KR20200106254A - Liquid lens module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a liquid lens module. An embodiment is to provide the liquid lens module capable of accurately performing a camera shake correction function. The liquid lens module according to the embodiment includes: a first liquid lens including a first cavity, and a plurality of first individual electrodes disposed to be spaced apart from each other with a first boundary unit including a plurality of boundary units therebetween; and a second liquid lens including a second cavity, arranged to overlap in the optical axis direction with the first cavity, and a plurality of second individual electrodes to be spaced apart from each other with a second boundary unit including a plurality of boundary units therebetween. The first boundary unit and the second boundary unit are disposed so as not to overlap each other in the direction parallel to an optical axis.

Description

Liquid lens module {LIQUID LENS MODULE}

The embodiment relates to a liquid lens module.

Users of portable devices want optical devices that have high resolution, are small in size, and have various photographing functions. For example, various shooting functions include at least one of an optical zoom function (zoom-in/zoom-out), an auto-focusing (AF) function, or an image stabilization or image stabilization (OIS) function. Can mean

In the conventional case, in order to implement the above-described various photographing functions, a method of combining several lenses and directly moving the combined lenses was used. However, when the number of lenses is increased in this way, the size of the optical device may increase.

The autofocus and image stabilization functions are performed by moving or tilting several lenses aligned with the optical axis in a vertical direction of the optical axis or the optical axis. In this case, since the lens unit performing autofocusing and the lens unit performing the image stabilization function are provided to be spaced apart from each other in the optical device, there is a problem that the overall size of the optical device increases.

US Patent Publication No. US 2016/0299264 (Application No. SN:14/824945) US Patent Publication No. US 2014/0347741 (Application No. SN:13/902766)

The embodiment is to provide a liquid lens module capable of accurately performing a camera shake correction function.

The technical problem to be solved in the embodiment is not limited to the technical problem mentioned above, and another technical problem not mentioned will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the following description. I will be able to.

The liquid lens module according to the embodiment may include: a first liquid lens including a first cavity and including a plurality of first individual electrodes spaced apart from each other with a first boundary portion including a plurality of boundary portions therebetween; And a second cavity disposed to be overlapped with the first cavity in the optical axis direction, and a second liquid including a plurality of second individual electrodes spaced apart from each other with a second boundary portion including a plurality of boundary portions therebetween. A lens may be included, and the first boundary portion and the second boundary portion may be disposed so as not to overlap each other in a direction parallel to the optical axis.

For example, a first virtual line connecting the first boundary from the optical axis passing through the center of the first cavity and the center of the second cavity and a second virtual line connecting the second boundary from the optical axis are on a plane. The minimum angle formed may be equal to or less than Δθ as follows.

Here, M represents the number of the first individual electrodes, and N represents the number of the second individual electrodes.

For example, each of the plurality of first individual electrodes and the second boundary portion overlap each other in the direction parallel to the optical axis, and each of the plurality of second individual electrodes and the first boundary portion are parallel to the optical axis. They can overlap each other in directions.

For example, the first liquid lens may include a first lower plate including the first cavity in which a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid are disposed; A second lower plate disposed at one of above and below the first lower plate; And a third lower plate disposed at the other of the top and bottom of the first lower plate, wherein the second liquid lens includes the second cavity in which a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid are disposed. ; A second upper plate disposed at one of above and below the first upper plate; And a third upper plate disposed at the other of the top and bottom of the first upper plate.

For example, one of the second and third lower plates and one of the second and third upper plates face each other and may be integral.

For example, the first cavity includes first and second openings respectively formed above and below the first lower plate, and the second cavity is a third cavity formed above and below the first upper plate. And a fourth opening, wherein a larger one of the first and second openings and a larger one of the third and fourth openings have the same size, and a smaller one of the first and second openings and the third And the sizes of the smaller ones among the fourth openings may be the same.

For example, the first boundary portion may be arranged in a direction corresponding to a side of the first liquid lens, and the second boundary portion may be arranged in a direction corresponding to a corner of the second liquid lens.

The liquid lens module according to the embodiment may have no or reduce wavefront errors when performing the OIS function, even though voltage is not applied to the boundary that separates a plurality of individual electrodes from each other, and thus provided by a device using a liquid lens module. So that the picture quality can be improved.

In addition, the effects obtained in the present embodiment are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and another effect not mentioned can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the field to which the present invention belongs from the following description. There will be.

1 is a perspective view of a liquid lens module according to an embodiment.
2A and 2B are perspective and bottom views, respectively, of the first liquid lens shown in FIG. 1.
3A and 3B are perspective and bottom views of the second liquid lens shown in FIG. 1, respectively.
4 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid lens module taken along line II′ shown in FIG. 1.
5A to 5C are bottom views for explaining the operation of the liquid lens module according to the embodiment.
6A to 6C are views for explaining a first operation example of the liquid lens module according to the comparative example.
7(a) to 7(c) are diagrams for explaining a second operation example of the liquid lens module according to the comparative example.
8 (a) to (d) are diagrams for explaining the operating characteristics of the liquid lens module according to the embodiment.
9A to 9F are graphs for comparing characteristics of a liquid lens module according to a comparative example and an example.
10 is a table for comparing characteristics of a liquid lens module according to a comparative example and an example.
11 is a schematic block diagram of an optical device according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

However, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to some embodiments to be described, but may be implemented in various forms, and within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, one or more of the constituent elements may be selectively selected between the embodiments. It can be combined with and substituted for use.

In addition, terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the embodiments of the present invention are generally understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, unless explicitly defined and described. It can be interpreted as a meaning, and terms generally used, such as terms defined in a dictionary, may be interpreted in consideration of the meaning in the context of the related technology.

In addition, terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In the present specification, the singular form may include the plural form unless specifically stated in the phrase, and when described as “at least one (or more than one) of A and/or B and C”, it is combined with A, B, and C. It may contain one or more of all possible combinations.

In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used in describing the constituent elements of the embodiment of the present invention. These terms are only for distinguishing the component from other components, and are not limited to the nature, order, or order of the component by the term.

And, if a component is described as being'connected','coupled' or'connected' to another component, the component is not only directly connected, coupled or connected to the other component, but also the component and The case of being'connected','coupled', or'connected' due to another element between the other elements may also be included.

In addition, when it is described as being formed or disposed on the “top (top) or bottom (bottom)” of each component, the top (top) or bottom (bottom) is one as well as when the two components are in direct contact with each other. It also includes a case in which the above other component is formed or disposed between the two components. In addition, when expressed as "upper (upper) or lower (lower)", it may include not only an upward direction but also a downward direction based on one component.

