Camera actuator and camera module

Abstract

A camera actuator is provided. The camera actuator includes: a first bearing portion configured to move in an optical axis direction; a second bearing part disposed on the first bearing part and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction; a damper protruding from a first surface of the first bearing portion facing the second bearing portion; and a stopper disposed on a third surface of the second bearing portion facing the first bearing portion to face the damper in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and configured to restrict movement of the second bearing portion in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. A camera module is also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following description relates to a camera actuator and a camera module. Background Art

[0002] Mobile electronic devices such as, but not limited to, smart phones or tablet personal computers (PCs) are widely adopted. Mobile electronic devices are manufactured with thin form factors to improve portability. In addition, considering the explosive growth of the personal media market, the number of images captured using mobile electronic devices has increased dramatically.

[0003] However, when a user takes a photo or image with a smart phone, unless special equipment is used, the captured image may shake chaotically due to the user's movement (e.g., hand tremors or walking or running movements), or the outline of the object may be blurred in the example of a still image.

[0004] Various techniques are used to correct the shake. For example, the captured image may be post-processed using software, or the shake may be corrected by moving the lens or image sensor of the camera. When the image is corrected by software, there is a problem that the smartphone has a simple mechanical structure, but since a part of the image is cut off during the image processing process, the viewing angle becomes narrow. The optical image stabilization (OIS) method of correcting the shake by moving the sensor or lens is structurally complex because the smartphone includes a driving actuator, but the optical image stabilization method has an advantage in terms of viewing angle.

[0005] On the other hand, to correct for greater shake, the range of lens or sensor movement must increase. For example, when the lens barrel moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis to correct camera shake, the degree of shake correction increases as the distance the lens barrel can move increases.

[0006] As the movable range of a movable body (e.g., a lens barrel) increases, the amount of impact that occurs when the movable body hits a fixed body (e.g., a housing that accommodates the lens barrel) increases. This may cause noise or damage to the internal components of the camera. Therefore, a method is needed that can mitigate the amount of impact or noise that increases as the movable range of the movable body increases.

[0007] The above information is presented as background information only to assist with understanding the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with respect to the present disclosure. Utility Model Content

[0008] The purpose of providing this utility model summary is to introduce a selection of concepts in a concise form, and these concepts will be further described in the following detailed description. This utility model summary is not intended to identify the key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to help determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0009] In general, the camera actuator includes: a first bearing portion configured to move in the optical axis direction; a second bearing portion disposed on the first bearing portion and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction; a damper protruding from a first surface of the first bearing portion facing the second bearing portion; and a stopper disposed on a third surface of the second bearing portion facing the first bearing portion to face the damper in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and configured to limit the movement of the second bearing portion in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0010] A groove portion may be provided at an edge of the second carrying portion, and the groove portion is configured to accommodate the damper.

[0011] The stopper may include one surface of an edge of the groove portion constituting the second bearing portion.

[0012] The stopper may be configured to have a shape that is complementary to a shape of an edge of the damper that faces the stopper.

[0013] A width of the groove portion in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction may be greater than a width of the damper in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0014] The first carrier may have a second surface facing the first carrier in the optical axis direction, and the damper is configured to penetrate from the first carrier to the second carrier to protrude from the second carrier.

[0015] The damper may be arranged at one or more corner regions of the first carrier part.

[0016] The stopper may be provided at one or more corner regions of the second carrier portion.

[0017] Each of the damper and the stopper may be provided in plural numbers.

[0018] The camera actuator may further include a lens holder accommodating the lens barrel, wherein the lens holder may be disposed on the second carrying portion.

[0019] The first bearing part may have a plurality of first guide grooves on its side surface, the second bearing part may have a plurality of second guide grooves on a third surface of the second bearing part, and the camera actuator may further include a plurality of first rolling members and a plurality of second rolling members, the plurality of first rolling members being respectively arranged in the plurality of first guide grooves and configured to move the first bearing part in the direction of the optical axis, and the plurality of second rolling members being respectively arranged in the plurality of second guide grooves and configured to move the second bearing part in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis.

[0020] The second bearing part may have a plurality of third guide grooves on a fourth surface of the second bearing part, the fourth surface of the second bearing part being opposite to the third surface of the second bearing part in the direction of the optical axis, and the actuator may also include a plurality of third rolling members, which are respectively arranged in the plurality of third guide grooves and are configured to move the lens holder in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis.

[0021] The camera actuator may further include a magnet disposed on a side surface of the first bearing portion and configured to provide a driving force to the first bearing portion, and a coil disposed to face the magnet and configured to provide a driving force to the first bearing portion.

[0022] In general, the camera module includes: a lens barrel; a housing that accommodates the lens barrel; a first bearing portion configured to move in the optical axis direction; a second bearing portion disposed on the first bearing portion and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction; a damper protruding from a first surface of the first bearing portion facing the second bearing portion; and a stopper disposed on a third surface of the second bearing portion facing the first bearing portion to face the damper in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and configured to limit the movement of the second bearing portion in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0023] A groove portion may be provided at an edge of the second carrying portion, and the groove portion is configured to accommodate the damper.

[0024] The stopper may include one surface of the edge of the second load-bearing portion constituting the groove portion.

[0025] A width of the groove portion in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction may be greater than a width of the damper in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0026] The first carrier portion may have a second surface, the second surface of the first carrier portion facing away from the first surface of the first carrier portion in the optical axis direction, and the damper may be configured to penetrate from the first surface of the first carrier portion to the second surface of the first carrier portion to protrude from the second surface of the first carrier portion.

