Liquid Lens Camera Module with Segmented Electrodes for Low-Power Autofocus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera modules with liquid lenses require high voltage drivers to adjust focus steps, leading to increased power consumption and module thickness, and struggle to accurately perform auto-focusing and handshake compensation without increasing the number of lenses, which complicates manufacturing and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A camera module with a liquid lens featuring a core plate containing conductive and nonconductive liquids, an electrode unit, and a control unit that applies voltages to electrode sectors in a sequential and symmetrical manner to adjust the interface between the liquids, allowing for focus step adjustment without increasing unit voltage, thereby reducing power consumption and maintaining image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If voltage is applied to all electrodes of an electrode unit to change the curvature of a liquid interface, then the auto-focusing function is performed, but the unit voltage must be increased to adjust focus step, leading to increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode unit is divided into multiple electrode sectors (first electrode sector, second electrode sector, third electrode sector, fourth electrode sector) that can be controlled independently. This segmentation allows selective voltage application to specific sectors to achieve fine-grained focus adjustment without requiring high voltage across all electrodes, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Different electrode sectors are controlled with different voltage levels based on local requirements. The control unit applies voltage to specific sectors (e.g., first and third sectors, or second and fourth sectors) depending on the desired focus adjustment direction and magnitude, optimizing energy efficiency by activating only the necessary portions of the electrode unit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of lenses is increased to realize various photography functions, then optical performance is improved, but the size of the optical device is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid lens serves multiple functions including auto-focusing, handshake compensation, and optical zoom by dynamically changing the curvature of the liquid interface through voltage control. This single component replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate lenses and mechanical moving parts, achieving versatile photography functions while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid lens uses electrical field control to adjust optical properties dynamically, replacing mechanical lens moving apparatus and multiple fixed lenses. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical structures and multiple lenses, reducing overall device size while maintaining or enhancing functionality.
3Measurement precision
If a lens moving apparatus is used to perform auto-focusing, then the focus function is achieved, but the power consumption is high and additional cover glass is needed for protection
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid lens replaces the mechanical lens moving apparatus with an electrically controlled liquid interface curvature system. By applying voltage to electrode sectors, the liquid lens dynamically adjusts focus without mechanical movement, eliminating the need for motor-driven lens positioning mechanisms and reducing power consumption significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid lens changes the optical parameters (curvature of liquid interface) through voltage control to achieve focus adjustment. This parameter-based control mechanism replaces mechanical position adjustment, allowing continuous and precise focus variation with minimal power consumption and without requiring protective cover glass.
4Measurement precision
If voltage is applied to electrode sectors sequentially and symmetrically, then focus step is adjusted without increasing unit voltage, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode unit is segmented into four electrode sectors that can be controlled independently in a sequential and symmetric pattern. This segmentation enables fine-grained focus adjustment by activating specific sector pairs, providing precise control over the liquid interface curvature without requiring higher voltages, while the sequential control pattern manages complexity through systematic voltage application.
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 precise auto-focusing and handshake compensation with reduced power consumption and module thickness, improving manufacturing simplicity and image quality by subdividing focus steps without increasing voltage, thus enhancing the camera module's performance and usability.
Implementation Method 1
the electrode unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode electromagnetically interacting with each other to change the interface between the conductive liquid and the nonconductive liquid
Implementation Method 2
research has been conducted on a liquid lens, configured such that the curvature of the interface between two kinds of liquids is electrically adjusted to perform the auto-focusing and handshake compensation functions
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a camera module, and a camera module including a core plate having a cavity for accommodating a conductive liquid and a nonconductive liquid; an electrode unit disposed on the core plate and electrically connected to the conductive liquid; an insulating unit disposed in the electrode portion and blocking contact of the nonconductive liquid; and a control unit for controlling voltages applied to the electrode unit, wherein the electrode unit includes a first electrode and a second electrode that change the interface between the conductive liquid and the nonconductive liquid by electromagnetic interaction, the first electrode includes a plurality of electrode sectors arranged sequentially along a circumferential direction about an optical axis, and the control unit sequentially controls voltages applied to the plurality of electrode sectors.