IP Library Granted Patent US 12684215
Granted Patent B2
US 12684215 · App. 18/784,469 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Camera module and electronic device including the same

Inventors: Chiyoung Park (Suwon-si, KR); Manho Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Youngsoo Jang (Suwon-si, KR); Bongchan Kim (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
H04N23/55H04N23/51H04N23/57H04N23/68
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12684215
App. No.
18/784,469
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a camera module including a lens that includes an optical axis, a lens housing to accommodate the lens, an image sensor to receive light passing through the lens, a connector to receive an electrical signal from the image sensor, and a flexible printed circuit board to connect the image sensor and the connector. The FPCB changes between a first configuration in which the FPCB extends substantially linearly between the image sensor and the connector, and a second configuration in which the FPCB has at least three bent areas, at least two folded areas, and at least two side areas along a perimeter of the image sensor.

Claims (92)

1 . A camera module comprising:

a lens comprising an optical axis;

a lens housing configured to accommodate the lens;

an image sensor configured to receive light passing through the lens;

a connector configured to receive an electrical signal from the image sensor; and

a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) configured to connect the image sensor and the connector,

wherein the FPCB is configured to;

change from a first configuration in which the FPCB is configured to extend substantially linearly between the image sensor and the connector, into a second configuration in which the FPCB has at least three bent areas, at least two folded areas, and at least two side areas along a perimeter of the image sensor; and

change from the second configuration into the first configuration.

2 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the FPCB comprises:

a first bent area connected to the image sensor and configured to bend in a first direction with respect to the image sensor;

a first folded area configured to fold in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the first bent area;

a first side area connected to the first folded area and configured to extend in the second direction along the perimeter of the image sensor;

a second bent area connected to the first side area and configured to bend in a third direction that is substantially orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction;

a second side area connected to the second bent area and configured to extend in the third direction along the perimeter of the image sensor;

a second folded area connected to the second side area and configured to fold in a fourth direction that is opposite to the first direction; and

a third bent area connected to the second folded area, the third bent area being configured to bend toward the connector, and configured to connect to the connector.

3 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the first side area and the second side area are on a plane that is different from the plane on which the image sensor is provided.

4 . The camera module of claim 3 , further comprising:

an actuator configured to apply a force to the first side area and/or the second side area.

5 . The camera module of claim 4 , wherein the FPCB further comprises:

a fourth bent area connected to the second side area and is configured to bend in a fifth direction that is opposite to the second direction; and

a third side area connected to the fourth bent area and the second folded area, and configured to extend in the fifth direction along the perimeter of the image sensor.

6 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the FPCB comprises a first FPCB and a second FPCB, and the first FPCB and the second FPCB are symmetrically arranged relative to each other with respect to a plane comprising the optical axis.

7 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the FPCB further comprises:

a first base area configured to connect the image sensor and the first bent area; and/or

a second base area configured to connect the third bent area and the connector.

8 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the first folded area is configured to fold inward and/or outward, and the second folded area is configured to fold inward and/or outward.

9 . The camera module of claim 8 , wherein the first folded area and the second folded area have curvatures configured to fold without cracking the FPCB.

10 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the FPCB further comprises a reinforcing portion provided in at least one of the first bent area, the second bent area, or the third bent area.

11 . The camera module of claim 10 , further comprising:

a camera housing configured to support at least one of the first bent area, the second bent area, or the third bent area.

12 . The camera module of claim 11 , wherein the FPCB further comprises a hardened bonding and/or a fixing portion provided in the first folded area or the second folded area.

13 . The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising:

a carrier configured to carry the lens housing, the carrier being provided between the lens housing and the image sensor.

14 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the FPCB further comprises:

a fourth bent area configured to connect to the second side area and configured to bend in a fifth direction that is opposite to the second direction;

a third side area configured to connect to the fourth bent area and configured to extend in the fifth direction along the perimeter of the image sensor;

a fifth bent area configured to connect to the third side area and configured to bend in a sixth direction that is opposite to the third direction;

a fourth side area configured to connect to the fifth bent area and configured to extend in the sixth direction along the perimeter of the image sensor;

a sixth bent area configured to connect to the fourth side area and configured to bend in the second direction; and

a fifth side area configured to connect to the sixth bent area and the second folded area and configured to extend in the second direction.

