Lens device

Abstract

To provide a lens device capable of increasing connection safety and connection strength of a metal wire for connecting a third lens to a conductive pattern and improving operability and product reliability of the lens device.SOLUTION: A lens device comprises: a first lens unit; a second lens unit; and a third lens unit. The first lens unit includes an upper lid, and a first lens housed within the upper lid. The second lens unit includes a barrel, and a second lens housed in the barrel. The third lens unit includes a hard board, a third lens housed in the hard board, and a metal wire for connecting the third lens to the conductive pattern of the hard board, and is provided between the first lens unit and the second lens unit. The hard board includes an opening for housing the third lens, and is connected to an outer peripheral surface of the third lens so as to surround the third lens, and the third lens unit is disposed in the barrel by the hard board such that the third lens does not abut on the barrel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lens device, and more particularly to a lens device made up of a plurality of lens units. [Background technology]

[0002] There have been technologies for using a lens device consisting of multiple lens units as an imaging device. Among these, a known manufacturing method involves installing a third lens with an adjustable focal length between a first lens unit including a first lens and a second lens unit including a barrel and a second lens provided within the barrel, and then mounting the third lens on the top surface of the barrel of the second lens unit and connecting it to a conductive pattern provided on the top surface of the barrel by metal wiring. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] China Publication No. CN114640731A [Patent Document 2] China Publication No. CN114647133A [Patent Document 3] China Publication No. CN115136052A [Patent Document 4] China Publication No. CN115685643A [Patent Document 5] China Publication No. CN116194816A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, because the top surface of the barrel is formed with a support structure for the third lens, when connecting metal wiring to the conductive pattern on the top surface of the barrel using a conductive material such as copper, the fusion rate of the conductive material is low and there is significant variation due to the unevenness of the top surface of the barrel. Furthermore, the high temperatures required to connect the metal wiring to the top surface of the barrel also affect the third lens. Therefore, a lens device is needed that can improve the connection stability and connection strength of the metal wiring that connects the third lens to the conductive pattern.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a lens device that can improve the connection stability and connection strength of the metal wiring for connecting the third lens to the conductive pattern, and can also improve the operability and product reliability of the lens device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above object, a first embodiment of the present invention provides a lens device including a first lens unit, a second lens unit, and a third lens unit. The first lens unit includes a top cover and a first lens housed in the top cover. The second lens unit includes a barrel and a second lens housed in the barrel. The third lens unit includes a rigid substrate, a third lens housed in the rigid substrate, and metal wiring connecting the third lens to the conductive pattern of the rigid substrate, and is disposed between the first and second lens units. The rigid substrate has an opening for housing the third lens and is contiguous with the outer peripheral surface of the third lens so as to surround the third lens. The third lens unit is mounted on the barrel by the rigid substrate so that the third lens does not contact the barrel.

[0007] According to the lens device of the present invention, the conductive pattern connecting the third lens element to the lens barrel via metal wiring is provided on the rigid substrate instead of the barrel of the second lens unit, enabling the formation of a smooth conductive pattern. This increases the fusion rate of the conductive material used to connect the metal wiring to the conductive pattern, allowing the ultrasonic waves used to connect the metal wiring to the conductive pattern to be transmitted stably to the rigid substrate. Furthermore, since the conductive pattern is provided on the rigid substrate, the high temperature used to connect the metal wiring reduces the impact on the third lens element, allowing the connection temperature of the metal wiring to be increased. This stabilizes the connection of the metal wiring, improving the connection strength of the metal wiring. Furthermore, since the rigid substrate is installed on the barrel so that the third lens element does not come into contact with the barrel, it is possible to prevent the barrel from interfering with the operation of the third lens element (e.g., adjusting the focal length). This also improves the operability of the lens device.

[0008] In the lens device of the second embodiment of the present invention, the third lens has a first surface and a second surface that are connected to the outer peripheral surface and face each other, and the third lens is housed in the opening so that the first surface and the second surface do not come into contact with the hard substrate.

