US 12,273,624 B2
Camera module and electronic device including the same
Jinheon Oh, Suwon-si (KR)
Assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed by SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Dec. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/077,448.
Application 18/077,448 is a continuation of application No. PCT/KR2022/019232, filed on Nov. 30, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0174461 (KR), filed on Dec. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0179866 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 23/68 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/687 (2023.01) [H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/675 (2023.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera module comprising:
a camera housing;
an optical image stabilization (OIS) driving unit disposed in the camera housing;
an auto focus (AF) driving unit coupled to the OIS driving unit; and
a lens assembly comprising a lens and coupled to the AF driving unit,
wherein the AF driving unit comprises:
a first carrier to which the lens assembly is coupled; and
a first piezoelectric motor configured to provide a driving force to move the first carrier in a direction of an optical axis of the lens, and
wherein the OIS driving unit comprises:
a second carrier to which the AF driving unit is coupled; and
a plurality of second piezoelectric motors configured to provide driving forces to move the second carrier in one or more directions perpendicular to the optical axis,
wherein the second carrier comprises a plurality of support parts,
wherein each of the plurality of second piezoelectric motors comprises:
a second piezoelectric element configured to extend in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and contract or expand in a lengthwise direction of the second piezoelectric element based on a voltage applied to the second piezoelectric element, and
a rod inserted into a corresponding support part of the plurality of support parts and coupled to a first end portion of the second piezoelectric element and configured to extend in the lengthwise direction of the second piezoelectric element by a predetermined length and to move along a lengthwise direction of the rod by expansion or contraction of the second piezoelectric element,
wherein the support part comprises a first portion and a second portion surrounding at least a portion of the rod,
wherein the first portion is configured to make contact with the rod and elastically press the rod such that the rod either moves together with the support part along the lengthwise direction of the rod or moves relative to the support part along the lengthwise direction of the rod without moving together with the support part based on a speed of expansion or contraction of the second piezoelectric element, and
wherein the second portion extends vertically from the first portion and is spaced apart from the rod.