Piezoelectric actuator, driving device and camera module

Abstract

The invention discloses a piezoelectric actuator, a driving device and a camera module, and the piezoelectric actuator comprises a piezoelectric vibrator which comprises a front surface and a back surface which are oppositely disposed in a thickness direction; the piezoelectric vibrator comprises a piezoelectric vibrator body, a friction driving part, the friction driving part is fixed to the front face of the piezoelectric vibrator body in the thickness direction, and the friction driving part is eccentrically arranged on the front face of the piezoelectric vibrator body in the length direction. According to the technical scheme, the friction driving part is eccentrically arranged, so that the piezoelectric actuator has different driving speeds in two opposite directions along the length direction of the piezoelectric actuator.

Description

Piezoelectric actuator, driving device and camera module Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of camera module driving technology. Background Art

[0002] With the popularization of mobile electronic devices, the relevant technologies of camera modules used in mobile electronic devices to help users obtain images (for example, videos or pictures) have developed and progressed rapidly. In recent years, camera modules have been widely used in many fields such as medical care, security, and industrial production.

[0003] To meet increasingly broad market demands, high pixel count and small size are the irreversible development trends of existing camera modules. The need for high-resolution image sensors has led to an increase in the size of imaging lenses, which poses new challenges to the driver components used to adjust optical performance.

[0004] Therefore, a new driving solution suitable for the camera module is needed to meet the driving requirements of the camera module for optical performance adjustment and also meet the development needs of lightweight and thin camera modules.

[0005] Summary of the Invention

[0006] One purpose of the present application is to provide a piezoelectric actuator and a drive motor group, which overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and can meet the driving requirements of the camera module at different driving speeds.

[0007] Another object of the present application is to provide a driving device and a camera module, which overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, can meet the driving requirements of the camera module for optical performance adjustment, and are suitable for achieving clear imaging.

[0008] Another object of the present application is to provide a camera module that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art, can meet the driving requirements of the camera module for optical performance adjustment, and is suitable for achieving fast and clear imaging.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present application, a piezoelectric actuator is provided, comprising:

[0010] a piezoelectric vibrator, the piezoelectric vibrator comprising a front surface and a back surface disposed opposite to each other in a thickness direction; and

[0011] The friction driving portion is fixed to the front surface of the piezoelectric vibrator along the thickness direction, wherein the friction driving portion is eccentrically arranged on the front surface of the piezoelectric vibrator along the length direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the piezoelectric vibrator includes two bending modes, a first bending mode and a second bending mode. The piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in the two bending modes, so that the piezoelectric actuator drives the driven object to move in two opposite directions, a first direction and a second direction, respectively, in the two bending modes.

[0013] In some embodiments, in the first bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in a modal bending state with one crest or one trough in the thickness direction; in the second bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in a modal bending state with one crest and one trough in the thickness direction.

[0014] In some embodiments, the piezoelectric vibrator includes a first bending portion and a second bending portion connected in series along the length direction, the first bending portion is located below the friction driving portion, and in the first bending mode, the first bending portion and the second bending portion are axially symmetrical to each other; in the second bending mode, the first bending portion and the second bending portion are rotationally symmetrical to each other.

[0015] In some embodiments, the speed at which the piezoelectric actuator drives the driven object to move along a first direction is greater than the speed at which the piezoelectric actuator drives the driven object to move along a second direction, where the first direction refers to the eccentric direction of the friction driving part, and the eccentric direction of the friction driving part is the direction in which the center of the piezoelectric vibrator in the length direction points to the friction driving part.

[0016] In some embodiments, the piezoelectric vibrator includes a plurality of ceramic layers, a plurality of electrode layers spaced apart between adjacent ceramic layers, and a side electrical conductive portion electrically connected to the plurality of electrode layers.

[0017] In some embodiments, the multiple electrode layers include at least one first electrode layer, at least one second electrode layer, at least one third electrode layer and at least one fourth electrode layer, and the side electrical conductive portion includes a first side electrical connection portion, a second side electrical connection portion, a third side electrical connection portion and a fourth side electrical connection portion, the first side electrical connection portion is electrically conductive with at least one first electrode layer, the second side electrical connection portion is electrically conductive with at least one second electrode layer, the third side electrical connection portion is electrically conductive with at least one third electrode layer, and the fourth side electrical connection portion is electrically conductive with at least one fourth electrode layer.

[0018] In some embodiments, at least one first electrode layer and at least one second electrode layer are symmetrically arranged with respect to the width direction of the piezoelectric vibrator, and at least one third electrode layer and at least one fourth electrode layer are symmetrically arranged with respect to the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator.

[0019] In some embodiments, the friction driving portion is located between one quarter and one half of the length of the piezoelectric vibrator.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present application, a drive motor assembly is provided, comprising:

[0021] a piezoelectric actuator as previously described;

[0022] stator;

[0023] mover; and

[0024] A pre-stress component, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is fixed to the stator through the pre-stress component, and the piezoelectric actuator is frictionally coupled to the mover through the pre-stress component and is configured to drive the mover to move along the length direction.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present application, a driving device is provided, comprising:

[0026] Fixed part;

[0027] a movable portion, the movable portion being movably disposed in the fixed portion; and

[0028] A driving portion is arranged between the fixed portion and the movable portion, and the driving portion drives the movable portion to move in a first direction or a second direction, the first direction is opposite to the second direction, wherein the speed at which the driving portion drives the movable portion to move in the first direction is greater than the speed at which the driving portion drives the movable portion to move in the second direction.

[0029] In some embodiments, the driving portion includes a piezoelectric vibrator and a friction driving portion fixed to the piezoelectric vibrator, and the friction driving portion is eccentrically disposed on the piezoelectric vibrator along a height direction.

[0030] In some embodiments, the piezoelectric vibrator includes two bending modes: a first bending mode and a second bending mode. The driving unit drives the movable part to move in the first direction or the second direction under the two bending modes respectively.

[0031] In some embodiments, along the height direction, a distance from the friction driving portion to the top end of the piezoelectric vibrator is smaller than a distance from the friction driving portion to the bottom end of the piezoelectric vibrator.

[0032] In some embodiments, the movable portion includes a movable carrier and a friction plate, the friction plate is clamped between the movable carrier and the friction driving portion, and the friction driving portion is frictionally coupled to the friction plate.

[0033] In some embodiments, along the height direction, a distance from the friction driving portion to the top end of the friction plate is smaller than a distance from the friction driving portion to the bottom end of the friction plate.

[0034] In some embodiments, the driving device further includes a pre-pressure component, which is arranged between the fixing portion and the driving portion. The pre-pressure generated by the pre-pressure component ensures that the friction driving portion and the friction plate always maintain friction contact.

[0035] In some embodiments, the pre-stress component includes two fixed ends and a connecting section integrally connected between the two fixed ends, the two fixed ends are fixed to the fixed part, there is a certain gap between the connecting section and the fixed part, and the piezoelectric vibrator is arranged on the side of the connecting section away from the fixed part.

[0036] In some embodiments, the driving device further includes a guiding device, wherein the guiding device is disposed between the fixed portion and the movable portion, and the movable portion is clamped between the pre-pressure component and the guiding device.

[0037] According to another aspect of the present application, a camera module is provided, comprising:

[0038] Optical lens;

[0039] A photosensitive component, wherein the optical lens is held on a light-sensing path of the photosensitive component; and

[0040] A driving device, wherein the optical lens is mounted on the movable portion of the driving device.

[0041] According to another aspect of the present application, a camera module is provided, comprising:

[0042] An optical lens, the optical lens comprising a fixed group and a first movable group;

[0043] a drive device comprising a housing and a first drive assembly disposed in the housing, the fixed group being fixed to the housing, the first drive assembly comprising a first movable carrier, a first drive portion, and a first pre-pressure component, the first movable group being mounted in the first movable carrier, and the first drive portion being frictionally coupled to the first movable carrier via the first pre-pressure component; and

[0044] A photosensitive component is held on the light path of the optical lens, wherein the first driving part includes a first piezoelectric vibrator and a first friction driving part which is eccentrically arranged on the front side of the first piezoelectric vibrator along the length direction; when the first movable carrier is set at an initial position, the first movable carrier is eccentrically located on the working path of the first movable carrier, and the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier is opposite to the eccentric direction of the first friction driving part.

[0045] In some embodiments, a first driving speed at which the first driving portion drives the first movable carrier to move in the eccentric direction of the first friction driving portion is greater than a second driving speed at which the first driving portion drives the first movable carrier to move in the eccentric direction of the first friction driving portion.

[0046] In some embodiments, the first driving unit drives the first movable carrier to move toward the eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit at the first driving speed for coarse adjustment to make the imaging of the camera module close to clear, and then, depending on the clarity of the imaging, the first driving unit drives the first movable carrier to move toward the eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit at the first driving speed or drives the first movable carrier to move in the opposite direction of the eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit at the second driving speed for fine adjustment.

[0047] In some embodiments, when the first movable carrier is set to the initial position, the first movable carrier is located at one end of the working path of the first movable carrier that is biased toward the photosensitive component, and the first driving unit drives the first movable carrier to move toward the fixed group at the first driving speed for coarse adjustment, and then, depending on the clarity of the imaging, the first driving unit drives the first movable carrier to move toward the fixed group at the first driving speed or drives the first movable carrier to move toward the photosensitive component at the second driving speed for fine adjustment.

[0048] In some embodiments, the first driving portion is in an elongated shape, and a length direction thereof is consistent with an optical axis direction of the first movable group.

[0049] In some embodiments, the driving device further includes a first guiding device configured to guide the movement of the first movable carrier, and the first guiding device and the first driving part are respectively disposed on both sides of the first movable carrier.

[0050] In some embodiments, the optical lens also includes a second movable group, the driving device also includes a second driving assembly movably arranged in the shell, the second driving assembly includes a second movable carrier, a second driving part and a second pre-pressure component, the second movable group is installed in the second movable carrier, the second driving part is frictionally coupled to the second movable carrier through the second pre-pressure component, the second driving part includes a second piezoelectric vibrator and a second friction driving part eccentrically arranged on the front side of the second piezoelectric vibrator along the length direction, when the second movable carrier is set to the initial position, the second movable carrier is eccentrically located on the working path of the second movable carrier, and the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier is opposite to the eccentric direction of the second friction driving part.

[0051] In some embodiments, the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier is the same as the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier.

[0052] In some embodiments, the second driving assembly is disposed in the first driving assembly, and the second pre-pressure component is sandwiched between the first movable carrier and the second driving portion.

[0053] In some embodiments, the camera module further includes a light deflection component, which is fixed to the driving component and is used to deflect imaging light.

[0054] Compared with the prior art, this application has at least one of the following technical effects:

[0055] 1. The piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in two bending modes, thereby driving the friction drive part to perform elliptical motion in two directions, so as to drive the driven object to move in two opposite directions along the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator, thereby realizing the optical focusing function of the camera module.

[0056] 2. The piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in two bending modes, thereby driving the friction drive part to perform elliptical motion in two directions respectively, so that the driving device drives the first movable carrier to move in two opposite directions along the optical axis direction of the first movable group, thereby realizing clear imaging of targets at different distances by the camera module.

[0057] 3. The friction driving part is eccentrically arranged on the piezoelectric vibrator along the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator, so that the speeds of driving the driven object to move in two opposite directions along the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator are different.

[0058] 4. The friction driving part is eccentrically arranged on the piezoelectric vibrator along the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator, so that the driving device drives the first movable group to move in two opposite directions along its optical axis at different speeds.

[0059] 5. The optical lens is driven to move faster along the optical axis toward the object side to achieve rapid focusing of the camera module.

[0060] In the following description, some additional embodiments and features are set forth, and those skilled in the art will understand after reviewing the specification or learn these embodiments and features through practice of the disclosed subject matter. A further understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure may be achieved by reference to the remainder of the specification and drawings, which constitute a part of this application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG1A is a schematic structural diagram of a piezoelectric actuator according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0062] FIG. 1B is a schematic structural diagram of another example of a piezoelectric actuator according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0063] 2A and 2B are schematic side and top views of a piezoelectric actuator according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0064] 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams of two bending modes of a piezoelectric vibrator when the piezoelectric actuator according to an embodiment of the present application is in operation.

[0065] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of four regions of a piezoelectric vibrator of a piezoelectric actuator according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0066] FIG5A is a schematic structural diagram of a piezoelectric vibrator and its internal multi-layer electrode layers according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0067] FIG5B is a schematic exploded view of a piezoelectric vibrator according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0068] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of a multi-layer electrode layer inside a piezoelectric vibrator according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0069] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of polarization of a piezoelectric vibrator according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0070] FIG8 is a schematic diagram of the mechanism of a driving motor group according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0071] FIG9 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0072] FIG10 is a schematic top view of a driving device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0073] FIG11 is an exploded schematic diagram of a driving device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0074] FIG12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0075] FIG13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a driving device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0076] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of the optical axis turning of the camera module according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0077] Figure 15A is a schematic top view of the structure of the first embodiment of the camera module according to the implementation of the present application.

[0078] FIG15B is a side cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the camera module according to the embodiment of the present application.

[0079] FIG16 is a structural diagram of a second embodiment of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0080] FIG17 is a structural diagram of a third embodiment of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] Below, the present application is further described in conjunction with specific implementation methods. It should be noted that, under the premise of no conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0082] The term "comprising" is open ended. As used in the appended claims, the term does not exclude additional structures or steps.

[0083] In the description of this application, it should be noted that for directional words, such as the terms "center", "horizontal", "longitudinal", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise" and so on, the directions and positional relationships indicated are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, which are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and cannot be understood as limiting the specific scope of protection of this application.

[0084] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the description and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0085] The terms "comprises" and "having" and any variations thereof in the specification and claims of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, system, product or apparatus that includes a series of steps or elements is not necessarily limited to those steps or elements expressly listed, but may include other steps or elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, product or apparatus.

