KR20240034565A - Camera module and vehicle having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A camera module disclosed in an embodiment of the invention includes a lens barrel penetrating from top to bottom; a plurality of inner barrels disposed around the inner circumference of the lens barrel; and a lens unit having a plurality of lenses disposed inside the inner barrel, wherein at least one of the plurality of inner barrels is disposed between two adjacent lenses and may be disposed between the outer surfaces of the two adjacent lenses and the lens barrel.

Description

Camera module and vehicle equipped with the same {CAMERA MODULE AND VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME}

Embodiments of the invention relate to a camera module and a vehicle equipped with the same.

ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System) is an advanced driver assistance system to assist the driver in driving. It senses the situation ahead, judges the situation based on the sensed results, and controls the vehicle's behavior based on the situation judgment. It consists of For example, ADAS sensor devices detect vehicles in front and recognize lanes. Afterwards, when the target lane, target speed, and target ahead are determined, the vehicle's ESC (Electrical Stability Control), EMS (Engine Management System), and MDPS (Motor Driven Power Steering) are controlled. Typically, ADAS can be implemented as an automatic parking system, a low-speed city driving assistance system, and a blind spot warning system.

Sensor devices for sensing the situation ahead in ADAS include GPS sensors, laser scanners, front radar, and Lidar, but the most representative one is the front camera for filming the front of the vehicle.

Recently, research on detection systems that detect the surroundings of the vehicle for driver safety and convenience is accelerating. The vehicle detection system is used for a variety of purposes, such as detecting objects around the vehicle to prevent collisions with objects that the driver does not recognize, as well as performing automatic parking by detecting empty spaces. It is the most essential vehicle in automatic vehicle control. We are providing data. These detection systems typically use radar signals and cameras.

Vehicle camera modules are used in cars as built-in front and rear surveillance cameras and black boxes, and take photos or videos of subjects. Since vehicle camera modules are exposed to the outside, shooting quality may deteriorate due to moisture and temperature. In particular, camera modules have a problem in that their optical characteristics change depending on the surrounding temperature and the material of the lens.

Embodiments of the invention may provide a camera module having an inner barrel on one side or the entire inner surface of the lens barrel.

Embodiments of the invention may provide a camera module having a plurality of inner barrels around different lenses of the lens barrel.

An embodiment of the invention may provide a camera module having a first inner barrel in contact with an outer surface of at least one lens of the lens barrel and a second inner barrel in contact with an outer surface of at least one lens.

An embodiment of the invention may provide a camera module having a plurality of inner barrels each disposed between the outer side of at least one or two or more lenses and the lens barrel.

An embodiment of the invention may provide a camera module in which a plurality of inner barrels have a material different from that of the lens barrel.

Embodiments of the invention may provide a mobile terminal such as a mobile terminal and a vehicle having a camera module.

A camera module according to an embodiment of the invention includes a lens barrel penetrating from top to bottom; a plurality of inner barrels disposed around the inner circumference of the lens barrel; and a lens unit having a plurality of lenses disposed inside the inner barrel, wherein at least one of the plurality of inner barrels is disposed between two adjacent lenses and may be disposed between the outer surfaces of the two adjacent lenses and the lens barrel.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality of inner barrels include a first inner barrel extending from the outer surface of the first lens closest to the object to the outer surface of the second lens located on the sensor side of the first lens, and the second lens. It may include a second inner barrel extending from the outer surface of the third lens located on the sensor side to the outer surface of the last lens.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the lower portion of the first inner barrel may include a first support spacer extending between the flange portion of the second lens and the flange portion of the third lens.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the gap between the outer top of the first inner barrel and the lens barrel is the outer surface of the first inner barrel disposed outside the area between the first lens and the second lens and the lens barrel. It may be narrower than the gap between them.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the upper part of the second inner barrel may extend outside the first support spacer.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the second inner barrel may include a second support spacer extending below the flange portion of the last lens.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the gap between the outer surface of the second inner barrel and the inner surface of the lens barrel may gradually widen from the outer surface of the third lens to the outer surface of the seventh lens.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the inner diameter of the second inner barrel gradually narrows from the top toward the last lens, and the inner and outer surfaces of the second inner barrel may have a plurality of stepped structures.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the plurality of inner barrels may be made of a plastic material, and at least one of the plurality of lenses may be made of a plastic material.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the lens barrel may be made of a metal material, the first and second inner barrels may be made of a plastic material, and at least two lenses disposed in the second inner barrel may be made of a plastic material.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a first spacer that separates two adjacent lenses within the first inner barrel; and at least one of a second spacer that separates two adjacent lenses within the second inner barrel.

According to an embodiment of the invention, an image sensor disposed on a sensor side of the lens barrel; a cover glass disposed on the image sensor; and an optical filter disposed between the cover glass and the lens closest to the image sensor.

A vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention includes the camera module disclosed above, wherein at least two lenses of the plurality of inner barrels and the plurality of lenses are made of plastic, and the plurality of inner barrels may overlap in a vertical direction.

According to an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to provide a camera module that can maintain resolution according to temperature changes by stacking lenses in heterogeneous barrels. That is, a camera module with a heterogeneous barrel can minimize stress and decentering of a lens, such as a plastic lens, that expands due to temperature changes.

According to an embodiment of the invention, by providing a plurality of inner barrels within the lens barrel, it is possible to provide a camera module that can maintain the resolution of the optical system and suppress deformation of the lenses due to temperature changes.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the optical reliability of a camera module can be improved and the reliability of a vehicle camera device having a camera module can be improved.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the upper area of the lens barrel in the camera module of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram explaining an example of combining the first and second inner barrels of the camera module of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the lower area of the camera module of FIG. 1.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of coupling a cover on a lens barrel according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 6 is an example of a vehicle having a camera module according to an embodiment of the invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The technical idea of the present invention is not limited to some of the described embodiments, but can be implemented in various different forms, and one or more of the components between the embodiments can be selectively combined as long as it is within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. , can be used as a replacement. In addition, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention, unless explicitly specifically defined and described, are generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It can be interpreted as meaning, and the meaning of commonly used terms, such as terms defined in a dictionary, can be interpreted by considering the contextual meaning of the related technology.

The terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In this specification, the singular may also include the plural unless specifically stated in the phrase, and when described as "at least one (or more than one) of A and B and C", it is combined with A, B, and C. It can contain one or more of all possible combinations. Additionally, when describing the components of an embodiment of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish the component from other components, and the essence, order, or order of the component is not determined by the term. And, when a component is described as being 'connected', 'coupled' or 'connected' to another component, the component is not only directly connected, coupled or connected to the other component, but also is connected to the other component. It may also include cases where other components are 'connected', 'coupled', or 'connected' by another component between them. Additionally, when described as being formed or disposed "above" or "below" each component, "above" or "below" refers not only to cases where two components are in direct contact with each other, but also to one This also includes cases where another component described above is formed or placed between two components. In addition, when expressed as "top (above) or bottom (bottom)", it can include not only the upward direction but also the downward direction based on one component. Additionally, several embodiments described below can be combined with each other, unless specifically stated that they cannot be combined with each other. Additionally, unless specifically mentioned, parts omitted from the description of one of several embodiments may be applied to the description of other embodiments.

In the description of the invention, the first lens refers to the lens closest to the object side, and the last lens refers to the lens closest to the image side (or sensor surface). The last lens may include a lens adjacent to the image sensor. Unless otherwise specified in the description of the invention, the units for lens radius, thickness/distance, TTL, etc. are all mm. In this specification, the shape of the lens is expressed based on the optical axis of the lens. For example, saying that the object side of the lens is convex or concave means that the object side of the lens is convex or concave around the optical axis, but does not mean that the area around the optical axis is convex or concave. Therefore, even if the object side of the lens is described as convex, the portion around the optical axis on the object side of the lens may be concave or the opposite shape. In this specification, it should be noted that the thickness and radius of curvature of the lens are measured based on the optical axis of the lens. In other words, having a convex lens surface means that the lens surface in the area corresponding to the optical axis has a convex shape, and saying that the lens surface is concave means that the lens surface in the area corresponding to the optical axis has a concave shape. can do. In addition, “object side surface” may refer to the surface of the lens facing the object side based on the optical axis, and “sensor side surface” may refer to the surface of the lens facing the sensor side based on the optical axis.

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing the upper area of the lens barrel in the camera module of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view showing the first and second inner barrels of the camera module of FIG. 1. This is a diagram explaining an example of combination, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the lower area of the camera module of FIG. 1.

1 to 4, the camera module 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention includes a lens unit 100 having a plurality of lenses, a lens barrel 400 in which a plurality of lenses are stacked, and the lens barrel ( 400) and a plurality of inner barrels 200 and 300 disposed between the plurality of lenses, and spacers 121 and 123 disposed between flange portions of adjacent lenses.

The lens barrel 400 may be penetrated from top to bottom. That is, the lens barrel 400 has a first opening 401 on the upper side and a second opening 403 on the lower side, and the first opening 401 and the second opening 403 may be connected to each other.

The lens barrel 400 is an outer barrel, and the gap between the outer surface of the lenses and the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400 may be 2.5 mm or less, for example, in the range of 0.7 mm to 2.5 mm. If the distance between the outer surface of the lenses and the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400 is smaller than the above range, it is not easy to combine the lenses, and if it is larger than the above range, the size of the lens barrel increases or the lens is moved relative to the optical axis. It can be tilted.

The camera module 1000 may include a substrate 110 and an image sensor 112. The image sensor 112 may be disposed on the substrate 110 . The image sensor 112 may be disposed between the last lens of the lens unit 100 and the substrate 110.

The image sensor 112 may be mounted, seated, contacted, fixed, temporarily fixed, supported, or coupled to the surface of the substrate 110. According to another example, a groove or hole (not shown) capable of accommodating the image sensor 112 may be formed in the substrate 110. The embodiment is not limited to a specific form in which the image sensor 112 is disposed on the substrate 110. The substrate 110 may be a rigid PCB or FPCB.

The image sensor 112 may be placed on the optical axis of the lens unit 100 or on an axis perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens unit 100. In this case, a reflective member such as a prism may be disposed between the lens unit 100 and the image sensor 112.

The image sensor 112 may perform a function of converting light passing through the lens unit 100 into image data. The image sensor 112 may be one of a Charge Coupled Device (CCD), Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS), CPD, or CID. When there are multiple image sensors 112, one may be a color (RGB) sensor and the other may be a black-and-white sensor.

The camera module 1000 may include a cover glass 114 and an optical filter 116 disposed between the last lens of the lens unit 100 and the image sensor 112.

The optical filter 116 may be disposed between the lens unit 100 and the image sensor 112. The optical filter 116 may filter light corresponding to a specific wavelength range for light passing through the lenses. The optical filter 116 may be an infrared (IR) blocking filter that blocks infrared rays or an ultraviolet (UV) blocking filter that blocks ultraviolet rays, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. The optical filter 116 may be placed on the image sensor 112. The optical filter 116 is disposed in the second opening 403 of the lens barrel 400 to filter light of a specific wavelength traveling to the lower part of the lens barrel 400.

The cover glass 114 is disposed between the optical filter 116 and the image sensor 112, protects the upper part of the image sensor 112, and prevents the reliability of the image sensor 112 from deteriorating.

The lens unit 100 may include an optical system in which three or more lenses are stacked, or an optical system in which five or more lenses are stacked. The lens unit 100 may include 3 to 9 lenses. The lens unit 100 may include a plurality of solid lenses. The lens unit 100 may include lenses made of different materials, for example, a plastic lens and a glass lens. For example, the lens unit 100 may include one or more plastic lenses and two or more sheets of glass. The ratio of the number of plastic lenses to the number of glass lenses may be 1:2 to 1:6. The number of lenses made of glass may be larger or smaller than the number of plastic lenses. Alternatively, the lenses of the lens unit 100 may be made of the same glass material or plastic material.

The lenses in the lens unit 100 may include a spherical lens and an aspherical lens. Alternatively, the lenses within the lens unit 100 may include spherical lenses. Alternatively, the lenses within the lens unit 100 may include aspherical lenses. Here, the spherical lens is a lens in which the object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of the lens on the optical axis are spherical. The aspherical lens has an object-side surface and a sensor-side surface of the lens on the optical axis. The spherical lens may be made of glass. The aspherical lens may be made of plastic or glass mold.

