KR20180006045A - Lens assembly and camera module including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a lens assembly comprises: a barrel in which at least one lens is arranged in an internal space; a holder in which an internal space is formed and the barrel accommodated in the internal space; and a heater of which a portion is arranged between the barrel and the holder, and heating the lens by being supplied with electricity from an external power supply. Moreover, the heater may comprise a temperature control unit.

Description

Lens assembly and a camera module including the lens assembly.

Embodiments relate to a lens assembly having a structure that can prevent a heater from being overheated, and a camera module including the lens assembly.

The contents described in this section merely provide background information on the embodiment and do not constitute the prior art.

Camera modules can be used in various fields. For example, it can be used for method CCTV, vehicle black box, rear camera used for car parking, and the like.

Camera modules used for security, automobile, etc. can be used outdoors. Therefore, at least a part of the components of the camera module may be exposed to the outside. Particularly, a lens, which is a component of a camera module, and a lens assembly including the lens are exposed to the outside for photographing a subject, and thus can be sensitive to the surrounding environment.

In particular, when ambient temperature falls below the freezing point, glare can be adhered to the exposed portion of the lens, which may hinder the light from entering the lens, rendering the operation of the camera module impossible, can do.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a heater for prevention of glare may be provided in the lens assembly. In this case, it is necessary to prevent the heater from being overheated.

Therefore, the embodiment relates to a lens assembly having a structure that can prevent a heater from being overheated, and a camera module including the lens assembly.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

One embodiment of the lens assembly includes a barrel in which at least one lens is disposed in the interior space; A holder having an inner space formed therein and receiving the barrel in the inner space; And a heater partly disposed between the barrel and the holder and heating the lens by receiving power from an external power source, wherein the heater may include a temperature control part.

The temperature control unit may be formed in a plate shape and surround the outer peripheral surface of the barrel.

The temperature control unit may reduce the heat of the heater when the barrel is heated to a temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature by the heater.

The temperature control unit may include a PTC thermistor.

The heater includes: a heating unit that supplies electric power to at least one of the lenses to heat the lens; A terminal unit connected to the external power source and receiving power from the external power source; A connecting portion connecting the heating portion and the terminal portion, and a part of which is disposed between the barrel and the holder; An electrode formed on the terminal portion and the connection portion; And the temperature control unit disposed at the connection unit and connected to the electrode.

Wherein the heating unit includes: a heating plate having a through hole formed therein and connected to the electrode, the heating plate supplying power to the lens to heat the lens; And a coating layer connected to the heating plate and disposed on at least one surface of the lens, the coating layer being heated by receiving power from the heating plate.

The coating layer may be formed of a transparent conductive material.

The coating layer may be made of indium-tin oxide (ITO).

The electrode may include two lead wires separated from the terminal portion and the connection portion, and the two leads may be connected to the heating plate.

One embodiment of the lens assembly may further include an infrared filter disposed below the barrel so as to face the lens in the direction of the optical axis.

Another embodiment of the lens assembly includes a barrel having at least one lens arranged in the direction of the optical axis; A holder having an inner space formed therein and receiving a part of the barrel in the inner space; At least a part of which is disposed between the barrel and the holder and includes a heater for heating the lens by receiving power from an external power source and the heater includes a temperature control part disposed between the at least one lens and the barrel .

The temperature control unit may include a PTC thermistor and may reduce the heat of the heater when the lens or the heater is heated to a temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature.

The heater includes: a heating unit that supplies electric power to at least one of the lenses to heat the lens; A terminal unit connected to the external power source and receiving power from the external power source; A connection part which is disposed between the barrel and the holder and connects the heating part and the terminal part; An electrode formed on the terminal portion and the connection portion; And the temperature control unit extended from the heating unit.

Wherein the heating unit includes: a heating plate having a through-hole formed therein, the electrode connected to the heating plate, A coating layer connected to the heating plate and disposed on at least one surface of the lens, the coating layer being heated by receiving power from the heating plate; And the temperature controller connected to the heating plate and provided in a shape corresponding to the heating plate.

The temperature control unit may be arranged to face the heating plate in the optical axis direction, the coating layer may be disposed on the heating plate, and the temperature control unit may be disposed on the lower side of the heating plate.

One embodiment of the camera module comprises: the lens assembly; And an image sensor disposed to face the lens assembly in the optical axis direction.

In an embodiment, the temperature control unit prevents overheating of the lens or the barrel, and thus, the temperature control unit can prevent damage due to overheating.

