WO2023070363A1

WO2023070363A1 - Camera assembly and electrical device

Info

Publication number: WO2023070363A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/126668
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takashi Hashimoto
Original assignee: Guangdong Oppo Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
Priority date: 2021-10-27
Filing date: 2021-10-27
Publication date: 2023-05-04

Abstract

A camera assembly according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a pop-up lens unit, including at least one optical lens, a pop-up base unit, including an image sensor, and accommodating the pop-up lens unit, a moving mechanism, configured to move the pop-up lens unit in an optical axis direction between a home position and a ready position, and a waterproof thin film, set on at least one of the surfaces of the pop-up lens unit and the pop-up base unit, is processed in a manner that their water repellency gradually changes between a first end and a second end of the at least one of a surface of the pop-up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit.

Description

CAMERA ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRICAL DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a camera assembly and an electrical device.

BACKGROUND

Electrical devices such as smartphones and tablet terminals are widely used in our daily life. Nowadays, many of the electrical devices are equipped with a camera assembly for capturing images. Some of the electrical devices are portable and are thus easy to carry. Therefore, a user of the electrical device can easily take a picture of an object by using the camera assembly of the electrical device anytime, anywhere.

As the portability of the electrical device is very important for the user, the electrical devices should be as thin as possible. If the height of the camera assembly is large, the camera assembly will project outside the surface of the electrical device. Therefore, the height of the camera assembly should also be as small as possible. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of improving optical performance, a flange back distance should be sufficiently long because a proper focal length is necessary for a large size image sensor.

Furthermore, the electrical device is required to be waterproof.

As explained above, conventional camera assemblies and electrical devices cannot achieve the abovementioned requirements while maintaining their small size and low cost.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure aims to solve at least one of the technical problems mentioned above. Accordingly, the present disclosure needs to provide a camera assembly and an electrical device.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a camera assembly comprises:

a pop-up lens unit, comprising at least one optical lens;

a pop-up base unit, comprising an image sensor, and accommodating the pop-up lens unit;

a moving mechanism, configured to move the pop-up lens unit in an optical axis direction between a home position and a ready position; and

a waterproof thin film, set on at least one of the surfaces of the pop-up lens unit and the pop-up base unit, is processed in a manner that its water repellency gradually changes along the optical axis direction between a first end and a second end of the at least one of a surface of the pop0up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit.

In accordance with the present disclosure, an electrical device comprises:

a camera assembly, having;

a pop-up lens unit comprising at least one optical lens;

a pop-up base unit comprising an image sensor, and accommodating the pop-up lens unit;

a moving mechanism configured to move the pop-up lens unit in an optical axis direction between a home position and a ready position; and

a waterproof thin film, set on at least one of the surfaces of the pop-up lens unit and the pop-up base unit, is processed in a manner that their water repellency gradually changes along the optical axis direction between a first end and a second end of the at least one of a surface of the pop-up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first side of an electrical device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second side of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing a structure of a camera assembly of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing the camera assembly in a home position of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the camera assembly in a ready position of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the camera assembly in the home position of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the camera assembly in the ready position of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a pop-up lens unit which is a component of the camera assembly;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pop-up base unit which is a component of the camera assembly;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pop-up lens unit in FIG. 9 and the pop-up base unit in FIG. 10 being assembled;

FIG. 12A is a cross sectional view illustrating a camera assembly of an electrical device according to a comparative example;

FIG. 12B is an enlarged view of the camera assembly shown in FIG. 12A, illustrating a friction generated between a pop-up lens unit and a pop-up lens base unit;

FIG. 13A is a cross sectional view illustrating the camera assembly of the electrical device according to the comparative example in a home position;

FIG. 13B is an enlarged view of the camera assembly shown in FIG. 13A, illustrating water collecting and infiltrating between the pop-up lens unit and the pop-up lens base unit;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the electrical device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a side surface of a pop-up lens unit included in the camera assembly of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16A is an explanatory plan view illustrating a water repellent processed surface of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16B is an explanatory plan view illustrating a hydrophilic processed surface of the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory plan view illustrating a surface which is water repellent processed and hydrophilic processed;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a surface which is water repellent processed and hydrophilic processed, and driving force generated for droplets of water thereon;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating the driving force generated for the droplets of water, and a driving force for transporting the droplets utilizing wettability gradients; and

FIG. 20A is a cross-sectional view of an electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20B is an enlarged view of the camera assembly of the electrical device shown in FIG. 18A, illustrating water being drained therefrom; and

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a camera control process in the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail and examples of the embodiments will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same or similar elements and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the descriptions. The embodiments described herein with reference to the drawings are explanatory and aim to illustrate the present disclosure but shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure.

