Optical unit, photographic apparatus, and photographic system

Abstract

An optical unit in which even if a movable body becomes larger in a rotation angle with respect to a fixed body that holds the movable body having an optical module rotatable, a decrease in a driving force of a driving mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body is suppressed, and the movable body disposed at a home position is more easily moved with respect to the fixed body. In the optical unit, a magnet side facing surface (24a) of a driving magnet (24) is formed in a circular arc shape with a rotation center of the movable body as a curvature center. Effective edge portion side facing surfaces (23d, 23e) of effective edge portions (23a, 23b) of a driving coil (23) that is curved along the magnet side facing surface are substantially orthogonal to a radial direction with the rotation center of the movable body as a center. The driving magnet (24) is magnetized so that, when viewed in a Z direction in a state in which the movable body is disposed at the home position, magnetic force lines (F1, F2) passing through a center of the effective edge portion side facing surface are substantially orthogonal to the effective edge portion side facing surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an optical unit including a movable body having an optical module such as a camera head module, and a fixed body rotatably holding the movable body. The present application also relates to a photographing apparatus and a photographing system including the optical unit. BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventionally, an optical unit with a shake correction function for correcting a shake of an optical image is known (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). The optical unit with the shake correction function described in Patent Literature 1 includes a movable body holding an optical module, a fixed body holding the movable body, a magnetic drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body, and a plate-shaped spring member connecting the movable body and the fixed body. The magnetic drive mechanism includes a plate-shaped magnet and a coil opposed to the magnet.

[0003] In the optical unit with the shake correction function described in Patent Literature 1, the fixed body holds the movable body via a gimbal mechanism, and the movable body is rotatable with respect to the fixed body in a rotational axis direction that is orthogonal to an optical axis direction of the optical module, and in a rotational axis direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis direction and the X-axis direction. The spring member functions to define a posture of the movable body with respect to the fixed body at the time when the magnetic drive mechanism is stopped. At the time when the magnetic drive mechanism is stopped, the movable body is disposed at a defined origin position (reference position) with respect to the fixed body by the force of the spring member.

[0004] In the optical unit with the shake correction function described in Patent Literature 1, for example, an opposed surface of the magnet opposed to the coil is a convex curved surface, and an opposed surface of the coil opposed to the magnet is a concave curved surface. Therefore, in the optical unit with the shake correction function, even if the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body becomes large, the distance between the magnet and the coil can be kept constant, and as a result, even if the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body becomes large, the decrease in the driving force of the magnetic drive mechanism can be suppressed.

[0005] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0006] PATENT LITERATURE

[0007] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-99503 SUMMARY

[0008] In the optical unit with a shake correction function described in Patent Literature 1, as described above, even if the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body becomes large, the decrease in the driving force of the magnetic driving mechanism can be suppressed. In addition, in the case of the optical unit with a shake correction function, when the magnetic driving mechanism is stopped, the movable body is disposed at the origin position, and the case where the movable body moves with respect to the fixed body from the origin position is more frequent. Therefore, in the optical unit with a shake correction function, it is preferable that the movable body disposed at the origin position be more easily moved with respect to the fixed body.

[0009] Therefore, a technical problem of the present application is to provide an optical unit including: a movable body having an optical module; a fixed body holding the movable body so as to be rotatable; and a driving mechanism rotating the movable body with respect to the fixed body, in which even if a rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body becomes large, a decrease in a driving force of the driving mechanism can be suppressed, and the movable body disposed at a prescribed origin position can be more easily moved with respect to the fixed body. In addition, a technical problem of the present application is to provide a photographing apparatus and a photographing system including such an optical unit.

[0010] In order to solve the above-described technical problem, the optical unit of the present application is characterized by including: a movable body having an optical module; a fixed body holding the movable body so as to be rotatable; and a driving mechanism rotating the movable body with respect to the fixed body with a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical module as an axis of rotation, the driving mechanism including: a driving coil wound in a hollow shape; and a driving magnet disposed opposite the driving coil in a radial direction centered on a rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, a facing surface of the driving magnet opposite the driving coil, that is, a magnet-side facing surface, being formed in a circular arc shape with the rotation center of the movable body as a center of curvature when viewed in the first direction, the driving coil including a pair of effective edge portions parallel to the first direction and being curved along the magnet-side facing surface that is in a circular arc shape when viewed in the first direction, the pair of effective edge portions being disposed at a state of being separated by a gap in a circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, a facing surface of the effective edge portion opposite the magnet-side facing surface, that is, an effective edge portion-side facing surface, being substantially orthogonal to the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body when viewed in the first direction, and the driving magnet being magnetized so that a magnetic flux line passing through a center of the effective edge portion-side facing surface is substantially orthogonal to the effective edge portion-side facing surface when viewed in the first direction in a state where the movable body is disposed at a prescribed origin position with respect to the fixed body.

[0011] In the optical unit of the present application, the opposing surface of the driving magnet opposite the driving coil, i.e., the magnet-side opposing surface, is formed in a circular arc shape with the center of rotation of the movable body as the center of curvature when viewed in the first direction, the driving coil has a pair of effective edge portions parallel to the first direction, and is curved along the magnet-side opposing surface that is in a circular arc shape when viewed in the first direction. In addition, in the present application, the opposing surface of the effective edge portion opposite the magnet-side opposing surface, i.e., the effective edge portion-side opposing surface, is substantially orthogonal to the radial direction with the center of rotation of the movable body as the center when viewed in the first direction. Thus, in the present application, even if the angle of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body becomes large, the distance between the magnet-side opposing surface of the driving magnet and the effective edge portion-side opposing surface of the driving coil can be kept constant. Thus, in the present application, even if the angle of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body becomes large, the decrease in the driving force of the driving mechanism can be suppressed.

[0012] In addition, in the present application, the driving magnet is magnetized such that, when viewed in the first direction in a state in which the movable body is disposed at a prescribed origin position with respect to the fixed body, the magnetic force lines passing through the center of the effective edge portion-side opposing surface that is substantially orthogonal to the radial direction with the center of rotation of the movable body as the center are substantially orthogonal to the effective edge portion-side opposing surface. Thus, in the present application, when a current is supplied to the driving coil in a state in which the movable body is disposed at the origin position, the driving force of the driving mechanism acting in the tangential direction of the magnet-side opposing surface can be increased. Thus, in the present application, the movable body disposed at the origin position can be more easily moved with respect to the fixed body.

[0013] In the present application, if one of the pair of effective edge portions is set as a first effective edge portion, the other is set as a second effective edge portion, the effective edge portion-side opposing surface of the first effective edge portion is set as a first effective edge portion-side opposing surface, and the effective edge portion-side opposing surface of the second effective edge portion is set as a second effective edge portion-side opposing surface, for example, the driving magnet is composed of a first magnet portion disposed on the first effective edge portion side in the circumferential direction with the center of rotation of the movable body as the center and a second magnet portion disposed on the second effective edge portion side in the circumferential direction with the center of rotation of the movable body as the center, the magnetic pole of the magnet-side opposing surface of the first magnet portion and the magnetic pole of the magnet-side opposing surface of the second magnet portion are different magnetic poles, the first magnet portion is magnetized such that, in a state in which the movable body is disposed at the origin position with respect to the fixed body, the magnetic force lines of the first effective edge portion-side opposing surface are substantially orthogonal to the first effective edge portion-side opposing surface, and the second magnet portion is magnetized such that, in a state in which the movable body is disposed at the origin position with respect to the fixed body, the magnetic force lines of the second effective edge portion-side opposing surface are substantially orthogonal to the second effective edge portion-side opposing surface.

