Camera with Automatic Focusing and Optical Image Stabilizer feature

Abstract

The present invention relates to a camera equipped with autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions, and is implemented so that the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions can be guided without using a middle frame (middle guide) that guides the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier, thereby enabling the camera thickness (height) to be reduced and the camera structure to be simplified at the same time.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a camera, and more particularly to a camera equipped with autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions. Background Technology

[0002] In Korean Published Patent No. 10-2023-0151692 (published Nov. 2, 2023), previously filed by the applicant of the present invention, a camera equipped with autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions was proposed, which can prevent internal camera damage caused by AF impact force and OIS impact force by limiting the movement of the AF carrier and OIS carrier to mitigate AF impact force and OIS impact force.

[0003] However, these conventional technologies used a middle frame (middle guide) that guides the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier, so a separate space for mounting the middle frame had to be provided between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier, which resulted in a problem where the camera thickness (height) was large and the camera structure became complex.

[0004] Accordingly, the inventors have conducted research on a camera equipped with an improved structure of autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions that can reduce the camera thickness (height) and simultaneously simplify the camera structure by implementing a middle frame (middle guide) that guides the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier, thereby guiding the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions without using the middle frame (middle guide). Prior art literature

[0005] Republic of Korea Published Patent No. 10-2023-0151692 (Published Nov. 02, 2023) The problem to be solved

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a camera equipped with an improved structure of autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions that can guide the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions without using a middle frame (middle guide) that guides the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier. means of solving the problem

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose, a camera equipped with automatic focus adjustment and anti-shake functions comprises: an AF carrier that performs an automatic focus (AF) adjustment function by moving a PCB on which a lens module or image sensor is mounted in a vertical direction; an OIS carrier that performs an optical image stabilizer (OIS) function by moving a lens module in a horizontal direction; an OIS drive guide part that guides the OIS carrier to move in the x-axis and y-axis directions by being mounted in a storage space of an OIS drive guide part formed by cutting off one corner portion of the lower part of the OIS carrier; an AF ball that reduces frictional force when the AF carrier moves in the vertical direction; an x-axis OIS ball that reduces frictional force when the OIS carrier moves in the x-axis direction by being mounted on the upper or lower surface of the OIS drive guide part; and a y-axis OIS ball that reduces frictional force when the OIS carrier moves in the y-axis direction by being mounted on the upper or lower surface of the OIS drive guide part.

[0008] According to an additional aspect of the present invention, the OIS driving guide may include a main body; a transverse guide groove formed by cutting transversely from the upper or lower surface of the main body and guiding at least one x-axis OIS ball in the x-axis direction; and a longitudinal guide groove formed by cutting longitudinally from the upper or lower surface of the main body and guiding at least one y-axis OIS ball in the y-axis direction.

[0009] According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a camera equipped with autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions may further include an AF permanent magnet that generates a magnetic force for driving an AF carrier; and an AF coil that interacts with the magnetic force generated by the AF permanent magnet to generate a driving force that moves the AF carrier in a vertical direction.

[0010] According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a camera equipped with autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions may further include an x-axis OIS permanent magnet that generates a magnetic force for driving an OIS carrier in the x-axis direction; a y-axis OIS permanent magnet that generates a magnetic force for driving an OIS carrier in the y-axis direction; an x-axis OIS coil that interacts with the magnetic force generated by the x-axis OIS permanent magnet to generate a driving force for moving the OIS carrier in the x-axis horizontal direction; and a y-axis OIS coil that interacts with the magnetic force generated by the y-axis OIS permanent magnet to generate a driving force for moving the OIS carrier in the y-axis horizontal direction.

[0011] According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a camera equipped with autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions may further include a housing; a lens module mounted on the central portion of an OIS carrier; an image sensor that photoelectrically converts an optical signal incident through the lens module into an electrical signal; and a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the image sensor is mounted. Effects of the invention

[0012] The present invention can guide the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions without using a middle frame (middle guide) that guides the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier, thereby having the effect of reducing the camera thickness (height) and simultaneously simplifying the camera structure. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of an embodiment of a camera equipped with an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an OIS driving guide section of a camera equipped with automatic focus adjustment and anti-shake functions according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an OIS driving guide unit of a camera equipped with an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function according to the present invention mounted on an OIS carrier. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0014] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail through preferred embodiments described with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and reproduce it. Although specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and detailed descriptions are provided, this is not intended to limit the various embodiments of the present invention to a specific form.