15 . The camera module of claim 14 , wherein the fifth side area at least partially overlaps the first side area.

16 . The camera module of claim 2 , wherein the FPCB further comprises a third folded area configured to connect to the image sensor and the first bent area and configured to fold in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction.

17 . An electronic device comprising the camera module of claim 1 .

18 . A camera module comprising:

a lens comprising an optical axis;

a lens housing configured to accommodate the lens;

an image sensor configured to receive light passing through the lens;

a connector configured to receive an electrical signal from the image sensor; and

a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) configured to connect the image sensor and the connector, wherein

the FPCB comprises:

a first bent area configured to connect to the image sensor and configured to bend in a first direction with respect to the image sensor;

a first folded area configured to fold in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction with respect to the first bent area;

a first side area configured to connect to the first folded area and configured to extend in the second direction along a perimeter of the image sensor;

a second bent area configured to connect to the first side area and configured to bend in a third direction that is substantially orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction;

a second side area configured to connect to the second bent area and configured to extend in the third direction along the perimeter of the image sensor;

a second folded area configured to connect to the second side area and configured to fold in a fourth direction that is opposite to the first direction; and

a third bent area configured to connect to the second folded area, the third bent area being configured to bend toward the connector, and configured to connect to the connector.

19 . A camera module comprising:

a lens comprising an optical axis;

a lens housing configured to accommodate the lens;

an image sensor configured to receive light passing through the lens;

a connector configured to receive an electrical signal from the image sensor; and

a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) configured to connect the image sensor and the connector, wherein the FPCB comprises:

a first bent area configured to connect to the image sensor and configured to be bent in a first direction with respect to the image sensor;

a first folded area configured to connect to the first bent area and configured to fold in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction;

a first side area configured to connect to the first folded area and configured to extend in the second direction along a perimeter of the image sensor;

a second bent area configured to connect to the first side area and configured to bend in a third direction that is substantially orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction;

a second side area configured to connect to the second bent area and configured to extend in the third direction along the perimeter of the image sensor;

a third bent area configured to connect to the second side area and configured to bend in a fourth direction that is opposite to the second direction;

a third side area configured to connect to the third bent area and configured to extend in the fourth direction along the perimeter of the image sensor;

a fourth bent area configured to connect to the third side area and configured to bend in a fifth direction that is opposite to the third direction;

a fourth side area configured to connect to the fourth bent area and configured to extend in the fifth direction along the perimeter of the image sensor;

a fifth bent area configured to connect to the fourth side area and configured to bend in the second direction;

a fifth side area configured to connect to the fifth bent area and configured to extend in the second direction;

a second folded area configured to connect to the fifth side area and configured to fold in a sixth direction that is opposite to the first direction; and

a sixth bent area configured to connect to the second folded area, the sixth bent area being configured to bend toward the connector, and configured to connect to the connector.

20 . A camera module comprising:

a lens comprising an optical axis;

a lens housing configured to accommodate the lens;

an image sensor configured to receive light passing through the lens;

a connector configured to receive an electrical signal from the image sensor; and

a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) configured to connect the image sensor and the connector, wherein

the FPCB comprises:

a first folded area configured to connect to the image sensor and configured to fold in a first direction with respect to the image sensor;

a first bent area configured to connect to the first folded area and configured to bend in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction;

a second folded area configured to connect to the first bent area and configured to fold in a third direction that is substantially orthogonal to each of the first direction and the second direction;

a side area configured to connect to the second folded area and configured to extend in the third direction along a perimeter of the image sensor;

a second bent area configured to connect to the side area and configured to bend in a fourth direction that is opposite to the first direction;

a third folded area configured to connect to the second bent area and configured to fold in a fifth direction that is opposite to the second direction; and

a third bent area configured to connect to the third folded area, the third bent area configured to bend toward the connector, and configured to connect to the connector.