# US 10,768,345 B2 · Dual camera module, optical device, camera module, and method for operating camera module

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- Number: US 10,768,345 B2
- Document ID: US10768345B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/332,690
- Filed: 2017-09-12
- Published: 2019-08-15
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-13
- Assignees: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Young Seop Moon; Ui Jun Kim; Han Young Kim; Hyung Kim; Sang Hun Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768345B2

## CPC

- G02B 3/14: of variable focal length
- G02B 7/021: {for more than one lens}
- G02B 7/09: adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification
- G02B 13/0045: {having five or more lenses}
- G02B 13/0075: {having an element with variable optical properties}
- G02B 13/009: {having zoom function}
- G02B 27/646: {compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68)}
- G03B 3/10: Power-operated focusing
- G03B 13/36: Autofocus systems
- G03B 37/04: with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
- H04N 23/45: for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- H04N 23/58: Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
- H04N 23/62: Control of parameters via user interfaces
- H04N 23/67: Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
- H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
- H04N 23/951: by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
- G03B 2205/0046: Movement of one or more optical elements for zooming
- G03B 2205/0084: using other types of actuators
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

The present embodiment relates to a dual camera module comprising: a first camera module including a first liquid lens and capturing a first image; and a second camera module including a second liquid lens and capturing a second image, wherein a viewing angle of the first camera module is smaller than a viewing angle of the second camera module, at least a part of the viewing angle of the first camera module is included in the viewing angle of the second camera module such that there is an overlapping area between the first image and the second image so as to enable a composite image formed by combining the first image and the second image to be generated, and when the first camera module is focused, a focal length of the first liquid lens is varied according to the distance between the first liquid lens and a subject, and when the second camera module is focused, a focal length of the second liquid lens is varied according to the distance between the second liquid lens and the subject.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dual camera module comprising:
a first camera module comprising a first liquid lens and capturing a first image; and
a second camera module comprising a second liquid lens and capturing a second image,
wherein a viewing angle of the first camera module is smaller than a viewing angle of the second camera module, the viewing angle of the second camera module comprises at least a part of the viewing angle of the first camera module such that there is an overlapping area between the first image and the second image so as to enable a composite image formed by combining the first image and the second image,
wherein the first liquid lens comprises a first liquid, a second liquid different from the first liquid, and a first interface formed between the first liquid and the second liquid, the second liquid lens comprises a third liquid, a fourth liquid different from the third liquid, and a second interface formed between the third liquid and the fourth liquid;
wherein the first camera module is focused by varying the first interface of the first liquid lens, and the second camera module is focused by varying the second interface of the second liquid lens;
wherein the first interface of the first liquid lens is formed with a first curvature when a subject is disposed at a position spaced apart from the first camera module by a first distance, and the second interface of the second liquid lens is formed with a second curvature when the subject is disposed at a position spaced apart from the second camera module by the first distance; and
wherein the first curvature of the first interface is different from the second curvature of the second interface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein a focal length of the first liquid lens is varied according to a distance between the first liquid lens and the subject, when the first camera module is focused,
wherein the focal length of the first liquid lens is shortened when the subject approaches the first liquid lens,
wherein a focal length of the second liquid lens is varied according to a distance between the second liquid lens and the subject, when the second camera module is focused, and
wherein the focal length of the second liquid lens is shortened as the subject approaches the second liquid lens.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein the first camera module comprises a first electrode disposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first camera module and a second electrode comprising a portion in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the first camera module and another portion inclined with respect to the optical axis of the first camera module,
wherein the first liquid lens comprises a first cavity disposed with the first and second liquids, one of the first and second liquids being electrically connected with the first electrode and the other of the first and second liquids being electrically insulated from any electrode,
wherein an upper diameter of the first cavity is greater than a lower diameter of the first cavity,
wherein a diameter of the first cavity is gradually reduced from an upper part to a lower part,
wherein the second liquid lens comprises a second cavity disposed with two mutually different liquids,
wherein an upper diameter of the second cavity is greater than a lower diameter of the second cavity, and
wherein a diameter of the second cavity is gradually reduced from an upper part to a lower part.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein the first camera module comprises a first electrode disposed in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the first camera module and a second electrode comprising a portion in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the first camera module and another portion inclined with respect to the optical axis of the first camera module,
wherein the first liquid lens comprises a first cavity disposed with the first and second liquids, one of the first and second liquids being electrically connected with the first electrode and the other of the first and second liquids being electrically insulated from any electrode,
wherein a lower diameter of the first cavity is greater than an upper diameter of the first cavity,
wherein a diameter of the first cavity is gradually reduced from a lower part to an upper part,
wherein the second liquid lens comprises a second cavity disposed with two mutually different liquids,
wherein a lower diameter of the second cavity is greater than an upper diameter of the second cavity, and
wherein a diameter of second cavity is gradually reduced from a lower part to an upper part.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The dual camera module of claim 3, wherein, when the subject is focused at a position distanced by 10 cm from a first camera module, a shape of the first interface of the first liquid lens is convex to an upper direction of the first cavity, and
wherein, when the subject is focused at a position distanced by 10 cm from a second camera module, a shape of the second interface of the second liquid lens is convex to an upper direction of the second cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The dual camera module of claim 4, wherein, when the subject is focused at a position distanced by 10 cm from a first camera module, a shape of the first interface of the first liquid lens is convex to a lower direction of the first cavity, and
wherein, when the subject is focused at a position distanced by 10 cm from a second camera module, a shape of the second interface of the second liquid lens is convex to a lower direction of the second cavity.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein the first curvature of the first interface is greater than the second curvature of the second interface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein the first camera module comprises a first lens holder, and the first lens holder comprises a first lens disposed on an uppermost area inside the first lens holder,
wherein the second camera module comprises a second lens holder, and the second lens holder comprises a second lens disposed on an uppermost area inside the second lens holder, and
wherein a diameter of the first lens is smaller than a diameter of the second lens.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein the first camera module comprises a first cover member accommodating the first liquid lens, and the second camera module comprises a second cover member accommodating the second liquid lens, and
wherein the first cover member comprises a first upper plate forming an upper portion of the first cover member and a first lateral plate forming a lateral surface, and the second cover member comprises a second upper plate forming an upper portion of the second cover member and a second lateral plate forming a lateral surface.