Hereinafter, the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment will be described using a Cartesian coordinate system, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. That is, according to the Cartesian coordinate system, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are orthogonal to each other, and the x'-axis, y'-axis, and z'-axis are orthogonal to each other, but embodiments are not limited thereto. That is, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis may cross each other instead of orthogonal, and the x'-axis, y'-axis, and z'-axis may cross each other instead of orthogonal.

1 shows a perspective view of a liquid lens module 100 according to an embodiment, and FIGS. 2A and 2B show a perspective view and a bottom view of the first liquid lens 110 shown in FIG. 1, respectively, and FIGS. 3A and 3B Is a perspective view and a bottom view of the second liquid lens 120 shown in FIG. 1, respectively, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the liquid lens module 100 taken along line II′ shown in FIG. 1.

1 to 4, the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment may include first and second liquid lenses 110 and 120. As illustrated, the second liquid lens 120 may be disposed on the first liquid lens 110, or, unlike the illustration, the first liquid lens 110 may be disposed on the second liquid lens 120.

Hereinafter, it will be described that the second liquid lens 120 is disposed on the first liquid lens 110 in the liquid lens module 100, but when the first liquid lens 110 is disposed on the second liquid lens 120 Even the following description may be applied.

The first liquid lens 110 according to the embodiment includes a plurality of different types of first liquids LQ11 and LQ12, first to third lower plates P1L, P2L and P3L, and a plurality of first individual electrodes. can do. Further, although not shown, the first liquid lens 110 may further include a first common electrode and a first insulating layer.

The plurality of first liquids LQ11 and LQ12 are filled, accommodated, or disposed in the first cavity CA1, and are non-conductive liquid (or non-conductive first liquid, hereinafter referred to as '1-1 liquid. ') (LQ11) and a liquid having conductivity (or a conductive first liquid, hereinafter, referred to as '1-2 liquid') (LQ12) may be included. Liquid 1-1 (LQ11) and liquid 1-2 (LQ12) are not mixed with each other, and a first interface (BO1) is formed in a contact portion between liquids 1-1 and 1-2 (LQ11, LQ12) Can be. For example, the first-second liquid LQ12 may be disposed on the first-first liquid LQ11, but embodiments are not limited thereto, and positions may be changed with each other.

According to an embodiment, the liquid 1-1 LQ11 may be disposed on the liquid 1-2 LQ12.

The first lower plate P1L may include a first cavity CA1. The first inner surface i1 of the first lower plate P1L may form a side portion of the first cavity CA1. In this case, the first inner surface i1 of the first lower plate P1L may be inclined as shown in FIG. 4, but the embodiment is not limited thereto and may be formed to be inclined oppositely.

The first cavity CA1 may include first and second openings O1 and O2 respectively formed above and below the first lower plate P1L. For better understanding, the first opening O1 that is not visible in the bottom view of FIG. 2B is illustrated by a dotted line.

That is, the first cavity CA1 may be defined as a region surrounded by the first inner surface i1, the first opening O1, and the second opening O2 of the first lower plate P1L. As such, the first cavity CA1 may include the first opening O1 and the second opening O2. The diameter of the wider one among the first and second openings O1 and O2 is the field of view (FOV) required by the first liquid lens 110 or the role to be performed in the optical device including the first liquid lens 110 May vary depending on. According to an embodiment, the size (or area or width) of the first opening O1 may be larger than the size (or area or width) of the second opening O2. Here, the size of each of the first and second openings O1 and O2 may be a cross-sectional area in a horizontal direction (eg, in the x-axis and y-axis directions). For example, the size of each of the first and second openings O1 and O2 may mean a radius when the cross section of the opening is circular, and may mean a diagonal length when the cross section of the opening is square.

The first cavity CA1 is a portion through which light is transmitted. Accordingly, the first lower plate P1L constituting the first cavity CA1 may be made of a transparent material, or may contain impurities so as not to facilitate light transmission.

The light may be incident from the first cavity CA1 through a first opening O1 that is wider than the second opening O2 and emitted through the second opening O2, or a second opening that is narrower than the first opening O1. It may be incident through the opening O2 and emitted through the first opening O1.

In addition, the second lower plate (P2L) is disposed either above or below the first lower plate (P1L), and the third lower plate (P3L) is disposed above or below the first lower plate (P1L). Can be. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the second lower plate P2L is disposed above the first lower plate P1L, and the third lower plate P3L is under the first lower plate P1L. Can be placed. In this case, the second lower plate P2L may be disposed above the first cavity CA1, and the third lower plate P3L may be disposed below the first cavity CA1.

The second lower plate P2L and the third lower plate P3L may be disposed to face each other with the first lower plate P1L interposed therebetween. Further, at least one of the second lower plate P2L and the third lower plate P3L may be omitted.

At least one of the second or third lower plates P2L and P3L may have a rectangular planar shape, and a partial region may be escaped to expose a part of an electrode to be described later. Each of the second and third lower plates P2L and P3L is a region through which light passes, and may be made of a light-transmitting material. For example, each of the second and third lower plates P2L and P3L may be made of glass, and may be made of the same material for convenience of the process. Further, the edges of each of the second and third lower plates P2L and P3L may have a rectangular shape, but are not limited thereto.

The second lower plate P2L may have a configuration that allows incident light to proceed into the first cavity CA1 of the first lower plate P1L, but the optical path may proceed in the opposite direction. The third lower plate P3L may have a configuration that allows light that has passed through the first cavity CA1 of the first lower plate P1L to be emitted, but may have a configuration that allows the light to be emitted in the opposite direction. . The second lower plate P2L may directly contact the 1-2 liquid LQ12.

In addition, the actual effective lens area of the first liquid lens 110 may be narrower than the diameter of the narrow second opening O2 among the first and second openings O1 and O2 of the first lower plate P1L.

Meanwhile, the first common electrode (not shown) is disposed on one surface of the first lower plate P1L (for example, above the first lower plate P1L), and the plurality of first individual electrodes are the first lower plate It may be disposed on the other surface of (P1L) (eg, under the first lower plate P1L).

In addition, each of the plurality of first individual electrodes extends from between the first and third lower plates P1L and P3L to a part of the first inner surface i1 of the first lower plate P1L or is disposed within the first It may be disposed on the entire side (i1).