[0009] According to the above lens device, the hard substrate is installed so as not to be positioned in the area in the vertical direction (optical axis direction) of the third lens, thereby avoiding interfering with the behavior of the third lens during operation (e.g., adjustment of focal length).

[0010] In the lens device of the third embodiment of the present invention, the hard substrate is placed on a convex portion provided on the upper surface of the barrel as a receiving structure so that the third lens does not come into contact with the upper surface of the barrel, and the third lens is positioned above the upper surface of the barrel.

[0011] According to the above lens device, the barrel is installed at a predetermined distance from the third lens, and it is possible to avoid interfering with the behavior of the third lens during operation (for example, adjustment of the focal length).

[0012] In the lens device of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the second lens unit has a conductive portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the barrel from the top surface to the bottom surface of the barrel, and the third lens unit is fixed to the top surface of the barrel by a hard substrate so that the conductive pattern on the hard substrate is connected to the top surface end of the conductive portion.

[0013] According to the lens device, the third lens is connected to a conductive portion formed on the outer surface of the barrel by metal wiring and a conductive pattern on the hard substrate, and can be connected to an electronic component (e.g., a circuit board) provided on the underside of the barrel. Furthermore, the rigid hard substrate is stably fixed to the upper surface of the barrel, improving the assembly strength of the lens device.

[0014] In the lens device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the conductive pattern of the hard substrate is connected to the upper surface end of the conductive portion by a conductive member provided between the upper surface of the barrel and the side edge of the hard substrate.

[0015] According to the above lens device, the connection is made by a conductive member to ensure continuity between the conductive pattern of the hard substrate and the upper surface end of the conductive portion, thereby improving the connection stability and connection strength between the conductive pattern and the conductive portion.

[0016] In the lens device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the conductive member is covered with a protective member provided between the upper surface of the barrel and the side edge of the hard substrate.

[0017] According to the lens device described above, the conductive member for connecting the conductive pattern on the hard substrate and the upper surface end of the conductive portion is reinforced by the protective member, making it possible to prevent cracks in the conductive member.

[0018] In the lens device according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the protection member is provided so as to extend linearly along the step between the upper surface of the barrel and the side edge of the hard substrate.

[0019] According to the above lens device, the protective member not only strengthens the conductive member but also improves the strength between the upper surface of the barrel and the side edge of the hard substrate.

[0020] In the lens device according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the protective member is made of an insulating resin material.

[0021] According to the above lens device, the protective member can block the conductivity of the conductive member in a portion other than the portion connected to the conductive pattern and the conductive portion (for example, the outer peripheral surface of the conductive member).

[0022] In the lens device of the ninth embodiment of the present invention, the first lens unit is fixed to the upper surface of the hard substrate.

[0023] According to the above lens device, the first lens unit is stably fixed to the upper surface of the rigid substrate, which is not flexible, and the assembly strength of the lens device can be improved.

[0024] In the lens device of the tenth embodiment of the present invention, the first lens, the third lens, and the second lens are arranged in this order from the object side to the image side along the optical axis of the lens device.

[0025] According to the above-mentioned lens device, the first lens, third lens, and second lens are efficiently installed with their optical axes aligned by attaching the top cover, hard substrate, and barrel, thereby simplifying the manufacturing method of the lens device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] As described above, the lens device of the present invention can improve the connection stability and connection strength of the metal wiring for connecting the third lens to the conductive pattern, and can also improve the operability and product reliability of the lens device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a lens apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded explanatory view of the lens device shown in FIG. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the lens device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lens device according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lens device according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially exploded schematic view of the lens device shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the lens device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lens device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Below, differences between the lens device 100 of this embodiment and the other embodiments will be explained using a combination of FIGS. 1-4. However, this is merely an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0029] 1 to 3, a lens device 100 of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the lens device 100 includes a first lens unit 110, a second lens unit 120, and a third lens unit 130. The first lens unit 110 includes a top cover 112 and a first lens 114 housed in the top cover 112. The second lens unit 120 includes a barrel 122 and a second lens 124 housed in the barrel 122. The third lens unit 130 includes a hard substrate 132, a third lens 134 housed in the hard substrate 132, and metal wiring 136 connecting the third lens 134 to a conductive pattern 138 of the hard substrate 132, and is provided between the first lens unit 110 and the second lens unit 120. That is, in the vertical direction (optical axis X direction) of lens device 100, first lens unit 110, third lens unit 130, and second lens unit 120 are arranged in this order from the object side (top of the drawing) to the image side (bottom of the drawing), and lens device 100 is manufactured by attaching first lens unit 110, third lens unit 130, and second lens unit 120 so that third lens unit 130 is sandwiched between first lens unit 110 and second lens unit 120.