[0027] The first bearing part may have a plurality of first guide grooves on its side surface, the second bearing part may have a plurality of second guide grooves on a third surface of the second bearing part, and the camera module also includes a plurality of first rolling members and a plurality of second rolling members, the plurality of first rolling members are respectively arranged in the plurality of first guide grooves and are configured to move the first bearing part in the optical axis direction, and the plurality of second rolling members are respectively arranged in the plurality of second guide grooves and are configured to move the second bearing part in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0028] The camera module may further include a lens holder for accommodating the lens barrel, wherein the lens holder may be disposed on the second bearing portion. The second bearing portion may have a plurality of third guide grooves on a fourth surface of the second bearing portion, the fourth surface of the second bearing portion being opposite to the third surface of the second bearing portion in the optical axis direction, and the camera module further includes a plurality of third rolling members, the plurality of third rolling members being respectively disposed in the plurality of third guide grooves and configured to move the lens holder in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0029] Other features and aspects will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 A perspective view of an exemplary camera module is shown in accordance with one or more implementations.

[0031] Figure 2 An exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an exemplary camera module according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0032] Figure 3 A plan view of a first load bearing portion, a second load bearing portion, and a damper is shown according to one or more embodiments.

[0033] Figure 4 A plan view of a first carrier and a damper is shown according to one or more embodiments.

[0034] Figure 5 A plan view of a second carrier and a damper is shown according to one or more embodiments.

[0035] Figure 6 An exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an exemplary camera module according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0036] Figure 7 A plan view of a first load bearing portion, a second load bearing portion, and a damper is shown according to one or more embodiments.

[0037] Figure 8 A plan view of a first carrier and a damper is shown according to one or more embodiments.

[0038] Fig. 9 A plan view of a second carrier and a damper is shown according to one or more embodiments.

[0039] Throughout the drawings and detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. For purposes of clarity, illustration, and convenience, the drawings may not be drawn to scale, and the relative sizes, proportions, and depictions of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] Hereinafter, although examples of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be noted that the examples are not limited thereto.

[0041] The following specific embodiments are provided to help the reader gain a comprehensive understanding of the methods, devices and / or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications and equivalents of the methods, devices and / or systems described herein will be apparent after understanding the present disclosure. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely an example, and except for operations that must occur in a specific order, it is not limited to the order set forth herein, but can be changed, which will be apparent after understanding the present disclosure. In addition, for greater clarity and brevity, descriptions of features known in the art may be omitted.

[0042] The features described herein may be implemented in different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein are provided merely to illustrate some of the many possible ways to implement the methods, devices, and / or systems described herein that will be apparent after understanding the present disclosure.

[0043] Throughout the specification, when an element such as a layer, a region, or a substrate is described as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element, the element may be directly “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” the other element, or one or more other elements may be present between the element and the other element. Conversely, when an element is described as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, no other elements may be present between the element and the other element.

[0044] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one of the associated listed items and any combination of any two or more items; similarly, "at least one" includes any one of the associated listed items and any combination of any two or more items.

[0045] Furthermore, throughout the specification, the phrase “on a plane” means observing a target portion from the top, and the phrase “on a cross section” means observing a cross section formed by vertically cutting the target portion from the side.

[0046] Although terms such as "first", "second" and "third" may be used herein to describe various members, components, regions, layers or portions, these members, components, regions, layers or portions are not limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are only used to distinguish one member, component, region, layer or portion from another member, component, region, layer or portion. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the examples described herein, the first member, first component, first region, first layer or first portion mentioned in these examples may also be referred to as the second member, second component, second region, second layer or second portion.

[0047] Spatially relative terms such as "above", "above", "below", "below", etc. may be used herein for descriptive convenience to describe the relationship of one element relative to another element as shown in the accompanying drawings. In addition to covering the orientations depicted in the accompanying drawings, these spatially relative terms are intended to also cover different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is flipped, an element described as being "above" or "above" another element relative to the other element will be "below" or "below" the other element relative to the other element. Therefore, depending on the spatial orientation of the device, the term "above" covers both orientations of "above" and "below". The device may also be oriented in other ways (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative terms used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0048] The terms used herein are only used to describe various examples and are not used to limit the present disclosure. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the terms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include plural forms as well. The terms "include", "comprise" and "have" indicate the presence of the features, numbers, operations, components, elements and / or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, operations, components, elements and / or combinations thereof.

[0049] Variations in the shapes shown in the drawings may occur due to manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Therefore, the examples described herein are not limited to the specific shapes shown in the drawings but include variations in shapes that occur during manufacturing.

[0050] It should be noted that herein, use of the word “may” with respect to an example, such as regarding what an example may include or implement, means that there is at least one example in which such feature is included or implemented, and all examples are not limited thereto.

[0051] The features of the examples described herein may be combined in various ways that will be apparent after understanding the present disclosure. In addition, although the examples described herein have various configurations, other configurations that will be apparent after understanding the present disclosure are also possible.

[0052] Hereinafter, the Z-axis direction may refer to an optical axis direction, the X-axis direction may refer to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and the Y-axis direction may refer to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and the X-axis direction.

