Apparatus and method of controlling drive of camera module

1. A drive control apparatus of a camera module, comprising:

a lens module movable along an optical axis;

a first stopper and a second stopper defining a maximum moving section of the lens module; and,

a controller configured to determine an available moving section by applying a predetermined correction value to the maximum moving section,

wherein the maximum moving section is a section between a first position of the lens module at which the lens module is in contact with the first stopper and a second position of the lens module at which the lens module is in contact with the second stopper,

wherein the available moving section is a section between a third position of the lens module at which the lens module is spaced from the first position in a direction toward a center of the maximum moving section and a fourth position of the lens module at which the lens module is spaced from the second position in a direction toward the center of the maximum moving section,

wherein each of a first distance of the third position from the first position and a second distance of the fourth position from the second position is larger than zero and is equal to or less than a predetermined critical value, and

wherein the controller is configured to move the lens module only within the available moving section while performing an auto-focusing function.

2. The drive control apparatus of a camera module as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a position of the lens module,

wherein the controller determines the available moving section by applying the correction value to each sensed value received from the sensor.

3. The drive control apparatus of a camera module as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a memory for storing a first determined value representing the third position and a second determined value representing the fourth position.

4. The drive control apparatus of a camera module as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first determined value and the second determined value are obtained by digitalizing a sensed value received from the sensor with the determined number of bit.

5. A drive control apparatus of a camera module, comprising:

a lens module movable along an optical axis;

a first stopper and a second stopper defining a maximum moving section of the lens module; and,

a memory for storing a first determined value representing a third position of the lens module, a second determined value representing a fourth position of the lens module, and a predetermined critical value,

wherein the maximum moving section is a section between a first position of the lens module at which the lens module is in contact with the first stopper and a second position of the lens module at which the lens module is in contact with the second stopper,

wherein the available moving section is a section between the third position of the lens module at which the lens module is spaced from the first position in a direction toward a center of the maximum moving section and the fourth position of the lens module at which the lens module is spaced from the second position in a direction toward the center of the maximum moving section,

wherein each of a first distance of the third position from the first position and a second distance of the fourth position from the second position is larger than zero and is equal to or less than a predetermined critical value, and

wherein the lens module is moved only within the available moving section while an auto-focusing function is performed.

6. A drive control apparatus of a camera module, comprising:

a lens module movable along an optical axis;

a first stopper and a second stopper defining a maximum moving section of the lens module;

a magnetic member coupled to a side of the lens module;

coils disposed to face the magnetic member with a distance there-between and generating a drive force of the lens module;

a yoke having the coils attached thereto, wherein a length of the yoke in a direction of an optical axis is defined to be greater than a length of the magnetic member in a direction of the optical axis; and

a controller configured to determine an available moving section by applying a predetermined correction value to the maximum moving section,

wherein the maximum moving section is a section between a first position of the lens module at which the lens module is in contact with the first stopper and a second position of the lens module at which the lens module is in contact with the second stopper,

wherein the available moving section is a section between a third position of the lens module at which the lens module is spaced from the first position in a direction toward a center of the maximum moving section and a fourth position of the lens module at which the lens module is spaced from the second position in a direction toward the center of the maximum moving section,

wherein each of a first distance of the third position from the first position and a second distance of the fourth position from the second position is larger than zero and is equal to or less than a predetermined critical value, and

wherein the controller is configured to move the lens module only within the available moving section while performing an auto-focusing function.

7. The drive control apparatus of a camera module as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the length of the yoke in a direction of the optical axis is defined to be greater than the length of the magnetic member in a direction of the optical axis so as to allow both longitudinal ends of the magnetic member to be included within a longitudinal range of the yoke in the whole of a maximum moving section of the lens module when the yoke and the magnetic member are placed on an extension line in a direction of the same optical axis.

8. The drive control apparatus of a camera module as claimed in claim 6 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a position of the lens module, wherein the controller determines the available moving section by applying the correction value to each sensed value received from the sensor.

9. The drive control apparatus of a camera module as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising a memory for storing a first determined value representing the third position and a second determined value representing the fourth position.

10. The drive control apparatus of a camera module as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the first determined value and the second determined value are obtained by digitalizing a sensed value received from the sensor with the determined number of bit.

11. A method of controlling drive of a camera module, comprising a lens module movable along an optical axis, and a first and a second stoppers defining a maximum moving section;

the method comprising steps of:

detecting the maximum moving section of the lens module; and,

determining an available moving section by applying a determined correction value to the maximum moving section so as to make the lens module to move between locations spaced from the first and the second stoppers with a predetermined distance,

wherein the maximum moving section is a section between a first position of the lens module at which the lens module is in contact with the first stopper and a second position of the lens module at which the lens module is in contact with the second stopper,

wherein the available moving section is a section between a third position of the lens module at which the lens module is spaced from the first position in a direction toward a center of the maximum moving section and a fourth position of the lens module at which the lens module is spaced from the second position in a direction toward the center of the maximum moving section,

wherein each of a first distance of the third position from the first position and a second distance of the fourth position from the second position is larger than zero and is equal to or less than a predetermined critical value, and

wherein the lens module is moved only within the available moving section while an auto-focusing function is performed.