[0030] Specifically, the first lens unit 110 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the first lens unit 110, the top cover 112 has a plate-like structure having a first through-hole 112h. The first lens 114 is housed in the top cover 112 from below, with its object-side lens surface exposed through the first through-hole 112h. As an example, in the manufacturing process of the first lens unit 110, the top cover 112 is first turned upside down and aligned and attached to a jig (not shown), and then the first lens 114 is turned upside down and attached to a receiving structure provided inside the top cover 112. In this process, the top cover 112 is aligned and installed in a predetermined position on the jig using alignment marks, and the first lens 114 is housed in the top cover 112 while aligned with the receiving structure of the top cover 112. Next, an adhesive is applied along the gap between the first lens 114 and the top cover 112, and the adhesive is hardened with a hardening means such as UV light while applying pressure to the first lens 114, thereby fixing the first lens 114 to the top cover 112. As a result, the top cover 112 and the first lens 114 are integrated to form the first lens unit 110. However, the present invention is not limited to this specific structure or manufacturing process of the first lens unit 110.

[0031] Next, the second lens unit 120 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the second lens unit 120, the barrel 122 has a cylindrical structure having a second through-hole 122h and an internal space 122s (shown in FIG. 3) communicating with the second through-hole 122h. The second lens 124 is housed in the internal space 122s of the barrel 122 from below the barrel 122, with its object-side lens surface exposed from the second through-hole 122h. In addition to the second lens 124, an optical element (not shown), such as another lens or a light-shielding plate, can also be housed in the barrel 122 from below the barrel 122 so as to correspond to the second lens. As an example, in the manufacturing process of the second lens unit 120, the barrel 122 is first turned upside down and aligned and attached to a jig (not shown), and then the second lens 124 is turned upside down and housed inside the barrel 122, and pressure is applied toward the second lens 124. If an optical element (not shown), such as a lens or a light shielding plate, is used in addition to the second lens 124, the lens or light shielding plate is placed inside the barrel 122, inverted as necessary, and pressed toward the lens or light shielding plate. Next, an adhesive is applied along the gap between the second lens 124 (the outermost optical element, if any) and the barrel 122. The adhesive is hardened with a curing means such as UV light while applying pressure to the second lens 124 (the outermost optical element, if any), thereby fixing the second lens 124 (the outermost optical element, if any) to the barrel 122. If multiple optical elements are used, the application of adhesive, the application of pressure to the optical elements, or the hardening of the adhesive may be performed in several steps. As a result, the barrel 122 and the second lens 124 (or all optical elements, if any) are integrated into the second lens unit 120. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific structure or manufacturing process of the second lens unit 120.

