# US 2019/0246018 A1 · Camera module, electronic device employing camera module, and method for controlling same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0246018 A1 - Document ID: US20190246018A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/329,854 - Filed: 2017-06-22 - Published: 2019-08-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-09-02 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Hyung Jin RHO; Young Bok YU; Min Suk HONG; Jeong Min PARK; Ki Huk LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190246018A1 ## CPC - G03B 11/043: {Protective lens closures or lens caps built into cameras} - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - G03B 9/02: Diaphragms - G03B 9/08: Shutters - G03B 11/04: Hoods or caps for eliminating unwanted light from lenses, viewfinders or focusing aids - G03B 17/08: Waterproof bodies or housings - H04N 23/51: Housings - H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices - H04N 23/65: Control of camera operation in relation to power supply - H04N 23/651: {for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera} - H05K 1/18: structurally associated with non-printed electric components (H05K1/16 takes precedence) - 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 - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Disclosed are a camera module, an electronic device having the camera module, and a method for controlling the electronic device. The camera module includes an image sensor shooting an image, a body tube disposed above the image sensor, including a lens group and a housing including an opening formed at an upper end of the lens group and transmitting a light exiting through the opening and the lens group to the image sensor, a cover window positioned at an upper end of the opening of the body tube and including a transparent material, a transparent substrate positioned at a lower end of the cover window, and an opaque conductive material disposed in a space defined by coupling the cover window to the transparent substrate. An electrode device is formed on the transparent substrate to generate an electric field or a magnetic field when receiving a power, and when the electric field or the magnetic field is generated, the conductive material reacts with the electric field or the magnetic field in the space and moves toward a center of the transparent substrate to cover the opening of the body tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera module comprising: an image sensor configured to shoot an image; a body tube disposed above the image sensor, the body tube including a lens group and a housing including an opening formed at an upper end of the lens group and transmitting a light exiting through the opening and the lens group to the image sensor; a cover window positioned at an upper end of the opening of the body tube and including a transparent material; a transparent substrate positioned at a lower end of the cover window; and an opaque conductive material disposed in a space defined by coupling the cover window to the transparent substrate, wherein an electrode device is formed on the transparent substrate to generate an electric field or a magnetic field when receiving a power, and when the electric field or the magnetic field is generated, the conductive material reacts with the electric field or the magnetic field in the space and moves toward a center of the transparent substrate to cover the opening of the body tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the electrode device is coated with a non-conductive material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the electrode device is formed at a position of an entire surface of a lower surface or an upper surface of the transparent substrate to allow the conductive material before moving to open the opening of the body tube and to allow the conductive material after moving to cover the opening of the body tube. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is configured to open the opening of the body tube in a state in which the conductive material does not react with the electric field or the magnetic field, the conductive material is spaced apart from the electrode device in the state in which the conductive material does not react with the electric field or the magnetic field when the electrode device is positioned at a center area of the transparent substrate, and the conductive material moves closer to the electrode device in the state in which the conductive material does not react with the electric field or the magnetic field when the electrode device is positioned at an outer area of the transparent substrate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the conductive material has a same or similar color as an area positioned close to the opening of the body tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the conductive material has a color that varies when the conductive material reacts with the electric field or the magnetic field. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, further comprising a transparent non-conductive material that fills an area in which the conductive material does not exist in the space, and the non-conductive material includes a material that is not mixed with the conductive material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, further comprising a spacer disposed between the cover window and the transparent substrate to make contact with the cover window and the transparent substrate, wherein the space is formed by coupling the cover window, the transparent substrate, and the spacer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the cover window is coated with a non-hydrophilic material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, further comprising a buffer member disposed in the space to dispose at least a portion of the conductive material in a plurality of layers in a state in which the conductive material does not react with the electric field or the magnetic field ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The camera module of claim 10, wherein the buffer member includes a plurality of holes defined in a portion therein and having a predetermined shape and is formed at a position able to divide at least a portion of the space into a plurality of layers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The camera module of claim 11, wherein the conductive material positioned at the plural layers of the buffer member is configured to: move to a lower layer through the plurality of holes in response to the electric field or the magnetic field; and move toward the center of the transparent substrate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein a degree of covering or opening of the opening of the body tube is adjusted depending on an intensity of the electric field or the magnetic field. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An electronic device comprising: the camera module of claim 1, the electronic device further comprising: a display module including a cover glass and a display positioned at a lower end of the cover glass; and a processor configured to be electrically connected to the display module and the camera module, wherein the camera module is disposed at a same height as at least a portion of the display under the cover glass, includes at least an area positioned in the opening of the body tube, and covers at least a portion of the opening of the body tube through the at least the area, and the processor is configured to apply or break the power to the hidden camera module when the display is in an active state and the camera module is not in a shooting mode so as to cover the at least the portion of the body tube opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The camera module of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the body tube is disposed in a space in which at least a portion of the display module is opened, and the transparent housing has a shape that fills an area of the opened space, which is exposed to an outside of the cover window.