TWI426313B - Camera module with multi image units and method for switching multi image units - Google Patents

Description

Camera module with multiple imaging units and switching method thereof

The present invention relates to the field of optical lenses, and in particular, to a camera module having a plurality of imaging units and a switching method thereof.

With the rapid development of multimedia technology, digital cameras, camcorders and mobile phones with cameras are increasingly favored by consumers. With the high specification demand for such electronic consumer products cameras in the consumer market, the general single function lens has been unable to satisfy consumers who pursue functionality and novelty. Many consumers hope that the camera module function can be more comprehensive, to the extent that it can be comparable to a general consumer digital camera.

Generally, the camera module with the selected function is used to replace various lenses to meet various imaging needs. Such a camera module generally needs to be configured with multiple lenses, and the structural design is complicated, which is not conducive to the miniaturization of the camera module, and is also inconvenient to carry. Since the current camera volume is moving toward a light, thin and short direction, how to enrich the camera function of the camera module without increasing the thickness and volume of the camera has become a research focus in the industry.

In view of this, it is necessary to provide a camera module having a plurality of imaging units and a switching method of the imaging unit thereof.

A camera module includes: a first lens group, a second lens group, an image sensor module coaxial with the first lens group and the second lens group, a first driver and a second driver. The image sensor module includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor disposed in two phases. The first driver is configured to drive the second lens group to move left and right along the optical axis direction, and the second driver is configured to drive the image sensor module to move up and down along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, so that the image sensor module The group is located between the first lens group and the second lens group, or the second lens group is located between the first lens group and the image sensor module.

A method for switching an imaging unit of a camera module, the camera module comprising: a first lens group, a second lens group, and an image sensor module coaxial with the first lens group and the second lens group a first driver and a second driver. The image sensor module includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor disposed in two phases. The image sensor module is located at an initial position, and the external light passes through the first lens group and the second lens group to reach the first image sensor, so that the first lens group, the second lens group and the first lens group The image sensor constitutes a first imaging unit. The method for switching the imaging unit of the camera module includes the following steps: the second driver drives the image sensor module to move downward from the initial position along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis by a vertical unit distance, the vertical unit distance is not less than a vertical height of the second lens group; the first driver drives the second lens group to move away from the first lens group in the optical axis direction, and moves it to the rear surface of the image sensor module initial position; the second The driver drives the image sensor module to move upward along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and return the image sensor module to an initial position, so that the image sensor module is located in the first lens group and the second lens group The external light reaches the second image sensor through the second lens group or reaches the first image sensor via the first lens group, so that the second lens group and the second image sensor form a The second imaging unit or the first lens group and the first image sensor form a third imaging unit.

Compared with the prior art, the camera module can switch between the imaging unit by moving the second lens group and the image sensor module, wherein the first image sensor can be selected to work or the second image is selected. The sensor works to convert the high-pixel and low-pixel of the camera module, so that the camera module has the advantages of diversification, and the design has the advantages of simple structure and convenient use.

The embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a camera module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first lens group 10 , a second lens group 20 , an image sensor module 30 , a first driver 40 , and a second driver . 50. The first or second lens set 10, 20 itself is an independently operable lens module, that is, the first or second lens sets 10, 20 can be independently imaged. The image sensor module 30 includes a substrate 31 and a first image sensor 32 and a second image sensor 33 respectively disposed on opposite surfaces of the substrate 31. In this embodiment, a receiving slot (not shown) is disposed on each of the opposite surfaces of the substrate 31. The first image sensor 32, the second image sensor 33, and the corresponding circuit thereof can be accommodated in the receiving. In the slot.

The camera module 100 is a camera module having a plurality of imaging units. The first image sensor 32 is a high pixel image sensor, and the second image sensor 33 is a low pixel image sensor. . As shown in FIG. 1, the first image sensor 32, the first lens group 10 and the second lens group 20 of the camera module 100 together form a first imaging unit. The first lens group 10, the second lens group 20, and the image sensor module 30 are sequentially arranged along the optical axis.

The second driver 50 is configured to drive the image sensor module 30 to move up and down in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The first driver 40 is configured to drive the second lens group 20 to move left and right along the optical axis to make the camera module The group 100 can be switched to a state in which the image sensing module 30 is located between the first lens group 10 and the second lens group 20 (see FIG. 4). In this state, the first lens group 10, the image sensor module 30, and the second lens group 20 are sequentially arranged along the optical axis, and the second lens group 20 and the second image sensor 33 may be selected to be co-imaged, or The first lens set 10 is selected for imaging with the first image sensor 32. That is, the camera module 100 can be switched to form a second imaging unit by the second lens group 20 and the second image sensor 33, or form a third by the first lens group 10 and the first image sensor 32. Imaging unit.