[0086] It should be noted that, as used in this application, the terms "substantially," "approximately," and similar terms are used as terms of approximation, not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for inherent deviations in measurements or calculations that would be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

[0087] It should also be noted that, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "disposed," "installed," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections, contact connections, or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0088] Various units, circuits, or other components may be described or stated as being “configured to” perform one or more tasks. In such contexts, “configured to” is used to imply a structure (e.g., circuitry) that performs the one or more tasks during operation by indicating that the unit / circuit / component includes such structure. Furthermore, “configured to” may include general structures (e.g., general circuitry) being manipulated by software and / or firmware to operate in a manner capable of performing the one or more tasks to be addressed. “Configured to” may also include adjusting a manufacturing process (e.g., a semiconductor fabrication facility) to manufacture a device (e.g., an integrated circuit) suitable for implementing or performing the one or more tasks.

[0089] The terms used in this description are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to be limiting. As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to also encompass the plural form, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the terms "and / or" used herein refer to and encompass any and all possible combinations of one or more items in the items listed in association. It will also be understood that the terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" when used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts and / or their groupings.

[0090] As used herein, the term "if" may be interpreted to mean "when" or "upon" or "in response to determining" or "in response to detecting," depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase "if it is determined that" or "if [stated condition or event] is detected" may be interpreted to mean "upon determining that" or "in response to determining that" or "upon detecting [stated condition or event]" or "in response to detecting [stated condition or event]," depending on the context.

[0091] Exemplary Piezoelectric Actuator

[0092] A piezoelectric actuator utilizes the characteristic of piezoelectric ceramics that deform (elongate or contract) when a voltage is applied. It converts electrical energy into mechanical energy and is widely used in devices such as camera modules. It offers advantages such as simple structure, high precision, fast response, low power consumption, and excellent stopping and holding capabilities. Figures 1A to 7 illustrate the structure and driving principle of the piezoelectric actuator described in this application.

[0093] 1A and 1B , the piezoelectric actuator 10 described in the present application includes a piezoelectric vibrator 11 and a friction drive portion 12 that is rotatably connected to the piezoelectric vibrator 11. The friction drive portion 12 is fixed to the piezoelectric vibrator 11, so that the friction drive portion 12 changes position information as the piezoelectric vibrator 11 deforms. The friction drive portion 12 moves under the drive of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, so that the piezoelectric actuator 10 can drive the movement of the driven object through the friction force between the friction drive portion 12 and the driven object. In a specific example, the friction drive portion 12 generates a two-dimensional trajectory in the shape of an elliptical orbit as the piezoelectric vibrator 11 deforms, and the friction drive portion 12 reciprocates under the drive of the piezoelectric vibrator 11.

[0094] Because the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object through the friction between the friction drive unit 12 and the driven object, the material and shape of the friction drive unit 12 become relatively important. The friction drive unit 12 is made of a material with excellent friction and durability, for example, it can be made of a metal oxide material (such as zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, etc.). The shape of the friction driving part 12 can be hemispherical, cylindrical, semi-cylindrical, table-shaped, rectangular, etc., for example, as shown in Figure 1A, in one example of the present application, the shape of the friction driving part 12 is cylindrical, and the side surface of the cylindrical friction driving part 12 is fixed to one side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 by, for example, bonding. At this time, the friction driving part 12 can be in line friction contact with the driven object. In another embodiment of this example, the cylindrical friction driving part 12 is fixed to one side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 through its bottom surface, so that the friction driving part 12 can be in surface friction contact with the driven object; in another example of the present application, as shown in Figure 1B, the shape of the friction driving part 12 is hemispherical, and the bottom surface of the hemispherical friction driving part 12 is fixed to one side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 by, for example, bonding. At this time, the friction driving part 12 can be in point friction contact with the driven object.

[0095] Figure 2A shows a side view of the piezoelectric actuator 10 shown in Figure 1A. As shown in Figures 1A and 2A, the friction driving part 12 is fixed to the front side 114 (that is, the first side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11) of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 along the thickness direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 (that is, the Y-axis direction shown in Figure 1A). In this way, the piezoelectric actuator 10 is suitable for driving the driven object to move along the Z-axis direction. It is worth noting that in the present application, as shown in the coordinate axes of FIG1A , the thickness direction of the piezoelectric actuator 10 is the Y-axis direction, the driving direction of the piezoelectric actuator 10 is the Z-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the Y-axis and Z-axis directions is the X-axis direction. The piezoelectric vibrator 11 is in the shape of an elongated strip, and the length dimension of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the Z-axis direction is the longest. Therefore, the Z-axis direction can also be referred to as the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 (piezoelectric actuator 10), while the Y-axis direction is referred to as the thickness direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 (piezoelectric actuator 10), and the X-axis direction can be referred to as the width direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 (piezoelectric actuator 10). The length direction of the cylindrical friction drive portion 12 shown in FIG1A is perpendicular to the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, and the cylindrical friction drive portion 12 extends along the X-axis direction.

[0096] Furthermore, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 has a rectangular or substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has six side surfaces: a first side surface, a second side surface, a third side surface, a fourth side surface, a fifth side surface, and a sixth side surface. The piezoelectric vibrator 11 includes a front surface 114 and a back surface that are arranged opposite to each other in the thickness direction. The front surface 114 of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 on which the friction drive unit 12 is arranged is the first side surface, and the back surface opposite to the front surface 114 of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is the second side surface. The third side surface and the fourth side surface are respectively adjacent to the first side surface and the second side surface and are symmetrical about the Z-axis direction. The fifth side surface and the sixth side surface are respectively adjacent to the remaining four side surfaces and are symmetrical about the X-axis direction. As shown in the dimensions shown in FIG. 1A , the fifth side surface and the sixth side surface are the two sides with the smallest areas among the six side surfaces of the piezoelectric vibrator 11.

[0097] In the present application, further, the friction drive part 12 is eccentrically arranged on the first side surface (i.e., the front surface 114) of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 along the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. Figure 2B illustrates the front surface 114 of the piezoelectric actuator 10 shown in Figure 1A from a top view. In one example, the front surface 114 of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is rectangular or nearly rectangular in shape. The front surface 114 of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 has two relatively distributed long sides 1141 and two relatively distributed short sides, wherein the two short sides include a first short side 1142 and a second short side 1143. The friction drive part 12 is eccentrically arranged on the first side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 at a position closer to the first short side 1142. In a specific example, the piezoelectric actuator 10 is symmetrical about the length direction, but asymmetrical about the width direction.

[0098] The following describes the driving process of the piezoelectric actuator 10. When the piezoelectric actuator 10 described herein is in operation, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 exhibits two bending modes: a first bending mode and a second bending mode. These first and second bending modes are achieved by inputting circuit signals of different frequencies. The piezoelectric vibrator 11 vibrates in these two bending modes, thereby driving the eccentrically positioned friction drive unit 12 to perform elliptical motion in two directions. Consequently, the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object in two opposite directions, respectively, in the two bending modes.

[0099] With further reference to Figures 3A, 3B, and 4, specifically, Figures 3A and 3B illustrate two bending modes of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 when the piezoelectric actuator 10 is operating, and Figure 4 illustrates four regions of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 of the piezoelectric actuator 10. Figure 3A illustrates a first bending mode, in which the piezoelectric vibrator 11 vibrates in a modal bending state with a peak or a trough in its thickness direction, so that the friction drive portion 12 eccentrically fixed to the piezoelectric vibrator 11 can drive the driven object to move along a first direction. The first direction refers to the eccentric direction of the friction drive portion 12, i.e., the direction in which the center of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 points to the friction drive portion 12 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the direction in which the friction drive portion 12 shown in Figure 2B points to its nearest adjacent short side (the first short side 1142).

[0100] In the first bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is bending and vibrating in a mode with one crest or one trough in the thickness direction. In other words, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 first bends upward from the straight state (M1) to the first bending state (M2) with only one crest, then the piezoelectric vibrator 11 becomes straight again and then bends downward to the second bending state (M3) with only one trough, then the piezoelectric vibrator 11 becomes straight again and repeats the above bending process, forming the bending vibration of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the first bending mode. Among them, in the first bending mode, the bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 includes a first bending state and a second bending state, and the first bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 and the second bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 are symmetrical with respect to the length direction. It should be noted that in the present application, the straight state refers to a relatively straight state relative to the bending state, and is not a completely straight state. In the first bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 has a maximum amplitude at only one point in the bending state, and the piezoelectric vibrator 11 bends and vibrates symmetrically, thereby driving the driven object to move in the eccentric direction of the friction driving part 12 through the eccentrically arranged friction driving part 12.

[0101] Continuing with FIG4 , the piezoelectric vibrator 11 includes a first curved portion 115 and a second curved portion 116 connected in series along the length direction, wherein the first curved portion 115 is located below the friction drive portion 12. Furthermore, along the width direction (i.e., the X-axis direction), the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is divided into four regions, namely, a first region 115a, a second region 115b, a third region 116c, and a fourth region 116d. The first region 115a and the second region 115b are located below the friction drive portion 12, and the third region 116c and the fourth region 116d are adjacent to the first region 115a and the second region 115b, respectively. In a counterclockwise direction, they are the first region 115a, the second region 115b, the fourth region 116d, and the third region 116c, respectively. The first curved portion 115 includes a first region 115a and a second region 115b, which are parallel to each other. The second curved portion 116 includes a third region 116c and a fourth region 116d, which are parallel to each other.

[0102] In the first bending mode, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 11, the first region 115a extends longitudinally, the second region 115b contracts longitudinally, the third region 116c extends longitudinally, and the fourth region 116d contracts longitudinally, thereby achieving the first bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. When the direction of the applied voltage is changed, the first region 115a contracts longitudinally, the second region 115b extends longitudinally, the third region 116c contracts longitudinally, and the fourth region 116d extends longitudinally, thereby achieving the second bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. Repeatedly changing the direction of the voltage can switch the piezoelectric vibrator 11 between the first and second bending states, achieving bending vibration with only one peak or one trough. When the piezoelectric vibrator 11 bends in the first bending mode, the first and second curved portions 115, 116 are axially symmetrical with each other. The deformation of the first and second curved portions 115, 116 together form a peak or trough in the bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11.

[0103] FIG3B partially illustrates a second bending mode, in which the piezoelectric vibrator 11 flexes and vibrates in a modal bending state with a peak and a trough in its thickness direction, thereby enabling the friction drive unit 12, which is eccentrically fixed to the piezoelectric vibrator 11, to drive the driven object to move in a second direction. The second direction is opposite to the first direction and is the direction in which the friction drive unit 12 points toward the center of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the direction in which the friction drive unit 12 points toward its most adjacent short side (the second short side 1143) as shown in FIG2B .

[0104] In the second bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 vibrates in a bending mode with one crest and one trough in the thickness direction. In other words, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 first changes from a straight state (N1) to a third bending state (N2) with only one crest and one trough. Then, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 changes back to a straight state and then bends in the opposite direction to a fourth bending state (N3) with only one crest and one trough. Then, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 changes back to a straight state and repeats the above bending process, forming a bending vibration of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the second bending mode. Among them, in the second bending mode, the bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 includes a third bending state and a fourth bending state, and the third bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is symmetrical with respect to the fourth bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the relative length direction. It should be noted that in the present application, the straight state refers to a relatively straight state relative to the bending state, and is not a completely straight state. In the second bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 has a maximum amplitude at only two locations in the bending state, and the piezoelectric vibrator 11 bends and vibrates in a rotationally symmetrical state. The friction driving part 12 is arranged between the crest and trough of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the second bending mode, thereby driving the driven object to move in the opposite direction (second direction) of the eccentric direction of the friction driving part 12 through the eccentrically arranged friction driving part 12.

[0105] In the second bending mode, when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric vibrator 11, the first region 115a extends in the longitudinal direction, the second region 115b contracts in the longitudinal direction, the third region 116c contracts in the longitudinal direction, and the fourth region 116d extends in the longitudinal direction, thereby achieving the third bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. When the direction of the applied voltage is changed, the first region 115a contracts in the longitudinal direction, the second region 115b extends in the longitudinal direction, the third region 116c extends in the longitudinal direction, and the fourth region 116d contracts in the longitudinal direction, thereby achieving the fourth bending state of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. By repeatedly changing the direction of the voltage, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 can switch between the third and fourth bending states, achieving bending vibration with only one peak and one trough. When the piezoelectric vibrator 11 bends and vibrates in the second bending mode, the first bending portion 115 and the second bending portion 116 are rotationally symmetrical with each other. After the first bending portion 115 is deformed, a peak of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the bending state is formed, and after the second bending portion 116 is deformed, a trough of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the bending state is formed, which is the third bending state; or, after the first bending portion 115 is deformed, a trough of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the bending state is formed, and after the second bending portion 116 is deformed, a peak of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the bending state is formed, which is the fourth bending state.

[0106] Specifically, in order to enable the friction drive portion 12 on the piezoelectric vibrator 11 to move in two opposite directions in the first bending mode and the second bending mode, it is necessary to simultaneously eccentrically set the friction drive portion 12 on the front surface 114 of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 and set the friction drive portion 12 between the peak and the trough of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the second bending mode. Therefore, in the present application, the friction drive portion 12 is fixed to the front surface 114 of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 along the thickness direction, and the friction drive portion 12 is located between one-quarter and one-half of the length of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. As shown in Figures 2B, 3A and 3B, the dotted line P indicates half of the length of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, the dotted line Q indicates one-quarter of the length of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, and the friction drive portion 12 is located between the dotted line Q and the dotted line P.

[0107] In one example, the friction drive unit 12 is located between one-quarter and one-half of the length of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. That is, the friction drive unit 12 is located between the maximum amplitude of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the first bending mode and one of the two maximum amplitudes of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the second bending mode. As shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the friction drive unit 12 is located on one side of the highest point of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the first bending mode and on the opposite side of the highest point of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the third bending mode.

