Metal ball groove structure of periscopic VCM support

Abstract

The utility model discloses a periscopic VCM support's metal ball groove structure, wherein, metal ball groove subassembly includes integrally punch forming's ball groove base section, ball groove body and ball groove terminal section, is equipped with ball groove and leans on the recess on ball groove body, ball groove terminal section includes integrally connected terminal end section and bending terminal section, and terminal end section connects ball groove base section, and bending terminal section connects ball groove body, and ball groove body and terminal end section form two parallel components connected by bending terminal section, and ball groove body and terminal end section have certain spacing between, plastic support body, and the ball groove base section of metal ball groove subassembly is all covered to injection molding, and the bending terminal section of ball groove and leans on the recess of metal ball groove subassembly and the ball groove terminal section part is exposed to the outside firm covering. The metal ball groove structure simple structure, wear resistance is strong, can effectively guarantee long -term use precision, and process is simple, and the stability and yield of obviously promoted mass production process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of precision optoelectronic component manufacturing technology, and more specifically, to a voice coil motor structure for a periscope camera module in a mobile phone. More specifically, it relates to the bracket and its ball groove structure that support and carry the prism in the voice coil motor optical image stabilization assembly. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of mobile terminal camera technology, periscope cameras, which achieve high-magnification optical zoom through horizontally arranged lens groups and optical prism refraction, have become a mainstream technology. The periscope voice coil motor, which drives the prism for optical image stabilization, is one of its core components. The OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) assembly of the VCM (Virtual Camera Module) needs to support the prism via a bracket, allowing it to perform micro-oscillations in multiple directions to compensate for shake. To achieve smooth oscillation, this bracket typically uses ceramic ball bearings to form a fulcrum with the base.

[0003] Existing periscope-style VCM supports generally use pure plastic for their ball bearing grooves. The specific structure of this existing technical solution is as follows: the device mainly consists of a plastic support body, an optical prism supported on it, and plastic ball bearing grooves formed on the support body. Its working principle is as follows: ceramic balls are placed in the plastic ball bearing grooves. When the motor drives the support to swing the prism left and right or up and down, the balls roll within the ball bearing grooves, forming a fulcrum with low frictional resistance.

[0004] However, the existing plastic ball bearing groove structure has the following significant problems and drawbacks in practical applications: Ball grooves are prone to wear and dents: Despite the use of high-hardness engineering plastics, the surface of the plastic ball grooves will still wear and even undergo plastic deformation under long-term, high-frequency impact and compression of the balls, forming permanent dents.

[0005] Impact on optical performance and motor travel: Once a dent occurs, it directly changes the actual height of the ball bearing support point. This micron-level dimensional change directly interferes with the prism's optical path and causes the actual travel of the VCM motor to deviate from the design value, thus severely affecting the OIS's image stabilization accuracy and imaging stability, leading to a decrease in camera module yield and reliability risks.

[0006] Facing material performance bottlenecks: When faced with this problem, those skilled in the art typically seek to improve it by finding plastic materials with higher hardness and wear resistance. However, this often leads to new problems such as high material costs, poor adhesion to other components, or poor injection molding properties. The improvement effect has its limits and cannot fundamentally solve the problem.

[0007] Furthermore, if metal components are considered for localized reinforcement of the ball bearing grooves, the art would naturally conceive of using a separate metal sheet embedded in a plastic support. However, this approach introduces new technical challenges: to meet electrical connection requirements, an additional layer of terminals is often needed, which necessitates the use of a complex, low-yield, and costly "double-layer terminal" stamping and injection molding process.

[0008] Therefore, existing technologies are either limited by the physical performance bottleneck of plastic materials and cannot completely solve the wear problem, or they fall into the technical bias of "having to use complex double-layer terminals" when introducing metal solutions, resulting in a significant increase in manufacturing costs and process difficulty.

