Camera Module Thermal Deformable Material Fixation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional camera modules with threadless lens barrel and holder combinations face issues during transportation, as they tend to tremble and are prone to dust ingress, and once glued, they become difficult to rework if focus adjustment is not accurate, risking damage to expensive components.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a thermal deformable material between the lens barrel and holder, which contacts both surfaces without gaps, allowing for secure transportation, dust prevention, and flexible adjustment during focus adjustment, and can be easily removed for reassembly without damaging the components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the lens barrel and holder are combined in a threadless manner with a gap for glue filling, then focus adjustment is enabled, but the combination becomes unstable during transportation and prone to dust ingress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus adjustment capabilityVSAvoidstability during transportation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A thermal shrinkable material is introduced as an intermediary component between the lens barrel and holder. This material fills the gap while allowing focus adjustment, and when shrunk, provides stable fixation that prevents trembling and dust ingress during transportation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal shrinkable material changes its physical parameters (shape and volume) in response to temperature changes. When heated, it shrinks to tightly fit around the lens barrel, providing stable mechanical fixation that eliminates the instability problem during transportation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the lens barrel and holder are fixed with strong binding glue after focus adjustment, then the combination is secured, but rework becomes difficult and expensive components may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation strengthVSAvoidrework capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal shrinkable material provides dynamic fixation - it can be easily removed by heating to allow rework, and provides strong binding when shrunk. This replaces the static strong binding of traditional glue with a controllable, reversible fixation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal shrinkable material can be easily removed and reused for rework scenarios. Unlike traditional glue that damages expensive components during forced disassembly, this material allows safe removal and potential reuse, reducing waste and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If the lens barrel and holder are pre-locked in advance with thread engagement, then transportation stability is improved, but focus adjustment capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransportation stabilityVSAvoidfocus adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal shrinkable material is pre-installed around the lens barrel before final assembly. This preliminary action enables both future focus adjustment and subsequent stable fixation when shrunk, unlike traditional thread engagement that locks everything in place immediately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 thermal deformable material stabilizes the lens barrel and holder during transport, prevents dust ingress, allows for flexible focus adjustment, and enables rework without damaging the components, thus reducing labor and costs.

Implementation Method 1

the thermal deformable material shrinks and wraps around the lens barrel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal contraction: Thermal Contraction

Implementation Method 2

blocking dust from entering the gap between the lens barrel and the holder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 3

allowing the adjustment of the lens barrel with respect to the holder during the focus adjusting process, due to the flexibility of the thermal deformable material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11327268B2Camera module with thermal deformable material

Publication Date: 2022.05.10 SPRING RAINBOW OPTICS CO LTD

AI summary

A camera module includes a lens assembly, a holder, and a thermal deformable material. The lens assembly includes at least one lens and a lens barrel, wherein the lens barrel includes a wall surrounding a central axis of the lens assembly to define a receiving chamber, and the lens is disposed in the receiving chamber. The holder surrounds the lens barrel and supports the lens assembly. The thermal deformable material is disposed between an outer wall of the lens barrel and an inner wall of the holder.