Aperture device, camera module having aperture device, and electronic device

Abstract

The present invention provides an aperture device that sets the amount of light incident on the lens of a camera module, the aperture device comprising: an aperture plate that is plate-shaped and forms an aperture opening that penetrates in the direction of the plate surface; and a configuration change mechanism that changes the configuration of the aperture plate to an aperture position and a retracted position, the aperture position being a position on the lens where the center of the aperture opening is arranged at a position corresponding to the optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position being a position retracted from the lens.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aperture device mounted on a camera module and used to change the amount of light incident on a lens, a camera module including the aperture device, and electronic equipment. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, camera modules incorporated into electronic devices (such as smartphones and tablets) are equipped with an aperture device that adjusts the amount of light incident on a lens (a lens through which light reaching an imaging element passes) according to a specified aperture value.

[0003] As such an aperture device, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-156283 discloses a device including two aperture blades that are relatively slidable while overlapping each other, and an actuator that transmits power to one of the aperture blades.

[0004] The two diaphragm blades are respectively formed with recesses. In addition, the two diaphragm blades overlap to form an aperture opening (an opening for passing light reaching the lens) in the recesses of each other.

[0005] The actuator is configured to transmit power to one of the diaphragm blades, and is configured so that when one of the diaphragm blades moves, the other diaphragm blade also moves in conjunction with the one diaphragm blade.

[0006] In the aperture device thus configured, if the two aperture blades are relatively slid to increase the size of the aperture opening, the amount of light incident on the lens can be increased, and if the two aperture blades are relatively slid to decrease the size of the aperture opening, the amount of light incident on the lens can be reduced. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] However, in the conventional aperture device described above, even if the aperture opening width is set according to a specified aperture value, errors may occur in the arrangement positions of the two blades. In this case, the aperture opening width may not match the specified aperture value, and the amount of light incident on the lens may be inappropriately set.

[0009] Therefore, in view of such actual circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an aperture device capable of appropriately setting the amount of light incident on a lens, a camera module including the aperture device, and an electronic device.

[0010] Solutions for solving problems

[0011] The aperture device of the present invention sets the amount of light incident on the lens of the camera module, and comprises:

[0012] an aperture plate including a shielding region for shielding incident light toward the lens; and

[0013] A configuration change mechanism changes the configuration of the aperture plate to an aperture position and a retracted position, wherein the aperture position is a position on the lens where the center of the aperture opening is located at a position corresponding to the optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position is a position retracted from the lens.

[0014] In the aperture device of the present invention,

[0015] The configuration change mechanism may be configured to include:

[0016] a rotor rotatable in an optical axis circumferential direction with the optical axis as its center;

[0017] a moving structure that moves the aperture plate to the aperture position or the retracted position according to the rotation of the rotor;

[0018] The mobile structure has:

[0019] a rod portion extending outward from the outer peripheral edge of the aperture plate;

[0020] a connecting shaft in the shape of a shaft, arranged with its axis aligned with the direction of the optical axis in which the optical axis extends, and fixed in position, and rotatably connected to the rod;

[0021] an operating portion mounted on a front end side of a connection position of the connecting shaft in the rod portion;

[0022] A guide portion moves the operating portion to one side or the other side in the optical axis radial direction perpendicular to the optical axis circumferential direction and the optical axis direction in accordance with the rotation of the rotor in the optical axis circumferential direction.

[0023] In the aperture device of the present invention,

[0024] The guide portion may be a guide groove formed in the rotor.

[0025] The aperture device of the present invention can be constructed as follows:

[0026] The arrangement changing mechanism includes a driving source for rotating the rotor in the circumferential direction of the optical axis.

[0027] The aperture device of the present invention can be constructed as follows:

[0028] The arrangement changing mechanism includes a holding structure for fixing the arrangement position of the rotor so that the center of the rotor itself coincides with the center of the lens.

[0029] The aperture device of the present invention includes two sets of aperture units each consisting of the aperture plate, the rod, the connecting shaft, the operating portion, and the guide portion.

