Light-Folded Camera Module with Reduced Focus Bearing Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in developing camera modules for portable electronic devices is to improve image quality while maintaining a compact size and reducing the bearing load of focus driving devices, while also ensuring high precision and efficient energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A light-folded camera module design with a reflecting element, a first and second lens assembly, and an image sensor, where the reflecting element is fixed on a carrier and folds imaging light between incident and exiting axes, allowing the first lens assembly to move parallel to the incident axis with a focus driving device, and optionally includes image stabilization, to achieve a compact size and efficient focus mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional camera module design is used, then the structure is simple, but the image quality cannot be improved and the device size cannot be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light folding mechanism that changes the optical path from a straight linear path to a folded path with multiple reflections. This dimensional transformation allows the optical system to achieve longer effective focal length and better image quality while maintaining a compact physical footprint, directly resolving the contradiction between image quality and module size
2Ease of operation
If the first lens assembly is moved along the incident axis for focusing, then the focusing function is achieved, but the bearing load on the focus driving device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a light folding mechanism with reflecting elements as an intermediary between the object and the image sensor. This intermediary changes the optical path geometry, allowing the first lens assembly to move a shorter distance along the incident axis to achieve the same focusing effect, thereby reducing the bearing load on the focus driving device while maintaining the focusing function
3Volume of moving object
If the light path is folded using a reflecting element, then the camera module size is reduced, but the alignment precision between lens assemblies and reflecting element must be high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the second lens assembly with the fixing carrier, making them move together as a unified structure. This integration reduces the number of independent alignment interfaces and simplifies the precision requirements, as the reflecting element only needs to maintain alignment with the integrated second lens assembly and fixing carrier unit, thereby reducing the overall alignment precision burden while maintaining the compact folded design
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 design achieves high image quality, reduces the bearing load on focus driving devices, consumes less energy, and allows for precise focusing within a limited space, while providing optical image stabilization.
Implementation Method 1
The reflecting element is for folding an imaging light of the light-folded camera module from the incident axis to the exiting axis
Implementation Method 2
The second lens assembly is for providing an optical refractive power of the light-folded camera module along with the first lens assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A light-folded camera module has an incident axis and an exiting axis, and includes a fixing carrier, a reflecting element, a first lens assembly, a second lens assembly and an image sensor. The reflecting element is for folding an imaging light of the light-folded camera module from the incident axis to the exiting axis. The reflecting element includes an incident surface and an exiting surface. The second lens assembly is for providing an optical refractive power of the light-folded camera module along with the first lens assembly. The image sensor is for receiving the imaging light of the light-folded camera module. The light-folded camera module further includes a focus driving device, and a degrees of freedom and a driving force for the first lens assembly to be moved along a direction parallel to the incident axis are provided.