[0032] Next, the third lens unit 130 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the third lens unit 130, the hard substrate 132 has a plate-like structure having an opening 132p for accommodating the third lens 134. The third lens 134 is accommodated in the opening 132p of the hard substrate 132 from above the hard substrate 132, and its lens surface is exposed through the opening 132p. That is, the hard substrate 132 has a frame-like structure via the opening 132p and is connected to the outer peripheral surface 134c (shown in FIG. 3) of the third lens 134 so as to surround the third lens 134. In addition, a conductive pattern 138 is formed on the hard substrate 132, and at least a portion of the conductive pattern 138 is exposed on the upper surface 132a and the outer peripheral surface 132c of the hard substrate 132 (as shown in FIG. 2). The third lens 134 is connected by metal wiring 136 to a portion of a conductive pattern 138 formed on the hard substrate 132 that is exposed on an upper surface 132a. As an example, in the manufacturing process of the third lens unit 130, the hard substrate 132 is first aligned and attached to a jig (not shown), and then the third lens 134 is attached to an opening 132p of the hard substrate 132. In this process, the hard substrate 132 and the third lens 134 are aligned using a receiving structure of the jig. Next, an adhesive is applied along the gap between the third lens 134 and the hard substrate 132, and the adhesive is hardened by a hardening means such as UV light while applying pressure to the third lens 134, thereby fixing the third lens 134 to the hard substrate 132. Thereafter, the rigid substrate 132 and the third lens 134 to be fixed are transferred from the jig to a carrier (not shown), and the contacts 134p (four are shown) of the third lens 134 are connected by metal wiring 136 to the portions exposed on the upper surface 132a of the conductive pattern 138 of the rigid substrate 132 (as shown in FIG. 2). As a result, the rigid substrate 132 and the third lens 134 are electrically connected and integrated by the metal wiring 136 to form the third lens unit 130. However, the present invention does not limit the specific structure or manufacturing process of the third lens unit 130 to this.

[0033] 1 to 3, a process for manufacturing lens device 100 by attaching first lens unit 110, second lens unit 120, and third lens unit 130 will be described. In detail, first lens unit 110, third lens unit 130, and second lens unit 120 are provided in this order in the up-and-down direction (optical axis X direction) of lens device 100 from the object side (upper side in the drawings of FIGS. 1 and 2) to the image side (lower side in the drawings of FIGS. 1 and 2). As an example, the third lens unit 130 is first placed on the second lens unit 120 from above, and then the first lens unit 110 is placed on the third lens unit 130 from above, but the order in which the first lens unit 110, the second lens unit 120, and the third lens unit 130 are placed is not limited to this, as long as the first lens unit 110, the third lens unit 130, and the second lens unit 120 are attached so that the third lens unit 130 is sandwiched between the first lens unit 110 and the second lens unit 120. The third lens unit 130 is placed on the barrel 122 by a hard substrate 132 so that the third lens 134 does not come into contact with the barrel 122. That is, when attaching the third lens unit 130 to the second lens unit 120, the hard substrate 132 is provided on the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 by a concave-convex structure provided on the lower surface 132b of the hard substrate 132 or the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 (as described below) so that the third lens 134 is spaced apart from the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122.

[0034] As can be seen from this, in the lens device 100 of this embodiment, the conductive pattern 138 connecting the third lens 134 via the metal wiring 136 is provided on the hard substrate 132 instead of on the barrel 122 of the second lens unit 120, making it possible to form a smooth conductive pattern 138. This increases the fusion rate of the conductive material used to connect the metal wiring 136 to the conductive pattern 138, and allows the ultrasonic waves used to connect the metal wiring 136 to the conductive pattern 138 to be transmitted stably to the hard substrate 132. Furthermore, by providing the conductive pattern 138 on the hard substrate 132, the impact of high temperatures on the third lens 134 when connecting the metal wiring 136 is reduced, allowing the connection temperature of the metal wiring 136 to be increased. This stabilizes the connection of the metal wiring 136, and improves the connection strength of the metal wiring 136. Furthermore, since the hard substrate 132 is installed on the barrel 122 so that the third lens 134 does not come into contact with the barrel 122, it is possible to prevent the barrel 122 from interfering with the behavior (for example, adjustment of the focal length) of the third lens 134 during operation. This also improves the operability of the lens device 100.

