# US 2021/0341820 A1 · Polymer Composition for Use in a Camera Module

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- Number: US 2021/0341820 A1
- Document ID: US20210341820A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/375,191
- Filed: 2021-07-14
- Published: 2021-11-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-03-20
- Assignees: Ticona LLC
- Applicants: Ticona LLC
- Inventors: Young Shin Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210341820A1

## CPC

- G03B 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
- C09K 8/608: {Polymer compositions}
- C09K 19/3809: {Polyesters; Polyester derivatives, e.g. polyamides}
- G02F 1/133365: {Cells in which the active layer comprises a liquid crystalline polymer}
- 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 23/50: Constructional details
- H04N 23/51: Housings
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- G03B 2205/0053: Driving means for the movement of one or more optical element
- 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)
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A camera module comprising a polymer composition that includes a polymer matrix containing a liquid crystalline polymer and a mineral filler is provided. The liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or dicarboxylic acids in an amount of about 10 mol. % or more of the polymer. Further, the polymer composition exhibits a melt viscosity of from about 30 to about 400 Pa-s, as determined at a shear rate of 400 seconds−1 and at a temperature 15° C. higher than the melting temperature of the composition in accordance with ISO Test No. 11443:2005.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A camera module comprising a polymer composition that includes a polymer matrix containing a liquid crystalline polymer and a mineral filler, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from naphthenic hydroxycarboxylic and/or dicarboxylic acids in an amount of about 10 mol. % or more of the polymer, and further wherein the polymer composition exhibits a melt viscosity of from about 30 to about 400 Pa-s, as determined at a shear rate of 400 seconds−1 and at a temperature 15° C. higher than the melting temperature of the composition in accordance with ISO Test No. 11443:2005.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a flexural modulus of about 7,000 MPa or more as determined in accordance with ISO Test No. 178:2010 at 23° C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a Rockwell surface hardness of about 25 or more as determined in accordance with ASTM D785-08 (Scale M).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a Charpy unnotched impact strength of about 2 kJ/m2 as determined at 23° C. according to ISO Test No. 179-1:2010.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a tensile strength of from about 20 to about 500 MPa, a tensile break strain of about 0.5% or more, and/or a tensile modulus of from about 5,000 MPa to about 30,000 MPa, as determined in accordance with ISO Test No. 527:2012.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition exhibits a dynamic coefficient of friction of about 1.0 or less and/or a wear depth of about 500 micrometers or less, as determined in accordance with VDA 230-206:2007.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer matrix constitutes from about 20 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the polymer composition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer has a melting temperature of about 200° C. or more.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains one or more repeating units derived from a hydroxycarboxylic acid, wherein the hydroxycarboxylic acid repeating units constitute about 50 mol. % or more of the polymer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The camera module of claim 9, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The camera module of claim 10, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer contains repeating units derived from 4-hydroxybenzoic acid in an amount of from about 50 mol. % to about 90 mol. % of the polymer and contains repeating units derived from 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid in amount of from about 10 mol. % to about 50 mol. % of the polymer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The camera module of claim 10, wherein the liquid crystalline polymer further contains repeating units derived from terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, hydroquinone, 4,4′-biphenol, acetaminophen, 4-aminophenol, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The camera module of claim 8, wherein the polymer composition further comprises a semi-crystalline polyester that includes poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-butylene terephthalate), poly(1,3-propylene terephthalate), poly(1,4-butylene 2,6-naphthalate), poly(ethylene 2,6-naphthalate), poly(1,4-cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate), a derivative of any of the foregoing, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The camera module of claim 13, wherein liquid crystalline polymers constitute from about 15 wt. % to about 85 wt. % of the polymer composition and semi-crystalline polyesters constitute from about 1 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the polymer composition.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein mineral fillers constitute from about 20 to about 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the polymer matrix.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the mineral filler has a hardness value of about 2.0 or more based on the Mohs hardness scale.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the mineral filler contains mineral particles, mineral fibers, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The camera module of claim 17, wherein the mineral particles have a median diameter of from about 0.5 to about 20 micrometers.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The camera module of claim 17, wherein the mineral particles contain barium sulfate, calcium sulfate, silica, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The camera module of claim 17, wherein the mineral particles are flaked-shaped particles having an aspect ratio of about 4 or more.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The camera module of claim 17, wherein the mineral particles include mica.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The camera module of claim 17, wherein the mineral fibers include wollastonite fibers.

### Claim 23 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition contains a blend of mineral particles and mineral fibers, wherein mineral fibers constitute about 1 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the polymer composition and mineral particles constitute from about 2 wt. % to about 50 wt. % of the polymer composition.

### Claim 24 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition is generally free of glass fibers.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition contains an impact modifier.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The camera module of claim 25, wherein the impact modifier includes an olefin polymer.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The camera module of claim 25, wherein the olefin polymer is a copolymer that contains a (meth)acrylic monomeric unit.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition contains an antistatic filler.

### Claim 29 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the polymer composition contains a tribological formulation, lubricant, thermally conductive filler, pigment, antioxidant, stabilizer, surfactant, wax, flame retardant, anti-drip additive, nucleating agent, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 30 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein the camera module comprises:
a housing within which a lens module is positioned that contains one or more lenses; and
optionally, an actuator assembly that is configured to drive the lens module in an optical axis direction;
wherein at least a portion of the housing, lens module, actuator assembly, or a combination thereof contains the polymer composition.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The camera module of claim 30, wherein the actuator assembly optionally includes a guide unit that is positioned between the housing and the lens module, wherein the guide unit includes a spring, ball bearing, electrostatic force generator, hydraulic force generator, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The camera module of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of the guide unit contains the polymer composition.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The camera module of claim 31, wherein the guide unit contains a ball bearing.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The camera module of claim 33, wherein the ball bearing has an average size of about 800 micrometers or less.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1)

The camera module of claim 1, wherein polymer composition exhibits a dent of about 50 micrometers or less when contacted with a metal ball having a diameter of 1.5 mm and weight of 75 grams that is dropped from a height of 15 centimeters into contact with the polymer composition.

### Claim 36 (depends on 1)

An electronic device comprising the camera module of claim 1.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The electronic device of claim 36, wherein the device is a wireless communication device.