[0108] When the friction driving part 12 is located between one quarter and one half of the length of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, in the first bending mode, in the first bending state, the friction driving part 12 is located on one side of the crest of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, and the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object to move in the first direction through the friction driving part 12, wherein the direction in which the crest of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 points to the friction driving part 12 is the first direction; in the second bending mode, in the third bending state, the friction driving part 12 is located on the opposite side of the crest of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, and the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object to move in the second direction through the friction driving part 12, wherein the direction in which the friction driving part 12 points to the crest of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is the second direction, and the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

[0109] In the present application, to achieve deformation of the first curved portion 115 and the second curved portion 116 of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in different bending modes, piezoelectric layers can be provided in the first region 115a, the second region 115b, the third region 116c, and the fourth region 116d of the second curved portion 116, respectively. Electrical signals are then provided to the piezoelectric layers in the first region 115a, the second region 115b, the third region 116c, and the fourth region 116d, respectively, thereby controlling the deformation states of the first region 115a, the second region 115b, the third region 116c, and the fourth region 116d, respectively. However, in this manner, the piezoelectric actuator 10 requires the electrical signal to have a relatively high voltage, which affects the power consumption of the electronic device. Therefore, a solution that can reduce the voltage is desired.

[0110] FIG5A shows a schematic diagram of a stacked piezoelectric vibrator of the present application, FIG5B shows an exploded schematic diagram of the stacked piezoelectric vibrator shown in FIG5A, and FIG6 shows a schematic diagram of a multilayer electrode layer of the stacked piezoelectric vibrator shown in FIG5A. As shown in FIG5A, FIG5B and FIG6, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 includes a multilayer ceramic layer 111, a multilayer electrode layer 112 spaced between adjacent ceramic layers 111, and a side electrical conductive portion 113 electrically connected to the multilayer electrode layer 112. The side electrical conductive portion 113 provides an electrical signal to the multilayer electrode layer 112, generating an electric field between adjacent electrode layers 112. The ceramic layer 111 deforms (elongates or contracts) under the action of the electric field of the adjacent electrode layer 112. By providing the multilayer electrode layer 112, the voltage required to drive the bending vibration of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is reduced. The number of electrode layers 112 and the number of ceramic layers 111 are selected according to specific needs. In one example of the present application, the number of ceramic layers 111 is greater than or equal to 5 layers. Among them, the ceramic layer 111 uses a ceramic material with piezoelectric effect, for example, it can be PZT piezoelectric ceramics; the electrode layer 112 uses a material suitable for conductivity, for example, it can be copper, gold, silver or silver alloy, etc.; the side electrical conductive part 113 uses a material suitable for conductivity, for example, it can be copper, gold, silver or silver alloy, etc.; the fixation between the multi-layer ceramic layer 111 and the multi-layer electrode layer 112 can be achieved by a ceramic co-firing process, laying a layer of ceramic slurry, then laying a layer of electrode slurry, and then heating and firing them together to form a stacked piezoelectric vibrator 11.

[0111] 5A, 5B, and 6, the multilayer electrode layer 112 includes, by function, at least one first electrode layer 112a, at least one second electrode layer 112b, at least one third electrode layer 112c, and at least one fourth electrode layer 112d. The at least one first electrode layer 112a and the at least one second electrode layer 112b are symmetrically arranged with respect to the width direction (X-axis direction) of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. The at least one first electrode layer 112a and the at least one second electrode layer 112b are short electrode layers, and are located on the same layer. The at least one third electrode layer 112c and the at least one fourth electrode layer 112d are symmetrically arranged with respect to the length direction (Z-axis direction) of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. The at least one third electrode layer 112c and the at least one fourth electrode layer 112d are located on different layers, and are long electrode layers. In this way, a long electrode layer formed by the first electrode layer 112a or the second electrode layer 112b is respectively disposed on both sides of each third electrode layer 112c and each fourth electrode layer 112d.

[0112] In a specific example, at least one first electrode layer 112a is disposed in the first region 115a and the second region 115b of the first curved portion 115, at least one second electrode layer 112b is disposed in the third region 116c and the fourth region 116d of the second curved portion 116, at least one third electrode layer 112c is disposed in the second region 115b of the first curved portion 115 and the fourth region 116d of the second curved portion 116, and at least one fourth electrode layer 112d is disposed in the first region 115a of the first curved portion 115 and the third region 116c of the second curved portion 116. With this arrangement, the deformation of the first region 115a, the second region 115b, the third region 116c, and the fourth region 116d can be controlled by electrical signals, thereby controlling the bending mode of the piezoelectric vibrator 11.

[0113] To facilitate electrical connection between the multilayer electrode layer 112 on the piezoelectric vibrator 11 and an external device, electrical connection is established between the piezoelectric vibrator 11 and the external device through a side electrical connection portion 113. The side electrical connection portion 113 includes a first side electrical connection portion 113a, a second side electrical connection portion 113b, a third side electrical connection portion 113c, and a fourth side electrical connection portion 113d. In one example, the first side electrical connection portion 113a, the second side electrical connection portion 113b, the third side electrical connection portion 113c, and the fourth side electrical connection portion 113d are respectively disposed on the third side surface and the fourth side surface adjacent to the first side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, thereby enabling electrical connection between the piezoelectric vibrator 11 of the piezoelectric actuator 10 and an external device from the side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. Specifically, the first side electrical connection portion 113a is formed on the third side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 and is electrically connected to at least one first electrode layer 112a; the second side electrical connection portion 113b is formed on the third side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 and is electrically connected to at least one second electrode layer 112b; the third side electrical connection portion 113c is formed on the fourth side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 and is electrically connected to at least one third electrode layer 112c; and the fourth side electrical connection portion 113d is formed on the fourth side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 and is electrically connected to at least one fourth electrode layer 112d.

[0114] By providing the multilayer electrode layer 112, the multilayer ceramic layer 111 disposed between the multilayer electrode layers 112 can also be polarized by providing power to the multilayer electrode layer 112. In a specific example, the third side electrical connection portion 113c is connected to the positive voltage of the power supply, and the fourth side electrical connection portion 113d is connected to the negative voltage of the power supply, thereby providing a positive voltage to at least one third electrode layer 112c and a negative voltage to at least one fourth electrode layer 112d, respectively, to polarize the multilayer ceramic layer 111 disposed between the multilayer electrodes. After the piezoelectric ceramic is polarized, it automatically aligns in the polarization direction to form piezoelectricity. The polarization diagram of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 obtained by polarization through the above specific example is shown in Figure 7. It is worth noting that in order to clearly illustrate the polarization of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, the size ratio and number of layers of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 are exaggerated.

[0115] After polarization is completed, different electrical signals are provided to drive the piezoelectric vibrator 11 of the piezoelectric actuator 10 to vibrate in the first bending mode or the second bending mode. Specifically, the third-side electrical connection portion 113c is connected to the ground line to ground at least one third electrode layer 112c, the fourth-side electrical connection portion 113d is connected to the ground line to ground at least one fourth electrode layer 112d, the first-side electrical connection portion 113a is connected to the first signal to connect at least one first electrode layer 112a to the first signal, and the second-side electrical connection portion 113b is connected to the second signal to connect at least one second electrode layer 112b to the second signal, wherein the first signal and the second signal are the same, both being sinusoidal or rectangular wave signals with a frequency of F1. In this way, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is made to bend and vibrate in the first bending mode, and the piezoelectric actuator 10 can drive the driven object to move along the first direction at a first speed V1; the third-side electrical connection portion 113c is connected to the ground line to connect to At least one third electrode layer 112c is grounded, the fourth side electrical connection portion 113d is connected to the ground line to ground at least one fourth electrode layer 112d, the first side electrical connection portion 113a is connected to the third signal to connect at least one first electrode layer 112a to the third signal, and the second side electrical connection portion 113b is connected to the fourth signal to connect at least one second electrode layer 112b to the fourth signal, wherein the third signal and the fourth signal are both sinusoidal wave or rectangular wave signals with a frequency of F2 but a phase difference of 180°. In other words, the fourth signal has the same frequency as the third signal, and the phase difference between the fourth signal and the third signal is 180°. In this way, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 vibrates in the second bending mode, and the piezoelectric actuator 10 can drive the driven object to move along the second direction at a second speed V2. In a specific example, the frequency F1 of the first signal and the second signal is 225kHz, and the frequency F2 of the third signal and the fourth signal is 463kHz, that is, the frequency of the electrical signal required for the piezoelectric vibrator 11 to bend and vibrate in the second bending mode is greater than the frequency of the electrical signal required for the piezoelectric vibrator 11 to bend and vibrate in the first bending mode.

[0116] Furthermore, in the present application, the speed at which the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object to move in the first direction is greater than the speed at which the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object to move in the second direction, that is, the first speed V1 is greater than the second speed V2. In the first bending mode, the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is low but the vibration amplitude is large, resulting in a longer driving step length but a lower driving frequency for the friction drive unit 12 of the piezoelectric actuator 10. In the second bending mode, the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is high but the vibration amplitude is small, resulting in a shorter driving step length but a higher driving frequency for the friction drive unit 12 of the piezoelectric actuator 10. Therefore, the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object to move in two opposite directions at different speeds. In the present application, the amplitude of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 has a greater impact on the driving speed of the piezoelectric actuator 10 than the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. For example, in one embodiment, the amplitude of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the first bending mode is more than five times greater than the amplitude of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the second bending mode, while the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the first bending mode is approximately half the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the second bending mode. Therefore, the first velocity V1 at which the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object to move in the first direction is greater than the second velocity V2 at which the piezoelectric actuator 10 drives the driven object to move in the second direction.

[0117] Exemplary drive motor assembly

[0118] The present application further provides a driving motor group 20, as shown in FIG8, the driving motor group 20 adopts the piezoelectric actuator 10 shown in FIG1 to FIG7, which is suitable for providing two linear drives in opposite directions and different speeds.

[0119] As shown in FIG8 , the drive motor assembly 20 includes a piezoelectric actuator 10, a stator 21, a mover 22, and a pre-stressing component 324. The piezoelectric actuator 10 is frictionally coupled to the mover 22 via the pre-stressing component 324 and is configured to drive the mover 22 longitudinally. The piezoelectric actuator 10 can drive the mover 22 in two opposite directions at different speeds. The pre-stressing component 324 applies pressure from the piezoelectric actuator 10 toward the mover 22, maintaining contact between the friction-driven portion 12 of the piezoelectric actuator 10 and the mover 22.

[0120] In one example, the piezoelectric actuator 10 is fixed to the stator 21 via a pre-stress component 324, which can be a spring, and the spring is fixed to the piezoelectric actuator 10 and the stator 21 respectively. The piezoelectric actuator 10 is in frictional contact with the mover 22 via the friction drive unit 12, so that the mover 22 moves along the length direction of the piezoelectric actuator 10 under the action of the friction force. In the present application, the friction drive unit 12 of the piezoelectric actuator 10 used in the drive motor group 20 is eccentrically arranged on the piezoelectric vibrator 11 of the piezoelectric actuator 10, and the speed of the mover 22 driven by the piezoelectric actuator 10 in the eccentric direction of the friction drive unit 12 is greater than the speed of the mover 22 in the opposite direction of the eccentric direction of the friction drive unit 12.

[0121] Exemplary camera module

[0122] Figures 9 to 13 show the driving device 32 and the camera module 30 of the present application. The camera module 30 according to the embodiment of the present application is illustrated, which includes a photosensitive component 33, an optical lens 31 held on the photosensitive path of the photosensitive component 33, and a driving device 32 for driving the optical lens 31 to move to achieve optical performance adjustment, for example, for achieving anti-shake, focusing and other functions.

[0123] Correspondingly, the optical lens 31 includes a lens barrel and a plurality of optical lenses mounted on the lens barrel. The optical lens 31 has an optical axis, which is also the optical axis of the plurality of optical lenses. The photosensitive component 33 is arranged opposite to the optical lens 31 along the optical axis. For ease of description, the side of the camera module 30 facing the object is referred to as the object side, and the side of the camera module 30 facing the photosensitive component 33 is referred to as the image side. The optical axis direction includes the direction along the optical axis pointing to the image side (referred to as the image side in this application) and the direction along the optical axis pointing to the object side (referred to as the object side in this application). The horizontal direction is the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and the height direction is the direction along the optical axis direction.

[0124] Continuing with reference to Figure 12, the optical lens 31 is fixed in the driving device 32, and the photosensitive component 33 is fixed on the image side of the driving device 32. Then, the optical lens 31 can be maintained on the photosensitive path of the photosensitive component 33 through the driving device 32. The optical lens 31 is suitable for being driven by the driving device 32 to achieve functions such as anti-shake and focusing.

[0125] The photosensitive assembly 33 includes a chip circuit board 332, a photosensitive chip 331 electrically connected to the chip circuit board 332, and multiple electronic components 333. The photosensitive chip 331 is used to receive the external light collected by the optical lens 31 to form an image and is electrically connected to the external mobile electronic device through the chip circuit board 332. In one embodiment of the present application, the multiple electronic components 333 can be one or more of passive electronic components such as resistors and capacitors and active electronic components such as driver chips and memory chips.

[0126] The photosensitive component 33 further includes a filter component 334, which includes a filter element 3341. The filter element 3341 is maintained on the photosensitive path of the photosensitive chip 331. The filter element 3341 is arranged between the optical lens 31 and the photosensitive chip 331, and is used to filter the incident light entering the photosensitive chip 331, and filter out stray light that is not necessary for imaging, such as infrared light, in the incident light.

[0127] The filter assembly 334 also includes a filter element bracket 3342. The filter element 3341 is installed and fixed on the filter element bracket 3342 and corresponds to at least the photosensitive area of ​​the photosensitive chip 331. The filter element bracket 3342 has a light hole. The incident light passing through the optical lens 31 is incident on the photosensitive chip 331 through the light hole. The filter element 3341 can be attached to the filter element bracket 3342 upright or upside down.

[0128] Furthermore, the filter element bracket 3342 is fixed to the chip circuit board 332. In one embodiment of the present application, the photosensitive component 33 is fixed to the image side of the driving device 32 through the filter element bracket 3342. In another embodiment of the present application, the photosensitive component 33 can also be fixed to the image side of the driving device 32 through the chip circuit board 332.

[0129] Among them, the filter element bracket 3342 can be prefabricated and then fixed to the chip circuit board 332 by, for example, bonding with an adhesive medium, or it can be integrally formed on the chip circuit board 332 by, for example, a molding process, and directly fixed to the chip circuit board 332 by integral molding. The present application is not limited to this.

