WO2022126570A1

WO2022126570A1 - Power supply to movable aperture unit

Info

Publication number: WO2022126570A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/137486
Authority: WO
Inventors: Atsuta KAZUYA; Ehara YUSUKE; Atsushi Yoneyama
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2020-12-18
Filing date: 2020-12-18
Publication date: 2022-06-23
Also published as: CN116615691A

Abstract

Embodiments of this application provide a technique used to supply power to an aperture unit that moves with a lens unit in a camera module, wherein there is no need of a flexible printed circuit to couple the aperture unit with an outside power source or an external coil to allow the aperture unit to function. Embodiments of the present application supply power to an aperture unit that moves with a lens unit via one or more springs that movably support a holder onto which the aperture unit and the lens unit are mounted.

Description

POWER SUPPLY TO MOVABLE APERTURE UNIT

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present application generally relate to a camera module. More particularly, embodiments of the present application relate to supplying power to a variable aperture unit movable with a lens unit in a camera module.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, camera modules of mobile cameras provide increasingly high performance. As used herein, camera modules may refer to camera modules in dedicated mobile cameras as well as camera modules in mobile devices such as smartphones, tablet PCs, laptop computers or the like.

In some cases, a lens unit of a camera module may be accompanied by an aperture unit to adjust the amount of light that enters the lens. The lens unit is movable to achieve functionalities such as autofocusing (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) .

The aperture unit can be mounted so as to move with the lens unit due to considerations of optical performance, external size, etc. However, when the aperture unit moves with the lens unit, supplying power thereto becomes a nontrivial problem.

JP2019-148699 describes a blade driving device in an aperture unit, in which blades move to adjust the size of an opening formed by the blades when a driving current is applied via a flexible printed circuit (FPC) . In embodiments, the aperture states of being completely open or completely closed can be attained without power being supplied. The aperture unit of this application does not move with the lens unit. However, when the aperture unit moves with the lens unit, supplying power via FPC is problematic, because the counter-force applied by the FPC may affect the movement of the lens unit, thus deteriorating the functions such as AF and OIS. Supplying power via FPC may also lead to an increase in the overall size.

US2020/0068100A1 is aware that if the aperture module is provided with a power connection part configured to receive power to drive coils or other parts of the aperture module, the power connection part may interfere with vertical movement of a lens when the camera module performs autofocusing. The proposed camera module includes an aperture module configured to be mounted on a lens module, the aperture module including a plurality of blades and being further configured to form various-sized aperture holes with the plurality of blades; and an aperture driving portion including a moving portion and a driving coil, the moving portion including a driving magnet opposing the driving coil, the moving portion being directly or indirectly connected to the plurality of blades to enable the moving portion to move the plurality of blades. The moving portion is configured to move in response to power being supplied to the driving coil, which results in moving of the plurality of blades. In an embodiment, when power is removed from the driving coil, the position of the moving portion is fixed to maintain the diameter of the aperture hole. As a result, since it is unnecessary to continuously supply power to the driving coil to maintain the diameter of the aperture hole, power consumption is significantly reduced. According to this application, it is not required to supply electric power to the aperture unit per se in order to adjust the size of the aperture. The plurality of blades move when the moving portion moves in response to power supplied to the driving coil outside of the moving portion. This does not provide a way to provide power to an aperture module mounted in a lens module.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of this application provide a technique used to supply power to an aperture unit that moves with a lens unit in a camera module, wherein there is no need of an FPC to couple the aperture unit with an external power source and an external coil is not required to allow the aperture unit to adjust its aperture.

Specifically, embodiments of the present application supply power to an aperture unit that moves with a lens unit via one or more springs that movably support a holder onto which the lens unit is mounted.

In a specific embodiment, power is supplied to an aperture unit that moves with a lens unit via one or more top springs that movably support a holder onto which the aperture unit is mounted. Specifically, one embodiment provides a camera module comprising: a lens unit; an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and a base, wherein the holder is movably supported by the base via one or more top springs, wherein one or more power terminals of the aperture unit are electrically coupled to the respective one or more top springs and the one or more top springs are electrically coupled to a power supply unit.

