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

Abstract

The invention discloses a focusing device, a camera module and an electronic device for a liquid lens. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device comprises: a liquid lens; an SMA actuator, the SMA actuator comprises an SMA wire, a connecting rod, a supporting part and a first elastic arm, one end of the connecting rod is connected to the SMA wire, one end of the connecting rod is elastically connected to the supporting part, the first elastic arm is arranged between the connecting rod and the supporting part, and the first elastic arm can be elastically bent; an adjusting ring is connected to one end of the connecting rod, and the SMA wire can drive the adjusting ring to move through the connecting rod to contact and squeeze the liquid lens. The actuator composed of the SMA wire, the connecting rod, the supporting part and the first elastic arm is used to drive the adjusting ring, and electromagnetic interference will not be generated to affect the normal operation of other electronic components; and the first elastic arm enables the connecting rod to swing elastically relative to the supporting part, so that the displacement of the adjusting ring can be greater than the contraction of the SMA wire, and a larger focusing stroke can be achieved under the condition that the actuator volume is small, which is conducive to miniaturization.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of electronics, and in particular to a liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device, a camera module and electronic equipment. Background Art

[0002] A liquid lens usually includes an annular frame, a light-transmitting cover plate and a light-transmitting film that respectively seal the two end surfaces of the annular frame. Liquid is encapsulated inside the annular frame. By contacting and squeezing the light-transmitting film, the liquid inside will flow, thereby changing the shape of the liquid, and further changing the curvature and focal length of the liquid lens.

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

[0004] The voice coil motor generates its driving force through the Lorentz force produced by the energized coil in the magnetic field. The camera module usually also has sensors and other electronic components. The electromagnetic interference produced by the energized coil and magnetic field in the voice coil motor will affect the normal operation of other electronic components to a certain extent.

[0005] The driving element in the 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 inversion. SMA can be deformed at a relatively low temperature, and can restore its shape before deformation after being electrically heated, thereby achieving electrically controllable contraction and generating driving force. Existing SMA actuators usually directly pull the adjustment component through the SMA wire, so the driving stroke of the adjustment component is usually not greater than the contraction amount of the SMA wire. Usually, the movement stroke can only be made larger by increasing the overall size of the SMA actuator, so it is not conducive to the miniaturization of the liquid lens focusing device. Summary of the invention

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is to solve at least 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 large driving stroke and a compact structure.

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

[0008] A liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device comprises: a liquid lens, which can change the curvature focal length by contact extrusion; an SMA actuator, wherein the SMA actuator comprises an SMA wire, a connecting rod, a supporting part and a first elastic arm, wherein the SMA wire can be energized and contracted, one end of the connecting rod is connected to the SMA wire, one end of the connecting rod is elastically connected to the supporting part, the first elastic arm is arranged between the connecting rod and the supporting part, and the first elastic arm can be elastically bent; an adjusting ring, which is arranged below the liquid lens, wherein the SMA wire can drive the connecting rod to swing relative to the supporting part by contraction, and the connecting rod can drive the adjusting ring to move to contact and squeeze the liquid lens.

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

[0010] The actuator composed of the SAM wire, the connecting rod, the supporting part and the first elastic arm is used to drive the adjusting ring, which will not generate electromagnetic interference and affect the normal operation of other electronic components; and the first elastic arm allows the connecting rod to swing elastically relative to the supporting part, so that the displacement of the adjusting ring can be greater than the contraction of the SMA wire, thereby achieving a larger focusing stroke under the condition of a smaller actuator volume, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the liquid lens focusing device.

[0011] In a possible implementation of the present invention, the support portion, the first elastic arm and the connecting rod are integrally formed by a conductive material. The integral formation of the support portion, the first elastic arm and the connecting rod is conducive to reducing the manufacturing difficulty and cost of the SMA actuator. The conductive material enables the support portion, the first elastic arm and the connecting rod to conduct electricity for the SMA wire, which is conducive to simplifying the overall circuit structure of the SMA actuator.

[0012] In a possible implementation of the present invention, the number of the support part, the first elastic arm and the connecting rod in the same SMA actuator is two and they are arranged symmetrically. The symmetrical arrangement of the support part, the first elastic arm and the connecting rod can enhance the stability of the movement of the driven member.

[0013] In a possible implementation manner of the present invention, the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device further includes a driven member, the adjustment ring is arranged on the driven member, and one end of the connecting rod is hinged to the driven member.

[0014] In a possible implementation of the present invention, the liquid lens focus and anti-shake device includes at least one first SMA actuator and at least one second SMA actuator, and the first SMA actuator and the second SMA actuator can drive the adjustment ring in opposite directions. The relative positions between the connecting rod, the SMA wire and the base body in the first SMA actuator and the second SMA actuator are different, so that the adjustment ring can be driven in opposite directions, and the adjustment ring can be driven to move in more directions, which is conducive to expanding the focus and anti-shake functions of the camera module.