For convenience of explanation, FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a case in which each of the plurality of first individual electrodes is disposed on the entire first inner surface i1 of the first lower plate P1L. In this case, the plurality of first individual electrodes may be sequentially disposed in the first cavity CA1 in a clockwise direction.

In addition, each of the plurality of first individual electrodes may extend from the first inner surface i1 of the first lower plate P1L to the top of the first lower plate P1L, and may be disposed to be spaced apart from the first common electrode.

A portion of the first common electrode disposed on the first lower plate P1L may be exposed to the first-second liquid LQ12 having conductivity to directly contact the first-second liquid LQ12. On the other hand, although not shown, a first insulating layer is disposed between each of the plurality of first individual electrodes and the 1-1 and 1-2 liquids LQ11 and LQ12, so that each of the plurality of first individual electrodes The 1-1 and 1-2 liquids LQ11 and LQ12 may be electrically spaced apart from each other.

The first common electrode may be one electrode, while the first individual electrode may be a plurality of electrodes. For example, as shown, the number of first individual electrodes may be 4 or 8, unlike the illustration, and the embodiment is not limited to a specific number of first individual electrodes.

Hereinafter, the plurality of first individual electrodes includes 1-1 to 1-4 individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 sequentially arranged in a clockwise direction (or counterclockwise) around the optical axis LX. Explain that. However, even when the plurality of first individual electrodes include a plurality of (for example, 8) individual electrodes sequentially arranged in a clockwise direction (or counterclockwise direction) around the optical axis LX, the following description Can be applied.

Each of the first common electrode and the first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 may be made of a conductive material, for example, a metal.

Further, the first insulating layer may be disposed while covering the entire first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 disposed on the first inner surface i1 of the first cavity CA1. In addition, the first insulating layer may be disposed on the upper surface of the first lower plate P1L to cover a part of the first common electrode and the entire first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4. As described above, the first insulating layer includes contact between the first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 and the liquid 1-1 LQ11, contact between the first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 and the liquid 1-2 LQ12, and Contact between the third lower plate P3L and the 1-1 liquid LQ11 may be blocked.

The first insulating layer covers the first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 and exposes a part of the first common electrode, so that electric energy is applied to the conductive 1-2 liquid LQ12 through the first common electrode. can do.

Meanwhile, the second liquid lens 120 according to the embodiment includes a plurality of different types of second liquids LQ21 and LQ22, first to third upper plates P1U, P2U, and P3U, and a plurality of second individual electrodes. It may include. Further, although not shown, the second liquid lens 120 may further include a second common electrode and a second insulating layer.

The plurality of second liquids LQ21 and LQ22 are filled, accommodated, or disposed in the second cavity CA2, and are non-conductive liquid (or non-conductive second liquid, hereinafter referred to as ``2-1 liquid''. ) (LQ21) and a liquid having conductivity (or a conductive second liquid, hereinafter referred to as a “2-2 liquid”) (LQ22). Liquid 2-1 (LQ21) and liquid 2-2 (LQ22) are not mixed with each other, and a second interface (BO2) is formed in a contact portion between liquids 2-1 and 2-2 (LQ21, LQ22) Can be. For example, as shown, the 2-2 liquid LQ22 may be disposed on the 2-1 liquid LQ21, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. According to another embodiment, unlike the illustrated example, the 2-1 liquid LQ21 may be disposed on the 2-2 liquid LQ22.

The first upper plate P1U may include a second cavity CA2. The second inner surface i2 of the first upper plate P1U may define a side portion of the second cavity CA2. In this case, the second inner surface i2 of the first upper plate P1U may be inclined as shown in FIG. 4, but the embodiment is not limited thereto and may be formed to be inclined oppositely.

The second cavity CA2 may include third and fourth openings O3 and O4 respectively formed below and above the first upper plate P1U. For better understanding, the third opening O3 that is not visible in the bottom view of FIG. 3B is illustrated by a dotted line.

The second cavity CA2 may be defined as an area surrounded by the second inner surface i1, the third opening O3, and the fourth opening O4 of the first upper plate P1U. The second cavity CA2 is disposed at a position corresponding to the first cavity CA1, and may be disposed to overlap the first cavity CA1 in a direction parallel (or parallel) to the optical axis LX.

Among the third and fourth openings (O3, O4), the diameter of the wider opening is the field of view (FOV) required by the second liquid lens 120 or the role to be played in the optical device including the second liquid lens 120 May vary depending on. According to an embodiment, the size (or area or width) of the third opening O3 may be larger than the size (or area or width) of the fourth opening O4. Here, the size of each of the third and fourth openings O3 and O4 may be a cross-sectional area in a horizontal direction (eg, in the x-axis and y-axis directions). For example, the size of each of the third and fourth openings O3 and O4 may mean a radius when the cross section of the opening is circular, and may mean a diagonal length when the cross section of the opening is square. Each of the third and fourth openings O3 and O4 may have a circular cross-sectional shape.

The second cavity CA2 is a portion through which light is transmitted. Accordingly, the first upper plate P1U forming the second cavity CA2 may be made of a transparent material or may contain impurities so that light cannot be easily transmitted.

The light may be incident from the second cavity CA2 through a third opening O3 that is wider than the fourth opening O4 and exit through the fourth opening O4, or may be emitted through the fourth opening O3. It may be incident through the opening O4 and emitted through the third opening O3.

Hereinafter, the light is incident through the third opening O3 and is emitted through the fourth opening O4, and the light emitted from the fourth opening O4 is incident through the first opening O1 and the second opening ( Explain that it is emitted through O2). However, in the following description, light is incident through the second opening O2 and is emitted through the first opening O1, and the light emitted from the first opening O1 is incident through the fourth opening O4. It can be applied even when it is emitted through the third opening O3.

In addition, the second upper plate (P2U) is disposed either above or below the first upper plate (P1U), and the third upper plate (P3U) is disposed above or below the first upper plate (P1U). Can be. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the second upper plate P2U is disposed above the first upper plate P1U, and the third upper plate P3U is under the first upper plate P1U. Can be placed. In this case, the second upper plate P2U may be disposed above the second cavity CA2, and the third upper plate P3U may be disposed below the second cavity CA2.

According to an embodiment, one of the second and third lower plates P2L and P3L and one of the second and third upper plates P2U and P3U face each other and may be integrated. For example, referring to FIG. 4, the second lower plate P2L and the third upper plate P3U face each other and may be integrally formed. A liquid lens comprising a second lower plate (P2L) and a third upper plate (P3U) that are not integral, but that of a liquid lens module including a second lower plate (P2L) and a third upper plate (P3U) spaced apart from each other. The overall size of the module 100 may be reduced.