[0030] It can be constructed so that in an open state in which the aperture plate of the aperture unit on one side and the aperture plate of the aperture unit on the other side are arranged in the retracted position, when the rotor rotates to one side of the optical axis circumference, the aperture plate of the aperture unit on the one side moves to the aperture position, and in the open state, when the rotor rotates to the other side of the optical axis circumference, the aperture plate of the aperture unit on the other side moves to the aperture position.

[0031] In the aperture device of the present invention,

[0032] The one aperture unit and the other aperture unit may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the rotor as a reference point.

[0033] The aperture device of the present invention can be constructed as follows:

[0034] The aperture plate of one of the aperture units is provided with an aperture opening extending along the optical axis.

[0035] The aperture plate of the other aperture unit is formed with an aperture opening having a diameter different from that of the aperture opening of the aperture plate of the one aperture unit, or is formed with no aperture opening.

[0036] A camera module according to the present invention includes any of the above-described aperture devices.

[0037] An electronic device according to the present invention includes any of the above-described aperture devices.

[0038] As described above, the aperture device, the camera module including the aperture device, and the electronic device according to the present invention can achieve the excellent effect of appropriately setting the amount of light incident on the lens. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Figure 1 This is an external view of an aperture device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 2 This is a diagram schematically showing an exploded state of the aperture device according to the same embodiment.

[0041] Figure 3 This is a plan view of the aperture device according to the embodiment, with the cover removed.

[0042] Figure 4 This is a plan view of the aperture device according to the embodiment, with the rotor and the components on the rotor removed.

[0043] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 The VV line corresponds to the position on the cross-sectional view.

[0044] Figure 6 This is a plan view of the piezoelectric element of the aperture device according to the same embodiment.

[0045] Figure 7A This is an explanatory diagram of the piezoelectric element of the aperture device according to the embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram of a state where electric power is applied to the first region.

[0046] Figure 7B This is an explanatory diagram of the piezoelectric element of the aperture device according to the embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the application of electric power to the first region is stopped.

[0047] Figure 8A This is an explanatory diagram of the piezoelectric element of the aperture device according to the embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram of a state where electric power is applied to the second region.

[0048] Figure 8B This is an explanatory diagram of the piezoelectric element of the aperture device according to the same embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram of a state in which the application of electric power to the second region is stopped.

[0049] Figure 9A This is an operation explanatory diagram of the aperture device according to the embodiment, showing a state in which one aperture plate is being moved from the retracted position to the aperture position.

[0050] Figure 9B This is an operation explanatory diagram of the aperture device according to the embodiment, showing a state in which one aperture plate is moved from the retracted position to the aperture position.

[0051] Figure 10A This is an operation explanatory diagram of the aperture device according to the same embodiment, showing a state in which the other aperture plate is being moved from the retracted position to the aperture position.

[0052] Figure 10B This is an operation explanatory diagram of the aperture device according to the embodiment, showing a state in which the other aperture plate is moved from the retracted position to the aperture position.

[0053] Figure 11 It is an explanatory diagram of an aperture device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] Hereinafter, an aperture device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0055] like Figure 1As shown, the aperture device is mounted on a camera module 1 incorporated into an electronic device (eg, a smartphone, a tablet computer, etc.).

[0056] The aperture device 2 can be mounted on a lens unit 5 including a lens 50 that allows light reaching an imaging element to pass therethrough and is configured to change the amount of light incident on the lens 50 (incident light) according to a set aperture value.

[0057] Before describing the structure of the aperture device 2 , the structure of the lens unit 5 will be described first.

[0058] like Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, the lens unit 5 comprises: the lens 50; a housing 51 which houses the lens 50; and a power receiving unit 52 which is mounted on the housing 51 and is used to receive power from the outside (see FIG. Figure 5 ).

[0059] The housing 51 may incorporate, for example, a focus control unit for adjusting the focus of the lens 50 , and power may be supplied to the focus control unit via the power receiving unit 52 .