Since power can be supplied to the aperture unit without using an FPC, the lens drive is not affected by the force applied by the FPC. Moreover, because an external coil outside of the moving portion (e.g., the lens unit and the aperture unit) is not required for the aperture unit to function, the overall size can be made smaller than if such an external coil is provided.

The base may further movably support a bottom side of the holder via one or more bottom springs.

The top springs may be configured as leaf springs coupled to a top surface of the holder and to a portion of the base that is level with the top surface of the holder.

The top springs may be coupled to the aperture unit via one or more first metal members. The top springs may be coupled to the power supply unit via one or more second metal members.

In a more general class of embodiments, a first implementation provides a camera module comprising: a lens unit; a first unit including one or more power terminals; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the first unit is configured to move with the holder; and a base, wherein the holder is movably supported by the base via one or more first springs, wherein one or more power terminals of the first unit are electrically coupled to the respective one or more first springs and the one or more first springs are electrically coupled to a power supply unit.

Because power can be supplied to the first unit without using an FPC, the lens drive is not affected by the force applied by the FPC. Moreover, because an external coil outside of the moving portion (e.g., the lens unit and the first unit such as an aperture unit) is not required for the aperture unit to function, the overall size can be made smaller than if such an external coil is provided.

In a second implementation, the unit including one or more power terminals is an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit.

In a third implementation, the one or more power terminals of the aperture unit are electrically coupled to the one or more respective first springs via one or more respective first metal members.

In a fourth implementation, the one or more first metal members are at least partially inserted in the holder.

In a fifth implementation, the one or more first metal members are attached to the holder.

In a sixth implementation, the camera module further comprises one or more additional components mounted on the holder, and wherein the one or more first metal members are at least partially inserted into the one or more additional components or attached to the one or more additional components.

In a seventh implementation, the first springs are top springs coupled to a top surface of the holder and wherein the base movably supports a bottom side of the holder via one or more bottom springs.

In an eighth implementation, the first springs are electrically coupled to the power supply unit via one or more second metal members that are inserted into the base or attached to the base.

In a ninth implementation, the first springs are top springs configured as leaf springs coupled to a top surface of the holder and to a portion of the base that is level with the top surface of the holder.

In a tenth implementation, the camera module further comprises one or more coils on the holder for driving the holder by electromagnetic interaction with one or more magnets, wherein power is supplied to the one or more coils via the one or more bottom springs to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the one or more coils and one or more magnets for autofocusing or optical image stabilization.

In a tenth implementation, the aperture unit comprises one of a group consisting of: a mechanical aperture, a liquid aperture, and an electrochromic aperture.

In a second class of embodiments, power is supplied to an aperture unit via one or more bottom springs rather than top springs.

A first implementation of the second class of embodiments provides a camera module comprising: a lens unit; an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs, wherein one or more power terminals of the aperture unit are electrically coupled to the one or more respective bottom springs and the one or more bottom springs are electrically coupled to a power supply unit.

As with the previous embodiments, power can be supplied to the aperture unit without using an FPC, the lens drive is not affected by the force applied by the FPC. Moreover, because an external coil outside of the moving portion (e.g., the lens unit and the aperture unit) is not required for the aperture unit to function, the overall size can be made smaller than if such an external coil is provided.

In a second implementation of the second class of embodiments, the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs.

In a third implementation of the second class of embodiments, the one or more top springs are one or more leaf springs coupled to a top surface of the holder and a portion of the base that is level with the top surface of the holder.

In a fourth implementation of the second class of embodiments, the one or more power terminals of the aperture unit are electrically coupled to the respective one or more bottom springs via one or more respective first metal members.

In a fifth implementation of the second class of embodiments, the one or more first metal members are at least partially inserted in the holder.

In a sixth implementation of the second class of embodiments, the one or more first metal members are attached to the holder.

In a seventh implementation of the second class of embodiments, the camera module further comprises one or more additional components coupled to the holder, and wherein the one or more first metal members are at least partially inserted into the one or more additional components or attached to the one or more additional components.

In an eighth implementation of the second class of embodiments, the camera module further comprises one or more coils on the holder for driving the holder by electromagnetic interaction with one or more magnets, wherein power is supplied to the one or more coils via the one or more top springs to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the one or more coils and one or more magnets for autofocusing or optical image stabilization.