The second upper plate P2U and the third upper plate P3U may be disposed to face each other with the first upper plate P1U interposed therebetween. Also, at least one of the second upper plate P2U and the third lower plate P3U may be omitted.

At least one of the second or third upper plates P2U and P3U may have a rectangular planar shape, and a partial region may be escaped to expose a part of an electrode to be described later. Each of the second and third upper plates P2U and P3U is a region through which light passes, and may be made of a light-transmitting material. For example, each of the second and third upper plates P2U and P3U may be made of glass, and may be made of the same material for convenience of the process. Further, the edges of each of the second and third upper plates P2U and P3U may have a rectangular shape, but are not limited thereto.

The second upper plate P2U may have a configuration that allows incident light to proceed into the second cavity CA2 of the first upper plate P1U. The third upper plate P3U may have a configuration that allows light passing through the second cavity CA2 of the first upper plate P1U to be emitted.

In addition, the actual effective lens area of the second liquid lens 120 may be narrower than the diameter of the narrow fourth opening O4 among the third and fourth openings O3 and O4 of the first upper plate P1L.

Meanwhile, a second common electrode (not shown) is disposed on one surface of the first upper plate P1U (for example, above the first upper plate P1U), and the plurality of second individual electrodes are the first upper plate It may be disposed on the other surface of the (P1U) (eg, under the first upper plate P1U).

In addition, each of the plurality of second individual electrodes extends from between the first and third upper plates P1U and P3U to a part of the second inner surface i2 of the first upper plate P1U or is disposed in the second inner surface. It may be disposed on the entire side i2. For convenience of explanation, FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate a case in which each of the plurality of second individual electrodes is disposed on the entire second inner surface i2 of the first upper plate P1U. In this case, the plurality of second individual electrodes may be sequentially disposed in a clockwise direction (or counterclockwise direction) in the second cavity CA2.

In addition, each of the plurality of second individual electrodes may extend from the second inner surface i2 of the first upper plate P1U to the top of the first upper plate P1U, and may be disposed to be spaced apart from the second common electrode.

A part of the second common electrode disposed on the first upper plate P1U may be exposed to the conductive 2-2 liquid LQ22 to directly contact the 2-2 liquid LQ22. On the other hand, although not shown, a second insulating layer is disposed between each of the plurality of second individual electrodes and the liquids 2-1 and 2-2 LQ21 and LQ22, so that each of the plurality of second individual electrodes The 2-1 and 2-2 liquids LQ21 and LQ22 may be electrically spaced apart from each other.

The second common electrode may be one, while the second individual electrode may be a plurality of electrodes. For example, as shown, the number of second individual electrodes may be 4, or, unlike shown, there may be a plurality (eg, 8), and the embodiment is not limited to a specific number of second individual electrodes. Does not.

Hereinafter, the plurality of second individual electrodes include 2-1 to 2-4 individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 sequentially arranged in a clockwise direction (or counterclockwise) around the optical axis LX. Explain that. However, the following description may be applied even when the plurality of second individual electrodes include eight individual electrodes sequentially arranged in a clockwise direction (or counterclockwise) around the optical axis LX.

Each of the second common electrode and the second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 may be made of a conductive material.

Further, the second insulating layer may be disposed while covering the entire second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 disposed on the second inner surface i2 of the second cavity CA2. Further, the second insulating layer may be disposed on the upper surface of the first upper plate P1U, covering a part of the second common electrode and the entire second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4. In this way, the second insulating layer includes contact between the second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 and the 2-1 liquid LQ21, contact between the second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 and the 2-2 liquid LQ22, and Contact between the third upper plate P3U and the 2-1 liquid LQ21 may be blocked.

The second insulating layer covers the second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 and exposes a part of the second common electrode so that electric energy is applied to the conductive 2-2 liquid LQ22 through the second common electrode. can do.

Each of the first and second liquid lenses 110 and 120 may perform a camera shake correction, an optical image stabilizer (OIS) function or an auto-focusing (AF) function.

When the liquid lens performs the AF function and when the OIS function is performed, a wavefront error (WFE) may occur. The wavefront error (WFE) may deteriorate image quality, and in particular, when performing the OIS function, the wavefront error (WFE) may become considerably larger, which may deteriorate image quality.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the liquid lens module 100 according to an embodiment for removing or reducing a wavefront error will be described in detail as follows.

2A and 2B, a plurality of first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 are spaced apart from each other with a boundary portion (or a disconnection portion) (hereinafter referred to as a'first boundary portion') (SP11 to SP14) interposed therebetween. Can be deployed.

For example, the 1-1st individual electrode LLD1 and the 1-2nd individual electrode LLD2 are electrically connected to each other with a first boundary (hereinafter referred to as a '1-1 boundary') SP11 therebetween. They can be arranged spaced apart. The 1-2 individual electrodes LLD2 and the 1-3 individual electrodes LLD3 are arranged to be electrically spaced apart from each other with the first boundary (hereinafter referred to as the ``1-2 boundary'') SP12 interposed therebetween. I can. The 1-3th individual electrodes LLD3 and the 1st-4th individual electrodes LLD4 are arranged to be electrically spaced apart from each other with the first boundary (hereinafter referred to as'the 1-3 boundary') SP13 interposed therebetween. I can. The 1-4th individual electrodes LLD4 and the 1-1th individual electrodes LLD1 are to be electrically spaced apart from each other with the first boundary (hereinafter referred to as the ``1-4 boundary'') SP14 interposed therebetween. I can. To this end, a first insulating layer may be disposed on each of the 1-1 to 1-4 boundary portions SP11 to SP14. As such, the first boundary portion may include a plurality of boundary portions SP11 to SP14.

