JP2003298885A - Image pickup module and image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To resolve the problem that photographing in a dark place at night is difficult due to a CMOS sensor provided with an IR cut filter as a countermeasure against noise. <P>SOLUTION: An attaching/detaching mechanism is provided which attaches and detaches the IR cut filter to and from a path of incident light passing an aperture of a stop member, and the IR cut filter is used to take a countermeasure against noise in the daytime when infrared rays excessively acts, and an image is picked up with a high sensitivity without using the IR cut filter at night when a light reception sensitivity is dropped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup module having a CMOS sensor and an improvement in an image pickup apparatus having the image pickup module, and more particularly to an image pickup module and an image pickup apparatus with improved sensitivity reduction at night or in a room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, an image taken by a mobile phone or PHS can be directly attached to a mail and sent.
Imaging devices such as telephones with a built-in digital camera function are on sale. Most of the camera functions of these mobile phones and the like use an image pickup module in which a solid-state image pickup device such as a CMOS sensor or a CCD sensor, a lens, a filter, and a diaphragm member are integrated and integrated in one case, as in a digital camera.

Comparing the CMOS sensor with the CCD sensor, the advantage of the CMOS sensor is low power consumption, and the CCD sensor and the CMOS having the same pixel size.
Comparing the power consumption of the sensors, it is said that the CMOS sensor consumes only about one fifth of the power of the CCD sensor at the peak time. This is extremely advantageous for a mobile phone using a small battery as a power source, and it is considered that CMOS sensors will be used more frequently in the future.

As a conventional example of an image pickup module using the above CMOS sensor, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 2001-245217, 2001-257944, and 10-
No. 3221827, etc., and the configuration thereof will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an image pickup module using a conventional CMOS sensor, and 30 is an image pickup module. The configuration will be described below. 1 is a substrate, and a circuit pattern is formed on a non-metal insulating substrate. 3 is C
It is a semiconductor chip (hereinafter abbreviated as IC) that constitutes a MOS sensor, and is mounted on the substrate 1.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a case formed by resin molding or the like, which is provided with stepped portions 2a and 2b for holding the element. The lens 6 and the diaphragm member 5 are positioned and held on the stepped portion 2a, and the stepped portion 2b is provided. The IR cut filter 7 is fixed. The case 2 is positioned and fixed to the substrate 1 to form an integrated image pickup module 30.

[0007]

Although the image pickup module using the CMOS sensor has an advantage of low power consumption, the CMOS sensor has a disadvantage that noise is apt to remain in an image due to its structure. That is, since the CMOS sensor is manufactured by forming an extremely large number of transistors of hundreds of thousands to several millions on a silicon wafer, variations in current characteristics occur in the large number of transistors. In the case of a digital circuit such as a memory, this variation is not a problem because the signal is 1, 0, but in the case of image processing in which the current characteristics of the transistor are treated as an analog signal, this variation appears as noise on the image. There is a problem that it will end up.

That is, since the transistor forming the CMOS sensor excessively reacts to infrared rays and its current fluctuates, it is necessary to provide the IR cut filter 7 as a countermeasure against the noise on the image. However, CM
By providing the IR cut filter 7 in the OS sensor, the light receiving efficiency is lower than that of the CCD sensor, and there is a problem that it is difficult to take an image especially in a dark place at night.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. In the daytime when the infrared rays are strong, an infrared ray countermeasure is taken to remove noise and an image pickup module using a CMOS sensor capable of photographing in a dark place at night. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus using the image pickup module.

[0010]

As a structure for achieving the above object, the present invention provides an image pickup module having a CMOS sensor, an optical system lens, a diaphragm member, and an IR cut filter, wherein the IR cut filter is the diaphragm member. And a detachment mechanism for attaching and detaching the incident light to and from the incident light path passing through the opening.

Further, the attachment / detachment mechanism has a guide member provided on the diaphragm member, and the guide member allows the I
The R cut filter is attached to and detached from the opening of the diaphragm member.

Further, the guide member is a rotary guide member or a slide guide member.