In addition, the temperature control unit has a simple structure and can prevent the performance degradation of the camera module due to overheating of the heater.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a lens assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view of a lens assembly according to an embodiment.
3 is an exploded view illustrating a heater and a temperature controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a perspective view illustrating a heater and a temperature control unit according to an embodiment.
5 is a bottom perspective view illustrating a heater and a temperature control unit according to an embodiment.
6 is a view illustrating a state where a heater and a temperature control unit according to an embodiment are mounted on a lens assembly.
7 is an exploded view showing a heater and a temperature control unit according to another embodiment.
8 is a perspective view illustrating a heater and a temperature control unit according to another embodiment.
9 is a cross-sectional view of the lens assembly with the heater and temperature controller of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are to be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not limited thereto. It is to be understood, however, that the embodiments are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but are to include all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the embodiments.

The terms "first "," second ", and the like can be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. In addition, terms specifically defined in consideration of the constitution and operation of the embodiment are only intended to illustrate the embodiments and do not limit the scope of the embodiments.

In the description of the embodiments, when it is described as being formed on the "upper" or "on or under" of each element, the upper or lower (on or under Quot; includes both that the two elements are in direct contact with each other or that one or more other elements are indirectly formed between the two elements. Also, when expressed as "on" or "on or under", it may include not only an upward direction but also a downward direction with respect to one element.

It is also to be understood that the terms "top / top / top" and "bottom / bottom / bottom", as used below, do not necessarily imply nor imply any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements, And may be used to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a lens assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a lens assembly according to an embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lens assembly of the embodiment may include a barrel 100, a holder 200, a temperature control unit 300, and a heater 500.

The barrel 100 is hollow and at least one lens 10 aligned in the direction of the optical axis may be provided inside the barrel 100 or on top of the barrel 100. The lens 10 coupled to the barrel 100 may be a single lens, or a plurality of lenses 10 may be configured to form an optical system. In FIG. 1, a structure is shown in which a plurality of lenses 10 are aligned in the direction of an optical axis to form an optical system on the barrel 100 as an embodiment.

The holder 200 can receive the barrel 100. To this end, the holder 200 is provided with an internal space and a part of the barrel 100 can be accommodated in the internal space. At this time, the barrel 100 can be coupled to the holder 200 in a screw or adhesive combination manner.

2, male threads are formed on at least a part of the outer circumferential surface of the barrel 100, and corresponding female threads are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the barrel 100, 100 and the holder 200 can be screwed together.

When the barrel 100 and the holder 200 are coupled to each other, the hollow of the barrel 100 and the hollow of the holder 200 may be formed in the holder 200, And the light can pass through the barrel 100 in the direction of the optical axis through the lens 10 mounted across the hollow of the barrel 100 and the hollow of the holder 200. [

The holder 200 may abut the lens 10 disposed on the barrel 100 and may contact the heating unit 510, which will be described later. An O-ring is disposed between the holder 200 and the lens 10 disposed above the barrel 100 to block foreign substances from entering the holder 200 .

As shown in FIG. 2, the infrared filter 400 may be arranged to be opposed to the lens 10 in the optical axis direction, for example, below the barrel 100. In another embodiment, the infrared filter 400 may be mounted on a separate member separate from the barrel 100 and arranged to face the lens 10 in the direction of the optical axis. The infrared filter 400 may be, for example, an infrared cut filter or an infrared pass filter.

The heater 500 is partly disposed between the barrel 100 and the holder 200 and is capable of heating the lens 10 by receiving power from an external power source. That is, the heater 500 can be supplied with electric power, thereby heating the lens 10, particularly the exposed portion of the lens 10.

A portion of the lens 10 may be exposed to the outside and may be affected by the surrounding environment. In particular, when the ambient temperature is below the freezing point, a frost may adhere to the exposed portion of the lens 10.

This may cause the lens 10 to become opaque or significantly reduce transparency, which may interfere with the incidence of light by the lens 10, rendering the operation of the camera module impossible or distorting or distorting the image to be photographed.

Therefore, in the embodiment, in order to prevent adhesion of the lens 10 to the external exposed portion of the lens 10, the heater 500 is used to fix the lens 10, And the direct exposure lens 10-1 can be heated by supplying power to the exposure lens 10-1, which is partially exposed to the outside.

At this time, it is appropriate that the heater 500 is designed so that the structure is simple and the space occupied by the heater 500 is small, and it is appropriate to select the heating system corresponding to the heating system. Therefore, the heater 500 can use, for example, an electric resistance heating method.

