Optical unit with shake correction function

By using overlapping rail members with annular grooves in the rotation support mechanism, the optical unit addresses the issue of increased height, achieving a more compact design and cost-effective assembly with improved precision.

JP7604220B2Active Publication Date: 2024-12-23NIDEC INSTR CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2020214976
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2020-12-24
Publication Date
2024-12-23
Estimated Expiration
2040-12-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing optical units with shake correction functions face challenges in reducing the overall height due to the inclusion of rotation support mechanisms, such as ball bearings or pivots, which increase the product's thickness and size in the optical axis direction.

Method used

The optical unit incorporates a rotation support mechanism with overlapping first and second rail members that have annular grooves, where the rail members are fitted inside through holes, reducing the number of overlapping parts and simplifying the component shape, thereby minimizing the height in the optical axis direction.

Benefits of technology

This configuration effectively reduces the height of the optical unit by minimizing the number of overlapping parts, lowers production costs, and enhances assembly efficiency while maintaining precise rotation control.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

To reduce a product height in an optical axis direction in an optical unit with a shake correction function that rotates a movable body around an optical axis.SOLUTION: An optical unit with a shake correction function has: a rotation support mechanism 12 that rotatably supports a movable body 10 around an optical axis L; and a gimbal mechanism 13 that connects the rotation support mechanism 12 and a stationary body 11 with each other. The rotation support mechanism 12 comprises: a first annular groove 53 that is formed in a first member; a second member that is formed with a second annular groove facing the first annular groove 53 in the optical axis L direction; and rolling elements that are inserted into the first annular groove 53 and the second annular groove 54. The second member 55 is supported by the gimbal mechanism 13. The first member 25 includes a first rail member 50 that is formed with the first annular groove 53, and a first through hole 52 to which the first rail member 50 is fitted. The second member 55 includes a second rail member 60 that is formed with the second annular groove 54, and a second through hole 62 to which the second rail member 60 is fitted.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical unit with a shake correction function that corrects shake by rotating a camera module around an optical axis. [Background technology]

[0002] Among optical units mounted on mobile terminals or mobile objects, there are those that rotate a movable body equipped with a camera module around the optical axis, around a first axis perpendicular to the optical axis, and around a second axis perpendicular to the optical axis and the first axis in order to suppress distortion of captured images when the mobile terminal or mobile object is moving. Patent Document 1 describes this type of optical unit with a shake correction function.

[0003] The optical unit with shake correction function of Patent Document 1 has a fixed body and a movable body supported rotatably around the optical axis relative to the fixed body. The movable body includes a camera module with a lens, a support surrounding the camera module, and a gimbal mechanism supporting the camera module inside the support rotatably around a first axis and a second axis. The optical unit with shake correction function also includes a swing magnetic drive mechanism that rotates the camera module around the first axis and the second axis in the movable body, a rotation support mechanism that supports the movable body rotatably around the optical axis, and a rolling magnetic drive mechanism that rotates the camera module around the optical axis by rotating the movable body around the optical axis.

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the rotation support mechanism includes a convex portion that protrudes from the bottom of the movable body to the rear side in the optical axis direction, and a ball bearing that surrounds the convex portion. Patent Document 1 also describes, as other configuration examples of the rotation support mechanism, a configuration in which a pivot portion is provided at the bottom of the movable body instead of the ball bearing, and a configuration in which the rotation support mechanism is provided on the outer periphery of the movable body by forming a ball bearing by providing an arc-shaped convex surface on the side of the movable body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-82072 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the optical unit with shake correction function of Patent Document 1, a rotation support mechanism such as a ball bearing or a pivot is provided behind the movable body in the optical axis direction. In such a configuration, the provision of the rotation support mechanism increases the height of the product in the optical axis direction, making it difficult to reduce the thickness of the entire product in the optical axis direction. Patent Document 1 also describes a configuration in which a gimbal mechanism is provided inside the movable body and a rotation support mechanism is provided on the outer periphery of the movable body, but such a configuration increases the outer shape of the entire product when viewed from the optical axis direction.

[0007] In Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-36404, the present inventors have filed an application for an optical unit with a shake correction function in which a gimbal mechanism is provided outside the movable body and a rotation support mechanism is provided between the gimbal mechanism and the movable body. The rotation support mechanism of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-36404 is configured such that a ball bearing with a rolling body inserted between two annular rail members facing each other in the optical axis direction is arranged to surround the lens barrel of the camera module, one rail is fixed to the end face of the movable body on the subject side, and the other rail is supported by the gimbal mechanism so as to be rotatable around the first axis. Therefore, there is no need to secure a space for arranging the rotation support mechanism behind the movable body in the optical axis direction and on the outer periphery of the movable body.

[0008] However, in the rotation support mechanism of Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-36404, two rails holding rolling elements face each other in the optical axis direction, a plate roll made of sheet metal connected to the gimbal frame overlaps the subject side of the two rails, and a stopper member made of sheet metal overlaps the subject side of the plate roll. The stopper member prevents the plate roll from coming off when an impact is applied. In this configuration, since many parts overlap in the optical axis direction to form the rotation support mechanism, the height of the rotation support mechanism in the optical axis direction is large. Therefore, a large space must be secured between the camera module and the gimbal frame to place the rotation support mechanism, which increases the product height in the optical axis direction.

[0009] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to reduce the height of a rotation support mechanism in the optical axis direction in an optical unit with shake correction function that rotates a movable body about an optical axis. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an optical unit with shake correction function, comprising: a movable body having a camera module; a rotation support mechanism that supports the movable body rotatably around an optical axis of the camera module; a gimbal mechanism that supports the rotation support mechanism rotatably around a first axis that intersects with the optical axis and supports the rotation support mechanism rotatably around a second axis that intersects with the optical axis and the first axis; and a fixed body that supports the movable body via the gimbal mechanism and the rotation support mechanism, wherein the rotation support mechanism has a first annular groove that surrounds the optical axis and is disposed adjacent to the optical axis. The gimbal mechanism includes a first rail member that overlaps with the camera module when viewed in the axial direction, a second rail member having a second annular groove formed therein that faces the first annular groove in the optical axis direction, and a plurality of rolling bodies that are inserted into the first annular groove and the second annular groove and roll between the first rail member and the second rail member, wherein the movable body includes a first member, the first member having the first rail member and a first through hole into which the first rail member fits, and the second rail member fits into a second through hole provided in a second member that is supported by the gimbal mechanism to be rotatable around the first axis.

[0011] According to the present invention, the rotation support mechanism that supports the movable body rotatably around the optical axis includes a first rail member and a second rail member that overlap in the optical axis direction. In this way, by making the rail portion in which the annular groove is provided into a component, the shape of the component can be simplified and the component cost can be reduced. In addition, since the first rail member fits inside the first through hole of the first member that constitutes the movable body, and the second rail member fits inside the second through hole of the second member that is supported by the gimbal mechanism, the number of components that overlap in the optical axis direction is smaller than in a configuration in which the rail members are overlapped and joined to the edge of the through holes. Therefore, the height of the rotation support mechanism in the optical axis direction can be reduced. Therefore, the product height in the optical axis direction of the optical unit with shake correction function can be reduced.

[0012] In the present invention, it is preferable that the first rail member and the second rail member are the same member. In this way, the parts can be standardized, so the number of types of parts can be reduced and the parts cost can be reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to distinguish between the first rail member and the second rail member, the assembly work of the rotation support mechanism is easy.

[0013] In the present invention, it is preferable that the movable body includes a holder that holds the camera module, and the first member includes a first annular plate portion that includes the first through hole and the first rail member that fits into the first through hole, and a first extension portion that extends from the first annular plate portion to the outer periphery and is fixed to the holder. In this way, by assembling the camera module, the holder, and the first member, the first annular plate portion can be positioned at a position that overlaps with the camera module in the optical axis direction, and the first rail member can be positioned at a position that surrounds the optical axis of the camera module.

