Liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism, camera module, and electronic device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a focusing mechanism, a photographing module and an electronic device for a liquid lens. The focusing and anti-shake mechanism of the liquid lens includes: a liquid lens; an SMA actuator, the SMA actuator includes two first contact plates, an SMA wire and a driven member, the first contact plate is a conductor, both ends of the SMA wire are electrically connected to the two first contact plates respectively, the driven member contacts one side of the SMA wire and bends the SMA wire into a V shape, the SMA wire can slide on the surface of the driven member while maintaining contact with the driven member, when the SMA wire contracts, the included angle of the bent SMA wire increases and drives the driven member to move; a focusing ring, connecting the driven member, the SMA wire can drive the driven member and the focusing ring to move through contraction, and the movement of the focusing ring can contact and squeeze the liquid lens. The present invention can make the structure of the focusing and anti-shake mechanism of the liquid lens simple, compact and easy to manufacture, and is beneficial to reducing the risk of abnormal deflection of the driven member and the focusing ring, and is beneficial to improving the imaging quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electronics, and particularly to a focusing and anti-shake mechanism for a liquid lens, a camera module, and an electronic device. Background Art

[0002] A liquid lens generally includes an annular lens frame, a light-transmitting cover plate and a light-transmitting film that respectively seal both end faces of the annular lens frame. The annular lens frame is internally encapsulated with a liquid. By contacting and squeezing the light-transmitting film, the liquid inside it can be made to flow, thereby changing the shape of the liquid, and further changing the curvature and focal length of the liquid lens, etc.

[0003] A camera module provided with a liquid lens generally further includes an adjusting component and an actuator. The adjusting component is arranged on the side of the liquid lens with the light-transmitting film, and the actuator is used to drive the adjusting component to move so that it contacts, squeezes or separates from the light-transmitting film. The actuator of this camera module generally uses a voice coil motor or an SMA actuator.

[0004] A voice coil motor generates a driving force through the Lorentz force generated by a current-carrying coil in a magnetic field. In a camera module, there are usually also sensors and other electronic components. To a certain extent, the electromagnetic interference generated by the current-carrying coil and the magnetic field in the voice coil motor will affect the normal operation of other electronic components.

[0005] The driving element in an SMA actuator is SMA (shape memory alloy). SMA is a material composed of two or more metal elements that has a shape memory effect (SME) through thermoelasticity and martensitic phase transformation and its inverse transformation; SMA can be deformed at a lower temperature and can return to its shape before deformation after being heated by electricity, thereby realizing electrically controllable contraction and further generating a driving force. The existing SMA actuators have a relatively complex structure, resulting in a relatively large volume occupied by the SMA actuators and a relatively high manufacturing difficulty. In addition, in order to achieve focusing and anti-shake of the camera module, multiple sets of SMA actuators usually need to be arranged in the camera module, making the problems of large occupied volume and high manufacturing difficulty more obvious. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and to provide a liquid lens focusing device, a camera module, and an electronic device with a simple and compact structure.

[0007] The technical solutions adopted to solve the above technical problems:

[0008] Liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism, comprising: a liquid lens, which can change the curvature focal length by contact extrusion; an SMA actuator, the SMA actuator includes two first contact plates, an SMA wire and a driven member, the first contact plate is a conductor, both ends of the SMA wire are electrically connected to the two first contact plates respectively, the driven member contacts the SMA wire and bends the SMA wire into a V shape, the SMA wire can slide on the surface of the driven member while maintaining contact with the driven member, and when the SMA wire contracts, it drives the driven member to move; a focusing ring, connected to the driven member, the SMA wire can drive the driven member and the focusing ring to move by contraction, and the movement of the focusing ring can contact and extrude the liquid lens.

[0009] The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0010] By contracting the SAM wire to drive the focusing ring, no electromagnetic interference will be generated to affect the normal operation of other electronic components; moreover, the SMA wire is bent into a V shape and contacts the surface of the driven member, so that the driven member can be driven to move, making the structure of the SMA actuator simple and compact, which is beneficial to the miniaturization of the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism. The SMA wire can slide relative to the surface of the driven member, enabling the SMA wire to be automatically corrected in a tensioned state, preventing the situation where the SMA wire is asymmetric relative to the driven member, which is beneficial to reducing the risk of abnormal deflection of the driven member and the focusing ring and improving the imaging quality.