[0009] Therefore, there is an urgent need to address the aforementioned material bottlenecks and technological biases, and to provide a new structure that can fundamentally improve the wear resistance of ball grooves while avoiding complex double-layer terminal processes. Utility Model Content

[0010] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this utility model provides a metal ball groove structure for a periscope-type VCM bracket. This metal ball groove structure is simple in design, highly wear-resistant, effectively ensures long-term accuracy, and has a simple manufacturing process, significantly improving the stability and yield of mass production.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A periscope-type VCM bracket has a metal ball groove structure, comprising a plastic bracket body and a metal ball groove assembly. The metal ball groove assembly includes an integrally stamped ball groove base section, a ball groove body, and a ball groove terminal section. The ball groove body has a ball bearing groove. The ball groove terminal section includes an integrally connected terminal end section and a bent terminal section, the terminal end section connecting to the ball groove base section and the bent terminal section connecting to the ball groove body. The ball groove body and the terminal end section form two parallel components connected by the bent terminal section, and there is a certain distance between the ball groove body and the terminal end section. The plastic bracket body is injection molded to completely cover the ball groove base section of the metal ball groove assembly, and also firmly covers the ball groove body and the ball groove terminal section of the metal ball groove assembly, while exposing the ball bearing groove and the bent terminal section.

[0012] In the metal ball groove structure of the periscope-type VCM bracket described above, the minimum spacing between the ball groove body and the terminal end is twice the thickness of the terminal end.

[0013] As described above, in the metal ball groove structure of a periscope-type VCM bracket, the ball groove assembly stamped from the strip has, in its initial state, the ball groove base section, the ball groove body, and the ball groove terminal section in the same vertical plane; in the bent state, the ball groove body and the terminal end section form two parallel components connected by the bent terminal section.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution provided by this utility model has the following beneficial effects: First, the issue of ensuring precision is addressed: by structurally separating the high-precision ball groove body, the precision is prevented from being affected by the cumulative errors of the bending process of other parts, thereby ensuring and maintaining its strict dimensional tolerance of ±0.01mm for a long time.

[0015] Secondly, it addresses the issues of process stability and cost: The metal ball groove structure of the periscope-type VCM bracket of this utility model can avoid the use of complex and unstable double-layer strip stamping scheme through an optimized manufacturing process. By forming a pre-assembled steel sheet assembly consisting of a bent metal ball groove component and a connecting strip and injection molding it into a plastic bracket body, the assembly sequence is changed, the mold structure is simplified, the stamping and mold repair costs are reduced, and the stability and yield of the mass production process are significantly improved.

[0016] Thirdly, the metal ball groove structure of the periscope-type VCM bracket of this utility model is formed by stamping and bending the ball groove body by 180 degrees to form a double-layer ball groove terminal section. The rigidity of the double-layer ball groove terminal section is much higher than that of the single-layer terminal, and it is less prone to deformation during subsequent insertion and use, thus ensuring the reliability of the connection. In addition, the ball groove terminal section formed after stamping and bending the ball groove body by 180 degrees also provides a sufficient and stable area for welding or elastic contact with external circuit boards. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the present invention and do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the metal ball groove structure of the periscope-type VCM bracket of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of the metal ball groove structure of the periscope-type VCM bracket of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the metal ball groove structure of the periscope-type VCM bracket of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the main body of the plastic carrier of this utility model; Figure 5 This is the initial state of a metal ball groove assembly stamped from a strip. Figure 6 It refers to the bending process of the ball groove body; Figure 7 This is the completed bending state of the ball groove body. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the technical problem to be solved, the technical solution, and the beneficial effects of this utility model clearer and more understandable, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this utility model and are not intended to limit this utility model.

[0019] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the use of terms such as "first," "second," or "third" in the claims, description, and drawings of this utility model is for distinguishing different objects and not for describing a specific order.

[0020] Unless otherwise expressly defined, in the claims, description, and accompanying drawings of this utility model, the use of directional terms such as "center," "lateral," "longitudinal," "horizontal," "vertical," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise" to indicate orientation or positional relationships is based on the orientation and positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and is only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description. It does not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this utility model.

[0021] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "fixed connection" or "fixed connection" used in the claims, description and drawings of this utility model shall be interpreted broadly to refer to any connection in which there is no displacement or relative rotation relationship between the two parties, including non-removable fixed connection, detachable fixed connection, integral connection and fixed connection through other devices or components.

[0022] In the claims, description and accompanying drawings of this utility model, the terms "comprising", "having", and variations thereof are used to mean "including but not limited to".

[0023] Now combined Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this utility model illustrates a metal ball groove structure for a periscope-type VCM bracket, including a plastic bracket body 100 and a metal ball groove assembly 200.

[0024] The plastic support body 100, serving as the structural foundation of the entire assembly of the metal ball bearing groove structure of the periscope VCM support, is injection molded from engineering plastics such as CM831 B. The plastic support body 100 is equipped with a prism support seat 110 for fixing the optical prism. Internally, metal components, including the metal ball bearing groove assembly 200, are encapsulated and fixed by injection molding.