In the lens unit 100 according to an embodiment of the invention, the number of lenses made of glass may be one or more more than the number of lenses made of plastic. Here, the lens unit 100 may be laminated with plastic lenses or/and glass lens(s). The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE) of the plastic material is more than 5 times higher than that of the glass material, and the change value of the refractive index as a function of temperature may be more than 10 times higher for the plastic material than for the glass material. However, since plastic lenses are easier to manufacture and more convenient to design than glass lenses, the demand for their use is increasing. Additionally, the glass mold material can provide an aspherical surface, which can improve thin lens thickness and optical properties.

Embodiments of the invention can reduce the weight of the camera module by mixing more plastic lenses into the camera module 1000, provide a cheaper manufacturing cost, and suppress deterioration of optical properties due to temperature changes. Various types of plastic lenses can replace glass lenses, and polishing and processing of lens surfaces such as aspherical surfaces or free-form surfaces can be easy.

The lens having the maximum effective diameter within the camera module 1000 may be any one of the first to fourth lenses 101, 102, and 103 arranged from the object side. Preferably, the lens having the maximum effective diameter may be made of glass. The effective diameter may be the diameter of the effective area where effective light enters each lens. The effective diameter is the average of the effective diameter of the object-side surface of each lens and the effective diameter of the sensor-side surface.

Each of the lenses may include an effective area and an unactive area. The effective area is an area through which light incident on each of the lenses passes. That is, the effective area may be defined as an effective area or effective diameter in which the incident light is refracted to realize optical characteristics. The non-effective area may be arranged around the effective area and may be defined as a flange portion. The non-effective area may be an area where effective light does not enter the plurality of lenses. That is, the non-effective area may be an area unrelated to the optical characteristics. Additionally, an end of the non-effective area may be an area fixed to a structure accommodating the lens.

The lens barrel 400 penetrates from top to bottom, and a plurality of lenses are coupled therein. The plurality of lenses may be coupled through the first opening 401 of the lens barrel 400. The plurality of lenses may be sequentially stacked from the lens 107 closest to the sensor side to the lens 101 closest to the object side. As another example, the lenses may be coupled toward the object through the sensor side opening, or may be coupled in both directions.

The lens closest to the object side may be the first lens 101, and the sensor side lens closest to the optical filter 116 or the image sensor 112 may be the nth lens or the last lens 107. , n may be an integer of 5 or more, for example, any one of 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, an example of a structure in which seven lenses are sequentially stacked in the lens barrel 400 starting from the sensor side will be described.

The lens unit 100 may have a plurality of lenses aligned along the optical axis from the object side toward the image sensor 112, for example, a first lens 101, a second lens 102, a third lens 103, The fourth lens 104, the fifth lens 105, the sixth lens 106, and the seventh lens 107 may be aligned. The second lens 102 may be disposed between the first lens 101 and the third lens 103. The fourth lens 104 is disposed between the third lens 103 and the fifth lens 105, and the sixth lens 106 is disposed between the fifth lens 105 and the seventh lens 107. ) can be placed between.

The lens unit 100 may include a bonded lens in which two adjacent lenses are bonded. The bonded lens may include bonded second and third lenses, bonded third and fourth lenses, or bonded fifth and sixth lenses. The bonded lenses have opposite refractive powers and can compensate for chromatic aberration.

The first lens 101 may be made of glass or plastic. The first lens 101 may have positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power at the optical axis (OA). The first lens 101 may have negative (-) refractive power. The first lens 101 is disposed closest to the object among the lenses, and may have, for example, an object-side first surface S1 that is concave from the optical axis and a sensor-side second surface S2 that is convex. Since the object-side first surface of the first lens 101 has a concave shape on the optical axis, problems of contact with external structures or damage from external impacts can be prevented. Additionally, the first lens 101 may be made of glass. The first lens 101 may be provided in an injection molded shape made of glass, and the first surface S1 on the object side and the second surface S2 on the sensor side may be aspherical. As another example, the first lens 101 may have a convex first surface (S1) and a concave second surface (S2) at the optical axis, and the first lens 101 may have a convex object-side surface. The amount of incident light can be increased through this. Alternatively, the first lens 101 may have a concave shape on both sides of the optical axis.

The first lens 101 made of glass can reduce changes in the center position and radius of curvature due to temperature changes depending on the surrounding environment, and protect the incident side surface of the optical system 1000. Additionally, the flange portion 101A of the first lens 101 may have a flat surface on the object side, and the flat surface can block foreign substances from entering from the outside.

Since the first lens 101 is made of a mold material, adhesion to the cover 500 (FIG. 5) can be improved. As shown in FIG. 5, a cover 500 is coupled to the upper circumference of the flange portion 101A of the first lens 101, and the cover 500 may be coupled to the upper circumference of the lens barrel 400. .

The camera module 1000 according to the embodiment may include an aperture. The aperture can control the amount of light incident on the optical system 1000. The aperture may be placed at a set position. For example, the aperture may be a first spacer 121 disposed around the first lens 101 and the second lens 102. Alternatively, a light blocking material coated on the surface of the first spacer 121 may function as an aperture. Alternatively, the perimeter of the sensor-side surface of the first lens 101 or the object-side surface of the second lens 102 may be coated with a light-blocking material to function as an aperture to adjust the amount of light.

The first spacer 121 is disposed around the first and second lenses 101 and 102 and can maintain the outer gap between the first and second lenses 101 and 102. The first spacer 121 may have a ring shape. The outer surface of the first spacer 121 may not be in contact with the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400, or may be spaced apart. The first spacer 121 may be made of a metallic or non-metallic material, for example, aluminum or plastic.

The inner protrusion P11 of the first spacer 121 may extend around the object-side surface of the second lens 102. The inner protrusion P11 of the first spacer 121 may function as an aperture.

The second lens 102 may have positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power at the optical axis (OA). The second lens 102 may have positive (+) refractive power. The second lens 102 may have both surfaces S3 and S4 convex at the optical axis. Alternatively, the second lens 102 may have a concave object-side third surface S3 and a convex sensor-side fourth surface S4 at the optical axis. Alternatively, the second lens 102 may have a meniscus shape that is convex toward the object or a shape that is concave on both sides. The second lens 102 may be made of plastic or glass, for example, glass. The object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of the second lens 102 may be spherical.

