Camera module with artificial muscle actuator and structure for focusing during assembly

A camera module comprising:

• an image sensor assembly;
• a base plate attached to the image sensor assembly, the base plate including a first threaded portion;
• and
• an optical assembly including
• an artificial muscle actuator having a lower base and an upper base that includes a central opening;
• a lens assembly attached to the upper base of the artificial muscle actuator;
• a first electrode portion attached to the artificial muscle actuator and extending from the upper base to the lower base;
• and
• an assembly focus ring attached to the lower base of the artificial muscle actuator, the assembly focus ring including a threaded portion that engages the first threaded portion of the base plate to join the lens assembly to the image sensor assembly, and a first conductive pad that extends from a top side to a bottom side of the assembly focus ring, the first conductive pad on the top side being electrically coupled to the first electrode portion of the artificial muscle actuator, the first conductive pad on the bottom side mechanically and electrically coupled to the image sensor assembly.

A method of assembling a camera module, the method comprising:

• attaching a base plate to an image sensor assembly, the base plate including a first threaded portion;
• attaching a lens assembly to an upper base of an artificial muscle actuator;
• attaching an assembly focus ring to a lower base of the artificial muscle actuator and electrically coupling a first conductive pad on a top side of the assembly focus ring to a first electrode portion of the artificial muscle actuator;
• screwing the assembly focus ring onto the first threaded portion to adjust a distance between the lens assembly and the image sensor assembly to establish a default focal distance;
• and
• mechanically fixing and electrically coupling the first conductive pad on a bottom side of the assembly focus ring to the image sensor assembly.