In a ninth implementation of the second class of embodiments, the aperture unit comprises one of a group consisting of: a mechanical aperture, a liquid aperture, and an electrochromic aperture.

One specific embodiment provides a camera module comprising: a lens unit; an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs, wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs, wherein one or more power terminals of the aperture unit are electrically coupled to respective one or more top springs via one or more respective first metal members and the top springs are electrically coupled to a power supply unit via one or more respective second metal members.

Another specific embodiment provides a camera module comprising: a lens unit; an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs, wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs, wherein one or more power terminals of the aperture unit are electrically coupled to respective one or more bottom springs via one or more respective first metal members and the bottom springs are electrically coupled to a power supply unit via one or more respective second metal members.

Corresponding methods are also provided.

One embodiment provides a method of supplying power to an aperture unit of a camera module, wherein the camera module comprises a lens unit; an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs, wherein the holder is movably supported by the base via one or more top springs, wherein the method comprises conducting power from a power supply unit via one or more second metal members coupled to the power supply unit to respective one or more top springs, to respective one or more first metal members, and to respective one or more power terminals of the aperture unit.

Another embodiment provides a method of supplying power to an aperture unit of a camera module, wherein the camera module comprises a lens unit; an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs, wherein the holder is movably supported by the base via one or more top springs, wherein the method comprises conducting power from a power supply unit via one or more second metal members coupled to the power supply unit to respective one or more bottom springs, to respective one or more first metal members, and to respective one or more power terminals of the aperture unit.

Some embodiments are directed to a camera module, wherein top springs or bottom springs are used to supply an electric current to one or more coils on the holder. Electromagnetic interaction between the coil and outside magnets drives the holder on which a lens unit is mounted for the purpose of autofocusing (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) .

One embodiment provides a camera module comprising: a lens unit; an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; one or more coils on the holder for driving the holder by electromagnetic interaction with one or more magnets; and a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs, wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs, wherein power is supplied to the one or more coils via the one or more bottom springs to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the one or more coils and one or more magnets.

Another embodiment provides a camera module comprising: a lens unit; an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit; a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; one or more coils on the holder for driving the holder by electromagnetic interaction with one or more magnets; and a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs, wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs, wherein power is supplied to the one or more coils via the one or more top springs to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the one or more coils and one or more magnets.

Products comprising a camera module of any of the above embodiments may also be provided.

One embodiment provides a mobile camera comprising the camera module of any one of the above embodiments.

Another embodiment provides a smartphone comprising the camera module of any one of the above embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 illustrates components of a camera module according to the embodiment of the present application as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A illustrates electric coupling of a top spring to a power terminal of an aperture unit via first metal members according to an embodiment of the present application; and FIG. 3B illustrates the electric coupling of the top spring to the outside of the camera module via second metal members according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 illustrates first metal members assembled as additional parts to the holder rather than inserted into the holder, according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 5 illustrates first metal members assembled into additional components rather than inserted into the holder, according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present application, in which bottom spring (s) may be coupled to a power terminal of the aperture unit via one or more first metal members;

FIG. 7 illustrates different types of aperture units; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a smart phone that may comprise a camera module according to an embodiment of the present application.

The drawings are merely intended to illustrate embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed to limit the invention to any specific embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Typically, camera modules are provided with an autofocusing (AF) function and an optical image stabilization (OIS) function. Autofocusing (AF) involves moving the lens unit in the direction of the optical axis, thereby adjusting the focus by changing the distance between the lens and the imaging device (sensor) . Optical image stabilization (OIS) is a technique used to reduce blurring of an image due to the motion of a camera. As opposed to digital image stabilization, in which image stabilization is performed by a processing unit of a camera on digital image data obtained by the imaging device (e.g., a sensor) of the camera, optical image stabilization adjusts the position of the lens relative to the sensor in order to stabilize the image captured by the imaging device (sensor) . (The present application also contemplates embodiments wherein digital image stabilization is additionally or alternatively performed by a processing unit of a mobile camera. )