### Claim 10

An optical device comprising:
a first camera module comprising a first liquid lens that captures a first image;
a second camera module comprising a second liquid lens that captures a second image; and
a controller generating a composite image by combining the first image and the second image;
wherein a viewing angle of the first camera module is smaller than a viewing angle of the second camera module, the viewing angle of the second camera module comprises at least a part of the viewing angle of the first camera module such that there is an overlapping area between the first image and the second image so as to enable a composite image formed by combining the first image and the second image,
wherein the first camera module is focused by varying a first interface of the first liquid lens, and the second camera module is focused by varying a second interface of the second liquid lens;
wherein the first interface of the first liquid lens comprises a first curvature when the subject is disposed at a position spaced apart from the first camera module by a first distance, and the second interface of the second liquid lens comprises a second curvature when the subject is disposed at a position spaced apart from the second camera module by the first distance;
wherein the first curvature of the first interface of the first liquid lens is different from the second curvature of the second interface of the second liquid lens, and
wherein the controller is configured such that resolution of the composite image is increased by combining the first image and the second image based on the overlapping area.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The dual camera module of claim 9, wherein an area of the first upper plate and an area of the second upper plate are mutually same.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The dual camera module of claim 9, wherein an area of the first upper plate is narrower than an area of the second upper plate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein a maximum diameter of a cavity formed on the first liquid lens is smaller than a maximum diameter of a cavity formed on the second liquid lens.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein a minimum diameter of a cavity formed on the first liquid lens is smaller than a minimum diameter of a cavity formed on the second liquid lens.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The dual camera module of claim 2, wherein the focal length of the second camera module is smaller than the focal length of the first camera module.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein the first interface is changed to adjust a modulation transfer function (MTF) value of the first image.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The dual camera module of claim 16, wherein the second interface is changed to adjust a modulation transfer function (MTF) value of second image.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein the first camera module and the second camera module simultaneously perform an auto focus (AF) function.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein an optical image stabilization (OIS) function is performed by varying of the first interface of first liquid lens.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The dual camera module of claim 1, wherein an optical image stabilization (OIS) function is performed by varying of the second interface of the second liquid lens.