The camera module 100 further includes a sleeve 110. The first lens group 10, the second lens group 20 and the image sensor module 30 are received in the sleeve 110. Each of the two ends of the sleeve 110 has a first aperture aperture 111 and a second aperture aperture 112. A first shutter mechanism 113 is disposed around the first aperture hole 111, and a second shutter mechanism 114 is disposed around the second aperture hole 112. The first shutter mechanism 113 and the second shutter mechanism can be respectively turned on and off under the driving of the main control signal of the camera module 100, that is, when the first image sensor 32 is selected to operate, the first shutter mechanism 113 is turned on. At this time, the second shutter mechanism 114 is in a closed state, so that light can enter the sleeve 110 through the first aperture hole 111 without stray light entering the sleeve 110 through the second aperture hole 112; otherwise, when the second image sense is selected When the detector 33 is in operation, the second shutter mechanism 114 is opened, and the first shutter mechanism 113 is in a closed state, so that light can enter the sleeve 110 through the second aperture hole 112 without stray light passing through the first aperture hole 111. Enter the sleeve 110. In this way, the camera module 100 can operate in a variety of imaging modes without being affected.

The camera module 100 further includes a first lens barrel 120 and a second lens barrel 130. The first lens barrel 120 and the second lens barrel 130 respectively receive the first lens group 10 and the second lens group 20.

The camera module 100 further includes two horizontal positioning shafts 141, 142 parallel to the optical axes of the first and second lens groups 10, 20 and respectively fixed to the two ends of the sleeve 110, the first and second lens barrels 120 and 130 are respectively fixed in the sleeve 110 through the horizontal positioning shafts 141 and 142, and the second barrel 120 is movable to the left and right relative to the horizontal positioning shafts 141 and 142 by the driving of the first driver 40.

The camera module 100 further includes two vertical positioning axes 151, 152 that are perpendicular to the optical axes of the first and second lens sets 10, 20. The substrate 31 is sleeved on the vertical positioning shafts 151 and 152 and slidable relative to the vertical positioning shafts 151 and 152, so that the image sensor module 30 can be driven by the second driver 50. The vertical optical axis moves up and down.

The camera module 100 further includes an image sensor base 160. The image sensor base 160 is received in the lens barrel 110, and the two vertical positioning shafts 151 and 152 are fixed to the base 160. .

The first driver 40 and the second driver 50 are linear motor drivers. It can be understood that it can also be other types of drives.

The first driver 40 is fixed to the outside of the sleeve 110. Specifically, the first driver 40 is fixed to the outer sidewall of the sleeve 110. The second driver 50 is fixed in the sleeve 110. Specifically, in the embodiment, the second driver 50 is fixed in the image sensing base 160. It can be understood that the fixing manner and position of the first and second drivers 40, 50 are not limited to the case in the embodiment, and may be set and selected according to actual conditions.

The camera module 100 can further include a third driver (not shown) that can drive the first lens group 10 to move left and right along the optical axis to perform focusing.

The present invention also provides a method of switching an imaging unit of the camera module 100. The method for switching the imaging unit of the camera module 100 includes the following steps: the second driver 50 drives the image sensor module 30 to move downward from the initial position (ie, the position of the first imaging unit) in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. a vertical unit distance H1, the vertical unit distance H1 is not less than the vertical height H2 of the second lens group, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2; the first driver 40 drives the second lens group 20 away from the optical axis. The direction of a lens group 10 is moved and moved to the rear of the initial position of the image sensor module 30, as shown in FIG. 3; the second driver 50 drives the image sensor module 30 to be perpendicular to the light. The axis direction moves upward and returns the image sensor module 30 to the initial position, as shown in FIG.

In this manner, even if the image sensor module 30 is located between the first lens group 10 and the second lens group 20, the external light reaches the second image sensor 33 via the second lens group 20 or via the first lens group. The first lens sensor 32 and the second image sensor 33 form a second imaging unit or the first lens group 10 and the first image sensor 32 are formed. The third imaging unit.

