Optical component driving device, camera device, and electronic equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides an optical component driving device in which the tilting movement of an optical component is not easily hindered by an FPC. The optical component driving device (100) comprises: a camera module (101) having a lens body 102 as an optical component; a base plate (9); a support mechanism disposed between the center of the camera module (101) and the base plate (9) and supporting the camera module (101) so that the camera module (101) can freely tilt; and a second FPC (8) as an FPC connected to the outside from the camera module (101). The second FPC (8) has a connecting portion (82) extending in a strip shape between the camera module (101) and the base plate (9) from a position corresponding to the edge of the camera module (101) in the main body (81). The connecting portion (82) has a curved portion (881, 882, and 883) that is curved outward at a position corresponding to the support mechanism.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical component driving device, a camera device, and an electronic device used in electronic devices such as smartphones. Background Art

[0002] Some camera devices used in electronic devices such as smartphones perform shake correction by tilting an optical component comprising a lens and an image sensor about the X and Y axes. Patent Document 1 discloses technology related to this type of camera device. The optical device for photographing disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a pivot portion at the center of a base, which supports the center of the bottom surface of the optical component and includes a magnet and a coil for shake correction. In this device, the gap between the base and the bottom surface of the optical component is bypassed by the imaging element and the two FPCs that electrically connect the position detection sensor to the external device body, avoiding the pivot portion.

[0003]

Prior art literature

[0004] [Patent Literature]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-294393A Summary of the Invention

[0006] [Problems to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, in the case of the technology of Patent Document 1, the tilting movement of the optical component may be hindered by the FPC that is routed under the optical component.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an optical component driving device in which the tilting movement of an optical component is less likely to be hindered by an FPC.

[0009]

Methods for solving problems

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a lens driving device as a preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises: an optical component having a lens body and a slider having a convex spherical surface; a base plate having a receiving portion on the front surface, the receiving portion having a concave spherical surface corresponding to the convex spherical surface of the slider; a support mechanism, which is arranged between the center of the optical component and the base plate, is composed of the slider and the receiving portion, and supports the optical component freely in an inclined manner; and an FPC, which is arranged between the rear surface of the optical component and the front surface of the base plate, includes a main body portion having a through hole for configuring the slider and two connecting portions extending in a point-symmetrical manner with the main body portion sandwiched at the center, and is connected to the outside from the optical component, the two connecting portions are folded multiple times respectively, and have bent portions bent outward at multiple locations corresponding to the support mechanism, and the inner edges of the bent portions at the multiple locations surround the slider and the receiving portion.

[0011] In this aspect, the connecting portion may be folded multiple times.

[0012] Alternatively, two connecting portions may be provided, and the two connecting portions may extend point-symmetrically from point-symmetrical positions.

[0013] Alternatively, the bent portion may surround the supporting mechanism almost entirely.

[0014] Furthermore, in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the connecting portion extends, an outer edge of the bent portion may be exposed outward relative to an edge of the main body portion located in the direction.

[0015] Alternatively, a plurality of magnets serving as driving parts for driving the optical parts may be provided on the outer surface of the frame that fixes the optical parts internally, the rear edge of each of the magnets being located closer to the front side than the plurality of curved parts, and the outer edges of the plurality of curved parts will not exceed the magnets and be exposed closer to the outside.

[0016] Furthermore, a driving portion for driving the optical component may be directly or indirectly provided on an outer surface of the optical component, and the driving portion may be located outside the curved portion in the direction.

[0017] Alternatively, the main body may be provided with a hole, and the support mechanism may be arranged in the hole.

[0018] A camera device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including the above-mentioned optical component driving device.

[0019] Another preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device including the camera device described above.

[0020] Effects of the Invention

[0021] The optical component driving device of the present invention comprises: an optical component having a lens; a base plate; a support mechanism disposed between the center of the optical component and the base plate, supporting the optical component so that it can freely tilt; and an FPC connecting the optical component to the outside. The FPC has a connecting portion extending in a strip-like shape between the optical component and the base plate from a position on a main body corresponding to an edge of the optical component, and the connecting portion has a curved portion that curves outward at a position corresponding to the support mechanism. Therefore, an optical component driving device can be provided in which the tilting movement of the optical component is less likely to be hindered by the FPC. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a front view of a smartphone 201 equipped with a camera device 200 including the optical component driving device 100 as one embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of an optical component driving device 100 is shown in FIG.