[0053] One or more examples may provide a camera actuator and a camera module that can reduce impact or noise caused by collision between a movable body and a fixed body when correcting shake, and can limit the moving range of the movable body in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0054] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 1 and Figure 2 An exemplary camera module according to one or more embodiments is described below. Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary camera module according to one or more embodiments, and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a camera module according to one or more embodiments.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 According to one or more embodiments, the camera module 10 may include a lens barrel 120, a lens driving device 150 that moves the lens barrel 120, an image sensor unit (or image sensor part) 160 that converts light incident through the lens barrel 120 into an electrical signal, a housing 110 that accommodates the lens barrel 120 and the lens driving device 150, and a cover 113.

[0056] The camera actuator according to one or more embodiments may include a first carrier 131 configured to move in the optical axis direction, a second carrier 141 disposed on the first carrier 131 and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and a damper 301 protruding from a first surface of the first carrier 131 facing the second carrier 141 (see Figure 3 ), and a stopper 302 (see FIG. 1 ) provided on one surface of the second bearing portion 141 to face the damper 301 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and configured to limit movement of the second bearing portion 141 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. Figure 3 ).

[0057] The lens driving device 150 may be a device that moves the lens barrel 120 and may include a focus adjustment unit (or focus adjustment portion) 130 that adjusts a focus and a shake correction unit (or shake correction portion) 140 that corrects a shake.

[0058] The lens barrel 120 may be received in the lens holder 142 to be received in the focus adjusting portion 130 together with the second bearing portion 141 .

[0059] The focus adjustment portion 130 may include a first bearing portion 131 that accommodates the lens barrel 120 and a first lens driving portion 201 that generates a driving force to move the lens barrel 120 and the first bearing portion 131 in the optical axis direction.

[0060] The first lens driving part 201 may include a first magnet 231 and a first coil 232. The first magnet 231 of the first lens driving part 201 may be arranged to be mounted on one surface of the first bearing portion 131, and the first coil 232 may be arranged in the substrate (or plate) 111 to face the first magnet 231, so that the first coil 232 is mounted at the housing 110.

[0061] The first magnet 231 and the first coil 232 may provide a driving force to the first carrier 131. When power is applied to the first coil 232, the first carrier 131 may move in the optical axis direction based on the electromagnetic influence between the first magnet 231 and the first coil 232. Since the lens barrel 120 is accommodated in the first carrier 131, the lens barrel 120 may also move in the optical axis direction by the movement of the first carrier 131.

[0062] The first rolling member 171 may be disposed between the first bearing portion 131 and the housing 110 to reduce friction between the first bearing portion 131 and the housing 110 when the first bearing portion 131 moves. A plurality of first rolling members 171 may have a spherical shape and may be disposed at both sides of the first magnet 231. The first bearing portion 131 may have a plurality of first guide grooves 1311 on one surface (e.g., a side surface) thereof. A plurality of first rolling members 171 may be disposed in the plurality of first guide grooves 1311, respectively. A plurality of first rolling members 171 may be accommodated in the plurality of first guide grooves 1311 to be guided in the optical axis direction. In other words, a plurality of first rolling members 171 may be configured to move the first bearing portion 131 in the optical axis direction.

[0063] The shake correction part 140 may include a second bearing part 141 disposed on the first bearing part 131 and guiding the movement of the lens barrel 120 , and a second lens driving part 202 generating a driving force to move the second bearing part 141 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0064] The second bearing portion 141 and the lens holder 142 may be inserted into the first bearing portion 131 to be disposed along the optical axis direction, and may guide the movement of the lens barrel 120. The lens holder 142 may be disposed on the second bearing portion 141.

[0065] The lens holder 142 may have a frame shape that is approximately quadrilateral. The second magnets 241 and 242 that provide a driving force to the lens holder 142 may be disposed on or on the second bearing portion 141. Specifically, a plurality of second magnets 241 and 242 may be disposed on two adjacent surfaces of the second bearing portion 141. The cover member 114 may be further disposed at the upper portion of the lens barrel 120 to prevent the lens holder 142 from being separated from the inner space of the first bearing portion 131. The cover member 114 may be coupled to the first bearing portion 131.

[0066] The second lens driving part 202 may include second magnets 241 and 242 and second coils 243 and 244. The plurality of second magnets 241 and 242 of the second lens driving part 202 may be mounted on the lens holder 142. The plurality of second coils 243 and 244 may be disposed on the substrate 111 to face the plurality of second magnets 241 and 242, respectively, so that the plurality of second coils 243 and 244 are fixedly mounted on the housing 110.

[0067] A plurality of second rolling members 172 and a plurality of third rolling members 173 may be provided to support the shake correction portion 140, and the plurality of second rolling members 172 and the plurality of third rolling members 173 may operate to guide the lens holder 142 during the shake correction process. For example, the plurality of second rolling members 172 and the plurality of third rolling members 173 may be respectively provided at a plurality of guide grooves provided at two opposite surfaces of the second bearing portion 141 to move the second bearing portion 141 in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction.

[0068] As a specific example, the second bearing portion 141 may be as follows: Figure 2 and Figure 5 , a plurality of second guide grooves 1412 are provided on the third surface, and the third surface faces the first bearing portion 131 in the optical axis direction. A plurality of second rolling members 172 may be respectively disposed in the plurality of second guide grooves 1412. The plurality of second rolling members 172 may be configured to move the second bearing portion 141 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. For example, the plurality of second rolling members 172 may be configured to move the second bearing portion 141 in a first direction, which may be an X-axis direction or a Y-axis direction.

