Optical Unit

Abstract

To appropriately position an inner ring portion and an outer ring portion in an optical unit having a bearing mechanism.SOLUTION: A optical unit 10 is provided, comprising: a movable body 14 with an optical module 12; a stationary body 16; a gimbal mechanism 21 rotatably supporting the movable body 14 with respect to the stationary body 16; and a rotation support mechanism 41 having a bearing mechanism 100. The bearing mechanism 100 includes an inner ring portion 120 and an outer ring portion 110 each of which has the direction of a rotation axis being the direction of an optical axis, the bearing mechanism 100 can rotate the movable body 14 with respect to the stationary body 16 around the optical axis as a rotation axis by rotating the outer ring portion 110 and the inner ring portion 120 in the optical axis direction as the rotation axis direction. A magnet 122 is provided in one of the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110, and at least any of a magnet 112 that is paired with the magnet 122 and a magnetic substance 111 is provided in the other of the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, optical units have been used that include a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body, and a mechanism for supporting the movable body rotatably relative to the fixed body. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an optical unit that includes a movable body having an imaging module, a fixed body, and a mechanism for rotating the movable body relative to the fixed body with the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-20464 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In an optical unit having a mechanism for rotating a movable body relative to a fixed body with the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis, such as the optical unit of Patent Document 1, a bearing mechanism can be used. However, in an optical unit using a bearing mechanism, if the inner and outer rings of the bearing mechanism are not properly positioned, the movable body may not be properly rotated relative to the fixed body. If the movable body cannot be properly rotated relative to the fixed body, the movable body cannot be disposed in a proper position relative to the fixed body. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to properly position the inner and outer rings of the bearing mechanism in an optical unit having a bearing mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The optical unit of the present invention comprises a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body, a gimbal mechanism that rotatably supports the movable body relative to the fixed body with one or more directions intersecting the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis, and a rotation support mechanism having a bearing mechanism and rotatably supporting the movable body relative to the fixed body with the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis, wherein the bearing mechanism has an inner ring portion and an outer ring portion whose rotation axis direction is the optical axis direction, and by rotating the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion with the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis, the movable body can be rotated relative to the fixed body with the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis, and one of the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion has a magnet, and the other of the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion has at least one of a magnet and a magnetic material that pairs with the magnet.

[0006] According to this aspect, one of the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion has a magnet, and the other of the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion has at least one of a magnet and a magnetic body that pairs with the magnet. Therefore, the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion of the bearing mechanism can be appropriately positioned by at least one of a magnet pair of magnets and a magnet-magnetic body pair that pairs a magnet and a magnetic body.

[0007] In the optical unit of the present invention, the bearing mechanism can be configured to have a magnet pair, which is made up of magnets arranged in positions where the north pole and the south pole of the pair face each other. With this configuration, the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion of the bearing mechanism can be positioned with a stronger magnetic force than if the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion of the bearing mechanism were positioned only by a magnet-magnetic body pair, which is a pair of a magnet and a magnetic body, and the positioning can be particularly appropriate. Therefore, for example, the bearing mechanism can be returned to its origin.

[0008] In the optical unit of the present invention, the bearing mechanism may be configured such that the magnet or magnetic body provided in the inner ring portion of the pair and the magnet or magnetic body provided in the outer ring portion are misaligned in the radial direction. With this configuration, a magnetic force is applied in a direction in which the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion of the bearing mechanism attract each other in the radial direction, and the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion of the bearing mechanism are appropriately positioned in the radial direction, thereby preventing the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion from rattling in the radial direction.

[0009] In the optical unit of the present invention, the bearing mechanism may be configured to have a plurality of pairs. When the inner and outer rings of the bearing mechanism are positioned with one pair, there is a risk that the magnetic force is insufficient, but by using such a configuration, the inner and outer rings of the bearing mechanism can be positioned more appropriately than when the inner and outer rings are positioned with one pair.

[0010] In the optical unit of the present invention, the bearing mechanism may be configured such that the pairs are disposed at equal intervals as viewed from the optical axis direction. With such a configuration, the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion of the bearing mechanism can be attracted together evenly by magnetic force as viewed from the thrust direction, and rattling of the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion in the thrust direction can be suppressed.