[0130] Exemplary drive device

[0131] This application proposes a new type of driving device 32, which not only has relatively greater driving force and better driving performance (specifically including: higher-precision driving control and longer driving stroke), but also has the advantages of small size and low power consumption to adapt to the current development trend of lightweight and thin camera modules.

[0132] In particular, the novel drive device 32 is a piezoelectric actuator with a novel structure that meets the technical requirements of the camera module 30 for a driver. Furthermore, the piezoelectric actuator is appropriately positioned within the camera module 30 to drive the optical lens 31 for position adjustment, thereby meeting the structural and dimensional design requirements of the camera module 30.

[0133] In one embodiment of the present application, the drive device 32 drives the optical lens 31 to move along the optical axis, or in other words, along the height direction of the drive device 32, to adjust the distance between the optical lens 31 and the photosensitive component 33 to achieve a focusing function. In another embodiment of the present application, the drive device 32 drives the optical lens 31 to move along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis so that the optical lens 31 moves horizontally relative to the photosensitive component 33 to achieve an anti-shake function.

[0134] Continuing with reference to Figures 9 to 13, in one embodiment of the present application, the driving device 32 includes a fixed portion 321, a movable portion 322, a driving portion 323, a pre-pressure component 324, and a guiding device 325. The movable portion 322, the driving portion 323, the pre-pressure component 324, and the supporting device are accommodated in the fixed portion 321. The optical lens 31 is disposed within the movable portion 322. The driving portion 323 is disposed between the movable portion 322 and the fixed portion 321 to drive the movable portion 322 to move relative to the fixed portion 321. The pre-pressure component 324 is disposed between the driving portion 323 and the fixed portion 321 to ensure that the movable portion 322 and the driving portion 323 always maintain frictional contact. The guiding device 325 is disposed between the movable portion 322 and the fixed portion 321 to provide guidance for the movement of the movable portion 322. The driving device 32 includes an object side, an image side, and a peripheral side located between the object side and the image side. The peripheral side includes a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side sequentially arranged around the optical axis.

[0135] In particular, in the embodiment of the present application, the optical lens 31 is installed in a linkage manner on the movable part 322, and the photosensitive component 33 is fixedly installed on the fixed part 321. When the optical focus function of the camera module 30 is realized, the driving part 323 drives the optical lens 31 to move along the optical axis direction (or height direction) to adjust the distance between the optical lens 31 and the photosensitive component 33, so that the light from the target passes through the optical lens 31 and reaches the photosensitive chip 331 of the photosensitive component 33, thereby achieving clear imaging.

[0136] Specifically, referring to Figure 11, in an embodiment of the present application, the fixing part 321 includes a base 3212 and an upper cover 3211 that is snapped onto the base 3212. The base 3212 and the upper cover 3211 form an accommodating cavity for accommodating the movable part 322, the driving part 323, the pre-pressure component 324 and the supporting device. This not only protects the various components in the driving device 32 from being damaged by collision, but also prevents dust, dirt or stray light from entering the interior of the driving device 32.

[0137] The upper cover 3211 includes an upper cover top 32111 and an upper cover sidewall 32112 that integrally extends toward the base 3212. The upper cover sidewall 32112 is fixed to the base 3212 via the upper cover sidewall 32112, for example, by laser welding or bonding with an adhesive. Furthermore, both the upper cover top 32111 and the base 3212 are provided with openings corresponding to the optical lens 31, so that light reflected from an object can pass through the optical lens 31 and reach the photosensitive component 33.

[0138] In particular, the fixed part 321 is a stator, the movable part 322 is a mover, and the movable part 322 is suspended in the accommodating cavity of the fixed part 321. The movable part 322 can move relative to the fixed part 321 along the optical axis direction (or height direction) under the drive of the driving part 323 to realize the optical focusing function of the camera module 30.

[0139] In the embodiment of the present application, with continued reference to Figures 9 to 13, the movable portion 322 includes a movable carrier 3221 and a friction plate 3222. The optical lens 31 is disposed on the movable carrier 3221. The optical lens 31 may be disposed on the movable carrier 3221 by methods including, but not limited to, bonding, threading, or snap-fitting. The movable carrier 3221 includes carrier sidewalls 32211 sequentially disposed along its circumference. In a specific example of the present application, there are four carrier sidewalls 32211, namely, a first carrier sidewall 322111, a second carrier sidewall 322112, a third carrier sidewall 322113, and a fourth carrier sidewall 322114, as shown in Figure 13. The first carrier sidewall 322111 is located on the first side, the second carrier sidewall 322112 is located on the second side, the third carrier sidewall 322113 is located on the third side, and the fourth carrier sidewall 322114 is located on the fourth side.

[0140] In another specific example of the present application, a first cutting edge 32211a is set at the corner of the first carrier side wall 322111 and the second carrier side wall 322112 of the movable carrier 3221, a second cutting edge 32211b is set at the corner of the second carrier side wall 322112 and the third carrier side wall 322113 of the movable carrier 3221, a third cutting edge 32211c is set at the corner of the third carrier side wall 322113 and the fourth carrier side wall 322114 of the movable carrier 3221, and a fourth cutting edge 32211d is set at the corner of the fourth carrier side wall 322114 of the movable carrier 3221 and the first carrier side wall 322111, that is, the number of carrier side walls 32211 of the movable carrier 3221 is 8, as shown in Figure 10.

[0141] The friction plate 3222 is disposed on the carrier sidewall 32211 of the movable carrier 3221. For example, the friction plate 3222 may be integrally formed with the carrier sidewall 32211. Alternatively, the friction plate 3222 and the carrier sidewall 32211 may be separate components, i.e., the friction plate 3222 and the carrier sidewall 32211 are separate components attached to the carrier sidewall 32211 via an adhesive. In one specific example of the present application, the friction plate 3222 may be disposed on the first trimmed edge 32211a; in another specific example of the present application, the friction plate 3222 may be disposed on the first carrier sidewall 322111.

[0142] Furthermore, the friction plate 3222 is disposed on the side of the carrier sidewall 32211 facing the driving portion 323. Specifically, the friction plate 3222 is clamped between the movable portion 322 and the driving portion 323, so that the driving portion 323 is frictionally coupled to the friction plate 3222 via the action of the pre-pressure member 324. It should be understood that the function of the friction plate 3222 is to increase the friction between the movable portion 322 and the movable portion 322. The friction plate 3222 can be made of a metal oxide material such as aluminum oxide or aluminum oxide.

[0143] In the embodiment of the present application, the driving unit 323 is disposed between the movable unit 322 and the fixed unit 321. The driving unit 323 is fixed to the fixed unit 321 and in frictional contact with the movable unit 322, thereby driving the movable unit 322 to move along the optical axis (height direction) to achieve the optical focus function. The driving unit 323 is disposed on the side of the driving device 32 to avoid increasing the height of the driving device 32.

[0144] It should be understood that in the technical solution of the present application, the driving unit 323 adopts the piezoelectric actuator as described above, wherein the driving unit 323 includes a piezoelectric vibrator 11 and a friction driving unit 12, and the friction driving unit 12 is fixed to the piezoelectric vibrator 11, so that the friction driving unit 12 changes the position information as the piezoelectric vibrator 11 deforms. In one embodiment of the present application, the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 to move in a first direction or a second direction, and the first direction is opposite to the second direction, wherein the speed at which the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 to move in the first direction is greater than the speed at which the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 to move in the second direction. The first direction and the second direction are both the same as the height direction. For example, the first direction is toward the object side, and the second direction is toward the image side.

[0145] Specifically, the driving portion 323 is disposed between the fixed portion 321 and the movable portion 322. The piezoelectric vibrator 11 is fixed to the fixed portion 321 via a preload component 324. The friction driving portion 12 faces the movable portion 322. The friction plate 3222 is clamped between the movable carrier 3221 and the friction driving portion 12. The friction driving portion 12 is frictionally coupled to the friction plate 3222. The friction driving portion 12 moves under the drive of the piezoelectric vibrator 11, so that the driving portion 323 can drive the movable portion 322 to move through the friction force between the friction driving portion 12 and the friction plate 3222.

[0146] As mentioned above, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is a rectangular or approximately rectangular structure. The length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is the height direction of the driving device 32. When the driving part 323 is provided with power excitation, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 produces a surface change along the length direction, thereby driving the friction driving part 12 to produce reciprocating motion along the height direction. Due to the friction contact between the friction driving part 12 and the friction plate 3222, the friction plate 3222 and the movable carrier 3221 are driven to move along the optical axis.

[0147] More specifically, the friction drive unit 12 is eccentrically disposed on the piezoelectric vibrator 11 along the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. Alternatively, the friction drive unit 12 is eccentrically disposed on the piezoelectric vibrator 11 along the height direction of the drive device 32. In one embodiment of the present application, the friction drive unit 12 is disposed closer to the top of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 along the height direction. That is, the distance from the contact point between the friction drive unit 12 and the friction plate 3222 to the top of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is smaller than the distance from the contact point between the friction drive unit 12 and the friction plate 3222 to the bottom of the piezoelectric vibrator 11. Of course, along the height direction, the distance from the friction drive unit 12 to the top of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is smaller than the distance from the friction drive unit 12 to the bottom of the piezoelectric vibrator 11.

[0148] It should be understood that the piezoelectric vibrator 11 of the driving unit 323 in this application has two bending modes: a first bending mode and a second bending mode. The first and second bending modes are achieved by inputting circuit signals of different frequencies. The piezoelectric vibrator 11 vibrates in the two bending modes, thereby driving the eccentrically arranged friction driving unit 12 to perform elliptical motion in two directions. The driving unit then drives the movable unit 322 to move in two opposite directions, either the first direction or the second direction, respectively, in the two bending modes.

[0149] In the first bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 bends and vibrates in the form of a crest or a trough in the thickness direction thereof, so that the friction driving part 12 eccentrically fixed on the piezoelectric vibrator 11 can drive the movable part 322 to move along the first direction; in the second bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 bends and vibrates in the form of a crest and a trough in the thickness direction thereof, so that the friction driving part 12 eccentrically fixed on the piezoelectric vibrator 11 can drive the movable part 322 to move along the second direction.

[0150] Furthermore, in the first bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 has a maximum amplitude at only one point in the bending state, and the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is in a symmetrical bending vibrating state. The eccentrically arranged friction driving part 12 drives the movable part 322 to move in the eccentric direction (first direction) of the friction driving part 12, that is, the movable part 322 moves toward the object side under the drive of the friction driving part 12; in the second bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator 11 has a maximum amplitude at only two points in the bending state, and the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is in a rotationally symmetrical bending vibrating state. The friction driving part 12 is arranged between the crest and the trough of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 in the second bending mode, so that the eccentrically arranged friction driving part 12 drives the movable part 322 to move in the opposite direction (second direction) of the eccentric direction of the friction driving part 12, that is, the movable part 322 moves toward the image side under the drive of the friction driving part 12.

[0151] In the technical solution of the present application, the speed at which the movable portion 322 is driven to move in the first direction is greater than the speed at which it is driven to move in the second direction, that is, the first speed V1 is greater than the second speed V2. In the first bending mode, the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is low but the vibration amplitude is large, resulting in a longer driving step length but a lower driving frequency for the friction drive portion 12 of the driver 323. In the second bending mode, the vibration frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is high but the vibration amplitude is small, resulting in a shorter driving step length but a higher driving frequency for the friction drive portion 12 of the driver 323. As a result, the speeds at which the driver 323 drives the movable portion 322 in two opposite directions are different.

[0152] In the initial state, the optical lens 31 is closer to the image side, and the focus of the optical lens 31 falls behind the image plane of the photosensitive chip 331. When performing optical focusing, the optical lens 31 can be moved toward the object side under the drive of the driving unit 323 so that the focus of the optical lens 31 falls on the image plane of the photosensitive chip 331. In this process, first, the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 to drive the optical lens 31 to move along the first direction to reach the first position, wherein at the first position, the subject can be blurred on the photosensitive chip 331; then, the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 to drive the optical lens 31 to move along the first direction or the second direction to reach the second position, wherein at the second position, the subject can be clearly imaged on the photosensitive chip 331. It should be understood that because the optical lens 31 moves a greater distance along the first direction, the optical lens 31 is driven to move along the first direction at a faster speed, which can enable the optical lens 31 to move quickly to the focusing position, thereby achieving fast focusing.

[0153] It should be understood that, along the height direction, the distance between the friction drive unit 12 and the top of the friction plate 3222 is shorter than the distance between the friction drive unit 12 and the bottom of the friction plate 3222. Because the optical lens 31 moves a greater distance in the first direction, the distance between the friction drive unit 12 and the bottom of the friction plate 3222 needs to be longer to ensure that the friction drive unit 12 maintains frictional contact with the friction plate 3222 when the friction plate 3222 is driven to move in the first direction. Alternatively, the distance between the friction drive unit 12 and the bottom of the friction plate 3222 is greater than or equal to the travel distance of the movable carrier 3221. This ensures that, during movement of the movable carrier 3221, the friction drive unit 12 does not become disengaged from the friction plate 3222 due to insufficient length of the friction plate 3222, thereby affecting the driving effect.

[0154] More specifically, in one embodiment of the present application, the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 and thereby drives the optical lens 31 to move along a first direction to reach a first position, wherein the distance from the first position to the photosensitive chip 331 is greater than the focal length of the optical lens 31; then, the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 and thereby drives the optical lens 31 to move along a second direction to reach a second position, wherein the distance from the second position to the photosensitive chip 331 is equal to the focal length of the optical lens 31, so that the focus of the optical lens 31 falls on the image plane of the photosensitive chip 331.

[0155] In another embodiment of the present application, the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 and then drives the optical lens 31 to move along the first direction to reach a first position, wherein the distance from the first position to the photosensitive chip 331 is less than the focal length of the optical lens 31; then, the driving unit 323 drives the movable unit 322 and then drives the optical lens 31 to move along the first direction to reach a second position, wherein the distance from the second position to the photosensitive chip 331 is equal to the focal length of the optical lens 31, so that the focus of the optical lens 31 falls on the image plane of the photosensitive chip 331.