[0014] In this case, even if the shape of the drive magnet becomes a complicated shape, the drive magnet can be magnetized more easily than when the first magnet portion and the second magnet portion are magnetized in a manner in which magnetic lines of force form a radial pattern centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

[0015] In the present application, the optical unit is provided with, for example, a position holding mechanism for maintaining a state in which the movable body is disposed at the origin position.

[0016] In the present application, for example, the drive magnet is fixed to the movable body, the drive coil is fixed to the fixed body, and is disposed outside the drive magnet in a radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

[0017] In the present application, it is preferable that the movable body be provided with a specifying member for specifying the rotation center of the movable body, that a positioning recess for positioning the drive magnet with respect to the movable body be formed in the drive magnet, and that an engaging portion for engaging with the positioning recess to position the drive magnet with respect to the movable body be formed in the specifying member. If configured in this manner, the drive magnet is positioned with respect to the movable body by the specifying member for specifying the rotation center of the movable body directly engaging with the drive magnet, and thus the positional shift of the drive magnet with respect to the rotation center of the movable body can be suppressed. Therefore, even if the distance between the magnet-side opposing surface of the drive magnet and the effective edge portion-side opposing surface of the drive coil becomes short, interference between the magnet-side opposing surface and the effective edge portion-side opposing surface when the movable body rotates with respect to the fixed body can be prevented.

[0018] In the present application, for example, the optical module is a camera module, and the positioning recess is formed in the center of the movable body-side surface of the drive magnet. In this case, the magnetic flux of the center portion of the movable body-side surface of the drive magnet can be attenuated. Therefore, for example, even if the camera module is provided with a magnetic drive mechanism for autofocusing, the magnetic interference between the magnetic drive mechanism and the drive mechanism of the optical unit can be suppressed.

[0019] In the present application, it is preferable that a protective wall portion be formed in the fixed body, the protective wall portion being disposed on both sides of the drive coil in a circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, and the protective wall portion being disposed at a position closer to the drive magnet than the drive coil in a radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. If configured in this manner, for example, even if an impact is applied to the optical unit, an excessive force acts on the movable body, and the movable body moves with respect to the fixed body, the contact between the drive magnet and the drive coil can be prevented. Therefore, even if the excessive force acts on the movable body and the movable body moves with respect to the fixed body, damage to the drive magnet and the drive coil can be prevented.

[0020] In the present application, the optical unit has, for example, an inertial sensor mounted on the fixed body, and the movable body is rotated by the driving mechanism based on the detection result of the inertial sensor. In this case, the movable body can be rotated based on the detection result of the inertial sensor so as to incline the optical module toward the direction of the fixed body.

[0021] The optical unit of the present application can be used, for example, for a camera device for vehicle use in which the optical module is a camera head module. That is, the optical unit of the present application can be used, for example, for a drive recorder. In this camera device (drive recorder), the movable body can be rotated based on the detection result of the inertial sensor so as to always direct the optical axis direction of the camera head module toward the traveling direction of the vehicle. Therefore, for example, an image of the traveling direction of the vehicle during turning at an intersection can be obtained. As a result, for example, even if a collision accident occurs after the vehicle turns at an intersection, the situation from just before the accident to the accident can be grasped based on the image obtained by the camera device.

[0022] The optical unit of the present application can be used, for example, for a camera device for vehicle use in which the optical module is a camera head module, the camera device has an inertial sensor disposed outside the optical unit and a control portion electrically connected to the inertial sensor and the driving coil, and the control portion controls the current supplied to the driving coil based on the detection result of the inertial sensor to rotate the movable body.

[0023] That is, the optical unit of the present application can be used, for example, for a drive recorder. In this camera device, the movable body can be rotated based on the detection result of the inertial sensor so as to always direct the optical axis direction of the camera head module toward the traveling direction of the vehicle. Therefore, for example, an image of the traveling direction of the vehicle during turning at an intersection can be obtained. As a result, for example, even if a collision accident occurs after the vehicle turns at an intersection, the situation from just before the accident to the accident can be grasped based on the image obtained by the camera device.

[0024] The optical unit of the present application can be used, for example, for a camera system having a camera device for vehicle use having the optical unit and a steering angle detector that detects the steering angle of the vehicle, in which the optical module is a camera head module, the camera device has a control portion electrically connected to the steering angle detector and the driving coil, and the control portion controls the current supplied to the driving coil based on the detection result of the steering angle detector to rotate the movable body.

[0025] That is, the optical unit of the present invention can be used, for example, in a camera system with a driver's recorder. In this camera system, a movable body can be rotated based on the detection result of a steering angle detector so that the optical axis of the camera module is always oriented toward the vehicle's direction of travel. Therefore, for example, it is possible to acquire an image of the vehicle's direction of travel during a turn at an intersection. As a result, even if a collision occurs after the vehicle has turned at an intersection, for example, the situation from slightly before the accident to the accident can be understood based on the image acquired by the camera device.

[0026] Invention Effects

[0027] As described above, in the optical unit of the present invention, which includes a movable body with an optical module, a fixed body that holds the movable body in a rotatable position, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body relative to the fixed body, even if the rotation angle of the movable body relative to the fixed body increases, the reduction of the driving force of the drive mechanism can be suppressed, and the movable body arranged at a predetermined origin position can be moved more easily relative to the fixed body. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An exploded three-dimensional view of the optical unit shown.

[0030] Figure 3 From Figure 1 The top view shows the optical unit with its cover removed.

[0031] Figure 4 It is Figure 1 The top view showing the movable body, driving magnet, and magnetic plate pulled out.

[0032] Figure 5 It is Figure 2 The top view showing the driving coil, driving magnet, and magnetic plate pulled out.

[0033] Figure 6 It is used to explain the relationship between a movable body and a moving body. Figure 1 A top view showing the configuration of the drive coil and drive magnet when the stationary body rotates.

[0034] Figure 7 It is used for explanation Figure 1 A block diagram illustrating a variation of the use of the optical unit.

[0035] Figure 8 It is used for explanation Figure 1 A block diagram illustrating a variation of the use of the optical unit.

[0036] Figure 9 is a block diagram for explaining Figure 1 a modification example of the use of the optical unit shown in DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0038] (Overall structure of optical unit)

[0039] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the optical unit 1 of the embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 is Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit 1 shown in Figure 3 is a plan view of the state in which the cover 19 is removed from the optical unit 1 shown in Figure 1

[0040] In the following description, as shown in Figure 1 and the like, three directions orthogonal to each other are defined as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction, respectively, the X direction is set as a left-right direction, the Y direction is set as a front-rear direction, and the Z direction is set as an up-down direction. In addition, the side of the left-right direction, i.e., the side of the Xl direction of Figure 1 and the like is set as the "left" side, and the opposite side thereof, i.e., the side of the X2 direction of Figure 1 and the like is set as the "right" side, the side of the front-rear direction, i.e., the side of the Yl direction of Figure 1 and the like is set as the "front" side, and the opposite side thereof, i.e., the side of the Y2 direction of Figure 1 and the like is set as the "rear" side, the side of the up-down direction, i.e., the side of the Zl direction of Figure 1 and the like is set as the "upper" side, and the opposite side thereof, i.e., the side of the Z2 direction of Figure 1 and the like is set as the "lower" side.