[0011] In the optical unit of the present invention, one of the multiple pairs may be a magnet pair composed of magnets arranged with their N and S poles facing each other, and the rest may be magnet-magnetic body pairs composed of a magnet and a magnetic body. With this configuration, the magnet pair performs main positioning, and the magnet-magnetic body pair can compensate for the lack of magnetic force required for positioning.

[0012] In the optical unit of the present invention, the bearing mechanism may be configured to have three or more spheres between the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion, which allows the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion to rotate relatively efficiently.

[0013] In the optical unit of the present invention, the sphere may have a diameter that contacts both the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion. With this configuration, the diameter of the sphere is larger than the thickness of the molded parts inside the bearing mechanism, which can suppress interference of the molded parts inside the bearing mechanism and enable the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion to rotate relatively with particular efficiency. Effect of the Invention

[0014] The optical unit of the present invention, in an optical unit having a bearing mechanism, can appropriately position the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion of the bearing mechanism. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the face-taking direction. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention with a fixed body removed. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention with a fixed body removed. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bearing mechanism in an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a bearing mechanism in an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 4 is a plan view of the inside of a bearing mechanism in an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the inside of a bearing mechanism in an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of a bearing mechanism in an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the inside of a bearing mechanism in an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the dashed line with the symbol L indicates the optical axis, the dashed line with the symbol L1 indicates a first axis line intersecting with the optical axis, and the dashed line with the symbol L2 indicates a second axis line L2 intersecting with the optical axis L and the first axis line L1. The R direction is the direction around the optical axis. In each drawing, the Z-axis direction is the optical axis direction and the rolling axis direction, the X-axis direction is the direction intersecting with the optical axis and the yawing axis direction, and the Y-axis direction is the direction intersecting with the optical axis and the pitching axis direction. In the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction, the direction of the arrow is the + direction, and the opposite direction is the - direction.

[0017] <Overall configuration of the optical unit> An outline of the configuration of an optical unit 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. The optical unit 10 includes a movable body 14 having an optical module 12, and a fixed body 16 that holds the movable body 14 in a state in which it can be displaced in a direction about the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis (pitching direction), a direction about the X-axis direction as the rotation axis (yawing direction), and a direction about the Z-axis direction as the rotation axis (rolling direction).

[0018] The optical unit 10 also includes a drive mechanism 18 that drives (rotates) the movable body 14 in the pitching direction, the yawing direction, and the rolling direction relative to the fixed body 16. The optical unit 10 also includes a support mechanism 20 that supports the movable body 14 rotatably in the pitching direction and the yawing direction relative to the fixed body 16. The optical unit 10 also includes a gimbal mechanism 21 that includes a first support extension 27a that supports the movable body 14 rotatably around the first axis L1, and a second support extension 27b that supports the movable body 14 rotatably around the second axis L2 on a member on the fixed body 16 side. In this embodiment, a reinforcing member 29 that reinforces the first support extension 27a is provided, but the reinforcing member 29 may not be provided. The support mechanism 20 can also be considered to constitute a part of the gimbal mechanism 21. The optical unit 10 also includes a rotation support mechanism 41 that supports the movable body 14 rotatably in the rolling direction relative to the fixed body 16.

[0019] <Optical module> In this embodiment, the optical module 12 is formed in an imaging unit 14A having a substantially rectangular housing shape, and is used as a thin camera mounted on a camera-equipped mobile phone, a tablet PC, or the like. The optical module 12 has a lens 12a on the subject side (+Z direction side), and an optical device for capturing an image is built into a rectangular housing 12b. As an example, the optical module 12 in this embodiment has a built-in actuator that corrects pitching vibration (vibration in a rotation direction about the Y-axis direction as the rotation axis), yawing vibration (vibration in a rotation direction about the X-axis direction as the rotation axis), and rolling vibration (vibration in a rotation direction about the Z-axis direction as the rotation axis) that occurs in the optical module 12, and is configured to be able to correct pitching vibration, yawing vibration, and rolling vibration.

