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Samsung patents camera module using special glass to bend light twice

Samsung describes a camera module that uses a specific type of glass or plastic piece to bounce light around inside the camera before it hits the sensor. The filing details a mathematical rule for how thick and dense this material must be to ensure light stays trapped inside and reflects correctly, rather than leaking out.

Why it mattersThis design could help make phone cameras thinner by folding the light path, allowing for better image quality in a smaller space.

In the filing’s own words

A camera module is provided. The camera module includes a lens assembly, at least one reflective and refractive member configured to reflect light at least twice, and an image sensor, wherein the reflective and refractive member is further configured to totally reflect at least a portion of light incident on the reflective and refractive member by satisfying the following inequation regarding a refractive index for total reflection inside the reflective and refractive member, n i ≥ C ⁢ 1 + b 2 ⁢ a - C ⁢ 2, and wherein n i is a refractive index of the reflective and refractive member, a is an angle between an incident surface of the reflective and refractive member and a first reflective surface adjacent to the incident surface, b is an incident angle of light incident on the reflective and refractive member, and C1 and C2 are a coefficient of a linear equation and a constant, respectively, when an inverse sine function for a reciprocal of the refractive index of the reflective and refractive member is expressed as a linear equation for the reciprocal of the refractive index of the reflective and refractive member.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A camera module comprising: a lens assembly; at least one reflective and refractive member configured to reflect and/or refract light at least twice; and an image sensor, wherein the reflective and refractive member is further configured to totally reflect at least a portion of light incident on the reflective and refractive member by satisfying the following inequation regarding a refractive index for total reflection inside the reflective and refractive member, n i ≥ C ⁢ 1 + b 2 ⁢ a - C ⁢ 2, and wherein n i is a refractive index of the reflective and refractive member, a is an angle between an incident surface of the reflective and refractive member and a first reflective surface adjacent to the incident surface, b is an incident angle of light incident on the reflective and refractive member, and C1 and C2 are a coefficient of a linear equation and a constant, respectively, when an inverse sine function for a reciprocal of the refractive index of the reflective and refractive member is expressed as a linear equation for the reciprocal of the refractive index of the reflective and refractive member, 10 ⁢ ° < a < 50 ⁢ °, b < 45 ⁢ °, 1.1 < C ⁢ 1 < 1.4, and - 0.3 < C ⁢ 2 < + 0.3.

Facts

Company
Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
Official title
CAMERA MODULE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE COMPRISING SAME
Publication number
US20260270541A1
Application number
19663774
Filed
Apr 30, 2026
Published
Sep 10, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
20

Classified under

H04N 23/55 Electricity & electronicsG02B 17/0856 Physics & computingG02B 27/646 Physics & computingG03B 3/10 Physics & computingG03B 17/17 Physics & computingG03B 30/00 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.