Optical unit and optical apparatus

Abstract

To accurately position a lens unit with respect to the window part of optical equipment.SOLUTION: The optical unit 1 includes a fixed body 10, a lens unit 20, a support part 30 structured to movably support at least a part of the lens unit 20 with respect to the fixed body 10, and magnetic circuits 60 each of which includes a coil 61 provided in one of the fixed body 10 and the lens unit 20 and a magnet 62 provided at a position facing the coil 61 in the other of the fixed body 10 and the lens unit 20. The fixed body 10 includes a planar member 10a part on which the magnetic circuits 60 are provided and a protruded part 50 which is protruded to an outer side from the 10b part, and the protruded part 50 is structured so that its tip end side in a protruding direction can be crushed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical unit and an optical device. [Background technology]

[0002] Various optical units have been used in the past. Among them, there is an optical unit that includes a fixed body, a lens unit, a support that supports at least a portion of the lens unit movably relative to the fixed body, and a magnetic circuit that moves at least a portion of the lens unit relative to the fixed body. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a lens driving device that includes a fixed body, a movable body that holds a lens, a leaf spring that supports the movable body movably relative to the fixed body, and a driving magnet and a driving coil that move at least a portion of the lens unit relative to the fixed body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-194293 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Optical units including a fixed body, a lens unit, a support, and a magnetic circuit, such as the lens driving device of Patent Document 1, are sometimes used in optical devices such as smartphones. In such cases, the position of the lens unit may deviate from the desired position relative to a window provided in the case of the optical device. This is because the lens unit may be attracted to the fixed body by the magnetic force of the magnetic circuit. For this reason, it is necessary to accurately position the lens unit relative to the window of the optical device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] Therefore, the optical unit of the present invention comprises a fixed body, a lens unit, a support portion that movably supports at least a portion of the lens unit relative to the fixed body, a magnetic circuit having a coil provided on one of the fixed body and the lens unit, and a magnet provided on the other of the fixed body and the lens unit in a position opposite the coil, and is characterized in that the fixed body has a protrusion that protrudes outward from a planar member on which the magnetic circuit is provided, and the protrusion is configured to be crushable at the tip side in the protruding direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The optical unit of the present invention can accurately position the lens unit relative to the window of the optical device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the periphery of a window of a smartphone as an example of an optical device equipped with an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view of an optical unit provided in the optical device of FIG. 1, as viewed from the subject side. [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of the optical unit of FIG. 2, seen from the opposite side to the subject side. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 5 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit of FIG. 2, seen from an angle different from that of FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 6] 3 is a plan view of the optical unit of FIG. 2 as viewed from the optical axis direction. [Figure 7] 3 is a plan view showing the periphery of a protrusion of the optical unit of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 8] 3 is a perspective view illustrating the periphery of a protrusion of the optical unit of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 9] 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the optical unit of FIG. 2 is fixed to a bracket. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] 1 to 9, an optical unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and a smartphone 100, which is an example of an optical device equipped with the optical unit 1, will be described. In each figure, the Z-axis direction is the optical axis direction, the X-axis direction is a direction intersecting the Z-axis direction, and the Y-axis direction is a direction intersecting both the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. In addition, within the Z-axis direction, the +Z direction, in which the arrow points, is the direction toward the subject, and the -Z direction, in the opposite direction to the arrow, is the direction toward the opposite side of the subject.

[0009] <Outline of optical equipment equipped with optical unit> 1 is a schematic perspective view of a smartphone 100 as an example of an optical device including an optical unit 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The optical unit 1 according to this embodiment can be preferably used in the smartphone 100. This is because the optical unit 1 according to this embodiment can be configured to be thin, and the thickness of the smartphone 100 in the Z-axis direction (optical axis direction) can be made thin. However, the optical unit 1 according to this embodiment is not limited to the smartphone 100, and can be used in various devices such as cameras and videos without any particular limitation.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the smartphone 100 includes a case 102 having a window 101, and an optical unit 1 inside the window 101. The smartphone 100 is configured to allow a light beam to enter from the outside through the window 101 and to capture an image of a subject based on the incident light beam. Note that although the smartphone 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes one optical unit 1 (lens 22), it may also include a plurality of optical units 1 (lenses 22).

[0011] <Overall configuration of optical unit> Next, the overall configuration of the optical unit 1 of this embodiment will be described mainly with reference to Figures 2 to 6. The optical unit 1 of this embodiment can be preferably used in a camera, a smartphone 100, or the like. This is because the optical unit 1 of this embodiment can be configured compactly, allowing the camera or smartphone 100 to be configured compactly. However, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment is not limited to a camera or a smartphone 100, and can be used in various devices without any particular limitations on use.