[0014] In the present invention, the second member has a second annular plate portion having the second through hole and the second rail member fitted into the second through hole, and the second annular plate portion is connected to the first annular plate portion. It is preferable that the second annular plate portion is disposed in the gap between the first annular plate portion and the camera module in the optical axis direction. In this way, when the second annular plate portion that rotates relative to the movable body is disposed in the gap between the first annular plate portion and the camera module in the optical axis direction to configure the rotation support mechanism, the first annular plate portion and the camera module function as stoppers to prevent the second annular plate portion from coming off. Therefore, since there is no need to separately place a stopper member that overlaps with the second annular plate portion in the optical axis direction, the height of the rotation support mechanism in the optical axis direction can be reduced. Therefore, the height of the optical unit with shake correction function in the optical axis direction can be reduced.

[0015] In the present invention, the rotation support mechanism includes a pressurizing mechanism that applies a force that brings the first annular groove and the second annular groove closer to each other in the optical axis direction, and the pressurizing mechanism includes a first protruding plate portion that protrudes from the first annular plate portion toward the outer periphery and a pressurizing magnet that is fixed to a circumferential portion of the second member around the optical axis, and the first protruding plate portion is preferably made of a magnetic metal and is attracted to the pressurizing magnet. In this way, by mounting a pressurizing magnet on the second annular plate portion that rotates relative to the movable body and providing the movable body with a first protruding plate portion that is attracted to the pressurizing magnet, it is possible to prevent the rotation position of the first protruding plate portion from being shifted due to being attracted to the magnet of the magnetic drive mechanism mounted on the movable body. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pressurizing mechanism from being interfered with by the magnetic drive mechanism. In addition, the angular position of the movable body around the optical axis can be determined by the pressurizing mechanism.

[0016] In the present invention, it is preferable that the second member includes a pair of second extension parts extending from the second annular plate part to both sides in the first axial direction and connected to the gimbal mechanism, and a pair of second protruding plate parts protruding from the second annular plate part to both sides in the second axial direction, the pressurizing magnet is fixed to each of the pair of second extension parts and the pair of second protruding plate parts, and the first protruding plate parts protrude from the first annular plate part to both sides in the first axial direction and to both sides in the second axial direction. In this way, the pressurizing magnet and the first protruding plate parts can be evenly arranged in the circumferential direction around the optical axis. Therefore, the magnetic attraction force for pressurization can be generated in a well-balanced manner in the circumferential direction.

[0017] In the present invention, it is preferable that the holder is made of resin, and that the pair of second extensions and the pair of second protruding plate parts are provided at diagonal positions in the first axis direction and diagonal positions in the second axis direction of the holder, with stopper protrusions facing the pair of second extensions and the pair of second protruding plate parts in the optical axis direction. In this way, the stopper protrusions can regulate the second annular plate part from moving away from the first annular plate part. In addition, a holder made of resin is easier to form a complex uneven shape than a holder made of sheet metal. Therefore, it is easy to manufacture a holder with stopper protrusions. In addition, when the holder is made of resin, strength can be ensured without providing end plate parts that protrude inward at the end in the optical axis direction as in a sheet metal holder. Therefore, the height of the movable body in the optical axis direction can be reduced.

[0018] In the present invention, a rotation restriction mechanism for restricting the rotation range of the movable body around the optical axis is provided, and the rotation restriction mechanism includes a first rotation restriction portion formed on the first member or the holder, and a second rotation restriction portion extending from the second annular plate portion to the outer circumferential side, and the first rotation restriction portion and the second rotation restriction portion are preferably positioned in a circumferential direction around the optical axis differently from the first extension portion, and one of the first rotation restriction portion and the second rotation restriction portion surrounds both sides in the circumferential direction of the other of the first rotation restriction portion and the second rotation restriction portion. In this way, when the rotation restriction mechanism is configured by colliding the first member or the holder constituting the movable body with the second annular plate portion, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the dimensional accuracy of the rotation restriction mechanism due to an accumulation of part tolerances, compared to a case surrounding the movable body and a holder for the movable body being collided with each other to configure the rotation restriction mechanism. In particular, when the first member and the second annular plate portion are collided with each other, the rotation restriction mechanism can be completed inside the rotation support mechanism. Therefore, the rotation range of the movable body can be precisely restricted.

[0019] In the present invention, the holder is provided with a first deflection mechanism for rotating the movable body about the first axis. It is preferable that the first magnet of the magnetic drive mechanism for correction, the second magnet of the magnetic drive mechanism for second shake correction that rotates the movable body around the second axis, and the third magnet of the magnetic drive mechanism for rolling correction that rotates the movable body around the optical axis are fixed, the first magnet, the second magnet, and the third magnet are arranged in the circumferential direction around the optical axis, and the first extension part is made of a magnetic metal and is bent toward the holder on the outer periphery side of the first annular plate part and fixed at each position on the inner periphery side of the first magnet, the inner periphery side of the second magnet, and the inner periphery side of the third magnet. In this way, the yokes for the magnets of the magnetic drive mechanism for shake correction and the magnetic drive mechanism for rolling correction are all integrated into the first member, so that the number of parts can be reduced. In addition, the assembly work of the movable body is easy, and the positional accuracy of the yoke can be improved. Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, the rotation support mechanism that supports the movable body rotatably around the optical axis includes a first rail member and a second rail member that overlap in the optical axis direction. In this way, by making the rail portion in which the annular groove is provided into a component, the shape of the component can be simplified and the component cost can be reduced. In addition, since the first rail member fits inside the first through hole of the first member that constitutes the movable body, and the second rail member fits inside the second through hole of the second member that is supported by the gimbal mechanism, the number of components that overlap in the optical axis direction is smaller than in a configuration in which the rail members are overlapped and joined to the edge of the through holes. Therefore, the height of the rotation support mechanism in the optical axis direction can be reduced. Therefore, the product height in the optical axis direction of the optical unit with shake correction function can be reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical unit with a shake correction function. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an optical unit with a shake correction function. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the optical unit with shake correction function with the cover removed, as viewed from the subject side. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit with shake correction function with the cover and base removed. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the optical unit with shake correction function taken along line AA in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the optical unit with shake correction function taken along the line BB in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] 2 is a perspective view of a gimbal frame and a gimbal frame receiving member. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the movable body and the rotation support mechanism as viewed from the subject side. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a movable body and a rotation support mechanism. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the movable body and the rotation support mechanism as viewed from the side opposite to the subject. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of an optical unit with a shake correction function to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0023] (Overall composition) Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an optical unit with a shake correction function. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit with a shake correction function. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the optical unit with a shake correction function with the cover removed, as viewed from the subject side. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit with a shake correction function with the cover and base removed.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, optical unit 1 with shake correction function includes movable body 10 having camera module 2, and fixed body 11 surrounding movable body 10 from the outside. Fixed body 11 includes frame-shaped case 3 surrounding movable body 10 from the outer periphery, cover 4 fixed to case 3 from the subject side, and base 5 fixed to case 3 from the opposite subject side and covering the movable body from the opposite subject side. Optical unit 1 with shake correction function also includes flexible printed circuit board 6 drawn out from movable body 10, and flexible printed circuit board 7 routed along the outer periphery of case 3. can.

[0025] The optical unit 1 with shake correction function is used in optical devices such as camera-equipped mobile phones and drive recorders, and in optical devices such as action cameras and wearable cameras mounted on moving objects such as helmets, bicycles, and radio-controlled helicopters. In such optical devices, if the optical device shakes during shooting, the captured image will be distorted. In order to prevent the captured image from being tilted, the optical unit 1 with shake correction function corrects the tilt of the camera module 2 based on the acceleration, angular velocity, amount of shake, etc. detected by a detection means such as a gyroscope.

