Lens unit, camera module, imaging system, and mobile object

Abstract

Provided are a lens unit, a camera module, an imaging system, and a mobile object, the lens unit having a vibration mechanism and achieving a higher degree of freedom in the mounting position to a mounting part of a vehicle.　A lens unit (20) comprises: a first housing (23) in which a first lens (31) is provided; a lens barrel (22) in which lenses (32)-(36) located further toward the image side than the first lens (31) are provided, and which is provided radially inward of the first housing (23) and further toward the image side than the first lens (31); and a vibration mechanism (60) which is provided between the first housing (23) and the lens barrel (22). The first lens (31) is inserted into an opening (150a) formed in a vehicle-side mounting part (150) to which the lens unit is mounted, from the back surface side of the mounting part (150), and protrudes from the front surface of the mounting part (150). A top plate part (23b) of the first housing (23) is disposed inside the back surface of the mounting part (150).

Description

Lens unit, camera module, imaging system and mobile object

[0001] The present invention relates to a lens unit, a camera module, an imaging system, and a moving body equipped with an imaging system, which constitute an on-board camera mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002] Conventionally, automobiles have been equipped with on-board cameras to assist with parking and prevent collisions through image recognition, and attempts have also been made to apply such cameras to autonomous driving. In addition, a camera module such as an on-board camera generally includes a lens unit having a lens group formed by a plurality of lenses arranged along an optical axis, a lens barrel that houses and holds the lens group, and an aperture member disposed between at least one of the lenses in the lens group (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Such a lens unit is attached to a mounting portion such as the front grille of a vehicle (automobile), and the first lens, which is located closest to the object, is exposed to the outside. Therefore, foreign matter such as water droplets, muddy water, ice, snow, and frost easily adheres to the surface of the first lens. Therefore, attempts are sometimes made to remove foreign matter from the surface of the first lens by vibrating the first lens (ultrasonic vibration) with a vibrating body. Lens unit 100, which removes foreign matter from the surface of the first lens by such vibration, is configured, for example, as follows.

[0004] As shown in Fig. 6, the lens unit 100 includes a vibration mechanism 110 that vibrates a first lens 101, which is located closest to the object among the multiple lenses. The lens unit 100 also includes a housing 105 in which the first lens 101 is provided, a lens barrel 106 in which multiple lenses 102 located closer to the image than the first lens 101 are provided, the lens barrel 106 being located radially inward from the housing 105 and closer to the image than the first lens 101, and a vibration mechanism 110 provided between the housing 105 and the lens barrel 106. The vibration mechanism 110 includes a vibration source (e.g., a piezoelectric element) (not shown) and vibrates due to the vibration of the piezoelectric element. The vibration mechanism 110 includes a cylindrical vibrating body 111 fixed to the vibration source, and the vibrating body 111 is connected to the first lens 101. The housing 105 comprises a cylindrical housing body 105a and a top plate portion 105b provided at the upper end of the housing body 105a, and the first lens 101 is engaged with the housing 105 by an engaging portion 105c formed on the inner peripheral edge of the top plate portion 105b.

[0005] JP 2013-231993 A

[0006] When the above-described lens unit 100 is attached to a mounting portion 115 such as a front grille of a vehicle, an attachment opening 115a is formed in the mounting portion 115, and the housing 105 is inserted into the opening 115a from the back side of the mounting portion 115 and fixed therein, causing the first lens 101 to protrude from the surface of the mounting portion 115 and be exposed to the outside. The housing 105 has a large size (diameter) because it is provided with the vibration mechanism 110 therein. Therefore, the opening diameter (opening area) of the attachment opening 115a formed in the mounting portion 115 becomes large. However, forming a large opening 115a reduces the degree of freedom in determining the position at which the opening 115a is formed in the mounting portion 115, resulting in a problem of reduced freedom in determining the mounting position of the lens unit 100.

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a lens unit, a camera module, an imaging system, and a moving body that can increase the degree of freedom in the mounting position of a lens unit equipped with a vibration mechanism on a mounting portion of a vehicle.