The third lens 103 may have positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power at the optical axis (OA). The third lens 103 may include an object-side fifth surface S5 that is flat or concave on the optical axis and a concave sensor-side sixth surface S6. Alternatively, the third lens 103 may have a convex object-side surface and a convex sensor-side surface at the optical axis. Alternatively, the third lens 103 may have a meniscus shape that is convex toward the sensor or a shape that is convex on both sides. The third lens 103 may be made of plastic or glass, for example, glass. The object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of the third lens 103 may be spherical.

The fourth lens 104 may have positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power at the optical axis (OA). For example, the fourth lens 104 may have a convex object-side seventh surface and a convex sensor-side eighth surface S8 at the optical axis. Alternatively, the fourth lens 104 may have a meniscus shape that is convex toward the sensor or a shape that is concave on both sides. The fourth lens 104 may be made of plastic or glass, for example, glass. The object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of the fourth lens 104 may be spherical.

The third lens 103 and the fourth lens 104 may be bonded bonded lenses. The sensor-side sixth surface S6 of the third lens 103 and the object-side surface of the fourth lens 104 may be joined. The third and fourth lenses 103 and 104 may have opposite refractive powers. The combined refractive power of the third and fourth lenses 103 and 104 may have positive (+) or negative refractive power. The product of the refractive power of the object-side lens and the refractive power of the sensor-side lens of the bonded lens may be less than 0. The product of the focal length of the object-side lens and the focal length of the sensor-side lens of the bonded lens may be less than 0. Accordingly, the aberration characteristics of the optical system can be improved. If the refractive powers of the two lenses of a bonded lens are the same, there is a limit to improving aberrations.

The diameter of the fourth lens 104 may be larger than the diameter of the third lens 103, and the protrusion P12 of the second spacer 123 may be disposed on the outer surface of the fourth lens 104. there is. The second spacer 123 is disposed on the outer circumference between the flange portion 103A of the third lens 103 and the flange portion 105A of the fifth lens 105, and the third and fifth lenses ( 103,105) can maintain the gap between them. The protrusion P12 of the second spacer 123 may be spaced apart from or adhered to the outer surface of the third lens 103. The thickness between the outer surface and the inner surface of the protrusion P12 may be smaller than the distance T4 between the inner surface and the outer surface of the second spacer 123, that is, the thickness.

The second spacer 123 may be made of a metal or non-metal material, for example, aluminum, copper, or plastic.

The fifth lens 105 may have positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power at the optical axis (OA). The fifth lens 105 may include plastic or glass. For example, the fifth lens 105 may have a convex object-side surface and a concave sensor-side surface at the optical axis. Alternatively, the fifth lens 105 may have a meniscus shape that is convex toward the sensor or a shape that is concave on both sides. The object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of the fifth lens 105 may be spherical or aspherical.

The sixth lens 106 may have positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power at the optical axis (OA). The sixth lens 106 may include plastic or glass. The sixth lens 106 may have a convex object-side surface and a concave sensor-side surface at the optical axis. The sixth lens 106 may have a meniscus shape convex toward the object. Alternatively, the sixth lens 106 may have a meniscus shape that is convex from the optical axis toward the sensor or a shape that is concave on both sides. The object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of the sixth lens 106 may be aspherical.

The seventh lens 107 may have positive (+) or negative (-) refractive power at the optical axis (OA). The seventh lens 107 may have negative refractive power. The seventh lens 107 may include plastic or glass. For example, the seventh lens 107 may be made of plastic. The seventh lens 107 may have a meniscus shape convex from the optical axis toward the object. Alternatively, the seventh lens 107 may have a meniscus shape that is convex from the optical axis OA toward the sensor, or may have a shape that is concave on both sides. The object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of the seventh lens 107 may be aspherical.

The seventh lens 107 may be a plastic lens closest to the image sensor 400. By arranging the plastic lens closest to the image sensor 112, optical performance can be improved by the lens surface having an aspherical surface, thereby improving aberration characteristics and controlling the effect on resolution. Additionally, by placing a plastic lens as the lens closest to the image sensor 112, it can be insensitive to assembly tolerances compared to a glass lens. In other words, being insensitive to assembly tolerances means that optical performance may not be significantly affected even if the assembly is assembled with a slight difference compared to the design.

When the first and second spacers 121 and 123 are made of metal, heat transferred from the lenses may be conducted to the lens barrel 400 or the inner barrel 300 and 400. That is, if the first and second spacers 121 and 123 are made of a heat dissipating material, they can dissipate heat conducted through the flange portion of the lens made of glass. When the spacers 121 and 123 are made of metal, In, Ga, Zn, Sn, Al, Ca, Sr, Ba, W, U, Ni, Cu, Hg, Pb, Bi, Si, Ta, H, Fe, Co , Cr, Mn, Be, B, Mg, Nb, Mo, Cd, Sn, Zr, Sc, Ti, V, Eu, Gd, Er, Lu, Yb, Ru, Y and La. . The oxide film may be an oxidized material treated with black oxide or brown oxide using copper.

Here, the lens barrel 400 may be made of metal or non-metallic material, for example, aluminum or copper. Accordingly, when the lens barrel 400 is made of a metal material, heat generated from the spacers 121 and 123 and the flange portion of each lens can be dissipated, thereby improving the optical characteristics according to temperature changes of the camera module exposed to the outside. Reliability degradation can be prevented.

The inner opening of the lens barrel 400 may have an upper diameter (X1) larger than a lower diameter (X2). Here, the upper diameter (X1) may be the maximum distance of the area corresponding to the outer surface of the flange portion 101A of the first lens 101. The lower diameter (X2) may be the maximum distance of the area corresponding to the outer surface of the flange portion 107A of the last lens 107. Since the diameter satisfies the condition of X2 < X1, the lenses can be coupled toward the sensor side through the object side. In this case, the diameter B1 of the first lens 101 may be larger than the diameter B2 of the seventh and last lens 107. The diameters B1 and B2 are the maximum diameters between the outer surfaces of the flange portions 101A and 107A of each lens 101 and 107.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lens barrel 400 may include a plurality of inner barrels 200 and 300 therein. The number of inner barrels may be smaller than the number of lenses in the lens barrel 400, for example, in the range of n-2 to n-5, where n is the number of lenses and ranges from 4 to 9. Here, at least one of the upper part, central part, and lower part of the inner barrel may be disposed on the outer surface of at least one lens. That is, at least one of the top, center, and bottom of the inner barrel may be disposed between the outer surface of at least one lens and the lens barrel. Accordingly, the outer surfaces of the lens barrel 400 and the lenses may be spaced apart from each other.