[0041] The optical unit 1 of the embodiment is, for example, a small and thin unit mounted on a portable device such as a smartphone, and has a camera module 2 having a lens for photography and an imaging element. The optical unit 1 is formed as a flat and substantially rectangular parallelepiped as a whole with a thin thickness. The optical unit 1 has: a movable body 3 having the camera module 2; a fixed body 4 (refer to Figure 3 ) rotatably holding the movable body 3; a drive mechanism 5 rotating the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4; and two spherical beads 6, 7 constituting a rotation fulcrum of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4. The camera module 2 of the embodiment is an optical module.

[0042] ​The optical axis L of the camera module 2 is orthogonal to the up-down direction. The movable body 3 is rotatable relative to the fixed body 4 about the up-down direction as the axis of rotation of the movable body 3. That is, the movable body 3 is rotatable relative to the fixed body 4 about the axis Ll having the up-down direction as the axial direction. The driving mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 about the up-down direction as the axis of rotation. For example, the driving mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 in order to correct the shake of the optical unit 1 at the time of photographing. Alternatively, the driving mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4, for example, in order to perform panoramic photographing. The up-down direction (Z direction) of the present embodiment is the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis L of the camera module 2. In addition, the up-down direction is the thickness direction of the optical unit 1.

[0043] In the present embodiment, when the driving coil 23 described later, which constitutes a part of the driving mechanism 5, is in a non-energized state, the movable body 3 is not rotated relative to the fixed body 4, and the movable body 3 is disposed at a prescribed origin position (reference position) relative to the fixed body 4, the direction (optical axis direction) of the optical axis L of the camera module 2 coincides with the front-rear direction. The movable body 3 is rotatable, for example, by 10° to 15° or so in the clockwise direction (hereinafter, referred to as the "clockwise direction") of the Figure 3 Figure 2

[0044] The movable body 3 is formed as a flat rectangular parallelepiped having a small thickness in the up-down direction. The movable body 3 has, in addition to the camera module 2, a frame 8 that fixes the camera module 2 and a magnetic plate 9 that is fixed to the frame 8. The camera module 2 is formed as a flat rectangular parallelepiped having a small thickness in the up-down direction. The upper surface, the lower surface, the rear surface, and the side surfaces in the left-right direction of the camera module 2 are planar. The upper surface and the lower surface of the camera module 2 are orthogonal to the up-down direction. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the side surfaces in the left-right direction of the camera module 2 are orthogonal to the left-right direction, and the rear surface of the camera module 2 is orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

[0045] The frame 8 is constituted by a first frame 10 that covers the side surfaces in the left-right direction and the lower surface of the camera module 2 and a second frame 11 that covers the upper surface of the camera module 2. The first frame 10 and the second frame 11 are formed by bending a thin metal plate into a prescribed shape. The first frame 10 has two side surface portions 10a that constitute the side surfaces in the left-right direction of the first frame 10 and a bottom surface portion 10b that constitutes the bottom surface of the first frame 10. The side surface portions 10a are formed as rectangular planar plates. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the thickness direction of the side surface portions 10a coincides with the left-right direction.

[0046] ​​The bottom surface portion 10b is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The thickness direction of the bottom surface portion 10b coincides with the up-down direction. A through-hole 10c that penetrates the bottom surface portion 10b in the up-down direction is formed in the center portion of the bottom surface portion 10b. The through-hole 10c is formed in a circular hole shape. The bead 6 is disposed on the lower side of the bottom surface portion 10b. The inner diameter of the through-hole 10c is smaller than the outer diameter of the bead 6. The upper end portion of the bead 6 is disposed in the through-hole 10c.

[0047] The second frame 11 includes an upper surface portion 11a formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and two protruding portions 11b protruding outward in the left-right direction from the upper surface portion 11a. The thickness direction of the upper surface portion 11a coincides with the up-down direction. The upper surface portion 11a is fixed to the upper end of the first frame 10. A through-hole 11c that penetrates the upper surface portion 11a in the up-down direction is formed in the center portion of the upper surface portion 11a. The through-hole 11c is formed in a circular hole shape. The bead 7 is disposed on the upper side of the upper surface portion 11a. The inner diameter of the through-hole 11c is smaller than the outer diameter of the bead 7. The lower end portion of the bead 7 is disposed in the through-hole 11c.

[0048] The through-hole 11c is disposed at the same position in the horizontal direction as the through-hole 10c, and the through-hole 11c overlaps the through-hole 10c when viewed in the up-down direction. That is, the bead 6 and the bead 7 are disposed at the same position in the horizontal direction, and the bead 6 and the bead 7 overlap when viewed in the up-down direction. The center of the bead 6 and the center of the bead 7 are disposed on the axis L1.

[0049] The protruding portion 11b is formed in an L shape in which the front end side portion of the protruding portion 11b is bent at a right angle toward the lower side. The front end portion of the protruding portion 11b that extends downward becomes an engagement portion 11d that engages with a positioning recess 24d of a drive magnet 24 described later that constitutes a part of the drive mechanism 5. The engagement portion 11d is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the thickness direction of the engagement portion 11d coincides with the left-right direction. The engagement portion 11d is disposed at a position that is outward in the left-right direction from the side surface portion 10a.

[0050] The magnetic plate 9 is composed of a magnetic material having magnetism. The magnetic plate 9 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape that is as thick as the side surface portion 10a of the first frame 10 or the like. The magnetic plate 9 is fixed to the outer side surface in the left-right direction of the side surface portion 10a. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the thickness direction of the magnetic plate 9 coincides with the left-right direction.

[0051] As described above, the camera module 2 includes a lens and an imaging element. The imaging element is disposed at the rear end side of the camera module 2, and an object disposed on the front side of the camera module 2 is imaged by the camera module 2. The camera module 2 includes a circuit board 15 on which the imaging element is mounted. The circuit board 15 constitutes the rear surface of the camera module 2. In addition, the camera module 2 of the present embodiment includes a magnetic drive mechanism for autofocusing.

[0052] A flexible printed board (FPC) 16 is drawn out from the circuit board 15 constituting the rear surface of the camera module 2. The FPC 16 is drawn out to the rear side from the center portion of the circuit board 15 in the left-right direction. In addition, the FPC 16 is drawn out to the rear side from the center portion of the camera module 2 in the left-right direction, and is drawn out to the rear side from the center portion of the movable body 3 in the left-right direction. The FPC 16 drawn out to the rear side from the circuit board 15 is thereafter drawn around to the left side, and is then drawn around to the front side. The front end portion of the FPC 16 is fixed to the housing 18 constituting the fixed body 4 described later. The FPC 16 is bent into a substantially rectangular groove shape (substantially U shape).