[0008] In order to solve the above problem, the lens unit of the present invention comprises a lens group in which a plurality of lenses are arranged along the optical axis of the lenses, and a vibration mechanism that vibrates a first lens of the plurality of lenses that is located closest to the object, and comprises: a housing in which the first lens is mounted; a lens barrel in which a lens located closer to the image than the first lens is mounted, the lens barrel being radially inward from the housing and closer to the image than the first lens; and the vibration mechanism being provided between the housing and the lens barrel, wherein the first lens is inserted into an opening formed in an attachment part on the vehicle side to which the lens unit is mounted from the back side of the attachment part, and protrudes from the surface of the attachment part, and the top plate part of the housing is positioned inside the back side of the attachment part.

[0009] Here, the housing is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the end on the object side is closed by a top plate portion to prevent foreign matter from entering the housing.

[0010] In this invention, the first lens is inserted into an opening formed in a mounting portion on the vehicle side where the lens unit is mounted from the back side of the mounting portion and protrudes from the front surface of the mounting portion, and the top plate portion of the housing is positioned inside the back surface of the mounting portion, so that the first lens can protrude significantly from the top plate portion of the housing toward the object in the optical axis direction. This allows the size (radial size) of the mounting opening to be set to approximately the lens size (radial size) of the first lens or slightly larger than the lens size. This increases the degree of freedom in the position of the opening formed in the mounting portion, and as a result, increases the degree of freedom in the mounting position of the lens unit.

[0011] In the above configuration of the present invention, the housing may include a top plate portion that is positioned inside the back surface of the mounting portion, and a locking portion that protrudes from the top plate portion toward the object side and locks onto the first lens.

[0012] With this configuration, the housing has a locking portion that protrudes from the top plate portion toward the object side and engages with the first lens, so by increasing the protruding length of this locking portion in the optical axis direction, the first lens can be made to protrude significantly from the top plate portion toward the object side in the optical axis direction.

[0013] The present invention also provides a camera module having the lens unit, an imaging system having the camera module, and a mobile object equipped with the imaging system. The camera module, imaging system, and mobile object can achieve the same effects as the lens unit described above. Note that the term "mobile object" refers to any object that can move, such as a vehicle.

[0014] According to the present invention, the first lens vibrated by the vibration mechanism can be positioned at a predetermined position without variation.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera module equipped with a lens unit, showing an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the camera module of the same. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the camera module of the same. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle as a moving body on which an imaging system (on-board system) equipped with a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an imaging device constituting the imaging system shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of a lens unit equipped with a vibrating body.

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiments contribute to the achievement of "9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure" of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocated by the United Nations, which states, "9.1 Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all."

[0017] It should be noted that the lens unit of the present embodiment described below is particularly for a camera module such as an in-vehicle camera, and is, for example, fixed and installed on the exterior surface of a vehicle, with wiring being drawn into the vehicle and connected to a display or other device.It should be noted that the lens unit of the present embodiment described below is particularly for a camera module such as an in-vehicle camera, and is, for example, fixed and installed on the exterior surface of a vehicle, with wiring being drawn into the vehicle and connected to a display or other device.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a camera module equipped with a lens unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a schematic cross-sectional view of the camera module, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the camera module, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the camera module. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a camera module 300 according to this embodiment includes a lens unit 20. The lens unit 20 includes a cylindrical lens barrel 22 and a rectangular cylindrical first housing (housing) 23 in which the lens barrel 22 is provided.

[0019] The image-side (lower side in FIG. 1 ) ends of the lens barrel 22 and the first housing 23 are supported by a rectangular cylindrical second housing 24. The length of the second housing 24 in the optical axis direction is shorter than that of the first housing 23, but the outer and inner diameters are longer than those of the first housing 23. The optical axis is indicated by O, and the direction perpendicular to this optical axis O is the radial direction.