Before explaining the features of the camera assembly and the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the schematic configuration of the entire camera assembly and the entire electrical device are explained for better understanding.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first side of an electrical device 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second side of the electrical device 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The first side may be referred to as a back side including a battery cover 11 of the electrical device 10 whereas the second side may be referred to as a front side of the electrical device 10.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the electrical device 10 may include a display 20, a camera assembly 30 including a pop-up lens unit 60, and the battery cover 11 on the first side of the electrical device 10. The battery cover 11 includes a through-hole provided therein, and the pop-up lens unit 60 can project via the through-hole and outside the surface of the battery cover 11 (a ready position) , and can be retracted via the through-hole (a home position) .

As an example, the electrical device 10 can be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a personal digital assistant, and so on. The camera assembly 30 has an imaging sensor which converts a light which has passed a color filter to an electrical signal. A signal value of the electrical signal depends on an amount of the light which has passed the color filter. The electrical device 10 may have one or more cameras.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the display 20 and the camera assembly 30, the electrical device 10 may include a main processor 40, an image signal processor 42, a memory 44, a power supply circuit 46 and a communication circuit 48. The display 20, the camera assembly 30, the main processor 40, the image signal processor 42, the memory 44, the power supply circuit 46 and the communication circuit 48 are connected with each other via a bus 50.

The main processor 40 executes one or more program instructions stored in the memory 44. The main processor 40 implements various applications and data processing of the electrical device 10 by executing the program instructions. The main processor 40 may be one or more computer processors. The main processor 40 is not limited to one CPU core, but it may have a plurality of CPU cores. The main processor 40 may be a main CPU of the electrical device 10, an image processing unit (IPU) or a DSP provided with the camera assembly 30.

The image signal processor 42 controls the camera assembly 30 and processes various kinds of image data captured by the camera assembly 30 to generate a target image data. For example, the image signal processor 42 can apply a demosaicing process, a noise reduction process, an auto exposure process, an auto focus process, an auto white balance process, a high dynamic range process and so on, to the image data captured by the camera assembly 30.

In the present embodiment, the main processor 40 and the image signal processor 42 collaborate with each other to generate a target image data of the object captured by the camera assembly 30. That is, the main processor 40 and the image signal processor 42 are configured to capture the image of the object by means of the camera assembly 30 and apply various kinds of image processing to the captured image data.

The memory 44 stores program instructions to be executed by the main processor 40, and various kinds of data. For example, data of the captured image are also stored in the memory 44.

The memory 44 may include a high-speed RAM memory, and/or a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory and a magnetic disk memory. That is, the memory 44 may include a non-transitory computer readable medium in which the program instructions are stored.

The power supply circuit 46 may have a battery such as a lithium-ion rechargeable battery and a battery management unit (BMU) for managing the battery.

The communication circuit 48 is configured to receive and transmit data to communicate with base stations of the telecommunication network system, the Internet or other devices via wireless communication. The wireless communication may adopt any communication standard or protocol, including but not limited to GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) , CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) , LTE (Long Term Evolution) , LTE-Advanced, 5th generation (5G) . The communication circuit 48 may include an antenna and an RF (radio frequency) circuit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing for showing a structure of the camera assembly 30 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 shows one camera is included in the camera assembly 30. In other words, the structure of the camera assembly 30 shown in FIG. 4 is just an example of one camera installed in the electrical device 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the camera assembly 30 has a pop-up lens unit 60 and a pop-up base unit 62.

The pop-up lens unit 60 has a lens barrel 64 which includes one or more optical lenses 66. An optical axis AX of each of the optical lenses 66 is aligned. That is, the optical axes AX of the optical lenses 66 are straightly aligned. In the present embodiment, the lens barrel 64 is composed of one or more convex lenses and one or more concave lenses. In other words, the optical lenses 66 are also referred to as a combination lens.

