IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,645,132
Granted Patent B2
US 12,645,132 · App. 18/456,125 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Camera module

Inventors: Su Kyeong Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Bo Sung Seo (Suwon-si, KR); Nam Ki Park (Suwon-si, KR); Soo Cheol Lim (Suwon-si, KR); Je Ho Kim (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
G03B17/12G02B7/02H04N23/55G03B5/00G03B13/36G03B2205/0069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,645,132
App. No.
18/456,125
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A camera module includes a housing having an internal space; a carrier disposed in the internal space; a lens module provided in the carrier; and a first ball member and a second ball member, disposed between the carrier and the housing and spaced apart in a direction, perpendicular to an optical axis, wherein a virtual line connecting a center of a ball included in the first ball member and a center of a ball included in the second ball member passes through the lens module, wherein the lens module includes a first avoidance portion securing space in which at least one of the first ball member or the second ball member is disposed.

Claims (55)

1 . A camera module comprising:

a housing having an internal space;

a carrier disposed in the internal space;

a lens module disposed in the carrier; and

a first ball member and a second ball member disposed between the carrier and the housing and spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis,

wherein a virtual line connecting a center of a ball included in the first ball member and a center of a ball included in the second ball member passes through the lens module, and

the lens module comprises a first avoidance portion comprising a space in which the first ball member or the second ball member is disposed.

2 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the first ball member and the second ball member are disposed at opposite corners of the carrier so that the first ball member and the second ball member are spaced apart from each in a diagonal direction of the carrier.

3 . The camera module of claim 2 , further comprising a guide frame disposed between the carrier and the lens module in an optical axis direction,

wherein the first avoidance portion is disposed at any one corner of the lens module, and

the guide frame comprises a second avoidance portion overlapping the first avoidance portion in the optical axis direction.

4 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the first avoidance portion has a cut shape disposed at a position overlapping the first ball member or the second ball member in an optical axis direction.

5 . The camera module of claim 3 , wherein the lens module comprises a lens barrel comprising at least one lens disposed therein, and a lens holder coupled to the lens barrel, and

the lens holder comprises the first avoidance portion.

6 . The camera module of claim 1 , further comprising a guide frame disposed between the carrier and the lens module in an optical axis direction,

wherein the guide frame comprises a second avoidance portion disposed at a position overlapping the first avoidance portion in the optical axis direction.

7 . The camera module of claim 6 , wherein the first avoidance portion and the second avoidance portion form respective spaces overlapping each other in the optical axis direction, and

the first ball member or the second ball member is disposed in the spaces formed by the first avoidance portion and the second avoidance portion.

8 . The camera module of claim 6 , wherein the first avoidance portion has a shape in which a corner of the lens holder is cut, and

the second avoidance portion has a shape in which a corner of the guide frame is cut.

9 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein, in a state in which the lens module is disposed in the carrier, either one or both of the first ball member and the second ball member is exposed to be upwardly visible in an optical axis direction.

10 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the first ball member and the second ball member are disposed in respective guide groove portions formed on an external surface of the carrier.

11 . The camera module of claim 10 , wherein the first avoidance portion is disposed at a position corresponding to a position at which one of the guide groove portions is formed on the external surface of the carrier.

12 . An electronic device comprising:

the camera module of claim 1 ; and

an image sensor configured to convert light incident through the lens module into an electrical signal.

13 . A camera module comprising:

a housing having an internal space;

a carrier disposed in the internal space;

a lens holder disposed in the carrier;

a lens barrel coupled to the lens holder; and

a first ball member and a second ball member disposed between the carrier and the housing and spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis,

wherein a length of a virtual line connecting a center of a ball included in the first ball member and a center of a ball included in the second ball member is greater than a maximum diameter of the lens barrel, and

at least a portion of the second ball member is disposed in an internal space of a virtual corner formed by a virtual intersection point at which virtual lines extending from two edges of the lens holder adjacent to the second ball member meet.

14 . The camera module of claim 13 , wherein the virtual corner is a first avoidance portion in which a corner of the lens holder is cut.

15 . The camera module of claim 14 , further comprising a guide frame disposed between the carrier and the lens holder in an optical axis direction,

wherein the guide frame comprises a second avoidance portion disposed at a position overlapping the first avoidance portion in the optical axis direction.

16 . An electronic device comprising:

the camera module of claim 13 ; and

an image sensor configured to convert light incident through the lens module into an electrical signal.

17 . A camera module comprising:

a housing having an internal space;

a carrier disposed in the internal space; and

a lens module disposed in the carrier,

wherein the carrier is configured to move in an optical axis direction on support ball members disposed between the carrier and the housing,

closest support ball members are disposed on a same diagonal of the carrier,

each support ball member comprises one or more balls, and

the lens module comprises a first avoidance portion providing a space in which one of the support ball members is disposed.

18 . The camera module of claim 17 , wherein the lens module comprises a lens barrel and a lens holder, and

the support ball members comprise a first ball member and a second ball member disposed on opposite sides of the lens barrel from each other.

19 . The camera module of claim 18 , further comprising a magnet disposed on one of the carrier and the housing, and a coil disposed on another one of the carrier and the housing, the magnet and the coil being configured to drive the carrier in the optical axis direction,

wherein the first ball member is disposed closer to the magnet than the second ball member.

20 . An electronic device comprising:

the camera module of claim 17 ; and

an image sensor configured to convert light incident through the lens module into an electrical signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2023
From: KIM, SU KYEONG; SEO, BO SUNG; PARK, NAM KI; LIM, SOO CHEOL; KIM, JE HO
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064729/0141 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2023-0037732 · Mar 23, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240319568A1 · Sep 26, 2024
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