[0020] The first housing 23 is disposed radially outward from the lens barrel 22, and the second housing 24 is disposed closer to the image side (lower side in FIG. 1 ) than the first housing 23. The lens barrel 22, first housing 23, and second housing 24 are disposed coaxially. A rectangular plate-shaped inner flange portion 24a is formed at the upper end of the second housing 24, and a convex portion 24b that protrudes toward the object side (upper side in FIG. 1 ) is formed in the radial center of this inner flange portion 24a, and a through-hole 24c is formed in the radial center of this convex portion 24b.

[0021] Furthermore, a step 24d is formed on the upper surface of the inner flange 24a, and the lower end of the first housing 23 is fitted into this step 24d, thereby positioning the first housing 23 relative to the second housing 24 in the radial direction and the optical axis direction.

[0022] The lens unit 20 also includes a plurality of (e.g., six) lenses 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 arranged in order from the object side. The lens 31 is a first lens 31 located closest to the object side, and this first lens 31 is held by a lens holding portion 50 (described later) in the first housing 23. The five lenses 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 arranged closer to the image side than the first lens 31 are provided inside the lens barrel 22.

[0023] Furthermore, a cylindrical protrusion 27 that protrudes toward the image side (downward in FIG. 1) is formed at the lower end of the lens barrel 22, and this protrusion 27 is inserted into and fits into the through-hole 24c provided in the second lens barrel 24. As a result, the lens barrel 22 and the second housing 24 are arranged coaxially and coincident with the optical axis O.

[0024] Furthermore, the first lens 31 located closest to the object is a glass lens, and the lenses 32 to 36 are resin lenses, but this is not limiting (for example, the lens 31 may be a resin lens). Furthermore, the surfaces of the lenses 31 to 36 may be provided with an anti-reflection film, a hydrophilic film, a water-repellent film, or the like, as needed.

[0025] The multiple lenses 31 to 36 fixed to and supported by the first housing 23 and the lens barrel 22 are arranged with their optical axes aligned, and the lenses 31 to 36 are lined up along a single optical axis O to form a group of lenses L used for imaging.

[0026] In this embodiment, the first housing 23 is disposed radially outward from the lens barrel 22. The first housing 23 is formed of a metal such as SUS and includes a rectangular cylindrical housing main body 23a, a rectangular plate-shaped top panel 23b integrally formed with the housing main body 23a at the upper end of the housing main body 23a, and a locking portion 23c integrally formed with the top panel 23b on the inner peripheral edge of the top panel 23b. That is, the top panel 23b in this embodiment has a shorter length extending from the upper edge of the housing main body 23a toward the inside than the top panel 105b shown in FIG. 6, and the locking portion 23c is formed on the inner peripheral edge of the top panel 23b. The thickness of the top panel 23b (thickness in the optical axis direction) is thinner than the thickness of the housing main body 23a (thickness in the radial direction).

[0027] The locking portion 23c includes a generally cylindrical protrusion 23d formed to protrude from the inner peripheral edge of the top plate portion 23b toward the object side (upper side in FIG. 1 ) and a pressing portion 23e bent radially inward from the upper end of the protrusion 23d. An inclined surface 23f inclined with respect to the optical axis O is formed along the circumferential direction on the pressing portion 23e. The inclined surface 23f presses the surface edge of the first lens 31, thereby fixing the first lens 31. In other words, when the lens group L is assembled and housed within the first housing 23 and the lens barrel 22, the inclined surface 23f of the pressing portion 23e presses the first lens 31, which is located closest to the object side of the lens group L, and fixes the first lens 31 to the object-side end of the first housing 23 in the optical axis direction.

[0028] Furthermore, an inner flange portion 26 having an opening with a diameter smaller than that of the sixth lens 36 is provided at the end (the lower end in FIG. 1) of the lens barrel 22 on the image side. The plurality of lenses 31 to 36 that make up the lens group L inside the first housing 23 and the lens barrel 22 are held and fixed in the optical axis direction by this inner flange portion 26 and the inclined surface 23 f of the pressing portion 23 e. Furthermore, a filter 99 such as an infrared cut filter is provided on the lower surface of the inner flange portion 26.

