# US 2025/0097553 A1 · Camera Module with Electrostatic Discharge Protection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0097553 A1 - Document ID: US20250097553A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/565,472 - Filed: 2022-08-01 - Published: 2025-03-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-01 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Jingyu Huang; Liang Ching Tseng; Tsung-Dar Cheng; Alexander P. Wroblewski; Weifeng Pan; Warwick Ka Kui Wong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250097553A1 ## CPC - G03B 17/02: Bodies - H04N 23/52: Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements - H04N 23/51: Housings - 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 - 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 The present document describes a camera module with electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. In particular, the camera module includes a lightning rod structure, which guides an ESD current to a safe location (e.g., system ground) when a lens retainer of the camera module is hit by an ESD spark. Due to the impact on camera focus tuning and the risk of audio rub and buzz, the lightning rod structure does not physically touch the lens retainer. As such, a gap separates the lightning rod structure from the lens retainer. When the lens retainer is stressed by an ESD spark, the gap is broken down and a conductive path is established to guide the ESD current to the safe location through the lightning rod structure. In this way, the ESD current flows along a controlled path instead of jumping to arbitrary locations, which protects nearby susceptible circuitry. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera module for an electronic device, the camera module comprising: a camera lens; an image sensor aligned with the camera lens; a retainer encircling the camera lens, the retainer being movable during a focus tuning of the camera module; and an electrostatic discharge bridge component arranged to provide a controlled path for an electrostatic discharge current to travel from the retainer to a system ground of the electronic device, the electrostatic discharge bridge component separated from the retainer by a gap and positioned to guide the electrostatic discharge current away from the image sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the electrostatic discharge bridge component is configured to prevent the electrostatic discharge current from jumping to circuitry that is sensitive to the electrostatic discharge current. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The camera module of claim 2, wherein the circuitry includes at least one of: a camera board having the image sensor; or a printed circuit board having one or more infrared light sources. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the gap separates the electrostatic discharge bridge component from the retainer by a width that is within a range of 0.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the retainer is movable in a direction of an axial center of the camera lens. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, wherein the retainer is configured to receive the electrostatic discharge current from an electrostatic discharge spark jumping from an electrostatically charged person or object that touches or moves into proximity of the retainer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1, further comprising a lens holder configured to be mounted to a camera board having the image sensor and support the camera lens, wherein the electrostatic discharge bridge component is disposed on the lens holder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The camera module of claim 7, wherein the electrostatic discharge bridge component includes a planar shape and is oriented to have a plane defined by the planar shape be non-parallel to an axial center of the camera lens. ### Claim 9 An electronic device comprising: a housing; circuitry that is sensitive to electrostatic discharge current; a system ground for grounding the electrostatic discharge current; and a camera module comprising: a camera lens; an image sensor aligned with the camera lens; a retainer encircling the camera lens, the retainer being movable during a focus tuning of the camera module; and an electrostatic discharge bridge component arranged to provide a controlled path for the electrostatic discharge current to travel from the retainer to the system ground, the electrostatic discharge bridge component separated from the retainer by a gap and positioned to guide the electrostatic discharge current away from the image sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the retainer is configured to extend outwardly from the housing and be exposed to an environment surrounding the electronic device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the retainer has a substantially tubular shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the system ground includes a heat sink. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic device of claim 12, wherein: the gap is a first gap; the electrostatic discharge bridge component is separated from the heat sink by a second gap; and the second gap separates the electrostatic discharge bridge component from the heat sink by a width that is within a range of 0.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a printed circuit board disposed in proximity to the retainer, wherein the electrostatic discharge bridge component prevents the electrostatic discharge current from jumping to the printed circuit board. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the electronic device is a video-recording doorbell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the retainer is movable in a direction of an axial center of the camera lens. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the retainer is configured to receive the electrostatic discharge current from an electrostatic discharge spark jumping from an electrostatically charged person or object that touches or moves into proximity of the retainer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the circuitry includes a camera board having the image sensor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic device of claim 18, further comprising a lens holder configured to be mounted to the camera board and support the camera lens, wherein the electrostatic discharge bridge component is disposed on the lens holder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the electrostatic discharge bridge component includes a planar shape and is oriented to have a plane defined by the planar shape be non-parallel to an axial center of the camera lens.