[0035] 3 , in the lens device 100, the third lens 134 has a first surface 134a and a second surface 134b that are connected to and face each other with an outer peripheral surface 134c, and the third lens 134 is accommodated in the opening 132p so that the first surface 134a and the second surface 134b do not contact the hard substrate 132. That is, the adhesive 139 for attaching the third lens 134 to the hard substrate 132 is applied between the outer peripheral surface 134c of the third lens 134 and the inner wall of the opening 132p of the hard substrate 132, and connects the hard substrate 132 only to the outer peripheral surface 134c of the third lens 134. The first surface 134a and the second surface 134b of the third lens 134 do not contact the hard substrate 132. As a result, the hard substrate 132 is installed so as not to be positioned in the area in the vertical direction (optical axis X direction) of the third lens 134, and it is possible to avoid interfering with the behavior (for example, adjustment of focal length) of the third lens 134 during operation. Here, although an example is shown in which the third lens 134 and the hard substrate 132 are connected to each other by adhesive 139, this does not exclude the possibility of connecting them by other connecting means. The present invention is not limited to this.

[0036] 3 , in the lens device 100, the hard substrate 132 is mounted on a protrusion 122p that protrudes in a direction parallel to the optical axis X and is formed on the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 as a receiving structure so that the third lens 134 does not come into contact with the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122, and the third lens 134 is located above the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122. That is, the protrusion 122p protrudes from the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 in a direction parallel to the optical axis X, and the hard substrate 132 is positioned at a predetermined distance from the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 by the protrusion 122p so as to be spaced apart from the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122. Therefore, the third lens 134 provided in the opening 132p of the hard substrate 132 is located above the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 so as to be spaced apart from the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122. This allows the barrel 122 to be installed at a predetermined distance from the third lens 134, thereby avoiding interference with the behavior of the third lens 134 during operation (for example, adjustment of the focal length). In another embodiment not shown, the convex portion 122p may be provided on the lower surface 132b of the hard substrate 132 instead of on the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122. Alternatively, instead of the convex portion 122p, the third lens 134 may be housed in the opening 132p of the hard substrate 132 so that the second surface 134b of the third lens 134 is positioned higher than the lower surface 132b of the hard substrate 132. The means for attaching the third lens unit 130 to the second lens unit 120 may be adjusted as necessary, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0037] 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the second lens unit 120 has conductive portions 126 (two are illustrated) formed on the outer peripheral surface 122c of the barrel 122 from the upper surface 122a to the lower surface 122b of the barrel 122, and the third lens unit 130 is bonded to the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 by the rigid substrate 132 such that the conductive pattern 138 of the rigid substrate 132 is connected to the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126. The conductive pattern 138 of the rigid substrate 132 is connected to the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126 by a conductive member 140 provided between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the rigid substrate 132. That is, the conductive member 140 is provided at least between the end of the conductive pattern 138 and the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126, connecting the conductive pattern 138 and the conductive portion 126. In this way, the third lens 134 is connected to the conductive portion 126 formed on the outer peripheral surface 122c of the barrel 122 by the metal wiring 136 and the conductive pattern 138 of the hard substrate 132, and can be connected to an electronic component (e.g., a circuit board) (not shown) provided on the lower surface 122b of the barrel 122. Furthermore, the rigid hard substrate 132 is stably adhered to the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122, improving the assembly strength of the lens device 100. Furthermore, the connection by the conductive member 140 ensures continuity between the conductive pattern 138 of the hard substrate 132 and the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126, improving the connection stability and connection strength between the conductive pattern 138 and the conductive portion 126.

[0038] More specifically, in this embodiment, the barrel 122 of the second lens unit 120 has an integrally formed, substantially cylindrical main body 1222, a substantially rectangular base 1224, and a flat surface 1226 formed to protrude from the outer periphery of the main body 1222 toward the side of the base 1224, where the main body 1222 provides an upper surface 122a, the base 1224 provides a lower surface 122b, and the flat surface 1226 provides a part of the outer periphery 122c connecting the upper surface 122a and the lower surface 122b across the main body 1222 and the base 1224. Therefore, the conductive portion 126 is formed on the flat surface 1226 from the upper surface 122a to the lower surface 122b of the barrel 122 across the main body 1222 and the base 1224. Furthermore, it is preferable that the conductive portion 126 extend to the upper surface 122a and the lower surface 122b of the barrel 122. That is, the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126 extends toward the upper surface 122a beyond the boundary between the outer peripheral surface 122c and the upper surface 122a (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). In this manner, the hard substrate 132 provided on the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 can easily connect the conductive pattern 138 exposed on its outer peripheral surface 132c to the conductive portion 126 extending to the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122. As an example, the barrel 122 is formed of an insulating material, and the conductive portion 126 is formed on the outer peripheral surface 122c of the barrel 122 by laser direct structuring (LDS). Furthermore, by providing the lower surface 122b with the base 1224, electronic components (e.g., a circuit board) (not shown) can be easily mounted on the lower surface 122b of the barrel 122. In another embodiment (not shown), instead of the conductive portion 126 formed by LDS, a conductive wire can be provided on the outer peripheral surface 122c of the barrel 122 from the upper surface 122a to the lower surface 122b. The specific structure of the barrel 122, or the specific structure, number, installation position, or formation means of the conductive portion 126, can be adjusted as needed. The present invention is not limited to this.