[0026] The camera module 2 includes a lens 2a and an image sensor 2b arranged on the optical axis L of the lens 2a (see FIGS. 5 and 6). The optical unit 1 with shake correction function performs shake correction by rotating the camera module 2 around the optical axis L of the lens 2a, around a first axis R1 perpendicular to the optical axis L, and around a second axis R2 perpendicular to the optical axis L and the first axis R1.

[0027] In the following description, the three mutually orthogonal axes are referred to as the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions. One side in the X-axis direction is referred to as the -X direction, and the other side as the +X direction. One side in the Y-axis direction is referred to as the -Y direction, and the other side as the +Y direction. One side in the Z-axis direction is referred to as the -Z direction, and the other side as the +Z direction. The Z-axis direction is the direction of the optical axis L. The -Z direction is the side of the camera module 2 opposite the subject, and the +Z direction is the subject side of the camera module 2. The first axis R1 and the second axis R2 are inclined at 45 degrees around the Z axis (around the optical axis) with respect to the X-axis and Y-axis.

[0028] The optical unit 1 with shake correction function has a rotation support mechanism 12 that supports a movable body 10 rotatably about the Z axis, and a gimbal mechanism 13. The gimbal mechanism 13 supports the rotation support mechanism 12 rotatably about a first axis R1, and also supports the rotation support mechanism 12 rotatably about a second axis R2. The movable body 10 is supported by a fixed body 11 via the rotation support mechanism 12 and the gimbal mechanism 13 in a state where it can rotate about the first axis R1 and the second axis R2.

[0029] 3, the gimbal mechanism 13 includes a gimbal frame 14 and a first connection mechanism 15 that connects the gimbal frame 14 and the rotation support mechanism 12 rotatably around a first axis R1. The first connection mechanism 15 is provided on both sides of the gimbal frame 14 in the direction of the first axis R1. The gimbal mechanism 13 also includes a second connection mechanism 16 that connects the gimbal frame 14 and the fixed body 11 rotatably around a second axis R2. The second connection mechanism 16 is provided on both sides of the gimbal frame 14 in the direction of the second axis R2.

[0030] The optical unit 1 with shake correction function also includes a shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 20 that rotates the movable body 10 around the first axis R1 and the second axis R2. As shown in FIG. 3, the shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 20 includes a first shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 21 that generates a drive force around the X axis for the movable body 10, and a second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 22 that generates a drive force around the Y axis for the movable body 10. The first shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 21 and the second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 22 are arranged in the circumferential direction around the Z axis. In this example, the first shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 21 is disposed in the -X direction of the camera module 2. The second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 22 is disposed in the -Y direction of the camera module 2.

[0031] The movable body 10 rotates about the X-axis and the Y-axis by combining the rotation about the first axis R1 and the rotation about the second axis R2, whereby the optical unit 1 with shake correction function performs pitching correction about the X-axis and yawing correction about the Y-axis.

[0032] Furthermore, the optical unit 1 with shake correction function has a rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism 23 that rotates the movable body 10 around the Z axis. As shown in FIG. The mechanism 21, the second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 22, and the rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism 23 are arranged in the circumferential direction around the Z axis. In this example, the rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism 23 is disposed in the +Y direction of the camera module 2. The rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism 23 is located on the opposite side to the second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 22, with the optical axis L between them.

[0033] (fixed body) In the fixed body 11, the cover 4 and the base 5 are plate-shaped and made of a non-magnetic metal. Hooks 8 bent at approximately a right angle toward the case 3 are formed on the outer periphery of the cover 4 and the base 5. The case 3 is made of resin. The hooks 8 are engaged with protrusions 9 provided on the outer periphery of the case 3. The gimbal mechanism 13 and the camera module 2 are disposed inside the opening 4a of the cover 4, and protrude from the cover 4 in the +Z direction.

[0034] The case 3 includes a rectangular frame portion 18 that surrounds the movable body 10 and the rotation support mechanism 12 from the outer periphery, and a rectangular wiring accommodating portion 19 that is disposed in the +X direction of the frame portion 18. The frame portion 18 includes a first side plate portion 181 and a second side plate portion 182 that face each other in the X direction, and a third side plate portion 183 and a fourth side plate portion 184 that face each other in the Y direction. The first side plate portion 181 is located in the -X direction of the second side plate portion 182. The third side plate portion 183 is located in the -Y direction of the fourth side plate portion 184.

[0035] 4, frame 18 has a notch 185 formed by cutting out the -Z direction edge of second side plate 182. A flexible printed circuit board 6 connected to imaging element 2b is drawn out in the +X direction from the -Z direction end portion of movable body 10. Flexible printed circuit board 6 is drawn out in the +X direction of frame 18 through notch 185 and housed in wiring housing 19.

[0036] The wiring accommodating section 19 includes a fifth side plate section 191 and a sixth side plate section 192 that face each other in the Y-axis direction, and a seventh side plate section 193 that faces the second side plate section 182 of the frame section 18 in the X-axis direction. The wiring accommodating section 19 includes a notch section 194 formed by cutting out an edge of the seventh side plate section 193 in the -Z direction. The flexible printed circuit board 6 is routed inside the wiring accommodating section 19 in a shape that is folded back multiple times, and is drawn out to the outside of the wiring accommodating section 19 through the notch section 194.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, a first coil fixing hole 183a is provided in the third side plate portion 183 of the case 3. The first coil 21C is fixed in the first coil fixing hole 183a. A second coil fixing hole 181a is provided in the first side plate portion 181 of the case 3. The second coil 22C is fixed in the second coil fixing hole 181a. The first coil 21C and the second coil 22C are oval air-core coils that are elongated in the circumferential direction. In addition, a third coil fixing hole 184a is provided in the fourth side plate portion 184. The third coil 23C is disposed in the third coil fixing hole 184a. The third coil 23C is an air-core coil that is elongated in the Z-axis direction.

[0038] 3, the first coil 21C fixed to the third side plate portion 183 and the first magnet 21M fixed to the side surface of the movable body 10 in the -Y direction face each other in the Y direction, constituting a first shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 21. The second coil 22C fixed to the first side plate portion 181 and the second magnet 22M fixed to the side surface of the movable body 10 in the -X direction face each other in the X direction, constituting a second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 22. The third coil 23C fixed to the fourth side plate portion 184 and the third magnet 23M fixed to the side surface of the movable body 10 in the +Y direction face each other in the Y direction, constituting a rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism 23.

[0039] The first coil 21C, the second coil 22C, and the third coil 23C are electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board 7. The flexible printed circuit board 7 is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the frame portion 18. In this embodiment, the flexible printed circuit board 7 is pulled along the outer circumferential surfaces of the fourth side plate portion 184, the first side plate portion 181, and the third side plate portion 183 of the frame portion 18 in this order. It is being rotated.

[0040] A magnetic plate 17 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is fixed to the flexible printed circuit board 7 at two positions, one overlapping with the center of the first coil 21C and the other overlapping with the center of the second coil 22C. The magnetic plate 17 overlapping the first coil 21C and the first magnet 21M constitute a magnetic spring for returning the movable body 10 to a reference angle position in the rotation direction around the X-axis. The magnetic plate 17 overlapping the second coil 22C and the second magnet 22M constitute a magnetic spring for returning the movable body 10 to a reference angle position in the rotation direction around the Y-axis. Furthermore, a swing position sensor and a rotation position sensor (not shown) are disposed on the flexible printed circuit board 7. The optical unit 1 with shake correction function acquires the angular positions of the movable body 10 in the rotation directions around the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis based on the outputs of these sensors.