[0156] Of course, in the technical solution of the present application, after the optical lens 31 reaches the first position, it can be moved multiple times along the first direction or the second direction to reach the second position, the third position, the fourth position, etc., until the focus of the optical lens 31 falls on the image plane of the photosensitive chip 331, so that the photosensitive chip 331 can form a clear image. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0157] In the embodiment of the present application, it is usually necessary to configure a pre-pressure component 324 to provide pre-pressure between the driving part 323 and the movable part 322 through the pre-pressure component 324. Under the action of the pre-pressure, the friction driving part 12 of the driving part 323 can be frictionally coupled to the friction plate 3222 of the movable part 322, so as to drive the movable part 322 to move along the driving direction through friction force.

[0158] The pre-stress component 324 is disposed between the driving portion 323 and the fixed portion 321. The pre-stress generated by the pre-stress component 324 ensures that the friction driving portion 12 and the friction plate 3222 maintain frictional contact at all times. The pre-stress component 324 includes two fixed ends 3241 and a connecting section 3242 integrally connected between the two fixed ends 3241. The two fixed ends 3241 of the pre-stress component 324 are fixed to the upper cover 3211 of the fixed portion 321. The piezoelectric vibrator 11 of the driving portion 323 is disposed in the connecting section 3242 of the pre-stress component 324. The pre-stress component 324 generates pre-stress toward the movable portion 322, ensuring that the friction driving portion 12 of the driving portion 323 maintains frictional contact at all times with the friction plate 3222 of the movable carrier 3221.

[0159] Furthermore, a pre-pressure component 324 fixing position 321122 is provided on the inner side surface of the upper cover side wall 32112, and the two fixed ends 3241 of the pre-pressure component 324 can be set on the pre-pressure component 324 fixing position 321122, so that the pre-pressure component 324 is easy to install, thereby making the structure of the driving device 32 more stable.

[0160] Because the connecting section 3242 is in contact with the piezoelectric vibrator 11, when the piezoelectric vibrator 11 undergoes surface deformation, the connecting section 3242 of the prestressing component 324 will also deform accordingly. Therefore, a certain amount of space is reserved between the connecting section 3242 and the inner surface of the upper cover side wall 32112 to provide sufficient space for the deformation of the prestressing component 324. In other words, there is a certain gap between the connecting section 3242 and the fixed portion 321, and the piezoelectric vibrator 11 is arranged on the side of the connecting section 3242 away from the fixed portion 321. In other words, the side of the connecting section 3242 of the prestressing component 324 away from the piezoelectric vibrator 11 does not contact the inner surface of the upper cover side wall 32112.

[0161] It should be understood that in one embodiment of the present application, the pre-pressure component 324 can be implemented as a spring; in another embodiment of the present application, the pre-pressure component 324 can be implemented as an elastic adhesive.

[0162] In order to improve the stability of the camera module 30 during the optical focusing process and improve the imaging quality, the guiding device 325 is arranged between the upper cover 3211 and the movable part 322. The guiding device 325 can always support the movable carrier 3221 during the optical focusing process so that it can move smoothly; the guiding device 325 can also provide guidance for the movement of the movable part 322.

[0163] Specifically, a first guide groove 321121 is provided on the inner side surface of the upper cover sidewall 32112 of the upper cover 3211. The first guide groove 321121 extends in the height direction. A second guide groove 32212 is provided on the outer side surface of the carrier sidewall 32211 of the movable carrier 3221. The second guide groove 32212 extends in the height direction. The first guide groove 321121 and the second guide groove 32212 are arranged opposite each other. The guide device 325 is clamped between the first guide groove 321121 and the second guide groove 32212. The guide device 325 can prevent direct contact between the movable carrier 3221 and the upper cover 3211, thereby reducing the generation of friction during the movement of the movable carrier 3221. Furthermore, the guiding device 325 is arranged in the first guiding groove 321121 and the second guiding groove 32212, and the movement trajectory of the guiding device 325 is limited to the first guiding groove 321121 and the second guiding groove 32212. The guiding device 325 moves along the height direction in the first guiding groove 321121 and the second guiding groove 32212, thereby providing guidance for the movement of the movable carrier 3221.

[0164] In one embodiment of the present application, the first guide groove 321121 may include two sub-guide grooves, a first sub-guide groove and a second sub-guide groove; and the second guide groove 32212 may include two sub-guide grooves, a third sub-guide groove and a fourth sub-guide groove. The two sub-guide grooves of the first guide groove 321121 are arranged opposite to the two sub-guide grooves of the second guide groove 32212, and the number of guide devices 325 is two, with the two guide devices 325 respectively clamped in the two opposing sub-guide grooves. It should be understood that the first sub-guide groove and the second sub-guide groove are symmetrically arranged on the inner side surface of the upper cover side wall 32112, and the third sub-guide groove and the fourth sub-guide groove are symmetrically arranged on the outer side surface of the carrier side wall 32211 of the movable carrier 3221, so that the movable carrier 3221 can remain stable during movement without tilting.

[0165] As shown in FIG10 , in one embodiment of the present application, the pre-stressing component 324, the driving unit 323, and the guiding device 325 are all disposed on the cut edge of the movable carrier 3221 to match the structure of the movable carrier 3221. This arrangement can fully utilize the free space at the corners of the driving device 32, making the structure of the driving device 32 more compact and thereby reducing the size of the driving device 32. Specifically, the driving unit 323 is disposed on the first cut edge of the movable carrier 3221, and the pre-stressing component 324 is fixed to the upper cover 3211 and abuts against the piezoelectric vibrator 11 of the driving unit 323, so that the friction driving unit 12 of the driving unit 323 is in frictional contact with the first cut edge of the movable carrier 3221. Of course, a friction plate 3222 can be provided on the first cut edge of the movable carrier 3221 to ensure that the friction driving unit 12 and the friction plate 3222 maintain frictional contact.

[0166] The two sub-guide grooves of the second guide groove 32212 are disposed on the second and third trimming edges of the movable carrier 3221, and the two sub-guide grooves of the first guide groove 321121 are disposed oppositely on the upper cover sidewall 32112. In one specific embodiment, the second and third trimming edges of the movable carrier 3221 have inwardly extending grooves, within which the first and second sub-guide grooves are disposed. The upper cover sidewall 32112 has an inwardly extending protrusion, upon which the third and fourth sub-guide grooves are disposed. Of course, the grooves of the second and third trimming edges of the movable carrier 3221 are disposed oppositely to the protrusion of the upper cover sidewall 32112, so that the guide device 325 can be clamped between the first guide groove 321121 and the second guide groove 32212.

[0167] Furthermore, when the first sub-guide groove and the third sub-guide groove are arranged oppositely to clamp the guide device 325, the opening directions of the first sub-guide groove and the third sub-guide groove are opposite; when the second sub-guide groove and the fourth sub-guide groove are arranged oppositely to clamp the guide device 325, the opening directions of the second sub-guide groove and the fourth sub-guide groove are opposite. This arrangement can form a space between the first sub-guide groove and the third sub-guide groove to accommodate the guide device 325, and a space between the second sub-guide groove and the fourth sub-guide groove to accommodate the guide device 325. It should be understood that the opening directions of the first sub-guide groove and the second sub-guide groove can be the same or different, and the opening directions of the third sub-guide groove and the fourth sub-guide groove can be the same or different, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0168] Along the optical axis, the two guiding devices 325 are symmetrically arranged relative to the center line of the friction driving part 12. Since the piezoelectric vibrator 11 deforms during the movement stroke, the friction driving part 12 generates an elliptical two-dimensional trajectory as the piezoelectric vibrator 11 deforms, thereby causing the friction driving part 12 to generate a tilting torque applied to the friction plate 3222 of the movable carrier 3221 during the stroke trajectory. The symmetrically arranged guiding devices 325 can disperse the tilting torque, making the structure of the movable carrier 3221 more stable.

[0169] As shown in FIG13 , in another embodiment of the present application, the guide device 325 and the pre-pressure component 324 are disposed on opposite sides of the movable carrier 3221. For example, when the pre-pressure component 324 is disposed on the first carrier side wall 322111 of the movable carrier 3221, the guide device 325 is disposed on the fourth carrier side wall 322114 opposite thereto. The pre-pressure component 324 generates a pre-pressure in the horizontal direction toward the guide device 325. The pre-pressure not only ensures that the friction drive unit 12 and the movable carrier 3221 always maintain frictional contact, but also ensures that the guide device 325 is always clamped between the upper cover 3211 and the movable carrier 3221.

[0170] The movable carrier 3221 is clamped between the guide device 325 and the driving unit 323, and the driving unit 323 and the movable carrier 3221 are clamped between the pre-pressure component 324 and the guide device 325. In other words, the movable carrier 3221 is suspended within the upper cover 3211 under the action of the guide device 325 and the pre-pressure component 324. This arrangement can make the structure of the driving device 32 more compact and the positioning of the various components more reasonable.

[0171] It should be understood that the guiding device 325 can be implemented as balls. In a specific example of the present application, the number of balls is four, which are respectively clamped between the two sub-guide grooves of the first guide groove 321121 and the two sub-guide grooves of the second guide groove 32212. Two balls are provided between every two sub-guide grooves so that the movable carrier 3221 can remain stable. In another specific example of the present application, the number of balls is six, and three balls are provided between every two sub-guide grooves, and the three balls are stacked in the height direction. In particular, the diameters of the two balls located on the upper and lower sides of the three balls are larger than the diameter of the ball located in the middle position to avoid interference during movement. Of course, the guiding device 325 can also be implemented as a slider or a guide rod, and the present application does not limit this.

[0172] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present application, the driving device 32 further includes an electrical connection portion 326, which is disposed between the pre-pressure component 324 and the upper cover side wall 32112 and is used to electrically connect to the piezoelectric vibrator 11 of the driving portion 323 to achieve circuit conduction of the driving device 32. Of course, the electrical connection portion 326 can be directly electrically connected to the mainboard of the electronic device, or it can extend to the photosensitive component 33 to be electrically connected to the chip circuit board 332, and this application does not limit this.

[0173] It should be understood that in the embodiment of the present application, the driving device 32 further includes a position sensing portion 327, which includes a position sensing element 3271 and a position sensing magnet 3272. The position sensing element 3271 is disposed on one of the movable carrier 3221 and the upper cover 3211, and the position sensing magnet 3272 is disposed on the other of the movable carrier 3221 and the upper cover 3211. The position sensing element 3271 and the position sensing magnet 3272 are disposed opposite each other. When the movable carrier 3221 is driven to move, the relative position of the position sensing element 3271 and the position sensing magnet 3272 changes. Based on the strength of the magnetic field of the position sensing magnet 3272 sensed by the position sensing element 3271, the position of the movable carrier 3221 can be determined, and the excitation voltage of the piezoelectric vibrator 11 can be adjusted to move the movable carrier 3221 to the desired position.

[0174] In a specific example of the present application, position sensing element 3271 is disposed on upper cover sidewall 32112 to achieve circuit conduction of position sensing portion 327 via electrical connection portion 326 disposed on upper cover sidewall 32112, thereby simplifying the conductive structure of driving device 32. In the present application, position sensing element 3271 may be a Hall element, a driver IC, or a TMR.

[0175] Of course, in one embodiment of the present application, the position sensing portion 327 can be disposed on the third cut edge of the movable carrier 3221 to make the structure of the drive device 32 more compact and thus more stable. Of course, the position sensing portion 327 can also be disposed at other locations of the drive device 32, for example, the position sensing portion 327 can be disposed on the second carrier sidewall 322112, and this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0176] Exemplary driving device and corresponding camera module

[0177] The present application further provides a driving device 42 using the above-mentioned piezoelectric actuator 10 and a camera module 40 using the driving device 42. As shown in Figures 14 to 17, the camera module 40 described in the present application includes an optical lens 41, a driving device 42, and a photosensitive component 44. The optical lens 41 is arranged in the driving device 42, and the optical lens 41 includes a fixed group 411 and at least one movable group arranged along the optical axis of the optical lens 41. The fixed group 411 is fixed to the driving device 42, and the at least one movable group is suitable for being driven by the driving device 42 to move relative to the fixed group 411, thereby changing the focal length of the optical lens 41. The photosensitive component 44 is maintained on the light path of the optical lens 41, and the photosensitive component 44 is suitable for receiving the light converged by the optical lens 41 for imaging.

[0178] In the present application, the camera module 40 further includes a light deflection assembly 43, which is fixed to the drive device 42 and is used to deflect imaging light. The light deflection assembly 43 receives imaging light from the subject and deflects the imaging light to the optical lens 41. The light deflection assembly 43 includes a light deflecting element 431, which deflects the imaging light from the subject at a certain angle before projecting it onto the optical lens 41. In one example of the present application, as shown in FIG14 , the light deflecting element 431 is configured to deflect the imaging light from the subject by 90°. This folds the optical path in the camera module 40 described herein, reducing the overall height of the camera module 40 and forming a periscope-style camera module. Considering manufacturing tolerances, in actual operation, the angle at which the imaging light is deflected by the light deflecting element 431 may have an error of less than 1°, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In a specific example, the light-reflecting element 431 may be implemented as a reflector (eg, a plane reflector) or a light-reflecting prism (eg, a triangular prism).

[0179] In an example of the present application, the light deflection assembly 43 further includes a light deflection drive 432 , in which the light deflection element 431 is installed. The light deflection drive 432 can then drive the light deflection element 431 to rotate to achieve the anti-shake function of the camera module 40 .