[0060] In this embodiment, in the following description, the direction in which the optical axis of the lens 50 extends is referred to as the optical axis direction, the circumferential direction centered on the optical axis of the lens 50 is referred to as the optical axis circumferential direction, and the direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction and the optical axis circumferential direction is referred to as the optical axis radial direction.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown, the aperture device 2 of this embodiment includes: an aperture plate 3, which is used to change the amount of light incident on the lens 50; and a configuration change mechanism 4, which changes the configuration of the aperture plate 3 to an aperture position and a retracted position, wherein the aperture position is a position on the lens 50 and the center of the aperture opening is configured at a position consistent with the optical axis of the lens 50, and the retracted position is a position retracted from the lens 50.

[0062] The aperture position of the aperture plate 3 is a position where the center of the aperture plate 3 (the center of the aperture opening) is aligned with the optical axis center of the lens 50 in a plan view (see FIG. Figure 3 The retracted position of the aperture plate 3 is a position in which the aperture plate 3 as a whole is arranged further outward in the radial direction of the optical axis than the lens 50 in a plan view (see Figure 9B 、 Figure 10B ).

[0063] like Figure 3 As shown, the aperture plate 3 is formed in a flat plate shape (optionally, in this embodiment, a circular plate shape). In addition, the aperture plate 3 includes a shielding area 30 that shields light incident on the lens 50 when arranged on the lens 50.

[0064] Since the aperture plate 3 of the present embodiment has the aperture opening 31 formed in the center portion thereof for transmitting light incident on the lens 50 , the shielding region 30 is formed in an annular shape.

[0065] The aperture device 2 of this embodiment includes two aperture plates 3. The diameter of the aperture opening 31 formed in one aperture plate 3 is different from the diameter of the aperture opening 31 formed in the other aperture plate 3. In other words, the two aperture plates 3 are formed according to different aperture values.

[0066] like Figure 2 As shown, the configuration change mechanism 4 has: a base 40, which is fixed to the lens unit 5 (housing 51); a rotor 41, which is arranged on the base 40 and can rotate in the circumferential direction of the optical axis; a drive source 42, which is used to rotate the rotor 41 in the circumferential direction of the optical axis; a holding structure 43, which is used to fix the configuration position of the rotor 41 at a predetermined position (a position where the center of the rotor 41 itself coincides with the center of the lens 50); a moving mechanism 44, which is linked to the rotation of the rotor 41 to move the aperture plate 3 to the aperture position or the retracted position; and a cover 45, which covers the base 40, the rotor 41, the drive source 42, the holding structure 43, and the moving mechanism 44.

[0067] The base 40 is annular and is fixed to the housing 51 while being placed on the housing 51. The front end of the lens 50 is inserted through the center of the base 40.

[0068] The rotor 41 is formed in an annular shape. The central axis of the rotor 41 is arranged at a position corresponding to the optical axis. Therefore, the rotation center of the rotor 41 is set at a position corresponding to the optical axis.

[0069] The rotor 41 of the present embodiment includes an annular annular plate portion 410 and an annular cylindrical portion 411 that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the center portion of the annular plate portion 410 .

[0070] One side of the annular plate portion 410 faces upward in the direction of the optical axis ( Figure 2 The other side of the annular plate portion 410 faces downward in the direction of the optical axis ( Figure 2 Configuration of the corresponding direction in the middle and lower part.

[0071] The front end portion of the lens 50 is inserted through the annular cylindrical portion 411. The annular cylindrical portion 411 is configured to receive the driving source 42 and the holding structure 43 on its outer peripheral surface.

[0072] like Figure 4As shown, the driving source 42 includes: a piezoelectric element 420, which is located on the lower side of the annular plate portion 410 and is arranged from the outside to the inside (toward the annular cylinder portion 411) on the optical axis diameter; a contact portion 421, which is installed at the front end of the piezoelectric element 420 and contacts the rotor 41; a mounting portion 422, which mounts the piezoelectric element 420 to the base 40; and a power supply portion 423 (see Figure 5 ), which supplies power to be transmitted to the piezoelectric element 420.

[0073] like Figure 6 As shown, the piezoelectric element 420 includes four regions arranged in two rows and two columns, and a pair of opposing regions 4200 and 4201 are the same type of regions.

[0074] Power (pulses) are applied to a pair of opposing regions (hereinafter referred to as first regions) 4200 on one side and a pair of opposing regions (hereinafter referred to as second regions) 4201 on the other side at different time points.