[0039] 1 and 2, the rigid substrate 132 of the third lens unit 130 is mounted on the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 of the second lens unit 120, and the conductive pattern 138 exposed on the outer peripheral surface 132c of the rigid substrate 132 is connected to the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126 formed on the outer peripheral surface 122c of the barrel 122. In addition, the conductive pattern 138 of the rigid substrate 132 is connected to the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126 by conductive members 140 (two are illustrated). As an example, in the process of mounting the third lens unit 130 on the second lens unit 120, an adhesive is first applied at predetermined positions along the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122, and then the rigid substrate 132 is mounted on the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 so that the adhesive is sandwiched between them. At this time, the second lens 124 and the third lens 134 do not come into contact with the adhesive between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the hard substrate 132. Next, the position of the hard substrate 132 relative to the barrel 122 is adjusted so that the conductive pattern 138 exposed on the outer peripheral surface 132c of the hard substrate 132 is aligned with the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126 formed on the outer peripheral surface 122c of the barrel 122. The adhesive is cured using a curing means such as UV light or a heating means, and the hard substrate 132 is fixed to the barrel 122. Thereafter, a metal paste such as silver is applied to the end of the conductive pattern 138 and the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126, and the metal paste is cured using a heating means to form the conductive member 140. As a result, the conductive pattern 138 and the conductive portion 126 are connected by the conductive member 140, ensuring conductivity and improving the connection stability and strength between the conductive pattern 138 and the conductive portion 126. However, the material, shape, size, number, installation position, forming means, or presence or absence of the conductive member 140 can be adjusted as necessary, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0040] 1 and 2, in the lens device 100, the conductive member 140 is covered by a protective member 150 provided between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the hard substrate 132. More specifically, the protective member 150 is formed of an insulating resin material. The protective member 150 is formed around the outer periphery of the conductive member 140, covering the conductive member 140 so that it is not exposed between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the hard substrate 132. The protective member 150 is also provided to extend linearly along the step between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the hard substrate 132 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). As an example, in the process of attaching the third lens unit 130 to the second lens unit 120, after forming the conductive member 140 on the end of the conductive pattern 138 and the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126, an insulating resin material is applied linearly along the step between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the hard substrate 132 to cover the conductive member 140, and then the insulating resin material is cured using a curing means such as UV light or a heating means to form the protective member 150. As a result, the protective member 150 covers the conductive member 140 and is linearly connected to the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the hard substrate 132.

[0041] In this manner, in this embodiment, the conductive member 140, which connects the conductive pattern 138 of the hard substrate 132 and the upper surface end 126a of the conductive portion 126, is reinforced by the protective member 150, thereby preventing cracks in the conductive member 140. Furthermore, the protective member 150 can block conductivity in portions of the conductive member 140 other than the portion connecting the conductive pattern 138 and the conductive portion 126 (e.g., the outer circumferential surface of the conductive member 140). Furthermore, in addition to strengthening the conductive member 140, the protective member 150 can also improve the strength between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the hard substrate 132. However, the material, shape, size, installation position, formation means, or even whether or not the protective member 150 is installed can be adjusted as needed. 4, instead of the protective member 150 extending linearly along the step between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the hard substrate 132, it is also possible to provide point-like protective members 150A (two are shown) between the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122 and the side edge 132e of the hard substrate 132 to cover the conductive member 140. In this way, the conductive member 140 can be strengthened by the protective member 150A, while the resin material used to form the protective member 150A can be reduced. However, the present invention is not limited to this as long as the protective members 150, 150A can cover the conductive member 140.