The pop-up base unit 62 accommodates the pop-up lens unit 60. In the present embodiment, the pop-up base unit 62 has an image sensor 68. The image sensor 68 captures an image of an object through the lens barrel 64 of the pop-up lens unit 60. That is, the image of the object is formed on the image sensor 68. The image sensor 68 converts the intensity of light passing through the optical lenses 66 to electrical signals which are sent to, for example, the main processor 40 and/or the image signal processor 42.

In the present embodiment, for example, the image sensor 68 is a solid-state imaging device such as a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor, a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) image sensor and so on. In an example of the camera assembly 30 according to the present embodiment, the image sensor 68 is disposed at the bottom of the pop-up base unit 62. That is, if it is assumed that a first direction is a direction toward the bottom of the pop-up base unit 62 and a second direction is a direction toward the top of the pop-up base unit 62, the image sensor 68 is located at the most distant position in the first direction in the pop-up base unit 62 from the lens barrel 64. Here, the first direction and the second direction are parallel to the optical axis AX.

Here, a flange back distance FB can be defined as a distance between the image sensor 68 and a first optical lens 66a which is the closest one to the image sensor 68 among the optical lenses 66. More precisely, the flange back distance FB can be defined as a distance between an imaging surface of the image sensor 68 and a closest edge of the first optical lens 66a, where the closest edge is a point closest to the image sensor 68 of the first optical lens 66a.

The pop-up lens unit 60 is movably held in the pop-up base unit 62. That is, the pop-up lens unit 60 can be moved to the first direction and the second direction. FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing for showing a home position in which the camera assembly 30 is not able to capture an image whereas FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing for showing a ready position in which the camera assembly 30 is able to capture an image.

Alternatively, the home position may be a position in which the camera assembly 30 is able to capture an image in a manual mode whereas the ready position may be a position in which the camera assembly 30 is able to capture an image in an automatic mode.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the camera assembly 30 is in the home position, the pop-up lens unit 60 is accommodated in the pop-up base unit 62. In this case, the lens barrel 64 may be entirely accommodated in the pop-up base unit 62 or may be partially accommodated in the pop- up base unit 62. As a result, the height of the camera assembly 30 and the flange back distance FB is minimal.

If the lens barrel 64 is entirely accommodated in the pop-up lens unit 62, the pop-up lens unit 60 and the lens barrel 64 of the camera assembly 30 does not project outside a surface of the electrical device 10. On the other hand, if the lens barrel 64 is partially accommodated in the pop-up lens unit 62, the lens barrel 64 may possibly project outside the surface of the electrical device 10 but its projection amount is slight and minimized.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the camera assembly 30 is in the ready position, the pop-up lens unit 60 is popped up and partially accommodated in the pop-up base unit 62. As a result, the height of the camera assembly 30 and the flange back distance FB is maximized. Therefore, the pop-up lens unit 60 of the camera assembly 30 projects outside the surface of the electrical device 10.

In other words, the pop-up lens unit 60 can alternately be moved between the home position and the ready position. Next, a moving mechanism of the pop-up lens unit 60 in the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment will be explained.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the camera assembly 30 in which the pop-up lens unit 60 is in the home position in the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the camera assembly 30 in which the pop-up lens unit 60 is in the ready position in the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment.

The camera assembly 30 shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the camera assembly 30 of the schematic drawing shown in FIG. 5 whereas the camera assembly 30 shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to the camera assembly 30 of the schematic drawing shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the home position, the pop-up lens unit 60 is accommodated inside the pop-up base unit 62. Therefore, the user can easily carry the electrical device 10 with the camera assembly 30 and thus its portability is maintained. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, in the ready position, the popup lens unit 60 is popped up from the pop-up base unit 62 so that the necessary flange back distance FB is generated. Therefore, a focal length of the camera assembly 30 is increased and the optical performance of the camera assembly 30 is improved.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the pop-up lens unit 60 as one of the components, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the pop-up base unit 62 as one of the components.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the pop-up base unit 62 has a hole 62a, and the size of the pop-up lens unit 60 is slightly smaller than the size of the hole 62a of the pop-up base unit 62. Therefore, the pop-up lens unit 60 can be introduced into the pop-up base unit 62 through the hole 62a.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pop-up lens unit 60 and the pop-up base unit 62 in which the pop-up lens unit 60 and the pop-up base unit 62 are assembled.

