3151, a second connection portion 3152, and a third connection portion 3153. The first connection portion 3151 is fixed to the base 312 and is used for electrical connection with an external power supply device. For example, the external power supply device can be the power management unit of a mobile phone. The second connection portion 3152 is electrically connected to both the first connection portion 3151 and the neutral density filter 314, and is used to supply power to the neutral density filter 314 so that the neutral density filter 314 can change its optical transmittance. The third connection portion 3153 is electrically connected to both the first connection portion 3151 and the variable aperture 313, and is used to supply power to the variable aperture 313 so that the variable aperture 313 can change the size of its aperture opening.

[0075] Based on the integrated design of the neutral density filter 314 and the variable aperture 313, the neutral density filter 314 and the variable aperture 313 are powered by the same electrical connection structure 315. Furthermore, the electrical connection structure 315 can be obtained by simply improving the original power supply structure of the variable aperture 313. Therefore, the overall power supply design of the light control component 310 is relatively simple, which helps to reduce the manufacturing cost of the light control component 310.

[0076] In some embodiments, the electrical connection structure 315 can be in the form of a flexible printed circuit (FPC). This design provides the electrical connection structure 315 with better deformability, allowing for greater flexibility in its shape and placement. In practical applications, the shape and position of the electrical connection structure 315 can be adjusted according to the spatial arrangement of the variable aperture 313 and the neutral density filter 314 in the light control assembly 310, contributing to a more compact structure for the light control assembly 310. In other embodiments, the electrical connection structure 315 can also be in the form of an insert molding structure, a cable, or a conductive spring.

[0077] In a specific implementation, the first connecting portion 3151 may include a main body portion 31511 and a bent portion 31512. The main body portion 31511 is fixed to the base; for example, the main body portion 31511 may be adhesively fixed to the side of the base 312 facing away from the cover plate 311. One end of the bent portion 31512 is connected to the main body portion 31511, and the bent portion 31512 extends relative to the main body portion 31511 toward the cover plate 311. Two power supply lines may be provided within the first connecting portion 3151: a first line for supplying power to the neutral density filter 314, and a second line for supplying power to the variable aperture 313. The first line extends from the main body 31511 to the bending section 31512. The input end of the first line is located in the main body 31511, and the output end of the first line is located in the bending section 31512. As shown in Figure 7, one end of the bending section away from the main body is provided with three output ends a of the first line. The input end and the output end of the second line are both located in the main body 31511. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the main body is provided with four output ends b of the second line.

[0078] In some embodiments, when the cover plate 311 is made of metal, a third line can also be provided in the first connecting part 3151. The third line is a grounding line, and the input end of the third line can be used as a grounding end, which can be provided in the main body part 31511. The output end of the third line is provided in the bending part 31512, and the output end of the third line is electrically connected to the cover plate 311. In this way, the cover plate 311 can be grounded through the third line, so that the cover plate 311 can release static electricity through the third line, thereby reducing the risk of electromagnetic interference from the cover plate 311 to other electrical components in the camera module.

[0079] Similarly, when the base is also made of metal, a fourth line can be provided within the first connecting part 3151. This fourth line is also a grounding line, and both its input and output ends can be connected to the main body 31511. The input end of the fourth line can serve as a grounding end, and its output end can be electrically connected to the base 312. This allows the base 312 to be grounded via the fourth line, enabling it to release static electricity and reducing the risk of electromagnetic interference from the base 312 to other electrical components in the camera module.

[0080] The second connecting portion 3152 is disposed on the cover plate 311 and is electrically connected to the other end of the bent portion 31512. Specifically, the second connecting portion 3152 is electrically connected to the output end of the second line disposed on the bent portion 31512, so that the power supply voltage can be transmitted to the neutral density filter 314 in sequence through the first line and the second connecting portion 3152. There can be multiple second connecting portions 3152. Correspondingly, the first connecting portion 3151 includes bent portions 31512 that correspond one-to-one with the multiple second connecting portions 3152, so that the first connecting portion 3151 can be electrically connected to the multiple second connecting portions 3152 through the multiple bent portions 31512. The specific number of second connecting portions 3152 can be designed according to the actual structure of the neutral density filter 314. This application does not limit this. For example, Figure 5 shows an example of four second connecting portions 3152.

[0081] The third connection part 3153 is disposed on the base 312 and is electrically connected to the main body part 31511. Specifically, the third connection part 3153 is electrically connected to the output terminal of the second line disposed on the main body part 31511 so that the power supply voltage can be transmitted to the variable aperture 313 through the second line and the third connection part 3153.

[0082] Referring again to Figure 6, in this embodiment, the base 312 may include a base plate 3122 and a plurality of fixing parts 3123. The plurality of fixing parts 3123 are connected to the periphery of the base plate 3122 and extend in a direction away from the base plate 3122 along the thickness direction of the base plate 3122. One end of each fixing part 3123 away from the base plate 3122 is fixedly connected to the cover plate 311. Exemplarily, the plurality of fixing parts 3123 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction of the base plate 3122 to ensure that the base 312 can be reliably connected to the cover plate 311 in the circumferential direction.

