KR20220098597A - Lens and lens assembly including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A lens according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an optical part that refracts light; and a flange part extending from the optical part, wherein the side surface of the flange part includes a circumferential surface and a d-cut surface, the circumferential surface includes a first circumferential surface having a first radius of curvature and a second circumferential surface having a second radius of curvature, the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature are configured differently, and the d-cut surface may be disposed adjacent to the second circumferential surface. An objective of the present invention is to provide the lens that can improve the assembly precision of the lens and the lens assembly including the same.

Description

Lens and lens assembly including the same

The present invention relates to a lens and a lens assembly including the same.

In general, a lens used in a camera module of a portable electronic device such as a smartphone is a plastic lens, and the plastic lens is manufactured by injection molding.

That is, the injection mold has a cavity corresponding to the shape of the lens, and a plastic lens is manufactured by injecting a molten resin into this cavity.

In the injection-molded lens, a gate is formed in the portion where the molten resin flows.

In order to remove such a gate, a part of the side surface of the flange of the lens is cut in the optical axis direction.

However, in order to remove the gate, a burr may be formed along the cutting direction in the process of cutting a portion of the side of the flange. The burr has a shape protruding from the end of the cut surface.

For example, the burr may be formed in at least one of a vertical direction (ie, an optical axis direction) and a horizontal direction (ie, a direction perpendicular to the optical axis).

The lens is assembled in the inner space of the lens barrel, in which case the side surface of the lens (ie, the side surface of the flange portion of the lens) may contact the inner surface of the lens barrel.

However, when a burr is formed on the side of the lens, the assembly position of the lens is affected by the burr, making it difficult to assemble the lens in a proper position. This poor assembly of the lens causes the resolution of the photographed image to deteriorate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lens capable of improving the assembly precision of the lens and a lens assembly including the same.

A lens according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an optical unit for refracting light; and a flange portion extending from the optical portion, wherein the side surface of the flange portion includes a circumferential surface and a decut surface, the circumferential surface having a first circumferential surface having a first radius of curvature and a second radius of curvature It may include a second circumferential surface, the first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature are configured differently, and the decut surface may be disposed adjacent to the second circumferential surface.

A lens assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a lens disposed along an optical axis and having an optical part for refracting light and a flange part extending from the optical part; and a lens barrel accommodating the lens, wherein a side surface of the flange portion includes a circumferential surface and a decut surface, and along a circumferential direction, a portion of the circumferential surface is in contact with the lens barrel, and the circumferential surface The remaining portion of the lens barrel may be spaced apart from the lens barrel, and the decut surface may be disposed on the remaining portion of the circumferential surface spaced apart from the lens barrel.

A lens and a lens assembly including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention can improve the assembly precision of the lens.

1 is a plan view of an injection-molded lens, showing a state before the gate is removed.
2 is a perspective view of a lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 2 .
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II′ of FIG. 2 .
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part B of FIG. 4 .
6 is a view for explaining the shape of the peripheral surface of the flange portion of the lens.
7 is a schematic plan view showing the shape of the lens before the gate is removed.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of part C of FIG. 6 .
9 is a schematic plan view showing the shape of the lens after the gate is removed.
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part D of FIG. 9 .
11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lens assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the presented embodiment.

For example, those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention will be able to propose other embodiments included within the scope of the present invention through addition, change, or deletion of components, but this is also the spirit of the present invention. will be considered to be within the scope.

In addition, terms including an ordinal number, such as "first", "second", etc. used herein may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component.

1 is a plan view of the injection-molded lens, showing the state before the gate is removed.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the lens L includes an optical part 10 and a flange part 30 extending from the optical part 10 .

The optical unit 10 may be a portion in which the optical performance of the lens L is exhibited. For example, light reflected by the subject may pass through the optical unit 10 and be refracted.

The optical unit 10 may have refractive power and may be formed of an aspherical surface.

The flange part 30 may be a part for fixing the lens L to another configuration, for example, the lens barrel 2 or another lens.

The flange part 30 extends around the optical part 10 and is integrally formed with the optical part 10 .

The lens L is provided with a plastic material, and is injection molded through a mold.

The mold is provided with a cavity corresponding to the shape of the lens (L), and a gate (G), which is an injection path of the molten resin, is connected to the cavity. Accordingly, the resin is injected into the cavity through the gate G, and the lens L is injection molded.

1, the injection-molded lens (L) is formed with a gate (G), which is a passage through which the resin material is introduced, on one side. In order to remove the gate (G), the flange portion ( 30) is cut in the optical axis direction.