Before explaining the features of the camera assembly and an electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, an electrical device according to a comparative example is explained for the sake of comparison.

In an electrical device 100 according to the comparative example, as shown in FIG. 12A, the pop-up lens unit 600 of the camera assembly 300 is cylindrical or quadrangular, and the camera cover which houses the pop-up lens unit 610 has a cylindrical or quadrangular cavity.

A waterproof seal 630 is provided between the pop-up lens unit 600 and the pop-up base unit 610. However, as the pop-up base unit 610 slides up and down, friction occurs between the pop-up lens unit 600 and the pop-up base unit 610. Due to this friction, the waterproof seal 630 ages over time and deteriorates.

FIG. 13A illustrates the camera assembly 300 in the home position, and FIG. 13B illustrates an enlarged view of the waterproof seal 630 provided between the pop-up lens unit 600 and the pop-up base unit 610.

When the waterproof seal 630 deteriorates, water collects between the pop-up lens unit 600 and the pop-up base unit 610 and infiltrates therein.

As a result, the function of the camera assembly 300 deteriorates and the camera assembly 300 is damaged.

FIG. 14 illustrates the camera assembly 30 of an electrical device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the pop-up lens unit 60, a surface is processed by applying a waterproof thin film 63 between the pop-up lens unit 60 and the pop-up base unit 62.

FIG. 15 illustrates a close-up of the thin film 63 in an enlarged manner. The thin film 63 is formed of a water-repellent part 65 and a hydrophilic surface 67.

In the figure, the area density of the water-repellent part 65 is higher than the area density of the hydrophilic surface 67. The water-repellent part 65 of the thin film 63 is closer to the image sensor 68 than the hydrophilic surface 67, in other words, in the side near the image sensor 68 of the thin film 63.

The area density of the water-repellent part 65 gradually decreases and the area density of the hydrophilic surface 67 increases toward the side near the object (not shown) .

FIG. 16A illustrates a state in which water adheres to the surface on which only the water-repellent part 65 is applied. The surface tension of water is higher than that of the material of the water-repellent part 65, thus water droplets are formed and adhere to the surface.

The water repellent part 65 is formed to repel water. Since the material of the water repellent part 65 has lower surface tension than that of water, the water repellent part 65 can repel water.

As water repellent materials, several materials such as fluororesin-based (PTFE, etc. ) materials, silicone-based materials, others, are commonly used.

While the water repellency of fluororesin-based materials is lower than that of silicone-based ones, fluororesin-based films are adhesive and highly durable.

Since the C-F bond is stable, the intermolecular force is weak, and the surface tension is low. Since its surface tension is lower than that of water, droplets of water are formed, and water is repelled.

On the other hand, the water repellency of silicone-based materials is high but a silicone-based film has weak adhesion and low durability.

Since the surface of the silicone molecule is covered with a methyl group with a small interaction, the intermolecular force among the whole molecules is weak and the surface tension is lower than that of water, such silicone-based materials repel water.

FIG. 16B illustrates a state in which water adheres to the surface on which only the hydrophilic surface 67 is applied. The surface tension of water is low and water droplets are not formed, water being in a state where it can easily flow but it adheres to the surface.

A hydrophilic film is formed to make a processed surface of an object be compatible with water.

As hydrophilic processing, several processing such as photocatalyst (titanium oxide) , plasma processing, others, are commonly used.

When a surface is processed by applying titanium oxide thereon and by exposing it to light, the surface becomes super hydrophilic.

A super hydrophilic surface prevents the surface from being cloudy with water vapor. The surface is less likely to get dirty with dust and/or oil.

When a surface is plasma processed, ions and/or electrons emitted by the electric discharge break the chemical bonds of the molecules on the resin surface, and generate hydrophilic functional groups, etc., depending on the type of resin.

As described above, on a surface on which only one of the water-repellent film and the hydrophilic film is formed, water adheres to the surface and does not have waterproof performance.