[0024] Figure 3 It is decomposed Figure 2 A three-dimensional diagram of an optical component driving device 100.

[0025] Figure 4 It is from Figure 2 , a perspective view in which the cover 1, the camera module 101, the second FPC 8 and the bottom plate 9 are removed.

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 A-A' line cross-section diagram.

[0027] Figure 6 Yes Figure 2 Figure 2FPC8.

[0028] Figure 7 is expanded Figure 6 Figure 2FPC8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown, a camera device 200 including the optical component driving device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is housed in a housing of a smartphone 201 .

[0030] The camera device 200 includes a camera module 101 as an optical component and an optical component driving device 104 that holds the camera module 101. The camera module 101 includes a lens 102, an image sensor 103, a lens driving device 104, and a rectangular parallelepiped housing 105 that covers these components. The image sensor 103 converts light incident through the lens 102 into an image signal and outputs it. The lens driving device 104 drives the lens 102 in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the lens 102, but this configuration is not required.

[0031] Here, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is used, in which the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are orthogonal to each other. The optical axis direction of the lens body 102 is parallel to the Z direction when not in operation. In addition, the side from which the subject is observed from the lens body 102 is the +Z side, sometimes referred to as the front side, and the opposite side (the side of the image sensor 103) is the -Z side, sometimes referred to as the rear side. In addition, the side facing the front side is referred to as the front surface, and the side facing the rear side is referred to as the rear surface. In addition, among the surfaces parallel to the Z axis, the side facing the direction close to the optical axis is referred to as the inner surface, and the side facing the direction away from the optical axis is referred to as the outer surface.

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown, the optical component driving device 100 includes a cover 1 , a first FPC 2 , two Hall elements 3 , four coils 4 , four magnets 5 , a frame 6 , four fingerboard springs 7 , a slider 106 , a second FPC 8 , and a base plate 9 .

[0033] The cover 1 has a rectangular front plate 17 and four side plates 18 extending from the four sides of the front plate 17 along the -Z side. A rectangular through-hole 19 is provided in the front plate 17 of the cover 1. The cover 1 and the rectangular bottom plate 9 are combined to form an outer frame. This outer frame holds the first flexible printed circuit board 2, the Hall element 3, the coil 4, the magnet 5, the frame 6, the finger spring 7, the camera module 101, the slider 106, and the second flexible printed circuit board 8. The camera module 101 is exposed toward the +Z side through the through-hole 19 of the cover 1.

[0034] The frame 6 is used to fix the camera module 101 inside it, and is a frame-shaped body composed of four walls extending in the Z direction. When the camera module 101 is installed, the four sides of its frame 105 are surrounded by the frame 6 and fixed to the frame 6 by an adhesive. On the outer surface of the frame 6, a magnet 5 is also fixed as a driving part for driving the camera module 101. The magnet 5 is composed of two rectangular parallelepiped magnet pieces arranged side by side in the Z direction. The two magnet pieces are magnetized so that the magnetic poles in the direction of the plate surface are opposite. Each magnet 5 can also be configured as a magnet piece in a manner to form a magnetic pole configuration as described above. In addition, each magnet 5 can also be fixed directly on the camera module 101 instead of on the frame 6. In addition, it can also serve as a magnet for driving the lens in the camera module 101.

[0035] The first flexible printed circuit board 2 is provided inside the four side panels 18 of the cover 1. The first flexible printed circuit board 2 has a first plate portion 21a, a second plate portion 21b, a third plate portion 21c, and a fourth plate portion 21d fixed to the side panels 18 on the -X, +Y, +X, and -Y sides, respectively.

[0036] The first plate portion 21a and the second plate portion 21b, the second plate portion 21b and the third plate portion 21c, and the third plate portion 21c and the fourth plate portion 21d intersect at right angles and are connected to each other inside the -X+Y corner, the +X+Y corner, and the +XY corner of the cover 1. The -X end of the fourth plate portion 21d changes direction and extends rearward before reaching the -XY corner of the cover 1.

