Optical actuator, camera module, and camera-mounted device

Abstract

The present application provides an optical actuator, a camera module, and a camera mounting device. The optical actuator is configured to include: a fixed-side member; a movable-side member that is disposed at a distance from the fixed-side member in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, holds a lens unit, and moves by the power of a drive unit; and an elastic support member that supports the movable-side member on the fixed-side member. The elastic support member has an elastic deformation portion formed by at least a pair of linear portions, and the at least a pair of linear portions are arranged in parallel with each other at an interval. Accordingly, an optical actuator, a camera module, and a camera mounting device are provided, which include an elastic support member that reduces the influence on the driving performance of a lens guide and has high durability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical actuator, a camera module, and a camera mounting device. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a thin camera mounting device equipped with a camera module such as a smartphone or a digital camera has been known. The camera module includes: a lens unit having one or more lenses, and an imaging element that images a subject image formed by the lens unit.

[0003] In addition, a camera module having a bent optical system has been proposed. In this bent optical system, light from a subject along a first optical axis is bent toward a second optical axis by a prism provided in front of the lens unit as an optical path bending member, and is guided to the lens unit (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] The camera module disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an autofocus device that performs autofocus. Such a camera module has: a base, a lens guide that holds a lens, an elastic support member that elastically supports the lens guide with respect to the base, and an autofocus actuator that moves the lens guide in the direction of the optical axis.

[0005] Prior Art Documents

[0006] Patent Documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-139223 Summary of the Invention

[0008] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] In the above-described camera actuator, the elastic support member has a function of supporting the lens guide with respect to the base and a function of absorbing an impact applied to the camera module. As such an elastic support member, an elastic support member that has a small influence on the driving performance of the lens guide and has high durability is required. In order to reduce the influence on the driving performance of the lens guide, it is possible to consider reducing the width dimension of the elastic support member. However, if the width dimension of the elastic support member is small, the durability may be reduced.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an optical actuator, a camera module, and a camera mounting device including an elastic support member that has a small influence on the driving performance of a lens guide and has high durability.

[0011] Solution to the Problem

[0012] One aspect of the optical actuator of the present invention includes:

[0013] A fixed-side member;

[0014] A movable-side member, which is arranged at a distance from a fixed-side member in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, holds a lens unit, and moves by the power of a drive unit; and

[0015] An elastic support member, which supports the movable-side member on the fixed-side member,

[0016] The elastic support member has an elastically deformable portion formed by at least a pair of linear portions, and the at least a pair of linear portions are arranged in parallel with each other at an interval.

[0017] One form of the camera module of the present invention includes: the above-described optical actuator; and an imaging element, which is arranged at the rear stage of the lens unit.

[0018] One form of the camera mounting device of the present invention has: the above-described camera module; and a control unit, which controls the camera module.

[0019] Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, there can be provided an optical actuator, a camera module, and a camera mounting device, which include an elastic support member having a small influence on the driving performance of a lens guide and having high durability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 FIG. is a perspective view schematically showing a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 FIG. is a perspective view of the camera module with the cover omitted.

[0023] Figure 3 FIG. is a perspective view of the camera module with the cover and the sensor holding portion omitted.

[0024] Figure 4 FIG. is a perspective view of the camera module with the cover and the lens guide omitted.

[0025] Figure 5 FIG. is a perspective view showing a lens guide and a member fixed to the lens guide.

[0026] Figure 6 FIG. is a perspective view showing a lens guide and a member fixed to the lens guide.

[0027] Figure 7 FIG. is a perspective view of a spring.

[0028] Figure 8A FIG. is a view showing an example of a camera mounting device on which a camera module is mounted.

[0029] Figure 8BThis is a diagram showing an example of a camera mounting device equipped with a camera module.

[0030] Figure 9A This is a diagram showing an automobile as a camera mounting device equipped with an in-vehicle camera module.

[0031] Figure 9B This is a diagram showing an automobile as a camera mounting device equipped with an in-vehicle camera module.

[0032] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 1 Camera module

[0034] 2 Optical path bending module

[0035] 21 Prism

[0036] 3 Lens module

[0037] 31 Cover

[0038] 32 Base

[0039] 321 Bottom wall portion

[0040] 321a Component arrangement portion

[0041] 322 Left wall portion

[0042] 322a Left side magnet holding portion

[0043] 323 Right wall portion

[0044] 323a Right side magnet holding portion

[0045] 33 FPC

[0046] 331 Substrate

[0047] 332 First terminal portion

[0048] 333 First connection portion

[0049] 334 Second connection portion

[0050] 34 Lens portion

[0051] 4 AF device

[0052] 5 Lens guide

[0053] 50 Bottom wall portion

[0054] 51 Upper wall portion

[0055] 52 Left wall portion

[0056] 521 Left side coil fixing portion

[0057] 53 Right wall part

[0058] 531 Right coil fixing part

[0059] 54 Magnet arrangement part

[0060] 6 AF actuator

[0061] 61 Left magnet

[0062] 62 Right magnet

[0063] 63 Left coil

[0064] 64 Right coil

[0065] 65 Position detection element

[0066] 66 Position detection magnet

[0067] 7a, 7b, 7c Connection wires

[0068] 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d Springs

[0069] 80, 83 Inner fixing parts

[0070] 801 Upper fixing part

[0071] 802 Lower fixing part

[0072] 81, 84 Outer fixing parts

[0073] 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d Elastic deformation parts