[0041] (Gimbal mechanism) Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are cross-sectional views of the optical unit with shake correction function. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the gimbal frame 14, the first gimbal frame receiving member 151, and the second gimbal frame receiving member 162.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the second connection mechanism 16 that connects the gimbal frame 14 and the fixed body 11 rotatably around the second axis R2 is provided at diagonal positions in the second axis R2 direction of the frame part 18. A second gimbal frame support member 162 is fixed to a pair of recesses 161 provided at diagonal positions in the second axis R2 direction of the frame part 18. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the second gimbal frame support member 162 includes a sphere 163 and a second thrust support member 164 to which the sphere 163 is fixed. As shown in FIG. 6, by fixing the second gimbal frame support member 162 to the recesses 161, the sphere 163 is supported by the fixed body 11 at a position on the second axis R2. When assembling the gimbal mechanism 13, the gimbal frame 14 is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the second gimbal frame support member 162 and brought into point contact with the sphere 163 on the second axis R2. In this way, the second connection mechanism 16 is formed.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, a first connection mechanism 15 is provided on both sides of the movable body 10 in the first axis R1 direction, which connects the gimbal frame 14 and the rotation support mechanism 12 to be rotatable around the first axis R1. The first connection mechanism 15 includes a first gimbal frame support member 151 fixed to the rotation support mechanism 12 on both sides of the movable body 10 in the first axis R1 direction. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, the first gimbal frame support member 151 includes a sphere 152 and a first thrust support member 153 to which the sphere 152 is fixed. By fixing the first thrust support member 153 to the rotation support mechanism 12, the sphere 152 is supported by the rotation support mechanism 12 at a position on the first axis R1. When assembling the gimbal mechanism 13, the gimbal frame 14 is inserted into the inner periphery of the first gimbal frame support member 151 and brought into point contact with the sphere 152 on the first axis R1. This forms the first connection mechanism 15.

[0044] The gimbal frame 14 is made of a metal leaf spring. As shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the gimbal frame 14 includes a gimbal frame main body 140 located in the +Z direction of the movable body 10, a pair of first-axis side extension parts 141 protruding from the gimbal frame main body 140 toward both sides in the first axis R1 direction and extending in the -Z direction, and a pair of second-axis side extension parts 142 protruding from the gimbal frame main body 140 toward both sides in the second axis R2 direction and extending in the -Z direction. The gimbal frame 14 includes an opening 143 penetrating the center of the gimbal frame main body 140 in the Z-axis direction.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 7, each of the pair of first axis side extension portions 141 includes a first axis side concave curved surface 144 that is recessed toward the inner periphery side toward the movable body 10 in the first axis R1 direction on the first axis R1. The first axis side extending portion 141 also includes a pair of notches 145 formed by cutting out both edges in the circumferential direction in the +Z direction of the first axis side concave curved surface 144. The first axis side extending portion 141 also includes a protruding portion 146 that protrudes in the -Z direction of the first axis side concave curved surface 144 toward the outer periphery. Next, each of the pair of second axis side extending portions 142 includes a second axis side concave curved surface 147 that is recessed toward the inner periphery in the second axis R2 direction toward the movable body 10. The second axis side extending portion 142 also includes a pair of notches 148 formed by cutting out both edges in the circumferential direction in the +Z direction of the second axis side concave curved surface 147.

[0046] 7, the first thrust receiving member 153 includes a plate portion 154 extending in the Z-axis direction, a foot portion 155 bent from an end portion of the plate portion 154 in the -Z direction toward the movable body 10, and a pair of arms 156 bent from both side edges in the circumferential direction of the plate portion 154 toward the movable body 10. The sphere 152 is fixed to the plate portion 154 by welding. The first thrust receiving member 153 also includes a hole portion 157 penetrating the center of a corner portion where the plate portion 154 and the foot portion 155 are connected. The tips of the foot portion 155 and the pair of arms 156 are fixed to the rotation support mechanism 12 by welding. As described below, the rotational support mechanism 12 has a pair of second extension portions 64 extending in the -Z direction on both sides of the first axis R1 direction of the movable body 10, and the first gimbal frame support member 151 has a foot portion 155 and a pair of arms 156 whose tips are fixed to the tips of the second extension portions 64 by welding.

[0047] When assembling the gimbal mechanism 13, the first axis side extensions 141 of the gimbal frame 14 are bent inwardly and inserted into the inner periphery of the first gimbal frame receiving member 151. As a result, the first axis side extensions 141 are biased toward the outer periphery, so that the first axis side concave curved surfaces 144 of the first axis side extensions 141 and the spheres 152 of the first gimbal frame receiving member 151 can maintain contact with each other. In addition, the notches 145 of the first axis side extensions 141 are disposed between the pair of arms 156, and the protrusions 146 are disposed in the holes 157 (see FIG. 5). This prevents the gimbal frame 14 from slipping out of the first gimbal frame receiving member 151 in the +Z direction.

[0048] The second thrust receiving member 164 includes a plate portion 165 extending in the Z-axis direction, a foot portion 166 bent from the end of the plate portion 165 in the -Z direction toward the movable body 10, and a pair of arms 167 bent from both circumferential side edges of the plate portion 165 toward the movable body 10. A sphere 163 is fixed to the plate portion 165 by welding. In addition, the second thrust receiving member 164 includes foot bent portions 168 bent from both circumferential ends of the foot portion 166 in the +Z direction. When the second thrust receiving member 164 is fixed to the recess 161 of the case 3, the second thrust receiving member 164 is press-fitted into the recess 161 while bending the foot bent portions 168 toward the center in the circumferential direction.

[0049] When assembling the gimbal mechanism 13, the second-axis-side extension portions 142 of the gimbal frame 14 are bent inwardly and inserted into the inner periphery of the second gimbal frame receiving member 162. As a result, the second-axis-side extension portions 142 are biased toward the outer periphery, so that the second-axis-side concave curved surfaces 147 of the second-axis-side extension portions 142 and the spheres 163 of the second gimbal frame receiving member 162 can maintain contact with each other. In addition, the notches 145 of the second-axis-side extension portions 142 are disposed between the pair of arms 156. This prevents the gimbal frame 14 from slipping out of the second gimbal frame receiving member 162 in the +Z direction.

[0050] (movable body) Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the movable body 10 and the rotation support mechanism 12 as viewed from the subject side. Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the movable body 10 and the rotation support mechanism 12. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the movable body 10 and the rotation support mechanism 12 as viewed from the opposite subject side. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the movable body 10 includes a camera module 2, a frame-shaped holder 24 that holds the camera module 2, and a first member 25 fixed to the holder 24. The holder 24 is made of resin, and the first member 25 is made of metal.

[0051] 8 and 9, first member 25 includes a first annular plate portion 26 that surrounds optical axis L and overlaps the outer periphery of camera module 2 from the +Z direction, and a first extension portion 27 that protrudes from first annular plate portion 26 to the outer periphery side, bends in the -Z direction on the outer periphery side of camera module 2, and is connected to holder 24. In this embodiment, rotation support mechanism 12 is disposed in the gap between first annular plate portion 26 and camera module 2 in the Z-axis direction (optical axis L direction).

[0052] The first extension portion 27 is disposed at three positions in the -X direction, +Y direction, and -Z direction of the first annular plate portion 26. The angular position at which the first extension portion 27 is disposed is the angular position at which the first magnet 21M and the second magnet 22M of the shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 20 and the third magnet 23M of the rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism 23 are disposed. The first extension portion 27 includes a first extension portion first part 28 that extends from the first annular plate portion 26 toward the outer periphery and bends in the -Z direction, and a rectangular first extension portion second part 29 that is connected to the tip of the first extension portion first part 28 in the -Z direction and has a wider circumferential width than the first extension portion first part 28. The first extension portion second part 29 is fixed to the holder 24.