[0029] This embodiment also includes a ring-shaped lens holder 50 that holds the first lens 31. The lens holder 50 is manufactured by turning a metal such as stainless steel into a thin ring shape. The lens holder 50 has an inner peripheral surface 50a that is cylindrical and a toric surface 50b that is perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface 50a. The inner peripheral surface 50a and the toric surface 50b form an L-shaped cross section. The inner peripheral surface 50a is arranged coaxially with the optical axis O, and the toric surface 50b is arranged perpendicular to the optical axis O. The lens holder 50 also has an inner peripheral surface 50c that is perpendicular to the toric surface 50b and coaxial with the optical axis O. The inner peripheral surface 50c is arranged closer to the image (lower in FIG. 1 ) than the inner peripheral surface 50a and has a smaller inner diameter than the inner peripheral surface 50a.

[0030] The inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface 50c of the ring-shaped lens holder 50 is larger than the outer diameter of the lens barrel 22, so that the upper end of the lens barrel 22 is positioned inside the inner peripheral surface 50c of the lens holder 50. The lens holder 50 is also joined to the first housing 23. That is, the outer peripheral surface 50d and the upper surface 50e of the lens holder 50 each abut against the inner peripheral surface of the pressing portion 23e of the first housing 23 with almost no gap, so that the lens holder 50 fits into the top plate portion 23b of the first housing 23. In this way, the lens holder 50 is joined to the first housing 23, which has the top plate portion 23b. When the lens holder 50 is joined to the first housing 23, the axis of the lens holder 50 coincides with the optical axis O, and the lens holder 50 is positioned in the optical axis direction.

[0031] The lens holder 50 holds the first lens 31. That is, the inner peripheral surface 50a of the lens holder 50 abuts the outer peripheral surface of the first lens 31 with no gap, thereby positioning the first lens 31 in the radial direction and arranging it coaxially with the optical axis O. The annular surface 50b of the lens holder 50 abuts the flat bottom surface 31e of the first lens 31 facing the image side with no gap, thereby positioning the first lens 31 in the optical axis direction. The lenses 32 to 36 arranged on the image side of the first lens 31 are held by the lens barrel 22 so that their optical axes coincide, and the lens barrel 22 is arranged coaxially with the second housing 24 and the optical axis O, so that the first lens 31 and the lenses 32 to 36 arranged on the image side of the first lens 31 are arranged coaxially or with no more than a predetermined amount of eccentricity.

[0032] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a vibration mechanism 60 is provided that vibrates the first lens 31. The vibration mechanism 60 includes a vibrator 61 that ultrasonically vibrates, and a vibrating body 62 that transmits the ultrasonic vibration of the vibrator 61 to the first lens 31. Such a vibration mechanism 60 is disposed radially inward from the first housing 23 and radially outward from the lens barrel 22. The vibrator 61 is formed in the shape of an annular plate, and is provided inside the housing main body 23a of the first housing 23. The vibrator 61 is formed of, for example, a piezoelectric element.

[0033] The vibrating body 62 includes a donut-shaped disk-shaped mounting portion 62a, a main body 62b that extends from the mounting portion 62a toward the object side (upward in FIG. 1) and has a generally cylindrical shape with bulges and constrictions with an S-shaped cross section, with the outer and inner diameters varying continuously in the axial direction (optical axis direction), and a ring-shaped joint portion 62c formed at the upper end of the main body 62b. The vibrator 61 is fixed to the lower surface of the mounting portion 62a, and the upper surface of the joint portion 62c is bonded to the lower surface (surface facing the image side) of the lens holder 50 with an adhesive.

[0034] In such vibration mechanism 60, ultrasonic vibration of vibrator 61 causes ultrasonic vibration of vibrating body 62. When vibrating body 62 vibrates, first lens 31 is ultrasonically vibrated via lens holding portion 50 because vibrating body 62 is joined to lens holding portion 50, thereby removing foreign matter such as water droplets, muddy water, ice, snow, and frost from lens surface 31 a of first lens 31.