[0011] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, a groove is provided on the driven member, and a protrusion is provided at the bottom of the groove, and the SMA wire contacts the protrusion and can slide relative to the protrusion. The SMA wire can be embedded in the groove, making it difficult for the SMA wire to come out of the groove, which is beneficial to reducing the risk of dislocation and loosening of the SMA wire.

[0012] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, a convex block is provided on the side surface of the driven member, and the groove is provided on the convex block. By providing the groove on the convex block, unnecessary contact and interference between the SMA wire and other parts of the driven member can be avoided, which is beneficial to improving the accuracy during the focusing and anti-shake adjustment process.

[0013] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, an adjustment seat is further included, the focusing ring is arranged on the adjustment seat, and the driven member is integrally formed with the adjustment seat.

[0014] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, the SMA actuator is divided into a first SMA actuator and a second SMA actuator, and the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism includes at least one first SMA actuator 10a and / or at least one second SMA actuator 10b. The opening directions of the included angles of the V-shaped formed by the SMA wires in the first SMA actuator and the second SMA actuator are opposite, so that the adjustment seat can be driven in opposite directions, and the adjustment seat can be driven to move in more directions, which is beneficial to expanding the focusing and anti-shake functions of the camera module.

[0015] The camera module includes the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism.

[0016] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, the camera module further includes a base and a fixed lens. The liquid lens is arranged above the base, the fixed lens is connected to the base and is located below the liquid lens, the SMA actuator is connected to the base, and the focusing ring is located between the liquid lens and the fixed lens, so as to achieve focusing or anti-shake.

[0017] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, the camera module further includes a cover body. The cover body covers the base, and an accommodation cavity is formed between the cover body and the base; a first installation hole for embedding and installing the fixed lens is opened at the center of the base, and a second fixing hole for embedding and installing the liquid lens is opened at the center of the top of the cover body; the SMA actuator is arranged inside the accommodation cavity, and four connecting columns extending into the accommodation cavity are arranged at the four corners of the base. The first touch plate is connected to the connecting columns and one end thereof passes through the base and extends to the outside of the accommodation cavity. By providing the cover body, it is convenient to connect the liquid lens and the base, and by encapsulating the SMA actuator and the solid lens and the like inside the accommodation cavity, the structure can be made more compact, which is beneficial to forming an independent product component, and at the same time is also beneficial to protecting the internal components. And by extending one end of the first touch plate out of the accommodation cavity, it is beneficial to the connection of the total circuit of the camera module and the electronic device.

[0018] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism further includes an adjustment component. The adjustment component includes an adjustment seat and a spring. The driven part is the adjustment seat. The spring is fixedly connected to the adjustment seat. The spring is provided with a plurality of elastic arms. One end of the elastic arm is connected to the base, and the elastic arm enables the spring to support the adjustment seat and enables the adjustment seat to be movable relative to the base.

[0019] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, one end of the elastic arm is connected to the top of the connecting column, so that the adjustment seat can be suspended above the base, which is convenient for the focusing ring to contact and press the liquid lens.

[0020] An electronic device, including a liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism.

[0021] An electronic device, including a camera module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and be readily understood from the following description of embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 is an exploded schematic view of the camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is a schematic structural view of the first SMA actuator 10a and the second SMA actuator 10b according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 is a partially enlarged schematic structural view of the driven member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 is a schematic connection structure view of the lens assembly and the driven member according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 5 is a schematic structural view of the base according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 is a schematic structural view of the liquid lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] REFERENCE SIGNS:

[0030] SMA actuator 1, SMA wire 110, first contact plate 120, driven member 130, convex rib 131, groove 132, convex block 133;

[0031] Lens assembly 2, adjusting seat 210, elastic arm 220, spring 230, positioning post 211;

[0032] Base 3, connecting column 301, first mounting hole 302, opening groove 303;

[0033] Cover body 4, second mounting hole 401;

[0034] Liquid lens 5, light-transmitting cover plate 501, annular lens frame 502, light-transmitting film 503, liquid 504;

[0035] Focusing ring 6, fixed lens 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0036] This section will describe in detail the specific embodiments of the present invention. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings. The function of the drawings is to supplement the description in the text part of the specification, enabling people to intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and the overall technical solution of the present invention. However, it should not be construed as a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention.