[0180] The drive device 42 includes a housing 421 and at least one drive assembly disposed within the housing 421. The housing 421 includes a top cover 4211 and a base 4212. The top cover 4211 and the base 4212 engage with each other to form a chamber for accommodating the at least one drive assembly. In one example of the present application, the light deflection assembly 43 and the photosensitive assembly 44 are fixed to the base 4212 of the housing 421 and are respectively fixed to the sides of the drive device 42, corresponding to the light input side and light output side of the optical lens 41, respectively. The light incident side of the optical lens 41 is used as the light incident side of the driving device 42, and the light exit side of the optical lens 41 is used as the light exit side of the driving device 42. Specifically, the light deflection component 43 is fixed to the light incident side of the driving device 42, so that the imaging light deflected by the light deflection element 431 can be projected into the optical lens 41 from the light incident side of the optical lens 41; the photosensitive component 44 is fixed to the light exit side of the driving device 42, so that the light converged by the optical lens 41 can be emitted from the light exit side of the optical lens 41 and then projected into the photosensitive component 44.

[0181] In the present application, the photosensitive component 44 corresponds to the optical lens 41 and is used to receive imaging light from the optical lens 41 and perform imaging. The photosensitive component 44 includes a chip circuit board 442, a photosensitive chip 441 electrically connected to the chip circuit board 442, and at least one electronic component 443. The photosensitive chip 441 is used to receive imaging light collected by the optical lens 41 and form an image, and is electrically connected to an external mobile electronic device through the chip circuit board 442. In one example of the present application, the electronic component 443 can be one or more of passive electronic components such as resistors and capacitors and active electronic components such as driver chips and memory chips.

[0182] The photosensitive component 44 also includes a filter component 444, which includes a filter element 4441. The filter element 4441 is maintained on the photosensitive path of the photosensitive chip 441. The filter element 4441 is arranged between the optical lens 41 and the photosensitive chip 441. It is used to filter the incident light entering the photosensitive chip 441 and filter out stray light that is not necessary for imaging, such as infrared light, in the incident light.

[0183] In one specific example, the filter assembly 444 further includes a filter holder 4442. The filter element 4441 is mounted and fixed to the filter holder 4442, corresponding to at least the photosensitive area of ​​the photosensitive chip 441. The filter holder 4442 has a light aperture, through which incident light passing through the optical lens 41 enters the photosensitive chip 441. Furthermore, the filter holder 4442 is fixed to the chip circuit board 442. In one specific example, the photosensitive assembly 44 is fixed to the light-emitting side of the driving device 42 via the filter holder 4442; in another specific example, the photosensitive assembly 44 is fixed to the light-emitting side of the driving device 42 via the chip circuit board 442. It is worth noting that the filter holder 4442 can be prefabricated and then fixed to the chip circuit board 442 via, for example, an adhesive, or can be integrally formed with the chip circuit board 442 via, for example, a molding process, and the present application is not limited thereto.

[0184] With further reference to FIG15A and FIG15B, FIG15A shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the camera module 40 described in the present application, and FIG15B shows a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the camera module 40 described in FIG15A. In this embodiment, at least one movable group includes a movable group (first movable group 412), and at least one driving assembly includes a driving assembly (first driving assembly 422). Specifically, the optical lens 41 includes a fixed group 411 and a first movable group 412, wherein the first movable group 412 can be adjusted relative to the fixed group 411 under the action of the driving device 42, thereby achieving adjustment of the optical performance of the camera module 40; the driving device 42 includes a housing 421 and a first driving assembly 422 disposed in the housing 421, and the housing 421 includes an upper cover 4211 and a base 4212.

[0185] The fixed group 411 of the optical lens 41 includes a fixed lens barrel 4111 and at least one fixed lens 4112 accommodated in the fixed lens barrel 4111. In the present application, the fixed group 411 is fixed to the non-moving part of the driving device 42 so that the position of the fixed group 411 in the optical lens 41 remains constant. For example, in one example, the fixed group 411 is fixed to the base 4212 of the housing 421 of the driving device 42. It is worth mentioning that in other examples of the present application, the fixed group 411 may also not be provided with a fixed lens barrel 4111, and may only include at least one fixed lens 4112. For example, it may only include one fixed lens 4112 or may only include multiple fixed lenses 4112 that are interlocked. That is, in other examples of the present application, the fixed group 411 may be implemented as a "bare lens".

[0186] The first movable group 412 of the optical lens 41 includes a first movable lens barrel 4121 and at least one first movable lens 4122 housed in the first movable lens barrel 4121. The first movable group 412 is provided with an optical axis. The first movable group 412 is adapted to be driven by the driving device 42 to move along the optical axis direction set by the first movable group 412, thereby adjusting the focal length of the optical lens 41, so that the camera module 40 can achieve clear photography of subjects at different distances. It is worth mentioning that in other examples of the present application, the first movable group 412 may also not be provided with the first movable lens barrel 4121, and may only include at least one first movable lens 4122. For example, it may only include one first movable lens 4122 or may only include multiple first movable lenses 4122 that are interlocked. That is, in other examples of the present application, the first movable group 412 may also be implemented as a "bare lens."

[0187] The first drive assembly 422 of the drive device 42 is disposed in a housing cavity formed by the interlocking engagement of the upper cover 4211 and the base 4212. The first drive assembly 422 includes a first movable carrier 4221, a first drive unit 4222, and a first pre-pressure component 4223. Specifically, in this embodiment, the first drive unit 4222 is implemented as the piezoelectric actuator 10 illustrated in Figures 1A to 8. The first movable group 412 is mounted in the first movable carrier 4221. The first drive element is configured to drive the first movable carrier 4221 to move the first movable group 412 along a direction set by the optical axis of the first movable group 412. It should be noted that in the present application, the structure and characteristics of the first drive unit 4222 are the same as those of the piezoelectric actuator 10 illustrated in Figures 1A to 8. The piezoelectric actuator 10 illustrated in Figures 1A to 8 can be fully applied to the first drive unit 4222 described in this application.

[0188] The first driving unit 4222 includes a first piezoelectric vibrator 11a and a first friction driving unit 12a driveably connected to the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a. When the first driving unit 4222 is turned on, the first friction driving unit 12a, under the action of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a, is configured to provide a driving force for driving the first movable carrier 4221. The first movable carrier 4221 is movably disposed in the housing 421.

[0189] 1A to 8 , the first friction drive portion 12a is fixed to the front surface of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a (i.e., the first side surface of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a) along the thickness direction (i.e., the Y-axis direction shown in FIG1A ). In one example, the first friction drive portion 12a is eccentrically disposed on the front surface of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a (i.e., the first side surface of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a) along the length direction of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a. In a specific example, the first friction drive portion 12a is located between one-quarter and one-half of the length of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a.

[0190] The first driving unit 4222 is frictionally coupled to the first movable carrier 4221 via a first pre-pressure component 4223 and is configured to drive the first movable carrier 4221 and the first movable group 412 mounted thereon to move in two opposite directions along the optical axis of the first movable group 412. The first pre-pressure component 4223 is clamped between the base 4212 of the housing 421 and the first driving unit 4222. The first pre-pressure component 4223 applies pressure to the first driving unit 4222 toward the first movable carrier 4221, thereby maintaining contact between the first friction driving portion 12a of the first driving unit 4222 and the first movable carrier 4221, thereby creating frictional contact between the first friction driving portion 12a and the first movable carrier 4221. In one specific example, the first pre-pressure component 4223 can be implemented as a spring, which is fixed between the base 4212 and the first driving unit 4222.

[0191] In one example of the present application, the first movable carrier 4221 includes a first carrier body 42211 and a first friction portion 42212. The first movable group 412 is installed in the first carrier body 42211, and the first friction portion 42212 is disposed between the first carrier body 42211 and the first driving portion 4222. The first friction driving portion 12a of the first driving portion 4222 contacts the first friction portion 42212 under the action of the first pre-pressure component 4223. In this way, the friction driving force provided by the first driving portion 4222 can act on the first carrier body 42211 through the first friction portion 42212, thereby driving the first carrier body 42211 to move.

[0192] In one example of the present application, the first friction portion 42212, the first driving portion 4222, and the first pre-pressure component 4223 are all disposed on a side surface of the first carrier body 42211. Specifically, the first carrier body 42211 has a U-shaped cross-section, the first movable carrier 4221 is installed in the first carrier body 42211 from the opening along the height direction, the first friction portion 42212 is disposed on a side surface of the first carrier body 42211, and accordingly, the first driving portion 4222 and the first pre-pressure component 4223 are disposed on the same side, wherein the first pre-pressure component 4223 is fixed to a side of the base 4212 corresponding to the side surface of the first carrier body 42211 on which the first friction portion 42212 is disposed.

[0193] It is worth mentioning that although in the examples shown in Figures 15A and 15B, the first friction portion 42212 is provided as a separate component between the first driving portion 4222 and the first carrier body 42211, it should be understood that in other examples of the present application, the first friction portion 42212 can also be integrally formed on the side surface of the first carrier body 42211, for example, the first friction portion 42212 is a friction coating applied to the side surface of the first carrier body 42211, and this is not limited to the present application. The first friction portion 42212 can be made of a material with excellent friction performance and durability, for example, it can be made of a metal oxide material (for example, zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, etc.).

[0194] In one example of the present application, the driving device 42 further includes a guiding device 424, which is configured to guide the movement of the first movable carrier 4221. The guiding device 424 includes a first guiding device 4241. In one example, the driving device 42 includes the first guiding device 4241 configured to guide the movement of the first movable carrier 4221. The first guiding device 4241 is disposed on the right side of the first movable carrier 4221 where the first driving portion 4222 is not disposed. In other words, the first guiding device 4241 and the first driving portion 4222 are respectively disposed on both sides of the first movable carrier 4221. In this way, the internal components of the driving device 42 can be arranged more compactly, thereby reducing the volume of the driving device 42.

[0195] In a specific example of the present application, the first guide device 4241 is implemented as a guide rod to realize the guiding function. The first guide device 4241 includes two first fixed parts 42412 formed at intervals on the base 4212 of the shell 421 and a first guide rod 42411 arranged between the two first fixed parts 42412 and passing through the first movable carrier 4221. The first guide rod 42411 is parallel to the optical axis of the first movable group 412, so that the first movable carrier 4221 can be guided to move in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the first movable group 412.

[0196] In the present application, the first driving portion 4222 is in an elongated shape, with its length aligned with the optical axis of the first movable group 412. In the present application, because the first friction driving portion 12a of the first driving portion 4222 is eccentrically disposed on the first side surface of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a along the length of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a, and because the vibration frequency and bending amplitude of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a are different in the two bending modes, the first driving portion 4222, implemented as the piezoelectric actuator 10 described in the present application, drives the first movable carrier 4221 to move in two opposite directions along the optical axis of the first movable group 412 at different speeds. Therefore, the first movable carrier 4221 can be eccentrically disposed between the fixed group 411 and the photosensitive assembly 44, allowing the first driving portion 4222 to have different speeds in the two opposite directions to be effectively utilized.

[0197] The first movable carrier 4221 has a working path. Driven by the first driving unit 4222, the first movable carrier 4221 moves along the working path to adjust the optical performance of the camera module 40 (for example, to achieve a zoom function). Furthermore, the first movable carrier 4221 has an initial position. The initial position of the first movable carrier 4221 refers to the position of the first movable carrier 4221 along the working path when the driving device 42 or the camera module 40 has just entered the working state. In other words, it is the position of the first movable carrier 4221 when the driving device 42 or the camera module 40 is in the initial state.

[0198] In one example of the present application, when the first movable carrier 4221 is set to the initial position, the first movable carrier 4221 is eccentrically located on the working path of the first movable carrier 4221, and the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221 is opposite to the eccentric direction of the first friction drive unit 12a. The eccentric direction of the first friction drive unit 12a refers to the direction in which the center of the first piezoelectric vibrator 11a points toward the first friction drive unit 12a in the longitudinal direction; the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221 refers to the direction in which the center of the working path of the first movable carrier 4221 points toward the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221. In this way, the first drive unit 4222 has a faster driving speed in the eccentric direction of its first friction drive unit 12a, so that the first movable carrier 4221 can reach the predetermined position more quickly, thereby quickly enabling the camera module 40 to clearly capture objects at different distances.

[0199] In one example of the present application, the first driving speed at which the first driving part 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 to move toward the eccentric direction of the first friction driving part 12a is greater than the second driving speed at which the first driving part 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 to move toward the eccentric direction of the first friction driving part 12a.

[0200] In one example of the present application, after the camera module 40 starts photographing a subject, the first driving unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 at a first driving speed to move in an eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit 12a (i.e., in the opposite direction of the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221) to perform a coarse adjustment to make the image of the camera module 40 close to clear. Then, based on the clarity of the image, the first driving unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 at the first driving speed to move in the eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit 12a or drives the first movable carrier 4221 at a second driving speed to move in the opposite direction of the eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit 12a to perform a fine adjustment to make the image of the camera module 40 clear. It is worth noting that in actual operation, the camera module 40 may reach a clear value after the coarse adjustment without the need for further fine adjustment. Since the first driving part 4222 described in this application moves toward the eccentric direction of the first friction driving part 12a at a higher speed, that is, in this example, the first driving speed is greater than the second driving speed, the first movable carrier 4221 can reach the target position at a faster speed.

[0201] In a specific example of the present application, when the first movable carrier 4221 is set to the initial position, the first movable carrier 4221 is located on one end of the working path of the first movable carrier 4221, which is biased toward the photosensitive component 44. When the camera module 40 begins to operate, the first driving unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 toward the fixed group 411 at a first driving speed for coarse adjustment. Then, depending on the clarity of the image, the first driving unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 toward the fixed group 411 at the first driving speed or toward the photosensitive component 44 at a second driving speed for fine adjustment. The direction toward the fixed group 411 is opposite to the direction toward the photosensitive component 44. In this way, the first movable carrier 4221 can be driven to quickly reach the target position.

[0202] In another specific example of the present application, when the first movable carrier 4221 is set to the initial position, the first movable carrier 4221 is located at one end of the working path of the first movable carrier 4221, which is biased toward the fixed group 411. When the camera module 40 begins to operate, the first driving unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 toward the photosensitive component 44 at a first driving speed for coarse adjustment. Then, depending on the clarity of the image, the first driving unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 toward the photosensitive component 44 at the first driving speed or toward the fixed group 411 at a second driving speed for fine adjustment. The direction toward the fixed group 411 is opposite to the direction toward the photosensitive component 44. In this way, the first movable carrier 4221 can be driven to quickly reach the target position.