[0075] When a pulse is applied to the first region 4200, Figure 7A As shown, since each first region 4200 stretches while each second region 4201 maintains its original shape, the front end of the piezoelectric element 420 enters along a trajectory (arc-shaped trajectory) that bends forward and to one side in the width direction.

[0076] Furthermore, when the pulse application to the first region 4200 is stopped, as shown in FIG. Figure 7B As shown, the front end portion of the piezoelectric element 420 returns to its original position along a trajectory (arc-shaped trajectory) that curves rearward and to the other side in the width direction.

[0077] Therefore, when repetitive pulses are applied to each first region 4200 , the contact portion 421 attached to the tip of the piezoelectric element 420 moves along an elliptical trajectory.

[0078] In addition, when a pulse is applied to the second region 4201, as shown in FIG. Figure 8A As shown, since each second region 4201 is stretched while each first region 4200 maintains its original shape, the front end of the piezoelectric element 420 enters along a trajectory (arc-shaped trajectory) that bends forward and to the other side in the width direction.

[0079] Furthermore, when the pulse application to the second region 4201 is stopped, as shown in FIG. Figure 8B As shown, the front end portion of the piezoelectric element 420 returns to its original position along a trajectory (arc-shaped trajectory) that curves rearward and to one side in the width direction.

[0080] Therefore, when repetitive pulses are applied to each second region 4201 , the contact portion 421 attached to the tip of the piezoelectric element 420 also moves along an elliptical trajectory.

[0081] like Figure 4 As shown, the mounting portion 422 is configured to bias the piezoelectric element 420 inward in the optical axis radial direction so as to maintain the contact state between the contact portion 421 and the rotor 41 .

[0082] The power supply unit 423 of this embodiment is connected to the power receiving unit 52 (see Figure 5 ). Therefore, the power applied to the piezoelectric element 420 is supplied via the power receiving unit 52 of the lens unit 5 .

[0083] The retaining structure 43 has: an opposing retaining portion 430, which is arranged at a position parallel to the driving source 42 (the piezoelectric element 420 described later) in the radial direction of the optical axis; and a lateral retaining portion 431, which is arranged at a position deviated from the driving source 42 (the piezoelectric element 420 described later) in the circumferential direction of the optical axis.

[0084] The opposing holding portion 430 includes a ball 4300 that contacts the rotor 41 from the outside in the optical axis radial direction, and a receiving portion 4301 that receives the ball 4300 from the outside in the optical axis radial direction.

[0085] The lateral retaining portion 431 has: a ball 4310, which abuts against the rotor 41 from the outside in the radial direction of the optical axis; a cylindrical cylinder 4311, which is arranged on the outside of the ball 4310 in the radial direction of the optical axis; and an abutment force unit 4312, which is arranged in the cylinder 4311 and applies force to the balls 4300 and 4310 toward the rotor 41.

[0086] Therefore, the rotor 41 is allowed to move in the radial direction of the optical axis within the range in which the balls 4310 of the side holding portions 431 move in the radial direction of the optical axis, and after moving in the radial direction of the optical axis, is returned to its original position by the urging force of the contact urging means 4312 .

[0087] like Figure 2 As shown, the moving mechanism 44 includes: a rod portion 440, which extends outward from the outer peripheral edge portion of the aperture plate 3; a connecting shaft 441, which is in the shape of an axis and is arranged in a posture parallel to the optical axis direction, and the arrangement position is in a fixed state, and is connected to the rod portion 440 in a rotatable manner; an operating portion 442, which is installed on the front end side of the connection position of the connecting shaft 441 in the rod portion 440; and a guide portion 443, which moves the operating portion 442 to one side or the other side of the optical axis radial direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis circumference and the optical axis direction according to the rotational movement of the rotor 41 in the optical axis circumference.

[0088] The rod portion 440 of this embodiment has an elongated thin plate shape, and one end portion in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the aperture plate 3 .

[0089] The connecting shaft 441 is configured so that its arrangement position does not change even when the rotor 41 rotates. The connecting shaft 441 of this embodiment is fixed to the cover 45 and extends downward from the lower surface of the cover 45.