[0042] 1 and 2, in the lens device 100, the first lens unit 110 is bonded to the upper surface 132a of the hard substrate 132. In particular, it is preferable that the first lens unit 110 be bonded to the hard substrate 132 of the third lens unit 130 after the third lens unit 130 has been bonded to the second lens unit 120. As an example, in the process of attaching the first lens unit 110 to the third lens unit 130, an adhesive is first applied to a predetermined position along the outer periphery of the upper surface 132a of the hard substrate 132, and then the top cover 112 is placed on the upper surface 132a of the hard substrate 132 so that the adhesive is sandwiched between the upper surface 132a of the hard substrate 132. At this time, the first lens 114 and the third lens 134 do not come into contact with the adhesive between the upper surface 132a of the hard substrate 132 and the top cover 112. Next, the adhesive is hardened using a hardening means such as UV light or a heating means, and the top cover 112 is fixed to the hard substrate 132. As a result, the first lens unit 110 is stably bonded to the upper surface 132a of the rigid substrate 132, which is inflexible, and the assembly strength of the lens device 100 can be improved. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the top cover 112 is attached to the upper surface 132a of the rigid substrate 132 by an uneven structure (e.g., a convex portion 112p formed by protruding in a direction parallel to the optical axis X) provided on the upper surface 132a of the rigid substrate 132 or the lower surface of the top cover 112 so as not to come into contact with the third lens 134. This prevents the top cover 112 from interfering with the behavior (e.g., adjustment of the focal length) of the third lens 134 during operation. However, the means for attaching the first lens unit 110 to the third lens unit 130 may be adjusted as necessary, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0043] In the present invention, the means for fixing the first lens 114 to the top cover 112, the means for fixing the second lens 124 to the barrel 122, the means for fixing the hard substrate 132 to the upper surface 122a of the barrel 122, and the means for fixing the first lens unit 110 to the hard substrate 132 are not limited to the adhesive fixing means described above, and may be fixed by a method such as laser welding, for example.

[0044] 1 and 2, in the lens device 100 of this embodiment, the first lens 114, the third lens 134, and the second lens 124 are installed in this order along the optical axis X of the lens device 100 from the object side (upper side in FIGS. 1 and 2) to the image side (lower side in FIGS. 1 and 2). That is, when the third lens unit 130 is installed in the second lens unit 120, the conductive pattern 138 provided on the hard substrate 132 is connected to the conductive portion 126 provided on the barrel 122, and the hard substrate 132 and the barrel 122 are aligned so that the optical axes X of the third lens 134 and the second lens 124 are aligned. Similarly, when the first lens unit 110 is installed in the third lens unit 130, the upper cover 112 and the hard substrate 132 are aligned so that the optical axes X of the first lens 114 and the third lens 134 are aligned. In this way, in lens device 100, first lens 114, third lens 134, and second lens 124 are efficiently installed with the optical axes X of the respective lenses aligned by attaching top cover 112, hard substrate 132, and barrel 122, which simplifies the manufacturing method of lens device 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0045] In summary, in the lens device 100 of the present invention, the conductive pattern 138 connecting the third lens 134 via the metal wiring 136 is provided on the rigid substrate 132 instead of on the barrel 122 of the second lens unit 120, making it possible to form a smooth conductive pattern 138. This increases the fusion rate of the conductive material (the material forming the conductive member 140) used to connect the metal wiring 136 to the conductive pattern 138, and allows the ultrasonic waves used to connect the metal wiring 136 to the conductive pattern 138 to be transmitted stably to the rigid substrate 132. Furthermore, by providing the conductive pattern 138 on the rigid substrate 132, the effect of high temperatures on the third lens 134 when connecting the metal wiring 136 is reduced, allowing the connection temperature of the metal wiring 136 to be increased. This stabilizes the connection of the metal wiring 136, improving the connection strength of the metal wiring 136. Furthermore, since the hard substrate 132 is installed on the barrel 122 so that the third lens 134 does not come into contact with the barrel 122, it is possible to prevent the barrel 122 from interfering with the behavior of the third lens 134 during operation (for example, adjustment of the focal length). This also improves the operability of the lens device 100. Preferably, the third lens 134 is housed in the opening 132p so that the first surface 134a and the second surface 134b do not come into contact with the hard substrate 132, which makes it possible to prevent the hard substrate 132 from interfering with the behavior of the third lens 134 during operation (for example, adjustment of the focal length).