[0203] In another specific example of the present application, when the first movable carrier 4221 is set to the initial position, the first movable carrier 4221 is not located at one end of the working path of the first movable carrier 4221 that is biased towards the photosensitive component 44 or the fixed group 411, but is located between the two end points of the working path of the first movable carrier 4221 and not in the middle. When the camera module 40 begins operation, the first drive unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 toward the farther end point at a first drive speed or toward the closer end point at a second drive speed for coarse adjustment. Then, depending on the clarity of the image, the first drive unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 toward the farther end point at the first drive speed or toward the closer end point at the second drive speed for fine adjustment. In this way, the user can achieve a more balanced focusing speed, allowing them to obtain clear images in a shorter time regardless of whether they are shooting distant or close-up shots.

[0204] In summary, in the first embodiment of the camera module 40 described in the present application, when the first movable carrier 4221 is set to the initial position, the first movable carrier 4221 is eccentrically located on the working path of the first movable carrier 4221, and the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221 is opposite to the eccentric direction of the first friction drive portion 12a. The speeds at which the first drive portion 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 to move in two opposite directions along the optical axis of the first movable group 412 are different, wherein the speed at which the first drive portion 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 to move in the eccentric direction of the first friction drive portion 12a (the first drive speed) is greater than the speed at which the first drive portion 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 to move in the direction opposite to the eccentric direction of the first friction drive portion 12a (the second drive speed). In other words, the speed at which the first driving unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 to move in the opposite direction of the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221 (first driving speed) is greater than the speed at which the first driving unit 4222 drives the first movable carrier 4221 to move in the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221 (second driving speed).

[0205] The present application further provides a second embodiment of the camera module 40. FIG11 illustrates the second embodiment of the camera module 40 of the present application. As shown in FIG16 , compared to the first embodiment, in this embodiment, at least one movable group includes two movable groups (a first movable group 412 and a second movable group 413), and at least one driving assembly includes two driving assemblies (a first driving assembly 422 and a second movable group 413). Specifically, the optical lens 41 includes a fixed group 411, a first movable group 412, and a second movable group 413, wherein the first movable group 412 and the second movable group 413 can be adjusted relative to the fixed group 411 under the action of a driving device 42, thereby adjusting the optical performance of the camera module 40; the driving device 42 includes a housing 421 and a first driving assembly 422 and a second driving assembly 423 movably disposed in the housing 421, and the housing 421 includes a top cover 4211 and a base 4212.

[0206] Furthermore, the second movable group 413 includes a second movable lens barrel 4131 and at least one second movable lens 4132 housed in the second movable lens barrel 4131, and the second movable group 413 is provided with an optical axis. The second movable group 413 is adapted to be driven by the driving device 42 to move along the optical axis direction set by the second movable group 413, thereby adjusting the focal length of the optical lens 41, so that the camera module 40 can achieve clear photography of subjects at different distances. It is worth mentioning that in other examples of the present application, the second movable group 413 may also not be provided with the second movable lens barrel 4131, and it only includes at least one second movable lens 4132, for example, it only includes one second movable lens 4132 or only includes multiple second movable lenses 4132 that are interlocked. That is, in other examples of the present application, the second movable group 413 may also be implemented as a "bare lens".

[0207] In this embodiment, the fixed group 411, the first movable group 412, and the second movable group 413 are sequentially arranged along the optical axis of the optical lens 41. In other words, the first movable group 412 is arranged between the fixed group 411 and the second movable group 413. In one example, the first movable group 412 can be a zoom group, and the second movable group 413 can be a focus group. Optical zoom is achieved by driving the first movable group 412 to move, and optical focus is achieved by driving the second movable group 413 to move. In another example of the present application, the first movable group 412 can be a focus group, and the second movable group 413 can be a zoom group. Optical focus is achieved by driving the first movable group 412 to move, and optical zoom is achieved by driving the second movable group 413 to move.

[0208] The second drive assembly 423, along with the first drive assembly 422, is disposed within a housing cavity formed by the interlocking engagement of the upper cover 4211 and the base 4212. The second drive assembly 423 includes a second movable carrier 4231, a second drive unit 4232, and a second pre-stressing member 4233. Specifically, in this embodiment, the second drive unit 4232 is implemented as the piezoelectric actuator 10 illustrated in Figures 1A to 8. The second movable group 413 is mounted on the second movable carrier 4231. The second drive unit is configured to drive the second movable carrier 4231 to move the second movable group 413 along a direction defined by the optical axis of the second movable group 413. It should be noted that in this application, the structure and characteristics of the second drive unit 4232 are identical to those of the piezoelectric actuator 10 illustrated in Figures 1A to 8. The piezoelectric actuator 10 illustrated in Figures 1A to 8 can be fully applied to the second drive unit 4232 described in this application. It is worth noting that in this embodiment, although the second driving part 4232 and the first driving part 4222 can both be implemented as the piezoelectric actuator 10 shown in Figures 1A to 8, it is easy to imagine that the parameter specifications of the second driving part 4232 and the first driving part 4222 may be different, and can be designed respectively based on the space reserved in the driving device 42 and the requirements for driving force and driving speed.

[0209] The second driving unit 4232 includes a second piezoelectric vibrator 11b and a second friction driving unit 12b driveably connected to the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b. When the second driving unit 4232 is turned on, the second friction driving unit 12b, under the action of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b, is configured to provide a driving force for driving the first movable carrier 4221. The second movable carrier 4231 is movably disposed in the housing 421.

[0210] 1A to 8 , the second friction drive portion 12b is fixed to the front surface of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b (i.e., the first side surface of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b) along the thickness direction (i.e., the Y-axis direction shown in FIG1A ). In one example, the second friction drive portion 12b is eccentrically disposed on the front surface of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b (i.e., the first side surface of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b) along the length direction of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b. In a specific example, the second friction drive portion 12b is located between one-quarter and one-half of the length of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b.

[0211] The second driving portion 4232 is frictionally coupled to the second movable carrier 4231 via a second pre-pressure component 4233 and is configured to drive the second movable carrier 4231 and the second movable group 413 mounted thereon to move in two opposite directions along the optical axis of the second movable group 413. The second pre-pressure component 4233 is clamped between the base 4212 of the housing 421 and the second driving portion 4232. The second pre-pressure component 4233 applies pressure to the second driving portion 4232 toward the second movable carrier 4231, thereby maintaining contact between the second friction driving portion 12b of the second driving portion 4232 and the second movable carrier 4231, thereby creating frictional contact between the second friction driving portion 12b and the second movable carrier 4231. In one specific example, the second pre-pressure component 4233 can be implemented as a spring, which is fixed between the base 4212 and the second driving portion 4232.

[0212] In one example of the present application, the second movable carrier 4231 includes a second carrier body 42311 and a second friction portion 42312. The second movable group 413 is mounted in the second carrier body 42311, and the second friction portion 42312 is disposed between the second carrier body 42311 and the second driving portion 4232. The second friction driving portion 12b of the second driving portion 4232 contacts the second friction portion 42312 under the action of the second pre-pressure component 4233. In this way, the friction driving force provided by the second driving portion 4232 can act on the second carrier body 42311 through the second friction portion 42312, thereby driving the second carrier body 42311 to move.

[0213] In one example of the present application, the second friction portion 42312, the second driving portion 4232, and the second pre-pressure component 4233 are all disposed on a side surface of the second carrier body 42311. Specifically, the second carrier body 42311 has a U-shaped cross-section, the second movable carrier 4231 is installed in the second carrier body 42311 from the opening along the height direction, the second friction portion 42312 is disposed on a side surface of the second carrier body 42311, and accordingly, the second driving portion 4232 and the second pre-pressure component 4233 are disposed on the same side, wherein the second pre-pressure component 4233 is fixed to the side of the base 4212 corresponding to the side surface of the second carrier body 42311 on which the second friction portion 42312 is disposed.

[0214] It is worth mentioning that although in the example shown in FIG11 , the second friction portion 42312 is provided as a separate component between the second driving portion 4232 and the second carrier body 42311, it should be understood that in other examples of the present application, the second friction portion 42312 can also be integrally formed on the side surface of the second carrier body 42311, for example, the second friction portion 42312 is a friction coating applied to the side surface of the second carrier body 42311, and this is not limited to the present application. The second friction portion 42312 can be made of a material with excellent friction performance and durability, for example, it can be made of a metal oxide material (e.g., zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, etc.).

[0215] In one example of the present application, the first guide rod 42411 of the first guide device 4241 further passes through the second movable carrier 4231, and the first guide rod 42411 is parallel to the optical axis of the second movable group 413, so that the second movable carrier 4231 also moves along the first guide rod 42411, so that the second movable carrier 4231 can be guided to move in the direction of the optical axis of the second movable group 413.

[0216] In another example of the present application, the guiding device 424 further includes a second guiding device 4242, so that the first movable carrier 4221 and the second movable carrier 4231 can be guided to move by the first guiding device 4241 and the second guiding device, respectively. The second guiding device 4242 can be arranged on the same side of the driving device 42 as the first guiding device 4241, or on opposite sides. Specifically, the driving device 42 also includes a second guiding device 4242 configured to guide the movement of the second movable carrier 4231. The second guiding device 4242 includes two second fixing portions 42422 formed at intervals on the base 4212 of the housing 421, and a second guide rod 42421 mounted between the two second fixing portions 42422 and passing through the second movable carrier 4231. The second guide rod 42421 is parallel to the optical axis of the second movable group 413, so that the second movable carrier 4231 can be guided to move along a direction parallel to the optical axis of the second movable group 413.

[0217] In the present application, the second driving portion 4232 is in an elongated shape, with its length aligned with the optical axis of the second movable group 413. In the present application, because the second friction driving portion 12b of the second driving portion 4232 is eccentrically disposed on the second side surface of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b along the length of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b, and because the vibration frequency and bending amplitude of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b are different in the two bending modes, the second driving portion 4232, implemented as the piezoelectric actuator 10 described in the present application, drives the second movable carrier 4231 to move in two opposite directions along the optical axis of the second movable group 413 at different speeds. Therefore, the second movable carrier 4231 can be eccentrically disposed between the fixed group 411 and the photosensitive assembly 44, allowing the property of the second driving portion 4232 having different speeds in the two opposite directions to be effectively utilized.

[0218] The second movable carrier 4231 has a working path. Driven by the second driving unit 4232, the second movable carrier 4231 moves along the working path to adjust the optical performance of the camera module 40 (for example, to achieve optical zoom or optical focus). Furthermore, the second movable carrier 4231 has an initial position. The initial position of the second movable carrier 4231 refers to the position of the second movable carrier 4231 along the working path when the driving device 42 or the camera module 40 just enters the working state. In other words, it is the position of the second movable carrier 4231 when the driving device 42 or the camera module 40 is in the initial state.

[0219] In one example of the present application, when the second movable carrier 4231 is set to its initial position, it is eccentrically positioned on its working path. The eccentric direction of the second movable carrier 4231's initial position is opposite to the eccentric direction of the second friction drive unit 12b. The eccentric direction of the second friction drive unit 12b refers to the direction in which the center of the second piezoelectric vibrator 11b points toward the second friction drive unit 12b in the longitudinal direction. The eccentric direction of the second movable carrier 4231's initial position refers to the direction in which the center of the working path of the second movable carrier 4231 points toward the initial position of the second movable carrier 4231. In this way, the second drive unit 4232 has a faster driving speed in the eccentric direction of its second friction drive unit 12b, allowing the second movable carrier 4231 to reach the predetermined position more quickly, thereby enabling the camera module 40 to quickly capture clear images of subjects at different distances.

[0220] It is worth noting that the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier 4231 can be the same as or different from the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221. When the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier 4231 is different from the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221, the first movable carrier 4221 and the second movable carrier 4231 move in opposite directions when the driving device 42 is in operation; when the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier 4231 is the same as the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier 4221, the first movable carrier 4221 and the second movable carrier 4231 move in the same direction when the driving device 42 is in operation. In this way, the internal space of the driving assembly can be fully utilized and the size of the driving assembly can be shortened.

[0221] In one example of the present application, the third driving speed at which the second driving part 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 to move in the eccentric direction of the second friction driving part 12b is greater than the fourth driving speed at which the second driving part 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 to move in the eccentric direction of the second friction driving part 12b.

[0222] In one example of the present application, after the camera module 40 begins to photograph a subject, the second driving unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 at a third driving speed to move in an eccentric direction of the second friction driving unit 12b (i.e., in a direction opposite to the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier 4231) to perform coarse adjustment to make the image of the camera module 40 nearly clear. Then, based on the clarity of the image, the second driving unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 at a third driving speed to move in an eccentric direction of the second friction driving unit 12b or at a fourth driving speed to drive the second movable carrier 4231 in a direction opposite to the eccentric direction of the second friction driving unit 12b to perform fine adjustment to make the image of the camera module 40 clear. It is worth noting that in actual operation, the camera module 40 may reach a clear value after coarse adjustment without the need for further fine adjustment. Since the second driving part 4232 described in this application moves toward the second friction driving part 12b at a higher speed in the eccentric direction, that is, in this example, the third driving speed is greater than the fourth driving speed, the second movable carrier 4231 can reach the target position at a faster speed.

[0223] In a specific example of the present application, when the second movable carrier 4231 is set to the initial position, the second movable carrier 4231 is located on one end of the working path of the second movable carrier 4231, which is biased toward the photosensitive component 44. When the camera module 40 begins operation, the second driving unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 toward the fixed group 411 at a third driving speed for coarse adjustment. Then, depending on the clarity of the image, the second driving unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 toward the fixed group 411 at the third driving speed or toward the photosensitive component 44 at a fourth driving speed for fine adjustment. The direction toward the fixed group 411 is opposite to the direction toward the photosensitive component 44. In this way, the second movable carrier 4231 can be driven to quickly reach the target position.

