Lens Cover Avoidance Space for Thin Camera Module Focusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of lens assemblies with wide apertures and large optical formats in electronic devices results in increased total track length, hindering the thinning of these devices.
Innovation Solution
A lens assembly with a lens cover that extends out of the housing along the optical axis to create an avoidance space, allowing the lens assembly or individual lenses to move along the axis for focusing, and retract when not in use, coupled with independent driving apparatuses for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the lens assembly uses more optical elements to achieve wide aperture and large optical format, then imaging quality is improved, but the total track length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens cover is designed to be movable along the optical axis, transitioning between extended and retracted positions. When extended, it creates avoidance space for the lens assembly to achieve proper focusing distance. When retracted, it minimizes the overall thickness of the camera module, thus resolving the contradiction between imaging quality requirements and device thinning.
2Manufacturing precision
If the lens assembly is designed with wide aperture and large optical format, then imaging performance is improved, but the camera module thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lens cover moves along the optical axis to create avoidance space when needed for imaging, allowing the lens assembly to achieve proper optical format and aperture. When not in use, the lens cover retracts to minimize the camera module's thickness, thus maintaining both imaging performance and device thinning.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens assembly is nested within the housing, and the lens cover can be retracted into the housing structure. This nesting arrangement allows the camera module to achieve compact thickness when the lens components are retracted, while still providing sufficient space for high-quality imaging when extended.
3Ease of operation
If the lens cover extends to create avoidance space for focusing, then focusing function is improved, but the camera module occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The lens cover is designed as a movable component that extends only when focusing is required, creating avoidance space for the lens assembly to adjust its position. When focusing is not needed, the lens cover retracts to minimize the camera module's occupied space, thus resolving the contradiction between focusing functionality and space occupancy.
Data Source
AI summary
An example electronic device is provided, including a housing, a lens cover, and a lens assembly disposed in the housing. The lens assembly includes a plurality of lenses sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The lens assembly satisfies a conditional expression: 0.7<IH/(4*F #)<6, where IH is a total image height of the lens assembly, and F # is an F-number of the lens assembly. At least one lens that is in the lens assembly and that is close to the object side is configured to move along the optical axis. An equivalent focal length of the lens assembly is between 18 mm and 30 mm.