[0020] <About the moving body> The movable body 14 includes an imaging unit 14A having the optical module 12 and an imaging element (not shown), and a holder frame 14B having magnets 24A, 24B, and 24C. The holder frame 14B is configured as a rectangular frame-shaped member that is provided so as to surround the remaining four faces, excluding the front face (the face on the subject side) on which the lens 12a of the optical module 12 is provided, and the rear face on the opposite side. The holder frame 14B in this embodiment is configured, as an example, so that the optical module 12 can be detachably attached. Magnets 24A, 24B, and 24C for correcting pitching, yawing, and rolling are attached to the outer faces of the three faces of the holder frame 14B that face the fixed body 16.

[0021] Magnet 24A is adhered to yoke 26A which is a flat iron plate, magnet 24B is adhered to yoke 26B which is a flat iron plate, and magnet 24C is adhered to yoke 26C which is a flat iron plate. Magnet 24A is fixed to holder frame 14B by fixing yoke 26A to holder frame 14B, magnet 24B is fixed to holder frame 14B by fixing yoke 26B to holder frame 14B, and magnet 24C is fixed to holder frame 14B by fixing yoke 26C to holder frame 14B.

[0022] <About the fixed body> The fixed body 16 includes a fixed frame 16A to which the coil 32A is fixed to the coil mounting portion 61A, the coil 32B is fixed to the coil mounting portion 61B, and the coil 32C is fixed to the coil mounting portion 61C, and an upper surface portion 16B through which the lens 12a passes in the +Z direction (see FIG. 3). The fixed frame 16A is provided so as to surround four surfaces of the holder frame 14B of the movable body 14 in the direction around the optical axis (R direction). In this embodiment, the coils 32A, 32B, and 32C are configured as wound coils as an example, but they may be patterned boards (coil boards) in which the coils are incorporated as patterns into the board wiring. Note that, although FIGS. 1 and 3 show a state in which a cover C is formed on the outside of the coil 32A, the cover C is omitted in FIG. 2.

[0023] In this embodiment, when the movable body 14 is disposed in the fixed body 16, the magnet 24A and the coil 32A, the magnet 24B and the coil 32B, and the magnet 24C and the coil 32C are opposed to each other. In this embodiment, the pair of the magnet 24A and the coil 32A, the pair of the magnet 24B and the coil 32B, and the pair of the magnet 24C and the coil 32C constitute the drive mechanism 18. The drive mechanism 18 corrects the pitching, yawing, and rolling of the movable body 14. In the drive mechanism 18 of this embodiment, the magnets 24A, 24B, and 24C are formed in the movable body 14, and the coils 32A, 32B, and 32C are formed in the fixed body 16. However, the drive mechanism 18 may be configured such that the magnets 24A, 24B, and 24C are formed in the fixed body 16, and the coils 32A, 32B, and 32C are formed in the movable body 14.

[0024] Furthermore, pitching, yawing, and rolling are corrected as follows. When the optical unit 10 shakes in at least one of the pitching, yawing, and rolling directions, the shake is detected by a magnetic sensor (Hall element) (not shown), and the drive mechanism 18 is driven based on the result. Alternatively, the shake of the optical unit 10 may be detected using a shake detection sensor (gyroscope) or the like. Based on the shake detection result, the drive mechanism 18 acts to correct the shake. That is, a current is passed through each of the coils 32A, 32B, and 32C so as to move the movable body 14 in a direction that cancels the shake of the optical unit 10, thereby correcting the shake.

[0025] <About the support mechanism> As shown in FIG. 4, the support mechanism 20 has a metal plate 20b that forms a hemispherical convex curved surface 19 toward the inside of the optical unit 10. Also, the support mechanism 20 has a metal plate 20a that forms a hemispherical convex curved surface 19 toward the inside of the optical unit 10 in the same manner as the metal plate 20b. The metal plate 20a is disposed at two opposing positions among the four corners of the rectangular frame-shaped holder frame 14B, and the metal plate 20b is disposed at two opposing positions among the four corners of the rectangular frame-shaped portion of the fixed frame 16A. The fixed frame 16A and the holder frame 14B are disposed so that the positions of the four corners are aligned, and the metal plate 20a and the metal plate 20b are disposed at the four corners one by one. As shown in FIG. 3, the metal plate 20a is disposed in the fixed frame 16A at the corner 60a of the corner 60, and the metal plate 20b is disposed in the fixed frame 16A at the corner 60b of the corner 60.