[0025] The metal ball bearing groove assembly 200, as a core functional component, is integrally formed from stainless steel or other hard metal strips through precision stamping. Its structure replaces the ball bearing grooves on existing plastic supports, serving as the direct support and rolling track for ceramic balls. The metal ball bearing groove assembly 200 includes an integrally stamped ball bearing groove base section 210, a ball bearing groove body 220, and a ball bearing groove terminal section 230, with the terminal section 230 connecting the ball bearing groove base section 210 and the ball bearing groove body 220.

[0026] The ball bearing groove 221 is precisely formed on the ball bearing groove body 220 of this utility model. After the plastic bracket body 100 is injection molded, the ball bearing groove 221 is precisely exposed outside the plastic bracket body 100 and is used to support the ceramic ball 300.

[0027] The ball groove terminal section 230 of this utility model includes an integrally connected terminal end section 231 and a bent terminal section 232. The terminal end section 231 is connected to the ball groove base section 210, and the bent terminal section 232 is connected to the ball groove body 220.

[0028] like Figure 5 As shown, in the initial state, the metal ball groove assembly 200, which is stamped from the strip, has the ball groove base section 210, the ball groove body 220, and the ball groove terminal section 230 in the same vertical plane.

[0029] like Figure 6 As shown, in the metal ball groove assembly 200 formed by stamping and bending the ball groove body 220 by 180 degrees, the ball groove body 220 and the terminal end segment 231 form two parallel components connected by the bent terminal segment 232, and there is a certain distance H between the ball groove body 220 and the terminal end segment 231, so that the ball groove terminal segment 230 forms a double-layer thickened terminal structure. The distance H between the ball groove body 220 and the terminal end segment 231 can be firmly wrapped by plastic in the subsequent injection molding process, avoiding relative movement between the ball groove body 220 and the ball groove terminal segment 230. Ideally, the minimum distance between the ball groove body 220 and the terminal end segment 231 is twice the thickness L of the terminal end segment 231.

[0030] like Figure 4As shown, the metal ball groove assembly 200, formed by stamping and bending the ball groove body 220 by 180 degrees, is placed into the injection mold as an insert. After the injected plastic material cools, it forms a plastic support body 100. The plastic support body 100 completely covers the ball groove base section 210 of the metal ball groove assembly 200, and firmly covers the ball groove body 220 and the ball groove terminal section 230 of the metal ball groove assembly 200. At the same time, it exposes the ball bearing groove 221 and the bent terminal section 232 to the outside, so as to realize the functions of the ball bearing groove 221 supporting the ceramic ball 300 and the bent terminal section 232 and electrical connection, respectively.

[0031] Specifically, in the injection-molded plastic bracket body 100, the terminal end segment 231 is enclosed within the plastic bracket body 100, while the bent terminal segment 232 is precisely exposed outside the plastic bracket body 100 to form a pin portion connected to the ball bearing groove body 220 for soldering or insertion with the flexible circuit board. The ceramic ball 300 is placed in the ball bearing groove 221, and the plastic bracket body 100 is soldered or inserted to the flexible circuit board via its bent terminal segment 232. When the VCM is working, it drives the plastic bracket body 100 to move the prism, and the ceramic ball 300 rolls smoothly within the hard ball bearing groove 221, achieving precise anti-shake compensation. Because the ball bearing groove 221 is made of metal, it has extremely strong wear resistance, effectively avoiding the formation of dents and ensuring long-term accuracy.

[0032] The ball groove terminal section 230, which connects to the ball groove body 220 which is bent 180 degrees by stamping, adds a layer of terminals in its physical structure, achieving the same electrical connection function and structural thickness as a "double-layer terminal". However, it is achieved directly from a single strip by bending the ball groove body 220 180 degrees, fundamentally avoiding the problems of alignment difficulties, poor bonding strength and complex mold caused by using two independent strips stacked together.

[0033] The ball groove body 220 is stamped and bent 180 degrees to form a double-layer ball groove terminal section 230. The rigidity of the double-layer ball groove terminal section 230 is much higher than that of a single-layer terminal. It is less prone to deformation during subsequent insertion and use, ensuring the reliability of the connection. In addition, the ball groove terminal section 230 formed by stamping and bending the ball groove body 220 180 degrees also provides a sufficient and stable area for welding or elastic contact with external circuit boards.