[0069] In addition, the second bearing portion 141 may have a plurality of third guide grooves 1413 on or on the fourth surface, wherein the fourth surface is opposite to the third surface in the optical axis direction. A plurality of third rolling members 173 may be respectively disposed in the plurality of third guide grooves 1413. The plurality of third rolling members 173 may be configured to move the lens holder 142 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. For example, the plurality of third rolling members 173 may be configured to move the lens holder 142 in a second direction, which is the remaining direction of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction except the first direction.

[0070] In addition, the plurality of second rolling members 172 and the plurality of third rolling members 173 may also operate to maintain the interval between the first bearing portion 131 and the lens holder 142. The plurality of second rolling members 172 may be disposed between the first bearing portion 131 and the second bearing portion 141. The plurality of third rolling members 173 may be disposed between the second bearing portion 141 and the lens holder 142.

[0071] The image sensor part 160 is a device that converts light incident through the lens barrel 120 into an electrical signal. For example, the image sensor part 160 may include an image sensor 161 and a printed circuit board 162 connected to the image sensor 161, and may further include an infrared filter. The infrared filter may block light in an infrared region among light incident through the lens barrel 120.

[0072] The image sensor 161 may convert light incident through the lens barrel 120 into an electrical signal. In a non-limiting example, the image sensor 161 may be a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The electrical signal converted by the image sensor 161 may be output as an image through a display device of a portable electronic device. The image sensor 161 may be fixed to a printed circuit board 162 and may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 162.

[0073] The lens barrel 120 and the lens driving device 150 may be accommodated in an inner space of the housing 110 , and in an example, the housing 110 may have a box shape in which upper and lower portions are opened. The image sensor portion 160 may be provided at a lower portion of the housing 110 .

[0074] The cover 113 may be coupled to the housing 110 to cover the outer surface of the housing 110, and may operate to protect the internal parts of the camera module 10. In addition, the cover 113 may operate to shield electromagnetic waves. In an example, the cover 113 may shield electromagnetic waves so that electromagnetic waves generated in the camera module 10 do not affect other electronic components within the portable electronic device.

[0075] In addition, since various electronic components other than the camera module 10 may be mounted at the portable electronic device, the cover 113 may shield electromagnetic waves so that electromagnetic waves generated in the electronic components do not affect the camera module 10. In an example, the cover 113 may be made of a metal material to be grounded to a ground pad provided at the printed circuit board 162, thereby shielding electromagnetic waves.

[0076] The first coil 232 of the first lens driving part 201 and the plurality of second coils 243 and 244 of the second lens driving part 202 may be embedded in the substrate 111, so that the first coil 232 of the first lens driving part 201 and the plurality of second coils 243 and 244 of the second lens driving part 202 are formed as self-components of the substrate 111. In addition, the first coil 232 of the first lens driving part 201 and the plurality of second coils 243 and 244 of the second lens driving part 202 may be embedded together in one substrate 111.

[0077] In addition, each of the first lens driving part 201 and the second lens driving part 202 may also include a sensing part that senses (or detects) the movement of the lens barrel 120, and the sensing parts of the first lens driving part 201 and the second lens driving part 202 may have an IC package form, which can be controlled by a control unit (or control part) included in a printed circuit board 162 connected to the image sensor 161.

[0078] In the following, reference will be made to Figures 3 to 5 The first bearing portion 131 , the second bearing portion 141 , the damper 301 , and the stopper 302 are described in more detail. Figure 3 is a plan view showing a first load-bearing portion, a second load-bearing portion and a damper, Figure 4 is a plan view of a first load bearing portion and a damper according to an embodiment, and Figure 5 is a plan view of a second load bearing portion and a damper according to an embodiment. Figure 4 is a plan view showing the inner bottom surface of the first bearing portion 131 provided with the damper 301, and Figure 5 3 is a plan view showing a bottom surface of the second bearing portion 141 provided with the damper 301 to show a relationship between the second bearing portion 141 and the damper 301 .

[0079] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4, the damper 301 may be disposed on one surface of the first bearing portion 131. The damper 301 may be disposed between the first bearing portion 131 and the second bearing portion 141. The damper 301 may protrude from a first surface of the first bearing portion 131 facing the second bearing portion 141 in the optical axis direction. Therefore, when the second bearing portion 141 moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, impact or noise between the first bearing portion 131 and the second bearing portion 141 may be reduced.

[0080] The damper 301 may be provided in a plurality of numbers. The damper 301 may be provided at a corner region (or a plurality of corner regions) of the first carrier 131. For example, if the first surface of the first carrier 131 has an approximately quadrilateral shape, a plurality of dampers 301 may be provided at four corner regions of the first carrier 131, respectively. In an example, the damper 301 may have a shape such as an approximately circular column or an approximately polygonal column.

[0081] The first bearing portion 131 may have a second surface facing away from the first surface in the optical axis direction. The damper 301 may penetrate from the first surface to the second surface to protrude from the second surface in the optical axis direction. The damper 301 may penetrate a portion of the first bearing portion 131 to extend from the first surface to the second surface. The first bearing portion 131 may have a through hole penetrated by the damper 301. A portion of the damper 301 may be disposed between the first bearing portion 131 and the housing 110. Therefore, when the first bearing portion 131 moves in the optical axis direction, the impact or noise between the first bearing portion 131 and the housing 110 may be reduced.