[0026] In the support mechanism 20 of this embodiment, the concave curved surface 17 provided on the first support extension portion 27a of the gimbal mechanism 21 is disposed inside the hemispherical convex curved surface 19 of the inward-facing sheet metal 20a. The support mechanism 20 disposes the convex curved surface 19 within the concave curved surface 17, and supports the gimbal mechanism 21 with respect to the movable body 14 in this configuration. Also, the concave curved surface 17 provided on the second support extension portion 27b of the gimbal mechanism 21 is disposed inside the hemispherical convex curved surface of the inward-facing sheet metal 20b. The support mechanism 20 disposes the convex curved surface 19 within the concave curved surface 17, and supports the gimbal mechanism 21 with respect to the fixed body 16 in this configuration. That is, the support mechanism 20 of this embodiment is configured to be able to support the movable body 14 rotatably with respect to the fixed body 16 with one or more directions (at least one of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction) intersecting with the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) as the rotation axis direction.

[0027] <Gimbal mechanism> The gimbal mechanism 21 is a mechanism having spring properties formed by bending a metal flat plate material. Specifically, the gimbal mechanism 21 is configured by including, as an example, a gimbal frame portion 25 provided on the subject side, and a first support portion extension portion 27a and a second support portion extension portion 27b formed by bending the four corner portions of the gimbal frame portion 25 by 90 degrees in the optical axis direction. Note that the first support portion extension portion 27a and the second support portion extension portion 27b do not necessarily have to be entirely plate-shaped, and only a part of them may be formed into a plate shape to exhibit spring properties. Also, one of the first support portion extension portion 27a and the second support portion extension portion 27b may be formed into a shape other than a plate shape (for example, a rod shape, etc.). In addition, the gimbal mechanism 21 of the present embodiment is configured to rotatably support the movable body 14 relative to the fixed body 16 with the two directions, the pitching direction and the yawing direction, as the directions of the rotation axis, but it may also be configured to rotatably support the movable body 14 relative to the fixed body 16 with only one of the pitching direction and the yawing direction as the direction of the rotation axis.

[0028] <About the rotation support mechanism> 5, the rotation support mechanism 41 includes a substantially disk-shaped flat surface portion 45 having a circular hole through which the lens 12a passes, and a groove-shaped groove portion 46 that is continuous in a circular shape corresponding to the flat surface portion 45. The flat surface portion 45 is provided with two first support portion extension portions 47a and two second support portion extension portions 47b that are bent 90° in the optical axis direction and spaced apart at equal intervals. The groove-shaped groove portion 46 is provided with a recess 48 with a gap G in the direction around the optical axis at a position facing the first support portion extension portion 47a and the second support portion extension portion 47b.

[0029] A bearing mechanism 100, which will be described later, is provided between the flat portion 45 and the groove portion 46, with the flat portion 45 fixed to an outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 and the groove portion 46 fixed to an inner ring portion 120 of the bearing mechanism 100. Due to this configuration, the flat portion 45 is movable relative to the groove portion 46 in the direction around the optical axis by the amount of the gap G.

[0030] The first support extension 47a is fixed to the first support extension 27a of the gimbal mechanism 21. The second support extension 47b has an insertion portion 71, which is inserted into an insertion hole 72 provided in the holder frame 14B of the movable body 14, and is fixed to the holder frame 14B. Therefore, the movable body 14 supported by the rotation support mechanism 41 is supported rotatably in the direction around the optical axis with respect to the gimbal mechanism 21. Since the gimbal mechanism 21 is supported by the fixed body 16 as well as the movable body 14, the movable body 14 supported by the rotation support mechanism 41 is supported rotatably in the direction around the optical axis with respect to the fixed body 16.