[0053] The first member 25 includes a ring-shaped first rail member 50 surrounding the optical axis L, and a first plate-shaped member 51 made of sheet metal to which the first rail member 50 is joined. The first plate-shaped member 51 is made of a magnetic metal. The first rail member 50 is made of a non-magnetic metal. The first rail member 50 may be made of a magnetic metal. The first rail member 50 is fitted into the inside of a circular first through hole 52 provided in the first plate-shaped member 51, and fixed to the first plate-shaped member 51 by welding. More specifically, the first rail member 50 and the first plate-shaped member 51 are welded so that the opening edge of the first through hole 52 and the outer circumferential edge of the first rail member 50 are connected in the radial direction. The welding is performed at a plurality of points at equal angular intervals around the Z axis.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a first annular groove 53 is provided on the end face of the first rail member 50 in the -Z direction. In this embodiment, the first annular groove 53 is formed by cutting. The first rail member 50 may be a member in which the first annular groove 53 is formed by a method other than cutting. For example, the first annular groove 53 may be formed by cold forging or press processing. The first annular plate portion 26 has an inner peripheral portion formed by the first rail member 50 and an outer peripheral portion formed by the first plate-shaped member 51. Therefore, the first annular plate portion 26 has the first annular groove 53 surrounding the optical axis L.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 9, the camera module 2 includes a camera module main body 30A and a camera module cylindrical portion 30B that protrudes in the +Z direction from the center of the camera module main body 30A. A lens 2a (see Figs. 5 and 6) is housed in the camera module cylindrical portion 30B. The holder 24 surrounds the camera module main body 30A from the outer periphery. The camera module cylindrical portion 30B protrudes in the +Z direction from a circular hole 26a provided in the center of the first annular plate portion 26, and is disposed in an opening 143 of the gimbal frame 14.

[0056] The camera module body 30A and the holder 24 have a substantially octagonal contour when viewed from the +Z direction. The holder 24 includes a first side wall 31 and a second side wall 32 extending parallel to the Y direction, and a third side wall 33 and a fourth side wall 34 extending parallel to the X direction. The first side wall 31 is located in the -X direction of the second side wall 32. The third side wall 33 is located in the -Y direction of the fourth side wall 34. A notch 32a is provided at the edge of the second side wall 32 in the -Z direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible printed circuit board 6 connected to the imaging element 2b is drawn from the end of the camera module 2 in the -Z direction to the +X direction of the movable body 10 through the notch 32a.

[0057] The holder 24 also includes a fifth side wall 35 and a sixth side wall 36 located diagonally in the first axis R1 direction, and a seventh side wall 37 and an eighth side wall 38 located diagonally in the second axis R2 direction. The fifth side wall 35 is located in the -X direction of the sixth side wall 36. The seventh side wall 37 is located in the -X direction of the eighth side wall 38. The fifth side wall 35, the sixth side wall 36, the seventh side wall 37 and the eighth side wall 38 have stopper projections 39 formed on their end faces in the +Z direction, the stopper projections 39 protruding in the +Z direction.

[0058] The first magnet 21M is fixed to the first side wall 31 of the holder 24, and the second magnet 22M is fixed to the third side wall 33. The first magnet 21M and the second magnet 22M are two-pole magnetized in the Z-axis direction. The magnetization polarization lines of the first magnet 21M and the second magnet 22M extend in the circumferential direction. The first magnet 21M and the second magnet 22M are arranged with the same pole facing the Z-axis direction. The third magnet 23M is fixed to the fourth side wall 34 of the holder 24. The third magnet 23M is pole-magnetized in the circumferential direction. The first magnet 21M, the second magnet 22M, and the third magnet 23M are arranged in the circumferential direction around the optical axis L. The third magnet 23M is arranged on the opposite side of the optical axis L to the second magnet 22M.

[0059] 9, recesses 40 recessed toward the inner periphery are formed on the outer periphery surfaces of the first side wall 31, the third side wall 33, and the fourth side wall 34 of the holder 24, and the first magnet 21M, the second magnet 22M, and the third magnet 23M are housed in the recesses 40. The first magnet 21M, the second magnet 22M, and the third magnet 23M are positioned in the Z-axis direction by abutting from the +Z direction against a bottom surface 41 provided at the end of each recess 40 in the -Z direction.

[0060] The three recesses 40 each have a groove 42 formed on the inner surface on both sides in the circumferential direction. As shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the first extension second portion 29 provided at the tip of the first extension portion 27 in the -Z direction is inserted into each recess 40. The first extension second portion 29 has both circumferential ends inserted into the groove 42 and is fixed to each recess 40 by adhesive. The first extension second portion 29 is inserted radially inward of the first magnet 21M, the second magnet 22M, and the third magnet 23M. The first extension second portion 29 is made of a magnetic metal and functions as a yoke for each magnet.

[0061] (Rotational support mechanism) The rotation support mechanism 12 includes a first annular groove 53 provided in the movable body 10 coaxially with the optical axis L, and a second member 55 having a second annular groove 54 facing the first annular groove 53 in the Z-axis direction. The rotation support mechanism 12 also includes a plurality of rolling elements 56 inserted into the first annular groove 53 and the second annular groove 54 to roll between the movable body 10 and the second member 55, and an annular retainer 57 that rotatably holds the rolling elements 56. The retainer 57 includes a plurality of sphere holding holes 58 that rotatably hold each of the plurality of rolling elements 56. The rotation support mechanism 12 also includes a pressure mechanism 59 that applies a force that brings the first annular groove 53 and the second annular groove 54 closer to each other in the Z-axis direction.

[0062] 9, the second member 55 includes an annular second rail member 60 surrounding the optical axis L, and a second plate-shaped member 61 made of sheet metal to which the second rail member 60 is joined. The second rail member 60 is fitted into the inside of a circular second through hole 62 provided in the second plate-shaped member 61, and is fixed to the second plate-shaped member 61 by welding. More specifically, the second rail member 60 and the second plate-shaped member 61 are welded from the -Z direction at the opening edge of the second through hole 62 and the outer circumferential edge of the second rail member 60. The welding is performed at multiple points at equal angular intervals around the Z axis.

[0063] The second annular groove 54 is provided on the end surface of the second rail member 60 in the +Z direction. In this embodiment, the second annular groove 54 is formed by cutting. The second rail member 60 and the second plate-shaped member 61 are both made of a non-magnetic metal. The second rail member 60 may be made of a magnetic metal. The second rail member 60 and the first rail member 50 are the same member. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the second rail member 60 and the first rail member 50 are arranged coaxially, and the first annular groove 53 and the second annular groove 54 face each other in the Z-axis direction.

[0064] The rolling elements 56 are made of metal or ceramics. The retainer 57 is made of resin. The retainer 57 is located between the first rail member 50 and the second rail member 60 in the Z-axis direction. In this embodiment, the rolling elements 56 are spheres. The rotation support mechanism 12 includes six rolling elements 56, and the retainer 57 includes six sphere holding holes 58 arranged at equal angular intervals. The rolling elements 56 are held in the sphere holding holes 58 so as to be rollable, and protrude from the retainer 57 in the -Z and +Z directions.

[0065] The second member 55 includes a second annular plate portion 63 surrounding the optical axis L, a pair of second extension portions 64 protruding from the second annular plate portion 63 on both sides in the first axis R1 direction, and a pair of second protruding plate portions 65 protruding from the second annular plate portion 63 on both sides in the second axis R2 direction. The second annular plate portion 63 has an inner peripheral portion formed of the second rail member 60 and an outer peripheral portion formed of the second plate-shaped member 61. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 8, the second annular plate portion 63 and the retainer 57 are disposed in a gap in the optical axis L direction between the first annular plate portion 26 of the first member 25 and the camera module main body portion 30A.

[0066] Each of the pair of second extension parts 64 includes a second extension part first portion 66 extending from the second annular plate part 63 in the first axis R1 direction, and a second extension part second portion 67 extending in the Z-axis direction on the outer circumferential side of the movable body 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the second extension part second portion 67 faces the movable body 10 with a small gap on the outer side of the movable body 10 in the first axis R1 direction. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, the first gimbal frame support member 151 is fixed to the surface of each second extension part second portion 67 on the opposite side to the movable body 10. The first gimbal frame support member 151 is fixed to the second extension part second portion 67 by welding the tips of the pair of arm parts 156 and foot parts 155 to the second extension part second portion 67.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the pressurizing mechanism 59 includes pressurizing magnets 68 arranged at four positions around the optical axis L of the second member 55, and first protruding plate portions 69 provided at four positions around the optical axis L of the first member 25. The pressurizing magnets 68 are fixed at four positions, namely, the pair of second extension portion first parts 66 and the pair of second protruding plate portions 65. Each pressurizing magnet 68 is bipolarly magnetized in the circumferential direction. The first protruding plate portions 69 protrude from the first annular plate portion 26 in four directions, namely, both sides in the first axis R1 direction and both sides in the second axis R2 direction. When the movable body 10 and the rotation support mechanism 12 are assembled, each of the four pressurizing magnets 68 arranged on the second member 55 overlaps with the four first protruding plate portions 69 provided on the movable body 10 in the optical axis L direction.

