Camera Module Aperture Mechanism with Position Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera modules in portable electronic devices face challenges in incorporating a mechanical aperture due to structural limitations, leading to weight increase and potential obstruction during autofocus, and difficulty in accurately positioning the aperture driving part.
Innovation Solution
A camera module design featuring a housing with a lens module, an aperture module with movable blades forming incident holes of different sizes, a driving magnet, a coil, and a position sensor, allowing for accurate positioning and minimization of weight increase by fixing the driving part in precise positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical aperture is provided in camera modules for portable electronic devices, then the aperture can change the amount of incident light, but the weight of the camera module increases and the autofocusing function degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture module is integrated with the lens module sharing a common housing structure. The aperture blades are positioned within the lens module's optical path, eliminating the need for a separate aperture housing and reducing overall weight while maintaining aperture functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The moving part structure serves dual purposes: it controls the aperture blades to adjust incident light and simultaneously functions as part of the autofocus mechanism. The driving magnet and coil assembly provides both aperture control and autofocus drive capabilities, reducing redundant components and weight.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical aperture with power connection parts is provided, then the aperture can be driven, but the power connection parts obstruct the lens movement during autofocus adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The power connection parts are extracted from the aperture blade structure and integrated into the stationary housing. The driving magnet is positioned on the moving part while the coil is fixed to the housing, separating the power delivery path from the moving components to eliminate obstructions to lens movement.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible printed circuit board or magnetic coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary to transmit power and control signals to the moving aperture blades without physical contact. This allows the blades to move freely for both aperture adjustment and autofocus operations without obstruction from rigid power connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If aperture modules with various diameters are installed in a narrow space, then multiple aperture sizes can be achieved, but it is difficult to confirm whether the driving part has realized the correct diameter at an accurate position
Solution Approach 1:
A position sensor is integrated into the housing to detect the position of the moving part that controls the aperture blades. The sensor provides real-time feedback on the aperture diameter, allowing the system to confirm whether the driving part has reached the correct position for the desired aperture size, enabling precise control in narrow spaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables accurate realization of various aperture diameters, minimizes weight increase, and maintains autofocus and shake correction performance without degrading the autofocusing function.
Implementation Method 1
a moving part, including a driving magnet facing a driving coil, linearly reciprocates
Implementation Method 2
a position sensor configured to sense a position of the moving part according to interaction with the driving magnet
Data Source
AI summary
A camera module includes a housing having a lens module, an aperture module provided above the lens module and including blades that form incident holes having different sizes in multiple stages or successively, a moving part configured to linearly reciprocate to drive the blades, including a driving magnet facing a driving coil, a position sensor configured to sense a position of the moving part according to interaction with the driving magnet, and a controller configured to receive a signal from the position sensor and confirm or correct the position of the moving part.