[0031] Here, the metal plate 20b fixed to the second support extension portion 27b of the gimbal mechanism 21 is fixed to a corner portion 60b of the fixed frame 16A of the fixed body 16. Also, the metal plate 20a fixed to the first support extension portion 27a of the gimbal mechanism 21 is fixed to the first support extension portion 47a of the rotation support mechanism 41. And the second support extension portion 47b of the rotation support mechanism 41 is fixed to the holder frame 14B of the movable body 14. With this configuration, the movable body 14 is held rotatably relative to the fixed body 16 in the pitching direction, the yawing direction, and the rolling direction.

[0032] <Bearing mechanism> Next, the bearing mechanism 100 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 6 to Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 6 to Fig. 11, the bearing mechanism 100 includes an outer ring portion 110, an inner ring portion 120, and three spheres 130 disposed between the outer ring portion 110 and the inner ring portion 120. Furthermore, the outer ring portion 110 is provided with one magnet 112 and two yokes 111, which are iron magnetic bodies, at approximately equal intervals at a position facing the inner ring portion 120.

[0033] Also, the inner ring portion 120 is formed with a molded part 121. And, three magnets 122 are provided at approximately equal intervals at positions facing the outer ring portion 110 in correspondence with the space portion 121a formed in the molded part 121. Also, the three spheres 130 are arranged at approximately equal intervals in correspondence with the space portion 121b formed in the molded part 121. Due to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 8, in the optical axis direction, the magnet 112 faces one of the magnets 122, one of the yokes 111 faces another one of the magnets 122, and another one of the yokes 111 faces yet another one of the magnets 122. However, as shown in FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, the magnets 112 and yokes 111 arranged in the outer ring portion 110 are arranged slightly outward from the magnets 122 arranged in the inner ring portion 120 as viewed from the rotation axis direction. As shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the magnets 112 and 122 have opposing magnetic poles opposite to each other.

[0034] Here, the outer ring portion 110 is bonded to the flat portion 45 of the rotation support mechanism 41. Also, the inner ring portion 120 is bonded to the groove portion 46 of the rotation support mechanism 41. However, a configuration in which the outer ring portion 110 is bonded to the groove portion 46 and the inner ring portion 120 is bonded to the flat portion 45 may also be used. Since the inner ring portion 120 is configured to be rotatable relative to the outer ring portion 110 in the direction around the optical axis, the groove portion 46 of the rotation support mechanism 41 is rotatable relative to the flat portion 45 in the direction around the optical axis, and the movable body 14 is rotatable relative to the fixed body 16 in the direction around the optical axis via the gimbal mechanism 21 fixed to the rotation support mechanism 41.

[0035] The optical unit 10 of this embodiment includes a movable body 14 having an optical module 12, a fixed body 16, and a gimbal mechanism that rotatably supports the movable body 14 relative to the fixed body 16 with one or more directions (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction) intersecting with the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) as the direction of the rotation axis, and further includes a rotation support mechanism 41. Here, the rotation support mechanism 41 includes a bearing mechanism 100 that rotatably supports the movable body 14 relative to the fixed body 16 with the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis. As described above, the bearing mechanism 100 has an inner ring portion 120 and an outer ring portion 110 whose rotation axis direction is the optical axis direction. Also, the bearing mechanism 100 can rotate the movable body 14 relative to the fixed body 16 with the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis by rotating the outer ring portion 110 and the inner ring portion 120 with the optical axis direction as the direction of the rotation axis. Moreover, the bearing mechanism 100 has a magnet 122 in the inner ring portion 120, and has a magnet 112 that pairs with the magnet 122 and a yoke 111 that is a magnetic body in the outer ring portion 110.

[0036] As in the optical unit 10 of this embodiment, one of the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 has a magnet, and the other of the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 has at least one of a magnet and a magnetic body that pairs with the magnet, so that the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 can be properly positioned by at least one of a magnet pair of magnets and a magnet-magnetic body pair that is a pair of a magnet and a magnetic body. In this embodiment, the inner ring portion 120 has a magnet 122, and the outer ring portion 110 has a magnet 112 and a yoke 111, but the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. The outer ring portion 110 may have only a magnet, and the inner ring portion 120 may have a magnet and a magnetic body, or both the outer ring portion 110 and the inner ring portion 120 may have only a magnet, or one of the outer ring portion 110 and the inner ring portion 120 may have only a magnet, and the other may have only a magnetic body. In addition, there is no particular limit to the number of magnets and magnetic bodies.

