Metal Retainer Lens Assembly for Compact Camera Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera modules and imaging lens assemblies face challenges in achieving compact size, high image quality, and optical specifications due to the thickness of plastic retainers and uneven adhesive application, which affects assembling yield and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A compact imaging lens assembly using a metal retainer with an inner annular portion, fixing portions, and elastic portions, where the metal retainer is fixedly disposed in a plastic barrel, allowing for a thickness between 0.01 mm and 0.20 mm, reducing volume while maintaining optical specifications and image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a plastic retainer with thickness above 0.2 mm is used to fix the lens set, then the lens set can be securely disposed in the plastic barrel, but the camera module volume increases and compact design is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to metal, enabling the retainer thickness to be reduced from above 0.2 mm to 0.01-0.20 mm while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength for secure fixing. The metal material's higher strength-to-thickness ratio allows this parameter change to resolve the contradiction between fixing stability and compact volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal retainer is designed as a thin-walled structure with thickness of 0.01-0.20 mm, utilizing the high strength characteristics of metal materials to achieve secure fixing functionality without the bulk required by plastic retainers. This thin-film approach directly addresses the volume reduction requirement.
2Reliability
If adhesive material is applied on the plastic retainer and lens barrel, then the lens set can be fixed, but the adhesive material overflows to the lens element surface affecting image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The metal retainer acts as an intermediary component between the lens set and lens barrel, providing a dedicated fixing interface that separates the adhesive application zone from the optical path. The retainer's structure confines adhesive to specific non-optical areas, preventing overflow onto the lens element surface.
3Reliability
If the non-optical-effective area is enlarged to suppress adhesive overflow, then adhesive can be contained, but the camera module volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The metal retainer is designed with localized structural features (protrusions, recesses, or patterned surfaces) in specific non-optical-effective areas to control adhesive placement. This local quality modification provides adhesive containment functionality without requiring a general enlargement of the non-optical area, thus maintaining compact volume.
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 compact camera module design that meets increasing specifications, reduces mechanical interference, and improves image quality by using a thin metal retainer with elastic properties to securely hold the lens set within the plastic barrel, preventing adhesive overflow and enhancing assembly stability.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of elastic portions (178). At least one of the elastic portions (178) connects the inner annular portion (172) and at least one of the fixing portions (179)
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging lens assembly includes a plastic barrel, a lens set and a metal retainer. The metal retainer is for fixedly disposing the lens set in the plastic barrel and includes an inner annular portion, a plurality of fixing portions and a plurality of elastic portions. The inner annular portion forms a through hole. The fixing portions directly contact the plastic barrel for the metal retainer to be fixedly disposed in the plastic barrel. At least one of the elastic portions connects the inner annular portion and at least one of the fixing portions.