[0012] The optical unit 1 of this embodiment includes a lens unit 20 as a movable body on which a lens 22 and other components are provided. The lens unit 20 includes a lens 22 (lens holding portion) and a holder 21 that surrounds the lens unit 20 in a circumferential direction intersecting the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) of the lens 22. The optical unit 1 of this embodiment also includes a fixed body 10 that covers the lens 22 while leaving it partially exposed from the +Z direction. The optical unit 1 of this embodiment also includes a gimbal mechanism 30 between the lens unit 20 and the fixed body 10. The gimbal mechanism 30 has fixed body legs 30A that connect to the fixed body 10, movable body legs 30B that connect to the lens unit 20, which is a movable body, and a flat plate portion 30C on which the fixed body legs 30A and the movable body legs 30B are provided. The gimbal mechanism 30 has spring properties and supports the lens unit 20 rotatably relative to the fixed body 10 with the X-axis and Y-axis directions as rotation axes.

[0013] <Movable body> The lens unit 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The lens 22 is held inside the holder 21 when viewed from the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction), and is arranged so that the lens-forming portion protrudes from the +Z-direction surface of the holder 21. Note that the lens 22 may be formed by stacking multiple lenses along the optical axis direction. Furthermore, a magnet 62A is provided on the side surface of the holder 21 in the -X direction as the magnet 62 that constitutes the magnetic circuit 60 that moves the lens unit 20 relative to the fixed body 10. Furthermore, a magnet 62B is provided on the side surface of the holder 21 in the -Y direction as the magnet 62 that constitutes the magnetic circuit 60. Here, the magnets 62A and 62B have the same configuration. Note that the magnets 62A and 62B can also be considered to be part of the lens unit 20.

[0014] <Fixed body> The fixed body 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the lens unit 20 is disposed on the inside when viewed from the optical axis direction. Coils 61 constituting a magnetic circuit 60 are provided on the side surfaces of the fixed body 10 on the −X direction side and the −Y direction side. These coils 61 are disposed in positions facing magnets 62A and 62B. Here, among the coils 61, coil 61A positioned facing magnet 62A and coil 61B positioned facing magnet 62B have the same configuration. Note that, on the planar members 10a and 10b of the fixed body 10, a plurality of protrusions 50 are provided that protrude outward when viewed from the optical axis direction. The configuration and role of the protrusions 50 will be described in detail below.

[0015] <Gimbal mechanism> The gimbal mechanism 30 has a rectangular flat plate portion 30C having a circular hole through which the lens 22 of the lens unit 20 is formed, and fixed body side legs 30A and movable body side legs 30B which are connection portions between the fixed body 10 and the lens unit 20. The fixed body side legs 30A and the movable body side legs 30B are formed at the four corners of the rectangular flat plate portion 30C, and of these, the fixed body side legs 30A, which are two connection portions on a diagonal line, are rotatably connected to the fixed body 10, and the movable body side legs 30B, which are two connection portions on another diagonal line, are rotatably connected to the lens unit 20.

[0016] The optical unit 1 of this embodiment is configured so that the entire lens unit 20 can be rotated in the yaw axis direction and the pitch axis direction relative to the fixed body 10 by the gimbal mechanism 30. However, it is also possible to configure the entire lens unit 20 to be rotatable in the roll direction relative to the fixed body 10 by providing a mechanism separate from the gimbal mechanism 30. Furthermore, it is also possible to configure only a part of the lens unit 20 to be rotatable in at least one direction of the yaw axis direction, pitch axis direction, and roll direction relative to the fixed body 10.

[0017] <Magnetic circuit> Next, the magnetic circuit 60 will be described. As described above, the magnets 62A and 62B have the same configuration, and the two coils 61A and 61B, which are positioned opposite the magnets 62A and 62B, also have the same configuration. The optical unit 1 of this embodiment includes, as the magnetic circuit 60, a rotation mechanism including the magnet 62A and the coil 61A, and a rotation mechanism including the magnet 62B and the coil 61B. However, this configuration is not limited to this, and a configuration including only one of these rotation mechanisms may be used. Furthermore, a rotation mechanism that can rotate the lens unit 20 in the rolling direction relative to the fixed body 10 may be provided. The magnetic circuit 60 also includes a magnetic body 63 that attracts the magnets 62A and 62B and forms a magnetic spring together with the magnets 62A and 62B. Furthermore, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment is configured such that a coil 61 is provided on the fixed body 10 and a magnet 62 is provided on the lens unit 20, but it may also be configured such that a magnet 62 is provided on the fixed body 10 and a coil 61 is provided on the lens unit 20.