The thermal expansion coefficient of the inner barrels 200 and 300 may be made of a material that is higher than that of the lens barrel 400. For example, the lens barrel 400 may be made of a metal, such as aluminum, and the inner barrel may be made of a non-metal, such as resin or plastic. The lens barrel 400 may have a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 30, and the inner barrel may have a thermal expansion coefficient of 50 or more. The difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the inner barrel and the lens barrel may be 20 or more. The difference in thermal expansion coefficient of the inner barrel and the plastic lens may be 3 or less, 2 or less, or the same.

When the lens barrel 400 is injection molded from a metal material, there is a problem in that dimension control is difficult and diameter deviation occurs depending on the inner area. In other words, the inner diameter dimension and decenter management between the inner diameters for aligning the lenses are inferior compared to injection molded products. Additionally, most vehicle lenses in the lens barrel are made of glass. In the case of glass material, dimensional deviations exist due to the processing of each individual product, and in addition, the outer diameter size and decenter management between the outer diameters for lens alignment may be lower than those of injection molded products, and the manufacturing cost of the lens is lower than that of injection molded products. becomes higher compared to

The invention manufactures the inner barrel as a mold injection product and places it within the lens barrel, thereby minimizing the deviation between the inner and outer diameters between the lenses and the lens barrel, and reducing the tolerance of the glass lens or plastic lens to decenter according to the tolerance. and tilt can be minimized. In addition, the inner barrel can maintain resolution according to temperature changes. In other words, stress on the plastic lens can be suppressed and decentering can be minimized according to temperature changes.

The inner barrels 200 and 300 may include materials or particles for blocking or absorbing light on the surface or inside. The inner barrels 200 and 300 may be made of a non-reflective material or a light-absorbing material, thereby blocking interference caused by light reflection.

At least one of the upper, inner, and lower portions of the inner barrels 200 and 300 may be in contact with the object-side surface and the sensor-side surface of the flange portion of at least one lens. The inner barrels 200 and 300 may be made of the same material or different materials. The inner barrels 200 and 300 may be made of plastic.

Each of the inner barrels 200 and 300 has a hole penetrating therein, and at least one lens may be coupled to the top, inside, or bottom of the inner through hole.

The distance (T1) between the inner surface and the outer surface of each of the inner barrels 200 and 300 (ie, the thickness) may be smaller than the distance (ie, thickness) between the inner surface 441 and the outer surface of the lens barrel 400. Here, the distance or thickness between the inner surface and the outer surface may be the gap between the inner surface and the outer surface having a vertical plane in a region corresponding to the outer surface of the lens.

1 to 4, the inner barrels 200 and 300 may be placed inside the outer barrel, that is, the lens barrel 400. The inner barrels 200 and 300 may include a first inner barrel 200 coupled to an inner upper portion of the lens barrel 400 and a second inner barrel 300 coupled to an inner lower portion.

A first inner barrel 200 may be coupled to the upper periphery of the lens barrel 400. At least one lens may be disposed inside the first inner barrel 300, for example, a plurality of lenses 101 and 102 may be disposed. The first inner barrel 300 may be disposed on the outer surfaces of the first and second lenses 101 and 102. The first and second lenses 101-102 or the inner lenses of the first inner barrel 200 are defined as the upper lenses.

The first inner barrel 300 may be disposed between the first and second lenses 101 and 102 and the lens barrel 400. The outer surface of the upper lens may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the lens barrel 400, for example, more than the distance T1 between the inner surface and outer surface of the first inner barrel 200, that is, more than the thickness. That is, the distance between the outer surface of at least one of the first and second lenses 101 and 102 and the lens barrel 400 may be in the range of 0.7 mm to 2 mm.

The upper inner surface of the first inner barrel 200 faces the outer surface of the first flange portion 101A of the first lens 101, and the lower inner surface faces the second flange portion 102A of the second lens 102. ) can face the exterior. The first and second lenses 101 and 102 may be attached to the first inner barrel 200 with an adhesive. The first spacer 121 is located inside the first inner barrel 200 and may separate the first and second lenses 101 and 102.

The thickness T1 of the first inner barrel 200 may be smaller than the thickness T2 of the first spacer 121. The thickness T2 of the first spacer 121 is the horizontal distance in the area between the first and second lenses 101 and 102.

The upper part of the first inner barrel 200 may extend to the outer surface of the first lens 101, and the lower part may extend to the outer surface of the second lens 102.

The first inner barrel 200 includes a first outer upper protrusion (P21) protruding outward, and the first outer upper protrusion (P21) is located at the upper end of the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400. You can face it. The top of the first inner barrel 200 is located at the center of the outer surface of the first flange portion 101A of the first lens 101 and may be located lower than the top of the first flange portion 101A. The top of the first inner barrel 200 may be exposed on the first opening 401.

The first outer top protrusion (P21) may have a first minimum distance from the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400, and the first minimum distance is at least one of the first and second lenses 101 and 102. When expanded in the horizontal direction, it is a gap that can flow, and may be 0.1 mm or less, for example, in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.1 mm. When the lens barrel 400 is made of metal, the first inner barrel 200 is made of plastic, and at least one of the first and second lenses 101 and 102 is made of glass, the first minimum gap is the lens ( 101,102) may be the maximum gap that can be expanded when thermally expanded in the horizontal direction at a high temperature, that is, in the range of 85 degrees to 105 degrees. The horizontal direction may be perpendicular to the optical axis. This first minimum gap has the effect of separating the inner barrel and the lens barrel so that they do not contact each other even if the plastic lens expands at high temperature, or does not cause significant stress to the lens even if they do contact. Additionally, when the lens, inner barrel, etc. expand/contract at high/low temperatures, the shape of the inner barrel can be provided in a structure where the changing positions do not affect each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first inner barrel 200 and the lens barrel 400 may have a first gap G1. The first gap G1 is a gap between the outer surface of the first inner barrel 200 and the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400 at the center of the first inner barrel 200. The central portion of the first inner barrel 200 is an area corresponding to the gap between the first lens 101 and the second lens 102.