[0074] 820a, 820b, 820c, 820d Linear parts

[0075] 821a, 821b, 821c, 821d Intermediate connection parts

[0076] 821 First straight part

[0077] 822 Second straight part

[0078] 823 Winding part

[0079] 823a First bending part

[0080] 823b Second bending part

[0081] 823c Third bending part

[0082] 824a, 824b Maximum curvature parts

[0083] 85a, 85b Connection parts

[0084] Soldering 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d

[0085] 9 Camera element module

[0086] 91 Sensor holding part

[0087] 92 Sensor substrate

[0088] 93 Control part Detailed implementation mode

[0089] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In addition, the optical actuator, camera module, and camera mounting device in the following-described embodiments are examples of the optical actuator, camera module, and camera mounting device of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

[0090] [Embodiment]

[0091] Refer to Figures 1 to 7 , and the camera module 1 of the embodiment of the present invention will be described. The camera module 1 is mounted on, for example, a smartphone M (refer to Figure 8A and Figure 8B ), a mobile phone, a digital video camera, a laptop computer, a tablet terminal, a portable game console, and a thin camera mounting device (such as an in-vehicle camera). The smartphone M has a dual-lens camera composed of two rear cameras OC1 and OC2. The camera module 1 of the present embodiment is applied to at least one of the rear cameras OC1 and OC2.

[0092] The camera module 1 includes an optical path bending module 2, a lens module 3, and a camera element module 9. In addition, the optical actuator, camera module, and camera mounting device of the present invention may include all the structures described below, or may not include some of the structures.

[0093] Hereinafter, each component constituting the camera module 1 of the present embodiment will be described based on the state of being installed in the camera module 1. In addition, when describing the structure of the camera module 1 of the present embodiment, the orthogonal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) shown in each figure is used.

[0094] In the present embodiment, the Z direction is an example of the first direction. In addition, the X direction is an example of the second direction. The Y direction is an example of the third direction. In addition, the XY plane is a plane orthogonal to the first direction. The YZ plane is a plane orthogonal to the second direction, and the XZ plane is a plane orthogonal to the third direction.

[0095] For example, the camera module 1 is mounted in the following manner. That is, when the camera mounting device actually takes a picture, the X direction is the left - right direction, the Y direction is the up - down direction, and the Z direction is the front - back direction. The light (incident light) from the object to be photographed, as Figure 1 shown by the single - dotted line α (also referred to as the "first optical axis") in

[0096] enters the prism 21 of the optical path bending module 2 from the + side (positive side) of the Z direction. The prism 21 is an example of an optical path bending component. Figure 1 The light (emergent light) incident on the prism 21, as

[0097] shown by the single - dotted line β (also referred to as the "second optical axis") in Figure 1 , is bent by the optical path bending surface of the prism 21 and guided to the lens unit 34 of the lens module 3 disposed at the rear stage (X direction - side) of the prism 21.

[0098] The lens module 3 has a cover 31, a base 32, an FPC 33, a lens unit 34, and an AF device 4.

[0099] The cover 31 is made of, for example, synthetic resin or non - magnetic metal, and is a box - shaped member that is open on both sides and the lower side in the front - back direction, as Figure 1 shown.

[0100] The base 32 is an example of a fixed - side member. By combining with the cover 31, a housing space capable of disposing the lens unit 34 and the AF device 4 is formed. The base 32 supports the lens guide 5 by springs 8a to 8d described later.

[0101] The base 32 has a bottom wall portion 321, a left wall portion 322, and a right wall portion 323.

[0102] The bottom wall portion 321 is a rectangular plate - shaped member parallel to the XY plane. The bottom wall portion 321 forms the bottom of the base 32.

[0103] In addition, hereinafter, for the sake of easy understanding, the left - right direction means the left - right direction when observing the lens module 3 from the + side of the X direction with the + side of the Z direction as the upper side. Thus, the + side of the Y direction corresponds to the right side, and the - side of the Y direction corresponds to the left side. Also, in the lens module 3, the + side of the X direction corresponds to the front side, and the - side of the X direction corresponds to the rear side. And in the lens module 3, the + side of the Z direction corresponds to the upper side, and the - side of the Z direction corresponds to the lower side.

[0104] An FPC 33 is insert - molded in the bottom wall portion 321. The FPC 33 will be described later. The bottom wall portion 321 has an element arrangement portion 321a for arranging a position - detecting element 65 (refer to Figure 4 ). The element arrangement portion 321a faces the magnet arrangement portion 54 of the lens guide 5 (refer to Figure 6 ) with a gap in the vertical direction.