[0015] In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations could unnecessarily obscure the essence of the embodiments of the present invention, such detailed description will be omitted.

[0016] When it is stated that one component is "connected" or "joined" to another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or joined to that other component, there may also be other components in between.

[0017] On the other hand, when it is stated that one component is "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another component, it should be understood that no other component exists in between.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of an embodiment of a camera having an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the camera (100) having an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function according to this embodiment includes an AF carrier (110), an OIS carrier (120), an OIS driving guide (130), an AF ball (140), an x-axis OIS ball (150), and a y-axis OIS ball (160).

[0019] The AF carrier (110) performs an automatic focusing (AF) adjustment function by moving a PCB (not shown in the drawing) on ​​which a lens module (not shown in the drawing) or an image sensor (not shown in the drawing) is mounted in a vertical direction.

[0020] For example, when implementing an autofocus (AF) function using a lens module movement method, the AF carrier (110) is implemented to move the lens module in a vertical direction, and when implementing an autofocus (AF) function using an image sensor movement method, the AF carrier (110) can be implemented to move the PCB on which the image sensor is mounted in a vertical direction.

[0021] The OIS carrier (120) moves the lens module (not shown in the drawing) in a horizontal direction (x-axis direction or y-axis direction) to perform an anti-shake (OIS: Optical Image Stabilizer) function.

[0022] For example, the OIS carrier (120) is coupled to the inside of the AF carrier (110), which is in the shape of a square box with a central portion that is open, and a through hole for coupling a lens module is formed in the central portion, so that the lens module is coupled to this through hole and the carrier can be implemented in a form that encloses the lens module from the outside. At this time, one lower corner portion of the OIS carrier (120) may be cut to form an OIS drive guide portion storage space (121) in which the OIS drive guide portion (130) is accommodated.

[0023] The OIS drive guide part (130) is mounted in the OIS drive guide part storage space (121) formed by cutting off one side corner of the lower part of the OIS carrier (120), and guides the OIS carrier (120) to move in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction.

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an OIS driving guide section of a camera equipped with an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an OIS driving guide section of a camera equipped with an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function according to the present invention mounted on an OIS carrier. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the OIS driving guide section (130) may include a main body (131), a transverse guide groove (132), and a longitudinal guide groove (133).

[0025] The main body (131) may be made of an insulating material such as plastic. For example, the main body (131) may have a cuboid shape and be formed by cutting into an arc shape at the corner portions facing inward, but is not limited thereto and can be implemented in various shapes.

[0026] The transverse guide groove (132) is formed by cutting transversely from the upper or lower surface of the main body (131) and guides at least one x-axis OIS ball (150) in the x-axis direction. At this time, the shape of the transverse guide groove (132) may be an inverted trapezoid or an inverted triangle.

[0027] For example, the lower side corner portion of the lower part of the OIS carrier (120) is cut to form an OIS drive guide unit storage space (121), and the lower surface of the OIS carrier (120) is in contact with at least one x-axis OIS ball (150) mounted in a transverse guide groove (132) formed by cutting transversely from the upper surface of the main body (131) of the OIS drive guide unit (130). Then, the x-axis OIS ball (150) moves along the transverse guide groove (132) while rotating in the x-axis direction, thereby moving the OIS carrier (120) in the x-axis direction.

[0028] The longitudinal guide groove (133) is formed by cutting longitudinally from the upper or lower surface of the main body (131) and guides at least one y-axis OIS ball (160) in the y-axis direction. At this time, the cross-sectional shape of the longitudinal guide groove (133) may be a trapezoid or a triangle.