In this case, the optical part 10 of the lens L is formed in a substantially circular shape, but the flange part 30 has a shape in which a part of the circle is removed.

However, in order to remove the gate G, a burr may be formed along the cutting direction in the process of cutting a portion of the side surface of the flange portion 30 . The burr has a shape protruding from the end of the cut surface.

For example, the burr may be formed in at least one of a vertical direction (ie, an optical axis direction) and a horizontal direction (ie, a direction perpendicular to the optical axis).

The lens (L) is assembled in the inner space of the lens barrel (2), at this time the side surface of the lens (L) (that is, the side of the flange portion 30 of the lens (L)) on the inner surface of the lens barrel (2) can be contacted.

However, when a burr is formed on the side of the lens L, the assembly position of the lens L is affected due to the burr, and it is difficult to assemble the lens L in a proper position. lose This poor assembly of the lens (L) causes the resolution of the photographed image to deteriorate.

2 is a perspective view of a lens according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 2 .

Also, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II′ of FIG. 2 , and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of part B of FIG. 4 .

2 to 5 , the lens L according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an optical part 10 that refracts light and a flange part 30 extending from the optical part 10 .

The lens (L) is injection molded through a mold, and in order to remove the gate (G) formed on one side of the lens (L), a part of the side of the flange part 30 is cut in the optical axis direction.

Here, the side surface of the flange portion 30 cut in the optical axis direction is defined as the decut surface 33 , and the remaining side surface of the flange portion 30 is defined as the circumferential surface 31 .

For example, the side surface of the flange portion 30 includes a circumferential surface 31 and a decut surface 33 .

The peripheral surface 31 of the flange portion 30 is a curved surface having a curvature. When viewed from the optical axis direction, the circumferential surface 31 has a substantially circular shape.

The decut surface 33 of the flange part 30 may be a flat surface extending along the optical axis direction.

In addition, the flange portion 30 has an object-side surface 35 and an upper surface 37 . The object-side surface 35 refers to a surface facing the subject, and the upper surface 37 refers to a surface facing the image.

2 to 5, a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in which a burr formed in a vertical direction (ie, an optical axis direction) does not affect the assembly position of the lens L. .

The lens (L) according to an embodiment of the present invention is a step formed between one end of the decut surface 33 and the object side surface 35, and between the other end of the decut surface 33 and the image side surface 37. have

For example, a height difference may be formed between one end of the decut surface 33 and the object-side surface 35 , and between the other end and the upper surface 37 of the decut surface 33 .

Accordingly, the separation distance D1 in the optical axis direction between the object side surface 35 and the upper surface 37 is greater than the optical axis length D2 of the decut surface 33 .

In addition, inclined surfaces 35a and 37a may be disposed on at least one of a portion where the object side surface 35 and the decut surface 33 are connected and a portion where the upper surface 37 and the decut surface 33 are connected.

In this configuration, since the thickness of the flange portion 30 cut to remove the gate (G) is relatively reduced, it is possible to reduce the amount of impact applied to the lens (L) during cutting, and accordingly, the burr ( Burr) can be minimized.

In addition, as a part of the flange portion 30 is cut in the vertical direction, even if a burr is formed in the vertical direction, between both ends of the decut surface 33 and the object side surface 35 / upper surface 37 Since the height difference is formed in the , the formed burr does not affect the assembly position of the lens (L).

Therefore, since the lens L according to an embodiment of the present invention does not affect the assembly position of the lens L even if a burr is formed in the vertical direction, it is better to assemble the lens L more precisely. It is possible, and thus the performance improvement of the lens assembly 1 can be expected.

6 is a view for explaining the shape of the circumferential surface of the flange portion 30 of the lens, FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view showing the shape of the lens before the gate is removed, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of part C of FIG. to be.

Also, FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view illustrating a lens shape after the gate is removed, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of part D of FIG. 9 .

6 to 10 , a configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a burr formed in a horizontal direction (ie, a direction perpendicular to the optical axis) does not affect the assembly position of the lens L explain

First, the shape of the circumferential surface 31 of the flange portion 30 of the lens L according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 .

The lenses L according to an embodiment of the present invention have outer diameters of different sizes. For example, the outer diameter of one portion of the lens L and the outer diameter of another portion of the lens L may be different.

In addition, a portion having a larger outer diameter among the outer diameters of the lens L may be in contact with the inner surface of the lens barrel 2 , and a portion having a smaller outer diameter among the outer diameters of the lens L is of the lens barrel 2 . It may be non-contact with the inner surface.