[0037] In the bearing mechanism 100, as in the pair of magnet 112 and magnet 122 in this embodiment, a configuration can be made in which a magnet pair is composed of magnets arranged in positions where the N poles (112N and 122N) and S poles (112S and 122S) are opposed to each other as a pair of magnet and magnet or magnetic body. With this configuration, the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 can be positioned with a stronger magnetic force than when the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 are positioned only by a magnet-magnetic body pair, which is a pair of a magnet and a magnetic body, and particularly appropriate positioning can be achieved. For this reason, with this configuration, for example, the bearing mechanism 100 can be returned to its original position. Specifically, in FIG. 11(a), the arrangement of the N poles and S poles of the magnets 112 and 122 are misaligned in the direction around the optical axis, but from this state, a force is applied to the outer ring portion 110 in the direction indicated by the arrow F3, and the arrangement of the N poles and S poles of the magnets 112 and 122 is automatically made to be not misaligned in the direction around the optical axis as shown in FIG. 11(b).

[0038] 8 and 9, in the bearing mechanism 100 of this embodiment, the magnet 122 provided on the inner ring portion 120 and the magnet 112 and yoke 111 provided on the outer ring portion 110 in the pair of magnet and magnet or magnetic body are misaligned in the radial direction (direction toward the optical axis center). With this configuration, as shown by the arrow F1 in Fig. 9, a magnetic force is applied to the outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 in a direction in which they attract each other relative to the inner ring portion 120 in the radial direction, and as shown by the arrow F2 in Figs. 8 to 10, the outer ring portion 110 and the inner ring portion 120 of the bearing mechanism 100 attract each other in the radial direction and are properly positioned, so that rattling of the outer ring portion 110 and the inner ring portion 120 in the radial direction can be suppressed.

[0039] Furthermore, the bearing mechanism 100 of this embodiment has three pairs of magnets and magnets or magnetic bodies, i.e., a plurality of pairs. When the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 are positioned with one pair, there is a risk that the magnetic force is insufficient, but with this configuration, the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 can be positioned more appropriately than when the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 are positioned with one pair.

[0040] As described above, in the bearing mechanism 100 of this embodiment, pairs of magnets and magnets or magnetic bodies are arranged at equal intervals when viewed from the optical axis direction (see FIG. 8). With this configuration, the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 of the bearing mechanism 100 can be attracted together evenly by magnetic force when viewed from the thrust direction (direction around the optical axis), and rattling of the outer ring portion 110 and the inner ring portion 120 in the thrust direction can be suppressed. Note that "equally spaced" is not limited to being equally spaced in the strict sense, and it is acceptable if the intervals are roughly the same.

[0041] Furthermore, in the bearing mechanism 100 of this embodiment, one of the multiple pairs of magnets and magnets or magnetic bodies is a magnet pair (pair of magnet 122 and magnet 112) composed of two magnets, and the remaining two are magnet-magnetic body pairs (pair of magnet 122 and yoke 111) composed of a magnet and a magnetic body. With this configuration, the magnet pair performs the main positioning, and the magnet-magnetic body pair can compensate for the lack of magnetic force required for positioning. By performing the main positioning with one magnet pair, the positioning accuracy is increased.

[0042] The bearing mechanism 100 of this embodiment has three spheres between the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110. In this manner, it is preferable to have a configuration having three or more spheres 130. This is because such a configuration allows the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 to rotate relatively to each other efficiently.