[0053] The fixed body 4 is provided with a housing 18 constituting the left-right direction side surfaces and the lower surface of the fixed body 4, a cover 19 constituting the upper surface of the fixed body 4, and a fixed plate 20 fixed to the housing 18. The housing 18 is formed of a resin material. The cover 19 is formed by bending a thin metal plate into a prescribed shape. The fixed plate 20 is formed of a thin metal plate. In addition, the fixed plate 20 is formed into a substantially circular plate shape. The housing 18 is constituted by two side surface portions 18a constituting the left-right direction side surfaces of the housing 18 and a bottom surface portion 18b constituting the lower surface of the housing 18. The movable body 3 is disposed between the two side surface portions 18a in the left-right direction. In addition, the movable body 3 is disposed on the upper side of the bottom surface portion 18b.

[0054] A through hole 18c penetrating in the left-right direction is formed in the side surface portion 18a. A drive coil 23 constituting a part of the drive mechanism 5 described later is disposed in the through hole 18c. The portions of the through hole 18c on both sides in the circumferential direction of the side surface portion 18a with the center of rotation of the movable body 3 as the center become protection wall portions 18d for protecting the drive coil 23. That is, the protection wall portions 18d are formed in the fixed body 4.

[0055] In addition, an abutment surface 18e for positioning the drive coil 23 disposed in the through hole 18c is formed in the side surface portion 18a (refer to Figure 4 ). The abutment surface 18e is formed on the lower side of the through hole 18c. An FPC fixing portion 18f protruding toward the left side is formed in the front end portion of the side surface portion 18a disposed on the left side. The front end portion of the FPC 16 is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f by double-sided tape or the like.

[0056] The fixed plate 20 is fixed to the center portion of the upper surface of the bottom surface portion 18b. A bead disposition portion 20a in which the lower end portion of the bead 6 is disposed is formed in the center of the fixed plate 20. The bead disposition portion 20a is formed into a substantially hemispherical shape protruding toward the lower side, and the upper surface of the bead disposition portion 20a is formed into a concave curved surface of a hemispherical shape recessed toward the lower side. The bead 6 is disposed on the upper side of the bead disposition portion 20a.

[0057] The cover 19 is fixed to the upper end of the housing 18. The movable body 3 is disposed on the lower side of the cover 19. A spring portion 19a is formed at the center of the cover 19 to apply force to the bead 7. That is, the cover 19 is a leaf spring. The spring portion 19a is slightly cut out and raised towards the lower side. A bead placement portion 19b is formed at the front end of the spring portion 19a, where the upper end of the bead 7 is disposed. The bead placement portion 19b is formed into a generally hemispherical shape that bulges upward, and the lower surface of the bead placement portion 19b is a concave surface that is concave towards the upper side. The bead 7 is disposed on the lower side of the bead placement portion 19b.

[0058] Spring portion 19a applies a downward force to bead 7. Through the force of spring portion 19a, bead 7 contacts the lower surface of bead placement portion 19b and the upper edge of the through hole 11c of the second frame 11 with a predetermined contact pressure. Additionally, as described above, bead 6 is positioned horizontally at the same location as bead 7, and through the force of spring portion 19a, contacts the lower edge of the through hole 10c of the first frame 10 and the upper surface of bead placement portion 20a with a predetermined contact pressure.

[0059] As described above, the movable body 3 can rotate relative to the fixed body 4 about the axis L1 passing through the center of the beads 6 and 7. The rotation center of the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 is defined by the beads 6 and 7, the through hole 10c of the first frame 10, the through hole 11c of the second frame 11, the bead arrangement portion 19b of the cover 19, and the bead arrangement portion 20a of the fixed plate 20. In this embodiment, the second frame 11 serves as a defining component for defining the rotation center of the movable body 3, and an engaging portion 11d is formed on the second frame 11, which serves as the defining component.

[0060] (Structure of the drive mechanism)

[0061] Figure 1 It is Figure 5 The top view showing the movable body 3, the driving magnet 24, and the magnetic plate 25 pulled out. Figure 2 It is Figure 6 The top view showing the driving coil 23, driving magnet 24, and magnetic plate 27 pulled out. Figure 1 It is used to explain the movable body 3 relative to Figure 5 The top view shows the arrangement of the drive coil 23 and drive magnet 24 when the fixed body 4 rotates. In the following description, the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 is called "radial", and the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 is called "circumferential direction".

[0062] The drive mechanism 5 has a drive coil 23 wound in a hollow shape, a drive magnet 24 disposed in opposition to the drive coil 23 in the radial direction, and a magnetic plate 25 that fixes the drive magnet 24. The drive mechanism 5 of the present embodiment has the drive coil 23, the drive magnet 24, and the magnetic plate 25 disposed on both sides in the left-right direction of the movable body 3, respectively. That is, the drive mechanism 5 has two drive coils 23, two drive magnets 24, and two magnetic plates 25. The drive coil 23, the drive magnet 24, and the magnetic plate 25 are disposed at a 180° pitch with respect to the center of rotation of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4.

[0063] The magnetic plate 25 is formed by bending a metal plate made of a magnetic material into a prescribed shape. The magnetic plate 25 is composed of a fixed portion 25a that is fixed to the magnetic plate 9 and two inclined portions 25b that are connected to both ends in the front-rear direction of the fixed portion 25a. The fixed portion 25a is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The fixed portion 25a is fixed to the outer side surface in the left-right direction of the magnetic plate 9. That is, the fixed portion 25a of the magnetic plate 25 disposed on the right side of the movable body 3 is fixed to the right surface of the magnetic plate 9 disposed on the right side of the frame 8, and the fixed portion 25a of the magnetic plate 25 disposed on the left side of the movable body 3 is fixed to the left surface of the magnetic plate 9 disposed on the left side of the frame 8.

[0064] The inclined portion 25b is formed in a rectangular plate shape. The inclined portion 25b connected to the front end of the fixed portion 25a is inclined with respect to the fixed portion 25a in such a manner as to face the inner side in the left-right direction as it goes toward the front side. The inclined portion 25b connected to the rear end of the fixed portion 25a is inclined with respect to the fixed portion 25a in such a manner as to face the inner side in the left-right direction as it goes toward the rear side. The two inclined portions 25b are formed symmetrically with respect to the fixed portion 25a.

[0065] The drive magnet 24 is formed in a block shape that is substantially crescent-shaped when viewed in the up-down direction. The drive magnet 24 is fixed to the fixed portion 25a of the magnetic plate 25. That is, the drive magnet 24 is fixed to the movable body 3 via the magnetic plate 25. The upper surface and the lower surface of the drive magnet 24 are planar surfaces that are orthogonal to the up-down direction. The outer side surface of the drive magnet 24 in the radial direction is a magnet side opposing surface 24a that opposes the drive coil 23.

[0066] The magnet side opposing surface 24a is formed in a convex curved surface shape. In addition, the magnet side opposing surface 24a is formed in a circular arc shape that has the center of rotation of the movable body 3 as a center of curvature when viewed in the up-down direction. That is, the opposing surface of the drive magnet 24 that opposes the drive coil 23, that is, the magnet side opposing surface 24a, is formed in a circular arc shape that has the center of rotation of the movable body 3 as a center of curvature when viewed in the up-down direction. The central angle of the magnet side opposing surface 24a when viewed in the up-down direction is, for example, about 90°.