[0035] The lens holder 50 is fitted to the top plate 23b of the first housing 23, but the thickness of the top plate 23b is thinner than the thickness of the housing main body 23a, and the top plate 23b functions as a damper, so that vibrations of the lens holder 50 are less likely to be transmitted to the housing main body 23a. This makes it less likely that vibrations will be transmitted to the second housing 24 fitted to the housing main body 23a, and as a result, vibrations are less likely to be transmitted to the lens barrel 22 fitted to the second housing 24, and therefore to the lenses 32 to 36, thereby preventing a deterioration in optical performance caused by displacement of the lenses 32 to 36 due to vibrations.

[0036] In this embodiment, the lens unit 20 is made up of the first housing 23, the first lens 31 held in the first housing 23, the lens barrel 22, the lenses 32 to 36 held in the lens barrel 22, the lens holder 50, the vibration mechanism 60, etc. The camera module 300 of this embodiment is made up of the lens unit 20 and the second housing 24 fitted into the first housing 23 of the lens unit 20. The second housing 24 has a package sensor (image sensor) 304 inside.

[0037] The package sensor 304 is disposed inside the second housing 24 facing the filter 99 and positioned to receive the image of the object formed by the lens unit 20. The package sensor 304 includes a CCD, CMOS, or the like, and converts light collected by the lens unit 20 and reaching the package sensor 304 into an electrical signal. The electrical signal is then converted into analog or digital data, which are components of the image data captured by the camera. The second housing 24 also includes a drive circuit board 305 therein. The drive circuit board 305 is a board having a circuit that applies a voltage of a predetermined frequency to the piezoelectric element 61 of the vibration mechanism 60 to drive it. The drive circuit board 305 and the vibrator (piezoelectric element) 61 are formed of an FPC or the like and are connected by wiring 306 that passes through a wiring hole 24f formed in the inner flange portion 24 of the second housing 24.

[0038] A camera module 300 equipped with such a lens unit 20 is attached to a mounting portion 150, such as the front grille of a vehicle. That is, the mounting portion 150 is formed, for example, in a flat plate shape, and an opening 150a is formed at the position where the camera module 300 is to be attached. This opening 150a is formed in a circular shape in a plan view, and its size is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the substantially cylindrical protrusion 23d of the first housing 23. Furthermore, the protrusion length of the protrusion 23d from the top plate portion 23b is approximately equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the mounting portion 150.

[0039] When attaching such a camera module 300 to the mounting portion 150, the first lens 31 is inserted into the opening 150a from the back side of the mounting portion 150, causing the first lens 31 to protrude from the front surface of the mounting portion 150. In this state, the pressing portion 23e provided on the first housing 23 protrudes from the edge of the opening 150a toward the object side. When the first lens 31 is inserted into the opening 150a, the top plate portion 23b of the first housing 23 abuts or comes close to the back surface of the mounting portion 150, and the top plate portion 23b is positioned inside the back surface of the mounting portion 150. In this state, the lens unit 20 is fixed to the mounting portion 150.

[0040] As described above, according to this embodiment, the first lens 31 is inserted from the back side of the opening 150a formed in the mounting portion 150 on the vehicle side to which the lens unit 20 is attached, and protrudes from the front surface of the mounting portion 150. The top plate portion 23b of the first housing 23 is positioned inside the back surface of the mounting portion 150, so that the first lens 31 can protrude significantly from the top plate portion 23b of the first housing 23 toward the object in the optical axis direction. Therefore, the size (radial size) of the mounting opening 150a can be set to be approximately equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the protrusion 23d, which is slightly larger than the lens size of the first lens 31. This increases the degree of freedom in the position in which the opening 150a is formed in the mounting portion 150, and as a result, increases the degree of freedom in the mounting position of the lens unit 20. Furthermore, since the first housing 23 has a locking portion 23c that protrudes from the top plate portion 23b toward the object side and locks onto the first lens 31, by increasing the protruding length of the protruding portion 23d of this locking portion 23c in the optical axis direction, the first lens 31 can be made to protrude significantly from the top plate portion 23b toward the object side in the optical axis direction.