[0068] The first protruding plate portion 69 is made of a magnetic metal. Therefore, the first protruding plate portion 69 overlapping with each of the pressurizing magnets 68 in the optical axis L direction is attracted toward the pressurizing magnets 68 by the magnetic attraction force of the pressurizing magnets 68. As a result, the pressurizing mechanism 59 applies a force that brings the first annular groove 53 and the second annular groove 54 closer to each other in the Z-axis direction at four points equiangularly spaced around the optical axis L. The movable body 10 is attracted to the second member 55 by the magnetic attraction force of the pressurizing mechanism 59, and is supported by the second member 55 in a state in which it can rotate around the Z-axis.

[0069] The pair of second extension portions 64 and the pair of second protruding plate portions 65 provided on the second member 55 face the stopper convex portion 39 provided on the holder 24 in the optical axis L direction. As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the +Z direction tip of the stopper convex portion 39 protrudes in the +Z direction beyond the +Z direction end face of the camera module main body 30A. Therefore, the movement range of the second member 55 in the -Z direction is restricted by the stopper convex portion 39.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 8, the first side wall 31, the second side wall 32, the third side wall 33, and the fourth side wall 34 have a height in the Z-axis direction that is lower than that of the camera module main body 30A. As shown in FIG. 10, the holder 24 has a protrusion 43 that protrudes in the -Z direction from the -Z end faces of the first side wall 31, the third side wall 33, and the fourth side wall 34. The protrusion 43 is located in the circumferential center of the first side wall 31, the third side wall 33, and the fourth side wall 34. The protrusion 43 protrudes in the -Z direction further than the bottom surface (surface facing the -Z direction) of the camera module main body 30A. Therefore, even if a drop impact or the like is applied, the holder 24 is resistant to shock. Therefore, when the movable body 10 as a whole moves significantly in the Z-axis direction, the protrusion 43 hits the fixed body 11 before the camera module main body 30A hits the fixed body 11.

[0071] The protrusions 43 are formed on three of the eight side walls arranged in the circumferential direction surrounding the camera module main body 30A (the first side wall 31, the third side wall 33, and the fourth side wall 34) that are located at an angular position intermediate between the first axis R1 direction and the second axis R2 direction. The protrusions 43 are formed in the circumferential center of the first side wall 31, the third side wall 33, and the fourth side wall 34. Therefore, the protrusions 43 are formed in the holder 24 at a position that is the shortest in distance from the optical axis L and where the amount of movement in the Z-axis direction is the smallest when the movable body 10 swings.

[0072] 10, side surfaces 43a on both sides in the circumferential direction of the protrusion 43 are tapered surfaces that are inclined in the -Z direction toward the center in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the protrusion 43 has a shape that is large in circumferential width and high strength, but has a shape that protrudes less in the areas that move more in the Z-axis direction when the movable body 10 swings. For this reason, it is not necessary to increase the gap between the movable body 10 and the fixed body 11 in the optical axis L direction in order to prevent the protrusion 43 from colliding with the fixed body 11 when the movable body 10 swings.

[0073] 10, the fifth side wall 35, the sixth side wall 36, the seventh side wall 37, and the eighth side wall 38 of the holder 24 have end faces in the -Z direction located in the +Z direction from the bottom surface of the camera module main body 30A. Therefore, the outer shape of the movable body 10 has a shape in which the -Z direction ends of the diagonal parts in the first axis R1 direction and the diagonal parts in the second axis R2 direction are recessed in the +Z direction. Since the diagonal parts in the first axis R1 direction and the diagonal parts in the second axis R2 direction of the movable body 10 are the parts farthest from the optical axis L, by making these parts into a shape cut out in the Z axis direction, it is possible to reduce the movable space in the Z axis direction of the movable body 10 when the movable body 10 swings around the first axis R1 and the second axis R2.

[0074] The rotation support mechanism 12 includes a rotation restricting mechanism 70 that restricts the rotation range of the movable body 10 around the optical axis L. As shown in Fig. 8, the rotation restricting mechanism 70 includes a first rotation restricting portion 71 provided on the first member 25 and a second rotation restricting portion 72 provided on the second member 55. The first rotation restricting portion 71 protrudes from the first annular plate portion 26 toward the outer periphery and is bent in the -Z direction. A tip end of the first rotation restricting portion 71 in the -Z direction is fixed to the second side wall 32 of the holder 24.

[0075] The second rotation restricting portion 72 protrudes from the second annular plate portion 63 toward the outer periphery. A notch portion 73 having a larger circumferential width than the second rotation restricting portion 72 is provided in the circumferential center of the first rotation restricting portion 71, and the second rotation restricting portion 72 is disposed in the notch portion 73. Thus, the first rotation restricting portion 71 surrounds both circumferential sides of the second rotation restricting portion 72. The first rotation restricting portion 71 and the second rotation restricting portion 72 collide with each other, thereby restricting the rotation range of the movable body 10 about the optical axis L relative to the second member 55.

[0076] (Main effects of this embodiment) As described above, the optical unit 1 with shake correction function in this embodiment has a movable body 10 equipped with a camera module 2, a rotational support mechanism 12 that supports the movable body 10 rotatably around the optical axis L of the camera module 2, a gimbal mechanism 13 that supports the rotational support mechanism 12 rotatably around a first axis R1 that intersects the optical axis L and also supports the rotational support mechanism 12 rotatably around a second axis R2 that intersects the optical axis L and the first axis R1, and a fixed body 11 that supports the movable body 10 via the gimbal mechanism 13 and the rotational support mechanism 12. The rotation support mechanism 12 includes a first rail member 50 having a first annular groove 53 surrounding the optical axis L and overlapping with the camera module 2 when viewed from the direction of the optical axis L, a second rail member 60 having a second annular groove 54 facing the first annular groove 53 in the direction of the optical axis L, and a plurality of rolling bodies 56 inserted into the first annular groove 53 and the second annular groove 54 to roll between the first rail member 50 and the second rail member 60. Movable body 10 includes a first member 25, which includes a first rail member 50 and a first through hole 52 into which the first rail member fits. A second rail member 60 fits into a second through hole 62 provided in a second member 55 that is supported by the gimbal mechanism 13 to be rotatable about a first axis R1.

[0077] According to this embodiment, the rotation support mechanism 12 that supports the movable body 10 rotatably around the optical axis L includes the first rail member 50 and the second rail member 60 that overlap in the optical axis L direction. In this way, by making the rail portion in which the annular groove is provided into a component, the shape of the component can be simplified and the component cost can be reduced. In addition, the plate thickness of the portion other than the rail can be made thinner than that of the rail, so that the weight can be reduced. Furthermore, since the first rail member 50 fits into the first through hole 52 of the first member 25 that constitutes the movable body 10, and the second rail member 60 fits into the second through hole 62 of the second member 55 supported by the gimbal mechanism 13, the number of components that overlap in the optical axis L direction is smaller than in a configuration in which the rail members are overlapped and joined to the edge of the through hole. Therefore, the height of the rotation support mechanism 12 in the optical axis L direction can be reduced. Therefore, the product height of the optical unit 1 with shake correction function in the optical axis L direction can be reduced.