In contrast, as shown in the thin film 63 shown in FIG. 17, we are considering a case in which the area density of the water-repellent part 65 gradually decreases and the area density of the hydrophilic surface 67 increases from left to right in this figure.

In this case, the area density of the water-repellent part 65 gradually decreases from the left to the right. As a result, the water repellency gradually decreases from left to right.

FIG. 18 illustrates a vertical cross-section along the line A-Aof FIG. 17.

According to the above-mentioned change in water repellency along the left-right direction, a driving force acts on the water droplets from the left to the right as shown by the arrows in this figure.

FIG. 19 illustrates droplets existing on the surface of the thin film 63. Comparing the contact angle θr of the droplet on the left side of this figure with the contact angle θa of the droplet on the right side, θr is larger than θa.

This is caused by the presence of a wetting gradient on the surface of the thin film 63. The principle causing droplets to be transported from the right side to the left side in this figure uses this wetting gradient.

In the thin film 63 shown in FIG. 15, droplets are transported from the side near the image sensor 68 to the side near the object in the figure.

FIG. 20A illustrates the camera assembly 30 of the embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 20B illustrates an enlarged view of a portion between the pop-up lens unit 600 and the pop-up base unit 610.

Since the above-mentioned thin film 63 is formed on the side surface of the pop-up lens unit 60, a driving force acts on the water between the pop-up lens unit 60 and the pop-up base unit 62 as described above. As a result, the water is drained to the outside, thus waterproofness is improved.

As described above, according to the camera assembly and the electrical device of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the thin film formed between the pop-up lens unit 60 and the pop-up base unit 62 prevents water from collecting and infiltrating therein, thus waterproofness is improved.

The above embodiment is an example of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment of the present disclosure, the thin film is formed for waterproofing on the side surface of the pop-up lens unit 60. However, the location where the thin film is formed is not limited to the side surface of the pop-up lens unit 60. The thin film for waterproofing may be formed on the side surface of the pop-up base unit 62, or on both side surfaces of the pop-up lens unit 60 and the pop-up base unit 62 which slide against each other.

Further, in the above embodiment, one pop-up lens unit 60 and one pop-up base unit 62 are provided. However, two or more pop-up lens units and two or more pop-up base units can be provided as needed. Namely, a number of (a) pop-up lens unit (s) and (a) pop-up base unit (s) is not limited.

When two or more pop-up lens units and two or more pop-up base units are provided, in each pop-up lens unit and pop-up base unit, at least one of a surface of the pop-up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit, which slide against each other, is processed in a manner that their water repellency gradually changes between a first end and a second end of the at least one of a surface of the pop-up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit.

In general, a pop-up lens unit is used for a telescopic single focus lens. However, it is not limited to a telescopic single focus lens. For example, a wide-angle single focus lens, a close-up lens or a zoom lens can be used for a pop-up lens unit.

FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of a camera control processing executed in the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment. The camera control processing is executed by, for example, the main processor 40. That is, the main processor 40 constitutes a controller of the electrical device 10 in the present embodiment.

In addition, the camera control processing is repeatedly executed in the electrical device 10 after the electrical device is activated.

As shown in FIG. 18, in the camera control processing, the electrical device 10 judges whether an activation signal is inputted (Step S10) . For example, the activation signal is generated when the user activates an application to capture an image by using the camera assembly 30 or an application to take a video movie by using the camera assembly 30.

If the activation signal is not inputted (Step S10: No) , the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment repeats the Step S10 and waits for the activation signal to be inputted.

On the other hand, if the activation signal is inputted (Step S10: Yes) , the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment turns on the camera assembly 30 (Step S12) . That is, since the camera assembly 30 is in the home position as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the electrical device 10 changes the camera assembly 30 from the home position to the ready position as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8.

After the camera assembly 30 has been changed to the ready position, the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment judges whether an inactivation signal is inputted (Step S14) . For example, the inactivation signal is generated when the user inactivates the application to capture an image by using the camera assembly 30 or the application to take a video movie by using the camera assembly 30.

If the inactivation signal is not inputted (Step S14: No) , the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment repeats the Step S14 and waits for the inactivation signal to be inputted. That is, the ready position of the camera assembly 30 is maintained, and the user can capture an image or take a video movie by using the camera assembly 30.