[0037] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that for the orientation description, such as the orientation or positional relationship indicated by up, down, front, back, left, right, etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation on the present invention.

[0038] In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "several" is one or more, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more. Understandings such as "greater than", "less than", "exceeding", etc. do not include the recited number, and understandings such as "above", "below", "within", etc. include the recited number. If there is a description of "first" and "second", it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the sequence relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0039] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as "set", "installed", "connected", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. Those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention in combination with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0040] Refer to Figures 1 to 6 , the photographic module described in the present invention includes the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism described in the present invention.

[0041] The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism includes a liquid lens 5, a focusing ring 6, and an SMA actuator 1.

[0042] The liquid lens 5 includes an annular lens frame 502, a light-transmitting cover plate 501 and a light-transmitting film 503 that respectively seal the two end faces of the annular lens frame 502. The annular lens frame 502 is internally encapsulated with a liquid 504. By contacting and squeezing the light-transmitting film 503, the liquid 504 inside it will flow, thereby changing the shape of the liquid 504, and further changing the curvature and focal length of the liquid lens 5.

[0043] The SMA actuator 1 includes two first contact plates 120, two sections of SMA wires 110, and a driven member 130; the first contact plates 120 are conductors, and both ends of the SMA wire 110 are electrically connected to the two first contact plates 120 respectively; the driven member 130 contacts one side of the SMA wire 110 and bends the SMA wire 110 into a V shape, and the SMA wire 110 can slide on the surface of the driven member 130 while remaining in contact with the driven member 130. When the SMA wire 110 contracts, the included angle of the bend of the SMA wire 110 increases and drives the driven member 130 to move.

[0044] The focusing ring 6 is connected to the driven member 130. The SMA wire 110 can drive the driven member 130 and the focusing ring 6 to move by contraction, and the movement of the focusing ring 6 can contact and press the liquid lens 5.

[0045] The above liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0046] By contracting the SAM wire 110 to drive the focusing ring 6, no electromagnetic interference will be generated to affect the normal operation of other electronic components; moreover, the SMA wire 110 is bent into a V shape and contacts the surface of the driven member 130, so that the driven member 130 can be driven to move, making the structure of the SMA actuator 1 simple, compact and easy to manufacture. The SMA wire 110 can slide relative to the surface of the driven member 130, enabling the SMA wire 110 to be automatically corrected in a tensioned state, preventing the situation where the SMA wire 110 is asymmetric relative to the driven member 130, which is beneficial to reducing the risk of abnormal deflection of the driven member 130 and the focusing ring 6 and improving the imaging quality.

[0047] Regarding the first contact plate 120, the first contact plate 120 is a metal plate. The first contact plate 120 is fixed on the base 3.

[0048] Regarding the SMA wire 110, the SMA wire 110 refers to a shape memory alloy wire. Both ends of the SMA wire 110 are energized through the first contact plate 120. The SMA wire 110 can contract when heated by electricity and can elongate and return to its original length after power-off and cooling. Therefore, the SMA wire 110 can achieve electrically controlled contraction. The two sections of SMA wire 110 are symmetrically arranged and the included angle is greater than zero, presenting as a V shape in this embodiment. The contraction movements of the two sections of SMA wire 110 can be combined into a linear movement of the driven member 130.

[0049] Regarding the driven member 130, the driven member 130 and the adjusting seat 210 are integrally formed. When the SMA wire 110 pulls the driven member 130, the adjusting seat 210 can be driven to move, thereby realizing the adjustment of the angle and position of the adjusting seat 210.

[0050] Regarding the adjustment seat 210, the focusing ring 6 is arranged on the adjustment seat 210, and a driven member 130 is respectively arranged on four side surfaces of the adjustment seat 210.