[0067] The inner side surface of the driving magnet 24 in the radial direction is composed of a planar fixed surface 24b fixed to the fixed portion 25a and planar inclined surfaces 24c connected to both ends of the fixed surface 24b in the front-rear direction. The fixed surface 24b constitutes the central portion of the inner side surface of the driving magnet 24 in the radial direction. The fixed surface 24b is fixed to the outer side surface of the fixed portion 25a in the left-right direction and is in contact with the outer side surface of the fixed portion 25a in the left-right direction. The inclined surface 24c connected to the front end of the fixed surface 24b is inclined with respect to the fixed surface 24b in such a manner as to be directed toward the inner side in the left-right direction as it is directed toward the front side. The inclined surface 24c connected to the rear end of the fixed surface 24b is inclined with respect to the fixed surface 24b in such a manner as to be directed toward the inner side in the left-right direction as it is directed toward the rear side.

[0068] The inclined surface 24c connected to the front end of the fixed surface 24b is parallel to the inclined portion 25b connected to the front end of the fixed portion 25a. A slight gap is formed between the outer side surface of this inclined surface 24c and this inclined portion 25b. The inclined surface 24c connected to the rear end of the fixed surface 24b is parallel to the inclined portion 25b connected to the rear end of the fixed portion 25a. A slight gap is formed between the outer side surface of this inclined surface 24c and this inclined portion 25b. The magnetic plate 25 functions as a rear yoke of the driving magnet 24. In addition, the magnetic plate 9 functions as a magnetic shield that prevents magnetic interference between the magnetic drive mechanism for autofocusing possessed by the camera module 2 and the drive mechanism 5.

[0069] A positioning recess 24d for positioning the driving magnet 24 with respect to the movable body 3 is formed in the center of the fixed surface 24b. That is, the positioning recess 24d for positioning the driving magnet 24 with respect to the movable body 3 is formed in the center of the surface of the driving magnet 24 on the movable body 3 side. The positioning recess 24d is recessed toward the outer side in the left-right direction from the fixed surface 24b. The positioning recess 24d is formed in a square groove shape that extends over the entire region in the up-down direction of the fixed surface 24b.

[0070] The width of the positioning recess 24d in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2 is slightly wider than the width of the engagement portion 11d of the second frame 11 in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. The engagement portion 11d engages with the positioning recess 24d. In the present embodiment, the driving magnet 24 is positioned with respect to the movable body 3 by the engagement of the engagement portion 11d with the positioning recess 24d. Specifically, the driving magnet 24 is positioned with respect to the movable body 3 in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2 by the engagement of the engagement portion 11d with the positioning recess 24d. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the two driving magnets 24 are disposed left-right symmetrically.

[0071] The drive coil 23 is a hollow coil formed by winding a wire in a hollow shape. The drive coil 23 is composed of a pair (two) of effective edge portions 23a, 23b parallel to the up-down direction, a connecting edge portion 23c connecting the upper ends of the pair of effective edge portions 23a, 23b to each other, and a connecting edge portion 23c connecting the lower ends of the pair of effective edge portions 23a, 23b to each other. The effective edge portions 23a, 23b are portions that contribute to the driving force of the drive mechanism 5. The drive coil 23 is bent along a magnet-side facing surface 24a that is a circular arc in shape when viewed in the up-down direction. Specifically, the drive coil 23 is bent at two places along the magnet-side facing surface 24a. In addition, the drive coil 23 is bent into a substantially V shape.

[0072] The pair of effective edge portions 23a, 23b are arranged in a state of being spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The effective edge portion 23a constitutes one end portion of the drive coil 23 in the circumferential direction, and the effective edge portion 23b constitutes the other end portion of the drive coil 23 in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the effective edge portion 23a constitutes the end portion in the clockwise direction of the drive coil 23, and the effective edge portion 23b constitutes the end portion in the counterclockwise direction. The effective edge portion 23a of the present embodiment is a first effective edge portion, and the effective edge portion 23b is a second effective edge portion.

[0073] The drive coil 23 is arranged on the outer side of the drive magnet 24 in the radial direction. In addition, the drive coil 23 is arranged on the outer side of the drive magnet 24 in the left-right direction. The drive coil 23 is arranged in the through hole 18c of the housing 18, and the two drive coils 23 are arranged left-right symmetrically. The left-right direction inner side surface of the connecting edge portion 23c arranged on the lower side abuts against the abutting surface 18e of the housing 18, and the drive coil 23 is positioned in the horizontal direction by the abutting surface 18e.

[0074] As described above, the both side portions of the through hole 18c in the circumferential direction become the protection wall portion 18d, and the protection wall portion 18d is arranged on the inner side of the drive coil 23 in the radial direction. That is, the protection wall portion 18d is arranged at a position closer to the drive magnet 24 than the drive coil 23 in the radial direction.

[0075] When viewed from the top and bottom directions, the center portion of the drive coil 23 in the circumferential direction becomes a straight line parallel to the front and back directions. The drive coil 23 is mounted on a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 26. Specifically, the left and right outer sides of the center portion of the drive coil 23 in the circumferential direction are mounted to the FPC 26. In addition, the two drive coils 23 are mounted on the common FPC 26. The FPC 26 is fixed to the left and right outer sides and the lower surface of the housing 18. That is, the drive coil 23 is fixed to the fixed body 4 by the FPC 26. When a current is supplied to the drive coil 23, the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4 about the axis L1 as the center of rotation.

[0076] The inner side of the effective edge portion 23a in the radial direction becomes an effective edge portion side opposing surface 23d opposing the magnet side opposing surface 24a of the drive magnet 24. The inner side of the effective edge portion 23b in the radial direction becomes an effective edge portion side opposing surface 23e opposing the magnet side opposing surface 24a. When viewed from the top and bottom directions, the effective edge portion side opposing surfaces 23d, 23e are substantially orthogonal to the radial direction. That is, when viewed from the top and bottom directions, the opposing surfaces of the effective edge portions 23a, 23b opposing the magnet side opposing surface 24a, that is, the effective edge portion side opposing surfaces 23d, 23e are substantially orthogonal to the radial direction with the center of rotation of the movable body 3 as the center. In addition, the effective edge portion side opposing surfaces 23d, 23e are parallel to the tangential direction of the magnet side opposing surface 24a. The effective edge portion side opposing surface 23d of the present embodiment is a first effective edge portion side opposing surface, and the effective edge portion side opposing surface 23e is a second effective edge portion side opposing surface.

[0077] The magnet side opposing surface 24a is magnetized in two poles in the circumferential direction. That is, the magnet side opposing surface 24a is magnetized such that the magnetic poles of one side portion of the magnet side opposing surface 24a in the circumferential direction and the magnetic poles of the other side portion of the magnet side opposing surface 24a in the circumferential direction become different magnetic poles, and is polarized in two poles in the circumferential direction. Specifically, the center of the drive magnet 24 in the circumferential direction becomes a polarization position (magnetization division line) 24e, and the magnet side opposing surface 24a is polarized in two poles with the polarization position 24e as a boundary.

[0078] If the portion of the driving magnet 24 positioned clockwise from the polarization position 24e is designated as the first magnet portion 24f, and the portion positioned counterclockwise from the polarization position 24e is designated as the second magnet portion 24g, then the driving magnet 24 is composed of the first magnet portion 24f and the second magnet portion 24g. That is, the driving magnet 24 is composed of the first magnet portion 24f positioned circumferentially on the effective edge 23a side and the second magnet portion 24g positioned circumferentially on the effective edge 23b side, and the magnetic poles of the magnet-side facing surfaces 24a of the first magnet portion 24f and the second magnet portion 24g are different magnetic poles. In this embodiment, the magnetic pole of the magnet-side facing surface 24a of the first magnet portion 24f is the N pole, and the magnetic pole of the magnet-side facing surface 24a of the second magnet portion 24g is the S pole.