[0105] A sensor holding portion 91 of the imaging element module 9 is fixed to the rear end portion of the bottom wall portion 321.

[0106] The left wall portion 322 is an example of the first wall portion of the base, and is a plate - shaped member parallel to the XZ plane. The left wall portion 322 extends upward from the left end portion of the bottom wall portion 321. The left wall portion 322 has a left - hand magnet holding portion 322a on its right side surface (also referred to as the "inner side surface"). A left - hand magnet 61 of the AF device 4 described later is fixed to the left - hand magnet holding portion 322a.

[0107] The right wall portion 323 is an example of the second wall portion of the base, and is a plate - shaped member parallel to the XZ plane. The right wall portion 323 extends upward from the right end portion of the bottom wall portion 321. The right wall portion 323 has a right - hand magnet holding portion 323a on its left side surface (also referred to as the "inner side surface"). A right - hand magnet 62 of the AF device 4 described later is fixed to the right - hand magnet holding portion 323a.

[0108] The FPC 33 is a plate - shaped member parallel to the XY plane and is fixed to the bottom wall portion 321 of the base 32. The FPC 33 has a substrate 331, a first terminal portion 332, a first connection portion 333, and a second connection portion 334.

[0109] The substrate 331 is embedded in the bottom wall portion 321 of the base 32 and has a plurality of wirings (not shown).

[0110] The first terminal portion 332 is composed of a plurality of terminals, and these plurality of terminals are connected to the sensor substrate 92 of the camera module 1 (refer to Figure 1 ). The base end portion of the first terminal portion 332 is embedded in the bottom wall portion 321 of the base 32. The front end portion of the first terminal portion 332 protrudes from the left end portion of the bottom wall portion 321.

[0111] The first connection portion 333 is exposed from the base 32 near the lower end portion of the rear end surface of the left wall portion 322 (refer to Figure 3 ). The first connection portion 333 is connected to the terminal connected to the negative side of the power supply among the first terminal portion 332 through the wiring of the substrate 331. The first connection portion 333 is connected to the inner fixing portion 80 of a spring 8c described later by solder 86a.

[0112] The second connection portion 334 is exposed from the base 32 near the lower end portion of the rear end surface of the right wall portion 323 (refer toFigure 3 )。The second connecting portion 334 is connected to the terminal on the positive side of the power supply among the first terminal portions 332 through the wiring of the substrate 331. The second connecting portion 334 is connected to the inner fixing portion 80 of the spring 8d described later by solder 86b.

[0113] The first connecting portion 333 and the second connecting portion 334 are connected through the spring 8c, the connection line 7b (refer to Figure 5 ), the left coil 63, the connection line 7a (refer to Figure 5 ), the right coil 64, the connection line 7c (refer to Figure 5 ) and the spring 8d.

[0114] The lens unit 34 is held by the lens guide 5. The lens unit 34 has a cylindrical lens barrel and one or more lenses held by the lens barrel. For example, the lens unit 34 has a telephoto lens group with an optical zoom of three times or more fixed between the end on the X direction - side and the end on the X direction + side of the lens barrel.

[0115] For the purpose of autofocus, the AF device 4 moves the lens unit 34 in the direction (X direction) parallel to the second optical axis. Specifically, the AF device 4 includes a lens guide 5, an AF actuator 6, and a plurality (four in this embodiment) of springs 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d.

[0116] The lens guide 5 holds the lens barrel of the lens unit 34. The lens guide 5 is supported by the base 32 through the springs 8a to 8d in a state where it can move at least in the direction of the second optical axis (X direction). The lens guide 5 is spaced upward from the base 32.

[0117] The lens guide 5 is an example of a movable - side member and is box - shaped with openings in the front and rear. The lens guide 5 has a bottom wall portion 50, an upper wall portion 51, a left wall portion 52, and a right wall portion 53.

[0118] The bottom wall portion 50 faces the bottom wall portion 321 of the base 32 in the vertical direction with a gap therebetween. The bottom wall portion 50 has a magnet arrangement portion 54 (refer to Figure 6 ) on the lower surface. The magnet arrangement portion 54 faces the element arrangement portion 321a of the base 32 in the vertical direction. A position - detection magnet 66 is fixed to the magnet arrangement portion 54 by a yoke.

[0119] The left wall portion 52 is disposed at a position more to the right than the left wall portion 322 of the base 32 and faces the left wall portion 322 of the base 32 in the left - right direction with a gap therebetween. The left wall portion 52 has a left - coil fixing portion 521 on the left side surface (also referred to as the “outer side surface”). The left coil 63 of the AF actuator 6 is fixed to the left - coil fixing portion 521.

[0120] The right wall portion 53 is disposed at a position more to the left than the right wall portion 323 of the base 32, and faces the right wall portion 323 of the base 32 in the left-right direction with a gap therebetween. The right wall portion 53 has a right coil fixing portion 531 on its right side surface (also referred to as the "outer side surface"). The right coil 64 of the AF actuator 6 is fixed to the right coil fixing portion 531.

