Optical unit

Abstract

To provide an optical unit that comprises a movable body having an optical module, a solid body rotatably holding the movable body, and a drive mechanism rotating the movable body with respect to the solid body, the optical unit capable of preventing the interference between the solid body and a flexible printed board drawn out from the optical module even if the angle of rotation of the movable body with respect to the solid body is increased.SOLUTION: In an optical unit 1, a movable body 3 is rotatable from an origin position in both rotation directions of the movable body 3 with respect to a solid body 4. The solid body 4 is formed with an opening 18d for drawing out a flexible printed board 16 to an outer peripheral side of the solid body 4, and the flexible printed board 16 drawn out from an optical module 2 is drawn out toward the outer peripheral side of the solid body 4 from the center part of the opening 18d in a circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3 when the movable body 3 is arranged at an origin position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

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, a magnetic drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body, a flexible printed circuit board (flexible wiring board) connected to the optical module, and a plate-shaped spring member that connects the movable body and the fixed body.

[0003] In the optical unit with an image stabilization function described in Patent Document 1, 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 of the optical module as the rotation axis direction and about a Y-axis direction orthogonal to both the optical axis direction and the X-axis direction as the rotation axis direction. The spring member functions to define the posture of the movable body with respect to the fixed body when the magnetic drive mechanism is at rest. When the magnetic drive mechanism is at rest, the movable body is disposed at a predetermined origin position (reference position) with respect to the fixed body by the biasing force of the spring member.

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. In this optical unit, a flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from the optical module toward the outer peripheral side of the fixed body. The inventor of the present application is considering increasing the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body in such an optical unit. However, when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases, there is a high possibility that the flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module and the fixed body interfere with each other when the movable body rotates with respect to the fixed body.

[0006] 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, which can prevent interference between the flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module and the fixed body even when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] 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, 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, and a flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module. The movable body is rotatable with respect to the fixed body to both sides in the rotation direction of the movable body with respect to the fixed body from a predetermined origin position. The fixed body includes an outer peripheral wall portion disposed outside the movable body in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body. An opening for drawing out the flexible printed circuit board to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body is formed in the fixed body, and the opening is formed in a predetermined range in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body. The optical module includes a flat rigid substrate that forms part of the outer peripheral surface of the optical module,When the movable body is disposed at the origin position, the flexible printed circuit board is drawn from the center portion of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward the outer peripheral side of the fixed body. and is drawn from the central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate. It is characterized by this.

[0008] In the optical unit of the present invention, the movable body is rotatable with respect to the fixed body to both sides in the rotation direction of the movable body with respect to the fixed body from a predetermined origin position. Further, in the present invention, an opening for drawing the flexible printed circuit board to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body is formed in a predetermined range in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, and the flexible printed circuit board drawn from the optical module is When the movable body is disposed at the origin position, it is drawn from the center portion of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward the outer peripheral side of the fixed body.

[0009] Therefore, in the present invention, even when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases, it is possible to prevent interference between the flexible printed circuit board and the fixed body when the movable body rotates to both sides in the rotation direction of the movable body with respect to the fixed body from the origin position. In this specification, the "center portion of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body" includes, in addition to the complete center of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, a position slightly deviated from the complete center of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. That is, the "center portion of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body" also includes the approximate center of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

[0010] Also, in this specification, the "central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body" includes not only the complete center of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, but also positions slightly deviated from the complete center of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. That is, the "central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body" also includes the approximate center of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

[0011] In the present invention, it is preferable that the width direction of the flexible printed circuit board perpendicular to the thickness direction of the flexible printed circuit board coincides with the first direction. With such a configuration, even when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases, when the movable body rotates with respect to the fixed body, the flexible printed circuit board is likely to deform according to the rotation operation of the movable body. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the flexible printed circuit board from interfering with the rotation operation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

[0012] In the present invention, for example, when a portion of the flexible printed circuit board drawn from the central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate is defined as the drawn portion, when viewed from the first direction, the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body is arranged on the extension line of the drawn portion. That is, the drawn portion is drawn, for example, toward the outside in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

[0013] In the present invention, the flexible printed circuit board is drawn, for example, toward one side in the optical axis direction, which is the direction of the optical axis of the optical module.

[0014] In the present invention, it is preferable that the flexible printed circuit board is bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body after being drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate toward one side in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. With this configuration, even when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases, when the movable body rotates with respect to the fixed body, the entire flexible printed circuit board is likely to deform according to the rotation operation of the movable body. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the flexible printed circuit board from interfering with the rotation operation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

[0015] In the present invention, for example, the outer shape of the fixed body when viewed from the first direction is rectangular, and the flexible printed circuit board is bent twice at 90° along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body after being drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate toward one side in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

[0016] In the present invention, it is preferable that the optical unit includes a plate-like member that is attached to the flexible printed circuit board and defines the bending angle of the flexible printed circuit board. With this configuration, it is possible to maintain the shape of the flexible printed circuit board that is routed so as to be bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body.

[0017] In the present invention, it is preferable that the fixed body is formed with a board fixing portion to which a predetermined portion of the flexible printed circuit board after being bent twice is fixed. For example, when a predetermined portion of the flexible printed circuit board after being bent twice is fixed to a portable device on which the optical unit is mounted, it is not possible to determine the routing of the flexible printed circuit board within the optical unit. However, with this configuration, it is possible to determine the routing of the flexible printed circuit board within the optical unit.

[0018] In the present invention, the optical module is, for example, a camera module.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] As described above, in the present invention, in 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, even when the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body increases, it is possible to prevent interference between the flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module and the fixed body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0022] (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 is a plan view of the state where the cover 19 is removed from the optical unit 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] 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 - back direction, and the Z direction being the up - down direction. Also, the X1 - direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is one side of the left - right direction, is the "left" side, the X2 - direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side, is the "right" side, the Y1 - direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is one side of the front - back direction, is the "front" side, the Y2 - direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side, is the "rear" side, the Z1 - direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is one side of the up - down direction, is the "upper" side, and the Z2 - direction side in FIG. 1 and the like, which is the opposite side, is the "lower" side.

[0024] The optical unit 1 of this embodiment is a small and thin unit mounted on a portable device such as a smartphone, and includes a camera module 2 having a lens for photography and an imaging element. The optical unit 1 is formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is thin and flat 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, 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.

[0025] The optical axis L of the camera module 2 is orthogonal to the up - down direction. The movable body 3 is rotatable with respect to the fixed body 4 with the up - down 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 having the up - down 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 up - down 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 up - down direction (Z direction) of this embodiment is the first direction orthogonal to the optical axis L of the camera module 2. Also, the up - down direction is the thickness direction of the optical unit 1.

[0026] 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 rotating relative to the fixed body 4, and the movable body 3 is disposed at a predetermined origin position (reference position) relative 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 is rotatable relative to the fixed body 4 about both sides in the rotation direction of the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 from the origin position.

[0027] The movable body 3 is, for example, rotatable 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") from the origin position. In the following description, the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 is referred to as the "radial direction", and the circumferential direction (circumferential direction) centered on the rotation center of the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 is referred to as the "circumferential direction".

[0028] 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 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 surface and the lower surface 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.

[0029] 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 and the second frame 11 are formed by bending a thin metal plate into a predetermined shape. The first frame 10 includes two side portions 10a that constitute the left and right side surfaces of the first frame 10, and a bottom portion 10b that constitutes 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.

[0030] The bottom portion 10b is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The thickness direction of the bottom portion 10b coincides with the up and down direction. A through hole 10c that penetrates the bottom portion 10b in the up and down direction is formed at the center of the bottom portion 10b. The through hole 10c is formed in a round hole shape. A ball 6 is disposed below the bottom 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.

[0031] The second frame 11 includes an upper surface portion 11a formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and two protruding portions 11b that protrude outward in the left and right direction from the upper surface portion 11a. The thickness direction of the upper surface portion 11a coincides with the up and down direction. The upper surface portion 11a is fixed to the upper end of the first frame 10. A through hole 11c that penetrates the upper surface portion 11a in the up and down direction is formed at the center of the upper surface portion 11a. The through hole 11c is formed in a round hole shape. A ball 7 is disposed above the upper surface portion 11a. 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.

[0032] The through-hole 11c is arranged 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 arranged 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 arranged on the axis L1.

[0033] The protruding portion 11b is formed in an L shape in which the tip side portion of the protruding portion 11b bends downward at a right angle. The tip portion of the protruding portion 11b extending downward is an engaging portion 11d that engages with a positioning concave portion 24d of a drive magnet 24 described later that constitutes a part of the drive mechanism 5. The engaging portion 11d is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The thickness direction of the engaging portion 11d coincides with the left-right direction when the movable body 3 is arranged at the origin position. The engaging portion 11d is arranged outside the side surface portion 10a in the left-right direction.

[0034] 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 of the side surface portion 10a in the left-right direction. 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.

[0035] 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 magnetic drive mechanism for autofocus. The camera module 2 also includes a rigid substrate 15 on which the imaging element is mounted. The rigid substrate 15 is, for example, a glass epoxy substrate. The rigid substrate 15 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The rigid substrate 15 constitutes a part of the outer peripheral surface of the camera module 2. Specifically, the rigid substrate 15 constitutes the rear surface of the camera module 2.

[0036] The thickness direction of the rigid substrate 15 coincides with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. That is, the thickness direction of the rigid substrate 15 coincides with the front-rear direction when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position. A flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 16 is drawn out from the rigid substrate 15. That is, the optical unit 1 includes the FPC 16 drawn out from the camera module 2. Power is supplied to the camera module 2 via the FPC 16. Further, the image data acquired by the imaging element is transmitted to the portable device on which the optical unit 1 is mounted via the FPC 16.

[0037] The FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the left-right direction toward the rear side. Further, 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 specific configuration of the FPC 16 and the routing of the FPC 16 will be described later.

[0038] 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 fixed to the case body 18. The outer shape of the fixed body 4 when viewed from the up-down direction is rectangular. Specifically, the outer shape of the fixed body 4 when viewed from the up-down direction is rectangular with the left-right direction as the long side direction and the front-rear direction as the short side direction. The case body 18 is formed of a resin material. The cover 19 is formed by bending a thin metal plate into a predetermined shape. The fixing plate 20 is formed of a thin metal plate. Further, the fixing plate 20 is formed in a substantially disc shape.

[0039] 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 bottom surface of the case body 18. The movable body 3 is disposed above the bottom portion 18b. Also, the movable body 3 is disposed between the two side portions 18a in the left - right direction. The side portion 18a of the present embodiment is an outer peripheral wall portion disposed outside the movable body 3 in the radial direction. That is, the fixed body 4 includes an outer peripheral wall portion disposed outside the movable body 3 in the radial direction.

[0040] Between the rear ends of the two side portions 18a is an opening 18d for pulling out the FPC 16 to the outer peripheral side of the case body 18. That is, in the fixed body 4, an opening 18d for pulling out the FPC 16 to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body 4 is formed. The opening 18d is formed in a predetermined range in the circumferential direction. The width of the opening 18d in the left - right direction is wider than the width of the camera module 2 in the left - right direction when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position.

[0041] The right end of the opening 18d is disposed on the right side of the right side surface of the camera module 2 when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, and the left end of the opening 18d is disposed on the left side of the left side surface of the camera module 2 when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position. The opening 18d also functions to prevent interference between a drive magnet 24 (described later) that constitutes a part of the drive mechanism 5 and the case body 18 when the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4. Note that between the front ends of the two side portions 18a is an opening for photographing a subject disposed in front of the camera module 2.

[0042] In the side portion 18a, a through - hole 18c penetrating in the left - right direction is formed. In the through - hole 18c, a drive coil 23 (described later) that constitutes a part of the drive mechanism 5 is disposed. At the front end portion of the side portion 18a disposed on the left side, an FPC fixing portion 18f protruding toward the left side is formed. At a predetermined location on the tip - end side of the FPC 16 is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f. That is, in the fixed body 4, an FPC fixing portion 18f as a board fixing portion to which a predetermined location of the FPC 16 is fixed is formed.

[0043] The fixing plate 20 is fixed to the central portion of the upper surface of the bottom surface portion 18b. At the center of the fixing plate 20, a ball placement portion 20a where the lower end portion of the ball 6 is disposed is formed. The ball placement portion 20a is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape that bulges downward, and the upper surface of the ball placement portion 20a is a hemispherical concave curved surface that is recessed downward. The ball 6 is disposed above the ball placement portion 20a.

[0044] The cover 19 is fixed to the upper end portion of the case body 18. The movable body 3 is disposed below the cover 19. At the central portion of the cover 19, a spring portion 19a that biases the ball 7 is formed. That is, the cover 19 is a leaf spring. The spring portion 19a is slightly cut and raised downward. At the tip end portion of the spring portion 19a, a ball placement portion 19b where the upper end portion of the ball 7 is disposed is formed. 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] The drive mechanism 5 includes a drive coil 23 wound in a hollow shape, a drive magnet 24 disposed opposite to the drive coil 23 in the radial direction, and a magnetic plate 25 to which the drive magnet 24 is fixed. The drive mechanism 5 of this embodiment includes a drive coil 23, a drive magnet 24, and a magnetic plate 25 disposed on each of the left and right sides of the movable body 3. The drive coil 23, the drive magnet 24, and the magnetic plate 25 are arranged at a 180° pitch with respect to the rotation center of the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4.

[0047] The magnetic plate 25 is formed by bending a metal plate made of a magnetic material into a predetermined shape. The magnetic plate 25 includes a fixed portion 25a fixed to the magnetic plate 9 and two inclined portions 25b connected to both ends of the fixed portion 25a in the front-rear direction. The fixed portion 25a is fixed to the outer surface of the magnetic plate 9 in the left-right direction. The inclined portion 25b connected to the front end of the fixed portion 25a is inclined with respect to the fixed portion 25a so as to face inward in the left-right direction as it goes forward. The inclined portion 25b connected to the rear end of the fixed portion 25a is inclined with respect to the fixed portion 25a so as to face inward in the left-right direction as it goes backward.

[0048] The drive magnet 24 is formed in a block shape with a substantially crescent shape when viewed from the vertical direction. The drive magnet 24 is fixed to the fixed portion 25a of the magnetic plate 25 and is fixed to the movable body 3 via the magnetic plate 25. The upper and lower surfaces of the drive magnet 24 are planes orthogonal to the vertical direction. The outer surface of the drive magnet 24 in the radial direction is a magnet-side facing surface 24a facing the drive coil 23. The magnet-side facing surface 24a is formed in a convex curved surface shape. Also, the magnet-side facing surface 24a is formed in an arc shape having the rotation center of the movable body 3 as the center of curvature when viewed from the vertical direction. The central angle of the magnet-side facing surface 24a when viewed from the vertical direction is, for example, about 90°. The magnet-side facing surface 24a is magnetized in two poles in the circumferential direction.

[0049] The inner surface of the drive magnet 24 in the radial direction is composed of a planar fixed surface 24b fixed to the fixed portion 25a and planar inclined surfaces 24c connected to both ends of the fixed surface 24b in the front-rear direction. The fixed surface 24b is fixed to the outer surface of the fixed portion 25a in the left-right direction and is in contact with the outer surface of the fixed portion 25a in the left-right direction. The inclined surface 24c connected to the front end of the fixed surface 24b is inclined with respect to the fixed surface 24b so as to face inward in the left-right direction as it goes forward, and the inclined surface 24c connected to the rear end of the fixed surface 24b is inclined with respect to the fixed surface 24b so as to face inward in the left-right direction as it goes backward.

[0050] At the center of the fixed surface 24b, a positioning recess 24d for positioning the drive magnet 24 with respect to the movable body 3 is formed. The engaging portion 11d is engaged with the positioning recess 24d. In this embodiment, by engaging the engaging portion 11d with the positioning recess 24d, the drive magnet 24 is positioned with respect to the movable body 3 in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. When the movable body 3 is arranged at the origin position, the two drive magnets 24 are arranged symmetrically left and right.

[0051] The drive coil 23 is an air-core coil formed by winding a conductor in an air-core shape. The drive coil 23 is composed of a pair (two) of effective side portions 23a, 23b parallel to the up-down direction, a connecting side portion 23c connecting the upper ends of the pair of effective side portions 23a, 23b, and a connecting side portion 23c connecting the lower ends of the pair of effective side portions 23a, 23b. The effective side portions 23a, 23b are portions that contribute to the driving force of the drive mechanism 5. The drive coil 23 is bent along the magnet-side facing surface 24a having an arc shape when viewed from the up-down direction. The pair of effective side portions 23a, 23b are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0052] The drive coil 23 is disposed outside the drive magnet 24 in the radial direction. Further, the drive coil 23 is disposed outside the drive magnet 24 in the left-right direction. The drive coil 23 is disposed in the through-hole 18c of the case body 18, and the two drive coils 23 are arranged symmetrically left and right. The drive coil 23 is attached to a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 26. The FPC 26 is fixed to the outer surface and the lower surface of the case body 18 in the left-right direction, and the drive coil 23 is fixed to the fixed body 4 via the FPC 26. 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.

[0053] On the surface of the FPC 26 opposite to the surface to which the drive coil 23 is attached (specifically, the outer surface of the FPC 26 in the left-right direction), a flat magnetic plate 27 made of a magnetic material is fixed. The magnetic plate 27 is formed in a rectangular shape. The thickness direction of the magnetic plate 27 coincides with the left-right direction. When viewed from above in the up-down direction with the movable body 3 disposed at the origin position, the polarization position of the drive magnet 24 magnetized into two poles in the circumferential direction and the center of the magnetic plate 27 in the front-rear direction are arranged at the same position in the circumferential direction.

[0054] The position of the movable body 3 disposed at the origin position is held by the magnetic attractive force generated between the drive magnet 24 and the magnetic plate 27. That is, the drive magnet 24 and the magnetic plate 27 function to maintain the state in which the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position when no current is supplied to the drive coil 23. In this embodiment, a position holding mechanism for maintaining the state in which the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position is constituted by the drive magnet 24 and the magnetic plate 27.

[0055] (Configuration and routing of FPC) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the FPC 16 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the state of the FPC 16 when the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 5, the illustration of the through-hole 11c of the second frame 11 is omitted.

[0056] The FPC 16 is formed in an overall elongated strip shape. The FPC 16 is arranged such that the width direction and the up-and-down direction of the FPC 16, which are orthogonal to the thickness direction of the FPC 16, coincide. That is, the width direction and the up-and-down direction of the FPC 16 coincide. As described above, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the left-right direction toward the rear side. That is, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward the rear side.

[0057] In this embodiment, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward the outer side in the radial direction. That is, the drawing direction of the FPC 16 from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction coincides with the radial direction. Specifically, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward one side in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2, and the drawing direction of the FPC 16 from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction coincides with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. Also, as described above, the thickness direction of the rigid substrate 15 coincides with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2, and the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate 15.

[0058] Further, when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the opening 18d of the case body 18 in the circumferential direction toward the outer peripheral side of the fixed body 4. That is, when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the opening 18d in the left-right direction toward the outer peripheral side of the fixed body 4. The FPC 16 is bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body 4 after being drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate 15. Specifically, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward the rear side and then bent twice by 90° along the outer peripheral surface of the case body 18.

[0059] In this embodiment, the FPC 16 drawn from the rigid substrate 15 toward the rear side is then bent toward the left side and routed toward the left side, and then bent toward the front side and routed toward the front side. The FPC 16 is bent in a substantially angular groove shape (substantially U-shaped). A predetermined portion on the tip side (front end side) of the FPC 16 after being bent twice is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f of the case body 18. Specifically, a reinforcing plate 32 formed in a rectangular thin flat plate shape is fixed to a predetermined portion on the tip side of the FPC 16 after being bent twice, and the reinforcing plate 32 is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f. That is, a predetermined portion of the FPC 16 after being bent twice is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f via the reinforcing plate 32.

[0060] The FPC 16 includes a fixed portion 16a fixed to the rigid substrate 15, an overlapping portion 16b overlapping a part of the fixed portion 16a, a drawn portion 16c drawn from the center portion of the rigid substrate 15 toward the rear side in the circumferential direction, a first routed portion 16d routed from the rear end of the drawn portion 16c toward the left side, and a second routed portion 16e routed from the left end of the first routed portion 16d toward the front side.

[0061] The thickness direction of the fixed portion 16a and the thickness direction of the overlapping portion 16b coincide with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. The overlapping portion 16b is disposed behind the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a and overlaps the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. The upper end of the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a and the upper end of the overlapping portion 16b are connected, and the FPC 16 is folded back at 180° at the connection portion between the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a and the overlapping portion 16b. The front surface of the overlapping portion 16b is fixed to the rear side of the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a by double-sided tape or the like.

[0062] The front end of the lead-out portion 16c is connected to the left end of the overlapping portion 16b. The thickness direction of the lead-out portion 16c coincides with the left-right direction when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position. The FPC 16 is bent at 90° at the connection portion between the overlapping portion 16b and the lead-out portion 16c. As described above, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward the outside in the radial direction (specifically, toward one side in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2). Therefore, when viewed from the up-down direction, the rotation center of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 is disposed on the extension line of the lead-out portion 16c. Further, when viewed from the up-down direction, the lead-out portion 16c is disposed on the optical axis L of the camera module 2. The rear end of the lead-out portion 16c is disposed behind the rear end surface of the side surface portion 18a.

[0063] The right end of the first winding portion 16d is connected to the rear end of the lead-out portion 16c. The thickness direction of the first winding portion 16d coincides with the front-rear direction when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position. The FPC 16 is bent at 90° at the connection portion between the lead-out portion 16c and the first winding portion 16d. The first winding portion 16d is disposed behind the case body 18. A gap is formed between the rear end surface of the side surface portion 18a disposed on the left side and the first winding portion 16d.

[0064] The rear end of the second winding portion 16e is connected to the left end of the first winding portion 16d. The thickness direction of the second winding portion 16e coincides with the left-right direction when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position. The FPC 16 is bent at 90° at the connection portion between the first winding portion 16d and the second winding portion 16e. The second winding portion 16e is disposed on the left side of the case body 18. A gap is formed between the left side surface of the side surface portion 18a disposed on the left side and the second winding portion 16e. A reinforcing plate 32 is fixed to a predetermined position on the tip end side of the second winding portion 16e. The reinforcing plate 32 is fixed to the left surface of the FPC fixing portion 18f by means of a double-sided tape or the like.

[0065] The FPC 16 has plate-like members 30 and 31 attached thereto at three locations to define the bending angles of the FPC 16 that are bent at 90°. That is, the optical unit 1 includes the plate-like members 30 and 31 that define the bending angles of the FPC 16, and the plate-like members 30 and 31 are attached to the FPC 16. The plate-like member 30 is formed by bending a flat metal plate (sheet metal) twice at 90°. The plate-like member 31 is formed by bending a flat metal plate once at 90°.

[0066] Notches and openings are formed in the plate-like members 30 and 31 to facilitate the bending of the plate-like members 30 and 31 (see FIG. 4). The plate-like member 30 is attached to the FPC 16 so as to contact the rear surface of the right-side portion of the fixed portion 16a, the front surface of the overlapping portion 16b, the left surface of the lead-out portion 16c, and the front surface of the right end portion of the first routing portion 16d. The plate-like member 31 is attached to the FPC 16 so as to contact the front surface of the left end portion of the first routing portion 16d and the right surface of the rear end portion of the second routing portion 16e.

[0067] In the optical unit 1, when the movable body 3 rotates clockwise with respect to the fixed body 4, the FPC 16 deforms as shown in FIG. 5(A). Even when the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4 to the clockwise rotation end, the lead-out portion 16c does not reach the right end of the opening 18d in the circumferential direction. Further, when the movable body 3 rotates counterclockwise with respect to the fixed body 4, the FPC 16 deforms as shown in FIG. 5(B). Even when the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4 to the counterclockwise rotation end, the lead-out portion 16c does not reach the left end of the opening 18d in the circumferential direction.

[0068] (Main effects of this embodiment) As described above, in this embodiment, the movable body 3 is rotatable with respect to the fixed body 4 in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions from the origin position. Further, in this embodiment, between the rear ends of the two side portions 18a of the case body 18, there is an opening 18d for pulling out the FPC 16 to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body 4, and the FPC 16 drawn out from the camera module 2 is pulled out from the center portion of the opening 18d in the circumferential direction toward the outer peripheral side of the fixed body 4 when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position.

[0069] Therefore, in this embodiment, even when the rotation angle of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 increases, it is possible to prevent interference between the FPC 16 and the fixed body 4 when the movable body 3 rotates. Specifically, even when the rotation angle of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 increases, it is possible to prevent interference between the lead-out portion 16c and the side portion 18a when the movable body 3 rotates. Further, in this embodiment, since the FPC 16 is drawn out from the center portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the left-right direction toward the outside in the radial direction, even when the rotation angle of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 increases, it is possible to prevent interference between the FPC 16 and the drive magnet 24 disposed on the left side when the movable body 3 rotates.

[0070] In this embodiment, the vertical direction, which is the axial direction of the rotation of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4, coincides with the width direction of the FPC 16. Therefore, in this embodiment, even when the rotation angle of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 increases, when the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4, the FPC 16 is likely to deform according to the rotation operation of the movable body 3. Accordingly, in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the FPC 16 from interfering with the rotation operation of the movable body 3.

[0071] In this embodiment, the FPC 16 is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward the rear side, and then bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body 4. Therefore, in this embodiment, even when the rotation angle of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 increases, when the movable body 3 rotates with respect to the fixed body 4, the entire FPC 16 is likely to deform according to the rotation operation of the movable body 3. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to effectively suppress the FPC 16 from interfering with the rotation operation of the movable body 3.

[0072] In this embodiment, plate-like members 30 and 31 that define the bending angle of the FPC 16 are attached to the FPC 16. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to maintain the shape of the FPC 16 in the routed state, which is routed so as to be bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body 4. Further, in this embodiment, a predetermined portion on the front end side of the second routed portion 16e of the FPC 16 after being bent twice is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f of the case body 18 via the reinforcing plate 32. Therefore, in the optical unit 1, it is possible to fix the routing of the FPC 16.

[0073] (Other embodiments) The above-described embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0074] In the above-described embodiment, the drawing direction of the FPC 16 from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction may be inclined with respect to the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. That is, the thickness direction of the rigid substrate 15 does not have to coincide with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the drawing direction of the FPC 16 from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction may be deviated from the radial direction. That is, the rotation center of the movable body 3 with respect to the fixed body 4 does not have to be arranged on the extension line of the drawing portion 16c when viewed from the up-down direction. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the FPC 16 may be drawn out from a position deviated from the central portion in the circumferential direction of the rigid substrate 15 toward the rear side.

[0075] In the above-described embodiment, the outer shape of the fixed body 4 when viewed from the vertical direction may be a shape other than a rectangular shape. In this case, for example, the bending angle of the FPC 16 that is pulled out from the rigid substrate 15 toward the rear side and then bent twice does not have to be 90°. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the bending angle of the FPC 16 that is pulled out from the rigid substrate 15 toward the rear side and then bent twice may be an acute angle or an obtuse angle.

[0076] In the above-described embodiment, the number of times the FPC 16 is bent after being pulled out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward the rear side may be once, or may be three or more times. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the FPC 16 that is pulled out from the central portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction toward the rear side may be directly pulled back toward the rear side without being bent. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a predetermined portion on the front end side of the second pulling-back portion 16e of the FPC 16 may be fixed not to the FPC fixing portion 18f of the case body 18 but to a frame or the like of the portable device on which the optical unit 1 is mounted. That is, the reinforcing plate 32 may be fixed not to the FPC fixing portion 18f but to a frame or the like of the portable device on which the optical unit 1 is mounted. Also, in the above-described embodiment, a predetermined portion on the front end side of the second pulling-back portion 16e may be directly fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f.

[0077] In the above-described embodiment, the position holding mechanism for maintaining the state in which the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position may be a spring member such as a leaf spring. When the position holding mechanism is a leaf spring, this leaf spring includes, for example, a fixed portion fixed to the movable body 3, a fixed portion fixed to the fixed body 4, and a plurality of spring portions connecting the fixed portions to each other. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the drive mechanism 5 may include only one drive coil 23 and drive magnet 24, or may include three or more drive coils 23 and drive magnets 24.

[0078] In the above-described embodiment, the drive coil 23 and the drive magnet 24 may be arranged to face each other in the vertical direction. In this case, the drive coil 23 may be wound with the vertical direction as the axial direction of winding, or may be wound with the front-rear direction as the axial direction of winding. Also, in this case, the drive magnet 24 may be arranged only on one side in the vertical direction of the drive coil 23, or the drive magnets 24 may be arranged on both sides in the vertical direction of the drive coil 23.

[0079] 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. In this case, the drive magnet 24 is arranged outside the drive coil 23 in the radial direction. 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 the optical module.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0080] 1 Optical unit 2 Camera module (optical module) 3 Movable body 4 Fixed body 5 Drive mechanism 15 Rigid substrate 16 FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) 16c Lead-out portion 18a Side surface portion (outer peripheral wall portion) 18d Opening 18f FPC fixing portion (substrate fixing portion) 30, 31 Plate-like members L Optical axis of the camera module (optical axis of the optical module) Z First direction

Claims

Claim 1 A movable body having an optical module, a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body, 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, and a flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module, the movable body is rotatable with respect to the fixed body on both sides in the rotation direction of the movable body with respect to the fixed body from a predetermined origin position, the fixed body includes an outer peripheral wall portion disposed outside the movable body in the radial direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, an opening for drawing out the flexible printed circuit board to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body is formed in the fixed body, the opening is formed within a predetermined range in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body, the optical module includes a flat rigid substrate that forms a part of the outer peripheral surface of the optical module, when the movable body is disposed at the origin position, the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from the central portion of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward the outer peripheral side of the fixed body, and is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate. An optical unit characterized by this. Claim 2 The optical unit according to claim 1, wherein the width direction of the flexible printed circuit board orthogonal to the thickness direction of the flexible printed circuit board coincides with the first direction. Claim 3 When a portion of the flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate is defined as a drawn-out portion, The optical unit according to claim 2, wherein the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body is disposed on the extension line of the drawn-out portion when viewed from the first direction. Claim 4 The optical unit according to claim 3, wherein the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out toward one side in the optical axis direction, which is the direction of the optical axis of the optical module. Claim 5 The flexible printed circuit board is drawn from the central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate, and then bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body. The optical unit according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that.

6. The outer shape of the fixed body when viewed from the first direction is rectangular, The flexible printed circuit board is drawn from the central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate, and then bent twice at 90° along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body. The optical unit according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. The optical unit according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising a plate-like member attached to the flexible printed circuit board for defining the bending angle of the flexible printed circuit board.

8. The optical unit according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a substrate fixing portion is formed on the fixed body for fixing a predetermined portion of the flexible printed circuit board after being bent twice.

9. The optical module is a camera module. The optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that.

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