# US 2017/0257533 A1 · Camera module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0257533 A1 - Document ID: US20170257533A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/446,838 - Filed: 2017-03-01 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-03 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Daisuke Takama; Yasuki Furutake; Soji Masui - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170257533A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/51: Housings - G02B 7/006: {Filter holders} - G02B 7/021: {for more than one lens} - G02B 27/0006: {with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B)} - 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 - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract In a camera module, a camera substrate includes an image sensor. A base portion is a case fixed to the camera substrate and includes a through hole passing through an opposing surface that opposes the camera substrate. A tube-shaped lens barrel portion holds a lens therein and is disposed to be continuous with the through hole. An optical filter is fixed to a fixing region formed on an inner wall surface of the opposing surface. The lens barrel portion includes an air hole that communicates from a tip of the lens barrel portion to the through hole, through a tube-shaped wall of the lens barrel portion in a direction of an optical axis of the lens. The opposing surface includes an air channel that communicates between the through hole and a base inner space surrounded by the base portion and the camera substrate. The air channel has a bent shape. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera module comprising: a camera substrate that includes an image sensor; a base portion that is a case fixed to the camera substrate so as to surround the image sensor and includes a through hole passing through an opposing surface that opposes the camera substrate; a tube-shaped lens barrel portion that holds a lens therein and is disposed so as to communicate with the through hole on an outer wall surface side of the opposing surface; and an optical filter that is fixed to a fixing region formed on an inner wall surface of the opposing surface, the lens barrel portion including an air hole that communicates from a tip of the lens barrel portion to the through hole, through a tube-shaped wall of the lens barrel portion in a direction of an optical axis of the lens, the opposing surface including an air channel that communicates between and the through hole and a base inner space, the base inner space being a space surrounded by the base portion and the camera substrate, the air channel having a bent shape on a cross-section parallel to the optical axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera module according to claim 1, wherein: the air channel includes: a first groove that extends beyond the fixing region from an inner wall surface of the through hole in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis; and a second groove that extends from an end portion of the first groove on a side opposite the through hole towards the base inner space in the direction of the optical axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The camera module according to claim 2, wherein: the lens is a plurality of lenses of differing sizes that are arrayed in the direction of the optical axis; the lens barrel portion includes a surrounding portion that partially surrounds the periphery of each lens and a gap between the tube-shaped wall and a portion of the periphery of each lens that is not surrounded by the surrounding portion; the air hole is formed by the gaps connected in the direction of the optical axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The camera module according to claim 3, wherein: the lens barrel portion is molded with resin; and the lens is fixed within the tube-shaped wall by a fixing portion that is integrally formed with the resin forming the tube-shaped wall. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The camera module according to claim 4, wherein: the lens barrel portion and the base portion are integrally molded with resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The camera module according to claim 5, wherein: the optical filter is fixed to the fixing region with an adhesive; and the adhesive is arranged between the base portion and the optical filter at a thickness of 0.01 mm to 1 mm, so as not to block the air channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The camera module according to claim 1, wherein: the lens is a plurality of lenses of differing sizes that are arrayed in the direction of the optical axis; the lens barrel portion includes a surrounding portion that partially surrounds the periphery of each lens and a gap between the tube-shaped wall and a portion of the periphery of each lens that is not surrounded by the surrounding portion; the air hole is formed by the gaps connected in the direction of the optical axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The camera module according to claim 1, wherein: the lens barrel portion is molded with resin; and the lens is fixed within the tube-shaped wall by a fixing portion that is integrally formed with the resin forming the tube-shaped wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The camera module according to claim 1, wherein: the lens barrel portion and the base portion are integrally molded with resin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The camera module according to claim 1, wherein: the optical filter is fixed to the fixing region with an adhesive; and the adhesive is arranged between the base portion and the optical filter at a thickness of 0.01 mm to 1 mm, so as not to block the air channel. ### Claim 11 An apparatus comprising: a camera module; and a case to which the camera module is mounted, the camera module comprising: a camera substrate that includes an image sensor; a base portion that is a case fixed to the camera substrate so as to surround the image sensor and includes a through hole passing through an opposing surface that opposes the camera substrate; a tube-shaped lens barrel portion that holds a lens therein and is disposed so as to communicate with the through hole on an outer wall surface side of the opposing surface; and an optical filter that is fixed to a fixing region formed on an inner wall surface of the opposing surface, the lens barrel portion including an air hole that communicates from a tip of the lens barrel portion to the through hole, through a tube-shaped wall of the lens barrel portion in a direction of an optical axis of the lens, the opposing surface including an air channel that communicates between and the through hole and a base inner space, the base inner space being a space surrounded by the base portion and the camera substrate, the air channel having a bent shape on a cross-section parallel to the optical axis.