Camera Module Dustproof Extension Member Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional camera assemblies in mobile devices are prone to contamination due to micron-sized dust entering the imaging region, leading to defects and reduced yield, with existing solutions either compromising miniaturization or increasing manufacturing costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A camera assembly design featuring a hollow lens base with a smaller inner diameter first accommodation chamber and a larger second accommodation chamber, where the lens cone has an extension member that moves within the chamber, ensuring the end surface of the extension member remains below the opening, preventing dust from entering the imaging region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If dustproof structures are added inside the motor during design, then the dustproof level is improved, but the size of the motor increases, which is adverse to the miniaturization of the mobile device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust contaminationVSAvoidmotor size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The motor structure is segmented into functional zones: the rotor assembly (with lens driving function) and the stator assembly (with dustproof function). The dustproof groove is specifically positioned in the stator, separating the dustproof function from the rotor's movement function, allowing miniaturization of the moving parts while maintaining dust protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A dustproof groove structure acts as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the imaging region. This groove captures and contains dust particles before they can enter the imaging region, serving as a protective mediator without requiring the entire motor to be enlarged.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the dustproof level of the production environment is increased, then the camera assembly contamination is reduced, but it requires more devices, places and workforce, resulting in poor stability and increased cost in the manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust contaminationVSAvoidmanufacturing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The camera assembly incorporates self-service dust protection through the integrated dustproof groove in the motor stator and the sealing structure. The design itself provides the dustproof function, eliminating the need for external dustproof facilities, special production environments, or additional dustproof operations during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The dustproof groove and sealing structures are pre-integrated into the motor and camera assembly design before manufacturing. This preliminary incorporation of dustproof features ensures protection against contamination from the outset, eliminating the need for complex post-assembly dustproof measures or specialized production environment controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Volume of moving object

If the inner diameter of the first accommodation chamber is made smaller to improve miniaturization, then the device size is reduced, but it becomes more difficult to prevent dust from entering the imaging region

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera assembly sizeVSAvoiddust entry risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The extension member maintains continuous protective coverage over the opening of the first accommodation chamber throughout the lens cone's movement range. By extending beyond the chamber opening at all times during operation, it ensures uninterrupted dust protection even as the lens cone moves, allowing compact chamber dimensions without compromising dustproof performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The protection strategy shifts from relying solely on the chamber's internal diameter to utilizing the extension member's protrusion in the radial dimension. This dimensional approach allows the first accommodation chamber to have a smaller inner diameter while the extension member provides the necessary dust barrier, effectively decoupling chamber size from dustproof capability.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3480653B1Camera module and terminal
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 VIVO MOBILE COMM CO LTD
  • EP3480653B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3480653B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a camera assembly and a terminal. The camera assembly includes: a hollow lens base, having a first and second accommodation chamber from up to down, an inner diameter of the first accommodation chamber being smaller than that of the second accommodation chamber, the second accommodation chamber being configured to accommodate an image sensor, the top of the first accommodation chamber having an opening; a lens cone, arranged on the lens base and having an extension member at the bottom, an inner diameter of the extension member being greater than an outer dimeter of a side wall of the first accommodation chamber; and a driving motor, connected to the lens cone and configured to control the lens cone to move reciprocally in a predetermined direction. During the reciprocal movement, an end surface of the extension member is always located below a top surface of the first accommodation chamber where the opening is provided.