3 is an exploded view showing a heater 500 and a temperature controller 300 according to an embodiment. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a heater 500 and a temperature controller 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a bottom perspective view showing a heater 500 and a temperature controller 300 according to an embodiment.

3 to 4, the heater 500 may include a heating unit 510, a terminal unit 520, a connection unit 530, an electrode 540, and a temperature control unit 300.

The heating unit 510 may serve to supply electric power to at least one of the lenses 10. And may include an arrangement 513 formed on the through hole 511, the heating plate 512, and the lens 10, which may serve to heat at least one of the lenses 10.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the heating unit 510 heats the exposure lens 10-1 or supplies power to the exposure lens 10-1, It is possible to prevent the adhesion of the film to the exposure lens 10-1 by heating the formed lens 513.

The heating plate 512 is electrically connected to the electrode 540 and can be heated by receiving power through the electrode 540 or can supply power to the lens 10 to heat the lens 10. At this time, the heating plate 512 may be provided to be heated by, for example, an electric resistance heating method as described above.

The heating plate 512 may be electrically connected to the electrode 540 and serve as a passage for transmitting the power supplied through the electrode to the coating layer 513. [ That is, the heating plate 512 itself does not serve as a heater, but may serve as an electrode plate for applying a current for heating the coating layer 513. In this case, the heat generating portion for heating the lens 10 may be a coating layer 513 coated on the exposure lens 10-1.

The through hole 511 may be formed in the heating plate 512 so that the through hole 511 is opposed to the exposure lens 10-1 in the optical axis direction when the heating unit 510 is mounted on the lens assembly. .

In addition, when the heating unit 510 is mounted on the lens assembly, the heating plate 512 is disposed to contact the exposure lens 10-1 to heat the exposure lens 10-1 by heat conduction .

The heating unit 510 may include a coating layer 513 capable of heating the exposure lens 10-1 together with the heating plate 512. The coating layer 513 may be specifically described below Explain.

The terminal unit 520 may be electrically connected to an external power source to receive power from the external power source. In order to receive power, an electrode 540 described later may be formed on the terminal portion 520.

The connecting portion 530 may be disposed between the barrel 100 and the holder 200 to connect the heating portion 510 to the terminal portion 520. At this time, in order for the connection portion 530 to electrically connect the heating plate 512 and the terminal portion 520, an electrode 540 may be formed in the connection portion 530. 3 to 5, the electrode 540 may also be formed on the terminal portion 520. FIG.

The electrode 540 may be formed on the terminal 520 and the connection unit 530 to electrically connect the external power source to the heating plate 512 and may include a conductive line 541.

That is, the electrode 540 is provided with two conductive lines 541 separated from the terminal unit 520 and the connection unit 530, and the two conductive lines 541 may be electrically connected to the heating plate 512 have.

At this time, the two separated wires 541 may be electrically connected to a pair of electrode terminals provided in the external power source at the terminal unit 520. Accordingly, the heating plate 512 receives power from the external power source, .

Meanwhile, the heating plate 512 and the electrode 540 may be formed on the heater 500 in a printing manner, for example. A portion of the heater 500 excluding the heating plate 512 and the electrode 540 and the coating layer 513 is formed of an electrically insulating material so that a pair of wires 541 of the electrode 540 are short- ).

6 is a view illustrating a state in which a heater 500 and a temperature controller 300 according to an embodiment are mounted on a lens assembly. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the heating unit 510 may include a coating layer 513.

The coating layer 513 may be formed of a transparent material. The coating layer 513 is electrically connected to the heating plate 512 and disposed on at least one surface of the lens, and may be heated by receiving power from the heating plate 512. For example, power can be supplied through the electrode 540 formed on the heating plate 512 and heated.

Referring to FIG. 2, the coating layer 513 may be formed on one surface of the entire surface of the exposure lens 10-1 or on both surfaces of the exposure lens 10-1.

The coating layer 513 may serve to heat the exposure lens 10-1 like the heating plate 512. [ Accordingly, the coating layer 513 may be provided to be heated by an electric resistance heating method, for example, by receiving electric power.

For this, the coating layer 513 may be formed of a conductive material. The coating layer 513 may be attached to the heating plate 512 by a conductive adhesive, for example, and may be supplied with electric power through the heating plate 512 to be heated.

Also, since the coating layer 513 is disposed on the surface of the exposure lens 10-1, it is preferable that the coating layer 513 is formed of a transparent material so that light can pass therethrough. Therefore, it is preferable that the coating layer 513 is formed of a transparent conductive material.