[0046] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to explain the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the same. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that the technical solutions described in the above embodiments can still be modified or some or all of the technical features can be replaced with equivalents, provided that such modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0047] The lens device of the present invention can improve the connection stability and connection strength of the metal wiring for connecting the third lens to the conductive pattern, and can also improve the operability and product reliability of the lens device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 100: Lens device 110: First lens unit 112: Upper lid 112h: 1st through hole 112p, 122p: Convex 114: First lens 120: Second lens unit 122: Barrel 1222: Main body 1224: Base 1226: Flat part 122a, 132a: Top surface 122b, 132b: Bottom surface 122c, 132c, 134c: Outer surface 122h: 2nd through hole 122s:Inner space 124: Second lens 126: Conductive part 126a: Top edge 130: Third lens unit 132: Hard substrate 132e: Side edge 132p: opening 134: Third lens 134a: Side 1 134b: 2nd side 134p: Contact 136: Metal wiring 138: Conductive pattern 139:Adhesive 140: Conductive member 150, 150A: Protective material X: Optical axis

Claims

1. a first lens unit including a top cover and a first lens housed in the top cover; a second lens unit including a barrel and a second lens housed in the barrel; a third lens unit including a rigid substrate, a third lens housed in the rigid substrate, and metal wiring connecting the third lens to a conductive pattern of the rigid substrate, the third lens unit being disposed between the first lens unit and the second lens unit; Equipped with the rigid substrate has an opening for accommodating the third lens, and is contiguous with an outer peripheral surface of the third lens so as to surround the third lens; and The third lens unit is mounted on the barrel by the hard substrate so that the third lens does not contact the barrel. A lens device characterized by:

2. the third lens has a first surface and a second surface that are connected to and opposed to the outer peripheral surface; and The third lens is accommodated in the opening so that the first surface and the second surface do not contact the hard substrate.

2. The lens device according to claim 1.

3. the hard substrate is placed on a convex portion provided on the upper surface of the barrel as a receiving structure so that the third lens does not come into contact with the upper surface of the barrel; The third lens is located above the top surface of the barrel.

2. The lens device according to claim 1.

4. the second lens unit has a conductive portion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the barrel from an upper surface to a lower surface of the barrel, The third lens unit is fixed to the upper surface of the barrel by the hard substrate so that the conductive pattern of the hard substrate is connected to an upper surface end of the conductive portion.

2. The lens device according to claim 1.

5. The conductive pattern of the hard substrate is connected to the top surface end of the conductive portion by a conductive member provided between the top surface of the barrel and the side edge of the hard substrate.

5. The lens device according to claim 4.

6. The conductive member is covered by a protective member provided between the top surface of the barrel and the side edge of the rigid substrate.

6. The lens device according to claim 5.

7. The protective member is provided to extend linearly along a step between the upper surface of the barrel and the side edge of the hard substrate.

7. The lens device according to claim 6.

8. The protective member is made of an insulating resin material.

7. The lens device according to claim 6.

9. The first lens unit is fixed to the upper surface of the hard substrate.

2. The lens device according to claim 1.

10. The first lens, the third lens, and the second lens are arranged in this order from the object side to the image side along the optical axis of the lens device.

2. The lens device according to claim 1.

Images