[0082] The damper 301 may be made of a material that can be elastically deformed by an external force, and when it hits another structure, it can absorb the impact by deformation or reduce the impact force by deformation. In an example, the damper 301 may be made of materials such as but not limited to rubber, polyurethane, silicone, etc.

[0083] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 5 , a groove portion 1411 may be provided, which is provided at an edge of the second bearing portion 141 and accommodates the damper 301. The groove portion 1411 may extend inward from an outer edge of the second bearing portion 141. The groove portion 1411 may extend from one surface of the second bearing portion 141 facing the first bearing portion 131 in the optical axis direction. The groove portion 1411 may be provided in a plurality of numbers.

[0084] The length of the damper 301 protruding from the first surface in the optical axis direction may be smaller than the length in the optical axis direction of the groove portion 1411. Therefore, even when the damper 301 is accommodated in the groove portion 1411, the damper 301 can move in the optical axis direction.

[0085] The stopper 302 may be provided on one surface of the second carrier 141 so as to face the damper 301 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. The stopper 302 may be configured to limit the movement of the second carrier 141 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. The stopper 302 may include one surface of the edge of the second carrier 141 constituting the groove portion 1411. The stopper 302 may be provided to surround at least a portion of the damper 301. Therefore, when the second carrier 141 moves in an example of shake correction or the like, the movement range of the second carrier 141 may be limited by the damper 301 and the stopper 302 accommodated in the groove portion 1411. In an example, when the second carrier 141 moves in the X-axis direction, the damper 301 may contact the stopper 302, and the movement range of the second carrier 141 may be limited.

[0086] The stopper 302 may be provided in a plurality of numbers. The stopper 302 may be provided at a corner region (or multiple corner regions) of the second bearing portion 141. For example, if a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the second bearing portion 141 has an approximately quadrilateral shape, the multiple stoppers 302 may be provided at the four corner regions of the second bearing portion 141, respectively.

[0087] The stopper 302 may have a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape with a straight line or one edge open. The stopper 302 may have a shape complementary to the shape of the edge of the damper 301 facing the stopper 302. For example, the edge of the damper 301 facing the stopper 302 may have a straight line shape, and the edge of the stopper 302 facing the damper 301 may have a straight line shape complementary to the shape of the damper 301. However, one or more examples are not limited thereto, and the edge of the stopper 302 facing the damper 301 may have any shape that can be complementarily coupled to the shape of the damper 301. Therefore, when the second bearing portion 141 moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, the damper 301 may contact one edge of the stopper 302, so that the target movement range of the second bearing portion 141 can be more accurately achieved during shake correction.

[0088] In an example, the width of the groove portion 1411 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction may be greater than the width of the damper 301 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. In an example, the width d1 of the groove portion 1411 in the X-axis direction may be greater than the width d2 of the damper 301 in the X-axis direction. Specifically, the minimum width of the groove portion 1411 in the X-axis direction may be greater than the width d2 of the damper 301 in the X-axis direction, so that the damper 301 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the stopper 302. Therefore, when the second bearing portion 141 moves in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction while the damper 301 is accommodated in the groove portion 1411, the second bearing portion 141 may move within the difference range between the width of the groove portion 1411 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and the width of the damper 301 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0089] In the following, reference will be made to Figure 6 An exemplary camera module according to one or more implementations is described. Figure 6 An exploded perspective view schematically illustrating an exemplary camera module according to one or more embodiments is shown.

[0090] Reference Figure 6 According to one or more embodiments, the camera module 40 may include a lens barrel 420, a lens driving device 450 that moves the lens barrel 420, an image sensor unit (or image sensor part) 460 that converts light incident through the lens barrel 420 into an electrical signal, a housing 410 that accommodates the lens barrel 420 and the lens driving device 450, and a cover 413.

[0091] The camera actuator according to one or more embodiments may include: a first carrier 431 configured to move in the optical axis direction, a second carrier 441 provided on the first carrier 431 and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and a damper 601 protruding from a first surface of the first carrier 431 facing the second carrier 441 (see Figure 7 ), and a stopper 602 (see FIG. 1 ) provided on one surface of the second bearing portion 441 to face the damper 601 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and configured to limit the movement of the second bearing portion 441 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. Figure 7 ).

[0092] The lens driving device 450 may be a device that moves the lens barrel 420, and may include a focus adjustment unit (or focus adjustment portion) 430 that adjusts the focus and a shake correction unit (or shake correction portion) 440 that corrects the shake.

[0093] The lens barrel 420 may be fixed and received in the second carrying portion 441 to be received in the focus adjusting part 430 .

[0094] The focus adjustment portion 430 may include a first bearing portion 431 that accommodates the lens barrel 420 and a first lens driving portion 501 that generates a driving force to move the lens barrel 420 and the first bearing portion 431 in the optical axis direction.

[0095] The first lens driving part 501 may include a first magnet 531 and a first coil 532. The first magnet 531 of the first lens driving part 501 may be arranged to be mounted on one surface of the first bearing portion 431, and the first coil 532 may be arranged in the substrate (or plate) 411 to face the first magnet 531, thereby mounting the first coil 532 at the housing 410.

[0096] The first magnet 531 and the first coil 532 may provide a driving force to the first carrier 431. When power is applied to the first coil 532, the first carrier 431 may move in the optical axis direction by electromagnetic influence between the first magnet 531 and the first coil 532. Since the lens barrel 420 is accommodated in the first carrier 431, the lens barrel 420 may also move in the optical axis direction based on the movement of the first carrier 431.