The first gap G1 may be larger than the first minimum gap, and is more than the gap at which the first and second lenses can flow when expanded in the horizontal direction, and may be 0.5 mm or less, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. It may be a range. When the first inner barrel 200 is made of plastic and the lenses 101 and 102 are made of glass, the first gap G1 is at a high temperature, that is, when the lens is thermally expanded in the horizontal direction in the range of 85 to 105 degrees, This may be the maximum gap that can be expanded. The first gap G1 may be 10% or more, for example, 10% to 50% of the thickness of the first inner barrel 200, that is, the distance T1 between the inner and outer surfaces. If the first gap G1 is smaller than the above range, a problem may occur in which at least one of the first and second lenses 101 and 102 is tilted with respect to the optical axis due to temperature changes, and if it is larger than the above range, the internal lenses may be tilted. There are difficulties with support and fixation.

The first inner barrel 200 may include a first support spacer P22 on the lower inner side. The first support spacer (P22) is integrally formed from the lower part of the first inner barrel 200 and may be disposed around the area (P25) between the second lens 102 and the third lens 103. there is. The first support spacer (P22) is disposed between the second flange portion (102A) of the second lens 102 and the third flange portion (103A) of the third lens 103, and is located in the second and third planes. The branches 102A and 103A can be spaced apart.

The first support spacer P22 may overlap the first spacer 121 in the vertical direction or the optical axis direction. The inner diameter B3 of the first support spacer P22 may be smaller than the upper inner diameter of the first inner barrel 200, that is, the diameter B1 of the first lens 101.

The first support spacer P22 may function as a support portion at the lower part of the first inner barrel 200. This is because the height H1 of the first inner barrel 200 is placed higher than a predetermined level, so the support force in the vertical direction may be reduced, and the first support spacer P22 can be used as a floor support part.

The height H1 of the first inner barrel 200 may be greater than the central thickness of the first lens 101. The height H1 of the first inner barrel 200 may be greater than the sum of the central thicknesses of the first and second lenses 101 and 102. The height (H1) of the first inner barrel 200 is the optical axis from the center of the object-side surface (S1) of the first lens 101 to the center of the sensor-side surface (S4) of the second lens 102. It may be more than the distance (LD12). The height H1 of the first inner barrel 200 is the optical axis from the center of the object-side surface S1 of the first lens 101 to the center of the object-side surface S5 of the third lens 103. It can be smaller than the distance.

The height H1 of the first inner barrel 200 varies from the center of the object-side surface S1 of the first lens 101 to the center of the object-side or sensor-side surface S6 of the third lens 103. If it is greater than the optical axis distance, the size of the support cannot be expanded, and the support strength in the vertical direction may be reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the second inner barrel 300 may be placed on the outer surface of two or more lenses, for example, on the outer surface of two to six lenses. The second inner barrel 300 may extend between the outer surface of the third to seventh lenses 103-105 and the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the third to seventh lenses 103 - 107 or the inner lenses of the second inner barrel 300 will be defined as lower lenses. The second inner barrel 300 may have a through hole into which the lower lens is inserted.

The top of the second inner barrel 300 may overlap the top of the first inner barrel 200 in a vertical direction. The upper part of the second inner barrel 300 extends to the outside of the first support spacer P22 of the first inner barrel 200 and may overlap the first support spacer P22 in the horizontal direction.

The second inner barrel 300 is disposed on the outer surface of the lower lenses 103-107, and the outer surface of the lower lenses 101 and 102 may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the lens barrel 400, for example, the second inner barrel 300 The inner and outer surfaces of the inner barrel 300 may be spaced apart from each other by more than the distance T2, that is, more than the thickness. That is, the distance between the outer surface of at least one of the lower lenses and the lens barrel 400 may be in the range of 0.7 mm to 2 mm.

The inner surface of the second inner barrel 300 may face the outer surface of the flange portions 103A, 105A, 106A, and 107A of the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh lenses 103, 105, 106, and 107. The third, fifth, sixth, and seventh lenses 103, 105, 106, and 107 may be attached to the second inner barrel 300 with an adhesive.

The second spacer 123 is located inside the second inner barrel 300 and may separate the third and fifth lenses 103 and 105. The fourth lens 104 faces the inner surface of the second spacer 123, and the outer surface of the fourth lens 104 may be adhered to the second spacer 123 using an adhesive.

The thickness T2 of the second inner barrel 300 may be smaller than the thickness T4 of the second spacer 123. The thickness T4 of the second spacer 123 is the horizontal distance in the area between the fourth and fifth lenses 104 and 105.

The upper part of the second inner barrel 300 may extend to the outer surface of the third lens 103, and the lower part may extend to the outer surface of the seventh lens 107.

The second inner barrel 300 includes a second outer top protrusion (P31) protruding outward from the top, and the second outer top protrusion (P31) is located at the center of the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400. You can face it. The second outer upper protrusion P31 may have a second minimum gap with the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400, and the second minimum gap is such that at least one of the lower lenses is expanded in the horizontal direction. At this time, it is a gap that can flow, and may be 0.1 mm or less, for example, in the range of 0.05 mm to 0.1 mm. When the lens barrel 400 is made of metal, the second inner barrel 300 is made of plastic, and at least one or all of the fifth, sixth, and seventh lenses 105, 106, and 107 are made of plastic, the second minimum gap is may be the maximum gap that can be expanded when the lenses are thermally expanded in the horizontal direction at a high temperature, that is, in the range of 85 degrees to 105 degrees. Alternatively, at least one of the fifth to seventh lenses 105, 106, and 107 may be made of glass.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second inner barrel 300 and the lens barrel 400 may have a second gap G2. The second gap G2 is a gap between the outer surface of the second inner barrel 300 and the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400 at the center of the second inner barrel 300. The central portion of the second inner barrel 300 is an area corresponding to the gap between the fifth lens 105 and the sixth lens 106.

The second gap G2 may be greater than the second minimum gap, and is more than the gap that can flow when at least one of the lower lenses is expanded in the horizontal direction, and is 0.5 mm or less, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. It may be in the mm range. When the second inner barrel 300 is made of plastic and at least one of the fifth to seventh lenses 105, 106, and 107 is made of plastic, the second gap G2 is the lower lens at a high temperature, that is, in the range of 85 to 105 degrees. When thermally expanded in the horizontal direction, this may be the maximum gap that can be expanded. The second gap G2 may be 10% or more, for example, 10% to 50% of the thickness of the second inner barrel 300, that is, the distance T2 between the inner and outer surfaces. If the second gap G2 is smaller than the above range, a problem may occur in which at least one of the lower lenses is tilted with respect to the optical axis due to temperature changes, and if it is larger than the above range, the support and fixing power of the lower lenses may be difficult. There is.