[0037] The front end extending toward the rear of the fourth plate portion 21d is bent toward the -Y side at the rear edge of the side plate 18 on the -Y side of the cover 1, and projects toward the -Y side from the gap between the cover 1 and the bottom plate 9 formed by the cutout in the side plate 18. The front end of the fourth plate portion 21d that projects toward the -Y side is electrically connected to an external substrate.

[0038] A coil 4, serving as a driving unit, is fixed to each inner surface of the first plate portion 21a, second plate portion 21b, third plate portion 21c, and fourth plate portion 21d of the first flexible printed circuit board 2. The coils 4 fixed to the first plate portion 21a and third plate portion 21c are wound around the X-axis, while the coils 4 fixed to the second plate portion 21b and fourth plate portion 21d are wound around the Y-axis. Together with the magnets 5, the coils 4 form a driving unit that tilts the camera module 101 in the X and Y directions.

[0039] A Hall element 3 is placed in each of the hollow core portions of coil 4 on the +X side and the -Y side. The Hall elements 3 are fixed to the inner surfaces of the third plate portion 21c and the fourth plate portion 21d. The Hall elements 3 detect the magnetic field from the magnet 5 facing the Hall element 3 and output a signal indicating the detection result.

[0040] Fingerplate spring 7 has an outer portion attached to cover 1, an inner portion attached to frame 6, and an arm portion that elastically connects the outer and inner portions. The outer portion is fixed to the inner surface of the four corners of cover 1's front plate 17, which are recessed toward the rear. The inner portion is fixed to the four corners of frame 6, which are recessed toward the rear. Fingerplate spring 7 presses frame 6 backward.

[0041] A slider 106 is fixed at the center of the rear surface of the camera module 101. The rear surface of the slider 106 bulges out toward the rear as a convex spherical surface. In the XY directions, the center O of the convex spherical surface of the slider 106 coincides with the optical axis and the center of the image sensor 103. In the Z direction, the position of the center O of the convex spherical surface is approximately the center of the camera module 101 including the slider 106, and is also the same as the position of the coil 4 and the magnet 5. By arranging the slider 106 at the center of the rear surface of the frame 105 of the camera module 101, the device can be made thinner. The slider 106 can also form the rear surface of the camera module 101 itself into a convex spherical shape, and form the frame 6 so as to hold the bottom surface, thereby forming the bottom surface into a convex spherical shape.

[0042] A bearing portion 108 is provided in the center of the front surface of the base plate 9. The slider 106 and the bearing portion 108 constitute a support mechanism, which is arranged between the center of the camera module 101 and the base plate 9, and supports the camera module 101 so that it can tilt and move freely. The front surface of the bearing portion 108 is a concave spherical surface corresponding to the convex spherical surface of the slider 106. That is, the center O and radius of the convex spherical surface and the concave spherical surface are consistent, and the surfaces are in contact. The bearing portion 108 is the most integral, formed to protrude from the front surface of the base plate 9 toward the front side, and the rearmost part of the concave spherical surface is not located at a position further back than the base plate 9 outside the bearing portion 108. The bearing portion 108 formed as a separate body can also be fixed to the front surface of the base plate 9.

[0043] By locating the center O of slider 106 approximately at the center of the camera module 101, which includes slider 106, the rear and front ends of the camera module 101 move approximately the same amount in the X and Y directions when the camera module 101 tilts. This movement is roughly halved compared to when the center of tilt is located at the rear end, as in the case of a pivot. Furthermore, when the center is at the same height as center O, the movement in the X and Y directions is approximately zero. Since the positions of magnet 5 and coil 6 are approximately the same as center O, the distance between magnet 5 and coil 6 remains virtually unchanged even during tilting, resulting in a stable driving force. Furthermore, in this case, the driving force generated by magnet 5 and coil 6 is primarily in the Z direction, and the movement of magnet 5 during tilting is also primarily in the Z direction. The direction of the driving force and the direction of the movement are consistent, resulting in excellent driving efficiency. Thus, when a driving component such as magnet 5 and coil 6 is arranged so that the driving force is generated in the direction tangential to a circle centered on center O, excellent driving efficiency is achieved.