[0078] In this embodiment, the first rail member 50 and the second rail member 60 are the same member. In this way, the parts can be standardized, so the number of types of parts can be reduced and the parts costs can be reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to distinguish between the first rail member 50 and the second rail member 60, the assembly work of the rotation support mechanism 12 is easy.

[0079] In this embodiment, the movable body 10 includes a holder 24 that holds the camera module 2. The first member 25 includes a first annular plate portion 26 that includes a first through hole 52 and a first rail member 50 that fits into the first through hole 52, and a first extension portion 27 that extends from the first annular plate portion 26 to the outer periphery and is fixed to the holder 24. In this manner, by assembling the camera module 2, the holder 24, and the first member 25, the first annular plate portion 26 can be disposed at a position that overlaps with the camera module 2 in the optical axis L direction, and the first rail member 50 can be disposed at a position that surrounds the optical axis L of the camera module 2.

[0080] In this embodiment, the second member 55 has a second annular plate portion 63 equipped with a second through hole 62 and a second rail member 60 that fits into the second through hole 62, and the second annular plate portion 63 is disposed in the gap in the optical axis L direction between the first annular plate portion 26 and the camera module 2. In this way, when the second annular plate portion 63 that rotates relative to the movable body 10 is disposed in the gap in the optical axis L direction between the first annular plate portion 26 and the camera module 2 to configure the rotation support mechanism 12, the first annular plate portion 26 and the camera module 2 function as stoppers to prevent the second annular plate portion 63 from coming off. Therefore, since there is no need to separately place a stopper member that overlaps with the second annular plate portion 63 in the optical axis L direction, the height of the rotation support mechanism 12 in the optical axis L direction can be reduced. Therefore, the height of the optical unit 1 with shake correction function in the optical axis L direction can be reduced.

[0081] In this embodiment, the rotation support mechanism 12 includes a pressurizing mechanism 59 that applies a force to bring the first annular groove 53 and the second annular groove 54 closer to each other in the direction of the optical axis L. The pressurizing mechanism 59 includes a first protruding plate portion 69 that protrudes from the first annular plate portion 26 toward the outer periphery, and a pressurizing magnet 68 that is fixed to a portion of the second member 55 in the circumferential direction around the optical axis L. The first protruding plate portion 69 is made of a magnetic metal and is attracted to the pressurizing magnet 68. In this manner, the pressurizing magnet 68 is mounted on the second annular plate portion 63 that rotates relative to the movable body 10, and the first protruding plate portion 69 that is attracted to the pressurizing magnet 68 is provided on the movable body 10, thereby preventing the first protruding plate portion 69 from being attracted to the magnet of the magnetic drive mechanism mounted on the movable body 10 and causing the rotation position of the first protruding plate portion 69 to shift. Therefore, the pressurizing mechanism 59 can be prevented from being interfered with by the magnetic drive mechanism. Moreover, the angular position of the movable body 10 around the optical axis L can be regulated by the pressure mechanism 59 .

[0082] In this embodiment, the second member 55 includes a pair of second extension parts 64 extending from the second annular plate part 63 to both sides in the first axis R1 direction and connected to the gimbal mechanism 13, and a pair of second protruding plate parts 65 protruding from the second annular plate part 63 to both sides in the second axis R2 direction. The pressurizing magnets 68 are fixed to the pair of second extension parts 64 and the pair of second protruding plate parts 65, respectively, and the first protruding plate parts 69 protrude from the first annular plate part 26 to both sides in the first axis R1 direction and to both sides in the second axis R2 direction. In this manner, the pressurizing magnets 68 and the first protruding plate parts 69 can be evenly arranged in the circumferential direction around the optical axis L. Therefore, the magnetic attraction force for pressurization can be generated in a well-balanced manner in the circumferential direction.

[0083] In this embodiment, the holder 24 is made of resin, and the stopper protrusions 39 that face the pair of second extensions 64 and the pair of second protruding plate portions 65 in the optical axis L direction are provided at diagonal positions in the first axis R1 direction and diagonal positions in the second axis R2 direction of the holder 24. In this way, the stopper protrusions 39 can regulate the second annular plate portion 63 from moving away from the first annular plate portion 26. In addition, the holder 24 is made of resin, which makes it easier to form a complex uneven shape than a metal plate. Therefore, the holder 24 with the stopper protrusions 39 is easy to manufacture. In addition, when the holder 24 is made of resin, strength can be ensured without providing end plate portions that protrude inward at the end in the optical axis L direction as in the metal plate holder 24. Therefore, the height of the movable body 10 in the optical axis L direction can be reduced.

[0084] In this embodiment, the rotation restricting mechanism 70 restricts the rotation range of the movable body 10 around the optical axis L, and the rotation restricting mechanism 70 includes a first rotation restricting portion 71 formed on the first member 25 or the holder 24, and a second rotation restricting portion 72 extending from the second annular plate portion 63 to the outer circumferential side. The first rotation restricting portion 71 and the second rotation restricting portion 72 are located at different circumferential positions around the optical axis L from the first extension portion 27, and one of the first rotation restricting portion 71 and the second rotation restricting portion 72 surrounds both sides of the other of the first rotation restricting portion 71 and the second rotation restricting portion 72 in the circumferential direction. In this way, when the rotation restricting mechanism 70 is configured by colliding the first member 25 and the second annular plate portion 63 constituting the movable body 10, the deterioration of the dimensional accuracy of the rotation restricting mechanism 70 due to the accumulation of component tolerances can be suppressed compared to the case in which the rotation restricting mechanism 70 is configured by colliding the case 3 surrounding the movable body 10 with the holder 24 of the movable body 10. In particular, when the first member 25 and the second annular plate portion 63 collide with each other, the rotation restricting mechanism 70 is completed within the rotation support mechanism 12. Therefore, the rotation range of the movable body 10 can be restricted with high precision.

[0085] In this embodiment, the holder 24 is fixed with a first magnet 21M of the first shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 21 that rotates the movable body 10 around the first axis R1, a second magnet 22M of the second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 22 that rotates the movable body 10 around the second axis R2, and a third magnet 23M of the rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism 23 that rotates the movable body 10 around the optical axis L. The first magnet 21M, the second magnet 22M, and the third magnet 23M are arranged in the circumferential direction around the optical axis L. The first extension portion 27 is made of a magnetic metal, and is bent toward the holder 24 on the outer circumferential side of the first annular plate portion 26 to be fixed at each of the positions on the inner circumferential side of the first magnet 21M, the inner circumferential side of the second magnet 22M, and the inner circumferential side of the third magnet 23M. In this way, the yokes for the magnets of the shake correction magnetic drive mechanism 20 and the rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism 23 are all integrated into the first member 25, thereby reducing the number of parts. Also, since the attachment of the yoke is completed by assembling the first member 25 and the holder 24, the assembly work of the movable body 10 is easy. Also, the positional accuracy of the yoke can be improved.

[0086] (Modification) (1) In the above embodiment, the first rotation restricting portion 71 surrounds both sides of the second rotation restricting portion 72 in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, the second rotation restricting portion 72 may surround both sides of the first rotation restricting portion 71 in the circumferential direction. For example, a notch 73 is formed in the center of the second rotation restricting portion 72 in the circumferential direction, and the first rotation restricting portion 71 is disposed in the notch 73. In other words, the rotation restricting mechanism 70 has a first rotation restricting portion 71 and a second rotation restricting portion 72 that surrounds both sides of the first rotation restricting portion 71 in the circumferential direction. It is sufficient that one of the restricting portion 71 and the second rotation restricting portion 72 surrounds both sides in the circumferential direction of the other of the first rotation restricting portion 71 and the second rotation restricting portion 72.