[0083] A fixing post 31231 is provided at the end of the fixing part 3123 away from the base plate 3122. A fixing hole 3112 is provided on the edge area of ​​the cover plate 311, opposite to the fixing post 31231. The fixing post 31231 is fixed within the corresponding fixing hole 3112. The cooperation between the fixing post 31231 and the fixing hole 3112 not only securely connects the base 312 and the cover plate 311, but also provides a positioning function for the assembly process of the base 312 and the cover plate 311. For example, the fixing post 31231 can be fixed to the fixing hole 3112 by adhesive bonding or interference fit, thus securing the cover plate 311 and the base 312. In addition, each fixing part 3123 may be provided with multiple fixing posts 31231 at its end. Correspondingly, the cover plate 311 is provided with multiple fixing holes 3112 at positions opposite to each fixing part 3123. Each fixing part 3123 and the cover plate 311 are fixedly connected to each other by multiple pairs of fixing posts 31231 and fixing holes 3112 to improve the connection strength between the base 312 and the cover plate 311. Figure 5 shows an example in which each fixing part 3123 is provided with two fixing posts 31231 at its end.

[0084] In some embodiments, a fixing groove 31232 is provided on the peripheral surface of the fixing part 3123. The fixing groove 31232 extends along the height direction of the base 312. The fixing groove 31232 can be used to fix the bent part 31512 of the first connecting part 3151 to improve the installation reliability of the first connecting part 3151 on the base 312. Exemplarily, the bent part 31512 can be fixed in the fixing groove 31232 by adhesive bonding.

[0085] In some embodiments, a protrusion 31221 is provided on the side surface of the base plate 3122 facing the cover plate 311, and a recess is formed on the side surface of the base plate facing away from the cover plate 311 at a position opposite to the protrusion 31221. The protrusion 31221 is located in the inner region encircled by a plurality of fixing parts 3123, and the protrusion 31221 and each fixing part 3123 are spaced apart. The second through hole 3121 of the base 312 is provided in the protrusion 31221. An annular gap 3124 can be formed between the protrusion 31221 and each fixing part 3123. It can be seen that the protrusion 31221, the annular gap 3124, and the plurality of fixing parts 3123 are arranged radially along the base 312. The recess can be used to accommodate part of the structure of the optical lens. For example, part of the structure of the optical lens near its light-emitting surface can extend into the recess, which is beneficial to shortening the size of the camera module in the optical axis direction.

[0086] Figure 8 is a partial exploded view of the light control component 310 provided in an embodiment of this application. Referring to Figure 8, the variable aperture 313 includes a rotating ring 3131, a driving structure 3132, and multiple blades 3133. The rotating ring 3131 is sleeved on the protrusion 31221 of the base 312, and the rotating ring 3131 is rotatably connected to the base 312. Exemplarily, the rotating ring 3131 may be disposed within the annular gap 3124 formed by the protrusion 31221 and the multiple fixing parts 3123. The driving structure 3132 is drively connected to the rotating ring 3131, and the driving structure 3132 is used to drive the rotating ring 3131 to rotate around the protrusion 31221. Multiple blades 3133 are arranged circumferentially along the rotating ring 3131. A portion of each blade 3133 is disposed on the side surface of the rotating ring 3131 facing away from the base plate, and another portion of each blade 3133 is disposed on the surface of the protrusion 31221. The multiple blades 3133 together form the aperture hole 3134 of the variable aperture 313. The aperture hole 3134 is disposed opposite to the second through hole 3121 of the base 312.

[0087] Each blade 3133 has a guide hole 31331 on the side surface of the rotating ring 3131 facing away from the base plate 3122, and a rotation hole 31332 on the side surface of the protrusion 31221. The side surface of the rotating ring 3131 facing away from the base plate 3122 has multiple first hinge shafts 31311, which are correspondingly inserted into the guide holes 31331 of each blade 3133. The surface of the protrusion 31221 has multiple second hinge shafts 312211, which are correspondingly inserted into the rotation holes 31332 of each blade 3133. Among them, the guide hole 31331 is a strip-shaped hole, and the blade 3133 is slidably connected to the rotating ring 3131 through the cooperation of the guide hole and the first hinge shaft 31311; the rotating hole 31332 is a circular hole, and the blade 3133 is rotatably connected to the base 312 through the cooperation of the rotating hole 31332 and the second hinge shaft 312211.

[0088] The driving structure 3132 can employ electromagnetic or electrical driving methods. Taking electromagnetic driving as an example, the driving structure 3132 may include a coil 31321 and a magnet 31322. The coil 31321 is fixedly connected to the rotating ring 3131, and the magnet 31322 is fixedly connected to the base 312, with the magnet 31322 and coil 31321 arranged opposite each other. For example, the coil 31321 may be fixed to the surface of the rotating ring 3131 facing the base 312, and the magnet 31322 may be fixed to the base plate of the base 312. As mentioned earlier, the variable aperture 313 is powered by the third connecting part 3153, which, in a specific implementation, is electrically connected to the coil 31321. When the third connection part 3153 energizes the coil 31321, the coil 31321 generates a Lorentz force along the tangential direction of the rotating ring 3131, and the rotating ring 3131 rotates around the protrusion 31221 under the driving action of the Lorentz force.

[0089] When the driving structure 3132 drives the rotating ring 3131 to rotate relative to the base 312 in a first rotation direction, the rotating ring 3131 pushes the blades 3133 to rotate in the same direction around the second hinge axis 312211 via the first hinge axis 31311, thereby reducing the diameter of the aperture 3134 formed by the multiple blades 3133. When the driving structure 3132 drives the rotating ring 3131 to rotate relative to the base 312 in a second rotation direction, the rotating ring 3131 pushes the blades 3133 to rotate in the same direction around the second hinge axis 312211 via the first hinge axis 31311, thereby increasing the diameter of the aperture 3134 formed by the multiple blades 3133. The first rotation direction can be counterclockwise, and the second rotation direction can be clockwise.