[0029] For example, at least one y-axis OIS ball (160) mounted in a longitudinal guide groove (133) formed by cutting longitudinally from the lower surface of the main body (131) is in contact with the upper surface of the AF carrier (110), and the y-axis OIS ball (160) moves while rotating along the longitudinal guide groove (133) in the y-axis direction, thereby moving the OIS carrier (120) in the y-axis direction.

[0030] At least one AF ball (140) is mounted between the AF carrier (110) and the housing (190) to reduce frictional force when the AF carrier (110) moves in the vertical direction. For example, to prevent the AF ball (140) from coming off, grooves with an inverted trapezoidal or semicircular cross-sectional shape are formed at both ends of the outer surface of the AF carrier (110) so that the AF ball (140) is trapped in the inverted trapezoidal or semicircular groove and rotates, thereby reducing frictional force when the AF carrier (110) moves in the vertical direction.

[0031] The x-axis OIS ball (150) is mounted on the upper or lower part of the OIS drive guide part (130) to reduce frictional force when the OIS carrier (120) moves in the x-axis direction. For example, the x-axis OIS ball (150) can be implemented to reduce frictional force when the OIS carrier (120) moves in the x-axis direction by being mounted in a transverse guide groove (132) formed by cutting transversely on the upper surface of the main body (131) of the OIS drive guide part (130) and rotating.

[0032] The y-axis OIS ball (160) is mounted on the upper or lower part of the OIS drive guide part (130) to reduce frictional force when the OIS carrier (120) moves in the y-axis direction. For example, the y-axis OIS ball (160) can be implemented to reduce frictional force when the OIS carrier (120) moves in the y-axis direction by being mounted in a longitudinal guide groove (133) formed by cutting longitudinally from the lower surface of the main body (131) of the OIS drive guide part (130) and rotating.

[0033] At this time, when the x-axis OIS ball (150) is mounted on the upper part of the OIS drive guide section (130), the y-axis OIS ball (160) is mounted on the lower part of the OIS drive guide section (130), and when the x-axis OIS ball (150) is mounted on the lower part of the OIS drive guide section (130), the y-axis OIS ball (160) is mounted on the upper part of the OIS drive guide section (130). Meanwhile, in addition to the x-axis OIS ball (150) and the y-axis OIS ball (160), separate OIS balls may be provided at each of the remaining corners of the lower part of the OIS carrier (120) where the OIS drive guide section (130) is not mounted, so as to be rotated.

[0034] By implementing it in this way, the present invention can guide the OIS carrier (120) to move in the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction through the OIS drive guide part (130) mounted in the OIS drive guide part storage space (121) formed by cutting off one side corner of the lower part of the OIS carrier (120).

[0035] That is, the present invention does not require a separate space for mounting a middle frame (middle guide) that guides the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier.

[0036] Accordingly, the present invention can stably guide the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions without using a middle frame (middle guide) that guides the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier, thereby reducing the camera thickness (height) and simultaneously simplifying the camera structure.

[0037] In addition, the structure of the OIS driving guide section (130) according to the present invention has a mutually perpendicular transverse guide groove (132) formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the main body (131) and a longitudinal guide groove (133) along which the x-axis OIS ball (150) and the y-axis OIS ball (160) move in a mutually perpendicular direction, so that when the OIS carrier moves in a horizontal direction (X-axis or Y-axis direction), rotation of the OIS carrier in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) does not occur, thereby preventing deterioration of control precision.

[0038] Meanwhile, according to an additional aspect of the present invention, a camera (100) equipped with an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function may further include an AF permanent magnet (171) and an AF coil (172).

[0039] The AF permanent magnet (171) generates magnetic force for driving the AF carrier. For example, the AF permanent magnet (171) can be mounted in an AF permanent magnet housing groove (111) formed on one side of the AF carrier (110).

[0040] The AF coil (172) interacts with the magnetic force generated by the AF permanent magnet (171) to generate a driving force that moves the AF carrier (110) in a vertical direction. For example, the AF coil (172) may be implemented to be mounted on the inner surface of the housing (190) or on the inner surface of the PCB or FPCB (173) facing one side of the AF carrier (110) on which the AF permanent magnet (171) is mounted.

