Camera Lens Sealing Engagement for Foreign Material Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Foreign material accumulation in the image sensing area of small image sensors in electronic devices, such as cellular telephones, degrades image quality and leads to rejected cameras, as existing foreign material traps are ineffective in preventing material entry during early manufacturing stages.
Innovation Solution
A camera assembly design featuring a lens assembly with an external, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end and an external unthreaded lower end, which engages sealingly with the camera body before threadingly securing, reducing foreign material interference by sealing the image sensing area before final thread engagement, and including a light filter between the image sensor and lens assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If foreign material traps are used to reduce foreign material, then foreign material reduction is improved, but the traps are ineffective during early manufacturing stages when foreign material entry occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly is designed with an unthreaded lower end that creates a sealing engagement with the camera body before the threaded upper end is fully engaged. This preliminary sealing action occurs during the initial assembly phase, preventing foreign material entry during early manufacturing stages before any lens focusing or threading operations take place.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens assembly engagement is divided into two distinct phases: first the unthreaded lower end provides initial sealing engagement, then the threaded upper end provides final securing. This segmentation allows the sealing function to be performed independently before the threading operation, ensuring protection against foreign material from the outset.
2Strength
If the lens assembly is threadingly engaged to secure it in the camera body, then mechanical security is improved, but foreign material is generated from the threading process that can interfere with the image sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The unthreaded lower end of the lens assembly creates a sealing engagement with the camera body before the threaded upper end is engaged. This preliminary sealing action establishes a protective barrier that prevents foreign material generated during the subsequent threading process from entering the image sensing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The unthreaded lower end acts as an intermediary sealing element between the lens assembly and camera body. It provides initial protection and establishes a clean interface before the threaded engagement occurs, mediating the interaction between these components to prevent foreign material contamination.
3Reliability
If the external unthreaded lower end of the lens assembly has a greater height than the internal threaded upper end of the camera body, then sealing engagement is improved, but the overall assembly height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens assembly height is segmented into functional zones: the unthreaded lower end provides sealing engagement with greater height to ensure proper sealing, while the threaded upper end has reduced height to minimize overall assembly dimensions. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.
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
Effectively reduces foreign material entry into the image sensing area, particularly during manufacturing, thereby enhancing image quality and reducing camera rejection rates by ensuring a clean optical path from the outset.
Implementation Method 1
The external unthreaded lower end of the lens assembly may sealingly engage the internal, unthreaded lower end of the camera body prior to the external, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end of the lens assembly threadingly engaging the internal, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end of the camera body
Implementation Method 2
The camera assembly may further include a light filter between the image sensor and the lens assembly, for example. The light filter may be an infrared (IR) light filter.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera assembly may include a printed circuit board (PCB), an image sensor carried by the PCB, and a lens assembly carried by the PCB and having an external, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end, and an external, unthreaded lower end. The camera assembly may further include a camera body having a lens assembly opening aligned between the image sensor and the lens assembly. The lens assembly opening may have an internal, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end, and an internal unthreaded lower end. The external unthreaded lower end of the lens assembly may sealingly engage the internal, unthreaded lower end of the camera body prior to the external, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end of the lens assembly threadingly engaging the internal, enlarged diameter, threaded upper end of the camera body.