[0090] It is easy to understand that when the diameter of the aperture hole 3134 of the variable aperture 313 decreases, the amount of light allowed to pass through the variable aperture 313 decreases, which means that the variable aperture 313 can reduce the amount of light entering the optical lens; when the diameter of the aperture hole 3134 of the variable aperture 313 increases, the amount of light allowed to pass through the variable aperture 313 increases, which means that the variable aperture 313 can increase the amount of light entering the optical lens.

[0091] Figure 9 is an exploded structural diagram of the neutral density filter 314 provided in the embodiment of this application. Referring to Figure 9, the neutral density filter 314 includes a functional layer 3141. When the electrical connection structure 315 supplies power to the neutral density filter 314, the functional layer 3141 can have different optical transmittances under different supply voltages. Therefore, the neutral density filter 314 can adjust the amount of light passing through it, thus realizing the adjustment of the amount of light entering the optical lens.

[0092] The neutral density filter 314 further includes a first substrate 3142 and a second substrate 3143, which are disposed on opposite sides of the functional layer 3141, or in other words, the functional layer 3141 is sandwiched between the first substrate 3142 and the second substrate 3143. The first substrate 3142 and the second substrate 3143 are both made of transparent materials. Exemplarily, the materials of the first substrate 3142 and the second substrate 3143 can be, but are not limited to, glass or plastic. Exemplarily, the materials of the first substrate 3142 and the second substrate 3143 can be composed of one or more of the following materials: high-alumina silicate glass, alkali-free aluminoborosilicate glass, soda-lime silicate glass, or high-purity silicon dioxide, etc. The functional layer 3141 can be an electrochromic material, a liquid crystal material, or other color-changing material.

[0093] In one implementation, the first substrate 3142, the second substrate 3143, and the functional layer 3141 may each be a circular structure. In another implementation, the first substrate 3142, the second substrate 3143, and the functional layer 3141 may also be rectangular or other regular or irregular shapes. This application does not make any specific limitations on these aspects.

[0094] The first substrate 3142 includes a first central region 31421 and a first peripheral region 31422. The first central region 31421 is disposed opposite to the functional layer 3141, and the first peripheral region 31422 is disposed around the first central region 31421. The second substrate 3143 includes a second central region 31431 and a second peripheral region 31432. The second central region 31431 is disposed opposite to the functional layer 3141, and the second peripheral region 31432 is disposed around the second central region 31431. The first peripheral region 31422 and the second peripheral region 31432 are bonded together by an annular sealant 3144 to seal the functional layer 3141 between the first substrate 3142 and the second substrate 3143. In addition, the outer periphery of the first peripheral region 31422 may extend beyond the outer periphery of the second peripheral region 31432, or it can be understood that the radial dimension of the first substrate 3142 is larger than the radial dimension of the second substrate 3143.

[0095] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a first substrate 3142 and a second substrate 3143 of a neutral density filter provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 10(a) shows the planar structure of the first substrate 3142, and Figure 10(b) shows the planar structure of the second substrate 3143. Referring to Figures 9 and 10 together, a first transparent conductive film 3145 is disposed on the surface of the first central region 31421 facing the second substrate 3143, and a first electrode 3146 is disposed on the surface of the first peripheral region 31422 facing the second substrate 3143. The first electrode 3146 is electrically connected to the first transparent conductive film 3145, and the first electrode 3146 is used to apply the voltage output by the second connection portion 3152 to the first transparent conductive film 3145. Exemplarily, the first electrode 3146 is a positive electrode. The first transparent conductive film 3145 can be an indium tin oxide (ITO) film or an aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) film, etc. In one implementation, the first transparent conductive film 3145 can be of uniform thickness; in another implementation, the first transparent conductive film 3145 can also be of non-uniform thickness. In one implementation, the first transparent conductive film 3145 can completely cover the first central region 31421; in another implementation, the first transparent conductive film 3145 can cover a portion of the first central region 31421. In this case, the first transparent conductive film 3145 can adopt an irregular shape, such as an M-shape or a W-shape.

[0096] A second transparent conductive film 3147 is disposed on the surface of the second central region 31431 facing the first substrate 3142, and a second electrode 3148 is disposed on the surface of the second peripheral region 31432 facing the first substrate 3142. The second electrode 3148 is electrically connected to the second transparent conductive film 3147 and is used to apply the voltage output to it by the second connection portion 3152 to the second transparent conductive film 3147. Exemplarily, the second electrode 3148 is a ground electrode or a negative electrode. Similarly, the second transparent conductive film 3147 can be an ITO film or an AZO film, etc. In one implementation, the second transparent conductive film 3147 can be of uniform thickness; in another implementation, the second transparent conductive film 3147 can also be of non-uniform thickness. In one implementation, the second transparent conductive film 3147 can completely cover the second central region 31431; in another implementation, the second transparent conductive film 3147 can cover a portion of the second central region 31431. In this case, the second transparent conductive film 3147 can be designed in an irregular shape, such as an M-shape or a W-shape.

[0097] In addition, in this embodiment, the orthographic projection of the first transparent conductive film 3145 in the thickness direction of the light-reducing film 314 coincides with the orthographic projection of the second transparent conductive film 3147 in the thickness direction of the light-reducing film 314, so as to ensure that the first transparent conductive film 3145 and the second transparent conductive film 3147 can act on the functional layer 3141 located between them when energized.