[0051] Regarding the focusing ring 6, the focusing ring 6 is fixedly connected to the adjustment seat 210. It can be understood that, according to the actual situation, in some other embodiments, the focusing ring 6 can also be set to be integrally formed with the adjustment seat 210.

[0052] In this embodiment, a groove 132 is arranged on the driven member 130, a protrusion 131 is arranged at the bottom of the groove 132, and the SMA wire 110 is in contact with the protrusion 131 and can slide relative to the protrusion 131. The SMA wire 110 can be embedded into the groove 132, so that the SMA wire 110 is not easily disengaged from the groove 132, which is beneficial to reducing the risk of dislocation and loosening of the SMA wire 110.

[0053] Regarding the protrusion 131, the width of the protrusion 131 is the same as the width of the groove 132, and the contact surface between the protrusion 131 and the SMA wire 110 is set as a smooth curved surface, so as to reduce the resistance between the two during the sliding process of the SMA wire 110.

[0054] In this embodiment, a convex block 133 is arranged on the side surface of the driven member 130, and the groove 132 is arranged on the convex block 133. By arranging the groove 133 on the convex block 133, unnecessary contact and interference between the SMA wire 110 and other parts of the driven member 130 can be avoided, which is beneficial to improving the accuracy during the focusing and anti-shake adjustment process.

[0055] Regarding the SMA actuator 1, the SMA actuator 1 is divided into a first SMA actuator 10a and a second SMA actuator 10b. The opening directions of the included angles of the V shapes formed by the bending of the SMA wires 110 in the first SMA actuator 10a and the second SMA actuator 10b are opposite; the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism includes at least one first SMA actuator 10a and at least one second SMA actuator 10b. Since the opening directions of the included angles between the two sections of SMA wires 110 are different, the focusing ring 6 can be driven in opposite directions, and the focusing ring 6 can be driven to move in more directions, which is beneficial to expanding the focusing and anti-shake functions of the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism.

[0056] In this embodiment, the number of the first SMA actuators 10a is two, and the number of the second SMA actuators 10b is two. The two first SMA actuators 10a and the two second SMA actuators 10b are respectively arranged around the adjusting seat 210. The two first SMA actuators 10a are symmetrically arranged with respect to the adjusting seat 210, and the two second SMA actuators 10b are symmetrically arranged with respect to the adjusting seat 210. The two first SMA actuators 10a and the two second SMA actuators 10b are respectively symmetrically arranged on both sides of the adjusting seat 210. By respectively detecting or controlling each SMA actuator 1, the detection or control of the inclination angle and displacement of the adjusting seat 210 and the focusing ring 6 can be realized, which is beneficial to further expanding the inclination angle adjustment and position adjustment functions of the camera module, and is beneficial to further expanding the focusing and anti-shake functions of the camera module.

[0057] In this embodiment, the camera module includes a base 3 and a fixed lens 7. The liquid lens 5 is arranged above the base 3. The fixed lens 7 is connected to the base 3 and is located below the liquid lens 5. The SMA actuator 1 is connected to the base 3, and the focusing ring 6 is located between the liquid lens 5 and the fixed lens 7. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism can drive the focusing ring 6 to move, and then contact and press the liquid lens 5 to realize the focusing and anti-shake functions.

[0058] Regarding the camera module, an adjusting assembly 2 is further included. The adjusting assembly 2 includes an adjusting seat 210 and a spring 230. The spring 230 is fixedly connected to the adjusting seat 210. The spring 220 is provided with a plurality of elastic arms 220. One end of the elastic arm 220 is connected to the base 3. The elastic arm 220 enables the spring 230 to support the adjusting seat 210 and enables the adjusting seat 210 to be movable relative to the base 3.

[0059] Regarding the spring 230, the spring 230 is fixedly attached to the upper surface of the adjusting seat 210. The spring 230 and the elastic arm 220 are integrally formed metal sheets. The elastic arm 220 enables the adjusting seat 210 to form an elastic suspension state on the base 3, so that the adjusting seat 210 is easy to be driven by each SMA actuator 1. The spring 230 constitutes the suspension system of the lens assembly 2. Here, the spring 230 does not refer to the common helical spring, scroll spring or leaf spring in the mechanical field, but a special-shaped spring dedicated to the suspension of the adjusting assembly 2.