The plurality of first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 may have a planar shape spaced apart from each other by the same angular distance (hereinafter, referred to as “first angular distance”) with respect to the optical axis LX. Here, the angular distance may mean an angle between two straight lines when connecting each of two points from one point in a straight line. For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, when each of the plurality of first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 is disposed on the first inner surface i1 of the first lower plate P1L, the 1-1 individual A point in contact with the first-first boundary portion SP11 and the second opening O2 in the electrode LLD1 is referred to as'P01', and the first-first boundary portion SP11 in the 1-2th individual electrode LLD2 and When the point in contact with the second opening O2 is called'P02', when connecting the center of the first cavity CA1 in contact with the optical axis LX and the two points P01, P02 in a straight line, two straight lines The angle between is'θ11'. In this case, the first angular distance (hereinafter referred to as “1-1 angular distance”) separated from the 1-1 and 1-2 individual electrodes LLD1 and LLD2 based on the optical axis LX may be θ11. In addition, a first angular distance (hereinafter referred to as “1-2 angular distance”) separated from each of the 1-2 and 1-3 individual electrodes LLD2 and LLD3 based on the optical axis LX may be θ12. In addition, a first angular distance (hereinafter referred to as a “1-3 angular distance”) spaced apart from each other with respect to the optical axis LX between the 1-3 and 1-4 individual electrodes LLD3 and LLD4 may be θ13. In addition, a first angular distance (hereinafter referred to as “1-4 angular distance”) separated from the 1-4th and 1st-1st individual electrodes LLD4 and LLD1 with respect to the optical axis LX may be θ14.

According to an embodiment, a plurality of first angular distances, that is, 1-1 to 1-4 angular distances θ11, θ12, θ13, and θ14 may be the same. In addition, the plurality of first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 may have the same (low) area.

In addition, according to an embodiment, the first boundary portion is disposed in a direction corresponding to the side of the first liquid lens 110, and the second boundary portion corresponds to the edge (or corner) of the second liquid lens 120. Can be arranged in any direction. For example, as shown, each of the 1-1 to 1-4 boundary portions SP11 to SP14 on the bottom surface is in contact with the side of the first liquid lens 110, and the 2-1 to 2-4 boundary portions Each of the SP21 to SP24 may contact the edge of the second liquid lens 120.

Alternatively, according to another embodiment, the first boundary portion is disposed in a direction corresponding to the edge (or corner) of the first liquid lens 110, and the second boundary portion corresponds to the side of the second liquid lens 120. Can be arranged in any direction. For example, unlike shown, each of the 1-1 to 1-4 boundary portions SP11 to SP14 on the bottom surface contacts the edge of the first liquid lens 110, and the 2-1 to 2-4 boundary portions Each of the SP21 to SP24 may contact the side of the second liquid lens 120.

In addition, according to an embodiment, a plurality of the 1-1 to 1-4 boundary portions SP11 to SP14 may face each other in the first direction based on the center of the first cavity CA1 in contact with the optical axis LX. have. That is, based on the center LX of the first cavity CA1, the 1-1 and 1-3 boundary portions SP11 and SP13 face each other in the first direction (hereinafter referred to as the '1-1 direction'). And, based on the center LX of the first cavity CA1, the 1-2 and 1-4 boundary portions SP12 and SP14 are each other in a first direction (hereinafter referred to as a '1-2 direction'). You can face it. Here, the 1-1 direction may be an x-axis direction, and the 1-2 direction may be a y-axis direction.

3A and 3B, the plurality of second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other with a boundary portion (hereinafter referred to as a “second boundary portion”) SP21 to SP24 interposed therebetween. That is, the 2-1 individual electrode LLU1 and the 2-2 individual electrode LLU2 are electrically spaced apart from each other with the second boundary (hereinafter referred to as the ``2-1 boundary'') SP21 interposed therebetween. Can be placed. The 2-2 individual electrodes LLU2 and the 2-3 individual electrodes LLU3 are arranged to be electrically spaced apart from each other with the second boundary (hereinafter referred to as the ``2-2 boundary'') SP22 interposed therebetween. I can. The 2-3th individual electrode LLU3 and the 2-4th individual electrode LLU4 are to be electrically spaced apart from each other with the second boundary (hereinafter referred to as the ``2-3 boundary'') SP23 interposed therebetween. I can. The 2-4th individual electrode LLU4 and the 2-1st individual electrode LLU1 are to be electrically spaced apart from each other with a second boundary (hereinafter referred to as '2-4 boundary') SP24 interposed therebetween. I can. To this end, a second insulating layer may be disposed on each of the 2-1 to 2-4 boundary portions SP21 to SP24. As such, the second boundary portion may include a plurality of boundary portions SP21 to SP24.

The plurality of second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 may have a planar shape spaced apart from each other by the same angular distance (hereinafter referred to as “second angular distance”) based on the optical axis LX. In this case, a second angular distance (hereinafter referred to as “2-1 angular distance”) separated from the 2-1 and 2-2 individual electrodes LLU1 and LLU2 based on the optical axis LX may be θ21. In addition, a second angular distance (hereinafter referred to as “2-2 angular distance”) separated from the 2-2 and 2-3 individual electrodes LLU2 and LLU3 based on the optical axis LX may be θ22. In addition, the second angular distance (hereinafter referred to as “2-3 angular distance”) separated from the 2-3 and 2-4 individual electrodes LLU3 and LLU4 based on the optical axis LX may be θ23. In addition, a second angular distance (hereinafter referred to as “2-4 angular distance”) in which the 2-4 and 2-1 individual electrodes LLU4 and LLU1 are spaced apart from the optical axis LX may be θ24.

According to an embodiment, a plurality of second angular distances, that is, the 2-1 to 2-4 angular distances θ21, θ22, θ23, and θ24 may be the same. In addition, the plurality of second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 may have the same (low) area.

In addition, according to an embodiment, the plurality of second boundary portions SP21 to SP24 may face in a second direction based on the center of the second cavity CA2 in contact with the optical axis LX. That is, based on the center LX of the second cavity CA2, the 2-1 and 2-3 boundary parts SP21 and SP23 face each other in the second direction (hereinafter referred to as the “2-1 direction”). And, based on the center LX of the second cavity CA2, the 2-2 and 2-4 boundary parts SP22 and SP24 are each other in the second direction (hereinafter referred to as the “2-2 direction”). You can face it. Here, the 2-1 direction may be a y'-axis direction, and the 2-2 direction may be an x'-axis direction.

The above-described first and second directions are different directions, and when the number of first individual electrodes is M and the number of second individual electrodes is N, the minimum angle between the first and second directions is as follows: It may be equal to or less than Δθ expressed in Equation 1.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the first virtual line is a virtual line connecting the first boundary portions SP11 to SP14 with an optical axis LX passing through the center of the first cavity CA1 and the center of the second cavity CA2. It is defined as For example, the first virtual line may include a 1-1 virtual line IL11 and a 1-2 virtual line IL12. The 1-1 virtual line IL11 is a virtual straight line connecting the 1-1 border SP11 and the 1-3 border SP13 from the optical axis LX, and the 1-2 virtual line IL12 is It is an imaginary straight line connecting the 1-2nd boundary part SP12 and the 1-4th boundary part SP14 from the optical axis LX.

