IP Library Granted Patent US 12,656,658
Granted Patent B2
US 12,656,658 · App. 18/898,776 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Camera module

Inventors: Hirondo Nakatogawa (Tokyo, JP); Yoshiro Aoki (Tokyo, JP); Hitoshi Tanaka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Magnolia White Corporation
G03B9/02G02F1/133388G02F1/134309G02F1/13458
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,656,658
App. No.
18/898,776
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a camera module includes an image sensor and a liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel includes an aperture portion in which first and second regions are formed, a liquid crystal layer disposed in a position overlapping the aperture portion, a first electrode disposed in a position overlapping the first region and a second electrode disposed in a position overlapping the second region, a driver which drives the liquid crystal layer, a non-aperture portion which surrounds the aperture portion, a first pad that electrically connects the first electrode to the driver and a second pad that electrically connects the second electrode to the driver.

Claims (16)

1 . A camera module comprising:

an image sensor; and

a liquid crystal panel, wherein the liquid crystal panel including:

an aperture portion in which first and second regions are formed to be disposed in positions to allow light to enter the image sensor;

a liquid crystal layer disposed in a position overlapping the aperture portion;

a first electrode disposed in a position overlapping the first region and a second electrode disposed in a position overlapping the second region;

a driver which drives the liquid crystal layer by applying a voltage to each of the first and second electrodes;

a non-aperture portion which surrounds the aperture portion; and

a first pad that electrically connects the first electrode to the driver and a second pad that electrically connects the second electrode to the driver, the first and second pads being disposed in a position overlapping the non-aperture portion,

wherein

the first and second pads are disposed at position opposing each other while interposing the aperture portion therebetween,

the aperture portion has a circular shape, and

the first and second pads have an arc shape along the circular shape of the aperture portion.

2 . The camera module of claim 1 , wherein

the liquid crystal panel includes first and second substrates that hold the liquid crystal layer, and

the first and second pads are formed on the first substrate and are electrically connected to the driver mounted on a drive board disposed on a rear surface of the first substrate via a flexible circuit board.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2025
From: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
To: MAGNOLIA WHITE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071542/0924 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2024
From: NAKATOGAWA, HIRONDO; AOKI, YOSHIRO; TANAKA, HITOSHI
To: JAPAN DISPLAY INC.
Reel/Frame 068716/0442 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-056356 · Mar 30, 2022 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2023005442 · Feb 16, 2023
Related Publication 20250020976A1 · Jan 16, 2025
References Cited (11)
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US 20180228037A1 · Fujikawa · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20230221601A1 · Aoki et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
EP 2667244A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006309011A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 201817792A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018128487A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
TW 202129375A · 2021 [cited by examiner]
PE2E english translation of TW202129375A (Year: 2021). [cited by examiner]
International Search Report mailed on May 9, 2023 for the corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2023/005442, with English machine translation. [cited by applicant]
Japanese Office Action mailed on Aug. 5, 2025, for the corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-511404, with English machine translation. [cited by applicant]