[0098] In one implementation, the functional layer 3141 is an electrochromic material. Exemplarily, the functional layer 3141 may be composed of inorganic and / or organic electrochromic materials. For example, the inorganic electrochromic material may include one or more of the following: tungsten trioxide, nickel oxide, or indium tin oxide; the organic electrochromic material may include one or more of the following: violet compounds, polythiophene polymers, polyaniline, or fullerenes and their derivatives. When the first electrode 3146 applies a voltage to the first transparent conductive film 3145 and the second electrode 3148 applies a voltage to the second transparent conductive film 3147, an electric field is generated between the first transparent conductive film 3145 and the second transparent conductive film 3147. Under the influence of the electric field, the color of the functional layer 3141 changes; for example, the functional layer 3141 may change from transparent to other light-blocking colors, thereby reducing the optical transmittance of the functional layer 3141. It should be noted that the functional layer 3141 can exhibit different colors under different electric field intensities, and the functional layer 3141 of different colors has different light-blocking effects. Therefore, the light-reducing filter 314 can make the functional layer 3141 have different optical transmittance under different power supply voltages.

[0099] In one implementation, the functional layer 3141 is a liquid crystal material. Exemplarily, the functional layer 3141 can be composed of a dye-based liquid crystal material. Specifically, the dye-based liquid crystal material can include a liquid crystal substrate and dye additives. The liquid crystal substrate can refer to a material whose arrangement changes under the influence of an electric field, pressure, etc., such as biphenyl liquid crystal, phenylcyclohexane liquid crystal, or lipid liquid crystal. The dye additives can include azo dyes and / or anthraquinone derivatives. When the first electrode 3146 applies a voltage to the first transparent conductive film 3145 and the second electrode 3148 applies a voltage to the second transparent conductive film 3147, an electric field is generated between the first transparent conductive film 3145 and the second transparent conductive film 3147. Under the influence of the electric field, the liquid crystal molecules in the functional layer 3141 can be deflected, thereby changing the light-blocking effect of the functional layer 3141, that is, changing the optical transmittance of the functional layer 3141. It should be noted that the deflection angle of the liquid crystal molecules in the functional layer 3141 is different under different electric field strengths. Therefore, the neutral density filter 314 can have different optical transmittance in the functional layer 3141 under different power supply voltages.

[0100] In one implementation, the functional layer 3141 may be composed of photonic crystals, such as one or more of ferroelectric photonic crystals, electrophoretic deposition photonic crystals, or electrochemically active photonic crystals.

[0101] Referring again to FIG. 10, in this embodiment, there is one first electrode 3146, which is arranged in a ring around the first central region 31421. A first lead-out end 31461 is provided on the outer periphery of the first electrode 3146, which can be used for electrical connection with the second connecting portion 3152 (as shown in FIG. 6). In one implementation, the first lead-out end 31461 can extend to the area of ​​the first peripheral region 31422 beyond the second peripheral region 31432. There is one second electrode 3148, which is arranged in a ring around the second central region 31431. A second lead-out end 31481 is provided on the outer periphery of the second electrode 3148, which is used for electrical connection with the second connecting portion. In this way, when the first electrode 3146 and the second electrode 3148 apply voltage to the first transparent conductive film 3145 and the second transparent conductive film 3147 respectively, a relatively uniform electric field can be generated between the first transparent conductive film 3145 and the second transparent conductive film 3147. Under the action of this electric field, the optical transmittance of the entire functional layer will change. Therefore, the light-reducing filter 314 can adjust the amount of light entering the entire area of ​​the light-emitting surface of the optical lens.

[0102] In some implementations, a transfer electrode 3149 is disposed on the surface of the first peripheral region 31422 facing the second substrate 3143, and the transfer electrode 3149 is insulated from the first electrode 3146. Specifically, the transfer electrode 3149 can also be disposed in the area of ​​the first peripheral region 31422 that extends beyond the second peripheral region 31432. The transfer electrode 3149 is electrically connected to the second lead-out terminal 31481 and also electrically connected to the second connection portion 3152. That is, the second connection portion 3152 can be electrically connected to the second electrode 3148 through the transfer electrode 3149. With this design, both the first lead-out terminal 31461 of the neutral density filter 314 for connection to the second connection portion and the transfer electrode 3149 are disposed in the first peripheral region 31422, thus reducing the difficulty of electrically connecting the neutral density filter 314 to the second connection portion and simplifying the structural design of the second connection portion. In addition, the adapter electrode 3149 can be positioned close to the first lead-out end 31461 of the first electrode 3146. In this way, the first lead-out end 31461 and the adapter electrode 3149 can be powered by the same second connection part, thus simplifying the overall structural design of the light control component 310.

[0103] For example, the adapter electrode 3149 and the second lead 31481 can be electrically connected by conductive silver paste, conductive adhesive, etc. The projection of the adapter electrode 3149 in the thickness direction of the neutral density filter 314 at least partially coincides with the projection of the second lead 31481 in the thickness direction of the neutral density filter 314, so as to shorten the electrical connection distance between the adapter electrode 3149 and the second lead 31481.

[0104] In some other embodiments, there may be multiple first electrodes 3146, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. Figures 11 and 12 respectively show schematic diagrams of two other light-reducing filters provided in the embodiments of this application. Figure 11 shows an example of a light-reducing filter including four first electrodes 3146, and Figure 12 shows an example of a light-reducing filter including eight first electrodes 3146.