The second inner barrel 300 may include a second support spacer P32 on the lower inner side. The second support spacer P32 extends integrally from the lower portion of the second inner barrel 300 and may be disposed between the lower engaging protrusion 505 of the lens barrel 400 and the last lens 107.

The second support spacer P32 is disposed around the flange portion 107A of the last lens 107 and can space the last lens 107 from the surface of the optical filter 116.

The bottom protrusions 32A and 32B of the second support spacer P32 may be spaced apart from each other, the inner bottom protrusion 32A may support the upper circumference of the optical filter 116, and the outer bottom protrusion 32B ) may face the lower end of the inner surface 441 of the lens barrel 400). The bottom protrusions 32A and 32B of the second support spacer P32 are spaced apart on both sides, thereby providing a predetermined elastic repulsion force in the optical axis direction.

The second support spacer P32 may overlap the second spacer 123 in the vertical direction or the optical axis direction. The inner diameter of the second support spacer P22 may be smaller than the width of the optical filter 116 and may be smaller than the upper inner diameter B4 of the second inner barrel 300. The second support spacer P32 may function as a support portion at the lower part of the second inner barrel 300. This is because the height H2 of the second inner barrel 300 is placed high, the vertical support force may be reduced, and the second support spacer P32 can be used as a bottom support part.

The height H2 of the second inner barrel 300 may be greater than the sum of the central thicknesses of the third and fourth lenses 103 and 104. The height H2 of the second inner barrel 300 may be greater than the sum of the center thicknesses of the third to seventh lenses 103-107. The height H2 of the second inner barrel 300 is the optical axis from the center of the object side surface S5 of the third lens 103 to the center of the sensor side surface S14 of the seventh lens 107. It can be larger than the distance (LD37). The height (H2) of the second inner barrel 300 is the optical axis from the center of the object-side surface (S3) of the second lens 102 to the center of the sensor-side surface (S14) of the seventh lens 107. It can be smaller than the distance.

The height H2 of the second inner barrel 300 is the optical axis from the center of the object-side surface S3 of the second lens 102 to the center of the sensor-side surface S14 of the seventh lens 107. If it is greater than the distance, the support strength in the vertical direction may decrease, and at least one of the third, fourth, and fifth lenses 103, 104, and 105 may be tilted with respect to the optical axis.

The inner surface (S21) of the second inner barrel 300 may have a stepped structure so that the diameter becomes narrower from the top to the bottom, depending on the difference in effective diameters of the third to seventh lenses 103-107. The stepped structure has upper and lower portions stepped relative to the outer center of the third lens 103, upper and lower portions stepped relative to the outer central portion of the fifth lens 105, and the sixth lens ( The upper and lower parts may be stepped based on the center of the outer surface of the seventh lens 106), and the upper and lower parts may be stepped based on the central outer surface of the seventh lens 107. In this case, the condition of diameter of the third lens < diameter of the fifth lens < diameter of the sixth lens < diameter of the seventh lens can be satisfied.

One of the first, second, and third lenses (101, 102, and 103) may have the largest diameter, and the diameter may gradually decrease from one of the first, second, and third lenses (101, 102, and 103) to the last lens. Accordingly, the gap between the outer surface of the second inner barrel 300 and the inner surface of the lens barrel 400 is increased from the area corresponding to the outer surface of the lens with the larger diameter among the second, third, fourth, and fifth lenses toward the sensor side. It can gradually grow.

The outer surface S22 of the second inner barrel 300 may have a stepped structure following the stepped structure of the inner surface S21. The stepped structure of the outer surface (S22) of the second inner barrel 300 may be disposed below the same horizontal line as the stepped structure of the inner surface (S21).

Here, to explain the coupling sequence, the second inner barrel 300 is coupled to the lens barrel 400, then the seventh lens 107 is seated, and then the sixth lens 106 is placed on the seventh lens 107. are stacked, the fifth lens 105 is stacked on the first and sixth lenses 106, a second spacer 123 is stacked around the outer periphery of the fifth lens 105, and the second spacer 124 ) A bonded lens having the third and fourth lenses 103 and 104 can be combined. Here, the optical filter 116 may be coupled to the inner bottom of the lens barrel 400 before coupling the lens barrel 400, or may be coupled to the outer lower portion of the lens barrel 400. As another example, a structure combining the third to seventh lenses (103-107) and the second spacer (123) inside the second inner barrel (300) may be coupled to the lens barrel (400).

In addition, when the second inner barrel 300 and the third lens 103 are combined, the first inner barrel 200 is combined within the lens barrel 400, and then the second lens 102 is placed on the third lens 103. ) are stacked, the first spacer 121 can be coupled to the second lens 102, and the first lens 101 can be coupled to the first spacer 121. As another example, the first and second lenses 101 and 102, the first spacer 121, and the first inner barrel 200 may be coupled externally, and then the coupling structure may be coupled inside the lens barrel 400. .

The inner barrels 200 and 300 are interlocked in the horizontal direction when at least one of the lenses 101-107 within the lens barrel 400 expands or contracts in the horizontal direction according to temperature changes, thereby reducing resolution due to temperature changes. can be prevented. It can also reduce stress on plastic lenses due to temperature changes and minimize decentering of the optical axis. Additionally, compared to a structure in which a glass lens is directly coupled to the lens barrel, the lens coupling tolerance can be reduced, thereby reducing decentering and tilt on the optical axis. Additionally, when a plastic lens is applied with an inner barrel made of plastic, it has the same coefficient of thermal expansion, which can reduce the impact on optical properties due to thermal expansion or contraction. Additionally, by placing the inner barrel between the lens barrel and the outer surface of the lenses, stress that occurs when the lens is in direct contact with the lens barrel can be reduced.