[0044] The second FPC 8 is arranged between the front surface of the base plate 9 and the rear surface of the camera module 101. Figure 6 as well as Figure 7As shown, the second flexible printed circuit board 8 has a main body 81 and two connecting portions 82. The main body 81 is square in shape. A through-hole 80 corresponding to the slider 106 is provided in the center of the main body 81, and the slider 106 is disposed within this through-hole 80. The main body 81 is mounted on the rear surface of the camera module 101 and is electrically connected to the image sensor 103 and lens drive unit 104 within the camera module 101. The two connecting portions 82 extend symmetrically from two edge portions, symmetrically located on the +X and -X sides of the center of the main body 81, and bend multiple times to fit within the space between the rear surface of the camera module 101 and the front surface of the base plate 9. The connecting portion 82 extending from the +X edge, so that the two connecting portions 82 do not overlap, uses the +Y area from halfway along the main body 81. It passes through the slider 106 and the +Y side of the receiving portion 108, bends multiple times, and then protrudes outward from the gap between the cover 1 and the base plate 9 formed by the cutout in the -X side panel 18. The connecting portion 82 extending from the edge portion on the -X side uses the area on the -Y side from the halfway point, passes through the slider 106 and the -Y side of the supporting portion 108, is bent multiple times, and then protrudes to the outside from the gap between the cover 1 and the base plate 9 formed by the cutout of the side plate 18 on the +X side.

[0045] The two front end portions of the connecting portion 82 protruding toward the +X side and the −X side are electrically connected to the external substrate, respectively. The two connecting portions 82 are fixed to the cover 1 and the bottom plate 9 at the positions of the cutouts.

[0046] like Figure 7 As shown, when unfolded, the two connecting portions 82 of the second flexible printed circuit board 8 have a ridge 821 at the base end connected to the main body 81, a ridge 822 at a position separated from the main body 81 relative to the ridge 821, and a ridge 823 at a position separated from the main body 81 relative to the ridge 822. The two connecting portions 82 are folded back on these ridges 821, 822, and 823, forming a twisted shape. The ridges 821 and 823 of one folded connecting portion 82 and the ridges 822 of the other connecting portion 82 are approximately the same in the X direction, and the ridges 821, 823 of the other connecting portion 82 and the ridges 822 of one connecting portion 82 are approximately the same in the X direction.

[0047] The portions of the two connecting portions 82 defined by ridges 821, 822, and 823 have outwardly curved portions as curved portions 881, 882, and 883. The inner edges of the curved portions 881, 882, and 883 of the two connecting portions 82 substantially overlap when viewed in the Z direction, surrounding the slider 106 and the receiving portion 108 from both the +Y and -Y sides.

[0048] like Figure 6As shown, the outer edges of the curved portions 881, 882, and 883 of the two connecting portions 82 are almost overlapped when viewed from the Z direction. In the Y direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the connecting portion 82 extends, although they are exposed to the outside of the edge of the main body 81, they do not exceed the exposure of the magnet 5. The magnet 5 is also located to the outside of the curved portions 881, 882, and 883. Figure 5 As shown, the rear edges of the four magnets 5 on the outer surface of the frame 6 are located forward of the bent portions 881, 882, and 883. Therefore, even if the camera module 101 tilts, the magnets 5 and the bent portions 881, 882, and 883 do not interfere with each other.

[0049] Slider 106 and receiving portion 108 are located between the inner edges of curved portions 881, 882, and 883 of the two connecting portions 82. Slider 106 is attached to the rear surface of camera module 101, with its convex spherical surface exposed rearward from through-hole 80 of main body 81. The convex spherical surface of slider 106 is slidably held on the concave spherical surface of receiving portion 108.