In addition, referring to FIG. 3A, the second virtual line is a virtual line connecting the second boundary parts SP21 to SP24 with an optical axis LX passing through the center of the first cavity CA1 and the center of the second cavity CA2. It is defined as the line of. For example, the second virtual line may include a 2-1 virtual line IL21 and a 2-2 virtual line IL22. The 2-1 virtual line IL21 is a virtual straight line connecting the 2-1 border SP21 and the 2-3 border SP23 from the optical axis LX, and the 2-2 virtual line IL22 is It is an imaginary straight line connecting the 2-2nd boundary part SP22 and the 2-4th boundary part SP24 from the optical axis LX.

According to an embodiment, the minimum angle formed by the first virtual line and the second virtual line on the plane may be equal to or smaller than Δθ expressed in Equation 1 above.

For example, as illustrated, when M=N=4, Δθ may be 45°. That is, the minimum angle between the 1-1 direction of the x-axis direction and the 2nd direction of the x'-axis direction may be equal to or less than 45°, and the y-axis direction and the 1-2nd direction The minimum angle between the y'-axis direction, which is the 2-1 direction, may be equal to or less than 45°. That is, the minimum angle between the first virtual line and the second virtual line on the plane may be equal to or less than 45°.

However, unlike illustrated, when M=N=8, the minimum angle between the first and second directions may be equal to 22.5° or less than 22.5°. That is, the minimum angle formed by the first virtual line and the second virtual line on the plane may be equal to 22.5° or less than 22.5°.

As described above, the first boundary portion electrically insulating the plurality of first individual electrodes faces each other with respect to the optical axis LX, and the second boundary portion electrically insulates the plurality of second individual electrodes is the optical axis LX. The first and second liquid lenses 110 and 120 may have the same configuration except that the directions facing each other are different based on ). As described above, according to the embodiment, the first boundary portion and the second boundary portion may be disposed so as not to overlap each other in a direction parallel to the optical axis LX (eg, a z-axis direction).

That is, the first angular distances θ11, θ12, θ13, θ14 and the second angular distances θ21, θ22, θ23, θ24 may be the same. In addition, the larger first opening O1 of the first and second openings O1 and O2 and the larger third opening O3 of the third and fourth openings O3 and O4 may have the same size. In addition, the smaller second opening O2 of the first and second openings O1 and O2 and the smaller fourth opening O4 of the third and fourth openings O3 and O4 may be the same. In this case, each of the plurality of first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4 and the second boundary portions SP21 to SP24 overlap each other in a direction parallel (or parallel) to the optical axis LX (for example, in the z-axis direction). can do. In addition, each of the plurality of second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 and the first boundary portions SP11 to SP14 may overlap each other in a direction parallel to (or parallel to) the optical axis LX. A detailed look at this is as follows.

For example, the 1-1st individual electrode LLD1 and the 2-1st boundary part SP21 overlap each other in the z-axis direction, and the 1-2nd individual electrode LLD2 and the 2-2nd boundary part SP22 are They overlap each other in the z-axis direction, and the 1-3th individual electrodes LLD3 and the 2-3rd boundary part SP23 overlap each other in the z-axis direction, and the 1-4th individual electrodes LLD4 and the 2-4th boundary (SP24) can overlap each other in the z-axis direction.

In addition, the 2-1th individual electrode LLU1 and the 1st-4th boundary part SP14 overlap each other in the z-axis direction, and the 2-2th individual electrode LLU2 and the 1-1st boundary part SP11 are z-axis Direction, and the 2-3th individual electrodes LLU3 and the 1-2th boundary part SP12 overlap each other in the z-axis direction, and the 2-4th individual electrodes LLU4 and the 1-3th boundary part SP13 ) Can overlap each other in the z-axis direction.

In addition, a virtual horizontal plane extending each of the first boundary portions in the z-axis direction may divide the second individual electrodes. Also, a virtual horizontal plane extending each of the second boundary portions in the z-axis direction may divide the first individual electrodes.

Meanwhile, although not shown, the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment may further include a first lower connection substrate, a second lower connection substrate, a first upper connection substrate, and a second upper connection substrate.

The first lower connection substrate may be electrically connected to an electrode pad formed on the main substrate (not shown) through a connection pad electrically connected to the first common electrode. The second lower connection substrate may be electrically connected to the electrode pad formed on the main substrate through connection pads electrically connected to each of the plurality of first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4.

Also, the first upper connection substrate may be electrically connected to the electrode pad formed on the main substrate through a connection pad electrically connected to the second common electrode. The second upper connection substrate may be electrically connected to the electrode pad formed on the main substrate through connection pads electrically connected to the second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4.

For example, each of the first lower and first upper connection boards is implemented as an FPCB or a single metal substrate (conductive metal plate), and each of the second lower and second upper connection substrates is a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). ), but embodiments are not limited thereto.

The first lower connection substrate can transmit one driving voltage (hereinafter, referred to as a'common voltage') to the first first common electrode, and the second lower connection substrate has M different voltages (hereinafter referred to as'individual voltages'). ) May be transferred to the plurality of first individual electrodes LLD1 to LLD4, respectively. The common voltage may include a DC voltage or an AC voltage. When the common voltage is applied in the form of a pulse, the width or duty cycle of the pulse may be constant. That is, the driving voltage may be supplied to the first liquid lens 110 through the first lower connection substrate and the second lower connection substrate.

The first upper connection substrate may transmit one common voltage to the second common electrode, and the second upper connection substrate may transmit N different voltages to the plurality of second individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4. That is, the driving voltage may be supplied to the second liquid lens 120 through the first upper connection substrate and the second upper connection substrate.

In response to the driving voltage, the curvature of the first interface BO1 formed in the first liquid lens 110 changes, and the curvature of the second interface BO2 formed in the second liquid lens 120 changes, so that the liquid lens module 100 may perform an AF function.

Alternatively, the tilting angle of the first interface BO1 formed in the first liquid lens 110 changes in response to the driving voltage, and the second interface BO2 formed in the second liquid lens 120 in response to the driving voltage. The tilting angle of) is changed, so that the liquid lens module 100 may perform the OIS function.

5A to 5C are bottom views for explaining the operation of the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment. For better understanding, in each of FIGS. 5A to 5C, each of the invisible first and third openings O1 and O3 is illustrated by a dotted line.

