# US 8,786,769 B2 · Camera module having protruding lens barrel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,769 B2 - Document ID: US8786769B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/550,643 - Filed: 2012-07-17 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: BlackBerry Limited - Applicants: Thomas Guillaume Grandin; Yun Seok Choi; Soren Laustsen - Inventors: Thomas Guillaume Grandin; Yun Seok Choi; Soren Laustsen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786769B2 ## CPC - 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 ## Abstract An electronic device and camera module are described. The camera module includes a housing for housing components of the camera module. The housing has a top side which defines an opening. The camera module also includes a lens barrel housed by the housing and having one or more lens elements and an actuator housed by the housing and engaging the lens barrel. The actuator is configured to move the lens barrel to a first position in which at least a portion of the lens barrel extends through the opening. The camera module also includes an image sensor for receiving light which passes through the lens elements of the lens barrel. The image sensor is configured to produce an electronic signal based on the received light. The electronic device also includes a processor electrically connected to the camera module for receiving the electronic signal from the image sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic device comprising: a camera module, the camera module comprising: a housing for housing components of the camera module, the housing having a top side which defines an opening, the top side having an external surface that is a gasket seat for receiving a gasket; a lens barrel housed by the housing and having one or more lens elements; an actuator housed by the housing and engaging the lens barrel, the actuator being configured to move the lens barrel to a first position in which at least a portion of the lens barrel extends through the opening; and an image sensor for receiving light which passes through the lens elements of the lens barrel, the image sensor being configured to produce an electronic signal based on the received light; and a processor electrically connected to the camera module for receiving the electronic signal from the image sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is further configured to move the lens barrel to a second position in which the lens barrel does not extend through the opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the first position is a first extreme position provided by the actuator and wherein the actuator is further configured to move the lens barrel to a second extreme position and wherein at least a portion of the lens barrel extends through the opening when the lens barrel is in the second extreme position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic device of claim 3 wherein, when the lens barrel is in the first position, the lens barrel protrudes from the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to move a portion of the lens barrel through the opening and wherein the portion of the lens barrel which may be moved through the opening by the actuator has an exterior shape which corresponds to the shape of the opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a seal between the portion of the top side which defines the opening and the lens barrel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a gasket located on the gasket seat, the gasket comprising a camera module side which is located nearest the gasket seat and an exterior side which is located away from the gasket seat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the gasket is an annular gasket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the gasket defines a gasket opening and wherein a portion of the lens barrel extends within the gasket opening when the lens barrel is in the first position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first position is a first extreme position provided by the actuator and wherein the actuator is further configured to move the lens barrel to second extreme position and wherein the lens barrel does not extend fully through the gasket opening to protrude from the gasket in the first extreme position or the second extreme position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The electronic device of claim 1, further comprising: a cover disposed on the exterior side of the gasket to cover the gasket opening, at least a portion of the cover which covers the gasket opening being clear to permit light to enter the gasket opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, where the cover compresses the gasket. ### Claim 13 A camera module comprising: a housing for housing components of the camera module, the housing having a top side which defines an opening, the top side having an external surface that is a gasket seat for receiving a gasket; a lens barrel housed by the housing and having one or more lens elements; an actuator housed by the housing and engaging the lens barrel, the actuator being configured to move the lens barrel to a first position in which at least a portion of the lens barrel extends through the opening; and an image sensor for receiving light which passes through the lens elements of the lens barrel, the image sensor being configured to produce an electronic signal based on the received light. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The camera module of claim 13, wherein the actuator is further configured to move the lens barrel to a second position in which the lens barrel does not extend through the opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The camera module of claim 13, wherein the first position is a first extreme position provided by the actuator and wherein the actuator is further configured to move the lens barrel to a second extreme position and wherein at least a portion of the lens barrel extends through the opening when the lens barrel is in the second extreme position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The camera module of claim 15 wherein, when the lens barrel is in the first position, the lens barrel protrudes from the housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The camera module of claim 13, wherein the actuator is configured to move a portion of the lens barrel through the opening and wherein the portion of the lens barrel which may be moved through the opening by the actuator has an exterior shape which corresponds to the shape of the opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The camera module of claim 13, further comprising a seal between the portion of the top side which defines the opening and the lens barrel.