IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,253,656
Granted Patent B2
US 12,253,656 · App. 18/518,314 · Granted Mar 18, 2025

Light-folding element for camera module, camera module and electronic device

Inventors: Min-Chun Liao (Taichung, TW); Lin An Chang (Taichung, TW); Ming-Ta Chou (Taichung, TW); Jyun-Jia Cheng (Taichung, TW); Cheng-Feng Lin (Taichung, TW); Ming-Shun Chang (Taichung, TW)
Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
G02B13/0065G02B5/22G02B23/08G03B17/17
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,253,656
App. No.
18/518,314
Granted
Mar 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A light-folding element includes an object-side surface, an image-side surface, a reflection surface and a connection surface. The reflection surface is configured to reflect imaging light passing through the object-side surface to the image-side surface. The connection surface is connected to the object-side, image-side and reflection surfaces. The light-folding element has a recessed structure located at the connection surface. The recessed structure is recessed from the connection surface an includes a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion located between the top end and bottom end portions. The top end portion is located at an edge of the connection surface. The tapered portion has two tapered edges located on the connection surface. The tapered edges are connected to the top end and bottom end portions. A width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion.

Claims (46)

1. A light-folding element for a camera module, the light-folding element comprising:

an object-side surface, wherein an imaging light travelling into the camera module enters the object-side surface;

an image-side surface, wherein the imaging light exits through the image-side surface; and

a reflection surface, configured to reflect the imaging light;

wherein the light-folding element further comprises a recessed structure adjacent to at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the reflection surface, and the recessed structure comprises a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion;

wherein the top end portion is located at an edge of the light-folding element, the bottom end portion is located opposite to the top end portion, the tapered portion is connected to and located between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, and a width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion;

wherein the light-folding element is formed by injection molding process, and the light-folding element has at least one gate trace located on a side surface of the light-folding element; and

wherein the recessed structure has three inclined surfaces respectively extending close to one another from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion.

2. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion comprises two tapered edges disposed on the side surface of the light-folding element; and

wherein an angle between the two tapered edges is a, and the following condition is satisfied:

2 degrees≤α≤150 degrees.

3. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein a width of the top end portion is Wt, a width of the bottom end portion is Wb, and the following condition is satisfied:

0≤ Wb/Wt< 1.

4. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 1 , wherein the light-folding element has a light absorption layer, and at least a part of the light absorption layer is disposed on the recessed structure.

5. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 4 , wherein the light absorption layer surrounds at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the reflection surface.

6. A light-folding element for a camera module, the light-folding element comprising:

an object-side surface, wherein an imaging light travelling into the camera module enters the object-side surface;

an image-side surface, wherein the imaging light exits through the image-side surface; and

at least one reflection surface, configured to reflect the imaging light;

wherein the light-folding element further comprises at least one recessed structure adjacent to at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the at least one reflection surface, and the at least one recessed structure comprises a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion;

wherein the top end portion is located at an edge of the light-folding element, the bottom end portion is located opposite to the top end portion, the tapered portion is connected to and located between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, and a width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion;

wherein the at least one recessed structure has three inclined surfaces respectively extending close to one another from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion; and

wherein a width of the top end portion is Wt, a width of the bottom end portion is Wb, and the following condition is satisfied:

0≤ Wb/Wt< 1.

7. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 6 , wherein the width of the top end portion is Wt, the width of the bottom end portion is Wb, and the following condition is satisfied:

0.157≤ Wb/Wt< 1.

8. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 7 , wherein the width of the top end portion is Wt, the width of the bottom end portion is Wb, and the following condition is satisfied:

0.157≤ Wb/Wt≤ 0.470.

9. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 6 , wherein the at least one recessed structure comprises two recessed structures, the two recessed structures are disposed opposite to each other, and a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion of one of the two recessed structures is opposite to a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion of other of the two recessed structures.

10. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 6 , wherein the at least one reflection surface comprises at least two reflection surfaces.

11. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 6 , wherein the light-folding element has a light absorption layer, and at least a part of the light absorption layer is disposed on the at least one recessed structure.

12. The light-folding element for the camera module of claim 11 , wherein the light absorption layer surrounds at least one of the object-side surface, the image-side surface and the at least one reflection surface.

13. A camera module, comprising:

an imaging lens system;

the light-folding element of claim 6 , wherein the light-folding element is located on one of an object side of the imaging lens system and an image side of the imaging lens system; and

an image sensor, disposed on an image surface of the imaging lens system, wherein the image sensor is configured to receive the imaging light and convert the imaging light into electrical signals.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

the camera module of claim 13 .

15. A light-folding element for a camera module, the light-folding element comprising:

an object-side surface, wherein an imaging light travelling into the camera module enters the object-side surface;

an image-side surface, wherein the imaging light exits through the image-side surface; and

a reflection surface, configured to reflect the imaging light;

wherein the light-folding element further comprises two recessed structures adjacent to the object-side surface and the image-side surface respectively, and each of the two recessed structures comprises a top end portion, a bottom end portion and a tapered portion;

wherein in each of the two recessed structures, the top end portion is located at an edge of the light-folding element, the bottom end portion is located opposite to the top end portion, the tapered portion is connected to and located between the top end portion and the bottom end portion, and a width of the tapered portion decreases in a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion;

wherein a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion of one of the two recessed structures is opposite to a direction from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion of other of the two recessed structures; and

wherein each of the two recessed structures has three inclined surfaces respectively extending close to one another from the top end portion towards the bottom end portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2023
From: LIAO, MIN-CHUN; CHANG, LIN AN; CHOU, MING-TA; CHENG, JYUN-JIA; LIN, CHENG-FENG; CHANG, MING-SHUN
To: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065711/0218 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17359168 · Jun 25, 2021
Provisional Application 63130140 · Dec 23, 2020
Related Publication 20240085676A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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