On the other hand, if the inactivation signal is inputted (Step S14: Yes) , the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment turns off the camera assembly 30 (Step S16) . That is, since the camera assembly 30 is in the ready position as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the electrical device 10 changes the camera assembly 30 from the ready position to the home position as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7.

After the camera assembly 30 has been changed to the home position, the camera control processing returns to the Step 10 and repeats the Step S10 and subsequent steps.

As mentioned above, in the camera assembly 30 of the electrical device 10 according to the present embodiment, the camera assembly 30 being in the ready position secures the necessary flange back distance FB because the pop-up lens unit 60 is popped up from the pop-up base unit 62. Therefore, high optical performance can be ensured.

On the other hand, the camera assembly 30 being in the home position ensures the portability of the electrical device 10 because the pop-up lens unit 60 is accommodated in the pop-up base unit 62. Therefore, the user can easily carry the electrical device 10.

As explained above, the camera module and the electrical device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can achieve the required optical performance and maintain their small size and low cost with being waterproof.

In the description of embodiments of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that terms such as "central" , "longitudinal" , "transverse" , "length" , "width" , "thickness" , "upper" , "lower" , "front" , "rear" , "back" , "left" , "right" , "vertical" , "horizontal" , "top" , "bottom" , "inner" , "outer" , "clockwise" and "counterclockwise" should be construed to refer to the orientation or the position as described or as shown in the drawings under discussion. These relative terms are only used to simplify description of the present disclosure, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, or constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Thus, these terms cannot be constructed to limit the present disclosure.

In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance or to imply the number of indicated technical features. Thus, the feature defined with "first" and "second" may comprise one or more of this feature. In the description of the present disclosure, "a plurality of" means two or more than two, unless specified otherwise.

In the description of embodiments of the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted" , "connected" , "coupled" and the like are used broadly, and may be, for example, fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; may also be mechanical or electrical connections; may also be direct connections or indirect connections via intervening structures; may also be inner communications of two elements, which can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, unless specified or limited otherwise, a structure in which a first feature is "on" or "below" a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, and may also include an embodiment in which the first feature and the second feature are not in direct contact with each other, but are contacted via an additional feature formed therebetween. Furthermore, a first feature "on" , "above" or "on top of" a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is right or obliquely "on" , "above" or "on top of" the second feature, or just means that the first feature is at a height higher than that of the second feature; while a first feature "below" , "under" or "on bottom of" a second feature may include an embodiment in which the first feature is right or obliquely "below" , "under" or "on bottom of" the second feature, or just means that the first feature is at a height lower than that of the second feature.

Various embodiments and examples are provided in the above description to implement different structures of the present disclosure. In order to simplify the present disclosure, certain elements and settings are described in the above. However, these elements and settings are only by way of example and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In addition, reference numbers and/or reference letters may be repeated in different examples in the present disclosure. This repetition is for the purpose of simplification and clarity and does not refer to relations between different embodiments and/or settings. Furthermore, examples of different processes and materials are provided in the present disclosure. However, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other processes and/or materials may be also applied.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" , "some embodiments" , "an exemplary embodiment" , "an example" , "a specific example" or "some examples" means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the above phrases throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Any process or method described in a flow chart or described herein in other ways may be understood to include one or more modules, segments or portions of codes of executable instructions for achieving specific logical functions or steps in the process, and the scope of a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure includes other implementations, in which it should be understood by those skilled in the art that functions may be implemented in a sequence other than the sequences shown or discussed, including in a substantially identical sequence or in an opposite sequence.

The logic and/or step described in other manners herein or shown in the flow chart, for example, a particular sequence table of executable instructions for realizing the logical function, may be specifically achieved in any computer readable medium to be used by the instruction execution system, device or equipment (such as the system based on computers, the system comprising processors or other systems capable of obtaining the instruction from the instruction execution system, device and equipment and executing the instruction) , or to be used in combination with the instruction execution system, device and equipment. As to the specification, "the computer readable medium" may be any device adaptive for including, storing, communicating, propagating or transferring programs to be used by or in combination with the instruction execution system, device or equipment. More specific examples of the computer readable medium comprise but are not limited to: an electronic connection (an electronic device) with one or more wires, a portable computer enclosure (a magnetic device) , a random access memory (RAM) , a read only memory (ROM) , an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or a flash memory) , an optical fiber device and a portable compact disk read-only memory (CDROM) . In addition, the computer readable medium may even be a paper or other appropriate medium capable of printing programs thereon, this is because, for example, the paper or other appropriate medium may be optically scanned and then edited, decrypted or processed with other appropriate methods when necessary to obtain the programs in an electric manner, and then the programs may be stored in the computer memories.