[0015] A camera module comprises the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device.

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

[0017] In a possible implementation of the present invention, the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device also includes an adjustment component, the adjustment component includes an adjustment seat and a spring, the driven member is the adjustment seat, the spring is fixedly connected to the adjustment seat, the spring is provided with a plurality of second elastic arms, one end of the second elastic arm is connected to the base, and the second elastic arm enables the spring to support the adjustment seat and make the adjustment seat movable relative to the base.

[0018] Electronics, including liquid lens focus and image stabilization.

[0019] An electronic device includes a camera module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of a first SMA actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a second SMA actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of a lens assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 A schematic structural diagram of a base according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid lens according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Reference numerals:

[0028] SMA actuator 1, SMA wire 101, connecting rod 102, first elastic arm 103, supporting portion 104;

[0029] Adjustment assembly 2, adjustment seat 201, spring 202, second elastic arm 204;

[0030] Base 3, connecting column 301, first mounting hole 302, opening slot 303;

[0031] Cover body 4, second mounting hole 401;

[0032] Liquid lens 5, light-transmitting cover plate 501, annular lens frame 502, light-transmitting film 503, liquid 504;

[0033] Adjusting ring 6, fixing lens 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] This section will describe in detail the specific embodiments of the present invention. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. The purpose of the accompanying drawings is to supplement the description of the text part of the specification with graphics, so that people can intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and the overall technical solution of the present invention, but it cannot be understood as a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that descriptions involving orientations, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., and orientations or positional relationships indicated are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0036] In the description of the present invention, "several" means one or more, "more" means more than two, "greater than", "less than", "exceed" etc. are understood as not including the number itself, and "above", "below", "within" etc. are understood as including the number itself. If there is a description of "first" or "second", it is only used for the purpose of distinguishing the technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying the relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0037] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, terms such as setting, installing, connecting, etc. should be understood in a broad sense, and technicians in the relevant technical field can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific content of the technical solution.

[0038] Reference Figures 1 to 6 The camera module described in the present invention includes the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device described in the present invention.

[0039] The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device comprises a liquid lens 5, an adjustment ring 6 and an SMA actuator 1.

[0040] The liquid lens 5 includes an annular frame 502, a transparent cover plate 501 and a transparent film 503 that respectively seal the two end surfaces of the annular frame 502. Liquid 504 is encapsulated inside the annular frame 502. The liquid 504 inside the transparent film 503 can flow by contacting and squeezing the transparent film 503, thereby changing the shape of the liquid 504, and further changing the curvature and focal length of the liquid lens 5.

[0041] The SMA actuator 1 includes an SMA wire 101, a connecting rod 102, a first elastic arm 103, and a support portion 104; the SMA wire 101 can be electrically contracted, one end of the connecting rod 102 is connected to the SMA wire 101, and the angle between the SMA wire 101 and the connecting rod 102 is greater than zero; one end of the connecting rod 102 is elastically connected to the support portion 104, the first elastic arm 103 is arranged between the connecting rod 102 and the support portion 104, and the first elastic arm 103 can be elastically bent.

[0042] The adjusting ring 6 is arranged below the liquid lens 5 . The SMA wire 101 can drive the connecting rod 102 to swing relative to the supporting portion 104 by contraction. The connecting rod 102 can drive the adjusting ring 6 to move so as to contact and squeeze the liquid lens 5 .

[0043] The above-mentioned liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0044] The actuator composed of the SAM wire 101, the connecting rod 102, the support part 104 and the first elastic arm 103 is used to drive the adjustment ring 6, which will not generate electromagnetic interference and affect the normal operation of other electronic components; and the first elastic arm 103 allows the connecting rod 102 to swing elastically relative to the support part 104, so that the displacement of the adjustment ring 6 can be greater than the contraction of the SMA wire 101, thereby achieving a larger focusing stroke under the condition of a smaller actuator volume, which is conducive to the miniaturization of the liquid lens focusing device.

[0045] Regarding the support portion 104 , the support portion 104 is fixed on the base 3 , and the connecting rod 102 and the adjustment seat 201 can move relative to the support portion 104 .

[0046] Regarding the SMA wire 101 , the SMA wire 101 refers to a shape memory alloy wire, and can achieve length contraction before and after power is supplied.

[0047] Regarding the first elastic arm 103 , the first elastic arm 103 is made of elastic material and can bend when the SMA wire 101 contracts. The first elastic arm 103 is in a strip shape, one end of the first elastic arm 103 is connected to the support portion 104 and the other end is connected to the connecting rod 102 .