[0043] Here, it is preferable that the sphere 130 has a diameter that contacts both the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110. The bearing mechanism 100 of this embodiment is configured so that the sphere 130 contacts the inside of the bottom surface portion of the inner ring portion 120 in the -Z direction and the inside of the top surface portion of the outer ring portion 110 in the +Z direction. With this configuration, the diameter of the sphere 130 becomes larger than the thickness of the molded part 121 inside the bearing mechanism, and interference of the molded part 121 inside the bearing mechanism 100 can be suppressed, and the inner ring portion 120 and the outer ring portion 110 can be rotated relatively particularly efficiently.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be realized in various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each aspect described in the Summary of the Invention column can be appropriately replaced or combined in order to solve some or all of the above-mentioned problems or to achieve some or all of the above-mentioned effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be appropriately deleted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10...optical unit, 12...optical module, 12a...lens, 12b...housing, 14...movable body, 14A...imaging unit, 14B...holder frame, 16...fixed body, 16A...fixed frame, 16B...upper surface, 17...concave surface, 18...driving mechanism, 19...convex surface, 20...support mechanism, 20a...sheet metal, 20b...sheet metal, 21...gimbal mechanism, 24...magnet, 24A...magnet, 24B...magnet, 24C...magnet, 25...gimbal frame, 26...yoke, 26A...yoke, 26B...yoke, 27a...extension for first support, 27b...extension for second support, 28A...coil mounting portion, 28B...coil mounting portion, 29... Reinforcing member, 32A... coil, 32B... coil, 32C... coil, 41... rotation support mechanism, 45... flat portion, 46... groove portion, 47a... extension portion for first support portion, 47b... extension portion for second support portion, 48... recessed portion, 60... corner portion, 60a... corner portion, 60b... corner portion, 61A... coil mounting portion, 61B... coil mounting portion, 61C... coil mounting portion, 71... insertion portion, 72... insertion hole, 100... bearing mechanism, 110... outer ring portion, 111... yoke (magnetic body), 112... magnet, 120... inner ring portion, 121... molded part, 121a... space portion, 121b... space portion, 122... magnet, 130... sphere, C... cover, G... gap, L... optical axis

Claims

1. a movable body including an optical module; A fixed body; a gimbal mechanism that supports the movable body rotatably relative to the fixed body with one or more directions intersecting an optical axis direction as a rotation axis direction; a rotation support mechanism having a bearing mechanism and rotatably supporting the movable body with respect to the fixed body around a rotation axis in the optical axis direction; The bearing mechanism includes: The optical axis direction is the direction of the rotation axis, and the optical axis direction includes an inner ring portion and an outer ring portion that at least partially overlap each other in the optical axis direction, by rotating the outer ring portion and the inner ring portion about an optical axis direction as a rotation axis direction, the movable body can be rotated relative to the fixed body about the optical axis direction as a rotation axis direction, a first magnet is provided on one of the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion, and at least one of a second magnet and a magnetic body that is paired with the first magnet is provided on the other of the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion; An optical unit characterized in that the first magnet, the multiple spheres of the bearing mechanism, and at least one of the second magnet and the magnetic body that pairs with the first magnet are arranged at a position where the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion overlap in the optical axis direction and at a position where they overlap in an arc direction centered on the rotation axis of the rotation support mechanism.

2. 2. The optical unit according to claim 1, The optical unit according to the present invention, characterized in that the bearing mechanism has a magnet pair constituted by the first magnet and the second magnet, the north pole and the south pole of which are arranged in opposing positions.

3. 3. The optical unit according to claim 1, The bearing mechanism is an optical unit characterized in that the first magnet, the second magnet or the magnetic body provided in the inner ring portion of the pair and the first magnet, the second magnet or the magnetic body provided in the outer ring portion are arranged in a radially offset manner.

4. 4. The optical unit according to claim 1, The optical unit according to the present invention is characterized in that the bearing mechanism includes a plurality of the pairs.

5. 5. The optical unit according to claim 4, An optical unit, wherein the bearing mechanism is characterized in that the pairs are arranged at equal intervals when viewed in the optical axis direction.

6. 6. The optical unit according to claim 4, An optical unit characterized in that one of the multiple pairs is a magnet pair consisting of the first magnet and the second magnet arranged in a position where the N pole and the S pole face each other, and the rest are magnet-magnetic body pairs consisting of the first magnet and the magnetic body.

7. 7. The optical unit according to claim 1, An optical unit, wherein the bearing mechanism has three or more spheres between the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion.

8. 8. The optical unit according to claim 7, An optical unit, characterized in that the sphere has a diameter that makes contact with both the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion.

Images