IP Library Granted Patent US 12693575
Granted Patent B2
US 12693575 · App. 18/604,896 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Variable aperture, camera module, and electronic device

Inventor: Wei Huang (Guangdong, CN)
Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
G03B9/02G02B26/004
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693575
App. No.
18/604,896
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This application provides a variable aperture, a camera module, and an electronic device. The variable aperture includes a first light-transmitting substrate, a second light-transmitting substrate, light-transmitting fluid, light-shielding fluid, a driving mechanism, and a first light-supplementing element. The first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate are disposed opposite to each other. A sealed chamber is disposed between the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate. The light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are fluidly provided in the sealed chamber, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are immiscible with each other. The light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are used to form a light-transmitting region and a light-shielding region, and the light-shielding region is disposed around the light-transmitting region. The driving mechanism is configured to drive the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid to flow.

Claims (45)

1 . A variable aperture, comprising a first light-transmitting substrate, a second light-transmitting substrate, light-transmitting fluid, light-shielding fluid, a driving mechanism, and a first light-supplementing element, wherein

the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate are disposed opposite to each other, a sealed chamber is disposed between the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are fluidly provided in the sealed chamber, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are immiscible with each other, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are used to form a light-transmitting region and a light-shielding region, and the light-shielding region is disposed around the light-transmitting region;

the driving mechanism is configured to drive the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid to flow, and when the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid flow, an area of the light-transmitting region and an area of the light-shielding region may be changed; and

in a case that the area of the light-transmitting region is less than a preset area, the first light-supplementing element emits light;

wherein the variable aperture further comprises a photocell, and the photocell is electrically connected to the first light-supplementing element;

wherein the photocell is disposed in the sealed chamber, the light-shielding fluid covers the photocell, when the light-shielding fluid flows, a light-absorbing surface of the photocell is enabled to be exposed outside the light-shielding fluid, in a case that the area of the light-transmitting region is smaller than the preset area, the photocell is exposed outside the light-shielding fluid, and the photocell receives ambient light to generate electric energy for the first light-supplementing element to emit light.

2 . The variable aperture according to claim 1 , wherein the sealed chamber comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel is close to the first light-transmitting substrate, the second flow channel is close to the second light-transmitting substrate, the first flow channel is in connection with the second flow channel, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are capable of flowing circularly between the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

3 . The variable aperture according to claim 2 , wherein a center of the light-transmitting region is located at a center of the variable aperture, in a case that the driving mechanism drives the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid to flow, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid in the first flow channel flow in a direction away from the center of the variable aperture, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid in the second flow channel flow in a direction close to the center of the variable aperture.

4 . The variable aperture according to claim 2 , wherein the driving mechanism is a coil, the coil is located in the sealed chamber, and at least one of the light-transmitting fluid or the light-shielding fluid is magnetic fluid; and

in a case that the coil is in an electrified state, the coil magnetically cooperates with the magnetic fluid, to generate an electromagnetic force, the electromagnetic force drives the light-transmitting fluid to flow into the first flow channel, and the electromagnetic force drives the light-shielding fluid to flow into the second flow channel, to reduce an area of a region, perpendicular to a light incidence direction, in the light-transmitting region.

5 . The variable aperture according to claim 4 , wherein the light-transmitting fluid is distributed in a circle, the light-shielding fluid is distributed annularly, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are disposed concentrically, the coil is an annular structure, and the coil and the light-shielding fluid are disposed concentrically.

6 . The variable aperture according to claim 4 , wherein the light-shielding fluid covers the coil.

7 . The variable aperture according to claim 1 , wherein the first light-supplementing element is an annular structure, and the first light-supplementing element is disposed at an edge position of the first light-transmitting substrate.

8 . A camera module, comprising a variable aperture, a lens, a driving motor, a photosensitive element, an optical filter, and a circuit board, wherein

the variable aperture is disposed opposite to the lens, the variable aperture is located on a light inlet side of the lens, wherein the variable aperture comprises a first light-transmitting substrate, a second light-transmitting substrate, light-transmitting fluid, light-shielding fluid, a driving mechanism, and a first light-supplementing element, wherein

the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate are disposed opposite to each other, a sealed chamber is disposed between the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are fluidly provided in the sealed chamber, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are immiscible with each other, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are used to form a light-transmitting region and a light-shielding region, and the light-shielding region is disposed around the light-transmitting region;

the driving mechanism is configured to drive the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid to flow, and when the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid flow, an area of the light-transmitting region and an area of the light-shielding region may be changed; and

in a case that the area of the light-transmitting region is less than a preset area, the first light-supplementing element emits light;

wherein the variable aperture further comprises a photocell, and the photocell is electrically connected to the first light-supplementing element;

wherein the photocell is disposed in the sealed chamber, the light-shielding fluid covers the photocell, when the light-shielding fluid flows, a light-absorbing surface of the photocell is enabled to be exposed outside the light-shielding fluid, in a case that the area of the light-transmitting region is smaller than the preset area, the photocell is exposed outside the light-shielding fluid, and the photocell receives ambient light to generate electric energy for the first light-supplementing element to emit light;

the lens is connected to the driving motor, the driving motor is capable of driving the lens to move in a direction of an optical axis of the lens, and the driving motor is electrically connected to the circuit board; and

the photosensitive element is disposed opposite to the lens, and the photosensitive element is electrically connected to the circuit board; and

the optical filter is disposed between the lens and the photosensitive element.