[0018] <Connections between the fixed and movable bodies and the gimbal mechanism> Next, we will explain the connection portion between the fixed body 10 and the fixed body side leg 30A and the connection portion between the lens unit 20 and the movable body side leg 30B. There are two connection portions between the fixed body 10 and the fixed body side leg 30A, and two connection portions between the lens unit 20 and the movable body side leg 30B, but these all have the same configuration.

[0019] 4 and 5, the fixed body side leg 30A of the gimbal mechanism 30 is provided with a convex portion 31 that protrudes inward. Furthermore, a connection portion 12A to the fixed body 10, where the convex portion 31 is arranged when the gimbal mechanism 30 is connected to the fixed body 10, is provided with a concave portion 81 that is recessed inward. Similarly, the movable body side leg 30B of the gimbal mechanism 30 is provided with a convex portion 31 that protrudes inward. Furthermore, a connection portion 21A to the lens unit 20, where the convex portion 31 is arranged when the gimbal mechanism 30 is connected to the lens unit 20, is provided with a concave portion 81 that is recessed inward. With the fixed body 10, lens unit 20, and gimbal mechanism 30 configured in this way, the convex portion 31 engages with the concave portion 81 in each of the corresponding convex portions 31 and concave portions 81.

[0020] To summarize, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment includes a fixed body 10, a lens unit 20 as a movable body that moves relative to the fixed body 10, a gimbal mechanism 30 as a support that movably supports at least a portion of the lens unit 20 relative to the fixed body 10, and a magnetic circuit 60. Here, the magnetic circuit 60 has a coil 61 provided in the fixed body 10, and a magnet 62 provided in a position facing the coil 61 of the lens unit 20. However, the magnetic circuit 60 may also have a configuration that includes the coil 61 provided in the lens unit 20, and the magnet 62 provided in a position facing the coil 61 of the fixed body 10.

[0021] As described above, the fixed body 10 has the protrusions 50 that protrude outward on the planar members 10a and 10b on which the magnetic circuit 60 is provided. The configuration, role, etc. of the protrusions 50 will be described in detail below.

[0022] The protrusion 50 is configured so that the tip side in the protrusion direction can be crushed by being pressed from the tip side in the protrusion direction by another member (for example, the bracket 200) or the like. In the optical unit 1 of this embodiment, the protrusion 50 has a first protrusion 51 and a second protrusion 52, and protrudes in two stages, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. In detail, the first protrusion 51 protrudes 20 μm from the second protrusion 52, and the second protrusion 52 protrudes 20 μm from the base portion 53 of the protrusion 50, which is the surface on which the second protrusion 52 is formed.

[0023] 6 in which nothing is attached to the bracket 200, as shown in FIG. 7, a portion of the first protrusion 51 is pressed against the bracket 200 and crushed. The amount of crushing of the protrusion 50 can be adjusted as desired. The entire first protrusion 51 can be crushed (crushed by 20 μm), or the entire second protrusion 52 in addition to the first protrusion 51 can be crushed (crushed by 40 μm), or the amount of crushing can be less than 20 μm (crushing only a portion of the first protrusion 51), or the amount of crushing can be more than 20 μm and less than 40 μm (crushing only the entire first protrusion 51 and a portion of the second protrusion 52).

[0024] Note that the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 in this embodiment have flat portions on the sides facing the bracket 200. Therefore, when the squeezing amount is less than 20 μm, the flat portions of the first protrusion 51 abut against the bracket 200, improving the stability of the abutting portion between the optical unit 1 and the bracket 200. When the squeezing amount is more than 20 μm but less than 40 μm, the flat portions of the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 abut against the bracket 200, improving the stability of the abutting portion between the optical unit 1 and the bracket 200. Furthermore, when the squeezing amount is 20 μm and 40 μm, the flat portions of the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52 and the flat portion of the base portion 53, which is the surface on which the second protrusion 52 is formed, abut against the bracket 200, improving the stability of the abutting portion between the optical unit 1 and the bracket 200.

[0025] With the optical unit 1 of this embodiment having such a configuration, the protrusion 50 crushes the tip side in the protruding direction, and the fixed body 10 can be accurately positioned with respect to the bracket 200. For example, since the bracket 200 is attached inside the smartphone 100, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment can accurately position the lens unit 20 supported by the fixed body 10 with respect to the window portion 101 of the smartphone 100 to which the bracket 200 is attached. If the lens 22 of the lens unit 20 is positioned at a position displaced from the center position of the window portion 101, the appearance will not look good, but accurately positioning the lens 22 of the lens unit 20 with respect to the window portion 101 will improve the appearance.