[0079] The driving magnet 24 is magnetized such that, when viewed from above and below, the magnetic lines of force F1 and F2 passing through the centers of the effective side opposing surfaces 23d and 23e (refer to...) are visible when the movable body 3 is positioned relative to the fixed body 4 at the origin. Figure 5 The magnetic field lines F1 passing through the center of the effective edge-side opposing surface 23d and 23e are approximately orthogonal to the effective edge-side opposing surface 23d when viewed from above and below with the movable body 3 positioned at the origin. Similarly, the magnetic field lines F2 passing through the effective edge-side opposing surface 23e are approximately orthogonal to the effective edge-side opposing surface 23d when viewed from above and below with the movable body 3 positioned at the origin. The orientation of the magnetic field lines F1 and F2 is consistent with the radial direction.

[0080] In this embodiment, the first magnet part 24f is magnetized such that, when viewed from above and below with the movable body 3 positioned at the origin, the magnetic field line F1 passing through the center of the effective edge-side opposing surface 23d and the magnetic field line F3 passing through the off-center portion of the effective edge-side opposing surface 23d (see reference) Figure 5 Parallel. That is, the first magnet portion 24f is magnetized such that, when the movable body 3 is positioned at the origin, the magnetic field lines F1 and F3 passing through the effective edge-side opposing surface 23d are approximately orthogonal to the effective edge-side opposing surface 23d. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first magnet portion 24f is magnetized such that the magnetic field lines generated by the portion of the first magnet portion 24f that is opposite the effective edge-side opposing surface 23d within the rotation range of the movable body 3 are parallel to the magnetic field line F1.

[0081] Similarly, the second magnet part 24g is magnetized such that, when viewed from above and below with the movable body 3 positioned at the origin, the magnetic field line F2 passing through the center of the effective edge-side opposing surface 23e and the magnetic field line F4 passing through the off-center portion of the effective edge-side opposing surface 23e (see reference) Figure 6 Parallel. That is, the second magnet portion 24g is magnetized such that, when the movable body 3 is positioned at the origin, the magnetic field lines F2 and F4 passing through the effective edge-side opposing surface 23e are approximately orthogonal to the effective edge-side opposing surface 23e. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second magnet portion 24g is magnetized such that the magnetic field lines generated by the portion of the second magnet portion 24g that is opposite the effective edge-side opposing surface 23e within the rotation range of the movable body 3 are parallel to the magnetic field line F2.

[0082] Furthermore, the inclined surface 24c of the first magnet portion 24f is a plane that is approximately orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field line F1 when passing through the effective edge side opposite surface 23d. That is, when the movable body 3 is positioned at the origin, the inclined surface 24c of the first magnet portion 24f is approximately parallel to the effective edge side opposite surface 23d. Additionally, the inclined surface 24c of the second magnet portion 24g is a plane that is approximately orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field line F2 when passing through the effective edge side opposite surface 23e. That is, when the movable body 3 is positioned at the origin, the inclined surface 24c of the second magnet portion 24g is approximately parallel to the effective edge side opposite surface 23e.

[0083] In this embodiment, even if the movable body 3 rotates relative to the fixed body 4 to the rotating end in the clockwise direction, the polarization position 24e of the driving magnet 24 will not reach the effective edge 23a in the circumferential direction (see reference). Figure 6 (A)). Furthermore, even if the movable body 3 rotates relative to the fixed body 4 to the counterclockwise rotation end, the polarization position 24e will not reach the effective edge 23b in the circumferential direction (see reference). Figure 7 (B) That is, the interval between a pair of effective edges 23a and 23b in the circumferential direction is set such that the polarization position 24e does not reach the effective edges 23a and 23b throughout the entire range of rotation of the movable body 3.

[0084] On the surface of the FPC 26 on which the drive coil 23 is mounted, a Hall element (omitted from illustration) for detecting the rotation angle of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 is mounted. The Hall element is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the drive coil 23 wound in a hollow shape. On the surface of the FPC 26 opposite to the surface on which the drive coil 23 is mounted (specifically, the outer surface of the FPC 26 in the left-right direction), a flat plate-shaped magnetic plate 27 composed of a magnetic material is fixed. The magnetic plate 27 is formed in a rectangular shape. The thickness direction of the magnetic plate 27 coincides with the left-right direction. When viewed from the top-bottom direction in a state where the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the center in the front-rear direction of the magnetic plate 27 is disposed at the same position as the polarization position 24e of the drive magnet 24 in the circumferential direction.

[0085] The position of the movable body 3 disposed at the origin position is maintained by the magnetic attraction force generated between the drive magnet 24 and the magnetic plate 27. That is, the drive magnet 24 and the magnetic plate 27 function to maintain the state in which the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position when no current is supplied to the drive coil 23. In the present embodiment, a position maintaining mechanism 28 for maintaining the state in which the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position is constituted by the drive magnet 24 and the magnetic plate 27.

[0086] (Main effects of the present embodiment)

[0087] As described above, in the present embodiment, the magnet side opposing surface 24a of the drive magnet 24 is formed in a circular arc shape with the rotation center of the movable body 3 as the center of curvature when viewed from the top-bottom direction, and the drive coil 23 is bent along the magnet side opposing surface 24a which is formed in a circular arc shape when viewed from the top-bottom direction. In addition, in the present embodiment, the effective edge portion side opposing surfaces 23d, 23e of the effective edge portions 23a, 23b of the drive coil 23 are substantially orthogonal to the radial direction when viewed from the top-bottom direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the rotation angle of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 becomes large, it is possible to maintain the distance between the magnet side opposing surface 24a and the effective edge portion side opposing surfaces 23d, 23e constant. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the rotation angle of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 becomes large, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the driving force of the drive mechanism 5.

[0088] In the present embodiment, the drive magnet 24 is magnetized so that, when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position with respect to the fixed body 4, the magnetic lines of force F1, F2 passing through the center of the effective edge portion side opposing surface 23d, 23e substantially orthogonally to the radial direction are substantially orthogonal to the effective edge portion side opposing surface 23d, 23e. Thus, in the present embodiment, when a current is supplied to the drive coil 23 with the movable body 3 disposed at the origin position, the driving force of the drive mechanism 5 acting on the tangent direction of the magnet side opposing surface 24a can be increased. Thus, in the present embodiment, the movable body 3 disposed at the origin position can be more easily moved with respect to the fixed body 4.

[0089] In the present embodiment, the first magnet portion 24f is magnetized so that the magnetic lines of force generated by the portion of the first magnet portion 24f opposing the effective edge portion side opposing surface 23d within the rotation range of the movable body 3 are parallel to the magnetic lines of force F1. Also, in the present embodiment, the second magnet portion 24g is magnetized so that the magnetic lines of force generated by the portion of the second magnet portion 24g opposing the effective edge portion side opposing surface 23e within the rotation range of the movable body 3 are parallel to the magnetic lines of force F2. Thus, in the present embodiment, compared to a case where the first magnet portion 24f and the second magnet portion 24g are magnetized so that the magnetic lines of force form a radial pattern centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3, the drive magnet 24 can be more easily magnetized even if the shape of the drive magnet 24 is a complex shape.