The coating layer 513 may be made of, for example, indium-tin oxide (ITO). This is because the indium-tin oxide material is transparent and conductive.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the temperature control unit 300 may be formed in a plate shape so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the barrel 100. As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature control unit 300 may be disposed at the connection unit 530 and may be connected to the electrode 540.

The heater 500 may be overheated due to malfunction or the like. Therefore, if the heater 500 is not prevented from overheating, the heater 500 may be damaged. If the heater 500 is overheated, all or a part of the camera module may be overheated, Can be lowered.

In order to prevent the heater 500 from overheating, the temperature controller 300 may reduce the heat generated by the heater 500 when the barrel 100 is heated to a temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature by the heater 500 can do.

The temperature controller 300 may include, for example, a PTC thermistor (Positive Temperature Coefficient Thermistor). PTC thermistors are electrical resistors that have a characteristic that the electrical resistance increases rapidly when heated above a certain temperature.

PTC thermistors are, for example, be formed of a semiconductor including barium titanate (BaTiO _3). 3, the PTC thermistor may be formed by forming a substrate to be coupled to the heater 500 and stacking a semiconductor material such as barium titanate on the substrate.

At this time, various materials may be mixed with the material forming the PTC thermistor to appropriately set the temperature at which the electrical resistance value rapidly increases.

When electric power is supplied to the heater 500, the heating unit 510 is heated and the barrel 100 can be heated as the heating unit 510 is heated. When the barrel 100 is heated to a predetermined temperature or more, the temperature controller 300 surrounding the barrel 100 senses the temperature of the barrel 100 and rapidly increases the electrical resistance to interrupt the current flowing through the electrode 540, The heat generated by the heater 500 can be reduced.

When the current flowing through the electrode 540 is cut off or the amount of current is significantly reduced, the temperature of the heating part 510 is lowered. Accordingly, the temperature of the barrel 100 is lowered. When the temperature of the barrel 100 is lowered below the predetermined temperature, the temperature controller 300 senses the temperature of the barrel 100, and the electric resistance value may be reduced again.

Accordingly, when the current is applied again to the electrode 540 or the amount of current is increased, the heating unit 510 may again heat the exposure lens 10-1.

In an embodiment, the temperature controller 300 prevents overheating of the lens 10, the barrel 100, and the like, so that the temperature controller 300 can prevent damage due to overheating.

In addition, the temperature controller 300 has a simple structure and can prevent a deterioration in the performance of the camera module due to overheating of the heater 500.

2 and 6, at least a part of the heater 500, that is, the heating part 510, the connecting part 530, and the temperature control part 300 are disposed between the barrel 100 and the holder 200 And the terminal portion 520 may be disposed on the lower surface of the barrel 100. [

In order for the heater 500 to be arranged in the above-described structure, the heater 500 shown in the exploded view in Fig. 3 needs to be processed into a three-dimensional shape as shown in Figs.

7 is an exploded view showing a heater 500 and a temperature controller 300 according to another embodiment. 8 is a perspective view showing a heater 500 and a temperature controller 300 according to another embodiment. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lens assembly to which the heater 500 and the temperature controller 300 of FIG. 7 are mounted.

Hereinafter, redundant description of the overlapping portions will be omitted with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, and the structure of the temperature control unit 300 will be mainly described.

In an embodiment, the temperature controller 300 may be coupled to the heating unit 510 of the heater 500. For example, the temperature control unit 300 may extend from the heating unit 510. Also, the temperature controller 300 may be provided in an annular shape and may surround at least one of the lenses 10.

As shown in FIG. 9, the temperature control unit 300 may be disposed between the at least one lens 10 and the barrel 100. For example, the temperature controller 300 may be configured to surround the lower portion of the exposure lens 10-1 along the circumferential direction of the exposure lens 10-1.

At this time, the temperature controller 300 may include a PTC thermistor as described above. The temperature controller 300 may reduce the heat generated by the heater 500 when the temperature of the lens 10 or the heater 500 is higher than a predetermined temperature.

For example, the temperature control unit 300 may be connected to the heating plate 512 and may have a shape corresponding to the heating plate 512, as shown in FIG.

8 and 9, the temperature controller 300 is folded so as to face the heating plate 512 in the direction of the optical axis, and the coating layer 513 is disposed above the heating plate 512 And the temperature control unit 300 may be disposed below the heating plate 512.

In another embodiment, the temperature controller 300 may be folded in a direction opposite to that shown in Figs. In this case, the coating layer 513 is disposed in front of the temperature control unit 300, and the heating plate 512 is disposed behind the temperature control unit 300.