A side surface of the flange portion 30 includes a circumferential surface 31 , and the circumferential surface 31 includes a first circumferential surface 31a and a second circumferential surface 31b.

The first circumferential surface 31a and the second circumferential surface 31b are connected to each other along the circumferential direction. For example, the first circumferential surface 31a and the second circumferential surface 31b are disposed in contact with each other.

The first circumferential surface 31a has a first radius of curvature R1 , and the second circumferential surface 31b has a second radius of curvature R2 . Here, the first radius of curvature R1 and the second radius of curvature R2 are different from each other. For example, the second radius of curvature R2 is greater than the first radius of curvature R1 .

On the other hand, if the size of the radius of curvature is compared with respect to each circumferential surface, the first radius of curvature R1 of the first circumferential surface 31a is smaller than the second radius of curvature R2 of the second circumferential surface 31b.

And, if the distance (ie, radius) to each circumferential surface is compared with respect to the center (optical axis center) of the lens L, the distance from the center of the lens L to the first circumferential surface 31a (first The radius RD1) is greater than the distance (second radius RD2) from the center of the lens L to the second circumferential surface 31b.

Here, the first radius of curvature R1 and the first radius RD1 may be the same.

Referring to FIG. 6 , a first imaginary circle (see dotted line in FIG. 6 ) extending along the first circumferential surface 31a having a smaller radius of curvature, and a second circumferential surface 31b having a larger radius of curvature are formed. A second imaginary circle (see dashed-dotted line in FIG. 6 ) is shown extending along it.

The second circumferential surface 31b is disposed to be located inside the first virtual circle.

The first circumferential surface 31a and the first imaginary circle illustrated in FIG. 6 may represent a portion where the lens L and the lens barrel 2 contact each other.

Here, since the second circumferential surface 31b is disposed inside the first virtual circle, the second circumferential surface 31b may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the lens barrel 2 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

That is, among the side surfaces of the flange part 30 , the first circumferential surface 31a is configured to be in contact with the inner surface of the lens barrel 2 , and the second circumferential surface 31b is not in contact with the inner surface of the lens barrel 2 . is composition.

Here, the area of the first circumferential surface 31a is larger than the area of the second circumferential surface 31b.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 , a portion of the flange portion 30 of the lens L is cut to remove the gate G, and the cut position may be a portion of the second circumferential surface 31b.

Accordingly, the decut surface 33 formed by cutting a portion of the flange portion 30 is disposed adjacent to the second circumferential surface 31b.

Since the second circumferential surface 31b is disposed inside the first imaginary circle extending in the circumferential direction from the first circumferential surface 31a in contact with the inner surface of the lens barrel 2, the second circumferential surface 31b is It is spaced apart from the inner surface of the lens barrel 2 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

Therefore, when a part of the second circumferential surface 31b is cut to remove the gate G, even if a burr occurs in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the second circumferential surface 31b and the lens barrel 2 Since a space is formed between the inner surfaces of the burrs formed in the horizontal direction do not affect the assembly position of the lens (L). Accordingly, it is possible to assemble the lens L more precisely, and the performance improvement of the lens assembly 1 can be expected.

11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lens assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 11 , a lens assembly 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of lenses disposed along an optical axis and a lens barrel 2 for accommodating the plurality of lenses.

The plurality of lenses may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the optical axis, respectively.

In this embodiment, the plurality of lenses are arranged along the optical axis from the object side toward the image side, the first lens L1, the second lens L2, the third lens L3, the fourth lens L4, and the fifth lens. (L5) and a sixth lens (L6) may be included.

The first lens L1 may mean a lens closest to the object (or subject), and the sixth lens L6 may mean a lens closest to the image sensor.

However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited by the number of lenses. For example, the plurality of lenses may be composed of 6 or more lenses, or 5 or less lenses.

The lens assembly 1 includes a self-aligning structure. That is, the lens assembly 1 may include a structure in which optical axes are aligned by mutual coupling of at least some of the plurality of lenses.

Here, the first lens L1 disposed closest to the object side comes into contact with the lens barrel 2 so that the optical axis is aligned, and the second lens L2 and the third lens L3 have other lenses adjacent to the object side ( For example, in combination with the first lens L1 or the second lens L2), the optical axis is aligned.

For example, as shown in FIG. 11 , the first lens L1 and the second lens L2 are coupled to each other, and the second lens L2 and the third lens L3 are coupled to each other to align the optical axes. can

That is, in the first lens L1 to the third lens L3 , the flange portions of each lens may be coupled to each other so that the optical axes of the respective lenses are aligned. A concave-convex structure may be provided on the flange portion of each lens, and the concave-convex structures of adjacent lenses may be coupled to each other to align optical axes.