[0041] By implementing it in this way, the present invention enables the PCB equipped with an image sensor to move in a vertical direction through the interaction between the AF permanent magnet and the AF coil, thereby performing an automatic focusing adjustment function. At this time, the vertical (z-axis) movement direction and speed of the AF carrier can be determined according to the direction and strength of the current flowing through the AF coil.

[0042] Meanwhile, according to an additional aspect of the present invention, a camera (100) equipped with an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function may further include an x-axis OIS permanent magnet (181), a y-axis OIS permanent magnet (182), an x-axis OIS coil (183), and a y-axis OIS coil (184).

[0043] The x-axis OIS permanent magnet (181) generates magnetic force for driving the OIS carrier (120) in the x-axis direction. For example, the x-axis OIS permanent magnet (181) can be mounted in an x-axis OIS permanent magnet housing groove (122) formed on one side of the outer surface of the OIS carrier (120).

[0044] The y-axis OIS permanent magnet (182) generates magnetic force for driving the OIS carrier (120) in the y-axis direction. For example, the y-axis OIS permanent magnet (182) can be mounted in a y-axis OIS permanent magnet housing groove (123) formed on one side of the outer surface of the OIS carrier (120).

[0045] The x-axis OIS coil (183) interacts with the magnetic force generated by the x-axis OIS permanent magnet (181) to generate a driving force that moves the OIS carrier (120) in the x-axis horizontal direction. For example, the x-axis OIS coil (183) may be implemented to be mounted on the inner surface of the housing (190) or the inner surface of the PCB or FPCB (173) facing one side of the OIS carrier (120) on which the x-axis OIS permanent magnet (181) is mounted.

[0046] The y-axis OIS coil (184) interacts with the magnetic force generated by the y-axis OIS permanent magnet (182) to generate a driving force that moves the OIS carrier (120) in the y-axis horizontal direction. For example, the y-axis OIS coil (184) may be implemented to be mounted on the inner surface of the housing (190) or on the inner surface of the PCB or FPCB (173) facing one side of the OIS carrier (120) on which the y-axis OIS permanent magnet (182) is mounted.

[0047] At this time, the horizontal (x-axis and y-axis) movement direction and speed of the OIS carrier (120) can be determined according to the direction and strength of the current flowing through the x-axis OIS coil (183) and the y-axis OIS coil (184). Meanwhile, in the drawing, the unexplained reference numeral 200 is an AF carrier upper cover that covers the upper part of the AF carrier.

[0048] By implementing it in this way, the present invention enables the OIS carrier, on which the lens module is mounted in the central portion, to move in the x-axis horizontal direction or the y-axis horizontal direction through the interaction between the x-axis OIS permanent magnet and the x-axis OIS coil and the interaction between the y-axis OIS permanent magnet and the y-axis OIS coil, thereby performing an anti-shake (OIS: Optical Image Stabilizer) function.

[0049] Meanwhile, according to an additional aspect of the invention, a camera (100) equipped with an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function may further include a housing (190), a lens module (not shown in the drawing), an image sensor (not shown in the drawing), and a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) (not shown in the drawing).

[0050] The housing (190) serves as an external case for the camera and may be made of an insulating material such as plastic. The housing (190) may be a one-piece type or a separate type consisting of an upper housing (191) and a lower housing (192).

[0051] A lens module is mounted in the central portion of the OIS carrier (120). The lens module includes a lens barrel and at least one lens seated inside the lens barrel, and moves horizontally along the OIS carrier (120) for optical image stabilization (OIS).

[0052] The image sensor converts light signals incident through the lens module into electrical signals. The image sensor is mounted on a PCB and moves vertically along the PCB for automatic focusing adjustment.

[0053] The Printed Circuit Board (PCB) houses the image sensor. Electronic components, such as a processor that controls the entire camera—including drive control for autofocus and shake prevention—may also be mounted on the PCB. However, the recent trend in cameras is to implement them without an on-board processor, with overall camera control performed by an external Application Processor (AP).

[0054] By implementing it in this manner, the present invention enables the lens module to move horizontally along the OIS carrier under the control of a processor mounted on the PCB to perform an optical image stabilizer (OIS) function, and the PCB equipped with the lens module or image sensor to move vertically along the AF carrier to perform an automatic focusing adjustment function.

