Optical Zoom Camera Module with Single-Rod Collimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical zoom modules face challenges in miniaturization due to the need for multiple guide rods, which increase volume, and user experience is compromised by reduced friction leading to collisions and vibrations, affecting imaging quality and user perception.
Innovation Solution
An optical zoom module design using a straight guiding rod and a first rail with balls to support movable carriers, ensuring high collimation and reducing space requirements, while incorporating a buffer layer to prevent collisions and improve user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple guide rods are installed to ensure collimation of lens carriers, then the collimation degree is improved, but the volume of the module increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple guiding functions into a single guide rod structure. The guide rod integrates multiple guiding surfaces and features that work together to constrain and collimate multiple lens carriers, eliminating the need for separate guide rods for each carrier while maintaining precise collimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rod is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously guides multiple lens carriers, provides collimation references, and constrains movement paths. This universal structure replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate guide rods, reducing overall module volume.
2Manufacturing precision
If guide rods are made rigid to maintain collimation, then the collimation degree is improved, but friction increases causing collisions and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rod employs different surface qualities at different locations. The guiding surfaces have high precision and rigidity to ensure collimation, while other portions of the rod may have different properties to control friction and prevent collisions. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between rigidity for collimation and friction control.
3Length of moving object
If the moving stroke of lens carriers is increased to achieve long focal length zoom, then the zoom capability is improved, but the machining precision of guide grooves decreases due to limited space
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of machining complex guide grooves directly into the module housing, the patent uses a guide rod as a master template. The guide rod's precisely manufactured surface serves as a reference that copies the desired movement path onto the lens carriers through contact guidance, achieving high precision without complex direct machining.
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 compact size, high collimation, and enhanced user experience by minimizing collisions and vibrations, ensuring accurate zooming and improved image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first rail located on a second side of the module housing, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side, wherein the first rail is parallel to the straight guiding rod, and at least one first ball is supported between an upper surface of the first rail and a lower surface of each of the at least two movable carriers
Data Source
AI summary
An optical zoom module (1000) comprising: a module housing (100); a plurality of lens assemblies (10, 20, 30), which are arranged coaxially along an axis; a straight guiding rod (200), which is parallel to the axis and disposed on a first side (A) of the module housing (100); a plurality of carriers, wherein one lens assembly (10, 20, 30) is mounted in each carrier, at least two of the plurality of carriers are movable carriers (40, 50), and the straight guiding rod (200) passes through the at least two movable carriers (40, 50), such that the at least two movable carriers (40, 50) can move along the straight guide rod (200), respectively; and a second rail located on a second side (B) of the module housing (100), the second side (B) is opposite to the first side (A), the second rail is parallel to the straight guiding rod (200), and an upper surface of the second rail and the lower surface of the movable carriers (40, 50) are supported by the balls (112), wherein further provided is a corresponding portable terminal device, wherein the optical zoom module (1000) implements continuous optical zooming at a relatively small space cost, and the zoom movement of a movable lens has excellent collimation.