Flangeless Optical Assembly With 360° Adhesive Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small form factor cameras face issues with the fragility of the bond between the lens barrel and other camera components due to adhesive tension and shear, leading to potential detachment during events like drops, and alignment complexities due to tilting of both the lens and image sensor along the optical axis.
Innovation Solution
An engaging arrangement featuring grooves and protrusions on the lens barrel and carrier, with adhesive dispensed 360 degrees around the optical axis to restrict movement and prevent delamination, including chamfers for even adhesive distribution and capillary action to fill gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive is used to bond the lens barrel to the lens carrier, then the lens barrel can be attached to the lens carrier, but the bond becomes fragile under tension and shear forces causing potential detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive bonding interface is segmented into multiple regions through the engaging arrangement structure. The groove and protrusion divide the adhesive layer into separate zones, creating multiple bonding paths that distribute mechanical stresses. This segmentation prevents concentrated stress at any single point, thereby improving overall bond reliability under tension and shear forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines mechanical engagement (groove and protrusion structure) with chemical bonding (adhesive) to create a composite attachment system. The mechanical interlocking provides structural strength while the adhesive fills gaps and provides additional bonding, creating a synergistic effect that enhances both bond strength and reliability compared to adhesive alone.
2Strength
If adhesive is dispensed to bond the lens barrel, then attachment is achieved, but uneven adhesive distribution causes delamination and tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging arrangement creates localized adhesive zones within the groove and protrusion structure. By confining adhesive to specific regions defined by the mechanical engagement features, the design ensures uniform distribution and prevents excessive adhesive in other areas. This local confinement of adhesive improves both attachment strength and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove and protrusion structure acts as an intermediary that mediates adhesive distribution. These features guide and control the adhesive flow during assembly, ensuring even distribution around the optical axis. The mechanical structure serves as a template that organizes the adhesive material uniformly, preventing delamination and tilt.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lens and image sensor both have compliance in the Z axis, then alignment flexibility is improved, but alignment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging arrangement with groove and protrusion pre-establishes the correct axial position and orientation of the lens barrel relative to the lens carrier before final adhesive bonding. This preliminary mechanical positioning ensures proper alignment even with Z-axis compliance, reducing the complexity of subsequent alignment operations while maintaining flexibility.
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
Enhances the stability and alignment of the lens barrel within the camera module by ensuring even adhesive distribution and compression, reducing the risk of delamination and tilt, thus improving image quality and durability.
Implementation Method 1
capillary action to fill gaps
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments include an engaging arrangement that may be used to attach a lens barrel to a lens carrier of a camera. In some embodiments, the engaging arrangement may restrict movement of the lens barrel relative to the lens carrier along at least an optical axis. In various examples, the engaging arrangement may include one or more grooves and one or more protrusions. For instance, a groove may be defined by the lens barrel or the lens carrier, and a protrusion may extend from the lens barrel or the lens carrier to at least partially into the groove. In some cases, the engaging arrangement may include an adhesive positioned continuously 360 degrees around the engaging arrangement between the lens barrel and the lens carrier.