Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for auto-focusing a camera, which includes the steps of detecting an initial value of an encoder by measuring an initial position of a lens system, matching the measured initial value of the encoder with the initial position value of the lens system to be moved, measuring a distance value of a subject through a distance measuring sensor, determining a displacement that a focus lens has to be moved with respect to the measured distance value, and adjusting a position of the focus lens such that a position value of the focus lens actually moved is the same as the displacement value.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for executing a mouse pointer function in a portable terminal equipped with a camera are disclosed. The method includes: capturing an external image signal by a camera module; sampling the external image signal and converting a sampled image signal into image data; mapping a group of pixels of the image data generated by the sampling to a group of pixels of an image sensor for each unit pixel on a one-to-one basis; detecting coordinate values of image data including a point light source in the group of the mapped pixels; determining if a point light source is actually included in the detected coordinate values of the image data; and displaying the detected coordinate values of the image data determined to include the point light source on a screen.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photographing apparatus using an infrared ray in a portable terminal, the apparatus includes: a camera module for photographing an image; a display unit for providing a preview for the image photographed by the camera module; and an infrared sensor unit for determining if light is obstructed by emitting and receiving an infrared ray through an infrared sensor upon photographing by the camera module, and outputting a photographing signal for the image.

Abstract: A camera module having an image sensor, which forms a low-pixel image sensor integrated with an image signal processing unit such as Image Signal Processor (ISP)/Analog Front End (AFE) includes: an image sensor unit for converting light being incident after passing through a prism into image data and applying image data, which is hand shake-corrected by movements between a plurality of positions, to a multimedia processor of a product, a drive controller for receiving and calculating hand-shake information acquired by a plurality of gyrosensors and calculating an amount of correction to control driving of a sensor driver, a motor, and lenses, and the sensor driver for moving the image sensor unit to correct a hand shake under control of the drive controller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling noise caused by vibration in a camera module for a mobile device are provided. The method includes transmitting a vibration signal sensed by a vibration sensor to a Choice Coil Motor (VCM) driver based on the vibration signal, applying, by the VCM driver, a reverse bias to a VCM upon receiving, by the VCM driver, the vibration signal from the vibration sensor, and exerting, by the VCM to which the reverse bias is applied, an electromagnetic force in a reverse direction in order to fix and halt an actuator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating hand-trembling of a camera with reduced time required for capture compensated images. The method may include: calculating exposure time proper for preventing hand-trembling using an AE (Automatic Exposure) algorithm during an image-capturing standby mode; executing image-capturing multiple times depending on the exposure time at the time of inputting a photographing signal through a photographing button, and detecting the amount of hand-trembling at each time of image-capturing. The storing of images can be selected by a preset number of required images from the captured images as resultant images, the images being sequentially stored from an image having a lowest amount of hand-trembling as a resultant image, whereby an image with reduced hand-trembling can be obtained.

Abstract: An autofocus method and apparatus provides a reduction in time required for performing the autofocusing procedure, preferably occurring during a one-time frame exposure. A distance between a focus of a lens system and a light receiving plane of an image sensor is varied, an image frame is formed by sequentially exposing pixels on the light receiving plane during a time period while varying the distance between the focus and the light receiving plane, a plurality of sub-blocks are set on the image frame and edge values are obtained for the respective plurality of sub-blocks. The maximum edge value is determined from among the obtained edge values, and a focus position of the lens system is identified based on the maximum edge value. The lens system is moved to the focus position.

Abstract: An input apparatus includes: a light waveguide having a slanted lower surface; a light source for emitting rays in a direction to the light waveguide, the light source facing the lower slanted surface of the light waveguide; and an image sensor, disposed at one side surface of the light waveguide to face the light waveguide, and having a plurality of pixels for detecting rays guided through the light waveguide.

Abstract: A touch screen includes a touch panel providing an image for a user's information input, including a first image sensor, which is arranged at a side or disposed in a side of the touch panel for detecting an input position of the user using an image. A first lens system forms a plurality of pixel regions on an image pickup surface of the first image sensor and having a plurality of lenses, each lens for forming an image of an input member of the user, which is located within a corresponding angle of view, in a corresponding pixel region. An optional second lens system, arranged at another side of the touch panel, typically substantially perpendicular to the first lens system also detects an image of the input member.

Abstract: A voice coil type driving device includes: a voice coil for securing a driving force depending on applied electric current; a position level generator for generating control signals so as to control the electric current applied to the voice coil in multiple levels; and a driving circuit for controlling the electric current applied to the voice coil according to the control signals generated in the position level generator, and a method for applying electric current in a voice coil type driving device, wherein electric current is applied in multiple steps.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module and a method of manufacture. The camera module includes a ceramic printed circuit board having a recess formed on its upper surface, an image sensor seated in the recess, a flexible printed circuit board positioned on the image sensor and electrically connected to the image sensor and a cap seated on the ceramic printed circuit board, the cap having a lens system positioned on a surface facing the image sensor. A method for manufacturing the camera module includes the steps of flip-chip-bonding an image sensor to a lower portion of a flexible printed circuit board, forming a ceramic printed circuit board having a recess; mounting the image sensor in the recess of the ceramic printed circuit board and seating a cap on the ceramic printed circuit board.

