# US 2026/0287973 A1 · Camera module

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- Number: US 2026/0287973 A1
- Document ID: US20260287973A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/572,260
- Filed: 2026-03-19
- Published: 2026-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2025-03-21
- Assignees: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Bo Sung SEO; Nam Ju LEE; Young Hwan KWON; Young Bok YOON; Ki Ho LEE; Byung Woo KANG
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260287973A1

## CPC

- G03B 3/10: Power-operated focusing
- G02B 7/10: by relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens
- G03B 13/34: Power focusing
- G03B 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
- H02K 33/18: with coil systems moving upon intermittent or reversed energisation thereof by interaction with a fixed field system, e.g. permanent magnets
- 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)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})

## Abstract

A camera module includes a housing, a first lens module disposed in the housing and movable relative to the housing in an optical-axis direction, and a plurality of guide parts configured to support movement of the first lens module, wherein one or more guide parts among the plurality of guide parts includes an accommodating groove, a guide protrusion disposed in the accommodating groove and extending in a first-axis direction perpendicular to the optical-axis direction, and a plurality of balls disposed to surround the guide protrusion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A camera module comprising:
a housing;
a first lens module disposed in the housing and movable relative to the housing in an optical-axis direction; and
a plurality of guide parts configured to support movement of the first lens module,
wherein one or more guide parts among the plurality of guide parts comprises:
an accommodating groove;
a guide protrusion disposed in the accommodating groove and extending in a first-axis direction perpendicular to the optical-axis direction; and
a plurality of balls disposed to surround the guide protrusion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of balls comprises:
a first ball in contact with both the first lens module and the housing; and
a second ball spaced apart from the first ball in a second-axis direction perpendicular to both the optical-axis direction and the first-axis direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The camera module according to claim 2, wherein a movement direction of the first ball is opposite to a movement direction of the second ball.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein, as the first lens module moves in the optical-axis direction, at least one ball among the plurality of balls moves in a direction opposite to a movement direction of the first lens module.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein, as the first lens module moves in the optical-axis direction, at least one ball among the plurality of balls changes a position thereof in a second-axis direction perpendicular to both the optical-axis direction and the first-axis direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of balls are continuously circulable along a circumference of the guide protrusion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the accommodation groove is disposed in one of the housing and the first lens module,
wherein a guide groove is disposed in another of the housing and the first lens module, and
wherein at least one of the plurality of balls is in contact with both the guide protrusion and the guide groove.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of balls comprise a first ball in contact with both the first lens module and the housing, and
wherein a portion of the first ball is exposed to an exterior of the accommodation groove.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the guide protrusion comprises a plurality of straight portions disposed parallel to each other and a plurality of curved portions connecting the plurality of straight portions to each other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The camera module according to claim 9, wherein a length of each of the plurality of straight portions is greater than a diameter of each of the plurality of balls.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of balls comprise a first ball in contact with both the first lens module and the housing,
wherein the guide protrusion comprises a first guide protrusion and a second guide protrusion disposed adjacent to each other in the first-axis direction, and
wherein the first ball is in contact with each of the first guide protrusion and the second guide protrusion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the one or more guide parts further comprises a cover coupled to the accommodation groove,
wherein the guide protrusion comprises a first guide protrusion extending from a bottom surface of the accommodation groove in the first-axis direction, and
wherein the cover comprises a second guide protrusion extending toward the first guide protrusion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The camera module according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of balls is in contact with each of the first guide protrusion and the second guide protrusion.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The camera module according to claim 12, wherein a space defined by the accommodation groove and the cover has one side open.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The camera module according to claim 14, wherein at least one ball among the plurality of balls is exposed to an exterior of the space defined by the accommodation groove and the cover through the one open side.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of guide parts comprise:
a first guide part and a second guide part spaced apart from each other in the optical axis direction and configured to support one side of the first lens module; and
a third guide part configured to support another side of the first lens module, the other side being spaced apart from the one side of the first lens module in the first-axis direction.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, further comprising a second lens module disposed in the housing and movable relative to the housing in the optical-axis direction,
wherein the plurality of guide parts are further configured to support movement of the second lens module.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the number of the plurality of balls is seven or more.

### Claim 19

A camera module comprising:
a housing;
a lens module configured to be movable relative to the housing in an optical axis direction; and
a plurality of guide parts configured to support movement of the lens module,
wherein the plurality of guide parts comprise:
a first guide part and a second guide part spaced apart from each other in the optical axis direction and configured to support one side of the lens module; and
a third guide part configured to support another side of the lens module, and
wherein one or more guide parts among the first guide part to the third guide part comprises:
a plurality of balls; and
a circulating path in which the plurality of balls are disposed.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The camera module according to claim 19, wherein the one or more guide parts further comprises:
an accommodating groove disposed in one of the housing and the lens module;
a guide groove disposed in another of the housing and the lens module; and
a guide protrusion disposed in the accommodating groove and extending in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and
wherein the circulating path is defined by the accommodating groove, the guide protrusion, and the guide groove.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The camera module according to claim 19, wherein, as the lens module moves in the optical axis direction, a ball that is in contact with both the lens module and the housing among the plurality of balls changes.

### Claim 22

A camera module comprising:
a lens module configured to be disposed in a housing and movable relative to the housing in an optical-axis direction; and
a guide part configured to support movement of the lens module,
wherein the guide part comprises:
an accommodating groove;
a guide protrusion disposed in the accommodating groove and extending in a first-axis direction perpendicular to the optical-axis direction; and
a plurality of balls configured to circulate continuously about the guide protrusion.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The camera module according to claim 22, wherein, the plurality of balls comprise:
a first ball configured to support the lens module on the housing; and
a second ball spaced apart from the first ball in a second-axis direction perpendicular to both the optical-axis direction and the first-axis direction.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The camera module according to claim 22, comprising:
one or more of a first guide part and a second guide part spaced apart from each other in the optical axis direction and configured to support one side of the lens module; and
a third guide part configured to support another side of the lens module, the other side being spaced apart from the one side of the lens module in the first-axis direction,
wherein one or more of the first guide part to the third guide part comprises the guide part.