In order to correct when the liquid lens module 100 shakes or shakes in the y-axis direction, as shown in FIG. 5A, the 1-1 and 1-4 individual electrodes LLD1 of the first liquid lens 110 , A negative voltage (-V) is applied to each of the LLD4, a positive voltage (+V) is applied to each of the 1-2 and 1-3 individual electrodes LLD2 and LLD3, and a second liquid lens ( A negative voltage (-V) may be applied to the 2-1th individual electrode LLU1 of 120), and a positive voltage (+V) may be applied to the 2-3rd individual electrode LLU3.

Alternatively, in order to correct when the liquid lens module 100 is shaken or shaken in the x-axis direction, as shown in FIG. 5B, the 1-1 and 1-2 individual electrodes of the first liquid lens 110 A positive voltage (+V) is applied to each of (LLD1, LLD2), a negative voltage (-V) is applied to each of the 1-3 and 1-4 individual electrodes LLD3 and LLD4, and the second liquid A positive voltage (+V) may be applied to the 2-2th individual electrodes LLU2 of the lens 120, and a negative voltage (-V) may be applied to the 2-4th individual electrodes LLU4.

Alternatively, in order to correct when the liquid lens module 100 is shaken or shaken in a diagonal direction (for example, in the x'-axis direction), as shown in FIG. 5C, the first liquid lens 110 -2 A positive voltage (+V) is applied to the individual electrodes LLD2, a negative voltage (-V) is applied to the first-4 individual electrodes LLD4, and the second liquid lens 120 is A positive voltage (+V) is applied to each of -2 and 2-3 individual electrodes LLU2 and LLU3, and a negative voltage (-) is applied to each of the 2-1 and 2-4 individual electrodes LLU1 and LLU4. V) can be applied.

Hereinafter, the liquid lens module 100 according to the comparative example and the example will be compared and described as follows with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6 (a) to 6 (c) are views for explaining a first operation example of a liquid lens module according to a comparative example, and FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (c) are a liquid lens module according to a comparative example It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd operation example of.

6(a) and 7(a) show a bottom perspective view of a liquid lens module according to a comparative example. Here, the liquid lens module according to the comparative example is implemented as one liquid lens, and the liquid lens may include a plurality of individual electrodes LL1 to LL4 and a plurality of boundary portions SP1 to SP4.

The plurality of individual electrodes LL1 to LL4 and the plurality of boundary portions SP1 to SP4 each play the same role as the plurality of first individual electrodes LLU1 to LLU4 and the plurality of first boundary portions SP11 to SP14 according to the embodiment. Can be done.

6 (b) and 7 (b) are views for explaining a wave front error (WFE) caused when the liquid lens module according to the comparative example operates in different first and second operation examples, respectively. Represents.

6 (c) and 7 (c) are cross-sectional views of a liquid lens module according to a comparative example. Here, the liquid lens module according to the comparative example may include first and second liquids LQ1 and LQ2 and a plurality of plates P1 to P3.

The first and second liquids LQ1 and LQ2 and the plurality of plates P1 to P3 are the first and second liquids LQ11 and LQ12 and the plurality of first to third lower plates according to the embodiment. Each can perform the same role as (P1L to P3L).

In the first operation example, a positive voltage (+V) is applied to each of the first and fourth individual electrodes LL1 and LL4 as shown in FIG. 6(a), and the second and third individual electrodes LL3, LL4) A negative voltage (-V) is applied to each of the two liquids (LQ1, LQ2) as shown in Fig. 6 (c) in the y-axis direction (or x-axis direction). It can be tilted at an angle. At this time, the edges A and B of the interface BO are distorted, and wavefront errors WFE1 and WFE2 may occur as shown in FIG. 6B.

In the second operation example, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), a positive voltage (+V) is applied to the first individual electrode LL1 and a negative voltage (-V) is applied to the third individual electrode LL3. The interface BO of the two liquids LQ1 and LQ2 may be tilted at a predetermined angle as shown in FIG. 7C in a diagonal direction between the -x-axis direction and the +y-axis direction. At this time, the edges C and D of the interface BO are distorted, and wavefront errors WFE1 and WFE2 may occur as shown in FIG. 7B.

Although, even though the width of each of the boundary portions SP1 to SP4 according to the comparative example is as small as several tens of µm, since the electrowetting phenomenon does not occur in the boundary portions SP1 to SP4 to which the voltage is not applied, Fig. 6(b) And wavefront errors WFE1 and WFE2 may occur as shown in FIG. 7B.

In the case of the liquid lens module according to the comparative example, when the same voltage is applied to the four individual electrodes LL1 to LL4 to perform the AF function, a wavefront error is not caused, but the OIS function as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 When a voltage that is not the same is applied to the individual electrodes LL1 to LL4 in order to perform the operation, a wavefront error may occur, thereby deteriorating image quality.

8A to 8D are views for explaining the operating characteristics of the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment.

Figure 8 (a) shows an exploded perspective view of the liquid lens module 100 shown in Figure 1, Figure 8 (b) shows the WFE characteristics of the liquid lens module 100 shown in Figure 1, Figure 8 (c) ) Corresponds to the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 8 (d) shows an equivalent cross-sectional view of the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment.

In FIGS. 8A to 8C, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as FIGS. 1 to 5C, and redundant descriptions are omitted. In addition, the liquid lens module 100 shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C operates in the same manner as in FIG. 5B. Accordingly, as described above in FIG. 5B, a corresponding voltage may be applied to the plurality of first and second individual electrodes.

The edges (A, B) of the first interface BO1 are distorted in the first liquid lens 110, and the edges (C, D) of the second interface BO2 are distorted in the second liquid lens 120 Even if possible, the distortion at the edges A and C and the distortion at the edges C and D may cancel each other. To this end, as described above, the first boundary portion electrically insulating the plurality of first individual electrodes is a second electrode electrically insulating the first direction facing each other and the plurality of second individual electrodes based on the optical axis LX. The minimum angle between the second directions where the boundary portions face each other with respect to the optical axis LX is Δθ, for example, 45°, and the first and second liquid lenses 110 and 120 may have the same configuration.

As a result, even when the first width w1 of the first boundary portions SP11 to SP14 and the second width w2 of the second boundary portions SP21 to SP24 according to the embodiment are, for example, about several tens of μm, FIG. 8 When the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment shown in (a) is equivalent to the liquid lens module according to the comparative example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown in 8(b) and 8(d), since the wavefront error is reduced or not generated, the image quality can be improved.