[0048] Regarding the connecting rod 102 , the connecting rod 102 is a rod with a certain rigidity, and can support the displacement of the adjustment ring 6 .

[0049] In this embodiment, the support portion 104, the first elastic arm 103 and the connecting rod 102 are integrally formed by a conductive material. The integral formation of the support portion 104, the first elastic arm 103 and the connecting rod 102 is conducive to reducing the manufacturing difficulty and cost of the SMA actuator 1. The conductive material allows the support portion 104, the first elastic arm 103 and the connecting rod 102 to conduct electricity for the SMA wire 101, which is conducive to simplifying the overall circuit structure of the liquid lens focusing device.

[0050] Regarding the support portion 104 , the first elastic arm 103 and the connecting rod 102 , the support portion 104 , the first elastic arm 103 and the connecting rod 102 are integrally formed by metal material, and have both good elasticity and electrical conductivity.

[0051] In this embodiment, the number of the support part 104, the first elastic arm 103 and the connecting rod 102 in the same SMA actuator 1 is two and they are arranged symmetrically. The symmetrical arrangement of the support part 104, the first elastic arm 103 and the connecting rod 102 can enhance the stability of the movement of the driven member.

[0052] Regarding the SMA wire 101 , both ends of the SMA wire 101 are respectively connected to one end of two connecting rods 102 in the same SMA actuator 1 , so that when the SMA wire 101 contracts, the two symmetrically arranged connecting rods 102 can be driven simultaneously.

[0053] In this embodiment, in order to facilitate the connection between the adjustment ring 6 and the connecting rod 102, the liquid lens focusing device further includes a driven member, the adjustment ring 6 is arranged on the driven member, and one end of the connecting rod 102 is hinged to the driven member.

[0054] Regarding the driven part, the driven part is the adjustment seat 201, a protruding hinge column is provided on the adjustment seat 201, a hinge ring is provided at one end of the connecting rod 102, the hinge ring is sleeved on the hinge column to form a hinge mechanism, and the adjustment ring 6 is fixedly connected to the adjustment seat 201. It can be understood that, according to actual conditions, in some other embodiments, the adjustment ring 6 can also be configured to be integrally formed with the adjustment seat 201.

[0055] In this embodiment, the SMA actuator 1 is divided into a first SMA actuator 10a and a second SMA actuator 10b, the SMA wire 101 of the first SMA actuator 10a is arranged between the connecting rod 102 and the base 3, and the connecting rod 102 of the second SMA actuator 10b is arranged between the SMA wire 101 and the base 3. The liquid lens focus and anti-shake device includes at least one first SMA actuator 10a and at least one second SMA actuator 10b. Since the relative positions between the connecting rod 102, the SMA wire 101 and the base 3 in the first SMA actuator 10a and the second SMA actuator 10b are different, the adjustment ring 6 can be driven in opposite directions, and the adjustment ring 6 can be driven to move in more directions, which is conducive to expanding the focus and anti-shake functions of the liquid lens focus and anti-shake device.

[0056] Regarding the SMA actuators 1 , preferably, each SMA actuator 1 surrounds the adjustment seat 201 .

[0057] Regarding the liquid lens focus and anti-shake device, the number of the first SMA actuators 10a is two and they are symmetrically arranged about the adjustment seat 201, and the number of the second SMA actuators 10b is two and they are symmetrically arranged about the adjustment seat 201. The two first SMA actuators 10a and the two second SMA actuators 10b are symmetrically arranged about the adjustment seat 201, respectively. By detecting or controlling each SMA actuator 1, the inclination and displacement of the adjustment seat 201 and the adjustment ring 6 can be detected or controlled, which is conducive to further expanding the anti-shake and focus functions of the camera module.

[0058] Regarding the first SMA actuator 10a and the second SMA actuator 10b, the difference between the two is Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 When the SMA wire 101 contracts, the connecting rod 102 of the first SMA actuator 10a swings away from the base 3, thereby driving the adjustment seat 201 away from the base 3. When the SMA wire 101 contracts, the connecting rod 102 of the second SMA actuator 10b swings toward the base 3, thereby driving the adjustment seat 201 toward the base 3.

[0059] 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 adjustment ring 6 is between the liquid lens 5 and the fixed lens 7, and the liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device can drive the adjustment ring 6 to move, thereby contacting and squeezing the liquid lens 5 to achieve focusing and anti-shake functions.

[0060] Regarding the camera module, it also includes an adjustment component 2, which includes an adjustment seat 201. The adjustment ring 6 is arranged on the adjustment seat 201. One end of the connecting rod 102 is hinged to the adjustment seat 201. The adjustment seat 201 is movably connected to the base 3. The SMA actuator 1 can drive the adjustment seat 201 and the adjustment ring 6 to move relative to the base 3, so as to achieve focusing or anti-shake.

