# US 11,994,737 B2 · Camera module and electronic device including the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,737 B2 - Document ID: US11994737B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/681,042 - Filed: 2022-02-25 - Published: 2022-09-01 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-26 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Seungyong Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994737B2 ## CPC - G02B 7/021: {for more than one lens} - G02B 27/0018: {with means for preventing ghost images (anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11)} - G02B 7/02: for lenses {(supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002)} - 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 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets - G03B 30/00: Camera modules comprising integrated lens units and imaging units, specially adapted for being embedded in other devices, e.g. mobile phones or vehicles - H04N 23/00: Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices - 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 An electronic device is provided that includes a camera module that receives external light through a portion of a surface of the electronic device. The camera module includes a camera housing having an image sensor disposed on a bottom surface of the camera housing. The camera module also includes and a lens assembly. At least a portion of the lens assembly is disposed in the camera housing. The lens assembly includes a first lens, a second lens, and a spacer disposed between the first lens and the second lens. The spacer has an opening area formed therein. An optical axis passes through the opening area. The spacer is formed such that a first inner surface of the opening area and a second inner surface of the opening area are parallel to each other in a cross-sectional view that includes the optical axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a camera module configured to receive external light through a portion of a surface of the electronic device, wherein the camera module comprises: a camera housing having an image sensor disposed on a bottom surface the camera housing; and a lens assembly, wherein at least a portion of the lens assembly is disposed in the camera housing, and wherein the lens assembly comprises a first lens, a second lens, and a spacer disposed between the first lens and the second lens, wherein the spacer has an opening area formed therein, and an optical axis passes through the opening area, wherein the spacer is formed such that a first inner surface of the opening area and a second inner surface of the opening area are inclined and parallel to each other in a cross-sectional view that includes the optical axis, wherein the spacer comprises a first surface configured to at least partially contact the first lens, and a second surface configured to at least partially contact the second lens, wherein a first circular periphery configured to define the opening area is formed on the first surface and a second circular periphery configured to define the opening area is formed on the second surface, and wherein a first center of the first circular periphery is different from a second center of the second circular periphery with respect to the optical axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first inner surface and the second inner surface include respective first portions, which are parallel to the optical axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein: inclination angles formed by the first inner surface and the second inner surface with respect to the optical axis are defined in the cross-sectional view including the optical axis; and the spacer is formed such that the inclination angles continuously increase or decrease along a circumferential direction of a circle having the optical axis as a center with respect to the first portions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3, wherein: the spacer includes second portions having a largest inclination angle; and the second portions include portions spaced apart from the first portions by substantially 90 degrees in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the image sensor includes an active area that receives light passing through the first lens and the second lens; the active area is formed to have a first width measured in a first direction and a second width measured in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the second width being smaller than the first width; and the image sensor is disposed such that the optical axis passes through a center of the active area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein: the first inner surface and the second inner surface include respective first portions, which are parallel to the optical axis, and the first portions are located in the second direction with respect to the optical axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electronic device of claim 5, wherein: inclination angles formed by the first inner surface and the second inner surface with respect to the optical axis are defined in a cross-sectional view including the optical axis, the spacer includes second portions having a largest inclination angle, and the second portions are located in the first direction with respect to the optical axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the spacer is disposed such that a line configured to connect the first center of the first circular periphery and the second center of the second circular periphery intersects the optical axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the spacer includes a notch adjacent to the first portions or formed in a position spaced apart from the first portions by a predetermined angle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electronic device of claim 8, wherein: each of the first lens and the second lens includes an optical portion through which light reflected from an object passes, and a peripheral portion around the optical portion; the first surface at least partially contacts the peripheral portion of the first lens; and the second surface at least partially contacts the peripheral portion of the second lens. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic device of claim 10, wherein the spacer is disposed such that the opening area is at least partially aligned with the optical portion of each of the first lens and the second lens in a direction of the optical axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the spacer includes a base layer and a coating layer disposed on at least one surface of the base layer; the base layer includes at least one of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and a polyimide (PI) film, and the coating layer at least partially contacts the first lens or the second lens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the coating layer is black in color or contains carbon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the spacer measured in a direction of the optical axis ranges from 0.01 mm to 0.2 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the lens assembly further comprises a lens barrel configured to surround the first lens, the second lens, and the spacer; and a partial area of the spacer contacts an inner surface of the lens barrel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein: a step structure is formed on the inner surface of the lens barrel; and at least one of the spacer, the first lens, or the second lens at least partially contacts a step surface of the step structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein an air gap is formed between the first lens and the second lens. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein: the lens assembly further comprises a plurality of spacers; and at least some of the plurality of spacers function as an aperture of the camera module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic device of claim 18, wherein: the lens assembly further comprises a plurality of lenses; and at least some of the plurality of spacers extend between one of the plurality of lenses and an inner surface of a lens barrel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the opening area is formed in a shape in which a length measured in a first direction and a length measured in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction differ from each other when viewed in a direction of the optical axis.