[0121] The lens guide 5 holds the lens portion 34 in a cylindrical space defined by the bottom wall portion 50, the upper wall portion 51, the left wall portion 52, and the right wall portion 53.

[0122] The AF actuator 6 is an example of a driving unit and is an actuator for moving the lens guide 5 in the direction of the second optical axis (X direction).

[0123] The AF actuator 6 includes a left magnet 61, a right magnet 62, a left coil 63, a right coil 64, a position detection magnet 66, and a position detection element 65.

[0124] The left magnet 61 and the left coil 63 constitute a left voice coil motor, and the right magnet 62 and the right coil 64 constitute a right voice coil motor. That is, the AF actuator 6 is composed of a pair of voice coil motors.

[0125] The left magnet 61 is fixed to the left magnet holding portion 322a of the base 32 by a yoke. The left magnet 61 is composed of a pair of magnet elements in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped whose longitudinal direction coincides with the up-down direction and whose width direction coincides with the front-back direction. The pair of magnet elements are arranged adjacent to each other in the front-back direction. The pair of magnet elements are magnetized in the left-right direction respectively and have one magnetic pole on one side. The magnetic poles of the pair of magnet elements face each other in opposite directions. The left magnet 61 faces the left coil 63 in the left-right direction with a gap therebetween.

[0126] The right magnet 62 is fixed to the right magnet holding portion 323a of the base 32 by a yoke. The right magnet 62 is composed of a pair of magnet elements in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped whose longitudinal direction coincides with the up-down direction and whose width direction coincides with the front-back direction. The pair of magnet elements are arranged adjacent to each other in the front-back direction. The pair of magnet elements are magnetized in the left-right direction respectively and have one magnetic pole on one side. The magnetic poles of the pair of magnet elements face each other in opposite directions. The right magnet 62 faces the right coil 64 in the left-right direction with a gap therebetween.

[0127] The left coil 63 is a so-called air-core coil having an oval shape that is powered during AF. The left coil 63 is fixed to the left coil fixing portion 521 of the lens guide 5 in a state where the major axis is aligned with the vertical direction. The first end portion of the left coil 63 is connected to the first end portion of the right coil 64 through a connection line 7a. The connection line 7a is arranged in such a manner as to extend from the left coil 63 to the right coil 64 along the upper surface of the upper wall portion 51 of the lens guide 5. In addition, the second end portion of the left coil 63 is connected to the outer fixing portion 81 of the spring 8c through a connection line 7b. The connection line 7b extends rearward from the left coil 63 to the outer fixing portion 81 of the spring 8c.

[0128] The right coil 64 is a so-called air-core coil having an oval shape that is powered during AF. The right coil 64 is fixed to the right coil fixing portion 531 of the lens guide 5 in a state where the major axis is aligned with the vertical direction. The second end portion of the right coil 64 is connected to the outer fixing portion 81 of the spring 8d through a connection line 7c. The connection line 7c extends rearward from the right coil 64 to the outer fixing portion 81 of the spring 8d.

[0129] The position detection magnet 66 is fixed to the magnet arrangement portion 54 of the lens guide 5 through a yoke. The position detection magnet 66 is composed of a pair of magnet elements having a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which the length direction is aligned with the left-right direction and the width direction is aligned with the front-rear direction. The pair of magnet elements are arranged adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. The pair of magnet elements are magnetized in the vertical direction respectively and have one magnetic pole on one side. The orientations of the magnetic poles of the pair of magnet elements are opposite to each other. The position detection magnet 66 and the position detection element 65 face each other in the vertical direction with a gap therebetween.

[0130] The position detection element 65 is fixed to the substrate 331 of the FPC 33 in a state of being arranged in the element arrangement portion 321a of the base 32. The position detection element 65 is connected to the control portion 93 mounted on the power supply and sensor substrate 92 through the wiring of the substrate 331 and the terminals of the first terminal portion 332.

[0131] The position detection element 65 detects the magnetic flux of the position detection magnet 66 and transmits the detection value to the control portion 93. In the present embodiment, the position detection element 65 detects the change in the magnetic flux passing through the detection surface of the position detection element 65. When the lens guide 5 moves from the reference position where the moving distance in the direction parallel to the second optical axis (X direction) is zero to the direction parallel to the second optical axis (X direction), the position detection magnet 66 moves together with the lens guide 5, so that the magnetic flux passing through the detection surface of the position detection element 65 changes. The control portion 93 calculates the position of the position detection magnet 66 (lens guide 5) in the direction parallel to the second optical axis (X direction) based on the detection value received from the position detection element 65.

[0132] In the AF actuator 6 having the above-described structure, when current flows through the left coil 63 and the right coil 64, a Lorentz force is generated that causes the left coil 63 and the right coil 64 to move in the X direction. As a result, the lens guide 5 to which the left coil 63 and the right coil 64 are fixed moves in the X direction. In this way, autofocus is performed.

