Compact camera module
View Patent ↗A compact camera module is disclosed that is capable of preventing adhesion of dust to an image pickup device in the compact camera module. The compact camera module includes a lens unit including a lens and a lens holder holding the lens therein and an image pickup unit attached to the lens unit. The image pickup unit includes a circuit board, an image pickup device on the circuit board, a cover member arranged on the circuit board to cover the image pickup device, and an optical filter arranged with respect to the cover member to face the image pickup device. The image pickup device is disposed in a substantially closed space formed by the circuit board, the cover member, and the optical filter. After the image pickup device is mounted on the circuit board, the image pickup device is disposed in the substantially closed space, and therefore, the compact camera module can be assembled with no occurrence of dust adhesion to the image pickup device.
1. A compact camera module comprising a lens unit including a lens and a lens holder holding the lens therein and an image pickup unit attached to the lens unit, wherein the image pickup unit comprises:
a circuit board;
an image pickup device on the circuit board;
a cover member arranged on the circuit board to cover the image pickup device; and
an optical filter arranged with respect to the cover member to face the image pickup device,
wherein the image pickup device is disposed in a substantially closed space formed by the circuit board, the cover member, and the optical filter,
wherein the cover member includes an air hole to make the substantially closed space in communication with the outside to allow air to escape from the substantially closed space; the lens unit includes a ventilation channel; the air hole is in communication with the ventilation channel, and
wherein the ventilation channel is formed between a wall of a cutout in the lens and the lens holder, and the ventilation channel extends at least from a top of the lens to a bottom of the lens.
2. The compact camera module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ventilation channel has an air filter disposed therein.
3. The compact camera module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the image pickup unit is asymmetric with respect to a central line.
4. The compact camera module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
a grounding terminal is formed on a side surface of the circuit board, said grounding terminal including a portion extending to an upper surface of the circuit board; and
the cover member is arranged to be in contact with the portion of the grounding terminal extending to the upper surface of the circuit board.
5. A method of producing a compact camera module, comprising the steps of:
forming an image pickup unit wherein an image pickup device is disposed in a substantially closed space, wherein the step of forming the image pickup unit comprises the steps of:
installing an image pickup device on a circuit board;
covering the image pickup device with a cover member,
forming an air hole in the cover member to make the substantially closed space in communication with the outside to allow air to escape from the substantially closed space;
arranging an optical filter with respect to the cover member to face the image pickup device;
wherein the cover member, optical filter, and circuit board form a substantially closed space,
forming a cutout in the lens of a lens unit;
forming a ventilation channel between a wall of the cutout in the lens and a lens holder, wherein the ventilation channel extends at least from a top of the lens to a bottom of the lens; and
attaching the image pickup unit to the lens unit.