In some cases, a lens unit of a camera module may be accompanied by an aperture unit to adjust the amount of light that enters the lens and/or that is transmitted through the lens unit. The aperture unit may be located in front of the lens unit. (As used herein, "in front of the lens unit" refers to the side from which light enters the lens unit. ) Alternatively, the lens unit may be placed between two portions that makes up the lens unit. Any suitable placement of the aperture unit with respect to the lens unit is contemplated. By adjusting the aperture, it is possible to take an aesthetically pleasing or otherwise appropriate picture regardless of whether the environment is bright or dark. The aperture unit typically comprises power terminals for receiving electric power required for the functionalities of the aperture unit, that is, required to adjust the amount of light that enters the lens.

The aperture unit per se is known to a person skilled in the art. Mechanical apertures are generally employed in conventional aperture units, whereby one or more physical members may stop part of light from entering the lens, and those physical members are moved to adjust the amount of light that enters the lens. The previously mentioned references, JP2019-148699 and US2020/0068100, disclose a mechanical aperture unit comprising a plurality of movable blades that form an aperture hole.

Other forms of aperture units are also possible. For example, a liquid aperture may adjust the amount of light that is passed through by adjusting the spread of a black (or opaque) droplet in a transparent oil. As another example, an electrochromic aperture may adjust the amount of light that is passed through by adjusting the color (absorption of light) of an electrochromic material according to the applied voltage. The present application is not limited to any specific type of aperture unit. Any conventional aperture unit may be applicable in the present application.

The aperture unit can be mounted so as to move with the lens unit due to considerations of optical performance, external size, etc. For example, it is difficult to provide a separate aperture unit in a camera module used in small products. In embodiment, the aperture unit may be mounted on the lens unit. Alternatively, the aperture unit may be mounted on the holder on which the lens unit is mounted. However, when the aperture unit moves with the lens unit, supplying power from a power supply unit to such a movable aperture unit becomes a nontrivial problem. The power is required for the aperture unit to adjust the amount of light that enters the lens.

As used herein, a power supply unit may be a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery or any other suitable unit that can supply electric power.

One way to supply power to such a movable aperture unit is to couple the movable aperture unit with a power supply via a flexible printed circuit (FPC) . However, FPC may interfere with the movement of the lens unit that moves with the aperture unit and may thus deteriorate the performance of the autofocusing (AF) or optical image stabilization (OIS) functions. Use of FPC may also increase the external size of the camera module.

Another way to allow an aperture unit to function is to use an external coil that moves the aperture unit via electromagnetic interaction, wherein the movement results in moving the blades of the aperture unit. However, such an external coil leads to an increase in size.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present application provide a technique used to supply power to an aperture unit that moves with a lens unit in a camera module, wherein there is no need of an FPC to couple the aperture unit with an outside power source and an external coil is not required to allow the aperture unit to adjust its aperture.

Embodiments of the present application attain this objective by supplying power to an aperture unit that moves with the lens unit via one or more springs that movably support a holder onto which the lens unit is mounted.

The following illustrates embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings. The drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present application, and FIG. 2 illustrates components of the camera module as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The camera module comprises an aperture unit 102, a lens unit 104, one or more top springs 106, a holder 108, one or more bottom springs 110, a base 112, one or more first metal members 114, and one or more second metal members 116.

There may be fewer components than illustrated. For example, some embodiments do not require first metal members and/or second metal members.

There may be more components than illustrated. For example, there may be a mechanism for driving the lens unit for the purpose of autofocusing (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) . As an example, the lens unit may be driven by electromagnetic interaction between one or more coils on the holder (e.g., a coil wound around the holder) and one or more outside magnets. Alternatively, magnets may be mounted on the holder and the coils may be provided outside, but it is advantageous to provide the coils on the holder in view of weight of the magnets, overall size, magnetic efficiency, magnetic interference, etc. Driving of a lens unit for AF or OIS per se is beyond the scope of the present application and thus is not described in detail in order not to obscure the invention.

In an embodiment of the present application, the holder 108 is supported by the base 112 via the one or more bottom springs 110. In an embodiment, the lens unit 104 is fixed on the holder 108. In an embodiment, the aperture unit 102 is also fixed to the holder 108 (either directly or indirectly) and is to move with the holder.