[0105] When there are multiple first electrodes 3146, the multiple first electrodes 3146 are distributed at intervals along the circumference of the first peripheral region 31422. In specific implementations, the multiple first electrodes 3146 can be symmetrically distributed or asymmetrically distributed, and this application does not limit this. Each first electrode 3146 includes an arc-shaped portion 31462 and a first lead-out end 31461. The arc-shaped portion 31462 extends circumferentially around the first central region 31421, and the first lead-out end 31461 is disposed on the side of the arc-shaped portion 31462 facing away from the first central region 31421. The arc-shaped portion 31462 is used for electrical connection with the first transparent conductive film 3145, and the first lead-out end 31461 is used for electrical connection with the second connecting portion 3152.

[0106] In one implementation, the first lead-out terminal 31461 may extend beyond the area of ​​the first peripheral region 31422 beyond the second peripheral region 31432. The second electrode 3148 may be designed as a single unit, the specific form of which can be referred to the relevant description of the embodiment shown in FIG8 above, and will not be repeated here.

[0107] In this embodiment, each first electrode 3146 can be independently energized. When all first electrodes 3146 are energized, a relatively uniform electric field can be generated between the first transparent conductive film 3145 and the second transparent conductive film 3147. Under the action of this electric field, the optical transmittance of the entire functional layer will change. Therefore, the neutral density filter 314 can adjust the amount of light entering the entire area of ​​the light-emitting surface of the optical lens. When some first electrodes 3146 are energized, a relatively strong electric field will be generated between the area of ​​the first transparent conductive film 3145 near the energized first electrode 3146 and the second transparent conductive film 3147. No electric field or a relatively weak electric field will be generated between the area of ​​the first transparent conductive film 3145 near the unenergized first electrode 3146 and the second transparent conductive film 3147. Under this electric field distribution, the optical transmittance of some areas of the functional layer will change, while the optical transmittance of other areas will not change significantly. Therefore, the neutral density filter 314 can adjust the amount of light entering the light-emitting surface of some areas of the optical lens. As can be seen, this light-reducing filter 314, which employs multiple first electrodes 3146, can control the amount of light entering the light-emitting surface of the optical lens in sections, enabling the camera module to adapt to the shooting needs of various scenarios.

[0108] In one implementation, the multiple first electrodes 3146 can be powered through different second connection portions 3152 (refer to FIG. 7), that is, the second connection portions 3152 are provided in a one-to-one correspondence with the second connection. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the first leads 31461 of the four first electrodes 3146 are relatively dispersed from each other, so they can be powered through the four second connection portions 3152 respectively.

[0109] In another implementation, at least two adjacent first electrodes 3146 can be powered through the same second connection portion 3152 (refer to FIG. 7), thereby reducing the number of second connection portions 3152 and simplifying the structural design of the light control assembly 310. In this case, the first leads 31461 of adjacent first electrodes 3146 can be designed in a bent shape, and the first leads 31461 of adjacent first electrodes 3146 can be brought closer together to reduce the distance between the first leads 31461 of adjacent first electrodes 3146, so as to facilitate electrical connection with the same second connection portion 3152. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, eight first electrodes 3146 can be powered through four second connection portions 3152, with every two first electrodes 3146 electrically connected to one second connection portion 3152.

[0110] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second electrode 3148 can also be electrically connected to the first peripheral region 31422 by setting an adapter electrode 3149, thereby reducing the difficulty of electrically connecting the neutral density filter and the second connection portion 3152. The connection method and relative position relationship between the adapter electrode 3149 and the second electrode 3148 can be referred to the description in the previous embodiments, and will not be repeated here. The adapter electrode 3149 can be disposed close to the first lead-out end 31461 of one or more of the first electrodes 3146, so that it is powered through the same second connection portion 3152 as the one or more first electrodes 3146.

[0111] For example, referring to the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the adapter electrode 3149 can be electrically connected to the same second connection portion 3152 with the two first electrodes 3146. This second connection portion 3152 has two first electrode lines and one second electrode line. One end of each first electrode line is electrically connected to a first lead-out terminal 31461, and the other end of each first electrode line is electrically connected to an output terminal a of the second line in the bending portion 31512. One end of the second electrode line is electrically connected to the adapter electrode 3149, and the other end is electrically connected to an output terminal a of the second line in the bending portion 31512. It can be seen that for the bending portion 31512 electrically connected to this second connection portion 3152, two output terminals of the second line in the bending portion 31512 are used to output the voltage required by the two first electrodes 3146, and the other output terminal is used to output the voltage required by the second electrode 3148.

[0112] It should be noted that the first peripheral region 31422 may be provided with at least two transition electrodes 3149. Correspondingly, the second electrode 3148 includes at least two second leads 31481, each lead being electrically connected to one transition electrode 3149. For example, Figure 12 shows a case where the first peripheral region 31422 is provided with two transition electrodes 3149. The positions of the at least two transition electrodes 3149 in the first peripheral region 31422 can be relatively dispersed, so that the two transition electrodes 3149 can be electrically connected to different second connection portions 3152. This reduces the current carrying capacity requirement of a single second connection portion and reduces the heat generation of the second connection portion, thus helping to improve the overall operational reliability of the electrical connection structure.