[0026] More specifically, even if an attempt is made to position the lens unit 20 supported by the fixed body 10 by aligning its center position with that of the fixed body 10 when viewed from the optical axis direction, the center position of the lens unit 20 may be shifted relative to the position of the fixed body 10. This is because, for example, the magnetic circuit 60 (e.g., magnet 62) of the lens unit 20 may be attracted to the magnetic circuit 60 (e.g., coil 61 or magnetic body 63) of the fixed body 10, causing the lens unit 20 to be shifted relative to the fixed body 10 toward the side where the magnetic circuit 60 is provided. For example, in FIGS. 6 and 9 , the lens unit 20 tends to be attracted in a lower right direction relative to the fixed body 10. In the optical unit 1 of this embodiment, even when an existing bracket 200 or the like is used, the amount of compression of the protrusion 50 can be adjusted to accommodate such positional deviations, thereby accurately positioning the lens 22 of the lens unit 20 relative to the window portion 101.

[0027] Furthermore, in the optical unit 1 of this embodiment, the support portion that supports the fixed body 10 and the lens unit 20 is a gimbal mechanism 30 that supports the entire lens unit 20 relative to the fixed body 10 so that it can rotate around a rotation axis in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction. In other words, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment is a module tilt type optical unit 1 that moves the module of the lens unit 20 as a whole relative to the fixed body 10. Therefore, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment is a module tilt type optical unit 1 that is configured to be able to accurately position the lens unit 20 with respect to the window portion 101 of the smartphone 100.

[0028] However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the technology of the present invention can be applied to a so-called lens shift type optical unit 1 in which the lens unit 20 has a plurality of lenses 22, and only some of the lenses 22 are suspended by, for example, springs or the like and moved by a magnetic circuit 60 relative to the fixed body 10. Even in a lens shift type optical unit 1, at least a portion of the lens unit 20 tends to move toward the magnetic circuit 60, but by employing the technology of the present invention, the lens unit 20 can be accurately positioned relative to the window 101 of an optical device such as a smartphone 100.

[0029] Furthermore, the technology of the present invention can also be adopted in a so-called sensor shift type optical unit 1, in which the image sensor of the lens unit 20 is suspended by, for example, a spring and moves relative to the fixed body 10 by a magnetic circuit 60.

[0030] Furthermore, in the optical unit 1 of this embodiment, the protrusion 50 has a two-stage configuration, i.e., multiple stages (first protrusion 51 and second protrusion 52) in the protruding direction. With this configuration, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment can contact the bracket 200 at the flat surfaces of the first protrusion 51 and the second protrusion 52, and can be crushed in two stages (multiple stages) in the protruding direction, allowing the lens unit 20 to be easily and accurately positioned with respect to the window 101 of the optical device in multiple states. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The protrusion 50 may have a single stage, or may have three or more stages.

[0031] Furthermore, in the optical unit 1 of this embodiment, each of the planar members 10a and 10b of the fixed body 10 has a plurality of (two) protrusions 50. In detail, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the planar member 10a has protrusions 50A and 50B, and the planar member 10b has protrusions 50C and 50D. With this configuration, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment can accurately position the lens unit 20 without tilting relative to the window 101 of the smartphone 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Each of the planar members 10a and 10b may have only one protrusion 50, or three or more protrusions 50.

[0032] Furthermore, there is no particular limitation on the positions where the protrusions 50 are formed on the planar members 10a and 10b. In the optical unit 1 of this embodiment, the protrusions 50 are formed on the +Z direction side of the planar members 10a and 10b in the Z axis direction, but they may be provided near the center of the planar members 10a and 10b in the optical axis direction by, for example, shifting the position of the flexible printed circuit board 64.

[0033] Furthermore, in the optical unit 1 of this embodiment, the magnetic circuit 60 is provided on both the planar members 10a and 10b, i.e., multiple planar members, and each of the multiple planar members 10a and 10b on which the magnetic circuit 60 is provided in the fixed body 10 has a protrusion 50. With this configuration, the lens unit 20 can be rotated relative to the fixed body 10 around both the pitch axis and the yaw axis, and can be positioned relative to both the planar members 10a and 10b.

[0034] Furthermore, the optical unit 1 can be considered to have a configuration including the bracket 200. That is, the optical unit 1 of this embodiment includes the bracket 200 attached to the outside of the planar members 10a and 10b of the fixed body 10, and the bracket 200 is fixed to the planar members 10a and 10b while abutting the protrusion 50. The optical unit 1 is often attached to the bracket 200, and then the bracket 200 to which the optical unit 1 is attached is attached to the case 102 of the smartphone 100. Because the optical unit 1 of this embodiment has such a configuration, the lens unit 20 can be accurately positioned with respect to the window portion 101 of the smartphone 100 simply by attaching the bracket 200 to the case 102 of the smartphone 100.