[0097] A plurality of first rolling members 471 may be disposed between the first bearing portion 431 and the housing 410 to reduce friction between the first bearing portion 431 and the housing 410 when the first bearing portion 431 moves. The plurality of first rolling members 471 may have a spherical shape and may be disposed at both sides of the first magnet 531. The first bearing portion 431 may have a plurality of first guide grooves 4311 on one surface thereof. The plurality of first rolling members 471 may be disposed in the plurality of first guide grooves 4311, respectively. The plurality of first rolling members 471 may be accommodated in the plurality of first guide grooves 4311 to be guided in the optical axis direction. In other words, the plurality of first rolling members 471 may be configured to move the first bearing portion 431 in the optical axis direction.

[0098] The shake correction part 440 may include a second bearing part 441 disposed on the first bearing part 431 and guiding the movement of the lens barrel 420 , and a second lens driving part 502 generating a driving force to move the second bearing part 441 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0099] The second bearing portion 441 may be inserted into the first bearing portion 431 to be disposed along the optical axis direction, and may guide movement of the lens barrel 420 .

[0100] In an example, the second carrier 441 may have a frame shape that is approximately quadrilateral. The second magnets 541 and 542 that provide a driving force to the second carrier 441 may be disposed on or on the second carrier 441. Specifically, a plurality of second magnets 541 and 542 may be disposed on two adjacent surfaces of the second carrier 441. The cover member 414 may be further disposed at the upper portion of the lens barrel 420 to prevent the second carrier 441 from being separated from the internal space of the first carrier 431. The cover member 414 may be coupled to the first carrier 431.

[0101] The second lens driving part 502 may include second magnets 541 and 542 and second coils 543 and 544. The plurality of second magnets 541 and 542 of the second lens driving part 502 may be mounted on the second bearing portion 441. The plurality of second coils 543 and 544 may be disposed at the substrate 411 to face the plurality of second magnets 541 and 542, respectively, so that the plurality of second coils 543 and 544 are fixedly mounted on the housing 410.

[0102] A plurality of second rolling members 472 may be provided to support the shake correction portion 440, and the plurality of second rolling members 472 may operate to guide the second bearing portion 441 during the shake correction process. In an example, the plurality of second rolling members 472 may be provided at a plurality of guide grooves provided on one surface of the second bearing portion 441 to move the second bearing portion 441 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0103] As a specific example, the second bearing portion 441 may be as follows: Figure 6 and Fig. 9 44, and the second bearing portion 431 is provided with a plurality of second guide grooves 4412 on the third surface, and the third surface faces the first bearing portion 431 in the optical axis direction. A plurality of second rolling members 472 may be respectively disposed in the plurality of second guide grooves 4412. The plurality of second rolling members 472 may be configured to move the second bearing portion 441 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. For example, the plurality of second rolling members 472 may be configured to move the second bearing portion 441 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0104] In addition, the plurality of second rolling members 472 may also operate to maintain the interval between the first bearing portion 431 and the second bearing portion 441. The plurality of second rolling members 472 may be disposed between the first bearing portion 431 and the second bearing portion 441.

[0105] The image sensor part 460 is a device that converts light incident through the lens barrel 420 into an electrical signal. In an example, the image sensor part 460 may include an image sensor 461 and a printed circuit board 462 connected to the image sensor 461, and may further include an infrared filter. The infrared filter may block light in an infrared region among light incident through the lens barrel 420.

[0106] The image sensor 461 may convert light incident through the lens barrel 420 into an electrical signal. In an example, the image sensor 461 may be a charge coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS). The electrical signal converted by the image sensor 461 may be output as an image through a display device of a portable electronic device. The image sensor 461 may be fixed to a printed circuit board 462 and may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board 462.

[0107] The lens barrel 420 and the lens driving device 450 may be accommodated in the inner space of the housing 410 , and in a non-limiting example, the housing 410 may have a box shape with upper and lower portions opened. The image sensor portion 460 may be provided at a lower portion of the housing 410 .

[0108] The cover 413 may be coupled to the housing 410 to cover the outer surface of the housing 410, and may operate to protect the internal components of the camera module 40. In addition, the cover 413 may shield electromagnetic waves. For example, the cover 413 may shield electromagnetic waves so that electromagnetic waves generated in the camera module 40 do not affect the electronic components within the portable electronic device.

[0109] In addition, since various electronic components other than the camera module 40 may be mounted at the portable electronic device, the cover 413 may shield electromagnetic waves so that electromagnetic waves generated in the electronic components do not affect the camera module 40. The cover 413 may be made of a metal material to be grounded to a ground pad provided at the printed circuit board 462, thereby shielding electromagnetic waves.

[0110] The first coil 532 of the first lens driving part 501 and the plurality of second coils 543 and 544 of the second lens driving part 502 may be embedded or disposed in the substrate 411, so that the first coil 532 of the first lens driving part 501 and the plurality of second coils 543 and 544 of the second lens driving part 502 are formed as components of the substrate 411 itself. In addition, the first coil 532 of the first lens driving part 501 and the plurality of second coils 543 and 544 of the second lens driving part 502 may be embedded or disposed together in one substrate 411.

[0111] In addition, each of the first lens driving part 501 and the second lens driving part 502 may also include a sensing part that senses (or detects) the movement of the lens barrel 420, and the sensing parts of the first lens driving part 501 and the second lens driving part 502 may have an IC package form, which may be controlled by a control unit (or control part) included in a printed circuit board 462 connected to the image sensor 461.

[0112] In the following, reference will be made to Figures 7 to 9 The first bearing portion 431 , the second bearing portion 441 , the damper 601 , and the stopper 602 are described in more detail. Figure 7 is a plan view showing a first load-bearing portion, a second load-bearing portion and a damper, Figure 8 is a plan view of a first load bearing portion and a damper according to an embodiment, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of a second load bearing portion and a damper according to an embodiment. Figure 8 is a plan view showing the inner bottom surface of the first bearing portion 431 provided with the damper 601, and Fig. 9 4 is a plan view showing a bottom surface of the second bearing portion 441 provided with the damper 601 to show a relationship between the second bearing portion 441 and the damper 601 .

[0113] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the damper 601 may be disposed on one surface of the first bearing portion 431. The damper 601 may be disposed between the first bearing portion 431 and the second bearing portion 441. The damper 601 may protrude from a first surface of the first bearing portion 431 facing the second bearing portion 441 in the optical axis direction. Therefore, when the first bearing portion 431 moves in the optical axis direction, impact or noise between the first bearing portion 431 and the second bearing portion 441 may be reduced.

[0114] The damper 601 may be provided in a plurality of numbers. The damper 601 may be provided at a corner region (or multiple corner regions) of the first bearing portion 431. For example, if the first surface of the first bearing portion 431 has an approximately quadrilateral shape, multiple dampers 601 may be provided at four corner regions of the first bearing portion 431, respectively. The damper 601 may have a shape such as an approximately circular column or an approximately polygonal column.

[0115] The first bearing portion 431 may have a second surface facing away from the first surface in the optical axis direction. The damper 601 may penetrate from the first surface to the second surface to protrude from the second surface in the optical axis direction. The damper 601 may penetrate a portion of the first bearing portion 431 to extend from the first surface to the second surface. The first bearing portion 431 may have a through hole penetrated by the damper 601. A portion of the damper 601 may be disposed between the first bearing portion 431 and the housing 410. Therefore, when the first bearing portion 431 moves in the optical axis direction, the impact or noise between the first bearing portion 431 and the housing 410 may be reduced.

[0116] The damper 601 may be made of a material that can be elastically deformed by an external force, and when it hits another structure, it can absorb the impact by deformation or reduce the impact force by deformation. In a non-limiting example, the damper 601 may be made of materials such as but not limited to rubber, polyurethane, silicone, etc.

[0117] Reference Figure 7 and Fig. 9 , a groove portion 4411 may be provided, which is provided at an edge of the second bearing portion 441 and accommodates the damper 601. The groove portion 4411 may extend inward from an outer edge of the second bearing portion 441. The groove portion 4411 may extend from one surface of the second bearing portion 441 facing the first bearing portion 431 in the optical axis direction. The groove portion 4411 may be provided in a plurality of numbers.

[0118] The length of the damper 601 protruding from the first surface in the optical axis direction may be smaller than the length of the groove portion 4411 in the optical axis direction. Therefore, even when the damper 601 is accommodated in the groove portion 4411, the damper 601 can move in the optical axis direction.

[0119] The stopper 602 may be provided on one surface of the second bearing portion 441 so as to face the damper 601 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. The stopper 602 may be configured to limit the movement of the second bearing portion 441 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. The stopper 602 may include one surface of the edge of the second bearing portion 441 constituting the groove portion 4411. The stopper 602 may be provided to surround at least a portion of the damper 601. Therefore, when the second bearing portion 441 moves in an example of shake correction or the like, the movement range of the second bearing portion 441 may be limited by the damper 601 and the stopper 602 accommodated in the groove portion 4411. For example, when the second bearing portion 441 moves in the X-axis direction, the damper 601 may contact the stopper 602, and the movement range of the second bearing portion 441 may be limited.

[0120] The stopper 602 may be provided in a plurality of numbers. The stopper 602 may be provided at a corner region (or multiple corner regions) of the second bearing portion 441. For example, if a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction of the second bearing portion 441 has an approximately quadrilateral shape, the multiple stoppers 602 may be provided at four corner regions of the second bearing portion 441, respectively.

[0121] The stopper 602 may have a quadrilateral cross-sectional shape with a straight line or one edge open. The stopper 602 may have a shape complementary to the shape of the edge of the damper 601 facing the stopper 602. For example, the edge of the damper 601 facing the stopper 602 may have a straight line shape, and the edge of the stopper 602 facing the damper 601 may have a straight line shape complementary to the shape of the damper 601. However, one or more examples are not limited thereto, and the edge of the stopper 602 facing the damper 601 may have any shape that can be complementarily coupled to the shape of the damper 601. Therefore, when the second bearing portion 441 moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, the damper 601 may contact one edge of the stopper 602, so that the target movement range of the second bearing portion 441 can be more accurately achieved during shake correction.

[0122] The width of the groove portion 4411 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction may be greater than the width of the damper 601 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. For example, the width d3 of the groove portion 4411 in the X-axis direction may be greater than the width d4 of the damper 601 in the X-axis direction. Specifically, the minimum width of the groove portion 4411 in the X-axis direction may be greater than the width d4 of the damper 601 in the X-axis direction, so that the damper 601 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the stopper 602. Therefore, when the second bearing portion 441 moves in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction while the damper 601 is accommodated in the groove portion 4411, the second bearing portion 441 may move within the difference between the width of the groove portion 4411 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and the width of the damper 601 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

[0123] Although specific examples have been shown and described above, it will be apparent after understanding the present disclosure that various changes in form and detail may be made to these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are understood in a descriptive sense only and not for limiting purposes. The description of the features or aspects in each example should be considered to be applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. If the described techniques are performed in a different order, and / or if the components in the described system, architecture, device or circuit are replaced or supplemented in a different manner and / or by other components or their equivalents, appropriate results can still be achieved. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited by specific embodiments, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents should be understood to be included in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A camera actuator, characterized in that The camera actuator comprises: A first bearing portion configured to move in the direction of the optical axis; A second bearing portion, disposed on the first bearing portion and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction; a damper protruding from a first surface of the first bearing portion facing the second bearing portion; and A stopper is provided on a third surface of the second bearing portion facing the first bearing portion to face the damper in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and is configured to restrict movement of the second bearing portion in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

2. The camera actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: A groove portion is provided at an edge of the second carrying portion, and the groove portion is configured to accommodate the damper.

3. The camera actuator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The stopper includes a surface of the edge of the second bearing portion that constitutes the groove portion.

4. The camera actuator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The stopper is configured to have a shape complementary to a shape of an edge of the damper facing the stopper.

5. The camera actuator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The width of the groove portion along the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction is greater than the width of the damper along the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

6. The camera actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first carrier portion has a second surface, the second surface of the first carrier portion is opposite to the first surface of the first carrier portion in the optical axis direction, and the damper is configured to penetrate from the first surface of the first carrier portion to the second surface of the first carrier portion to protrude from the second surface of the first carrier portion.

7. The camera actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The damper is disposed at one or more corner regions of the first carrier portion.

8. The camera actuator according to claim 1, wherein: The stopper is disposed at one or more corner regions of the second carrying portion.

9. The camera actuator according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the damper and the stopper is provided in plural numbers.

10. The camera actuator according to claim 1, wherein: The camera actuator also includes a lens holder for accommodating the lens barrel, Wherein, the lens bracket is arranged on the second bearing part.

11. The camera actuator according to claim 10, characterized in that: The first bearing part has a plurality of first guide grooves on its side surface, the second bearing part has a plurality of second guide grooves on the third surface of the second bearing part, and the camera actuator also includes: a plurality of first rolling members, which are respectively arranged in the plurality of first guide grooves and configured to move the first bearing part in the direction of the optical axis; and a plurality of second rolling members, which are respectively arranged in the plurality of second guide grooves and configured to move the second bearing part in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis.

12. The camera actuator according to claim 11, characterized in that The second bearing portion has a plurality of third guide grooves on a fourth surface of the second bearing portion, the fourth surface of the second bearing portion is opposite to the third surface of the second bearing portion in the direction of the optical axis, and the camera actuator also includes a plurality of third rolling members, the plurality of third rolling members are respectively arranged in the plurality of third guide grooves, and are configured to move the lens holder in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis.

13. The camera actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The camera actuator further comprises: a magnet disposed on a side surface of the first bearing portion and configured to provide a driving force to the first bearing portion; and The coil is disposed to face the magnet and is configured to provide a driving force to the first carrying portion.

14. A camera module, characterized in that The camera module comprises: Lens barrel; A housing for accommodating the lens barrel; A first bearing portion configured to move in the direction of the optical axis; A second bearing portion, disposed on the first bearing portion and configured to move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction; a damper protruding from a first surface of the first bearing portion facing the second bearing portion; and A stopper is provided on a third surface of the second bearing portion facing the first bearing portion to face the damper in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and is configured to restrict movement of the second bearing portion in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

15. The camera module according to claim 14, characterized in that: A groove portion is provided at an edge of the second carrying portion, and the groove portion is configured to accommodate the damper.

16. The camera module according to claim 15, characterized in that: The stopper includes a surface of the edge of the second bearing portion that constitutes the groove portion.

17. The camera module according to claim 15, characterized in that: The width of the groove portion along the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction is greater than the width of the damper along the direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

18. The camera module according to claim 14, wherein: The first carrier portion has a second surface, the second surface of the first carrier portion is opposite to the first surface of the first carrier portion in the optical axis direction, and the damper is configured to penetrate from the first surface of the first carrier portion to the second surface of the first carrier portion to protrude from the second surface of the first carrier portion.

19. The camera module according to claim 14, wherein: The first bearing part has a plurality of first guide grooves on its side surface, the second bearing part has a plurality of second guide grooves on the third surface of the second bearing part, and the camera module further includes: a plurality of first rolling members, which are respectively arranged in the plurality of first guide grooves and configured to move the first bearing part in the direction of the optical axis; and a plurality of second rolling members, which are respectively arranged in the plurality of second guide grooves and configured to move the first bearing part in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis.

20. The camera module according to claim 19, characterized in that: The camera module further includes a lens holder for accommodating the lens barrel. Wherein, the lens support is arranged on the second bearing portion, and wherein the second bearing portion has a plurality of third guide grooves on a fourth surface of the second bearing portion, the fourth surface of the second bearing portion is opposite to the third surface of the second bearing portion in the direction of the optical axis, and the camera module also includes a plurality of third rolling members, the plurality of third rolling members are respectively arranged in the plurality of third guide grooves, and are configured to move the lens holder in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis.

Images