[0113] Figure 13 is a partial structural cross-sectional view of the light control component 310 shown in Figure 5 at section BB. Referring to Figure 13, in this embodiment, an neutral density filter 314 is disposed on the cover plate 311, and the neutral density filter 314 at least partially covers the first through hole 3111 of the cover plate 311. In one implementation, the neutral density filter 314 completely covers the first through hole 3111, or in other words, the neutral density filter 314 can block the first through hole 3111 of the cover plate 311. The cover plate 311 includes a first surface 311a facing away from the base, and the first surface 311a of the cover plate 311 is provided with a groove 3113. At least a portion of the first through hole 3111 is located at the bottom of the groove 3113, and at least a portion of the neutral density filter 314 is disposed in the groove 3113 and covers the first through hole 3111.

[0114] In one implementation, the surface of the light-reducing filter 314 facing away from the base 312 is flush with the first surface 311a. In this way, the light-reducing filter 314 does not occupy additional height space of the light control component 310. In other words, the height of the light control component 310 obtained by integrating the light-reducing filter 314 with the variable aperture 313 is basically the same as the original height of the variable aperture, thus the overall size of the camera module can be reduced more effectively.

[0115] In another implementation, the side surface of the neutral density filter 314 facing away from the base 312 is located in the groove 3113. That is, the height of the side surface of the neutral density filter 314 facing away from the base 312 is lower than the height of 311a, so that the neutral density filter 314 will not occupy additional height space of the light control component 310.

[0116] In some embodiments, along the thickness direction of the cover plate 311, the distance between the side surface of the neutral density filter 314 facing the base 312 (i.e., the surface of the second substrate 3143 facing away from the first substrate 3142) and the variable aperture 313 (see FIG. 6) is greater than or equal to 0.43 mm. Specifically, this distance can be the distance between the side surface of the neutral density filter 314 facing the base 312 and the blades of the variable aperture 313. This design reduces the risk of collision between the neutral density filter 314 and the blades, thereby improving the structural reliability of the light control assembly 310.

[0117] Additionally, the first surface 311a of the cover plate 311 may be provided with one or more gaskets 316, the side of the gasket 316 facing away from the base 312 protruding from the first surface 311a. Exemplarily, the height difference between the side of the gasket 316 facing away from the base 312 and the first surface 311a may be greater than or equal to 50 μm, and the cross-sectional area of ​​each gasket 316 in the direction perpendicular to the thickness of the cover plate 311 may be greater than or equal to 1 mm². 2The spacer 316 can reduce the risk of collision between the surface of the light-reducing film 314 facing away from the base 312 (i.e. the surface of the first substrate 3142 facing away from the second substrate 3143) and the second cover plate 213 of the mobile phone (see Figure 3), thereby improving the structural reliability of the light control assembly 310.

[0118] Figure 14 is a structural schematic diagram of the cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application from one perspective. Referring to Figures 13 and 14 together, the first surface 311a of the cover plate 311 is provided with a slot 3114, and the slot 3114 is provided one-to-one with the gasket 316. Each gasket 316 can be fixed in the corresponding slot 3114. Exemplarily, the gasket 316 can be fixed to the bottom of the slot 3114 by adhesive bonding. When there are multiple slots 3114, the projection of each slot 3114 in the thickness direction of the cover plate 311 can cover the projection of a fixing hole 3112 in the thickness direction of the cover plate 311. It can also be understood that the fixing hole 3112 is connected to the corresponding slot 3114. The gasket 316 is provided with a locking hole 3161. The fixing post 31231 of the base 312 (see Figure 6) can extend from the fixing hole into the slot 3114 and be inserted into the locking hole 3161 of the gasket 316. In this way, the connection reliability between the base 312 and the cover plate 311 can be further improved by the cooperation of the fixing post 31231 and the locking hole 3161.

[0119] In some embodiments, the groove 3113 on the first surface 311a of the cover plate 311 is an annular stepped groove. The groove 3113 includes a first sub-groove 31131 and a second sub-groove 31132. The first sub-groove 31131 is disposed on the first surface 311a, and the second sub-groove 31132 is disposed at the bottom of the first sub-groove 31131, thus forming a stepped structure between the bottom of the first sub-groove 31131 and the bottom of the second sub-groove 31132. The first peripheral area of ​​the first substrate 3142 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the first sub-groove 31131, and the second peripheral area of ​​the second substrate 3143 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the second sub-groove 31132, so that the neutral density filter 314 can be integrally installed in the stepped groove 3113. In a specific implementation, the first peripheral area can be bonded and fixed to the bottom of the first sub-groove 31131, and the second peripheral area can also be bonded and fixed to the bottom of the second sub-groove 31132.

[0120] In addition, the depth of the first sub-groove 31131 can be approximately equal to the thickness of the first substrate 3142, and the depth of the second sub-groove 31132 can be approximately equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the second substrate 3143 and the functional layer 3141, so as to improve the fitting degree between the light-reducing sheet 314 and the groove, thereby improving the compactness of the assembly structure of the cover plate 311 and the light-reducing sheet 314.

[0121] In some embodiments, the light control assembly 310 further includes a buffer ring 317, which is disposed within the first sub-groove 31131 and along the radial direction of the cover plate 311. The buffer ring 317 is positioned between the outer periphery of the first substrate 3142 and the groove wall of the first sub-groove 31131. The buffer ring 317 can prevent the first substrate 3142 from breaking due to rigid collision with the cover plate 311, thereby improving the reliability of the neutral density filter 314. For example, the buffer ring 317 can be made of rubber, plastic, or other materials with a certain degree of elasticity. The buffer ring 317 can be interference-fitted between the first substrate 3142 and the groove wall of the first sub-groove 31131, or it can be bonded and fixed to the bottom of the first sub-groove 31131.