[0035] 1 includes the optical unit 1 and a case 102 having a window 101. The optical unit 1 is fixed to the case 102 via a bracket 200 so that the positions of the window 101 and the lens unit 20 in the optical axis direction are aligned. With this configuration, the smartphone 100 of the present embodiment can accurately position the lens unit 20 with respect to the window 101 simply by attaching the bracket 200 to the case 102.

[0036] Finally, the present invention is generally described below. (1) An optical unit comprising: a fixed body; a lens unit; a support portion that movably supports at least a portion of the lens unit relative to the fixed body; a magnetic circuit having a coil provided on one of the fixed body and the lens unit; and a magnet provided on the other of the fixed body and the lens unit in a position opposite the coil, wherein the fixed body has a protrusion that protrudes outward from a planar member on which the magnetic circuit is provided, and the protrusion is configured to be crushable at the tip side in the protruding direction.

[0037] (2) In the optical unit described in (1) above, the support portion is a gimbal mechanism that supports the entire lens unit rotatably relative to the fixed body, with a direction intersecting the optical axis direction as a rotation axis.

[0038] (3) The optical unit according to (1) or (2) above, wherein the protruding portion has a plurality of steps in the protruding direction.

[0039] (4) The optical unit according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the planar member has a plurality of the protrusions.

[0040] (5) An optical unit according to any one of (1) to (4) above, characterized in that it has a plurality of the magnetic circuits, and each of the plurality of planar members on which the magnetic circuits are provided in the fixed body has the protrusion.

[0041] (6) An optical unit according to any one of (1) to (5) above, characterized in that it comprises a bracket attached to the outside of the planar member of the fixed body, and the bracket is fixed to the planar member while abutting the protrusion.

[0042] (7) The optical unit (6) and a case having a window are provided, The optical device is characterized in that the optical unit is fixed to the case via the bracket so that the positions of the window and the lens unit in the optical axis direction are aligned. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1...optical unit, 10...fixed body, 10a...planar member, 10b...planar member, 11...housing portion, 12A...connection portion, 20...lens unit (movable body), 21...holder, 21A...connection portion, 22...lens, 30...gimbal mechanism (support portion), 30A...fixed body side leg portion, 30B...movable body side leg portion, 30C...flat plate portion, 31...convex portion, 50...protruding portion, 50A...protruding portion, 50B...protruding portion, 5 0C...protrusion, 50D...protrusion, 51...first protrusion, 52...second protrusion, 53...base portion, 60...magnetic circuit, 61...coil, 61A...coil, 61B...coil, 62...magnet, 62A...magnet, 62B...magnet, 63...magnetic material, 64...flexible printed circuit board, 81...recess, 100...smartphone (optical device), 101...window portion, 102...case, 200...bracket

Claims

1. A fixed body; A lens unit; a support portion that supports at least a portion of the lens unit movably relative to the fixed body; a magnetic circuit including a coil provided on one of the fixed body and the lens unit, and a magnet provided on the other of the fixed body and the lens unit at a position facing the coil; Equipped with the fixed body has a protrusion that protrudes outward from a planar member on which the magnetic circuit is provided, The optical unit is characterized in that the protruding portion is configured so that a tip side in a protruding direction can be crushed.

2. 2. The optical unit according to claim 1, The optical unit is characterized in that the support portion is a gimbal mechanism that supports the entire lens unit relative to the fixed body so that the entire lens unit can rotate around a rotation axis in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction.

3. 2. The optical unit according to claim 1, The optical unit is characterized in that the protruding portion has a plurality of steps in the protruding direction.

4. 2. The optical unit according to claim 1, An optical unit comprising: the planar member having a plurality of the protrusions.

5. 2. The optical unit according to claim 1, a plurality of the magnetic circuits; An optical unit, comprising: a plurality of planar members on which the magnetic circuit is provided in the fixed body, each of which has the protrusion.

6. 2. The optical unit according to claim 1, a bracket attached to the outside of the planar member of the stationary body; The optical unit is characterized in that the bracket is fixed to the planar member in a state of contact with the protrusion.

7. An optical unit comprising: the optical unit according to claim 6; and a case having a window portion; The optical device is characterized in that the optical unit is fixed to the case via the bracket so that the positions of the window and the lens unit in the optical axis direction are aligned.

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