In an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup module having a CMOS sensor, an optical system lens, a diaphragm member, and an IR cut filter, the IR cut filter is attached to and detached from an incident light path passing through the aperture of the diaphragm member. It is characterized by having a mechanism.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image pickup module using a CMOS sensor showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a top view of a diaphragm member incorporating the attachment / detachment mechanism in FIG. 1. 1 and 2, the same members as those in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an image pickup module, which includes a substrate 1, a case 2, an IC 3, an aperture member 5, and a lens 6.
The configuration in is the same as that described in FIG. The difference between the image pickup module 10 shown in FIG. 1 and the image pickup module 30 shown in FIG. 5 is that the IR cut filter 7 attached to the step portion 2b of the case 2 in FIG. That is, an IR cut filter which is attachable and detachable is provided in the incident light path through an attaching / detaching mechanism which will be described later.

The attachment / detachment mechanism, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described below. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 11 denotes a rotary plate, which is made of a transparent glass plate, and an IR cut filter 17 is formed on a part of the rotary plate 11. A handle 12 is attached. The rotation plate 11 has its center of rotation rotatably attached to the diaphragm member 5 by a pivot 13 which is a rotation guide member. That is, in the first embodiment, the rotating plate 11, the handle 12, the pivot 13, and the IR cut filter 17 constitute the attaching / detaching mechanism 15.

The operation of the attaching / detaching mechanism 15 is carried out by operating the handle 12 in the direction of arrow A while the IR cut filter 17 is displaced from the opening 5a of the diaphragm member 5 as shown in FIG. Is rotated, the IR cut filter 17 is moved to a position 17a shown by a dotted line, and the IR cut filter 17 is switched to a state of covering the opening 5a. That is, the attaching / detaching mechanism 15 operates the handle 12 to move the IR cut filter 17 to the opening 5 of the diaphragm member 5.
It can be attached to and detached from the incident light path that passes a.

FIG. 3 shows C showing a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an image pickup module using a MOS sensor, FIG. 4 is a top view of a diaphragm member incorporating the attachment / detachment mechanism in FIG. 3, where A is the mounted state of the IR cut filter and B is the removed state of the IR cut filter. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the same members as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

The imaging module 20 shown in FIG. 3 and the above-mentioned FIG.
1 is different from the image pickup module 10 shown in FIG. 1 in that the attaching / detaching mechanism 15 shown in FIG. 1 has a rotation type configuration using a rotation guide member, while the attaching / detaching mechanism 25 shown in FIG. 3 is a slide type using a slide guide member. The above configuration is described below.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, reference numeral 21 denotes a slide plate, which is made of a transparent glass plate, and an IR cut filter 27 is formed on a part of the slide plate 21. 2 handle for sliding
2 is attached. Reference numeral 23 denotes a slide frame, and the slide frame 23 is provided with guide portions 23a having a U-shaped cross section on the left and right, and has a step (not shown) in the front and rear in plan view. 21 is guided by this guide portion 23a and slides back and forth.

The operation of the slide plate 21 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A shows a state where the IR cut filter 27 is removed. The slide plate 21 is slid to the innermost position of the slide frame 23 and positioned at the upper step. In this state, the IR cut filter 27 is placed in the diaphragm member 5. It is located at a position displaced from the opening 5a.

FIG. 4B shows the mounted state of the IR cut filter 27. The slide plate 21 slides in front of the slide frame 23 and is positioned at the lower step. In this state, the IR cut filter 27 is a diaphragm member. 5 is located at a position overlapping the opening 5a. The slide plate 21 shown in FIG. 3 shows the mounted state of the IR cut filter 27 corresponding to FIG. 4B.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are plan views of a mobile phone which is an image pickup apparatus having an image pickup module according to the third embodiment of the present invention, in which 50 is a mobile phone and an upper case 51.
An antenna 55 and an imaging opening 53 having a camera function are provided in the. The lower opening / closing lid 52 is opened downward by a hinge 56. Further, the image pickup module 20 is provided at a position corresponding to the image pickup opening 53,
The aperture 5 of the diaphragm member 5 is provided at the portion of the imaging aperture 53.
a is visible.