[0034] Figures 5 to 7 The process of stamping and bending the ball groove body 180 degrees to finally form it is shown.

[0035] Step 1, as follows Figure 5The image shows the initial state of the metal ball groove assembly 200, which is formed by stamping from a strip of material. In this initial state, the ball groove base section 210, the ball groove body 220, and the ball groove terminal section 230 are in the same vertical plane.

[0036] Step two, as Figure 6 The diagram shows the bending process of the ball groove body 220. In this bending process, the lower punch 400 is below the horizontal plane of the bending terminal section 232, and the upper punch 500 is above the horizontal plane of the ball groove body 220.

[0037] Step 3, as Figure 7 The image shows the completed bending state of the ball groove body 220. In this completed bending state, the ball groove body 220 is completely rotated 180 degrees. The ball groove body 220 and the terminal end section 231 form two parallel members connected by the bent terminal section 232. The terminal end section 231 and the bent terminal section 232 form an integral, thickened terminal with a double-layer structure.

[0038] When the plastic support body 100 of this utility model is applied to a periscope VCM and begins to work, the process is as follows: Preparation stage: Ceramic balls 300 are placed in metal ball bearing grooves 221. The plastic bracket body 100 is welded to the flexible circuit board via bent terminal sections 232 to achieve electrical conductivity. The optical prism is fixed on the prism carrier 110.

[0039] Receive command: When the device processor detects jitter, it sends a current signal to the drive coil of the VCM.

[0040] Action generated: The energized coil interacts with the magnet inside the VCM, generating a driving force. This force acts on the plastic support body 100, pushing the entire plastic support body 100, together with the prism, to swing slightly left and right or up and down around the ball bearing fulcrum.

[0041] Precise guidance and support: During this process, the ceramic balls 300 roll smoothly within the ball bearing grooves 221. Due to the extremely high hardness and wear resistance of the ball bearing grooves 221, their groove shape and depth remain stable even after millions of movements, ensuring a constant support point height, thereby guaranteeing the accuracy of the anti-shake stroke and the stability of the imaging.

[0042] Reliable connection: The ball groove terminal section 230, formed by stamping and bending the ball groove body 220 by 180 degrees, provides more robust mechanical strength and more reliable electrical connection points when welded or plugged into the FPC due to its thickened structure.

[0043] Provided that the electrical connection thickness and strength requirements are met, the bending angle of the ball groove body 220 does not have to be strictly 180 degrees. For example, a design close to 180 degrees, such as 170 degrees or 190 degrees, can also achieve the purpose of increasing the local rigidity and thickness of the terminal.

[0044] The foregoing description illustrates and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. As previously stated, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the inventive concept described herein through the foregoing teachings or related technical or knowledge. Any modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A metal ball groove structure for a periscope-type VCM support, characterized in that, Includes a plastic support body (100) and a metal ball bearing groove assembly (200); The metal ball groove assembly (200) includes an integrally stamped ball groove base section (210), a ball groove body (220), and a ball groove terminal section (230); wherein, The ball groove body (220) has a ball bearing groove (221) on it; The ball groove terminal section (230) includes an integrally connected terminal end section (231) and a bent terminal section (232). The terminal end section (231) is connected to the ball groove base section (210), and the bent terminal section (232) is connected to the ball groove body (220). The ball groove body (220) and the terminal end section (231) form two parallel members connected by the bent terminal section (232), and there is a certain distance (H) between the ball groove body (220) and the terminal end section (231). The plastic bracket body (100) is injection molded to completely cover the ball groove base section (210) of the metal ball groove assembly (200), and to firmly cover the ball groove body (220) and ball groove terminal section (230) of the metal ball groove assembly (200), while exposing the ball bearing groove (221) and the bent terminal section (232).

2. The metal ball groove structure of a periscope-type VCM support according to claim 1, characterized in that, The minimum spacing between the ball groove body (220) and the terminal end section (231) is twice the thickness of the terminal end section (231).

3. The metal ball groove structure of a periscope-type VCM support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In the initial state, the ball groove base section (210), ball groove body (220), and ball groove terminal section (230) of the metal ball groove assembly (200) formed by stamping from the strip are in the same vertical plane; in the bent state, the ball groove body (220) and the terminal end section (231) form two parallel components connected by the bent terminal section (232).

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