Camera module with dual lens modules and image sensors

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to camera modules, and particularly, to camera module having dual lens modules and image sensors.

2. Description of Related Art

Lens modules and image sensors are key components of camera modules. The lens module is configured (structured and arranged) for converging light incident thereon to the image sensor, and the image sensor is configured for forming images.

Dual lens modules have been widely used in camera modules. Such camera module usually has only one image sensor. When adjusting distance between the lens modules, two or more focal lengths can be obtained, thus the camera module has the zooming function. However, in this way, a driving apparatus has to be used to adjust the distance between the lens modules.

Dual lens modules and image sensors have been proposed in a camera module to allow the camera module to have two fixed focal lengths. However, in this way, the image sensors have to be disposed at imaging planes (parallel to focal planes) along optical axis directions of the lens modules, respectively, such that the light converged by the lens modules will fall on the image sensors. However, with this configuration, the length of the camera module will be much greater than width of the camera module, thus a good-looking camera module cannot be obtained.

What is needed, therefore, is a camera module with dual lens modules and image sensors, which can overcome the above shortcomings.

Many aspects of the present camera module can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present camera module. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric schematic view of a camera module in accordance with a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the camera module shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module in accordance with a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module in accordance with a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 an isometric schematic view of a camera module in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an isometric schematic view of a camera module in accordance with a fifth embodiment.

Embodiments of the present camera module will now be described in detail below and with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a camera module 100 in accordance with a first embodiment, is provided. The camera module 100 includes a first lens module 21 , a second lens module 22 , a first holder 11 , a second holder 12 , a circuit board 50 , a first image sensor 31 , a second image sensor 32 , a first reflecting member 41 , and a second reflecting member 42 .

The first holder 11 includes a first opening 112 and a third opening 114 formed at two ends thereof. The second holder 12 includes a second opening 122 and a fourth opening 124 formed at two ends thereof. The first holder 11 and the second holder 12 are both “L” shaped. A central axis of the first opening 112 is parallel to that of the second opening 122 , and the first opening 112 and the second opening 122 face a same direction. A central axis of the third opening 114 is aligned with that of the fourth opening 124 . The central axis of the first opening 112 is perpendicular to the central axis of the third opening 114 , and the central axis of the second opening 122 is perpendicular to the central axis of the fourth opening 124 . The first opening 112 and the second opening 122 are both internally threaded.

The first lens module 21 includes a first lens barrel 212 and a plurality of lenses 214 received in the first lens barrel 212 . The second lens module 22 includes a second lens barrel 222 and a plurality of lenses 224 received in the second lens barrel 222 . The first and second lens barrels 212 , 222 are both externally threaded. The first lens barrel 212 is threadedly engaged in the first opening 112 . The second lens barrel 222 is threadedly engaged in the second opening 122 . The first and second lens modules 21 , 22 each define an optical axis, and the optical axes are aligned with the central axes of the first and second openings 112 , 122 , respectively. The first lens module 21 is substantially a converging lens system, and has a first focal length L 1 , and the second lens module 22 is also substantially a converging lens system, and has a second focal length L 2 . The first focal length L 1 is different from the second focal length L 2 , thus the camera module 100 has two different focal lengths.

The circuit board 50 is arranged between the first holder 11 and the second holder 12 . The circuit board 50 includes a first surface 51 and an opposite second surface 52 . The end surface of the third opening 114 is coupled to the first surface 51 , and the end surface of the fourth opening 124 is coupled to the second surface 52 .

The first image sensor 31 is mounted to the first surface 51 of the circuit board 50 , and is received in the third opening 114 . The second image sensor 32 is mounted to the second surface 52 of the circuit board 50 , and is received in the fourth opening 124 .

The first and second reflecting members 41 , 42 are disposed after the focal points f 1 , f 2 of the first and second focal lengths L 1 , L 2 , and before image planes along the optical axis directions of the first lens modules 21 and the second lens modules 22 . The first and second reflecting members 41 , 42 are configured for changing light paths before any light focus on the imaging planes along the optical axis direction. The first reflecting member 41 has a first reflecting surface 412 facing the first lens module 21 and the first image sensor 31 . The second reflecting member 42 has a second reflecting surface 422 facing the second lens module 22 and the second image sensor 32 . A first acute angle is maintained between the central axis of the first opening 112 and the first reflecting surface 412 , and a second acute angle is maintained between the central axis of the second opening 122 and second reflecting surface 422 . In the present embodiment, both the first acute angle and the second acute angle are 45 degrees.

In operation, light rays reflected by objects are substantially converged when they transmit through the first lens module 21 and the second lens module 22 , except those directly transmitted through the centers of the first lens module 21 and the second lens module 22 . The converged light rays are reflected by the first reflecting surface 412 and the second reflecting surface 422 , and the reflected converged light rays fall on the first image sensor 31 and the second image sensor 32 , respectively, thus the first image sensor 31 and the second image sensor 32 detect the images of the objects.

With the above configuration, the first and second image sensors 31 and 32 do not need to be disposed at imaging planes along the optical axis direction of the first and second lens modules 21 , 22 , thus the entire length of the camera modules 100 can be shortened.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a camera module 200 in accordance with a second embodiment is provided. A central axis of a first opening 201 of a first holder 210 is not parallel to, but intersects with a central axis of a second opening 203 of a second holder 220 at a point (not shown) under the first and second holders 210 , 220 . A central axis of a third opening 202 of the first holder 210 is not perpendicular to the central axis of the first opening 201 , instead, a first obtuse angle is maintained between the central axis of the first opening 201 and the central axis of the third opening 202 . A central axis of a fourth opening 204 of the second holder 220 is not perpendicular to the central axis of the second opening 203 , instead, a second obtuse angle is maintained between the central axis of the second opening 203 and the central axis of the fourth opening 204 . The first obtuse angle can be the same as that of the second obtuse angle. An included acute angle between the central axis of the first opening 201 and a first reflecting surface 2412 of a first reflecting members 241 is not greater than 45 degrees; and an included acute angle between the central axis of the second opening 203 and a second reflecting surface 2422 of a second reflecting members 242 is not greater than 45 degrees.

Referring to FIG. 4 , a camera module 300 in accordance with a third embodiment is provided. The camera module 300 is essentially similar to the camera module 200 illustrated above, however, a fifth opening 303 is formed in a first holder 310 , and a sixth opening 304 is formed in a second holder 330 . A first reflecting member 341 is retained at the fifth opening 303 , and a second reflecting member 342 is retained at the sixth opening 304 . The fifth opening 303 and the sixth opening 304 facilitate the first reflecting member 341 and the second reflecting member 342 to be mounted in the first and second holders 310 , 330 . In addition, a central axis of a first opening 301 and a central axis of a second opening 303 intersect at point (not shown) above the first and second holders 310 , 330 .

Referring to FIG. 5 , a camera module 400 in accordance with a fourth embodiment is provided. The camera module 400 is essentially similar to the camera module 100 illustrated above, however, in the camera module 400 , a first opening 401 of a first holder 410 and a second opening 403 of a second holder 430 face opposite directions.

Referring to FIG. 6 , a camera module 500 in accordance with a fifth embodiment is provided. The camera module 500 is essentially similar to the camera module 400 illustrated above, however, in the camera module 500 , a first opening 501 of a first holder 510 and a second opening 503 of a second holder 530 face different directions, and a central axis of the first opening 501 is perpendicular to a central axis of the second opening 503 .

It is understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure.