Optical unit

Abstract

To provide an optical unit which includes a movable body having an optical module, a solid body movably holding the movable body, and a drive mechanism for rotating the movable body relative to the solid body in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical module as a rotational axial direction, and which can be reduced in size in the axial direction of the rotation of the movable body relative to the solid body even when a driving coil and a driving magnet configurating the drive mechanism are opposingly provided in the axial direction of the rotation of the movable body relative to the solid body.SOLUTION: In an optical unit, the thickness of a driving magnet 24 provided outside an optical module 2 in a radial direction having the rotational center of a movable body 3 as the center is less than that of the optical module 2. The driving magnet 24 is provided between one and the other ends of the optical module 2 in a Z direction as an axial direction of the rotation of the movable body 3 relative to a solid body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical unit including a movable body having an optical module such as a camera module, and a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an optical unit with an image stabilization function for correcting the shake of an optical image is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The optical unit with an image stabilization function described in Patent Document 1 includes a movable body that holds an optical module, a fixed body that holds the movable body, and a magnetic drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body. The magnetic drive mechanism includes a plate-shaped magnet and a coil that faces the magnet in the optical axis direction of the optical module. The fixed body holds the movable body via a gimbal mechanism, and the movable body can rotate with respect to the fixed body about an X-axis direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction as a rotation axis direction, and about a Y-axis direction orthogonal to both the optical axis direction and the X-axis direction as a rotation axis direction.

[0003] In the optical unit with an image stabilization function described in Patent Document 1, for example, the opposing surface of the magnet facing the coil is a convex curved surface, and the opposing surface of the coil facing the magnet is a concave curved surface. Therefore, in this optical unit with an image stabilization function, even when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases, it is possible to keep the distance between the magnet and the coil constant. As a result, even when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the driving force of the magnetic drive mechanism.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The inventor of the present application has developed an optical unit including a movable body having an optical module such as a camera module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body with the direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation. The inventor of the present application has considered arranging the drive coil and the drive magnet constituting the drive mechanism to face each other in the axial direction of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body so that even when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases, the distance between the drive coil and the drive magnet constituting the drive mechanism can be kept constant to suppress a decrease in the driving force of the drive mechanism.

[0006] On the other hand, since this optical unit is used, for example, by being mounted on a mobile device such as a smartphone, even if the drive coil and the drive magnet are arranged to face each other in the axial direction of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, it is preferable that the optical unit is small in the axial direction of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical unit including a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body with the direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation, which can be miniaturized in the axial direction of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body even when the drive coil and the drive magnet constituting the drive mechanism are arranged to face each other in the axial direction of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body. Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the optical unit of the present invention includes a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body with a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation. The drive mechanism includes a drive coil wound in a hollow shape and a drive magnet disposed to face the drive coil in the first direction. The drive coil and the drive magnet are disposed outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. while being disposed on both sides of the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, The thickness of the drive magnet in the first direction is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction, and the drive magnet while being fixed to the movable body, is disposed between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction in the first direction. the drive coil is fixed to the fixed body. In the movable side portion composed of the movable body and the drive magnet, when the outer peripheral surface of the portion that becomes the largest in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body is defined as the outermost peripheral surface, the outer surface of the drive magnet in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body is formed in a convex curved surface shape whose shape when viewed from the first direction is an arc shape having the rotation center of the movable body as the center of curvature, and constitutes at least a part of the outermost peripheral surface This is the gist.

[0009] In the optical unit of the present invention, the thickness of the drive magnet in the first direction disposed outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction, and the drive magnet is disposed between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction in the first direction. Therefore, in the present invention, even when the drive coil and the drive magnet are disposed to face each other in the first direction, which is the axial direction of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, compared with the case where the drive magnet protrudes outward in the first direction from the first direction end of the optical module, it is possible to miniaturize the optical unit in the first direction.

[0010] Further, in the present invention, since the drive coil and the drive magnet are disposed to face each other in the first direction, compared with the case where the drive coil and the drive magnet are disposed to face each other in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, it is possible to miniaturize the optical unit in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

[0011] Also, The present invention in The drive coil and the drive magnet are arranged on both sides of the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The drive magnet is fixed to the movable body, and the drive coil is fixed to the fixed body. Among the movable-side parts composed of the movable body and the drive magnet, when the outer peripheral surface of the part that becomes the largest in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body is defined as the outermost peripheral surface, the outer surface of the drive magnet in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body is formed in a convex curved surface shape whose shape when viewed from the first direction is an arc shape centered on the rotation center of the movable body, and constitutes at least a part of the outermost peripheral surface. . In the present invention, the The outer surface of the drive magnet in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body constitutes at least a part of the outermost peripheral surface, and since the drive magnet becomes larger in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, it becomes possible to increase the driving force of the drive mechanism.

[0012] Also, in order to solve the above problems, the optical unit of the present invention includes a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body using the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation. The drive mechanism includes a drive coil wound in a hollow shape and a drive magnet disposed to face the drive coil in the first direction. The drive coil and the drive magnet are disposed outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The thickness of the drive magnet in the first direction is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction. The drive magnet is disposed between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction in the first direction. The drive coil is wound with the first direction as the axial direction of winding, and the opposing surface of the drive magnet facing the drive coil is polarized into two poles in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. the drive coil is composed of a pair of effective side portions disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, a first connection side portion that connects the outer ends of the pair of effective side portions in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, and a second connection side portion that connects the inner ends of the pair of effective side portions in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The pair of effective side portions extend from the first connection side portion toward the rotation center side of the movable body so as to approach each other as they go inward in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. In the optical unit of the present invention, the thickness of the drive magnet arranged outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body in the first direction is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction, and the drive magnet is arranged between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction in the first direction. Therefore, in the present invention, even when the drive coil and the drive magnet are arranged to face each other in the first direction which is the axial direction of the rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, compared with the case where the drive magnet protrudes outward in the first direction from the first direction end of the optical module, it is possible to miniaturize the optical unit in the first direction. Further, in the present invention, since the drive coil and the drive magnet are arranged to face each other in the first direction, compared with the case where the drive coil and the drive magnet are arranged to face each other in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, it is possible to miniaturize the optical unit in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

[0013] Also, The present invention in The drive coil is composed of a pair of effective side portions arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, a first connection side portion connecting the outer ends of the pair of effective side portions in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, and a second connection side portion connecting the inner ends of the pair of effective side portions in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The pair of effective side portions extend from the first connection side portion toward the rotation center side of the movable body so as to approach each other as they go toward the inside in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. Therefore When current is supplied to the drive coil, the direction in which the driving force of the drive mechanism acts tends to be in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. Therefore, it becomes possible to increase the driving force of the movable body by the drive mechanism.

[0014] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, the optical unit of the present invention includes a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body with the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation. The drive mechanism includes a drive coil wound in a hollow shape and a drive magnet arranged to face the drive coil in the first direction. The drive coil and the drive magnet are arranged outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, and the thickness of the drive magnet in the first direction is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction. The drive magnet is arranged between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction in the first direction The drive coil is wound with the direction orthogonal to the first direction as the axial direction of winding, and the opposing surface of the drive magnet opposing the drive coil is magnetized to a single pole and and is characterized by this. In the optical unit of the present invention, the thickness of the driving magnet disposed outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body in the first direction is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction, and the driving magnet is disposed between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction in the first direction. Therefore, in the present invention, even when the driving coil and the driving magnet are arranged to face each other in the first direction which is the axial direction of the rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, compared with the case where the driving magnet protrudes outward in the first direction from the first direction end of the optical module, it becomes possible to miniaturize the optical unit in the first direction. Further, in the present invention, since the driving coil and the driving magnet are arranged to face each other in the first direction, compared with the case where the driving coil and the driving magnet are arranged to face each other in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, it becomes possible to miniaturize the optical unit in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

[0015] In the present invention, for example, the drive magnet is arranged only on one side of the drive coil in the first direction. In this case, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the optical unit. Further, in the present invention, for example, the drive magnet may be arranged on both sides of the drive coil in the first direction. In this case, it is possible to increase the driving force of the drive mechanism.

Advantages of the Invention

[0016] As described above, in the present invention, in an optical unit including a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body rotatably holding the movable body, and a drive mechanism for rotating the movable body with respect to the fixed body with the direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation, even if the drive coil and the drive magnet constituting the drive mechanism are arranged to face each other in the axial direction of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, it is possible to miniaturize the optical unit in the axial direction of rotation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] (Overall Configuration of the Optical Unit) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3(A) is a plan view showing the movable body 3 and the drive magnet 24 shown in FIG. 1 extracted, and FIG. 3(B) is a plan view showing the camera module 2, the first frame 10, and the drive coil 23 shown in FIG. 2 extracted.

[0020] In the following description, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, each of the three mutually orthogonal directions is defined as the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, with the X direction being the left - right direction, the Y direction being the front - rear direction, and the Z direction being the up - down direction. Also, the X1 - direction side of FIG. 1 and the like, which is one side of the left - right direction, is the "left" side, the X2 - direction side of FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side, is the "right" side, the Y1 - direction side of FIG. 1 and the like, which is one side of the front - rear direction, is the "front" side, the Y2 - direction side of FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side, is the "rear" side, the Z1 - direction side of FIG. 1 and the like, which is one side of the up - down direction, is the "up" side, and the Z2 - direction side of FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side, is the "down" side.

[0021] The optical unit 1 of this embodiment is a small and thin unit mounted on a mobile device such as a smartphone, and includes a camera module 2 having a lens for photography and an imaging device. The optical unit 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is flat and thin as a whole. The optical unit 1 includes a movable body 3 having the camera module 2, a fixed body 4 (see FIG. 1) that rotatably holds the movable body 3, a drive mechanism 5 that rotates the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4, and two spherical balls 6 and 7 that constitute the fulcrum of the rotation of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4. The camera module 2 of this embodiment is an optical module.

[0022] The optical axis L of the camera module 2 (see FIG. 3(B) etc.) is orthogonal to the vertical direction. The movable body 3 is rotatable with respect to the fixed body 4 with the vertical direction orthogonal to the optical axis L of the camera module 2 as the axial direction of rotation. That is, the movable body 3 is rotatable with respect to the fixed body 4 about an axis L1 (see FIG. 3(B) etc.) having the vertical direction as the axial direction as the center of rotation. The drive mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 with the vertical direction as the axial direction of rotation. For example, the drive mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 in order to correct the shake of the optical unit 1 during photography. Alternatively, the drive mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4, for example, in order to perform panoramic photography. The vertical direction (Z direction) of this embodiment is the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis L of the camera module 2. Further, the vertical direction is the thickness direction of the optical unit 1.

[0023] In this embodiment, when the drive coil 23 (described later) that forms part of the drive mechanism 5 is in a non-energized state and the movable body 3 is not rotated with respect to the fixed body 4, and the movable body 3 is disposed at a predetermined origin position (reference position) with respect to the fixed body 4, the direction of the optical axis L of the camera module 2 (optical axis direction) coincides with the front-rear direction. The movable body 3 can be rotated by about 10° in each of the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as the "clockwise direction") and the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as the "counterclockwise direction") with respect to the origin position, for example. In the following description, the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 is referred to as the "radial direction", and the circumferential direction (circumference direction) centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 is referred to as the "circumferential direction".

[0024] The movable body 3 is formed in an overall flat rectangular parallelepiped shape with a thin thickness in the vertical direction. In addition to the camera module 2, the movable body 3 includes a frame 8 (see FIG. 1) to which the camera module 2 is fixed and a magnetic plate 9 fixed to the frame 8. The camera module 2 is formed in an overall flat rectangular parallelepiped shape with a thin thickness in the vertical direction. The upper surface, lower surface, rear surface, and left and right side surfaces of the camera module 2 are flat. The upper and lower surfaces of the camera module 2 are orthogonal to the vertical direction. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the left and right side surfaces of the camera module 2 are orthogonal to the left and right direction, and the rear surface of the camera module 2 is orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

[0025] The frame 8 is composed of a first frame 10 that covers the left and right side surfaces and the lower surface of the camera module 2 and a second frame 11 that covers the upper surface of the camera module 2. The first frame 10 is formed by bending a thin metal plate into a predetermined shape. The first frame 10 includes two side portions 10a that form the left and right side surfaces of the first frame 10 and a bottom portion 10b that forms the bottom surface of the first frame 10. The side portion 10a is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The thickness direction of the side portion 10a coincides with the left and right direction when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position.

[0026] The bottom surface portion 10b is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The thickness direction of the bottom surface portion 10b coincides with the vertical direction. A through hole 10c penetrating the bottom surface portion 10b in the vertical direction is formed at the center of the bottom surface portion 10b. The through hole 10c is formed in a round hole shape. A ball 6 is disposed below the bottom surface portion 10b. The inner diameter of the through hole 10c is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball 6. The upper end portion of the ball 6 is disposed in the through hole 10c.

[0027] The second frame 11 is a thin metal flat plate. Also, the second frame 11 is a magnetic plate formed of a magnetic material having magnetism. The thickness direction of the second frame 11 coincides with the vertical direction. The second frame 11 is fixed to the upper end of the first frame 10. The width of the second frame 11 in the left-right direction is wider than the width of the second frame 11 in the front-rear direction. The left and right end faces 11a of the second frame 11 are formed in a convex curved surface shape. The shape of the end face 11a when viewed from the vertical direction is an arc shape with the rotation center of the movable body 3 as the center of curvature. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the front and rear end face 11b of the second frame 11 is orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

[0028] A through hole 11c penetrating the second frame 11 in the vertical direction is formed at the center of the second frame 11. The through hole 11c is formed in a round hole shape. A ball 7 is disposed above the second frame 11. The inner diameter of the through hole 11c is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball 7. The lower end portion of the ball 7 is disposed in the through hole 11c. The through hole 11c is disposed at the same position as the through hole 10c in the horizontal direction, and when viewed from the vertical direction, the through hole 11c and the through hole 10c overlap. That is, the ball 6 and the ball 7 are disposed at the same position in the horizontal direction, and when viewed from the vertical direction, the ball 6 and the ball 7 overlap. The center of the ball 6 and the center of the ball 7 are disposed on the axis L1. In FIG. 3(A), the illustration of the through hole 11c of the second frame 11 is omitted.

[0029] The magnetic plate 9 is composed of a magnetic material having magnetism. The magnetic plate 9 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape that is thicker than the side surface portion 10a of the first frame 10 and the like. The magnetic plate 9 is fixed to the outer surface in the left - right direction of the side surface portion 10a. The thickness direction of the magnetic plate 9 coincides with the left - right direction when the movable body 3 is arranged at the origin position.

[0030] As described above, the camera module 2 includes a lens and an imaging element. The imaging element is arranged on the rear - end side of the camera module 2, and a subject arranged on the front side of the camera module 2 is photographed by the camera module 2. The camera module 2 includes a circuit board 15 on which the imaging element is mounted. The circuit board 15 constitutes the rear surface of the camera module 2. Further, the camera module 2 of the present embodiment includes a magnetic drive mechanism for autofocus.

[0031] A flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 16 is drawn out from the circuit board 15 that constitutes the rear surface of the camera module 2. The FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the circuit board 15 in the left - right direction toward the rear side. Also, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the camera module 2 in the left - right direction toward the rear side and is drawn out from the central portion of the movable body 3 in the left - right direction toward the rear side. The FPC 16 drawn out from the circuit board 15 toward the rear side is then routed toward the left side and then routed toward the front side. The front - end portion of the FPC 16 is fixed to a case body 18, which will be described later, that constitutes the fixed body 4. The FPC 16 is bent in a substantially angular groove shape (substantially U - shaped).

[0032] The fixed body 4 includes a case body 18 that constitutes the left and right side surfaces and the lower surface of the fixed body 4, a cover 19 that constitutes the upper surface of the fixed body 4, and a fixing plate 20 and a magnetic plate 21 that are fixed to the case body 18. The case body 18 is formed of a resin material. The case body 18 is composed of two side portions 18a that constitute the left and right side surfaces of the case body 18 and a bottom portion 18b that constitutes the lower surface of the case body 18. The movable body 3 is disposed between the two side portions 18a in the left and right direction. Also, the movable body 3 is disposed above the bottom portion 18b.

[0033] The inner surface of the side portion 18a in the radial direction is formed in a concave curved surface shape. The shape of this inner surface when viewed from the up and down direction is an arc shape with the rotation center of the movable body 3 as the center of curvature. Through holes 18c for arranging a later-described driving coil 23 that constitutes a part of the driving mechanism 5 are formed at both ends in the left and right direction of the bottom portion 18b. The through holes 18c penetrate the bottom portion 18b in the up and down direction. At the front end of the side portion 18a disposed on the left side, an FPC fixing portion 18f that protrudes toward the left side is formed. The front end portion of the FPC 16 is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f by a double-sided tape or the like.

[0034] The fixing plate 20 is formed of a thin metal plate. Also, the fixing plate 20 is formed in a substantially disk shape. The fixing plate 20 is fixed to the central portion of the upper surface of the bottom portion 18b. At the center of the fixing plate 20, a ball arrangement portion 20a where the lower end portion of the ball 6 is disposed is formed. The ball arrangement portion 20a is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape that bulges downward, and the upper surface of the ball arrangement portion 20a is a hemispherical concave curved surface that depresses downward. The ball 6 is disposed above the ball arrangement portion 20a.

[0035] Cover 19 is a thin flat plate made of metal. Cover 19 is fixed to the upper end of the case body 18. The movable body 3 is disposed below cover 19. A spring portion 19a for biasing the ball 7 is formed at the center of cover 19. That is, cover 19 is a leaf spring. The spring portion 19a is slightly cut and raised downward. A ball placement portion 19b where the upper end of the ball 7 is disposed is formed at the tip of the spring portion 19a. The ball placement portion 19b is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape that bulges upward, and the lower surface of the ball placement portion 19b is a hemispherical concave curved surface that is recessed upward. The ball 7 is disposed below the ball placement portion 19b.

[0036] The spring portion 19a biases the ball 7 downward. The ball 7 is in contact with the lower surface of the ball placement portion 19b and the edge of the upper end of the through hole 11c of the second frame 11 with a predetermined contact pressure by the biasing force of the spring portion 19a. Also, as described above, the ball 6 is disposed at the same position as the ball 7 in the horizontal direction, and is in contact with the edge of the lower end of the through hole 10c of the first frame 10 and the upper surface of the ball placement portion 20a with a predetermined contact pressure by the biasing force of the spring portion 19a. As described above, the movable body 3 is rotatable with respect to the fixed body 4 about an axis L1 passing through the centers of the balls 6 and 7 as a rotation center.

[0037] The magnetic plate 21 is a thin flat plate made of metal. Also, the magnetic plate 21 is formed of a magnetic material having magnetism. The thickness direction of the magnetic plate 21 coincides with the vertical direction. The magnetic plate 21 is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom portion 18b. The magnetic plate 21 is formed in the same shape as the second frame 11. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the second frame 11 and the magnetic plate 21 are disposed at the same position in the horizontal direction, and when viewed from the vertical direction, the second frame 11 and the magnetic plate 21 completely overlap.

[0038] (Configuration of the drive mechanism) FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the movable body 3 and the drive mechanism 5 shown in FIG. 1 extracted.

[0039] The drive mechanism 5 includes a drive coil 23 wound in a hollow shape and a drive magnet 24 disposed to face the drive coil 23 in the vertical direction. The drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 are disposed outside the camera module 2 in the radial direction. In this embodiment, the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 are disposed on both sides of the camera module 2 in the radial direction. Specifically, the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 are disposed on each of the left and right sides of the camera module 2 in the horizontal direction, sandwiching the camera module 2 in the horizontal direction. That is, the drive mechanism 5 includes two drive coils 23 and two drive magnets 24. The drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 are disposed at a 180° pitch with respect to the rotation center of the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4.

[0040] The drive magnet 24 is formed in a block shape. The upper and lower surfaces of the drive magnet 24 are planes orthogonal to the vertical direction. The inner surfaces of the drive magnet 24 in the horizontal direction are planes. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the inner surfaces of the drive magnet 24 in the horizontal direction are orthogonal to the horizontal direction. The end surfaces 24b of the drive magnet 24 in the front-rear direction are planes. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the end surfaces 24b of the drive magnet 24 are orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

[0041] The outer surfaces 24a of the drive magnet 24 in the horizontal direction (i.e., the outer surfaces of the drive magnet 24 in the radial direction) are formed in a convex curved surface shape. That is, the outer surfaces 24a of the drive magnet 24 are convex curved surfaces bulging outward in the horizontal direction. The shape of the outer surface 24a when viewed from the vertical direction is an arc shape with the rotation center of the movable body 3 as the center of curvature. The central angle of the outer surface 24a when viewed from the vertical direction is, for example, about 90°. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the two drive magnets 24 are symmetrically disposed left and right.

[0042] The drive magnet 24 is fixed to the lower surface of the second frame 11. That is, the drive magnet 24 is fixed to the movable body 3. The width of the drive magnet 24 in the front-rear direction is equal to the width of the second frame 11 in the front-rear direction. The radius of curvature of the outer surface 24a of the drive magnet 24, which is an arcuate convex surface, is equal to the radius of curvature of the end surface 11a of the second frame 11, which is an arcuate convex surface. The drive magnet 24 is fixed to the lower surface of the second frame 11 such that the front-rear end surfaces 24b of the drive magnet 24 in the front-rear direction coincide with the front-rear end surfaces 11b of the second frame 11 in the front-rear direction, and the outer surface 24a of the drive magnet 24 coincides with the end surface 11a of the second frame 11 in the radial direction (see Fig. 3(A)).

[0043] In the movable-side portion 25 composed of the movable body 3 and the drive magnet 24 fixed to the movable body 3, if the outer peripheral surface of the portion that is the largest in the radial direction is defined as the outermost peripheral surface 25a, in this embodiment, the outer surface 24a of the drive magnet 24 and the end surface 11a of the second frame 11 form the outermost peripheral surface 25a. That is, the outer surface 24a of the drive magnet 24 constitutes a part of the outermost peripheral surface 25a. A magnetic plate 9 is disposed between the lateral surfaces of the camera module 2 in the left-right direction and the drive magnet 24. The magnetic plate 9 functions as a magnetic shield for preventing magnetic interference between the autofocus magnetic drive mechanism of the camera module 2 and the drive mechanism 5.

[0044] The thickness (thickness in the vertical direction) of the drive magnet 24 is smaller than the thickness (thickness in the vertical direction) of the camera module 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the upper surface of the drive magnet 24 is disposed below the upper surface of the camera module 2, and the lower surface of the drive magnet 24 is disposed above the lower surface of the camera module 2. That is, the drive magnet 24 is disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the camera module 2 in the vertical direction. That is, the drive magnet 24 is disposed between the upper end of the camera module 2, which is one end in the vertical direction of the camera module 2, and the lower end of the camera module 2, which is the other end in the vertical direction of the camera module 2, in the vertical direction, and is accommodated within the height of the camera module 2.

[0045] The lower surface of the drive magnet 24 is the opposing surface 24c that faces the drive coil 23. That is, in this embodiment, the drive magnet 24 is disposed above the drive coil 23, and the drive magnet 24 is disposed only on one side of the drive coil 23 in the vertical direction. The opposing surface 24c is magnetized to two poles in the circumferential direction. That is, the opposing surface 24c is magnetized such that the magnetic pole of one side portion of the opposing surface 24c in the circumferential direction and the magnetic pole of the other side portion of the opposing surface 24c in the circumferential direction are different magnetic poles, and is polarized into two poles in the circumferential direction. Specifically, when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the center in the front-rear direction of the drive magnet 24 is the polarization position (magnetization polarization line) 24e, and the opposing surface 24c is polarized into two poles with the polarization position 24e as the boundary.

[0046] The drive coil 23 is an air-core coil formed by winding a conducting wire in an air-core shape. The drive coil 23 is wound with the vertical direction as the axial direction of winding. As shown in FIG. 3(B), the drive coil 23 includes a pair (two) of effective side portions 23a disposed at intervals in the circumferential direction, a first connection side portion 23b that connects the outer ends in the radial direction of the pair of effective side portions 23a, and a second connection side portion 23c that connects the inner ends in the radial direction of the pair of effective side portions 23a. The effective side portion 23a is a portion that contributes to the driving force of the drive mechanism 5.

[0047] The first connection side portion 23b connects the outer ends in the left-right direction of the pair of effective side portions 23a. The second connection side portion 23c connects the inner ends in the left-right direction of the pair of effective side portions 23a. The first connection side portion 23b and the second connection side portion 23c are disposed parallel to the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 3(B), the pair of effective side portions 23a extend from the first connection side portion 23b toward the rotation center side of the movable body 3 so as to approach each other as they go toward the inside in the radial direction. The length (length in the front-rear direction) of the second connection side portion 23c is shorter than the length (length in the front-rear direction) of the first connection side portion 23b.

[0048] The drive coil 23 is attached to a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 26. Specifically, the lower end surface of the drive coil 23 is attached to the upper surface of the FPC 26. Also, two drive coils 23 are attached to the common FPC 26. The FPC 26 is fixed to the lower surface of the case body 18. That is, the drive coil 23 is fixed to the fixed body 4 via the FPC 26. The lower end portion of the drive coil 23 is disposed in the through hole 18c. The drive coil 23 and the FPC 26 are disposed above the magnetic plate 21. When current is supplied to the drive coil 23, the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4 about the axis L1 as the rotation center.

[0049] In this embodiment, even when the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4 up to the rotation end in the clockwise direction, the polarization position 24e of the drive magnet 24 does not reach the effective side portion 23a disposed on the clockwise side in the circumferential direction. Also, even when the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4 up to the rotation end in the counterclockwise direction, the polarization position 24e does not reach the effective side portion 23a disposed on the counterclockwise side in the circumferential direction. That is, the interval between the pair of effective side portions 23a in the circumferential direction is set such that the polarization position 24e does not reach the effective side portion 23a throughout the rotation range of the movable body 3.

[0050] (Main effects of this embodiment) As described above, in this embodiment, the thickness of the drive magnet 24 in the vertical direction is thinner than the thickness of the camera module 2 in the vertical direction, and the drive magnet 24 is disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the camera module 2 in the vertical direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, even when the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 are disposed to face each other in the vertical direction, compared with the case where the drive magnet 24 protrudes outward in the vertical direction from the upper end or the lower end of the camera module 2, it is possible to reduce the size of the optical unit 1 in the vertical direction. Also, in this embodiment, since the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 are disposed to face each other in the vertical direction, compared with the case where the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 are disposed to face each other in the radial direction, it is possible to reduce the size of the optical unit 1 in the radial direction.

[0051] In this embodiment, the outer surface 24a of the drive magnet 24 in the radial direction forms a part of the outermost peripheral surface 25a of the movable body 3, and the drive magnet 24 is larger in the radial direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to increase the driving force of the drive mechanism 5. Further, in this embodiment, since the pair of effective side portions 23a of the drive coil 23 extend from the first connection side portion 23b toward the rotation center side of the movable body 3 so as to approach each other as they go inward in the radial direction, when a current is supplied to the drive coil 23, the direction in which the driving force of the drive mechanism 5 acts tends to be in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to increase the driving force of the movable body 3 by the drive mechanism 5.

[0052] (Modification Example 1 of the Drive Mechanism) FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the drive mechanism 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a rear view. In FIG. 5, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those in the above-described embodiment.

[0053] In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, drive magnets 24 may be arranged on both the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction of the drive coil 23. In this case, a magnetic plate 21 is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom surface portion 10b of the first frame 10, and the magnetic plate 21 constitutes a part of the movable body 3, not a part of the fixed body 4. The drive magnet 24 arranged below the drive coil 23 is fixed to the upper surface of the magnetic plate 21. The drive magnet 24 arranged above the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 arranged below the drive coil 23 are arranged at the same position in the horizontal direction. In this modification example, the lower surface of the drive magnet 24 arranged above the drive coil 23 and the upper surface of the drive magnet 24 arranged below the drive coil 23 serve as opposing surfaces 24c opposing the drive coil 23.

[0054] The opposing surface 24c is magnetized with two poles in the circumferential direction. The magnetic pole of the front side portion of the opposing surface 24c of the drive magnet 24 disposed above the drive coil 23 (the magnetic pole of one side portion of the opposing surface 24c in the circumferential direction) is different from the magnetic pole of the front side portion of the opposing surface 24c of the drive magnet 24 disposed below the drive coil 23 (the magnetic pole of one side portion of the opposing surface 24c in the circumferential direction). Also, the magnetic pole of the rear side portion of the opposing surface 24c of the drive magnet 24 disposed above the drive coil 23 (the magnetic pole of the other side portion of the opposing surface 24c in the circumferential direction) is different from the magnetic pole of the rear side portion of the opposing surface 24c of the drive magnet 24 disposed below the drive coil 23 (the magnetic pole of the other side portion of the opposing surface 24c in the circumferential direction).

[0055] The upper surface of the drive magnet 24 disposed above the drive coil 23 is disposed below the upper surface of the camera module 2. The lower surface of the drive magnet 24 disposed below the drive coil 23 is disposed at the same position in the vertical direction as the lower surface of the camera module 2. That is, the two drive magnets 24 are disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the camera module 2 in the vertical direction.

[0056] Further, in this modification example, a flat protection plate 28 is fixed below the portion of the FPC 26 to which the drive coil 23 is attached. The protection plate 28 is formed of a non-magnetic material. The protection plate 28 functions to prevent damage to the FPC 26 caused by contact between the drive magnet 24 disposed below the drive coil 23 and the FPC 26. A through hole 18c is not formed in the bottom surface portion 18b of the case body 18, and a through hole for disposing the drive coil 23 is formed in the side surface portion 18a.

[0057] In this modification example, since the drive magnets 24 are disposed on both the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction of the drive coil 23, it is possible to increase the driving force of the drive mechanism 5. Note that when the drive magnet 24 is disposed only on one side of the drive coil 23 in the vertical direction as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the optical unit 1.

[0058] (Modification Example 2 of the Driving Mechanism) FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the driving mechanism 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a rear view. In FIG. 6, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0059] In the above-described embodiment, the driving coil 23 is wound with the vertical direction as the axial direction of winding. However, the driving coil 23 may be wound with the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction (i.e., the horizontal direction) as the axial direction of winding. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the driving coil 23 may be wound with the front-rear direction as the axial direction of winding. In the modification example shown in FIG. 6, the driving magnet 24 is disposed only above the driving coil 23.

[0060] In this modification example, the opposing surface 24c of the driving magnet 24 facing the driving coil 23 is magnetized to a single pole. Also, in this modification example, a magnetic member 30 formed of a magnetic material is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the driving coil 23, and the fixing body 4 does not include the magnetic plate 21. Further, in this modification example, through holes for disposing the driving coil 23 are formed in the side surface portion 18a and the bottom surface portion 18b of the case body 18.

[0061] (Modification Example 3 of the Driving Mechanism) FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the driving mechanism 5 according to another embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is a perspective view and (B) is a rear view. In FIG. 7, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0062] In the modification example shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 7, drive magnets 24 may be arranged on both the upper and lower sides of the drive coil 23 in the vertical direction. In this case, similar to the modification example shown in FIG. 5, a magnetic plate 21 is fixed to the lower surface of the bottom surface portion 10b of the first frame 10, and the magnetic plate 21 forms a part of the movable body 3. The drive magnet 24 arranged below the drive coil 23 is fixed to the upper surface of the magnetic plate 21. The drive magnet 24 arranged above the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 arranged below the drive coil 23 are arranged at the same position in the horizontal direction.

[0063] In this modification example, the lower surface of the drive magnet 24 arranged above the drive coil 23 and the upper surface of the drive magnet 24 arranged below the drive coil 23 are opposed surfaces 24c that oppose the drive coil 23. The opposed surfaces 24c are magnetized to a single pole. The magnetic poles of the opposed surfaces 24c of the drive magnet 24 arranged above the drive coil 23 and the magnetic poles of the opposed surfaces 24c of the drive magnet 24 arranged below the drive coil 23 are different magnetic poles. Also, in this modification example, similar to the modification example shown in FIG. 5, a protective plate 28 is fixed below the portion of the FPC 26 where the drive coil 23 is attached. A through hole for arranging the drive coil 23 is formed in the side surface portion 18a of the case body 18.

[0064] (Other embodiments) The above-described embodiments and modification examples are examples of preferred forms of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0065] In the above-described embodiment, a protection plate or a protection tape for preventing damage to the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 caused by contact between the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 may be attached to at least one of the opposing surface 24c of the drive magnet 24 and the upper surface of the drive coil 23. In this case, the protection plate or the protection tape is formed of a non-magnetic material. Similarly, in the modified example shown in FIG. 6, a protection plate or a protection tape may be attached to at least one of the opposing surface 24c of the drive magnet 24 and the upper surface of the drive coil 23. Further, in the modified example shown in FIG. 5 and the modified example shown in FIG. 7, a protection plate or a protection tape may be attached to at least one of the opposing surface 24c of the drive magnet 24 disposed above the drive coil 23 and the upper surface of the drive coil 23.

[0066] In the above-described embodiment, the radius of curvature of the outer surface 24a of the drive magnet 24, which is an arcuate convex curved surface, may be larger than the radius of curvature of the end face 11a of the second frame 11, which is also an arcuate convex curved surface, and the outermost peripheral surface 25a may be constituted only by the outer surface 24a of the drive magnet 24. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the radius of curvature of the outer surface 24a of the drive magnet 24 may be smaller than the radius of curvature of the end face 11a of the second frame 11.

[0067] In the above-described embodiment, the drive coil 23 may be wound in an oval shape, and the length of the first connection side portion 23b and the length of the second connection side portion 23c may be equal. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drive mechanism 5 may include only one drive coil 23 and one drive magnet 24, or may include three or more drive coils 23 and drive magnets 24. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the drive coil 23 may be fixed to the movable body 3, and the drive magnet 24 may be fixed to the fixed body 4. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the optical unit 1 may include an optical module other than the camera module 2. For example, the optical unit 1 may include a laser module that emits laser light as an optical module. Additionally, the optical unit 1 may include an optical module having optical components such as lenses and prisms.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0068] 1 Optical unit 2 Camera module (optical module) 3 Movable body 4 Fixed body 5 Driving mechanism 23 Driving coil 23a Effective side portion 23b First connection side portion 23c Second connection side portion 24 Driving magnet 24a Outer surface of the driving magnet 24c Opposing surface 25 Movable side portion 25a Outermost peripheral surface L Optical axis of the camera module (optical axis of the optical module) Z First direction

Claims

1. A movable body having an optical module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body with a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation. The drive mechanism includes a drive coil wound in a hollow shape and a drive magnet disposed to face the drive coil in the first direction. The drive coil and the drive magnet are disposed outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, and are disposed on both sides of the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The thickness of the drive magnet in the first direction is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction. The drive magnet is fixed to the movable body and is disposed between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction in the first direction. The drive coil is fixed to the fixed body. Among the movable-side portions composed of the movable body and the drive magnet, when the outer peripheral surface of the portion that is the largest in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body is the outermost peripheral surface, An optical unit, wherein an outer surface of the drive magnet in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body is formed in a convex curved surface shape that is an arc shape with the rotation center of the movable body as the center of curvature when viewed from the first direction, and constitutes at least a part of the outermost peripheral surface.

2. A movable body having an optical module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body with a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation. The drive mechanism includes a drive coil wound in a hollow shape and a drive magnet disposed to face the drive coil in the first direction. The drive coil and the drive magnet are disposed outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The thickness of the drive magnet in the first direction is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction. The drive magnet is disposed between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction in the first direction. The drive coil is wound with the first direction as the axial direction of winding. The opposing surface of the drive magnet facing the drive coil is polarized into two poles in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The drive coil is composed of a pair of effective side portions arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, a first connection side portion connecting the outer ends of the pair of effective side portions in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, and a second connection side portion connecting the inner ends of the pair of effective side portions in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The pair of effective side portions extend from the first connection side portion toward the rotation center side of the movable body so as to approach each other as they go toward the inner side in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. An optical unit characterized by this.

3. A movable body having an optical module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body using a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as the axial direction of rotation. The drive mechanism includes a drive coil wound in a hollow shape and a drive magnet arranged to face the drive coil in the first direction. The drive coil and the drive magnet are arranged outside the optical module in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. The thickness of the drive magnet in the first direction is thinner than the thickness of the optical module in the first direction. The drive magnet is arranged in the first direction between one end of the optical module in the first direction and the other end of the optical module in the first direction. The drive coil is wound with the direction orthogonal to the first direction as the axial direction of winding. The opposing surface of the drive magnet facing the drive coil is magnetized to a single pole. An optical unit characterized by this.

4. The drive magnet is arranged only on one side of the drive coil in the first direction. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by this.

5. The drive magnet is arranged on both sides of the drive coil in the first direction. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by this.

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