[0133] As described above, the AF actuator 6 of the present embodiment is a moving coil type actuator in which the left coil 63 and the right coil 64 are fixed to the lens guide 5 as a movable side member, and the left magnet 61 and the right magnet 62 are fixed to the base 32 as a fixed side member. The weights of the left coil 63 and the right coil 64 are smaller than the weights of the left magnet 61 and the right magnet 62. Therefore, compared with a moving magnet type actuator, the total weight of the moving components during autofocus can be reduced. As a result, miniaturization of the AF actuator 6 and power saving of the camera module 1 can be achieved.

[0134] The springs 8a to 8d are each an example of an elastic support member and have a function of elastically supporting the lens guide 5 on the base 32. In addition, the springs 8a to 8d have the following function: when an impact is applied to the camera module 1 due to dropping or the like, the impact is absorbed.

[0135] The spring 8a supports the left end portion of the front end portion of the lens guide 5 on the base 32 (see Figure 2 and Figure 7 ). The spring 8b supports the right end portion of the front end portion of the lens guide 5 on the base 32 (see Figure 2 and Figure 7 ). The spring 8c supports the left end portion of the rear end portion of the lens guide 5 on the base 32 (see Figure 3 and Figure 7 ). And the spring 8d supports the right end portion of the rear end portion of the lens guide 5 on the base 32 (see Figure 3 and Figure 7 ). In addition, Figure 7 The springs 8a to 8d showing the configuration in the assembled state are shown.

[0136] As Figure 7 shown, the springs 8a to 8d are each leaf springs and are arranged in a plane parallel to the YZ plane.

[0137] The spring 8a and the spring 8b have shapes that are symmetric in the left-right direction. In addition, the spring 8c and the spring 8d have shapes that are symmetric in the left-right direction.

[0138] First, the springs 8a and 8b will be described. After that, the springs 8c and 8d will be described. For the same structures in the springs 8a to 8d, repeated descriptions will be appropriately omitted.

[0139] The springs 8a and 8b respectively have an inner fixing portion 80, an outer fixing portion 81, a pair of elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b, and a connecting portion 85a.

[0140] The inner fixing portion 80 is fixed to the lens guide 5. Specifically, the inner fixing portion 80 has an upper fixing portion 801 and a lower fixing portion 802.

[0141] The upper fixing portion 801 of the spring 8a is fixed to the upper end portion of the front end face of the left wall portion 52 in the lens guide 5. The lower fixing portion 802 of the spring 8a is fixed to the lower end portion of the front end face of the left wall portion 52 in the lens guide 5. The upper fixing portion 801 and the lower fixing portion 802 of the spring 8a are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction.

[0142] The upper fixing portion 801 of the spring 8b is fixed to the upper end portion of the front end face of the right wall portion 53 in the lens guide 5. The lower fixing portion 802 of the spring 8b is fixed to the lower end portion of the front end face of the right wall portion 53 in the lens guide 5.

[0143] The outer fixing portion 81 is fixed to the base 32. The outer fixing portion 81 is a plate-like shape extending in the vertical direction. The outer fixing portion 81 of the spring 8a is fixed to the front end face of the left wall portion 322 in the base 32. Moreover, the outer fixing portion 81 of the spring 8b is fixed to the front end face of the right wall portion 323 in the base 32.

[0144] The position of the upper end portion of the outer fixing portion 81 in the vertical direction is the same as or almost the same as the position of the upper fixing portion 801 of the inner fixing portion 80 in the vertical direction. The position of the lower end portion of the outer fixing portion 81 in the vertical direction is the same as or almost the same as the position of the lower fixing portion 802 of the inner fixing portion 80 in the vertical direction.

[0145] A pair of elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b of the springs 8a and 8b are respectively arranged and configured at intervals in the vertical direction, and connect the inner fixing portion 80 and the outer fixing portion 81. Specifically, the upper elastic deformation portion 82a connects the upper fixing portion 801 and the outer fixing portion 81. Moreover, the lower elastic deformation portion 82b connects the lower fixing portion 802 and the outer fixing portion 81. In addition, the upper elastic deformation portion 82a is an example of the first elastic deformation portion. And the lower elastic deformation portion 82b is an example of the second elastic deformation portion.

[0146] A pair of elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b have shapes that are symmetric to each other in the vertical direction. That is, the shape of the elastic deformation portion 82a when the elastic deformation portion 82a is turned upside down in the vertical direction with a hypothetical straight line parallel to the left and right directions as the axis is the same as the shape of the elastic deformation portion 82b.

[0147] The elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b each have at least a pair of linear portions 820a and 820b arranged in parallel with a space therebetween, and two intermediate connecting portions 821a and 821b connecting the intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b to each other.

[0148] In addition, the number of the linear portions is not limited to two and may be more than two. Further, the number of the intermediate connecting portions is not limited to two and may be one or three or more. Additionally, the intermediate connecting portions may be omitted.

[0149] Hereinafter, the dimension in the front-back direction of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b is defined as the thickness dimension of the elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b (the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b). Further, in the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b, the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the extending direction and the front-back direction of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b is defined as the width dimension of the elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b (the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b).

[0150] The pair of linear portions 820a and 820b are arranged in parallel with a space therebetween in the width direction of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b. The space in the width direction between the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b may be constant or may vary locally.

[0151] In the present embodiment, the thickness dimension of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b is smaller than the width dimension of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b. Further, the spring constant in the front-back direction of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b is smaller than the spring constant in the direction orthogonal to the front-back direction of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b. Such a structure is the same in the springs 8a to 8d, which helps to achieve both a reduction in the influence of the springs 8a to 8d on the driving performance of the lens guide 5 and an improvement in the durability of the springs 8a to 8d.

[0152] Next, the specific structure of the elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b will be described. In the following description, the term "elastic deformation portion" may be appropriately replaced with the term "pair of linear portions".

[0153] The elastic deformation portion 82a has a first end connected to the upper fixing portion 801 and a second end connected to the outer fixing portion 81. The second end is connected to a substantially central portion in the up-down direction of the outer fixing portion 81. The second end of the elastic deformation portion 82a is disposed at a position lower than the first end of the elastic deformation portion 82a.

[0154] The elastic deformation part 82b has a first end connected to the lower fixing part 802 and a second end connected to the outer fixing part 81. The second end is connected to a position which is at the approximate center in the vertical direction of the outer fixing part 81 and is slightly lower than the position where the second end of the elastic deformation part 82a is connected. The second end of the elastic deformation part 82b is disposed at a position higher than the first end of the elastic deformation part 82b.

[0155] The elastic deformation parts 82a and 82b each have: a first straight part 821 including the first end, a second straight part 822 including the second end, and a meandering part 823 connecting the first straight part 821 and the second straight part 822.

[0156] The first straight part 821 extends from the first end of each of the elastic deformation parts 82a and 82b toward the outer fixing part 81 in a state parallel to the left - right direction. The second straight part 822 extends from the second end of each of the elastic deformation parts 82a and 82b toward the inner fixing part 80 in a state parallel to the left - right direction.

[0157] The meandering part 823 is provided between the first straight part 821 and the second straight part 822 and meanders in a substantially S - shaped form. Specifically, the meandering part 823 successively has a first bending part 823a, a second bending part 823b, and a third bending part 823c starting from one side close to the first end of each of the elastic deformation parts 82a and 82b.

[0158] The first bending part 823a bends with a prescribed curvature. The second bending part 823b gently bends into a substantially S - shaped form. The third bending part 823c bends with a prescribed curvature. The curvature of the first bending part 823a is the same as or almost the same as the curvature of the third bending part 823c.

[0159] In addition, the parts corresponding to the connection part between the first bending part 823a and the second bending part 823b and the connection part between the second bending part 823b and the third bending part 823c are the maximum curvature parts 824a and 824b that bend with the maximum curvature in the elastic deformation part 82a.

[0160] The middle parts in the length direction of the pair of linear parts 820a and 820b are connected to each other in the width direction of the pair of linear parts 820a and 820b through the middle connection parts 821a and 821b. Such a structure is the same structure in the springs 8a to 8d, which helps to improve the durability of the springs 8a to 8d and to suppress the contact between the pair of linear parts 820a and 820b.

[0161] In addition, the connecting portion 85a connects the pair of elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b to each other in the vertical direction. Specifically, the connecting portion 85a connects the meandering portions 823 (specifically, the third bending portion 823c) of the pair of elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b to each other in the vertical direction.

[0162] The connecting portion 85a has a meandering shape that folds back multiple times in the left-right direction and is elastically deformable. The width dimension of the connecting portion 85a is smaller than the width dimensions of the pair of elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b. Such a structure of the connecting portion 85a is the same structure in the springs 8a to 8d. The connecting portion 85a realizes an improvement in the durability of the springs 8a to 8d and suppresses the overall vibration of the pair of elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b. In addition, the shape of the connecting portion is not limited to the above shape. For example, the connecting portion may be an arc shape that bends gently.

[0163] Next, the springs 8c and 8d will be described. The springs 8c and 8d each have an inner fixing portion 83, an outer fixing portion 84, a pair of elastic deformation portions 82c and 82d, and a connecting portion 85b.

[0164] The inner fixing portion 83 is fixed to the lens guide 5. Specifically, the inner fixing portion 83 is a plate-like shape that extends in the vertical direction. The inner fixing portion 83 of the spring 8c is fixed to the rear end surface of the left wall portion 52 of the lens guide 5. Moreover, the inner fixing portion 83 of the spring 8d is fixed to the rear end surface of the right wall portion 53 of the lens guide 5.

[0165] The upper end portion of the inner fixing portion 83 in the spring 8c is connected to the end portion of the connection line 7b by solder 86c (refer to Figure 3 ). Thus, the spring 8c is connected to the left coil 63 through the connection line 7b. The upper end portion of the inner fixing portion 83 in the spring 8d is connected to the end portion of the connection line 7c by solder 86d. Thus, the spring 8d is connected to the right coil 64 through the connection line 7c.