[0090] In addition, a rotatable intermediate portion between one end and the other end of the rod 440 in the longitudinal direction is connected to the connecting shaft 441. Therefore, the rod 440 can rotate in the circumferential direction (the circumferential direction centered on the connecting shaft 441) about the position connected to the connecting shaft 441.

[0091] The operating portion 442 is formed so as to extend from the operating portion 442 toward the rotor 41. In addition, the operating portion 442 of the present embodiment is formed in a shaft shape.

[0092] The guide portion 443 is composed of a guide groove formed to open on the upper surface of the rotor 41. Hereinafter, the guide portion 443 will be referred to as a guide groove.

[0093] like Figure 3 As shown, the guide groove 443 has: an inner guide portion 4430, which is formed on the central side of the rotor 41 (the inner side in the radial direction of the optical axis); an outer guide portion 4431, which is formed on the outer peripheral edge side of the rotor 41 (the outer side in the radial direction of the optical axis) closer to the inner guide portion 4430; and an intermediate guide portion 4432, which is continuous with the inner guide portion 4430 and the outer guide portion 4431.

[0094] The inner guide portion 4430 and the outer guide portion 4431 are formed in an arc shape along the circumference of the optical axis.

[0095] Furthermore, the inner guide portion 4430 is formed at a position that is not aligned with the outer guide portion 4431 in the circumferential direction of the optical axis. Specifically, the inner guide portion 4430 and the outer guide portion 4431 are formed at positions spaced apart from each other both in the radial direction of the optical axis and in the circumferential direction of the optical axis, and are connected via the intermediate guide portion 4432.

[0096] In this embodiment, the operating portion 442 is inserted into the guide groove 443, and the rotor 41 is configured to rotate relative to the operating portion 442. Therefore, when the position of the guide groove 443 relative to the operating portion 442 changes during the rotation of the rotor 41, the operating portion 442 is pushed by the rotor 41 within the guide groove 443, thereby moving away from the center of the rotor 41 or toward the center of the rotor 41.

[0097] That is, in this embodiment, the operating part 442 constitutes a locking part provided on the rod part 440, and the guide groove 443 constitutes a locked part provided on the rotor 41 and locked with the operating part 442. Through the locking of the operating part 442 and the guide groove 443, the rotation of the rod part 440 and the rotor 41 are linked and rotated around the connecting shaft 441.

[0098] Specifically, when the rotor 41 is rotated with the inner guide 4430 disposed at a position corresponding to the operating portion 442 , the intermediate guide 4432 passes the position corresponding to the operating portion 442 , and the outer guide 4431 reaches the position corresponding to the operating portion 442 .

[0099] At this time, the operating portion 442 is guided by the intermediate guide portion 4432 from the center of the rotor 41 toward the outer peripheral edge of the rotor 41 (away from the center of the rotor 41). The other end of the rod 440 moves along with the operating portion 442 from the center of the rotor 41 toward the outer peripheral edge of the rotor 41 (away from the center of the rotor 41). The aperture plate 3 moves along with the one end of the rod 440 from the outer peripheral edge of the rotor 41 toward the center of the rotor 41 (closer to the center of the rotor 41). The aperture plate 3 is then changed from the retracted position to the aperture position.

[0100] On the other hand, when the rotor 41 is rotated with the outer guide 4431 disposed at a position corresponding to the operating portion 442 , the intermediate guide 4432 passes the position corresponding to the operating portion 442 , and the inner guide 4430 reaches the position corresponding to the operating portion 442 .

[0101] At this time, the operating portion 442 is guided by the intermediate guide portion 4432 from the outer peripheral edge of the rotor 41 toward the center of the rotor 41 (towards the center of the rotor 41). The other end of the rod 440 moves along with the operating portion 442 from the outer peripheral edge of the rotor 41 toward the center of the rotor 41 (towards the center of the rotor 41). The aperture plate 3 moves along with the one end of the rod 440 toward the center of the rotor 41 toward the outer peripheral edge of the rotor 41 (away from the center of the rotor 41). The aperture plate 3 is then changed from the aperture position to the retracted position.