[0122] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of the cover plate 311 shown in Figure 14 at a CC section perpendicular to its thickness direction. Referring to Figures 13 to 15, the cover plate 311 is provided with a receiving groove 3115. The receiving groove 3115 has a first opening 31151 and a second opening 31152 that communicate with each other. The first opening 31151 communicates with a recess 3113, and the second opening 31152 faces the end of the first connecting portion 3151 used for connecting with the second connecting portion 3152 (i.e., the end of the bent portion 31512 away from the main body). The second connecting portion 3152 can be disposed within the receiving groove 3115, which facilitates both the connection of the second connecting portion 3152 with the bent portion 31512 of the first connecting portion 3151 and the electrical connection of the second connecting portion 3152 with the neutral density filter 314 disposed within the recess 3113. Furthermore, the second connecting part 3152 does not occupy the space of the light control assembly 310 in the height direction, thus helping to reduce the overall height of the light control assembly 310.

[0123] The number of receiving slots 3115 can be designed according to the number of second connecting parts 3152. For example, Figure 14 shows a case where the cover plate 311 is provided with four receiving slots 3115. The four receiving slots 3115 accommodate four second connecting parts 3152 in a one-to-one correspondence. The light-reducing filter 314 is powered through the four second connecting parts 3152.

[0124] In this embodiment, the first opening 31151 of the receiving groove 3115 is formed at the bottom of the first sub-groove 31131, and the second opening 31152 of the receiving groove 3115 is formed on the peripheral surface of the cover plate 311. Thus, the end of the second connecting portion 3152 near the bent portion can be electrically connected to the bent portion 31512 through the second opening 31152, while the end of the second connecting portion 3152 away from the bent portion 31512 can be exposed within the first opening 31151. The corresponding area of ​​the first peripheral region of the first substrate 3142 can also be exposed within the first opening 31151. As mentioned above, the first lead-out end and the transition electrode of the neutral density filter 314, used for electrical connection with the second connecting portion 3152, are both located in the first peripheral region of the first substrate 3142. By rationally designing the positions of the first lead-out end and the transition electrode, the first lead-out end and the transition electrode can be exposed within the first opening 31151. In this way, the second connection part 3152 can be electrically connected to the first lead-out end and the adapter electrode through the first opening 31151.

[0125] In one implementation, the end of the second connecting portion 3152 away from the bending portion 31512 can be designed in a bent shape. Specifically, the end of the second connecting portion 3152 away from the bending portion 31512 can be bent toward the bottom of the first sub-slot 31131 so that the second connecting portion 3152 can fit into the first peripheral area and realize electrical connection with the first lead-out terminal and the adapter electrode.

[0126] Figure 16 is a structural schematic diagram of the cover plate provided in an embodiment of this application from another perspective. Referring to Figures 15 and 16 together, the cover plate 311 includes a second surface 311b, which is disposed opposite to the first surface. The second surface 311b of the cover plate 311 is provided with a plurality of clearance grooves, which can be divided into a first clearance groove 3116 and a second clearance groove 3117. The first clearance groove 3116 is strip-shaped and can be used to avoid the first hinge shaft 31311 (see Figure 7). The second clearance groove 3117 is circular and can be used to avoid the second hinge shaft 312211 (see Figure 7). The end of the first hinge shaft 31311 away from the rotating ring 3131 extends into the first clearance groove 3116, and the end of the second hinge shaft 312211 away from the base plate 3122 extends into the second clearance groove 3117. This design can compress the space between the cover plate 311 and the base 312, thereby helping to shorten the height of the light control assembly 310.

[0127] Furthermore, when the cover plate 311 includes multiple clearance slots (including the first clearance slot 3116 and the second clearance slot 3117), the orthographic projection of the receiving slot 3115 in the thickness direction of the cover plate 311 does not coincide with the orthographic projection of the clearance slot in the thickness direction of the cover plate 311. In other words, the receiving slot 3115 can be positioned to avoid interference with each clearance slot. This reduces the thickness requirement of the cover plate 311 while avoiding interference between the receiving slot 3115 and the clearance slots, thereby helping to reduce the overall height of the light control assembly 310. Due to the clearance design of the receiving slot 3115, the shape of the receiving slot 3115 can be varied, such as the straight or broken shape shown in Figure 13, or other shapes. This application does not specifically limit this. The second connecting portion can also be designed accordingly based on the shape of the receiving slot 3115 to adapt to it.

[0128] It is worth mentioning that, in the example where one end of the second connecting part is designed with a bent shape, the second connecting part can be inserted into the receiving groove 3115 from the end of the receiving groove away from the peripheral surface of the cover plate 311. Furthermore, when the shape of the receiving groove 3115 is not linear, the end of the receiving groove 3115 away from the peripheral surface of the cover plate 311 can extend to communicate with the first through hole 3111, thereby facilitating the insertion of the second connecting part, which is also non-linear, into the receiving groove 3115.