Abstract: A bidirectional optical transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver comprises an optical fiber which is adapted to input/output optical signals and has a slant surface polished with an angle, a substrate having a groove formed on its upper portion to position the optical fiber therein, a wavelength distributor filter inserted into the substrate with a slant substantially matching the angle in the optical fiber, a photodiode positioned on the substrate to receive optical signals, a TO-Can having a laser diode that is positioned in a location opposite to the optical fiber to transmit optical signals, and a single housing adapted to mount the optical fiber, the substrate, and the TO-Can thereon.

Abstract: A miniaturized auto focus control apparatus for camera module includes: a sensor assembly having an image sensor mounted to a printed circuit board and an infrared filter provided on an upper portion of the image sensor; a lens housing to which a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to an upper portion of the sensor assembly are mounted; a coil mounted into the lens housing; a lens barrel to which a plurality of focus control lenses are mounted in the direction of an optical axis; a lens guide portion integrally provided in the lens housing and engaged on the outer side of the lens barrel to guide the lens barrel so that the lens barrel is moved linearly upward and downward in the direction of the optical axis according to electric fields of the coil and the permanent magnets.

Abstract: A lens module is disclosed. The lens module includes an image sensor mounted on a side of a circuit board, a filter housing mounted at a position opposite to the image sensor, and an infrared filter mounted on the filter housing. The infrared filter is aligned in optical axis with the image sensor in a state of being spaced from the image sensor. The lens module can be applied to a miniaturized appliance such as a portable terminal because it takes a form of a COF type camera lens module which is advantages in miniaturization. In addition, the lens module can minimize degradation of image quality due to foreign matters dropped on the tope surface of the infrared filter reflected to a photographed image by securing a longer distance between the image sensor and the infrared filter as compared to a conventional COF type camera lens module.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor assembly and a method for fabricating the same. The image sensor assembly includes an image sensor and a transparent cover. The image sensor detects an image has an exposed light receiving circuit on its surface. The transparent cover has a support. The support protrudes from the surface of the transparent cover to define a predetermined area on the surface of the transparent cover. The support is bonded to the surface of the image sensor to surround the light receiving circuit. The light receiving circuit is sealed by the transparent cover.

Abstract: A device for image stabilization of a camera module is disclosed. The device includes a housing; a moving unit for image stabilization, which is disposed in the housing so as to mount the image sensor and causes the image sensor to move horizontally/vertically for the purpose of image stabilization, a guide means disposed in the housing in order to guide the vertical/horizontal movement of the image sensor; and at least one connection means attached to the image sensor. The connection means is freely and multi-directionally deformable according to the movement of the image sensor, while maintaining electric connection with the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An optical receiver of a bidirectional optical communication module is fabricated through an assembling process in which multiple modules are assembled concurrently. The module includes a first substrate formed with a groove, an optical fiber located in the groove and having a flat surface, a reflective filter inserted between the first substrate and the fiber with a predetermined inclination angle in order to reflect an incident optical signal, a second substrate supporting the fiber and mounted on the first substrate such that the flat surface.

Abstract: An optical zoom apparatus comprises a plurality of lenses; a lens housing for retaining the corresponding lenses; a first magnetic body positioned around the lens housing; a second magnetic body positioned around the lens housing along a movement axis while being spaced from the first magnetic body; and a movement means positioned between the first and second magnetic bodies while surrounding the lens housing to move the lens housing back and forth along the movement axis as an electric current is applied.

Abstract: In a bi-directional optical transceiver module, a first waveguide transmits a optical signal received from a light source to a high reflection layer formed on a waveguide substrate. A second waveguide extends from the optical fiber to the high reflection layer. With a first mode coupling region formed by ends of the first and second waveguides near the high reflection layer, the second waveguide transmits the transmission optical signal mode-coupled from the first waveguide to the optical fiber and receives the reception optical signal from the optical fiber. A third waveguide extends from the optical detector to near an end of the optical fiber. With a second mode coupling region formed by an end of the third waveguide and the other end of the second waveguide, the third waveguide transmits the reception optical signal mode-coupled from the second waveguide to the optical detector.

Abstract: A bidirectional optical transmission/reception module includes a sub-mount and a plane optical device that is mounted on the sub-mount for transmitting and receiving an optical signal. The module includes an optical fiber for inputting the optical signal from and outputting the optical signal to the outside of the bi-directional optical transmission/reception module. A stub into which the optical fiber is mounted protrudes conically at one end adjacent to the device to point the fiber end toward and planarly in alignment with the device. A support member has a hole formed at its one upstanding side, and the hole is penetrated by the conical end of the stub.