In summary, the present invention has indeed met the requirements of the invention patent, and has filed a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is not possible to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Equivalent modifications or variations made by persons skilled in the art in light of the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

100. . . Camera module

10. . . First lens group

20. . . Second lens group

30. . . Image sensor module

40. . . First drive

50. . . Second drive

31. . . Substrate

32. . . First image sensor

33. . . Second image sensor

110. . . Sleeve

111. . . First aperture

112. . . Second aperture

113. . . First shutter mechanism

114. . . Second shutter mechanism

120. . . First barrel

130. . . Second barrel

141, 142. . . Horizontal positioning axis

151, 152. . . Vertical positioning axis

160. . . Image sensor base

FIG. 1 is a perspective, partial, cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the image sensor of the camera module of FIG. 1 moving downward.

3 is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the second lens group of the camera module of FIG. 2 moving in a direction away from the first lens group in the optical axis.

4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the camera module of the camera module of FIG. 3 moving upward until the camera module is switched, and the entire camera module is rotated 180 degrees in the horizontal direction.

100. . . Camera module

10. . . First lens group

20. . . Second lens group

30. . . Image sensor module

40. . . First drive

50. . . Second drive

31. . . Substrate

32. . . First image sensor

33. . . Second image sensor

110. . . Sleeve

111. . . First aperture

112. . . Second aperture

113. . . First shutter mechanism

120. . . First barrel

130. . . Second barrel

141, 142. . . Horizontal positioning axis

151, 152. . . Vertical positioning axis

160. . . Image sensor base

Claims (10)

A camera module includes: a first lens group, a second lens group, an image sensor module coaxial with the first lens group and the second lens group, a first driver and a second The driver is improved in that the image sensor module includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor disposed on the two opposite sides, and the first driver is configured to drive the second lens group along the optical axis Moving in the direction of the left and right sides, the second driver is configured to drive the image sensor module to move up and down along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, so that the image sensor module is located between the first lens group and the second lens group Or positioning the second lens group between the first lens group and the image sensor module. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the camera module further comprises a sleeve, the first lens group, the second lens group and the image sensor module are received in the sleeve . The camera module of claim 2, wherein the two ends of the sleeve respectively have a first aperture hole and a second aperture hole, and a first shutter mechanism is disposed around the first aperture hole. A second shutter mechanism is disposed around the second aperture hole, and the first shutter mechanism and the second shutter mechanism are respectively opened or closed to expose the first aperture hole, the second aperture hole is shielded, or the second aperture hole is blocked. The first aperture aperture is exposed. The camera module of claim 2, wherein the camera module further includes a first lens barrel and a second lens barrel, wherein the first lens group and the second lens group respectively pass the first lens The barrel and the second barrel are housed in the sleeve. The camera module of claim 4, wherein the camera module further comprises two horizontal positioning axes parallel to the optical axes of the first and second lens groups and respectively fixed to the two ends of the sleeve, The first and second barrels are respectively fixed in the sleeve through the horizontal positioning shaft, and the second barrel is slidable relative to the horizontal positioning shaft by the first driver. The camera module of claim 2, wherein the camera module further comprises two vertical positioning axes perpendicular to the optical axes of the first and second lens groups, and the image sensor module is sleeved And on the vertical positioning shaft, and slidable relative to the vertical positioning shaft by the second driver. The camera module of claim 6, wherein the camera module further comprises an image sensor base, the image sensor base is received in the sleeve, and the two vertical positioning The shaft is fixed to the image sensor base. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the first driver and the second driver are linear motor drivers. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the image sensor module further comprises a substrate having two opposite surfaces, wherein the first and second image sensors are respectively fixed to The opposite surfaces of the substrate. A method for switching an imaging unit of a camera module, the camera module comprising: a first lens group, a second lens group, and an image sensor module coaxial with the first lens group and the second lens group a first driver and a second driver, the image sensor module includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor disposed on the two opposite sides, the image sensor module is located at an initial Position, the external light passes through the first lens group and the second lens group to reach the first image sensor, so that the first lens group, the second lens group and the first image sensor form a first imaging unit The method for switching the imaging unit of the camera module includes the following steps: the second driver drives the image sensor module to move downward from the initial position along a direction perpendicular to the optical axis by a vertical unit distance, the vertical unit distance is not less than The vertical height of the second lens group; the first driver drives the second lens group to move away from the first lens group in the optical axis direction, and moves it to the rear surface of the image sensor module initial position; two Actuating the image sensor module to move upward in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and returning the image sensor module to an initial position, so that the image sensor module is located in the first lens group and the second lens Between the groups, the external light reaches the second image sensor via the second lens group or reaches the first image sensor via the first lens group, and the second lens group and the second image sensor are configured. A second imaging unit or the first lens group and the first image sensor form a third imaging unit.