[0087] (2) In the above embodiment, the first rotation restricting portion 71 is provided on the first member 25, but the first rotation restricting portion 71 may be provided on the holder 24. For example, a convex portion protruding in the +Z direction may be formed on the end face of the holder 24 in the +Z direction and collided with the second rotation restricting portion 72 in the circumferential direction to restrict the rotation of the movable body 10. That is, the rotation restricting mechanism 70 may be configured to include the first rotation restricting portion 71 formed on the first member 25 or the holder 24, and the second rotation restricting portion 72 extending from the second annular plate portion 63 to the outer periphery side.

[0088] (3) In the above embodiment, the pressurizing mechanisms 59 are provided at four locations around the optical axis L. However, it is sufficient that the pressurizing mechanisms 59 are provided at two locations on opposite sides of the optical axis L.

[0089] (Other embodiments) In the above embodiment, the rotational support mechanism 12 is configured to arrange the second annular plate portion 63 of the second member 55 in the gap in the optical axis L direction between the first annular plate portion 26 of the first member 25 constituting the movable body 10 and the camera module 2, but a configuration in which the arrangement of the first annular plate portion 26 and the second annular plate portion 63 in the optical axis L direction is reversed may also be adopted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1...optical unit with shake correction function, 2...camera module, 2a...lens, 2b...imaging element, 3...case, 4...cover, 4a...opening, 5...base, 6...flexible printed circuit board, 7...flexible printed circuit board, 8...hook, 9...protrusion, 10...movable body, 11...fixed body, 12...rotation support mechanism, 13...gimbal mechanism, 14...gimbal frame, 15...first connection mechanism, 16...second connection mechanism, 17...magnetic plate, 18...frame, 19...wiring housing, 20...shake correction magnetic drive mechanism, 21...first shake correction magnetic drive mechanism, 21C...first coil, 21M...first magnet, 22...second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism, 22C...second coil, 22M...second magnet, 23...rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism, 23C...third coil, 23M...third magnet, 24...holder, 25...first member, 26...first annular plate portion, 26a...circular hole, 27...first extension portion, 28...first extension portion first part, 29...first extension portion second part, 30A...camera module main body portion, 30B...camera module cylindrical portion, 31...first side wall, 32...second side wall, 32a...notch portion, 33...third side wall, 34...fourth side wall, 35...fifth side wall, 36...sixth side wall, 37...seventh side wall, 38...eighth side wall, 39... Stopper projection, 40... recess, 41... bottom surface, 42... groove portion, 43... projection, 43a... side surface, 50... first rail member, 51... first plate-shaped member, 52... first through hole, 53... first annular groove, 54... second annular groove, 55... second member, 56... rolling element, 57... retainer, 58... ball retaining hole, 59... pressurizing mechanism, 60... second rail member, 61... second plate-shaped member, 62... second through hole, 63... second annular plate portion, 64... second extension portion, 65... second protruding plate portion, 66... ​​second extension portion first part, 67... second extension portion second part, 68... pressurizing magnet, 69... first protruding plate portion, 70... rotation restriction mechanism, 71... first rotation restriction control portion, 72...second rotation restricting portion, 73...notch portion, 140...gimbal frame main body portion, 141...first axis side extension portion, 142...second axis side extension portion, 143...opening portion, 144...first axis side concave curved surface, 145...notch, 146...projection portion, 147...second axis side concave curved surface, 148...notch, 151...first gimbal frame receiving member, 152...sphere, 153...first thrust receiving member, 154...plate portion, 155...foot portion, 156...arm portion, 157...hole portion, 161...recess, 162...second gimbal frame receiving member, 163...sphere, 164...second thrust receiving member, 165...plate portion, 166...foot portion,167...arm portion, 168...foot bent portion, 181a...second coil fixing hole, 181...first side plate portion, 182...second side plate portion, 183a...first coil fixing hole, 183...third side plate portion, 184a...third coil fixing hole, 184...fourth side plate portion, 185...notch portion, 191...fifth side plate portion, 192...sixth side plate portion, 193...seventh side plate portion, 194...notch portion, L...optical axis, R1...first axis, R2...second axis,

Claims

1. a movable body including a camera module; a rotation support mechanism that supports the movable body so that the movable body can rotate around an optical axis of the camera module; a gimbal mechanism that supports the rotation support mechanism rotatably about a first axis that intersects with the optical axis and that supports the rotation support mechanism rotatably about a second axis that intersects with the optical axis and the first axis; a fixed body that supports the movable body via the gimbal mechanism and the rotation support mechanism, The rotation support mechanism includes: a first annular groove formed in a first rail member overlapping with the camera module when viewed from the optical axis direction and surrounding the optical axis; a second rail member having a second annular groove formed therein and facing the first annular groove in the optical axis direction; a plurality of rolling elements inserted into the first annular groove and the second annular groove and rolling between the first rail member and the second rail member, the movable body includes a first member, the first member including the first rail member and a first through hole into which the first rail member fits; The optical unit with shake correction function, wherein the second rail member is fitted into a second through hole provided in a second member supported by the gimbal mechanism so as to be rotatable around the first axis.

2. 2. The optical unit with shake correction function according to claim 1, wherein the first rail member and the second rail member are the same member.

3. the movable body includes a holder for holding the camera module; The optical unit with shake correction function described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first member comprises a first annular plate portion having the first through hole and the first rail member that fits into the first through hole, and a first extension portion extending from the first annular plate portion toward the outer periphery and fixed to the holder.

4. the second member has a second annular plate portion including the second through hole and the second rail member fitted into the second through hole, 4. The optical unit with shake correction function according to claim 3, wherein the second annular plate portion is disposed in a gap between the first annular plate portion and the camera module in the optical axis direction.

5. the rotation support mechanism includes a pressure applying mechanism that applies a force to bring the first annular groove and the second annular groove closer to each other in the optical axis direction, the pressurizing mechanism includes a first protruding plate portion protruding from the first annular plate portion toward an outer circumferential side, and a pressurizing magnet fixed to a portion of the second member in a circumferential direction around the optical axis, 5. The optical unit with shake correction function according to claim 4, wherein the first protruding plate portion is made of a magnetic metal and is attracted to the pressure applying magnet.

6. the second member includes a pair of second extension portions extending from the second annular plate portion to both sides in the first axial direction and connected to the gimbal mechanism, and a pair of second protruding plate portions protruding from the second annular plate portion to both sides in the second axial direction, the pressurizing magnets are fixed to the pair of second extension portions and the pair of second protruding plate portions, 6. The optical unit with shake correction function according to claim 5, wherein the first protruding plate portion protrudes from the first annular plate portion on both sides in the first axial direction and on both sides in the second axial direction.

7. The holder is made of resin, The optical unit with shake correction function described in claim 6, characterized in that stopper convex portions opposed to the pair of second extension portions and the pair of second protruding plate portions in the optical axis direction are provided at diagonal positions in the first axial direction and diagonal positions in the second axial direction of the holder.

8. a rotation restriction mechanism that restricts a rotation range of the movable body about the optical axis, The rotation restriction mechanism includes: a first rotation restricting portion formed on the first member or the holder; a second rotation restricting portion extending from the second annular plate portion toward an outer circumferential side, the first rotation restricting portion and the second rotation restricting portion are positioned in a circumferential direction about the optical axis differently from the first extension portion, An optical unit with shake correction function described in any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that one of the first rotation regulating portion and the second rotation regulating portion surrounds both circumferential sides of the other of the first rotation regulating portion and the second rotation regulating portion.

9. a first magnet of a first shake correction magnetic drive mechanism that rotates the movable body about the first axis, a second magnet of a second shake correction magnetic drive mechanism that rotates the movable body about the second axis, and a third magnet of a rolling correction magnetic drive mechanism that rotates the movable body about the optical axis are fixed to the holder; the first magnet, the second magnet, and the third magnet are arranged in a circumferential direction around the optical axis, The optical unit with shake correction function described in any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the first extension portion is made of a magnetic metal, is bent toward the holder on the outer circumferential side of the first annular plate portion, and is fixed at each position on the inner circumferential side of the first magnet, the inner circumferential side of the second magnet, and the inner circumferential side of the third magnet.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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