[0102] In this embodiment, two sets of aperture units are arranged on the rotor 41 , each set consisting of one aperture plate 3 , a rod 440 , a connecting shaft 441 , an operating portion 442 , and a guide portion 443 .

[0103] The aperture plate 3, rod 440, connecting shaft 441, and operating portion 442 of one aperture unit are arranged point-symmetrically with the aperture plate 3, rod 440, connecting shaft 441, and operating portion 442 of the other aperture unit, with respect to the center of the rotor 41. Furthermore, the inner guide portion 4430 of the guide portion 443 of one aperture unit and the inner guide portion 4430 of the guide portion 443 of the other aperture unit are formed continuously, but the inner guide portion 4430 of the guide portion 443 of one aperture unit and the inner guide portion 4430 of the guide portion 443 of the other aperture unit may be formed discontinuously.

[0104] In this embodiment, the initial position of the aperture plate 3 of each aperture unit is the retracted position, and the rotor 41 is moved toward one side in the optical axis circumferential direction ( Figure 2 9 , the diaphragm plate 3 of one aperture unit is arranged at the aperture position and the diaphragm plate 3 of the other aperture unit is arranged at the retracted position.

[0105] Furthermore, on the other side of the rotor 41 in the optical axis circumferential direction ( Figure 2 10 , the diaphragm plate 3 of one aperture unit is arranged at the retracted position, and the diaphragm plate 3 of the other aperture unit is arranged at the aperture position.

[0106] The configuration of the aperture device 2 of this embodiment is as described above. Next, the operation of the aperture device 2 will be described.

[0107] The aperture device 2 is in an initial state (a state in which no action is taken to change the amount of light incident on the lens 50), as shown in FIG. Figure 3 In the aperture device 2 of this embodiment, the operations of one aperture unit and the other aperture unit, which are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the rotor 41, vary depending on the rotation direction of the rotor 41.

[0108] Specifically, when the amount of light incident on the lens 50 is changed by one aperture plate 3 , a pulse is applied to the first region 4200 of the piezoelectric element 420 .

[0109] Thus, the contact portion 421 pushes the rotor 41 to one side in the circumferential direction of the optical axis ( Figure 9A In conjunction with this, since the operating portion 442 moves to one side in the optical axis circumferential direction, the connecting rod rotates around the connecting shaft 441, and the aperture plate 3 fixed to the front end of the connecting rod moves to the aperture position.

[0110] When the aperture plate 3 is arranged at the aperture position, only light passing through the aperture opening 31 reaches the lens 50, and the remaining light is blocked by the shielding area 30. This suppresses the brightness of the captured image and video.

[0111] Furthermore, when one aperture plate 3 returns to the retracted position, a pulse is applied to the second region 4201 of the piezoelectric element 420 .

[0112] Thus, the contact portion 421 pushes the rotor 41 to the other side in the optical axis circumferential direction ( Figure 9B In conjunction with this, since the operating portion 442 moves to the other side in the optical axis circumferential direction, the connecting rod rotates around the connecting shaft 441, and the aperture plate 3 fixed to the front end of the connecting rod moves from the aperture position to the retracted position.

[0113] When one aperture plate 3 is arranged in the retracted position, the upper portion of the lens 50 is entirely open.

[0114] Similarly, when the amount of light incident on the lens 50 is changed by the other aperture plate 3 , a pulse is applied to the second region 4201 of the piezoelectric element 420 .

[0115] Thus, the contact portion 421 pushes the rotor 41 to the other side in the optical axis circumferential direction ( Figure 10A In conjunction with this, since the operating portion 442 moves to the other side in the optical axis circumferential direction, the connecting rod rotates around the connecting shaft 441, and the aperture plate 3 fixed to the front end of the connecting rod moves to the aperture position.

[0116] When the other aperture plate 3 is arranged at the aperture position, only light passing through the aperture opening 31 reaches the lens 50, and the remaining light is shielded by the shielding area 30. The brightness of the captured image and video is suppressed.

[0117] When the other aperture plate 3 returns to the retracted position, a pulse is applied to the first region 4200 of the piezoelectric element 420 .

