Camera module

Abstract

There is provided a camera module including: a housing; a lens unit mounted in the housing; a hand shake correction unit correcting a movement of the lens unit with respect to the housing; and a damping member disposed between the housing and the lens unit to thereby reduce the movement of the lens unit through the hand shake correction unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A camera module comprising:
 a housing;   a lens unit mounted in the housing;   a hand shake correction unit correcting a movement of the lens unit with respect to the housing, the hand shake correction unit including a support member supporting the lens unit and an actuator moving the lens unit in a direction perpendicular to an optical-axis direction; and   a damping member disposed between the housing and the lens unit and disposed in a direction parallel to the optical-axis to thereby reduce the movement of the lens unit through the hand shake correction unit,   wherein the lens unit includes:   a lens housing;   a lens mounted in the lens housing; and   a lens moving unit controlling a distance from the lens to an image sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the damping member is formed in the supporting member. 
     
     
         3 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the damping member is formed in an end of the supporting member. 
     
     
         4 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the damping member is formed in a position in which the lens unit is connected to the supporting member. 
     
     
         5 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the damping member is formed in a position in which the housing is connected the supporting member. 
     
     
         6 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the damping member is formed of a mixed material, including a silicone-based rubber component. 
     
     
         7 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the damping member is formed of a viscous fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the damping member includes:
 a sealing member formed of a vinyl material or epoxy material; and   a viscous fluid accommodated in the sealing member.   
     
     
         9 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the lens unit has an auto-focusing function. 
     
     
         10 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is provided in the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The camera module of  claim 10 , wherein the image sensor is provided in the lens unit. 
     
     
         12 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes:
 a permanent magnet or a coil formed in the lens unit; and   a coil or a permanent magnet formed in the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The camera module of  claim 1 , wherein the support member includes a plurality of elastic wires connecting the lens unit to the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The camera module of  claim 13 , wherein the elastic wires are formed of a conductive material so as to electrically connect the lens unit to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The camera module of  claim 14 , wherein the elastic wires are coated with a resin material.