In an embodiment, the one or more top springs 106 are coupled to the top surface of the holder 108 and to a protruding portion of the base 116 that is level with the top surface of the holder 108, as illustrated in FIG. 3A. Thus, mechanically, the base movably supports the holder via the one or more top springs 106. Thus, in an embodiment, the holder 108 is coupled to the base via both the top springs 106 and the bottom springs 110. (As used herein, the terms "top" and "bottom" refer to the directions in FIG. 2. The term "top surface" of the holder refers to a substantially planar surface on the top side of the holder, but is not necessarily the topmost portion of the holder. )

In an embodiment, the top springs may be leaf springs.

In embodiments, one or more of the top springs are electrically coupled to one or more power terminals of the aperture unit 112. As used herein, the expression "electrically coupled" may mean being in direct contact without any intervening components or being indirectly coupled via one or more intervening components. Either configuration is possible as long as conduction of electricity is provided.

FIG. 3A illustrates one of the one or more top springs being coupled to the power terminal of the aperture unit 112 via one or more first metal members 114. (Metal members may also be referred to as metal parts, metal components, metal connectors, metal tabs or the like as appropriate. ) Specifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 3A, the one or more first metal members 114 are at least partially inserted in the holder 108 (e.g., by insert molding) . In another embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 4, the one or more first metal members 114 may be assembled as additional parts instead of being inserted in the holder 108 by insert molding. In yet another embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5, the one or more first metal members 114 may be assembled into additional components 118 mounted on the holder 108 rather than being inserted into the holder 108. In yet other embodiments, the top springs may be directly coupled to the power terminal of the aperture unit 112 without the interposing first metal members.

In embodiments, the top springs electrically coupled to the power terminal (s) of the aperture unit are also electrically coupled to an outside power source (not shown) . As illustrated in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the top springs are coupled to the outside via one or more second metal members 116. The second metal members may be inserted into the base or attached to the base. Generally, the second metal members run at least partially in and/or on the base. The second metal members running "in" the base means the second metal members are below the surface of the base. The second metal members running "on" the base means the second metal members run along the surface of the base. The second metal members running "in and on" the base means that some portions of the second metal members run in the base and other portions of the second metal members run on (the surface of) the base.

In short, power is supplied from the outside power source to the second metal members 116, to the top springs 106, to the first metal members 114, then to the power terminals of the aperture unit 102. As described above, the top springs may be directly coupled to the power terminal of the aperture unit. In this case, power is supplied from the outside power source to the second metal members 116, to the top springs 106, then to the power terminals of the aperture unit 102.

The aperture unit 102 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 have three power terminals. Fig. 3B illustrates that three second metal members coupled to the corresponding top springs (only two of which are shown in FIG. 3B) lead to the outside. The number of power terminals, the top springs, etc. is not limited to the number illustrated. Any suitable number is applicable. For example, if the aperture unit has four terminals, there may be (at least) four metal members and four top springs.

As used herein, when more than one spring is mentioned, those springs may be separate springs and may also be a single spring divided into more than one part. A single spring divided into more than one part may be a single spring electrically divided into more than one part, but maintaining physical integrity. Moreover, the number of the top springs may or may not be the same as the number of the power terminals of the aperture unit. There may be more top springs than the power terminals.

In the embodiments described above, the top springs are used to electrically couple the power supply unit and the power terminals of the aperture unit. Instead, the bottom springs may be used to electrically couple the power supply unit and the power terminals of the aperture unit.

FIG. 6 illustrates bottom springs, which may be coupled to power terminals of the aperture unit via one or more first metal members inserted in the holder. As with the above embodiments, the first metal members may also be attached to the holder as additional parts rather than inserted into the holder (e.g., by insert molding) . The first metal members may also be attached to or inserted into another component mounted on the holder. Some embodiments may directly couple the bottom springs to the power terminals of the aperture unit without the intervening first metal members.

FIG. 7 illustrates different types of aperture units: (a) a liquid aperture, (b) an electrochromic aperture, and (c) a mechanical aperture. These aperture units, known per se to a skilled person, are described above, and are not repeated here for the sake of brevity.