[0118] Thus, the contact portion 421 pushes the rotor 41 to one side in the circumferential direction of the optical axis ( Figure 10B In conjunction with this, since the operating portion 442 moves to one side in the optical axis circumferential direction, the connecting rod rotates around the connecting shaft 441, and the aperture plate 3 fixed to the front end of the connecting rod moves from the aperture position to the retracted position.

[0119] When the other aperture plate 3 is arranged in the retracted position, the upper portion of the lens 50 is entirely open.

[0120] As described above, the aperture device 2 of this embodiment can change the amount of light incident on the lens 50 using two types of aperture plates 3 .

[0121] As described above, according to the aperture device 2 of this embodiment, the amount of light incident on the lens 50 can be set by arranging the aperture plate 3 having an aperture opening 31 of a preset area at the aperture position (on the lens 50). Therefore, when the aperture plate 3 is arranged at the aperture position, the area through which the light incident on the lens 50 passes can always be set to a fixed width, thereby making it possible to appropriately set the amount of light incident on the lens 50.

[0122] Therefore, the aperture device 2 of this embodiment has an excellent effect of being able to appropriately set the amount of light incident on the lens 50 .

[0123] In the aperture device 2 of this embodiment, the diameter of the aperture opening 31 formed by one aperture plate 3 is different from the diameter of the aperture opening 31 formed by the other aperture plate 3, so the aperture value (the brightness of the light incident on the lens 50) can be appropriately set step by step.

[0124] In addition, the configuration change mechanism 4 is configured to use the mounting portion 422 to push the annular cylindrical portion 411 of the rotor 41, and the mounting portion 422 is configured to use the piezoelectric element 420 to draw an elliptical trajectory and move. An opposing retaining portion 430 is configured in front of the mounting portion 422 (in the direction in which the strongest force is applied to the annular cylindrical portion 411 of the rotor 41 from the mounting portion 422), and a lateral retaining portion 431 is configured in front of the mounting portion 422. The lateral retaining portion 431 applies a force to the center of the rotor 41 while allowing the rotor 41 to move, thereby making the movement of the rotor 41 smooth while also suppressing positional deviation.

[0125] Furthermore, in the aperture device 2 of this embodiment, since the aperture plate 3 and the mechanism for moving the aperture plate 3 are arranged on the rotor 41 , the balance is less likely to be disturbed, and changes in the posture of the aperture device relative to the lens 50 can be suppressed.

[0126] Furthermore, since the guide groove 443 formed in the rotor 41 is configured to function as a means of moving the operating portion 442 attached to the lever portion 440 , the thickness of the entire diaphragm device can be reduced.

[0127] The aperture device 2 of this embodiment includes two aperture units, which are configured to operate in conjunction with the movement of the same rotor 41. In other words, since one of the two aperture units is not driven by the other, both aperture units can be appropriately operated with high precision according to the rotation of the rotor 41.

[0128] Moreover, since the aperture plate 3, rod 440, connecting shaft 441 and operating part 442 in the aperture unit on one side and the aperture plate 3, rod 440, connecting shaft 441 and operating part 442 in the aperture unit on the other side form a point-symmetrical configuration relationship with the center of the rotor 41 as a reference, the rotation amount of the rotor 41 used to move the aperture plate 3 can be suppressed, thereby enabling the aperture plate 3 to be moved efficiently.

[0129] Furthermore, the aperture device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0130] In the above embodiment, the aperture plate 3, rod 440, connecting shaft 441, and operating portion 442 of one aperture unit are arranged in a point-symmetrical relationship with the aperture plate 3, rod 440, connecting shaft 441, and operating portion 442 of the other aperture unit, with respect to the center of the rotor 41. However, this configuration is not limiting. For example, the aperture plate 3, rod 440, connecting shaft 441, and operating portion 442 of one aperture unit may be arranged in a line-symmetrical relationship with respect to an imaginary line extending radially through the drive source 42 (the piezoelectric element 420 described later) and the optical axis of the lens 50.