When power is supplied to the heater 500, the heating unit 510 is heated. As the heating unit 510 is heated, the lens 10, for example, the exposure lens 10-1 can be heated. When the heating unit 510 or the exposure lens 10-1 is heated to a predetermined temperature or higher, the temperature controller 300 detects the temperature of the heating unit 510 or the exposure lens 10-1, The amount of current can be remarkably reduced.

When the current flowing through the electrode 540 is cut off or the amount of current is significantly reduced, the temperature of the heating part 510 is lowered. The temperature of the exposure lens 10-1 is lowered and when the temperature of the heating unit 510 or the exposure lens 10-1 drops below the set temperature, the temperature controller 300 senses And the electric resistance value can be reduced again.

Accordingly, when the current is applied again to the electrode 540 or the amount of the current is increased, the heating unit 510 is heated, so that the heating unit 510 can heat the exposure lens 10-1 again have.

One embodiment of the camera module may include the lens assembly described above and an image sensor (not shown). The image sensor may be arranged to face the lens assembly in the optical axis direction.

Therefore, the light passing through the lens assembly is incident on the image sensor, and the image of the subject can be imaged on the image sensor.

While only a few have been described above with respect to the embodiments, various other forms of implementation are possible. The technical contents of the embodiments described above may be combined in various forms other than the mutually incompatible technologies, and may be implemented in a new embodiment through the same.

100: Barrel
200: Holder
300: Temperature controller
400: Infrared filter
500: heater
510:
511: Through the hole
512: Hot plate
513: Coating layer
520: terminal portion
530:
540: Electrode
541: Lead wire

Claims (16)

A barrel in which at least one lens is disposed in the inner space;
A holder having an inner space formed therein and receiving the barrel in the inner space; And
A heater disposed at a part between the barrel and the holder and adapted to receive power from an external power source to heat the lens,
Lt; / RTI >
The heater
A lens assembly comprising a temperature controller. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the temperature control unit is formed in a plate shape and surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the barrel. The method according to claim 1,
The temperature control unit includes:
Wherein the heating of the heater is reduced when the barrel is heated to a temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature by the heater. The method according to claim 1,
The temperature control unit includes:
A lens assembly comprising a PTC thermistor (Positive Temperature Coefficient thermistor). The method according to claim 1,
The heater
A heating unit for supplying power to at least one of the lenses to heat the lens;
A terminal unit connected to the external power source and receiving power from the external power source;
A connecting portion connecting the heating portion and the terminal portion, and a part of which is disposed between the barrel and the holder;
An electrode formed on the terminal portion and the connection portion; And
And a temperature control unit disposed in the connection unit,
. 6. The method of claim 5,
The heating unit includes:
A heating plate formed with a through hole and connected to the electrode, for supplying power to the lens to heat the lens; And
A coating layer which is connected to the heating plate and is disposed on at least one surface of the lens,
≪ / RTI > The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the coating layer is made of a transparent conductive material. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the coating layer is made of indium-tin oxide (ITO). The method according to claim 6,
The electrode
And the two lead wires are connected to the heating plate. The method according to claim 1,
And an infrared filter disposed at a lower portion of the barrel so as to face the lens in an optical axis direction. A barrel having at least one lens arranged in the optical axis direction;
A holder having an inner space formed therein and receiving a part of the barrel in the inner space;
At least a part of which is disposed between the barrel and the holder,
Lt; / RTI >
The heater
And a temperature control unit disposed between the at least one lens and the barrel. 12. The method of claim 11,
The temperature control unit includes:
And a PTC thermistor, wherein when the lens or the heater is heated above a predetermined temperature, the heat of the heater is reduced. 12. The method of claim 11,
The heater
A heating unit for supplying power to at least one of the lenses to heat the lens;
A terminal unit connected to the external power source and receiving power from the external power source;
A connection part which is disposed between the barrel and the holder and connects the heating part and the terminal part;
An electrode formed on the terminal portion and the connection portion; And
Wherein the temperature control unit
. 14. The method of claim 13,
The heating unit includes:
A heating plate formed with a through hole and connected to the electrodes and heated by receiving electric power;
A coating layer connected to the heating plate and disposed on at least one surface of the lens, the coating layer being heated by receiving power from the heating plate; And
And a temperature control unit connected to the heating plate and provided in a shape corresponding to the heating plate,
. 15. The method of claim 14,
The temperature control unit includes:
And is arranged to face the heating plate in the optical axis direction,
Wherein the coating layer is disposed on the heating plate and the temperature control unit is disposed on the lower side of the heating plate. The lens assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15, And
An image sensor arranged to face the lens assembly in the direction of the optical axis,
.

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