FIG. 8 illustrates a smart phone that may comprise a camera module according to an embodiment of the present application. While the present invention may be applied in small, mobile, or portable products such as smart phones, it may find applications in other products. Application of the present invention even need not be limited to use with an aperture unit in a camera module. The present invention may be employed in applications where power needs to be suitably supplied to any movable component of a device.

In the foregoing, top springs or bottom springs, which movably support a holder on which a lens unit is mounted, are used to supply power from an outside power source to the aperture unit. Additionally or alternatively, the top springs or bottom springs may be used to supply an electric current to one or more coils on the holder to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the coils and one or more magnets. The holder may be driven in the direction of the optical axis of the lens unit for AF (autofocusing) or in directions perpendicular to the optical axis for OIS (optical image stabilization) .

In some embodiments, the top springs may be used to electrically couple the power source to the aperture unit and the bottom springs may be used to supply a current to drive the holder. In other embodiments, the bottom springs may be used to electrically couple the power source to the aperture unit and the top springs may be used to supply a current to drive the holder.

While various embodiments are described above and illustrated in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described or illustrated.

The unit division disclosed in embodiments of the present application is not limiting, and embodiments may be configured with other divisions of components.

Where appropriate, some functions may be implemented in a form of a computer program for causing a processor or a computing device to perform one or more functions. For example, digital image stabilization may be implemented as such a computer program. Various control functions may also be implemented as a computer program. The computer program may be embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may be any medium that can store a computer program and may be a solid-state memory such as a USB drive, a flash drive, a read-only memory (read-only memory, ROM) , and a random-access memory (random-access memory, RAM) ; a magnetic storage medium such as a removable or non-removable hard disk; or an optical storage medium such as an optical disc.

The foregoing descriptions are merely to illustrate various embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Any variation that would readily occur to a person skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure shall fall within the scope of this application. For example, measures separately disclosed may be combined in a single embodiment as appropriate, as long as such measures are not mutually exclusive. Reference signs in the claims are merely intended to indicate examples corresponding to respective features in the claims, and should not be construed to limit the invention.

Claims

A camera module comprising:

a lens unit (104) ;

a first unit (102) including one or more power terminals;

a holder (108) on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the first unit is configured to move with the holder; and

a base (112) ,

wherein the holder is movably supported by the base via one or more first springs (106, 110) ,

wherein the one or more power terminals of the first unit are electrically coupled to the respective one or more first springs and the one or more first springs are electrically coupled to a power supply unit.
The camera module as in Claim 1, wherein the first unit is an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit.
The camera module as in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first springs are top springs (106) coupled to a top surface of the holder and wherein the base movably supports a bottom side of the holder via one or more bottom springs (110) .
The camera module as in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more power terminals of the first unit are electrically coupled to the one or more respective first springs via one or more respective first metal members.
The camera module as in Claim 4, wherein the one or more first metal members are at least partially inserted in the holder.
The camera module as in Claim 4, wherein the one or more first metal members are attached to the holder.
The camera module as in Claim 4, further comprising one or more additional components mounted on the holder, and wherein the one or more first metal members are at least partially inserted into the one or more additional components or attached to the one or more additional components.
The camera module as in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the first springs are electrically coupled to the power supply unit via one or more second metal members that are inserted into the base or attached to the base.
The camera module as in Claim 8, wherein the first springs are top springs (106) configured as leaf springs coupled to a top surface of the holder and to a portion of the base that is level with the top surface of the holder.
The camera module as in Claim 3, further comprising:

one or more coils on the holder for driving the holder by electromagnetic interaction with one or more magnets,

wherein power is supplied to the one or more coils via the one or more bottom springs to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the one or more coils and one or more magnets for autofocusing or optical image stabilization.
The camera module of Claim 2, wherein the aperture unit is selected from the group consisting of:a mechanical aperture, a liquid aperture, and an electrochromic aperture.
A camera module comprising:

a lens unit (104) ;

an aperture unit (102) that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit, the aperture unit including one or more power terminals;

