Camera Module Sub-Housing Structure for Adhesive Overflow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing size of actuators in camera modules leads to adhesive overflow, causing appearance defects and bonding issues.

Innovation Solution

The camera module design includes a sub-housing with protrusions and grooves to guide adhesive flow, preventing overflow and ensuring proper bonding without external adhesive exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the size of actuators is increased to provide additional functions (AF and optical zooming), then the functional capability is improved, but the adhesive bonding area increases causing adhesive overflow and appearance defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional capabilityVSAvoidadhesive overflow

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sub-housing is segmented into multiple surfaces (first surface, second surface, connecting portion) with distinct functions. The first surface provides bonding area, the second surface provides structural support, and the connecting portion guides adhesive flow, preventing overflow while maintaining functional capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connecting portion acts as an intermediary element between the first surface and second surface, controlling and guiding the adhesive flow path. This intermediary structure prevents direct adhesive overflow while ensuring proper bonding between components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the size of actuators is increased to implement AF and optical zooming, then the functional capability is improved, but the amount of bonding required increases causing adhesive overflow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional capabilityVSAvoidadhesive amount

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the sub-housing have different local qualities: the first surface has high bonding capacity, the second surface has structural support properties, and the connecting portion has adhesive flow guidance properties. This local differentiation allows efficient adhesive utilization without overflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If adhesive is applied to bond larger actuators, then the bonding strength is improved, but adhesive flows out of the camera module causing appearance defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonding strengthVSAvoidappearance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting portion, which could be seen as an additional structural element increasing complexity, is converted into a beneficial feature that guides adhesive flow. This structure prevents adhesive overflow (harm) while maintaining strong bonding (benefit), thus converting a potential disadvantage into an advantage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20250350818A1Camera module

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

A camera module includes a lens barrel; a sub-housing disposed on one side of the lens barrel in an optical axis direction of the lens barrel, wherein an optical filter is mounted on the sub-housing; an image sensor disposed on one side of the optical filter in the optical axis direction; and a substrate electrically connected to the image sensor. The sub-housing includes a first surface facing the optical axis direction, a second surface facing a first direction intersecting the optical axis direction, a connecting portion connecting the first surface with the second surface, and a protrusion protruding from the second surface to an outer side of the sub-housing.