As shown in Figure 5, it may include a cover 500 coupled to the top of the lens barrel 400. The spacers 121 and 123 are gap maintenance members that can maintain a gap between two adjacent lenses and can function as a light blocking film or a spacing film. The ring member 191 may be disposed around the periphery between the lens barrel 400 and the first lens. The ring member 191 may be made of an elastic material or a resin material such as silicone or epoxy. As another example, the ring member 191 may be coupled between the lens barrel 400 and the cover. The ring member 191 may perform a waterproof and dustproof function inside and/or outside the lens barrel 400.

Figure 6 is an example of a top view of a vehicle to which a camera module according to an embodiment of the invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 6, the vehicle camera system according to an embodiment of the invention includes an image generator 11, a first information generator 12, a second information generator 21, 22, 23, 24, and a control unit ( 14) Includes.

The image generator 11 may include at least one camera module 20 disposed in the host vehicle, and may generate a front image of the host vehicle or an image inside the vehicle by photographing the front of the host vehicle and/or the driver. You can.

Additionally, the image generator 11 may use the camera module 20 to generate an image of not only the front of the host vehicle but also the surroundings of the host vehicle or the driver in one or more directions.

Here, the front image and peripheral image may be digital images and may include color images, black-and-white images, and infrared images. Additionally, the front image and surrounding image may include still images and moving images. The image generator 11 provides the driver image, front image, and surrounding image to the control unit 14. Next, the first information generator 12 may include at least one radar or/and a camera disposed in the host vehicle, and generates first detection information by detecting the front of the host vehicle. Specifically, the first information generator 12 is disposed in the host vehicle and generates first detection information by detecting the location and speed of vehicles located in front of the host vehicle and the presence and location of pedestrians.

The first detection information generated by the first information generator 12 can be used to control the distance between the own vehicle and the vehicle in front to be kept constant, and when the driver wants to change the driving lane of the own vehicle or reverse parking. The stability of vehicle operation can be improved in certain preset cases, such as when driving. The first information generation unit 12 provides first detection information to the control unit 14.

Subsequently, the second information generation units 21, 22, 23, and 24 generate the front image generated by the image generating unit 11 and the first detection information generated by the first information generating unit 12, Each side of is detected to generate second sensed information. Specifically, the second information generators 21, 22, 23, and 24 may include at least one radar or/and camera disposed on the host vehicle, and detect the positions and speeds of vehicles located on the sides of the host vehicle. Or you can shoot a video. Here, the second information generating units 21, 22, 23, and 24 may be disposed on both the front and rear sides of the host vehicle, respectively.

This vehicle camera system may be equipped with the following camera module, and provides or processes information acquired through the front, rear, each side, or corner area of the vehicle to the user to prevent autonomous driving or surrounding safety from vehicles and objects. can protect.

The optical system of the camera module according to an embodiment of the invention can be mounted in multiple numbers in a vehicle to improve safety regulations, strengthen autonomous driving functions, and increase convenience. Additionally, the optical system of the camera module is used in vehicles as a control component for lane keeping assistance systems (LKAS), lane departure warning systems (LDWS), and driver monitoring systems (DMS). These automotive camera modules can provide stable optical performance despite changes in ambient temperature and provide price-competitive modules to ensure the reliability of automotive components.

The features, structures, effects, etc. described in the embodiments above are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to only one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, etc. illustrated in each embodiment can be combined or modified and implemented in other embodiments by a person with ordinary knowledge in the field to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, contents related to such combinations and modifications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

In addition, although the above description has been made focusing on the examples, this is only an example and does not limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art will understand the above examples without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. You will be able to see that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the examples can be modified and implemented. And these variations and differences in application should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

100: Lens part
101,102,103,104,105,106,107: Lens
101A, 102A, 103A, 105A, 106A, 107A: Flange part
121,123: Spacer
110: substrate 112: image sensor
114: cover glass 116: optical filter
200,300: Inner barrel
400: Lens barrel 500: Cover
400: Lens barrel 1000: Camera module

Claims (13)

Lens barrel penetrating from top to bottom;
a plurality of inner barrels disposed around the inner circumference of the lens barrel; and
A lens unit having a plurality of lenses disposed inside the inner barrel,
A camera module wherein at least one of the plurality of inner barrels is disposed between two adjacent lenses and between the outer surfaces of the two adjacent lenses and the lens barrel. According to claim 1,
The plurality of inner barrels include a first inner barrel extending from the outer surface of the first lens closest to the object to the outer surface of the second lens located on the sensor side of the first lens, and
A camera module including a second inner barrel extending from the outer surface of the third lens located on the sensor side of the second lens to the outer surface of the last lens. According to clause 2,
A lower portion of the first inner barrel includes a first support spacer extending between the flange portion of the second lens and the flange portion of the third lens. According to clause 2,
The gap between the outer top of the first inner barrel and the lens barrel is narrower than the gap between the outer surface of the first inner barrel and the lens barrel disposed outside the area between the first lens and the second lens. module. According to paragraph 3,
A camera module wherein an upper portion of the second inner barrel extends outside the first support spacer. According to claim 2 or 3,
The second inner barrel is a camera module including a second support spacer extending below the flange portion of the last lens. According to claim 2 or 3,
A camera module in which the gap between the outer surface of the second inner barrel and the inner surface of the lens barrel gradually widens from the outer surface of the third lens to the outer surface of the seventh lens. In clause 7,
The inner diameter of the second inner barrel gradually narrows from the top toward the last lens,
A camera module wherein the inner and outer surfaces of the second inner barrel have a plurality of stepped structures. According to any one of claims 1 to 4,
At least one of the plurality of inner barrels is made of plastic,
A camera module wherein at least one of the plurality of lenses is made of plastic. According to any one of claims 2 to 4,
The lens barrel is made of metal,
The first and second inner barrels are made of plastic,
A camera module in which at least two lenses disposed in the second inner barrel are made of plastic. According to any one of claims 2 to 4,
a first spacer separating two adjacent lenses within the first inner barrel; and a second spacer that separates two adjacent lenses within the second inner barrel. According to any one of claims 1 to 4,
an image sensor disposed on the sensor side of the lens barrel;
a cover glass disposed on the image sensor;
A camera module including an optical filter disposed between the cover glass and a lens closest to the image sensor. Comprising a camera module according to claim 12,
At least two lenses of the plurality of inner barrels and the plurality of lenses are made of plastic,
A vehicle in which the plurality of inner barrels overlap in a vertical direction.

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