9A to 9F are graphs for comparing characteristics of a liquid lens module according to a comparative example and an example.

10 is a table for comparing characteristics of a liquid lens module according to a comparative example and an example. Here,'Static tilt' means a state in which the tilted form of the interface BO of two different liquids (LQ1, LQ2) in the comparative example remains unchanged for a predetermined period of time or more, and in the case of the example It means a state in which the tilted form of the interfaces BO1 and BO2 remains unchanged for a predetermined period of time or more.

In each of FIGS. 9A to 9F, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis of FIGS. 9A to 9F and the'WFE' of FIG. 10 represent the magnitude of the wavefront error 140 according to the comparative example (for example, FIG. 6(c) The size of the wavefront error 150 according to the embodiment E1 shown in E1 or E2 shown in FIG. 7C) and the unit may be μm. Here, the wavefront error 150 according to the embodiment means the sum of the wavefront errors of the first interface BO1 and the wavefront errors of the second interface BO2. In addition, in each of the graphs shown in FIGS. 9A to 9F, the vertical axis may correspond to an angle at which the interface is tilted to correct shake (or hand shake) in the liquid lens module according to the comparative examples and examples.

In addition, FIGS. 9A to 9C show a liquid lens module or a device (eg, a camera module or an optical device) including a liquid lens module having a shake of 0.3° and an excitation frequency of 2 Hz, 6 Hz and 10 Hz, respectively. The characteristics of In addition, Figures 9d to 9f show when the shaking of a liquid lens module or a device (eg, a camera module or an optical device) including a liquid lens module is 0.6° and the excitation frequencies are 2 Hz, 6 Hz and 10 Hz, respectively. The characteristics of Here, the excitation frequency may mean a frequency at which a device including a liquid lens module is vibrated experimentally or arbitrarily in order to test the liquid lens module.

9A to 9F and 10, as a result of examining a wavefront error while varying the shake angle at various excitation frequencies, the liquid lens module 100 according to the embodiment has a wavefront error of 2 to 2.8 times that of the comparative example. It can be seen that it has decreased.

The liquid lens module 100 according to the above-described embodiment can be applied to various fields.

Hereinafter, an optical device 200 including a liquid lens module according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the optical device 200 according to the embodiment is not limited thereto.

11 is a schematic block diagram of an optical device 200 according to an embodiment.

The optical device 200 may include a prism unit 210, a liquid lens module 220, and a zooming unit 230. Here, the liquid lens module 220 may correspond to the liquid lens module 100 described above.

The prism unit 210 serves to change the path of light incident in the direction indicated by IN to the optical axis LX of the liquid lens module 220.

The liquid lens module 220 may perform OIS and AF functions for the light whose optical path is changed in the prism unit 210 and output to the zooming unit 230.

The zooming unit 230 zooms in/out of the light that has passed through the liquid lens module 220. To this end, the zooming unit 230 may include a plurality of lenses (not shown) and an actuator (not shown) that moves the lenses in a direction parallel to the optical axis LX (eg, a z-axis direction).

As described above with respect to the embodiment, only a few are described, but other various types of implementation are possible. The technical contents of the above-described embodiments may be combined in various forms unless they are technologies incompatible with each other, and may be implemented in a new embodiment through this.

Meanwhile, according to another embodiment, an optical device may be implemented using a camera module including a lens assembly having a liquid lens module 100. Here, the optical device may include a device capable of processing or analyzing an optical signal. Examples of the optical device may include a camera/video device, a telescope device, a microscope device, an interferometer device, a photometer device, a polarimeter device, a spectrometer device, a reflectometer device, an autocollimator device, a lens meter device, and the like, and the liquid lens module 100 The present embodiment may be applied to an optical device that may include a lens assembly having ).

In addition, the optical device may be implemented as a portable device such as a smart phone, a notebook computer, or a tablet computer. Such an optical device includes a camera module having a liquid lens module 100, a display unit (not shown) that outputs an image, a battery (not shown) that supplies power to the camera module, a camera module, a display unit, and a main body on which the battery is mounted. It may include a housing. The optical device may further include a communication module capable of communicating with other devices and a memory unit capable of storing data. The communication module and the memory unit may also be mounted on the main body housing.

It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential features of the present invention. Therefore, the detailed description above should not be construed as restrictive in all respects and should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims (7)

A first liquid lens including a plurality of first individual electrodes including a first cavity and spaced apart from each other with a first boundary portion including a plurality of boundary portions therebetween; And
A second liquid lens comprising a second cavity disposed to overlap the first cavity and disposed in an optical axis direction, and including a plurality of second individual electrodes spaced apart from each other with a second border portion including a plurality of border portions therebetween Including,
The liquid lens module, wherein the first boundary portion and the second boundary portion do not overlap each other in a direction parallel to the optical axis. The method of claim 1, wherein a first virtual line connecting the first boundary from the optical axis passing through the center of the first cavity and the center of the second cavity and a second virtual line connecting the second boundary from the optical axis are The minimum angle formed on the plane is the liquid lens module equal to or smaller than Δθ expressed as follows.

(Here, M represents the number of the first individual electrodes, and N represents the number of the second individual electrodes.) The method of claim 1,
Each of the plurality of first individual electrodes and the second boundary portion overlap each other in the direction parallel to the optical axis,
Each of the plurality of second individual electrodes and the first boundary portion overlap each other in the direction parallel to the optical axis. The method of claim 1,
The first liquid lens
A first lower plate including the first cavity in which a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid are disposed;
A second lower plate disposed at one of above and below the first lower plate; And
And a third lower plate disposed on the other of the top and bottom of the first lower plate,
The second liquid lens
A first upper plate including the second cavity in which a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid are disposed;
A second upper plate disposed at one of above and below the first upper plate; And
A liquid lens module comprising a third upper plate disposed on the other of the top and bottom of the first upper plate. The liquid lens module of claim 4, wherein one of the second and third lower plates and one of the second and third upper plates face each other and are integral with each other. The method of claim 4,
The first cavity includes first and second openings respectively formed above and below the first lower plate,
The second cavity includes third and fourth openings respectively formed above and below the first upper plate,
The sizes of the larger ones among the first and second openings and the larger ones among the third and fourth openings are the same,
A liquid lens module having the same size as a smaller one of the first and second openings and a smaller one of the third and fourth openings. The method of claim 1,
The first boundary portion is arranged in a direction corresponding to a side of the first liquid lens, and the second boundary portion is arranged in a direction corresponding to a corner of the second liquid lens.

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