[0166] The outer fixing portion 84 is fixed to the base 32. The outer fixing portion 84 is a plate-like shape that extends in the vertical direction. The outer fixing portion 84 of the spring 8c is fixed to the rear end surface of the left wall portion 322 of the base 32. Moreover, the outer fixing portion 84 of the spring 8d is fixed to the rear end surface of the right wall portion 323 of the base 32.

[0167] The lower end portion of the outer fixing portion 84 of the spring 8c is connected to the first connection portion 333 of the FPC 33 by solder 86a. Moreover, the lower end portion of the outer fixing portion 84 of the spring 8d is connected to the second connection portion 334 of the FPC 33 by solder 86b.

[0168] A pair of elastic deformation portions 82c and 82d of springs 8c and 8d are arranged and disposed at intervals in the vertical direction, and an inner fixing portion 83 and an outer fixing portion 84 are connected. Specifically, the upper elastic deformation portion 82c connects the upper end portion of the inner fixing portion 83 to the outer fixing portion 81. Moreover, the lower elastic deformation portion 82d connects the lower end portion of the inner fixing portion 83 to the outer fixing portion 81. In addition, the upper elastic deformation portion 82c is an example of a first elastic deformation portion. Moreover, the lower elastic deformation portion 82d is an example of a second elastic deformation portion.

[0169] The elastic deformation portions 82c and 82d each have at least a pair of linear portions 820c and 820d arranged in parallel with each other at intervals, and a pair of intermediate connecting portions 821c and 821d connecting the intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction of the pair of linear portions 820c and 820d. The structures of the pair of linear portions 820c and 820d and the intermediate connecting portions 821c and 821d are almost the same as those of the pair of linear portions 820a and 820b and the pair of intermediate connecting portions 821a and 821b in the springs 8a and 8b described above, so the description thereof is omitted.

[0170] The elastic deformation portion 82c has a first end portion connected to the upper end portion of the inner fixing portion 83 and a second end portion connected to the outer fixing portion 84. The second end portion is connected to a portion near the upper end in the vertical direction of the outer fixing portion 84. The second end portion of the elastic deformation portion 82c is disposed at a position lower than the first end portion of the elastic deformation portion 82a.

[0171] The elastic deformation portion 82d has a first end portion connected to the lower end portion of the inner fixing portion 83 and a second end portion connected to the outer fixing portion 84. The second end portion of the elastic deformation portion 82c is disposed at a position higher than the first end portion of the elastic deformation portion 82a. Moreover, the second end portion of the elastic deformation portion 82d is connected to a position in the outer fixing portion 84 that is lower than the position where the second end portion of the elastic deformation portion 82c is connected.

[0172] Similar to the elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b, the elastic deformation portions 82c and 82d each have a first straight portion 821 including the first end portion, a second straight portion 822 including the second end portion, and a meandering portion 823 connecting the first straight portion 821 and the second straight portion 822.

[0173] The shapes of the first straight portions 821, the second straight portions 822, and the meandering portions 823 of the elastic deformation portions 82c and 82d are almost the same as those of the first straight portions 821, the second straight portions 822, and the meandering portions 823 of the elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b in the springs 8a and 8b, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Moreover, the structure of the connecting portion 85b is almost the same as that of the connecting portion 85a in the springs 8a and 8b, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Regarding the structure of the elastic deformation portions 82c and 82d, appropriate substitution may be made to the description related to the above-mentioned elastic deformation portions 82a and 82b.

[0174] In the lens module 3 having the above structure, when current flows through the left coil 63 and the right coil 64 of the AF device 4 via the FPC 33, a Lorentz force is generated that displaces the left coil 63 and the right coil 64 in the direction of the optical axis (X direction).

[0175] Then, since the left coil 63 and the right coil 64 are fixed to the lens guide 5, the lens guide 5 moves in the direction of the optical axis (X direction) based on the above Lorentz force. In addition, the moving direction of the lens guide 5 is switched by controlling the direction of the current flowing through the left coil 63 and the right coil 64. In this way, autofocus is performed.

[0176] In the present embodiment, the current flows, in order from the positive side of the power supply, through the terminal of the first terminal portion 332 in the FPC 33, the wiring of the substrate 331 in the FPC 33, the second connecting portion 334 of the FPC 33, the spring 8d, the right coil 64, the left coil 63, the spring 8c, the first connecting portion 333 of the FPC 33, the wiring of the substrate 331 in the FPC 33, and the terminal of the first terminal portion 332 in the FPC 33.

[0177] When the lens guide 5 moves in the direction of the optical axis, the springs 8a to 8d are elastically deformed in the direction of the optical axis (X direction) respectively to guide the movement of the lens guide 5.

[0178] According to the present embodiment having the above structure, a camera module 1 including the springs 8a to 8d that reduce the influence on the driving performance of the lens guide 5 and have high durability can be realized. Hereinafter, the reasons therefor will be described.