Further, as shown by a dotted line, a slide plate 31 having an IR cut filter 37 is arranged at the portion of the image pickup opening 53, and the slide plate 31 is a filter switching lever provided on the side surface of the upper case 51. 54
The switching operation is performed by.

In FIG. 6, the filter switching lever 54 is in the A position, and this state shows the mounted state of the IR cut filter 37. That is, in this state, I
The R-cut filter 37 is slid to the part of the imaging opening 53, so that the opening 5a of the diaphragm member 5 is I-shaped.
An R cut filter 37 is installed.

In FIG. 7, the filter switching lever 54 is in the B position, and this state shows the IR cut filter 37 removed. That is, when the filter switching lever 54 is slid from the position A to the position B, the slide plate 31 is slid downward so that the slide plate 3 is inserted into the opening 5a of the diaphragm member 5.
The transparent portion 1 is positioned, and the IR cut filter 37 is removed.

In the third embodiment, the members such as the slide frame constituting the attaching / detaching mechanism are the portable telephone 5
It is built in the upper case 51 of 0, and the IR cut filter 37 is attached or detached by operating the filter switching lever 54 according to the brightness when the user operates the mobile phone 50 to take an image, and according to the conditions. It is possible to take a good image.

In the operation of the attachment / detachment mechanism of the present invention, the user judges the brightness and the filter switching lever 5 is operated.
The IR cut filter may be attached or detached by the operation of 4 or the like, or the image pickup device is provided with an optical sensor for measuring the brightness, and the detachment mechanism is operated by driving a motor or the like according to a command of the optical sensor. The IR cut filter 37
You can also put on and take off.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the daytime when infrared rays excessively react, it becomes possible to perform a good image taking noise countermeasures by using an IR cut filter, and at the nighttime or indoors when the light receiving sensitivity decreases. Enables high-sensitivity imaging without using an IR cut filter, and is a CMO with low current consumption.
The S sensor can always be used under good conditions.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an image pickup module using a CMOS sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a diaphragm member incorporating the attaching / detaching mechanism in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an image pickup module using a CMOS sensor showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a diaphragm member incorporating the attaching / detaching mechanism in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4A is a mounted state of an IR cut filter,
FIG. 4B shows a detached state of the IR cut filter.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an image pickup module using a conventional CMOS sensor.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a mobile phone including an imaging module according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a mobile phone including an imaging module according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 substrate 2 cases 3 CMOS sensor 5 diaphragm member 6 lenses 7, 17, 27, 37 IR Cut Filter 10, 20, 30 Imaging module 11 rotating plate 21, 31 slide plate 50 mobile phones

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Yasuaki Kayonuma             Yamanashi Prefecture Fujiyoshida City Kamigure 1-23-1             Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuomi Tsutsui             2 6663 Funatsu, Kawaguchiko Town, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi Prefecture               Kawaguchiko Precision Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5C022 AB13 AB18 AC31 AC42 AC54                       AC55 AC56 AC77 AC78

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An imaging module having a CMOS sensor, an optical system lens, a diaphragm member, and an IR cut filter is provided with an attachment / detachment mechanism for attaching / detaching the IR cut filter to an incident light path passing through an aperture of the diaphragm member. An image pickup module characterized by the above. 2. The image pickup module according to claim 1, wherein the attachment / detachment mechanism has a guide member, and the IR cut filter is attached / detached to / from an incident light path passing through an opening of the diaphragm member by the guide member. 3. The guide member is a guide member provided on the diaphragm member, and the IR guide is provided by the guide member.
The compact image pickup module according to claim 2, wherein a cut filter is attached to and detached from the opening of the diaphragm member. 4. The image pickup module according to claim 2, wherein the guide member is a rotary guide member. 5. The image pickup module according to claim 2, wherein the guide member is a slide guide member. 6. An image pickup apparatus comprising an image pickup module having a CMOS sensor, an optical system lens, a diaphragm member, and an IR cut filter, for attaching and detaching the IR cut filter to an incident light path passing through the aperture of the diaphragm member. An image pickup apparatus comprising: 7. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the attachment / detachment mechanism is provided in a case of the image pickup apparatus.