[0090] In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 1 Id is formed on the second frame 11 for defining the rotation center of the movable body 3, and the engaging portion 1 Id engages with the positioning recess 24d of the drive magnet 24 to position the drive magnet 24 with respect to the movable body 3. That is, in the present embodiment, a portion of the second frame 11 for defining the rotation center of the movable body 3 directly engages with the drive magnet 24, and thus the drive magnet 24 is positioned with respect to the movable body 3. Thus, in the present embodiment, the positional deviation of the drive magnet 24 with respect to the rotation center of the movable body 3 can be suppressed. Thus, in the present embodiment, even if the distance between the magnet side opposing surface 24a of the drive magnet 24 and the effective edge portion side opposing surface 23d, 23e of the drive coil 23 becomes short, interference between the magnet side opposing surface 24a and the effective edge portion side opposing surface 23d, 23e when the movable body 3 is rotated with respect to the fixed body 4 can be prevented.

[0091] In the present embodiment, the positioning recess 24d is formed in the center of the surface of the movable body 3 side of the drive magnet 24. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the magnetic flux of the center portion of the surface of the movable body 3 side of the drive magnet 24 can be weakened. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the camera module 2 is provided with a magnetic drive mechanism for auto focus, the magnetic interference between the magnetic drive mechanism for auto focus and the drive mechanism 5 can be suppressed. In addition, in the present embodiment, since the magnetic plate 9 that functions as a magnetic shield is fixed to the outer surface in the left-right direction of the first frame 10, the magnetic interference between the magnetic drive mechanism for auto focus of the camera module 2 and the drive mechanism 5 can be effectively suppressed.

[0092] In the present embodiment, the protection wall portion 18d that is arranged on both sides of the drive coil 23 in the circumferential direction is arranged on the inner side of the drive coil 23 in the radial direction. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if an impact is applied to the optical unit 1, an excessive force acts on the movable body 3, and the movable body 3 moves with respect to the fixed body 4, the contact between the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 can be prevented. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the movable body 3 moves with respect to the fixed body 4 due to an excessive force, the damage to the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 can be prevented.

[0093] (Modified example 1 of the use of the optical unit)

[0094] Figure 8 、 Figure 1 is a block diagram for explaining Figure 7 a modified example of the use of the optical unit 1.

[0095] In the above-described embodiments, the optical unit 1 is used by being attached to a portable device such as a smartphone, but as shown in Figure 8 、 Figure 7 , the optical unit 1 can also be used by being attached to a drive recorder 35 that is a vehicle-mounted camera device. In this modified example, the drive recorder 35 is provided with an inertial sensor 36. The inertial sensor 36 is, for example, a gyro sensor (gyroscope) or an acceleration sensor. In addition, the inertial sensor 36 can also be a sensor that integrates a gyro sensor and an acceleration sensor.

[0096] In the modified example shown in Figure 8 , the optical unit 1 is provided with an inertial sensor 36. The inertial sensor 36 is mounted on the fixed body 4. For example, the inertial sensor 36 is mounted on the FPC 26 and is fixed to the fixed body 4 via the FPC 26. In Figure 7In the modification shown, the inertial sensor 36 is disposed outside the optical unit 1. For example, the drive recorder 35 is provided with a fixing member to which the fixing body 4 is fixed, and the inertial sensor 36 is attached to the fixing member. The inertial sensor 36 functions to detect the traveling direction of the vehicle on which the drive recorder 35 is mounted.

[0097] The drive recorder 35 is provided with a control section 37 to which the inertial sensor 36 is electrically connected. The output signal of the inertial sensor 36 is input to the control section 37. The driving coil 23 is also electrically connected to the control section 37. Specifically, the Hall element disposed on the inner circumferential side of the driving coil 23 is electrically connected to the control section 37 in addition to the FPC 26. The control section 37 controls the driving mechanism 5.

[0098] In the drive recorder 35, the control section 37 controls the current supplied to the driving coil 23 based on the detection result of the inertial sensor 36 to rotate the movable body 3. That is, the driving mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 based on the detection result of the inertial sensor 36. Specifically, the control section 37 rotates the movable body 3 based on the detection result of the inertial sensor 36 in such a manner as to follow the movement of the steering wheel of the vehicle. More specifically, the control section 37 rotates the movable body 3 based on the detection result of the inertial sensor 36 so that the optical axis direction of the camera module 2 is always directed toward the traveling direction of the vehicle. That is, in this modification, the driving mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 relative to the fixing body 4 so that the optical axis direction of the camera module 2 is always directed toward the traveling direction of the vehicle. In addition, the control section 37 controls the current supplied to the driving coil 23 based on the detection result of the Hall element to rotate the movable body 3.

[0099] In this modification, the movable body 3 is rotated based on the detection result of the inertial sensor 36 so that the optical axis direction of the camera module 2 is always directed toward the traveling direction of the vehicle, and thus, for example, it is possible to acquire an image of the traveling direction of the vehicle during the turning of the vehicle at an intersection. Therefore, for example, even if a collision accident occurs after the turning of the vehicle at the intersection, it is possible to grasp the situation from just before the occurrence of the accident to the occurrence of the accident based on the image acquired by the drive recorder 35.

[0100] In addition, Figure 9 The optical unit 1 shown (i.e., the optical unit 1 provided with the inertial sensor 36) can also be mounted on a device other than the drive recorder 35. Even in this case, the movable body 3 can be rotated based on the detection result of the inertial sensor 36 so that the optical axis direction of the camera module 2 is directed toward the direction in which the fixing body 4 is inclined.

[0101] (Modification 2 of the use of the optical unit)

[0102] Figure 1 is for explaining Figure 9A block diagram of a modification example of the use of the optical unit 1.

[0103] In a case where the optical unit 1 is installed in the drive recorder 35, the drive recorder 35 can not be provided with the inertial sensor 36. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the vehicle in which the drive recorder 35 is installed is provided with a steering angle detector 38 that detects a steering angle of the vehicle. The control section 37 of the drive recorder 35 is electrically connected to the steering angle detector 38 and the driving coil 23. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the drive recorder system 39 as a photographing system is constituted by the drive recorder 35 and the steering angle detector 38. Figure 9 ​ In the example shown in FIG. 10, the drive recorder system 39 as a photographing system is constituted by the drive recorder 35 and the steering angle detector 38.

[0104] In this modification example, the control section 37 controls the current supplied to the driving coil 23 in accordance with the detection result of the steering angle detector 38 to rotate the movable body 3. Specifically, the control section 37 rotates the movable body 3 in accordance with the detection result of the steering angle detector 38 to always direct the optical axis direction of the camera head module 2 toward the traveling direction of the vehicle. In this modification example, for example, it is possible to acquire an image of the traveling direction of the vehicle during the turning of the vehicle at an intersection, and thus, for example, even if a collision accident occurs after the turning of the vehicle at the intersection, it is possible to grasp the situation from just before the occurrence of the accident to the occurrence of the accident on the basis of the image acquired by the drive recorder 35.

[0105] (Other Embodiments)

[0106] The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present application, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made within a scope that does not change the gist of the present application.