[0129] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A light control component, characterized in that, Includes a housing, a variable aperture, a neutral density filter, and an electrical connection structure, wherein: The housing is provided with a first through hole; The variable aperture is located inside the housing, and the variable aperture includes an aperture hole disposed opposite to the first through hole; The light-reducing sheet is disposed on the housing, and the light-reducing sheet at least partially covers the first through hole. The light-reducing sheet includes a functional layer disposed opposite to the first through hole. The light-reducing sheet is used to make the functional layer have different optical transmittance under different power supply voltages. The electrical connection structure includes a first connection part and a second connection part. The first connection part is used for electrical connection with an external power supply device. The second connection part is electrically connected to the first connection part and is electrically connected to the neutral density filter.

2. The light control component as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The electrical connection structure further includes a third connection part, which is electrically connected to the first connection part and to the variable aperture.

3. The light control component as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The housing includes a base and a cover plate connected to each other. The cover plate includes a first surface facing away from the base. The first surface is provided with a groove, and the first through hole is located at the bottom of the groove. At least a portion of the light-reducing sheet is disposed within the groove and covers the first through hole.

4. The light control component as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The surface of the neutral density filter facing away from the base is located within the groove; or, the surface of the neutral density filter facing away from the base is flush with the first surface.

5. The light control component as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The variable aperture includes multiple blades arranged around the optical axis, the multiple blades surrounding the aperture hole, and the cover plate is disposed opposite to the blades; Along the optical axis, the distance between the surface of the neutral density filter facing the base and the blade is greater than or equal to 0.43 mm.

6. The light control component according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that, The groove is an annular stepped groove, and the groove includes a first sub-groove and a second sub-groove. The first sub-groove is disposed on the first surface, the second sub-groove is disposed at the bottom of the first sub-groove, and the first through hole is formed at the bottom of the second sub-groove. The light-reducing film further includes a first substrate and a second substrate, which are disposed on opposite sides of the functional layer. The first substrate includes a first peripheral region extending beyond the edge of the functional layer, and the second substrate includes a second peripheral region extending beyond the edge of the functional layer. The outer periphery of the first peripheral region extends beyond the outer periphery of the second peripheral region. The first substrate is fixed to the bottom of the first sub-slot, and the second peripheral region is fixed to the bottom of the second sub-slot.

7. The light control component as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The light control component also includes a buffer ring, which is disposed in the first sub-groove and along the radial direction of the cover plate. The buffer ring is disposed between the outer peripheral side of the first substrate and the groove wall of the first sub-groove.

8. The light control component as described in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The first substrate includes a first central region disposed opposite to the functional layer, a first transparent conductive film disposed on the surface of the first central region facing the second substrate, and a first electrode disposed on the surface of the first peripheral region facing the second substrate, the first electrode being electrically connected to the first transparent conductive film. The second substrate includes a second central region disposed opposite to the functional layer. A second transparent conductive film is disposed on the surface of the second central region facing the first substrate. A second electrode is disposed on the surface of the second peripheral region facing the first substrate. The second electrode is electrically connected to the second transparent conductive film.

9. The light control component as described in claim 8, characterized in that, There is one first electrode, which is arranged in a ring around the first central region. A first lead-out terminal is provided on the outer periphery of the first electrode, and the first lead-out terminal is electrically connected to the second connecting portion; or... There are multiple first electrodes, which are distributed circumferentially along the first peripheral area. Each first electrode includes an arc-shaped portion and a first lead-out end. The arc-shaped portion extends circumferentially around the first central area, and the first lead-out end is disposed on the side of the arc-shaped portion facing away from the first central area. The first lead-out end is electrically connected to the second connecting portion.

10. The light control component as described in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, There is one second electrode, which is arranged in a ring around the second central region, and a second lead is provided on the outer periphery of the second electrode; A transfer electrode is provided on the surface of the first peripheral region facing the second substrate. The transfer electrode is insulated from the first electrode and is electrically connected to the second lead and the second connection portion, respectively.

11. The light control component according to any one of claims 6-10, characterized in that, The cover plate is formed with a receiving groove, the receiving groove having a first opening and a second opening that are interconnected, the first opening communicating with the groove, and the second opening facing the end of the first connecting portion for connection with the second connecting portion; The second connecting part is disposed within the receiving groove.

12. The light control component as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The first opening of the receiving groove is formed at the bottom of the first sub-groove, and the second opening of the receiving groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the cover plate.

13. The light control component as described in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that, The cover plate includes a second surface facing the base, and the second surface is provided with a plurality of clearance grooves for avoiding the variable aperture; The orthographic projection of the receiving groove in the thickness direction of the cover plate does not coincide with the orthographic projection of the plurality of clearance grooves in the thickness direction of the cover plate.

14. The light control component according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, The first connecting part includes a main body and a bent part. The main body is fixed to the base. One end of the bent part is connected to the main body and extends toward the cover plate. The other end of the bent part is electrically connected to the second connecting part.

15. The light control component as described in claim 14, characterized in that, The base includes a base plate and a plurality of fixing parts disposed on the periphery of the base plate. The plurality of fixing parts extend toward the cover plate and are fixedly connected to the cover plate. The fixing part is provided with a fixing groove extending along the height direction of the base, and the bending part is disposed in the fixing groove.

16. The light control component according to any one of claims 2-15, characterized in that, The first surface is provided with one or more pads, and the side surface of the pad facing away from the base protrudes from the first surface.

17. A camera module, characterized in that, It includes an optical lens and a light control component as described in any one of claims 1-16, wherein the light control component is disposed on the light-incident surface side of the optical lens.

18. An electronic device, characterized in that, It includes a housing and a camera module as described in claim 17, wherein the camera module is disposed within the housing.

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