Light Guide Camera Module Layout for Thin Wide-Angle Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic apparatuses face challenges in achieving a thin and lightweight design while maintaining effective camera functionality, particularly in terms of lens arrangement and light propagation paths.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a lens group and a light guide member with a reflective surface and curved incident surface to redirect external light into an imaging device, allowing for a perpendicular arrangement of lens groups and a curved exit surface to enhance light refraction and minimize physical size, thereby optimizing the camera module's thickness and expanding the visual field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a conventional lens system is used in the electronic apparatus, then the camera module can capture images, but the thickness and weight of the electronic apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by redirecting the light path from a straight transmission through the lens to a folded path using a light guide member with reflective surfaces. The light enters the light guide member, reflects off internal surfaces, and exits to reach the imaging device, effectively folding the optical path into a compact configuration that reduces the thickness direction dimension while maintaining imaging functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member acts as an intermediary component between the lens and the imaging device. It receives light from the lens, guides it through internal reflection, and delivers it to the imaging device, enabling a compact arrangement that would not be possible with direct lens-to-sensor alignment
2Length of moving object
If the lens system is made thinner to reduce device thickness, then the device becomes more compact, but the visual field and shooting scene are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member folds the optical path in multiple directions using reflective surfaces, allowing light from a wider angular range to reach the imaging device. This dimensional folding enables a broader visual field within a thin profile by redirecting oblique light rays that would otherwise miss the sensor in a conventional thin lens design
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member incorporates curved reflective surfaces that are optimized to redirect light rays from various angles toward the imaging device. The curved geometry enhances the light gathering capability from oblique directions, expanding the effective visual field while maintaining a compact form factor
3Illumination intensity
If the lens group width is increased to improve light gathering, then more light reaches the imaging device, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide member serves as an intermediary that concentrates and redirects light efficiently. By using total internal reflection and optimized surface geometry, it maximizes light transmission to the imaging device without requiring a larger lens aperture or more complex multi-element lens groups
Solution Approach 2:
The light guide member utilizes total internal reflection, a self-contained optical phenomenon where light is reflected within the medium itself without requiring additional reflective coatings or external components. This self-service mechanism efficiently guides light through the structure while minimizing losses and maintaining simplicity
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 solution enables a thinner and lighter electronic apparatus with an expanded shooting scene and improved screen occupation ratio, while maintaining image quality and light efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a reflective surface and a curved incident surface formed by extending toward an outside of the light guide member; wherein the reflective surface is used for reflecting external light incident from the incident surface to the imaging device
Implementation Method 2
a curved incident surface formed by extending toward an outside of the light guide member; wherein the reflective surface is used for reflecting external light incident from the incident surface
Implementation Method 3
the light guide member further includes: a curved exit surface formed to be recessed toward an inside of the light guide member, and the exit surface refracts the external light reflected by the reflective surface to the imaging device
Implementation Method 4
The external light reflected by the reflective surface may be the external light which is totally reflected on the reflective surface
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a camera module and an electronic apparatus, the camera module includes: an imaging device (2); and a lens (1) including: a lens group (11) and a light guide member (12), wherein the light guide member (12) includes: a reflective surface (122) and a curved incident surface (121) formed by extending toward an outside of the light guide member (12), and wherein the reflective surface (122) is used for reflecting external light incident from the incident surface (121) to the imaging device (2).