Meanwhile, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 11 , it is also possible that all lenses of the lens assembly 1 are in contact with the lens barrel 2 so that the optical axes are aligned.

A spacer may be provided between adjacent lenses. At least a portion of the flange portion of each lens may be in contact with the spacer. The spacer can maintain a gap between the lenses and block unnecessary light.

The spacers include a first spacer SP1, a second spacer SP2, a third spacer SP3, a fourth spacer SP4, a fifth spacer SP5, and a sixth spacer (SP5) arranged from the object side toward the image sensor. SP6) may be included.

The first spacer SP1 is disposed between the first lens L1 and the second lens L2, the second spacer SP2 is disposed between the second lens L2 and the third lens L3, The third spacer SP3 is disposed between the third lens L3 and the fourth lens L4, the fourth spacer SP4 is disposed between the fourth lens L4 and the fifth lens L5, The fifth spacer SP5 is disposed between the fifth lens L5 and the sixth lens L6 . Also, the sixth spacer SP6 may be disposed between the fifth lens L5 and the sixth lens L6 . That is, the fifth spacer SP5 and the sixth spacer SP6 may be sequentially disposed between the fifth lens L5 and the sixth lens L6 .

The fifth spacer SP5 may be formed to have the thickest thickness among the plurality of spacers. For example, the thickness of the fifth spacer SP5 in the optical axis direction is greater than the thickness of the other spacers in the optical axis direction.

Among the plurality of lenses included in the lens assembly 1 , a lens in which an optical axis is aligned in contact with the lens barrel 2 may be the lens L described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 .

For example, referring to FIG. 11 , in the case of the lens assembly 1 having a self-aligning structure, a first lens L1 , a fourth lens L4 , a fifth lens L5 in contact with the lens barrel 2 , and Each flange portion of the sixth lens L6 may have the shape of the flange portion 30 of the lens L described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 .

Although not shown in the drawings, when all of the plurality of lenses included in the lens assembly 1 are in contact with the lens barrel 2 and the optical axes are aligned, all of the lenses are the lenses L described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 . ) of the flange portion 30 may have a shape.

In the above, the configuration and features of the present invention have been described based on the embodiments according to the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is understood that various changes or modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that such changes or modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore fall within the scope of the appended claims.

1: Lens assembly
2: lens barrel
10: optics
30: flange portion
31: circumferential surface
31a: first circumferential surface
31b: second circumferential surface
33: decut side
35: object side
37: upper side
R1: first radius of curvature
R2: second radius of curvature
L: lens

Claims (10)

an optical unit that refracts light; and
Including; a flange portion extending from the optical portion,
The side of the flange portion includes a circumferential surface and a decut surface,
The circumferential surface comprises a first circumferential surface having a first radius of curvature and a second circumferential surface having a second radius of curvature,
The first radius of curvature and the second radius of curvature are configured differently,
The decut surface is disposed adjacent to the second circumferential surface.
According to claim 1,
The second radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature.
According to claim 1,
The second circumferential surface is a lens disposed in contact with the first circumferential surface.
According to claim 1,
An area of the first circumferential surface is larger than an area of the second circumferential surface.
According to claim 1,
The decut surface is a flat surface extending along the optical axis direction.
According to claim 1,
The flange portion has an object-side surface and an upper surface,
A distance in the optical axis direction between the object side surface and the image side surface is greater than the optical axis direction length of the decut surface.
According to claim 1,
The flange portion has an object-side surface and an upper surface,
A lens in which a height difference is formed between one end of the decut surface and the object-side surface, and between the other end of the decut surface and the image-side surface.
According to claim 1,
The flange portion has an object-side surface and an upper surface,
A lens in which a step is formed between one end of the decut surface and the object-side surface, and between the other end of the decut surface and the image-side surface.
According to claim 1,
An inclined surface is disposed on at least one of a portion where the object-side surface and the decut surface are connected and a portion where the image-side surface and the decut surface are connected.
a lens disposed along an optical axis and having an optical part for refracting light and a flange part extending from the optical part; and
Includes; a lens barrel for accommodating the lens;
The side of the flange portion includes a circumferential surface and a decut surface,
along the circumferential direction, a portion of the circumferential surface is in contact with the lens barrel, and the remaining portion of the circumferential surface is spaced apart from the lens barrel,
The decut surface is disposed on the remaining portion of the circumferential surface spaced apart from the lens barrel.

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