[0050] A control unit (not shown) is provided outside the optical component drive device 100. This control unit performs detection control and drive control. During detection control, the control unit derives the Z-direction position of the magnet 5 facing the Hall elements 3 based on the output signals of the two Hall elements 3, thereby determining the slope of the optical axis of the camera module 101, or in other words, the lens 102, relative to the Z axis. During drive control, the control unit supplies current to the coil 4, causing the convex spherical surface of the slider 106 to slide on the concave spherical surface of the receiving portion 108, thereby tilting the camera module 101 about the X-axis and the Y-axis. This is performed while comparing the desired optical axis slope with the actual optical axis slope.

[0051] The above details the structure of this embodiment. The optical component driving device 100 in this embodiment includes: a camera module 101 having a lens 102 as an optical component; a base plate 9; a support mechanism disposed between the center of the camera module 101 and the base plate 9, supporting the camera module 101 so that it can freely tilt; and a second flexible printed circuit board 8 (FPC) that connects the camera module 101 to the outside. The second flexible printed circuit board 8 has a connecting portion 82 that extends in a strip-like shape between the camera module 101 and the base plate 9, starting from a position on the main body 81 corresponding to the edge of the camera module 101. The connecting portion 82 has curved portions 881, 882, and 883 that curve outward at positions corresponding to the support mechanism. Therefore, an optical component driving device 100 can be provided in which the tilting movement of the camera module 101 is less likely to be hindered by the second flexible printed circuit board 8.

[0052] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the number of ridges 821 , 822 , and 823 or bent portions 881 , 882 , and 883 in the two connecting portions 82 may be two, or may be four or more.

[0053] In addition, in the above embodiment, the outer edges of the bent portions 881 , 882 , and 883 of the two connecting portions 83 may be accommodated inside the edge portion of the main body portion 81 .

[0054]

Explanation of symbols

[0055] 1. Cover; 2. First FPC; 3. Hall element; 4. Coil; 5. Magnet; 6. Frame; 7. Leaf spring; 8. Second FPC; 9. Bottom plate; 17. Front plate; 18. Side plate; 19. Through-hole; 21a. First plate portion; 21b. Second plate portion; 21c. Third plate portion; 21d. Fourth plate portion; 80. Through-hole; 81. Main body portion; 82. Connecting portion; 100. Optical component driving device; 101. Camera module; 102. Lens body; 103. Image sensor; 104. Lens driving device; 105. Frame; 106. Slider; 108. Supporting portion; 200. Camera device; 201. Smartphone; 821. 822. 823. Edges; 881. 882. 883. Bends.

Claims

1. An optical component driving device, characterized in that: have: A camera module having a lens body and a slider having a convex spherical surface as an optical component; A cover and a bottom plate, which are combined as an outer frame, in which the camera module is held, the cover having a front plate and side plates extending rearward from the front plate, and the bottom plate having a receiving portion on its front surface, the receiving portion having a concave spherical surface corresponding to the convex spherical surface of the slider; a supporting mechanism, disposed between the center of the camera module and the bottom plate, composed of the slider and the receiving portion, and supporting the camera module so as to be freely movable and tiltable; a driving unit having magnets and coils facing each other to tilt the camera module; a frame held within the outer frame, the camera module being fixed therein and the magnet being fixed on its outer surface; a first FPC provided on the inner side of the side plate of the cover and having the coil fixed on its inner surface; and The second flexible printed circuit board (FPC) is disposed between the rear surface of the camera module and the front surface of the base plate, and includes a main body having a through hole for disposing the slider and two connecting portions extending in a point-symmetrical manner with the main body sandwiched between the center, and is connected to the outside from the camera module. The two connecting parts are folded multiple times and accommodated in the space between the rear surface of the camera module and the front surface of the base plate. A plurality of locations corresponding to the support mechanism have bent portions that bend outward, and the inner edges of the bent portions at the plurality of locations surround the slider and the receiving portion. In a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the connecting portion extends, the outer edge of the bent portion is exposed outwardly relative to the edge of the main body portion located in the direction. The rear edge of each of the magnets is located forward of the plurality of bent portions, and the outer edges of the plurality of bent portions are exposed outward without exceeding the magnet.

2. A camera device, characterized in that: A device comprising the optical component driving device according to claim 1.

3. An electronic device, characterized in that: A camera device according to claim 2.

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