[0131] In the above embodiment, the aperture opening 31 is formed on both aperture plates 3 , but the present invention is not limited to this structure. For example, the aperture opening 31 may not be formed on one of the two aperture plates 3 .

[0132] Since the entire aperture plate 3 without the aperture opening 31 is the shielding area 30, when arranged at the aperture position, it covers the entire lens 50. Thus, the aperture plate 3 without the aperture opening 31 is used to completely block the path of light incident on the lens 50.

[0133] In the above embodiment, the connecting shaft 441 is fixed to the cover 45, but the present invention is not limited to this structure. For example, the connecting shaft 441 may be fixed to the base 40 as long as the installation position does not change when the rotor 41 rotates.

[0134] The driving source 42 of the above embodiment is composed of a piezoelectric element 420, but is not limited to this structure. Figure 11 As shown, the driving source 42 may be formed of a motor composed of a rotor 4202 and a stator 4203. In this way, the thickness of the driving source 42 can be easily reduced, and thus the aperture device 2 can be easily miniaturized.

[0135] Description of Reference Numerals

[0136] 1: Camera module

[0137] 2: Aperture device

[0138] 3: Aperture plate

[0139] 4: Configuration change mechanism

[0140] 31: Aperture opening

[0141] 50: Lens

Claims

1. An aperture device, characterized in that: The aperture device sets the amount of light incident on the lens of the camera module. The aperture device comprises: an aperture plate including a shielding region for shielding incident light toward the lens; and a configuration changing mechanism for changing the configuration of the aperture plate to an aperture position and a retracted position, wherein the aperture position is a position on the lens in which the center of the aperture opening is arranged at a position corresponding to the optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position is a position retracted from the lens, The configuration change mechanism has: a rotor rotatable in an optical axis circumferential direction with the optical axis as its center; a moving structure that moves the aperture plate to the aperture position or the retracted position according to the rotation of the rotor; The mobile structure has: a rod portion extending outward from the outer peripheral edge of the aperture plate; a connecting shaft in the shape of a shaft, arranged with its axis aligned with the direction of the optical axis in which the optical axis extends, and fixed in position, and rotatably connected to the rod; an operating portion mounted on a front end side of a connection position of the connecting shaft in the rod portion; a guide portion that moves the operating portion to one side or the other side in the radial direction of the optical axis that is orthogonal to the circumferential direction of the optical axis and the direction of the optical axis according to the rotation of the rotor in the circumferential direction of the optical axis, The guide portion is a guide groove formed in the rotor, and the guide groove includes: an inner guide portion formed on the central portion side of the rotor; an outer guide portion formed on the outer peripheral edge side of the rotor relative to the inner guide portion; and an intermediate guide portion that is continuous with the inner guide portion and the outer guide portion.

2. The aperture device according to claim 1, wherein: The arrangement changing mechanism includes a driving source for rotating the rotor in the circumferential direction of the optical axis.

3. The aperture device according to claim 1, wherein: The arrangement changing mechanism includes a holding structure for fixing the arrangement position of the rotor so that the center of the rotor itself coincides with the center of the lens.

4. The aperture device according to claim 1, wherein: Two sets of aperture units are provided, wherein the aperture unit is composed of the aperture plate, the rod, the connecting shaft, the operating part, and the guide part; The aperture device is constructed so that in an open state in which the aperture plate of the aperture unit on one side and the aperture plate of the aperture unit on the other side are arranged together in the retracted position, when the rotor rotates toward one side of the optical axis circumference, the aperture plate of the aperture unit on the one side moves toward the aperture position, and in the open state, when the rotor rotates toward the other side of the optical axis circumference, the aperture plate of the aperture unit on the other side moves toward the aperture position.

5. The aperture device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The one aperture unit and the other aperture unit are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the rotor as a reference point.

6. The aperture device according to claim 4, characterized in that The aperture plate of one of the aperture units is provided with an aperture opening extending along the optical axis. The aperture plate of the other aperture unit has an aperture opening having a diameter different from that of the aperture opening of the aperture plate of the one aperture unit, or has no aperture opening.

7. A camera module, characterized in that: A diaphragm device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided.

8. An electronic device, characterized in that: A diaphragm device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is provided.

Images