a holder (108) on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and

a base (112) that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs (110) ,

wherein the one or more power terminals of the aperture unit are electrically coupled to the one or more respective bottom springs and the one or more bottom springs are electrically coupled to a power supply unit.
The camera module as in Claim 12, wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs.
The camera module as in Claim 13, wherein the one or more top springs are one or more leaf springs coupled to a top surface of the holder and a portion of the base that is level with the top surface of the holder.
The camera module as in any one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein the one or more power terminals of the aperture unit are electrically coupled to the respective one or more bottom springs via one or more respective first metal members.
The camera module as in Claim 15, wherein the one or more first metal members are at least partially inserted in the holder.
The camera module as in Claim 15, wherein the one or more first metal members are attached to the holder.
The camera module as in Claim 15, further comprising one or more additional components coupled to the holder, and wherein the one or more first metal members are at least partially inserted into the one or more additional components or attached to the one or more additional components.
The camera module as in Claim 13 or 14, further comprising:

one or more coils on the holder for driving the holder by electromagnetic interaction with one or more magnets,

wherein power is supplied to the one or more coils via the one or more top springs to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the one or more coils and one or more magnets for autofocusing or optical image stabilization.
The camera module of any one or Claims 12 to 19, wherein the aperture unit comprises one of a group consisting of: a mechanical aperture, a liquid aperture, and an electrochromic aperture.
A camera module comprising:

a lens unit (104) ;

an aperture unit (102) that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit, the aperture unit including one or more power terminals;

a holder (108) on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and

a base (112) that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs (110) ,

wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs (106) ,

wherein the one or more power terminals of the aperture unit (102) are electrically coupled to respective one or more top springs (106) via one or more respective first metal members (114) and the top springs (106) are electrically coupled to a power supply unit via one or more respective second metal members (116) .
A camera module comprising:

a lens unit (104) ;

an aperture unit (102) that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit, the aperture unit including one or more power terminals;

a holder (108) on which the lens unitis mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and

a base (112) that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs (110) ,

wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs (106) ,

wherein the one or more power terminals of the aperture unit (102) are electrically coupled to respective one or more bottom springs (110) via one or more respective first metal members (114) and the bottom springs (110) are electrically coupled to a power supply unit via one or more respective second metal members (116) .
A method for supplying power to an aperture unit of a camera module, wherein the camera module comprises

a lens unit;

an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit;

a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and

a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs,

wherein the holder is movably supported by the base via one or more top springs,

wherein the method comprises conducting power from a power supply unit via one or more second metal members (116) coupled to the power supply unit to respective one or more top springs (106) , to respective one or more first metal members (114) , and to respective one or more power terminals of the aperture unit (102) .
A method for supplying power to an aperture unit of a camera module, wherein the camera module comprises

a lens unit;

an aperture unit that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit;

a holder on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder; and

a base that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs,

wherein the holder is movably supported by the base via one or more top springs,

wherein the method comprises conducting power from a power supply unit via one or more second metal members (116) coupled to the power supply unit to respective one or more bottom springs (110) , to respective one or more first metal members (114) , and to respective one or more power terminals of the aperture unit (102) .
A camera module comprising:

a lens unit (104) ;

an aperture unit (102) that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit;

a holder (108) on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder;

one or more coils on the holder for driving the holder by electromagnetic interaction with one or more magnets; and

a base (112) that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs (110) ,

wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs (106) ,

wherein an electric current is supplied to the one or more coils via the one or more bottom springs to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the one or more coils and one or more magnets.
A camera module comprising:

a lens unit (104) ;

an aperture unit (102) that is configured to adjust an amount of light that is transmitted through the lens unit;

a holder (108) on which the lens unit is mounted, wherein the aperture unit is configured to move with the holder;

one or more coils on the holder for driving the holder by electromagnetic interaction with one or more magnets; and

a base (112) that movably supports the holder via one or more bottom springs (110) ,

wherein the holder is further movably supported by the base via one or more top springs (106) ,

wherein an electric current is supplied to the one or more coils via the one or more top springs to move the holder by electromagnetic interaction between the one or more coils and one or more magnets.
A mobile camera comprising the camera module of any one of Claims 1 to 26.
A smartphone comprising the camera module of any one of Claims 1 to 26.