9 . The camera module according to claim 8 , wherein the sealed chamber comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel is close to the first light-transmitting substrate, the second flow channel is close to the second light-transmitting substrate, the first flow channel is in connection with the second flow channel, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are capable of flowing circularly between the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

10 . The camera module according to claim 9 , wherein a center of the light-transmitting region is located at a center of the variable aperture, in a case that the driving mechanism drives the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid to flow, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid in the first flow channel flow in a direction away from the center of the variable aperture, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid in the second flow channel flow in a direction close to the center of the variable aperture.

11 . The camera module according to claim 9 , wherein the driving mechanism is a coil, the coil is located in the sealed chamber, and at least one of the light-transmitting fluid or the light-shielding fluid is magnetic fluid; and

in a case that the coil is in an electrified state, the coil magnetically cooperates with the magnetic fluid, to generate an electromagnetic force, the electromagnetic force drives the light-transmitting fluid to flow into the first flow channel, and the electromagnetic force drives the light-shielding fluid to flow into the second flow channel, to reduce an area of a region, perpendicular to a light incidence direction, in the light-transmitting region.

12 . The camera module according to claim 11 , wherein the light-transmitting fluid is distributed in a circle, the light-shielding fluid is distributed annularly, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are disposed concentrically, the coil is an annular structure, and the coil and the light-shielding fluid are disposed concentrically.

13 . The camera module according to claim 11 , wherein the light-shielding fluid covers the coil.

14 . The camera module according to claim 8 , wherein the first light-supplementing element is an annular structure, and the first light-supplementing element is disposed at an edge position of the first light-transmitting substrate.

15 . An electronic device, comprising a camera module, wherein the camera module comprises a variable aperture, a lens, a driving motor, a photosensitive element, an optical filter, and a circuit board, wherein

the variable aperture is disposed opposite to the lens, the variable aperture is located on a light inlet side of the lens, wherein the variable aperture comprises a first light-transmitting substrate, a second light-transmitting substrate, light-transmitting fluid, light-shielding fluid, a driving mechanism, and a first light-supplementing element, wherein the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate are disposed opposite to each other, a sealed chamber is disposed between the first light-transmitting substrate and the second light-transmitting substrate, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are fluidly provided in the sealed chamber, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are immiscible with each other, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are used to form a light-transmitting region and a light-shielding region, and the light-shielding region is disposed around the light-transmitting region;

the driving mechanism is configured to drive the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid to flow, and when the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid flow, an area of the light-transmitting region and an area of the light-shielding region may be changed; and

in a case that the area of the light-transmitting region is less than a preset area, the first light-supplementing element emits light;

wherein the variable aperture further comprises a photocell, and the photocell is electrically connected to the first light-supplementing element;

wherein the photocell is disposed in the sealed chamber, the light-shielding fluid covers the photocell, when the light-shielding fluid flows, a light-absorbing surface of the photocell is enabled to be exposed outside the light-shielding fluid, in a case that the area of the light-transmitting region is smaller than the preset area, the photocell is exposed outside the light-shielding fluid, and the photocell receives ambient light to generate electric energy for the first light-supplementing element to emit light;

the lens is connected to the driving motor, the driving motor is capable of driving the lens to move in a direction of an optical axis of the lens, and the driving motor is electrically connected to the circuit board; and

the photosensitive element is disposed opposite to the lens, and the photosensitive element is electrically connected to the circuit board; and

the optical filter is disposed between the lens and the photosensitive element.

16 . The electronic device according to claim 15 , wherein the sealed chamber comprises a first flow channel and a second flow channel, the first flow channel is close to the first light-transmitting substrate, the second flow channel is close to the second light-transmitting substrate, the first flow channel is in connection with the second flow channel, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are capable of flowing circularly between the first flow channel and the second flow channel.

17 . The electronic device according to claim 16 , wherein a center of the light-transmitting region is located at a center of the variable aperture, in a case that the driving mechanism drives the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid to flow, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid in the first flow channel flow in a direction away from the center of the variable aperture, and the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid in the second flow channel flow in a direction close to the center of the variable aperture.

18 . The electronic device according to claim 16 , wherein the driving mechanism is a coil, the coil is located in the sealed chamber, and at least one of the light-transmitting fluid or the light-shielding fluid is magnetic fluid; and

in a case that the coil is in an electrified state, the coil magnetically cooperates with the magnetic fluid, to generate an electromagnetic force, the electromagnetic force drives the light-transmitting fluid to flow into the first flow channel, and the electromagnetic force drives the light-shielding fluid to flow into the second flow channel, to reduce an area of a region, perpendicular to a light incidence direction, in the light-transmitting region.

19 . The electronic device according to claim 18 , wherein the light-transmitting fluid is distributed in a circle, the light-shielding fluid is distributed annularly, the light-transmitting fluid and the light-shielding fluid are disposed concentrically, the coil is an annular structure, and the coil and the light-shielding fluid are disposed concentrically.

20 . The electronic device according to claim 18 , wherein the light-shielding fluid covers the coil.