It should be understood that each part of the present disclosure may be realized by the hardware, software, firmware or their combination. In the above embodiments, a plurality of steps or methods may be realized by the software or firmware stored in the memory and executed by the appropriate instruction execution system. For example, if it is realized by the hardware, likewise in another embodiment, the steps or methods may be realized by one or a combination of the following techniques known in the art: a discrete logic circuit having a logic gate circuit for realizing a logic function of a data signal, an application-specific integrated circuit having an appropriate combination logic gate circuit, a programmable gate array (PGA) , a field programmable gate array (FPGA) , etc.

Those skilled in the art shall understand that all or parts of the steps in the above exemplifying method of the present disclosure may be achieved by commanding the related hardware with programs. The programs may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, and the programs comprise one or a combination of the steps in the method embodiments of the present disclosure when run on a computer.

In addition, each function cell of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated in a processing module, or these cells may be separate physical existence, or two or more cells are integrated in a processing module. The integrated module may be realized in a form of hardware or in a form of software function modules. When the integrated module is realized in a form of software function module and is sold or used as a standalone product, the integrated module may be stored in a computer readable storage medium.

The storage medium mentioned above may be read-only memories, magnetic disks, CD, etc.

Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are explanatory and cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes, modifications, alternatives and variations can be made in the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

A camera assembly, comprising:

a pop-up lens unit, comprising at least one optical lens;

a pop-up base unit, comprising an image sensor, and accommodating the pop-up lens unit;

a moving mechanism, configured to move the pop-up lens unit in an optical axis direction between a home position and a ready position; and

a waterproof thin film, set on at least one of the surfaces of the pop-up lens unit and the pop-up base unit, is processed in a manner that its water repellency gradually changes along the optical axis direction between a first end and a second end of the at least one of a surface of the pop-up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit.
The camera assembly according to claim 1, wherein water is drained to the exterior of the camera assembly when the pop-up lens unit projects from the pop-up base unit.
The camera assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein water-repellency gradually decreases and hydrophilicity gradually increases in a direction from t an end near the image sensor toward an end near an object, and a driving force is generated for transporting water from the end near the image sensor to the end near the object.
The camera assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of a surface of the pop-up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit, which contact with each other, is provided with a water-repellent part and a hydrophilic surface so that an area density of the water-repellent part gradually decreases and an area density of the hydrophilic surface increases in a direction from the end near the image sensor toward the end near the object.
The camera assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the moving mechanism can change a flange back distance.
An electrical device comprising:

a camera assembly, having;

a pop-up lens unit, comprising at least one optical lens;

a pop-up base unit, comprising an image sensor, and accommodating the pop-up lens unit;

a moving mechanism configured to move the pop-up lens unit in an optical axis direction between a home position and a ready position; and

a waterproof thin film, set on at least one of the surface of the pop-up lens unit and the pop-up base unit, is processed in a manner that their water repellency gradually changes along the optical axis direction between a first end and a second end of the at least one of a surface of the pop-up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit.
The electrical device according to claim 6, wherein water is drained to the exterior of the camera assembly when the pop-up lens unit projects from the pop-up base unit.
The electrical device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein water-repellency gradually decreases and hydrophilicity gradually increases in a direction from an end near the image sensor toward an end near an object, and a driving force is generated for transporting water from the end near the image sensor to the end near the object.
The electrical device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein at least one of a surface of the pop-up lens unit and of a surface of the pop-up base unit, which contact with each other, is provided with a water-repellent part and a hydrophilic surface so that an area density of the water-repellent part gradually decreases and an area density of the hydrophilic surface increases in a direction from the end near the image sensor toward the end near the object.
The electrical device according to any one of claims 6-9, wherein the moving mechanism can change a flange back distance.