Plastic Barrel Non-Threaded Holder for Camera Module Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic barrels used in camera modules often cause dust issues and misalignment during assembly, affecting imaging quality due to rough surfaces and threading problems.
Innovation Solution
A plastic barrel design with an object-end portion, holder portion, and tube portion, featuring a smooth inner annular surface and cut traces to facilitate injection molding, reducing the need for threading and improving surface smoothness, which connects the image sensor via a non-threaded structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional plastic barrels are screwed on image sensors, then connection strength is improved, but dust is generated during assembly and manufacturing precision deteriorates due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical screw-threaded connection system with a non-threaded holder portion that uses a different connection mechanism. This substitution eliminates the screwing operation that causes dust and misalignment, while still achieving secure connection to the image sensor through the holder portion's specialized structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the threading structure from the holder portion, eliminating the source of dust generation and misalignment. By taking out the problematic threading mechanism and replacing it with a non-threaded design, the patent resolves the contradiction between connection strength and manufacturing precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If holder portion surface is made smooth, then assembly precision is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface finish parameter of the holder portion to achieve a smooth surface that prevents tilting during assembly. This parameter change improves assembly precision while the specific design of the holder portion (including the non-threaded structure and cut traces) maintains manufacturability by avoiding complex threading operations.
3Reliability
If threading structure is used, then connection reliability is improved, but dust generation and misalignment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the threading mechanism with a non-threaded holder portion design. This substitution eliminates the mechanical interaction that generates dust during assembly while maintaining connection reliability through the holder portion's specialized non-threaded connection structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of needing a secure connection (which would require threading) into a benefit by using a non-threaded design that inherently prevents dust generation. The holder portion's unique structure achieves reliable connection without the harmful dust-generating threading operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A plastic barrel including an object-end portion, a holder portion, and a tube portion is proposed. The object-end portion includes an outer object-end surface, an object-end hole, and an inner annular object-end surface. A part of the inner annular object-end surface is connected with the outer object-end surface and surrounding the object-end hole. The holder portion includes a bottom surface, a bottom hole, and an outer bottom side. The bottom surface surrounds the bottom hole and is connected with the outer bottom side. The holder portion further includes cut traces formed by partially removing gate portions. The tube portion includes inner annular surfaces and connects the object-end portion with the holder portion.