# US 11,442,257 B2 · Camera module and electronic device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,257 B2 - Document ID: US11442257B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/719,508 - Filed: 2019-12-18 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-18 - Assignees: Largan Precision Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Largan Precision Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Cheng-Feng Lin; Lin An Chang; Ming-Ta Chou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442257B2 ## CPC - G02B 17/008: {Systems specially adapted to form image relays or chained systems} - G02B 23/08: Periscopes {(arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices B63C11/49; arrangement of visual watch equipment on submarines B63G8/38)} - G02B 5/003: {Light absorbing elements} - G02B 5/208: {for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation} - G02B 13/0065: {having a beam-folding prism or mirror} - G02B 13/02: Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + - in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A camera module includes an imaging lens system, an image sensor and a plurality of light-folding elements. The imaging lens system is configured to focus imaging light onto an image surface. The image sensor is disposed on the image surface. The plurality of light-folding elements includes at least one image-side light-folding element disposed on an image side of the imaging lens system, and each of the light-folding elements is configured to fold the imaging light from an entrance optical path thereof to an exit optical path thereof. At least one light-shielding mechanism is arranged on at least one of the entrance light path and the exit light path of the at least one image-side light-folding element. The at least one light-shielding mechanism has a minimal opening, and the minimal opening surrounds the imaging light in the at least one of the entrance optical path and the exit optical path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera module, comprising: an imaging lens system, configured to focus an imaging light onto an image surface; an image sensor, disposed on the image surface; and a plurality of light-folding elements, comprising at least one image-side light-folding element disposed on an image side of the imaging lens system, wherein each of the plurality of light-folding elements has an entrance optical path and an exit optical path, and each of the plurality of light-folding elements is configured to fold the imaging light from the entrance optical path thereof to the exit optical path thereof; wherein at least one light-shielding mechanism is arranged on at least one of the entrance optical path and the exit optical path of the at least one image-side light-folding element, the at least one light-shielding mechanism has a minimal opening, and the minimal opening surrounds the imaging light in the at least one of the entrance optical path and the exit optical path of the at least one image-side light-folding element; wherein a maximum diameter of the minimal opening is Φmax, a total path length from the imaging lens system to the image sensor is BFL, and the following condition is satisfied: 0.14<Φmax/BFL<0.42. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light-folding elements comprises at least two image-side light-folding elements disposed on the image side of the imaging lens system, the at least one light-shielding mechanism is located between the at least two image-side light-folding elements, and the at least one light-shielding mechanism forms a gap between the at least two image-side light-folding elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The camera module of claim 2, wherein the plurality of light-folding elements further comprises an object-side light-folding element disposed on an object side of the imaging lens system, and the entrance optical path of the object-side light-folding element is substantially perpendicular to the exit optical path of any one of the at least two image-side light-folding elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the imaging lens system has at least two trimmed structures at a peripheral portion thereof, each of the trimmed structures is trimmed down from a periphery towards a center of the imaging lens system, and the at least two trimmed structures are on opposite sides of the peripheral portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the at least one image-side light-folding element is disposed in a holding member, the holding member allows the imaging light to pass therethrough along the entrance optical path and the exit optical path of the at least one image-side light-folding element, and the at least one light-shielding mechanism is disposed on the holding member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The camera module of claim 5, wherein the at least one light-shielding mechanism and the holding member are one-piece formed, and the at least one light-shielding mechanism has an anti-reflective surface structure at a periphery of the minimal opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The camera module of claim 5, wherein the at least one light-shielding mechanism comprises at least one light-shielding member, and a light-absorbing layer is arranged on the at least one light-shielding member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the maximum diameter of the minimal opening is Φmax, the total path length from the imaging lens system to the image sensor is BFL, and the following condition is satisfied: 0.14<Φmax/BFL<0.35. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the minimal opening is non-circular, a minimum diameter of the minimal opening is Φmin, the maximum diameter of the minimal opening is Φmax, and the following condition is satisfied: 0.55<Φmin/Φmax<0.95. ### Claim 10 A camera module, comprising: an imaging lens system, configured to focus an imaging light onto an image surface; an image sensor, disposed on the image surface; and at least one light-folding element, disposed on an image side of the imaging lens system, wherein the at least one light-folding element has an entrance optical path and an exit optical path, and the at least one light-folding element is configured to fold the imaging light from the entrance optical path thereof to the exit optical path thereof; wherein at least one light-shielding mechanism is arranged on at least one of the entrance optical path and the exit optical path of the at least one light-folding element, the at least one light-shielding mechanism has a minimal opening, and the minimal opening surrounds the imaging light in the at least one of the entrance optical path and the exit optical path of the at least one light-folding element; wherein the at least one light-folding element is disposed in a holding member, the holding member allows the imaging light to pass therethrough along the entrance optical path and the exit optical path of the at least one light-folding element, the at least one light-shielding mechanism is disposed on the holding member, the at least one light-shielding mechanism and the holding member are one-piece formed, and the at least one light-shielding mechanism has an anti-reflective surface structure at a periphery of the minimal opening; wherein a focal length of the imaging lens system is EFL, and the following condition is satisfied: 15 [mm]