A camera module including a liquid lens, according to one embodiment, includes: a liquid lens including a first plate, and an individual electrode arranged on a first surface of the first plate; a temperature detection element arranged on the first surface of the first plate so as to be spaced apart from the individual electrode; a heating element arranged on the first surface so as to be spaced apart from the temperature detection element and the individual electrode; a temperature sensor connected to the temperature detection element to sense the temperature of the liquid lens; and a heating controller connected to the heating element.

Provided is an imaging device that can acquire three independent high-quality images using one imaging element. An imaging device includes: an optical system (10) including three optical regions (12A, 12B, 12C) that transmit light in different polarization directions; an imaging element (100) including a plurality of pixel units each of which is a set of three pixels that receive light in different polarization directions; and an image processing unit (200) that calculates three pixel signals (X1, X2, X3) corresponding to each of the optical regions (12A, 12B, 12C) of the optical system (10) from three pixel signals (x1, x2, x3) obtained from each pixel unit of the imaging element (100) to generate an image of each of the optical regions (12A, 12B, 12C).

A liquid lens control device according to one embodiment comprises: a liquid lens in which a liquid interface is controlled in response to a plurality of individual voltages applied to each of a plurality of individual electrodes; a control unit for controlling the plurality of individual voltages; and a compensation unit for compensating for characteristics of at least one individual electrode from among the plurality of individual electrodes. The characteristic compensated for by the compensation unit can be the position of the interface according to the individual voltage applied to the individual element. The compensation unit can perform the compensation by using a first ADC value acquired when a first voltage is applied to each of the plurality of individual electrodes, and a second ADC value acquired when a second voltage that differs from the first voltage is applied to each of the plurality of individual electrodes.

Provided is a camera module, including: a lens group including a lens barrel and a camera lens; and a driver assembly configured to drive the camera lens to move and including a magnetic portion. The camera lens includes a magnetic matching portion. The magnetic portion and the magnetic matching portion are respectively located at two ends of a side wall of the lens barrel in a thickness direction, and are connectable to each other through magnetic attraction, in such a manner that the camera lens is driven by the driver assembly to move along the optical axis of the camera lens. In this way, the side wall of the lens barrel is free of a through hole, so that light is prevented from entering the lens barrel via the through hole, thereby prolonging the lifetime of the camera module and improving the image-capturing effect.

An image sensor includes an imaging device, an optical system including a liquid lens to form an image of a subject on an imaging surface of the imaging device, and a controller that performs a refractive power control process of adjusting an application voltage applicable to the liquid lens to control a refractive power of the liquid lens, and a recognition process of analyzing image data from the imaging device to recognize predetermined information about the subject. The controller is operable in a plurality of operation modes each with a different wait period from a change in the application voltage to the liquid lens in response to the refractive power control process to a start of the recognition process.

An image sensor includes a body module including a refractive power controller that adjusts an application voltage applicable to a liquid lens in a lens module to control a refractive power of the liquid lens, a recognition processor that analyzes, after a preset period elapses from when the refractive power controller changes the application voltage to the liquid lens, image data from an imaging device in an imaging module, and an adjuster that reads first information from a memory in the lens module and second information from a memory in the imaging module and adjusts, based on the first and second information, the preset period to a period corresponding to a combination of the lens module and the imaging device. The first information indicates a specification for or a type of the lens module. The second information indicates a specification for or a type of the imaging device.

A voice coil motor for driving a liquid lens and a lens assembly having a voice coil motor, where the voice coil motor includes a plurality of sub motor parts. The sub motor parts can be independently controlled. The sub motor part includes an unmovable part, a movable part, which can move along an optical axis direction relative to the unmovable part, a connection elastic piece, coupled to the liquid lens and the movable part, where when a force is applied to the movable part in the optical axis direction, the movable part drives the connection elastic piece to squeeze the liquid lens.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a method for controlling an autofocus actuator is provided such that the actual position of the autofocus actuator can be measured using capacitance sensing. In some embodiments, a rotor plate attached to a rotor and a stator plate attached to a stator in the autofocus actuator can be used to create a capacitance. When the rotor moves, a capacitance change value between the rotor plate and the stator plate can be measured. In these embodiments, the cost and the form factor of the aforementioned autofocus actuator are reduced compared to implementation of magnetic field sensors in the autofocus actuator.

A camera module includes a liquid lens unit; a lens holder in which the liquid lens unit is disposed; a main board configured to supply a driving signal to drive the liquid lens unit; and a base disposed on the main board, the base having an inner space in which the liquid lens unit is disposed, wherein the liquid lens unit includes: a liquid lens including upper electrodes and a lower electrode; and a lower connection substrate connected to the lower electrode, and wherein the base includes: an upper connection part configured to electrically connect the upper electrodes to the main board, the upper connection part being disposed adjacent to the upper electrodes in a plan view; and a lower connection part configured to electrically connect the lower connection substrate to the main board.

A camera module is provided. The camera module includes an optical assembly including one or more lens and an image sensor, a first driving unit configured to move the optical assembly in a first direction to retract the optical assembly into a housing of an electronic device in which the optical assembly is disposed, or configured to move the optical assembly in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, so that the optical assembly protrudes externally from the housing, and a second driving unit configured to rotate the optical assembly in a protruding state based on a rotation axis, parallel to the first direction.