[0060] Of course, according to the actual situation, in some other embodiments, the number of the springs 230 can be selected to be multiple, for example, two springs 230 can be provided. One spring 230 is fixedly attached to the upper surface of the adjusting seat 210, and the other spring 230 is fixedly attached to the lower surface of the adjusting seat 210.

[0061] Regarding the camera module, it further includes a cover body 4. The cover body 4 covers the upper part of the base 3, and an accommodation cavity is formed between the cover body 4 and the base 3. A first mounting hole 302 for fitting and fixing the fixed lens 7 is provided at the center of the base 3, and a second fixing hole 401 for fitting the liquid lens 5 is provided at the center of the top of the cover body 4. The fixed lens 7, the adjustment seat 210, the focusing ring 6, and the SMA actuator 1 are all arranged inside the accommodation cavity.

[0062] Regarding the base 3, four connecting columns 301 extending into the accommodation cavity are provided at the four corners of the base 3. One end of the elastic arm 220 is connected to the top of the connecting column 301. The first contact plates 120 in the SMA actuator 1 are all connected to the sides of the connecting column 301. And the four SMA actuators 1 respectively correspond to the four sides of the base 3. And for the convenience of circuit connection, one end of the first contact plate 120 passes through the base 3 and extends to the outside of the accommodation cavity. The base 3 is provided with an opening groove 303 allowing the first contact plate 120 to pass through.

[0063] The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism and the camera module in this technical solution can be used in electronic devices.

Claims

1. Liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism, Characterized in that, Comprising: A liquid lens that changes its curvature and focal length by contact extrusion; An SMA actuator, the SMA actuator includes two first contact plates, an SMA wire and a driven member, the first contact plates are conductors, both ends of the SMA wire are electrically connected to the two first contact plates respectively, the driven member contacts the SMA wire and bends the SMA wire into a V shape, the SMA wire slides on the surface of the driven member while maintaining contact with the driven member, and when the SMA wire contracts, it drives the driven member to move; A focusing ring connected to the driven member, and the focusing ring moves with the driven member to contact and extrude the liquid lens; Wherein, the liquid lens includes an annular lens frame, a light-transmitting cover plate and a light-transmitting film that respectively seal both end faces of the annular lens frame, the annular lens frame is internally encapsulated with liquid, and by contacting and extruding the light-transmitting film, the liquid inside it will flow, thereby changing the shape of the liquid, and further changing the curvature and focal length of the liquid lens.

2. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism according to claim 1, Characterized in that: The driven member is provided with a groove, and a protrusion is provided at the bottom of the groove, and the SMA wire contacts the protrusion and slides relative to the protrusion.

3. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism according to claim 2, Characterized in that: A convex block is provided on the side surface of the driven member, and the groove is provided on the convex block.

4. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism according to claim 1, Characterized in that: It further includes an adjusting seat, the focusing ring is arranged on the adjusting seat, and the driven member is integrally formed with the adjusting seat.

5. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Characterized in that: The SMA actuator is divided into a first SMA actuator and a second SMA actuator, and the opening directions of the angles formed by the bending of the SMA wires in the first SMA actuator and the second SMA actuator are opposite; the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism includes at least one first SMA actuator and / or at least one second SMA actuator.

6. A camera module, Characterized in that: It includes the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The camera module according to claim 6, Characterized in that: It further includes a base and a fixed lens, the liquid lens is arranged above the base, the fixed lens is connected to the base and is located below the liquid lens, the SMA actuator is connected to the base, and the focusing ring is located between the liquid lens and the fixed lens.

8. The camera module according to claim 7, Characterized in that: It further includes a cover body which covers the base, and an accommodation cavity is formed between the cover body and the base; a first mounting hole for embedding and fixing a fixed lens is formed at the center of the base, and a second fixing hole for embedding a liquid lens is formed at the center of the top of the cover body; the SMA actuator is arranged inside the accommodation cavity, four connecting columns extending into the accommodation cavity are arranged at four corners of the base, the first touch plate is connected to the connecting columns, and one end thereof passes through the base and extends to the outside of the accommodation cavity.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that: it includes the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that: it includes the photographic module according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

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