[0179] Here, it is assumed that there are two types of springs having elastic deformation portions with the same spring constant. One type of spring is a spring having an elastic deformation portion formed by a pair of linear portions as in the springs 8a to 8d of the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "the spring of the present embodiment"). Further, the other type of spring is a spring having an elastic deformation portion formed by a single linear portion (hereinafter referred to as "the spring of the comparative example"). Since the spring constants of the spring of the present embodiment and the spring of the comparative example are the same, the influence on the driving performance of the lens guide 5 is almost the same.

[0180] When an impact is applied to the camera module 1, a single linear portion of the spring of the comparative example elastically deforms and absorbs the impact. At this time, stress concentration due to the impact is likely to occur in the single linear portion. On the other hand, in the case of the spring of the present embodiment, the impact applied to the camera module 1 is dispersed to the pair of linear portions and absorbed. At this time, the pair of linear portions elastically deform in different forms and absorb the impact. Thus, in the case of the spring of the present embodiment, the impact is dispersed to the pair of linear portions, so that stress concentration at the elastic deformation portion can be suppressed. As a result, the durability of the spring is improved. As described above, according to the present embodiment, a camera module including a spring capable of suppressing the influence on the driving performance of the lens guide 5 and having high durability can be realized.

[0181] (Supplementary Note)

[0182] In each of the above embodiments, as an example of a camera mounting device including the camera module 1, a smartphone as a portable terminal with a camera has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a camera mounting device having a camera module and an image processing unit that processes image information obtained by the camera module. The camera mounting device includes an information device and a transportation device. The information device includes, for example, a mobile phone with a camera, a notebook computer, a tablet terminal, a portable game machine, a web camera, and a vehicle-mounted device with a camera (e.g., a rear monitoring device, a dash cam device). In addition, the transportation device includes, for example, an automobile.

[0183] Figure 9A and Figure 9B FIG. is a view showing an automobile V as a camera mounting device on which a vehicle-mounted camera module VC (Vehicle Camera) is mounted. Figure 9A is a front view of the automobile V, Figure 9B is a rear perspective view of the automobile V. The automobile V mounts the camera module 1 described in the above embodiment as the vehicle-mounted camera module VC. As Figure 9A and Figure 9BAs shown, the in-vehicle camera module VC is mounted on the windshield facing forward, for example, or on the tailgate facing rearward. The in-vehicle camera module VC is used for rear monitoring, a driving recorder, collision avoidance control, autonomous driving control, etc.

[0184] The entire disclosure of the specification, drawings, and abstract of the Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-95916 filed on June 8, 2021 is incorporated herein by reference.

[0185] Industrial Applicability

[0186] The optical actuator and camera module of the present invention can be mounted on, for example, a thin camera mounting device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a digital video camera, a laptop computer, a tablet terminal, a portable game console, an in-vehicle camera, etc.

Claims

1. An optical actuator, characterized in that, it comprises: a fixed-side member; a movable-side member, which is arranged at an interval from the fixed-side member, holds a lens unit, and moves by the power of a drive unit; and an elastic support member, which supports the movable-side member on the fixed-side member, the elastic support member has: an inner fixing portion, which is fixed to the movable-side member; an outer fixing portion, which is fixed to the fixed-side member; a first elastic deformation portion and a second elastic deformation portion respectively composed of at least a pair of linear portions, the at least a pair of linear portions are arranged in parallel with each other at an interval, the first elastic deformation portion and the second elastic deformation portion are arranged at an interval from each other in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and inner ends thereof are connected to the inner fixing portion at different positions in the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, outer ends thereof are connected to the outer fixing portion at different positions in the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and respective meandering portions are bent over the whole length between the inner ends and the outer ends and have a shape symmetric in the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis; and a connecting portion, which connects the meandering portion of the first elastic deformation portion and the meandering portion of the second elastic deformation portion in the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, a first end of each of the pair of linear portions is connected to the inner fixing portion, and a second end of each of the pair of linear portions is connected to the outer fixing portion.

2. The optical actuator according to claim 1, wherein, the connecting portion has a meandering shape that turns back multiple times in a second direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and the second direction orthogonal to the optical axis is a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction and orthogonal to the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

3. The optical actuator according to claim 1, wherein, the first elastic deformation portion and the second elastic deformation portion respectively have an intermediate connecting portion, which connects intermediate portions in the length direction of the pair of linear portions to each other.

4. The optical actuator according to claim 3, wherein, the connecting portion connects one of the linear portions of the first elastic deformation portion and one of the linear portions of the second elastic deformation portion at a position different from the intermediate connecting portion in the length direction.

5. The optical actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, a width dimension of the connecting portion is smaller than width dimensions of the first elastic deformation portion and the second elastic deformation portion each including the pair of linear portions and the interval.

6. The optical actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, a spring constant of the elastic support member in the optical axis direction is smaller than a spring constant of the elastic support member in a direction orthogonal to the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

7. The optical actuator according to claim 6, wherein, a thickness dimension of the pair of linear portions is smaller than a width dimension of the pair of linear portions.

8. A camera module, characterized in that, it comprises: the optical actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and an imaging element, which is arranged at a rear stage of the lens unit.

9. A camera mounting device, It is characterized in that it has the camera module according to claim 8; and a control unit that controls the camera module.

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