[0224] In another specific example of the present application, when the second movable carrier 4231 is set to the initial position, the second movable carrier 4231 is located on one end of the working path of the second movable carrier 4231, which is biased toward the fixed group 411. When the camera module 40 begins operation, the second driving unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 toward the photosensitive component 44 at a third driving speed for coarse adjustment. Then, depending on the clarity of the image, the second driving unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 toward the photosensitive component 44 at the third driving speed or toward the fixed group 411 at a fourth driving speed for fine adjustment. The direction toward the fixed group 411 is opposite to the direction toward the photosensitive component 44. In this way, the second movable carrier 4231 can be driven to quickly reach the target position.

[0225] In another specific example of the present application, when the second movable carrier 4231 is set to the initial position, the second movable carrier 4231 is not located at one end of the second movable carrier 4231's working path that is biased toward the photosensitive component 44 or the fixed group 411. Instead, it is located between the two endpoints of the second movable carrier 4231's working path and not in the middle. When the camera module 40 begins operation, the second drive unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 toward the farther endpoint at a third drive speed or toward the closer endpoint at a fourth drive speed for coarse adjustment. Then, depending on the clarity of the image, the first drive unit 4222 drives the second movable carrier 4231 toward the farther endpoint at the third drive speed or toward the closer endpoint at the fourth drive speed for fine adjustment. In this way, the user can achieve a more balanced focusing speed, allowing them to obtain clear images in a shorter time regardless of whether they are shooting distant or close-up shots.

[0226] In summary, in the second embodiment of the camera module 40 described in the present application, when the second movable carrier 4231 is set to the initial position, the second movable carrier 4231 is eccentrically located on the working path of the second movable carrier 4231, and the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier 4231 is opposite to the eccentric direction of the second friction drive portion 12b. The speed at which the second drive portion 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 to move in two opposite directions along the optical axis of the second movable group 413 is different, wherein the speed at which the second drive portion 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 to move in the eccentric direction of the second friction drive portion 12b (the third drive speed) is greater than the speed at which the second drive portion 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 to move in the direction opposite to the eccentric direction of the second friction drive portion 12b (the fourth drive speed). In other words, the speed at which the second driving unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 to move in the opposite direction of the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier 4231 (the third driving speed) is greater than the speed at which the second driving unit 4232 drives the second movable carrier 4231 to move in the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier 4231 (the fourth driving speed).

[0227] The present application further provides a third embodiment of the camera module 40. FIG17 illustrates the third embodiment of the camera module 40 of the present application. As shown in FIG17 , compared to the second embodiment, in this embodiment, the second drive assembly 423 is disposed in the first drive assembly 422, and the second movable carrier 4231 is movably disposed in the first movable carrier 4221. Specifically, the second pre-pressure component 4233 is clamped between the first movable carrier 4221 and the second drive portion 4232. The second pre-pressure component 4233 provides pressure from the second drive portion 4232 toward the second movable carrier 4231, so that the second friction drive portion 12b of the second drive portion 4232 maintains contact with the second movable carrier 4231, thereby causing frictional contact between the second friction drive portion 12b and the second movable carrier 4231. The second driving portion 4232 is frictionally coupled to the second movable carrier 4231 via the second pre-pressure member 4233 and is configured to drive the second movable carrier 4231 and the second movable group 413 mounted thereon to move in two opposite directions along the optical axis of the second movable group 413 .

[0228] In this embodiment, the guiding device 424 includes a first guiding device 4241 and a second guiding device 4242. The first guiding device 4241 includes two first fixing portions 42412 formed at intervals on the base 4212 of the housing 421 and a first guide rod 42411 mounted between the two first fixing portions 42412 and passing through the first movable carrier 4221. The first guide rod 42411 is parallel to the optical axis of the first movable group 412, so that the first movable carrier 4221 can be guided to move along the plane. The second guide device 4242 includes two second fixing portions 42422 spaced apart from each other on the first movable carrier 4221, and a second guide rod 42421 extending between the two second fixing portions 42422 and extending through the second movable carrier 4231. The second guide rod 42421 is parallel to the optical axis of the second movable group 413, thereby guiding the second movable carrier 4231 to move in a direction parallel to the optical axis of the second movable group 413. In one example, the first guide device 4241 and the second guide device 4242 are respectively disposed on either side of the drive device 42, and the first drive portion 4222 and the second drive portion 4232 are also respectively disposed on either side of the drive device 42.

[0229] It is worth mentioning that, in the present application, the camera module 40 may include more fixed groups 411 and more movable groups, and the fixed group 411 may also be arranged between two movable groups, but the present application is not limited thereto.

[0230] It is worth mentioning that in the present application, the driving device 32 may further include a suspension assembly for maintaining alignment between the optical axis of the fixed group 411 and the optical axis of at least one movable group (the first movable group 412 and the second movable group 413), a position sensing assembly for obtaining position information of the at least one movable group (the first movable group 412 and the second movable group 413), and an electrical connection assembly for providing driving power to at least one driving unit (the first driving unit 4222 and the second driving unit 4232). The suspension assembly can be implemented in common forms such as springs, balls, and sliders; the position sensing assembly can be composed of a Hall element and a magnet; and the electrical connection assembly can be implemented using conductive inserts, flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs), or rigid-flex boards for electrical connectivity.

[0231] The above describes the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present application. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The above-described embodiments and the specification merely illustrate the principles of the present application. Various changes and improvements may be made to the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. These changes and improvements fall within the scope of the present application for which protection is sought. The scope of protection claimed by the present application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric actuator, characterized in that: include: A piezoelectric vibrator, the piezoelectric vibrator comprising a front surface and a back surface arranged opposite to each other in a thickness direction; as well as A friction drive portion is fixed to the front surface of the piezoelectric vibrator along the thickness direction, wherein the friction drive portion is eccentrically arranged on the front surface of the piezoelectric vibrator along the length direction.

2. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 1, wherein The piezoelectric vibrator includes two bending modes, a first bending mode and a second bending mode. The piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in the two bending modes, so that the piezoelectric actuator drives the driven object to move in two opposite directions, a first direction and a second direction, respectively, in the two bending modes.

3. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 2, wherein: In the first bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator vibrates in a modal bending state with a crest or a trough in the thickness direction; In the second bending mode, the piezoelectric vibrator bends and vibrates in a mode with one crest and one trough in the thickness direction.

4. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 3, wherein: The piezoelectric vibrator includes a first bending portion and a second bending portion connected in series along the length direction, the first bending portion is located below the friction driving portion, and in the first bending mode, the first bending portion and the second bending portion are axially symmetrical to each other; in the second bending mode, the first bending portion and the second bending portion are rotationally symmetrical to each other.

5. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 3, wherein: The speed at which the piezoelectric actuator drives the driven object to move along the first direction is greater than the speed at which the piezoelectric actuator drives the driven object to move along the second direction. The first direction refers to the eccentric direction of the friction driving part, and the eccentric direction of the friction driving part is the direction in which the center of the piezoelectric vibrator in the length direction points to the friction driving part.

6. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 2, wherein: The piezoelectric vibrator includes a plurality of ceramic layers, a plurality of electrode layers spaced apart between adjacent ceramic layers, and a side electrical conducting portion electrically connected to the plurality of electrode layers.

7. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 6, wherein: The multiple electrode layers include at least one first electrode layer, at least one second electrode layer, at least one third electrode layer and at least one fourth electrode layer, and the side electrical connection portion includes a first side electrical connection portion, a second side electrical connection portion, a third side electrical connection portion and a fourth side electrical connection portion, the first side electrical connection portion is electrically conductive with at least one first electrode layer, the second side electrical connection portion is electrically conductive with at least one second electrode layer, the third side electrical connection portion is electrically conductive with at least one third electrode layer, and the fourth side electrical connection portion is electrically conductive with at least one fourth electrode layer.

8. The piezoelectric actuator according to claim 7, wherein: The at least one first electrode layer and the at least one second electrode layer are symmetrically arranged with respect to the width direction of the piezoelectric vibrator, and the at least one third electrode layer and the at least one fourth electrode layer are symmetrically arranged with respect to the length direction of the piezoelectric vibrator.

9. The piezoelectric actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: The friction driving portion is located between a quarter and a half of the length of the piezoelectric vibrator.

10. A driving motor assembly, characterized in that: include: The piezoelectric actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 9; stator; mover; as well as A pre-stress component, wherein the piezoelectric actuator is fixed to the stator through the pre-stress component, and the piezoelectric actuator is frictionally coupled to the mover through the pre-stress component and is configured to drive the mover to move along the length direction.

11. A driving device, characterized in that: include: Fixed part; a movable portion, the movable portion being movably disposed in the fixed portion; as well as A driving portion is arranged between the fixed portion and the movable portion, and the driving portion drives the movable portion to move in a first direction or a second direction, the first direction is opposite to the second direction, wherein the speed at which the driving portion drives the movable portion to move in the first direction is greater than the speed at which the driving portion drives the movable portion to move in the second direction.

12. The driving device according to claim 11, wherein: The driving portion includes a piezoelectric vibrator and a friction driving portion fixed to the piezoelectric vibrator. The friction driving portion is eccentrically provided on the piezoelectric vibrator in a height direction.

13. The driving device according to claim 12, wherein: The piezoelectric vibrator includes two bending modes: a first bending mode and a second bending mode. The driving unit drives the movable part to move in the first direction or the second direction under the two bending modes.

14. The driving device according to claim 13, wherein: Along the height direction, the distance from the friction driving part to the top end of the piezoelectric vibrator is smaller than the distance from the friction driving part to the bottom end of the piezoelectric vibrator.

15. The driving device according to claim 14, wherein: The movable portion includes a movable carrier and a friction plate. The friction plate is clamped between the movable carrier and the friction driving portion. The friction driving portion is frictionally coupled to the friction plate.

16. The driving device according to claim 15, wherein: Along the height direction, the distance from the friction driving part to the top end of the friction plate is smaller than the distance from the friction driving part to the bottom end of the friction plate.

17. The driving device according to claim 16, wherein: The driving device further includes a pre-pressure component, which is arranged between the fixing portion and the driving portion. The pre-pressure generated by the pre-pressure component enables the friction driving portion and the friction plate to always maintain friction contact.

18. The driving device according to claim 17, wherein: The prestressing component includes two fixed ends and a connecting section integrally connected between the two fixed ends. The two fixed ends are fixed to the fixing portion. There is a certain gap between the connecting section and the fixing portion. The piezoelectric vibrator is arranged on a side of the connecting section away from the fixing portion.

19. The driving device according to claim 18, wherein: The driving device further includes a guide device, which is provided between the fixed portion and the movable portion, and the movable portion is clamped between the pre-pressure member and the guide device.

20. A camera module, characterized in that: include: Optical lens; A photosensitive component, wherein the optical lens is held on a light-sensing path of the photosensitive component; as well as The driving device according to any one of claims 11 to 19, wherein the optical lens is mounted on the movable portion of the driving device.

21. A camera module, characterized in that: include: An optical lens, the optical lens comprising a fixed group and a first movable group; a drive device comprising a housing and a first drive assembly disposed in the housing, the fixed group being fixed to the housing, the first drive assembly comprising a first movable carrier, a first drive portion, and a first pre-pressure component, the first movable group being mounted in the first movable carrier, and the first drive portion being frictionally coupled to the first movable carrier via the first pre-pressure component; as well as A photosensitive component is held on the light path of the optical lens, wherein the first driving part includes a first piezoelectric vibrator and a first friction driving part which is eccentrically arranged on the front side of the first piezoelectric vibrator along the length direction; when the first movable carrier is set at an initial position, the first movable carrier is eccentrically located on the working path of the first movable carrier, and the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier is opposite to the eccentric direction of the first friction driving part.

22. The camera module according to claim 21, wherein: A first driving speed at which the first driving portion drives the first movable carrier to move in the eccentric direction of the first friction driving portion is greater than a second driving speed at which the first driving portion drives the first movable carrier to move in the eccentric direction of the first friction driving portion.

23. The camera module according to claim 22, wherein: The first driving unit drives the first movable carrier to move toward the eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit at the first driving speed for coarse adjustment so that the imaging of the camera module is close to clear, and then, according to the clarity of the imaging, the first driving unit drives the first movable carrier to move toward the eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit at the first driving speed or drives the first movable carrier to move in the opposite direction of the eccentric direction of the first friction driving unit at the second driving speed for fine adjustment.

24. The camera module according to claim 23, wherein: When the first movable carrier is set to the initial position, the first movable carrier is located at one end of the working path of the first movable carrier that is biased towards the photosensitive component, and the first driving unit drives the first movable carrier to move toward the fixed group at the first driving speed for coarse adjustment, and then, depending on the clarity of the imaging, the first driving unit drives the first movable carrier to move toward the fixed group at the first driving speed or drives the first movable carrier to move toward the photosensitive component at the second driving speed for fine adjustment.

25. The camera module according to claim 21, wherein: The first driving portion is in an elongated shape, and a length direction thereof is consistent with an optical axis direction of the first movable group.

26. The camera module according to claim 21, wherein: The driving device further includes a first guide device configured to guide the movement of the first movable carrier, and the first guide device and the first driving part are respectively provided on both sides of the first movable carrier.

27. The camera module according to any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein: The optical lens also includes a second movable group, and the driving device also includes a second driving assembly movably arranged in the shell, the second driving assembly includes a second movable carrier, a second driving part and a second pre-pressure component, the second movable group is installed in the second movable carrier, the second driving part is frictionally coupled to the second movable carrier through the second pre-pressure component, the second driving part includes a second piezoelectric vibrator and a second friction driving part eccentrically arranged on the front side of the second piezoelectric vibrator along the length direction, when the second movable carrier is set to the initial position, the second movable carrier is eccentrically located on the working path of the second movable carrier, and the eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier is opposite to the eccentric direction of the second friction driving part.

28. The camera module according to claim 27, wherein: The eccentric direction of the initial position of the second movable carrier is the same as the eccentric direction of the initial position of the first movable carrier.

29. The camera module according to claim 27, wherein: The second driving assembly is provided in the first driving assembly, and the second pre-pressure member is sandwiched between the first movable carrier and the second driving portion.

30. The camera module according to claim 27, wherein: The camera module further includes a light deflection component, which is fixed to the driving component and is used to deflect imaging light.

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