[0061] Regarding the adjustment component 2, it also includes a spring 202, which is fixedly connected to the adjustment seat 201. The spring 202 is provided with a plurality of second elastic arms 204, one end of the second elastic arm 204 is connected to the base 3, and the second elastic arm 204 enables the spring 202 to support the adjustment seat 201 and make the adjustment seat 201 movable relative to the base 3.

[0062] Regarding the spring 202, the spring 202 is fixedly attached to the upper surface of the adjustment seat 201. The spring 202 and the second elastic arm 204 are integrally formed metal sheets, and the second elastic arm 204 enables the adjustment seat 201 to form an elastic suspension state on the base 3, so that the adjustment seat 201 is easy to drive on each SMA actuator 1. The spring 202 constitutes the suspension system of the lens assembly 2. Here, the spring 202 does not refer to the common spiral spring, volute spring or leaf spring in the mechanical field, but a special-shaped spring dedicated to the suspension of the adjustment assembly 2.

[0063] Of course, according to actual conditions, in some other embodiments, the number of the springs 202 can be selected to be multiple, for example, two springs 202 can be provided, wherein one spring 202 is fitted and fixed to the upper surface of the adjustment seat 201, and the other spring 202 is fitted and fixed to the lower surface of the adjustment seat 201.

[0064] Regarding the camera module, it also includes a cover body 4, which is arranged above the base 3, and a receiving cavity is formed between the cover body 4 and the base 3. A first mounting hole 302 for embedding a fixed lens 7 is opened at the center of the base 3, and a second fixing hole 401 for embedding a liquid lens 5 is opened at the center of the top of the cover body 4. The fixed lens 7, the adjustment seat 201, the adjustment ring 6, and the SMA actuator 1 are all arranged inside the receiving cavity.

[0065] Regarding the base 3, four connecting columns 301 extending into the accommodating cavity are arranged at the four corners of the base 3, one end of the second elastic arm 204 is connected to the top of the connecting column 301, the supporting parts 104 in the SMA actuator 1 are connected to the side of the connecting column 301, and the four SMA actuators 1 correspond to the four sides of the base 3 respectively, and in order to facilitate circuit connection, one end of the supporting part 104 passes through the base 3 and extends to the outside of the accommodating cavity, and the base 3 is provided with an open groove 303 allowing the supporting part 104 to pass through.

[0066] The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device and the camera module in this technical solution can be used in electronic equipment.

Claims

1. Liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device, It is characterized in that include: Liquid lens, which can change the curvature and focal length through contact squeezing; An SMA actuator, the SMA actuator comprising an SMA wire, a connecting rod, a support portion and a first elastic arm, the SMA wire can be energized and contracted, one end of the connecting rod is connected to the SMA wire, the angle between the SMA wire and the connecting rod is greater than zero, one end of the connecting rod is elastically connected to the support portion, the first elastic arm is arranged between the connecting rod and the support portion, and the first elastic arm can be elastically bent; The adjusting ring is arranged below the liquid lens. The SMA wire can drive the connecting rod to swing relative to the supporting part by contraction, and the connecting rod can drive the adjusting ring to move so as to contact and squeeze the liquid lens.

2. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device according to claim 1, Features: The number of the supporting portion, the first elastic arm and the connecting rod in the SMA actuator is two and they are symmetrically arranged.

3. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device according to claim 1, Features: The support portion, the first elastic arm and the connecting rod are integrally formed by conductive material.

4. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Features: It also includes a driven part, the adjusting ring is arranged on the driven part, and one end of the connecting rod is hinged to the driven part.

5. The liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Features: At least one first SMA actuator and / or at least one second SMA actuator are included, and the first SMA actuator and the second SMA actuator can drive the adjustment ring in opposite directions.

6. Camera module, Features: A liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device comprising any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The camera module according to claim 6, Features: It also 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 adjustment ring is located between the liquid lens and the fixed lens.

8. The camera module according to claim 7, Features: It also includes an adjustment component, which includes an adjustment seat and a spring. The adjustment ring is arranged on the adjustment seat, one end of the connecting rod is hinged to the adjustment seat, the spring is fixedly connected to the adjustment seat, the spring is provided with a plurality of second elastic arms, one end of the second elastic arm is connected to the base, and the second elastic arm enables the spring to support the adjustment seat and make the adjustment seat movable relative to the base.

9. Electronic equipment, Features: A liquid lens focusing and anti-shake device comprising any one of claims 1 to 5.

10. Electronic equipment, Features: A camera module comprising any one of claims 6 to 8.

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