Camera Lens Assembly Layout for Thinner Terminal Housings

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a trade-off between the imaging quality of cameras in terminal devices and their portability, as improving imaging quality often increases the device's thickness, compromising portability, and securing structures for cameras further exacerbate this issue.

Innovation Solution

A terminal structural component design featuring a lens component housed in an accommodation groove of a middle frame, secured by a cover plate component with overlapping first and second cover plates, allowing the lens to extend into a through hole in the cover plate, reducing the overall thickness while maintaining stability and impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the optical length of the camera is increased to improve imaging quality, then the imaging quality is improved, but the total length of the camera increases, which increases the thickness of the terminal device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging qualityVSAvoidthickness of terminal device
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lens component is partially embedded within the cover plate component, with part of the lens extending into the through hole of the first cover plate. This nesting arrangement allows the optical path to extend through the cover plate structure, effectively reducing the overall thickness while maintaining the required optical length for imaging quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The design transitions from a linear arrangement where the lens is entirely within the camera housing to a three-dimensional arrangement where the lens extends through the cover plate. By utilizing the vertical dimension and having the lens protrude into the through hole, the optical path is extended without increasing the horizontal footprint, thereby maintaining thinness while achieving sufficient optical length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If securing structures are added to secure the lens component, then the position stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition stability of lens componentVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover plate component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, contains the through hole for lens positioning, and acts as a securing mechanism. By merging these functions into a single integrated component rather than using separate securing structures, the design achieves position stability without significantly increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The first cover plate is designed with a through hole that serves multiple purposes: it allows the lens to extend outward for optical path optimization, provides structural reinforcement, and creates a natural positioning feature. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for additional dedicated securing elements, maintaining simplicity while ensuring stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4723603A1Terminal structure assembly and terminal device
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4723603A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4723603A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4723603A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A terminal structural component and a terminal device are provided and relate to the field of electronic technologies. The terminal structural component includes a lens component, a middle frame, and a cover plate component. Part of the lens component is located in an accommodation groove of the middle frame. The cover plate component includes a first cover plate and a second cover plate. An optical axis direction of the lens component is a first direction. At least part of the middle frame, at least part of the first cover plate, and part of the second cover plate are sequentially connected in the first direction. The first cover plate is provided with a through hole. The second cover plate closes the through hole. The lens component is between the second cover plate and a bottom wall of the accommodation groove. The through hole is in communication with the accommodation groove. Part of the lens component is located in the through hole, so that a length of the lens component and a thickness of the first cover plate partially overlap in the first direction. On the premise of accommodation of the lens component, a thickness of the terminal structural component in the first direction is reduced, which is conducive to lightness and thinness of the terminal structural component.