[0055] As explained above, the present invention can guide the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions without using a middle frame (middle guide) that guides the movement of the OIS carrier in the x-axis and y-axis directions between the AF carrier and the OIS carrier, so the camera thickness (height) can be reduced and the camera structure can be simplified at the same time.

[0056] The various embodiments disclosed in this specification and drawings are provided merely as specific examples to aid understanding and are not intended to limit the scope of the various embodiments of the invention.

[0057] Accordingly, the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention should be interpreted as including all modifications or variations derived based on the technical concept of the various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to the embodiments described herein. Industrial applicability

[0058] The present invention is industrially available in the field of camera autofocus adjustment and anti-shake technology and the field of application technology. Explanation of the symbols

[0059] 100 : Camera 110 : AF Carrier 111 : AF Permanent Magnet Storage Slot 120 : OIS Carrier 121 : OIS drive guide unit storage space 122 : X-axis OIS permanent magnet storage groove 123 : Y-axis OIS permanent magnet storage groove 130 : OIS drive guide section 131 : Main body 132 : Transverse guide groove 133 : Longitudinal guide groove 140 : AF ball 150 : x-axis OIS ball 160 : y-axis OIS ball 171 : AF Permanent Magnet 172 : AF coil 173 : PCB or FPCB 181 : x-axis OIS permanent magnet 182 : Y-axis OIS permanent magnet 183 : x-axis OIS coil 184 : Y-axis OIS coil 190 : Housing 191 : Upper housing 192 : Lower housing

Claims

Claim 1 A camera having automatic focus adjustment and anti-shake functions, comprising: an AF carrier that performs an automatic focusing (AF) adjustment function by moving a PCB on which a lens module or image sensor is mounted in a vertical direction; an OIS carrier that performs an optical image stabilizer (OIS) function by moving the lens module in a horizontal direction, wherein a storage space is formed by cutting out one lower corner; an OIS drive guide unit mounted in the storage space of the OIS drive guide unit formed by cutting out one lower corner of the OIS carrier, which guides the OIS carrier to move in the x-axis and y-axis directions; an AF ball mounted between the AF carrier and the housing to reduce friction when the AF carrier moves in the vertical direction; an x-axis OIS ball mounted on the upper or lower surface of the OIS drive guide unit to reduce friction when the OIS carrier moves in the x-axis direction; and a y-axis OIS ball mounted on the upper or lower surface of the OIS drive guide unit to reduce friction when the OIS carrier moves in the y-axis direction. Claim 2 A camera having automatic focus adjustment and anti-shake functions, wherein the OIS driving guide part comprises: a main body; a transverse guide groove formed by cutting transversely from the upper or lower surface of the main body and guiding at least one x-axis OIS ball in the x-axis direction; and a longitudinal guide groove formed by cutting longitudinally from the upper or lower surface of the main body and guiding at least one y-axis OIS ball in the y-axis direction. Claim 3 In claim 1, a camera having an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function further comprises: an AF permanent magnet that generates a magnetic force for driving an AF carrier; and an AF coil that interacts with the magnetic force generated by the AF permanent magnet to generate a driving force that moves the AF carrier in a vertical direction. Claim 4 In claim 1, the camera having autofocus adjustment and anti-shake functions further comprises: an x-axis OIS permanent magnet generating a magnetic force for driving an OIS carrier in the x-axis direction; a y-axis OIS permanent magnet generating a magnetic force for driving an OIS carrier in the y-axis direction; an x-axis OIS coil generating a driving force that interacts with the magnetic force generated by the x-axis OIS permanent magnet to move the OIS carrier in the x-axis horizontal direction; and a y-axis OIS coil generating a driving force that interacts with the magnetic force generated by the y-axis OIS permanent magnet to move the OIS carrier in the y-axis horizontal direction. Claim 5 A camera having an autofocus adjustment and anti-shake function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a housing; a lens module mounted on the central portion of an OIS carrier; an image sensor that photoelectrically converts an optical signal incident through the lens module into an electrical signal; and a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) on which the image sensor is mounted.

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