[0107] In the above-described embodiment, the position holding mechanism for maintaining the state in which the movable body 3 is arranged at the origin position can be a spring member such as a leaf spring. In a case where the position holding mechanism is a leaf spring, the leaf spring has, for example, fixed portions fixed to the movable body 3, fixed portions fixed to the fixed body 4, and a plurality of spring portions connecting the fixed portions to each other. In the above-described embodiment, the driving coil 23 can be bent at one portion along the magnet side facing surface 24a, or can be bent at three or more portions. In addition, the driving coil 23 can be curved in a circular arc shape along the magnet side facing surface 24a.

[0108] ​In the above-described embodiments, the drive mechanism 5 can have only one drive coil 23 and drive magnet 24, or can have three or more drive coils 23 and drive magnets 24. In the above-described embodiments, the drive coil 23 can be fixed to the movable body 3, and the drive magnet 24 can be fixed to the fixed body 4. In this case, the drive magnet 24 is disposed outside the drive coil 23 in the radial direction. In this case, the inner side surface of the drive magnet 24 in the radial direction becomes the magnet side opposite surface opposite the drive coil 23, and the outer side surface of the effective edge portions 23a, 23b in the radial direction becomes the effective edge portion side opposite surface opposite the magnet side opposite surface of the drive magnet 24.

[0109] In the above-described embodiments, the first magnet portion 24f and the second magnet portion 24g can be magnetized in a manner in which magnetic lines of force are formed in a radial pattern centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3. In the above-described embodiments, the optical unit 1 can have an optical module other than the camera head module 2. For example, the optical unit 1 can have a laser module that emits laser light as an optical module. In addition, the optical unit 1 can have an optical module that has an optical member such as a lens or a prism.

[0110] Symbol Explanation

[0111] 1 Optical unit

[0112] 2 Camera head module (optical module)

[0113] 3 Movable body

[0114] 4 Fixed body

[0115] 5 Drive mechanism

[0116] 11 Second frame (limiting member)

[0117] 11d Engaging portion

[0118] 18d Protective wall portion

[0119] 23 Drive coil

[0120] 23a Effective edge portion (first effective edge portion)

[0121] 23b Effective edge portion (second effective edge portion)

[0122] 23d Effective edge portion side opposite surface (first effective edge portion side opposite surface)

[0123] 23e Effective edge portion side opposite surface (second effective edge portion side opposite surface)

[0124] 24 Drive magnet

[0125] 24a magnet side opposite surface

[0126] 24d positioning recess

[0127] 24f first magnet portion

[0128] 24g second magnet portion

[0129] 28 position holding mechanism

[0130] 35 drive recorder (imaging device)

[0131] 36 inertial sensor

[0132] 37 control portion

[0133] 38 steering angle detector

[0134] 39 imaging system

[0135] F1, F2 magnetic force lines (magnetic force lines passing through the center of the effective edge portion side opposite surface)

[0136] F3 magnetic force lines (magnetic force lines passing through the first effective edge portion side opposite surface)

[0137] F4 magnetic force lines (magnetic force lines passing through the second effective edge portion side opposite surface)

[0138] L optical axis of camera module (optical axis of optical module)

[0139] Z first direction

Claims

1. An optical unit, characterized by Possessing: a movable body having an optical module; a fixed body that holds the movable body so as to be rotatable; and a drive mechanism that makes a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical module an axis of rotation, and rotates the movable body relative to the fixed body, the drive mechanism has a drive coil wound in a hollow shape, and a drive magnet disposed opposite the drive coil in a radial direction with a center of rotation of the movable body relative to the fixed body as a center, a facing surface of the drive magnet opposite the drive coil, that is, a magnet-side facing surface, is formed in a circular arc shape with the center of rotation of the movable body as a center of curvature when viewed in the first direction, the drive coil has a pair of effective edge portions parallel to the first direction, and is curved along the magnet-side facing surface that is a circular arc shape when viewed in the first direction, the pair of effective edge portions are disposed at a state of being separated by a gap in a circumferential direction with the center of rotation of the movable body as a center, a facing surface of the effective edge portion opposite the magnet-side facing surface, that is, an effective edge portion-side facing surface, is substantially orthogonal to the radial direction with the center of rotation of the movable body as a center when viewed in the first direction, the drive magnet is magnetized so that a magnetic line of force passing through the center of the effective edge portion-side facing surface is substantially orthogonal to the effective edge portion-side facing surface when viewed in the first direction in a state where the movable body is disposed at a prescribed origin position relative to the fixed body.

2. The optical unit according to claim 1, wherein one of the pair of effective edge portions is set as a first effective edge portion, the other is set as a second effective edge portion, the effective edge portion-side facing surface of the first effective edge portion is set as a first effective edge portion-side facing surface, and the effective edge portion-side facing surface of the second effective edge portion is set as a second effective edge portion-side facing surface, the drive magnet is composed of a first magnet portion disposed on the first effective edge portion-side in a circumferential direction with the center of rotation of the movable body as a center, and a second magnet portion disposed on the second effective edge portion-side in the circumferential direction with the center of rotation of the movable body as a center, a magnetic pole of the magnet-side facing surface of the first magnet portion and a magnetic pole of the magnet-side facing surface of the second magnet portion are different magnetic poles, the first magnet portion is magnetized so that a magnetic line of force passing through the first effective edge portion-side facing surface is substantially orthogonal to the first effective edge portion-side facing surface in a state where the movable body is disposed at the origin position relative to the fixed body, the second magnet portion is magnetized so that a magnetic line of force passing through the second effective edge portion-side facing surface is substantially orthogonal to the second effective edge portion-side facing surface in a state where the movable body is disposed at the origin position relative to the fixed body.

3. The optical unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a position holding mechanism for maintaining a state where the movable body is disposed at the origin position is provided.

4. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the driving magnet is fixed to the movable body, the driving coil is fixed to the fixed body and is disposed on an outer side of the driving magnet in a radial direction centered on a rotation center of the movable body.

5. The optical unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the movable body has a prescribed member for prescribing a rotation center of the movable body, a positioning recess for positioning the driving magnet with respect to the movable body is formed in the driving magnet, a fitting portion for positioning the driving magnet with respect to the movable body by fitting with the positioning recess is formed in the prescribed member.

6. The optical unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the optical module is a camera module, the positioning recess is formed in the center of a surface of the movable body side of the driving magnet.

7. The optical unit according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a protection wall portion is formed in the fixed body and is disposed on both sides of the driving coil in a circumferential direction centered on a rotation center of the movable body, the protection wall portion is disposed at a position closer to the driving magnet side than the driving coil in a radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

8. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an inertial sensor is mounted on the fixed body, the driving mechanism rotates the movable body based on a detection result of the inertial sensor.

9. A vehicle-mounted photographic device, characterized by comprising: the optical unit according to claim 8, the optical module is a camera module.

10. A camera device for vehicle use, characterized by comprising: comprising: the optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7; an inertial sensor disposed outside the optical unit; and a control portion electrically connected to the inertial sensor and the driving coil, the optical module is a camera module, the control portion controls a current supplied to the driving coil based on a detection result of the inertial sensor to rotate the movable body.

11. A photographic system characterized by, comprising: a vehicle-mounted photographic device having the optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and a steering angle detector that detects a steering angle of a vehicle, the optical module is a camera module, the photographic device has a control portion, the steering angle detector and the driving coil are electrically connected to the control portion, the control portion controls a current supplied to the driving coil based on a detection result of the steering angle detector to rotate the movable body.

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