[0041] Furthermore, because the lens holder 50 is joined to the first housing 23, the lens holder 50 can be reliably attached to a predetermined position. Furthermore, because the vibration mechanism 60 is disposed radially inward from the first housing 23 and radially outward from the lens barrel 22, the vibration mechanism 60 can be protected by the first housing 23, and because the lenses 32 to 36, which are disposed closer to the image side than the first lens 31, are held by the lens barrel 22, the vibration mechanism 60 does not interfere with these lenses 32 to 36.

[0042] Furthermore, since the inner surface 50a of the lens holding portion 50 abuts against the outer surface of the first lens 31, and the annular surface 50b of the lens holding portion 50 abuts against the bottom surface 31e facing the image side of the first lens 31, the first lens 31 can be easily and accurately positioned in the radial and axial directions (optical axis direction).

[0043] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a vehicle 240 as a moving object equipped with an in-vehicle system (imaging system) including an imaging device 250 including the camera module 300 shown in FIG. 1 . As illustrated, the imaging device 250 can be mounted on the vehicle 240, and FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the mounting position of the imaging device 250 on the vehicle 240. The imaging device 250 mounted on the vehicle 240 can also be called an in-vehicle camera and can be installed in various locations on the vehicle 240. For example, the first imaging device 250a may be disposed on or near the front bumper as a camera for monitoring the front of the vehicle 240 while the vehicle 240 is traveling. The second imaging device 250b, which monitors the front, may be disposed near an inner rearview mirror inside the vehicle 240. The third imaging device 250c may be disposed on the dashboard or in the instrument panel as a camera for monitoring the driver's driving status. The fourth imaging device 250d may be installed at the rear of the vehicle 240 to monitor the rear of the vehicle 240. The imaging devices 250a and 250b can be called front cameras. The third imaging device 250c can be called an in-camera. The fourth imaging device 250d can be called a rear camera. The imaging device 250 is not limited to these, and can include imaging devices installed in various positions, such as a left side camera that captures images of the left rear side and a right side camera that captures images of the right rear side.

[0044] An image signal of an image captured by the imaging device 250 may be output to an information processing device 242 and / or a display device 243 in the vehicle 240. The information processing device 242 and the display device 243, together with the imaging device 250, constitute an in-vehicle system. The information processing device 242 in the vehicle 240 includes a device that processes the image signal acquired by the imaging device 250, recognizes the image, and assists the driver in driving. Examples of the information processing device 242 include, but are not limited to, a navigation system, a collision damage mitigation braking system, a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control system, and a lane departure warning system. The display device 243 displays the image processed and output by the information processing device 242, but can also receive an image signal directly from the imaging device 250. The display device 243 may be, but is not limited to, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, or an inorganic EL display. The display device 243 can display to the driver (can output information to the occupants) an image signal output from an imaging device 250 that captures an image from a position that is difficult for the driver to see, such as a rear camera.

[0045] Fig. 5 shows the configuration of an imaging device that constitutes the in-vehicle system shown in Fig. 4. As shown in the figure, an imaging device 250 according to the embodiment includes a control unit 252, a storage unit 254, and the camera module 300 shown in Fig. 1 described above.

[0046] The control unit 252 controls the camera module 300 and processes the electrical signals output from the image sensor 304 of the camera module 300. The control unit 252 may be configured as, for example, a processor. The control unit 252 may also include one or more processors. The processor may include a general-purpose processor that loads a specific program to execute a specific function, and a dedicated processor specialized for a specific process. The dedicated processor may include an application-specific integrated circuit (IC). An application-specific IC is also called an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The processor may include a programmable logic device. A programmable logic device is also called a programmable logic device (PLD). A PLD may include a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The control unit 252 may be either a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or a system-in-a-package (SiP) in which one or more processors work together.

[0047] The storage unit 254 stores various information or parameters related to the operation of the imaging device 250. The storage unit 254 may be configured with, for example, a semiconductor memory or the like. The storage unit 254 may function as a work memory for the control unit 252. The storage unit 254 may store captured images. The storage unit 254 may store various parameters and the like that are used by the control unit 252 to perform detection processing based on the captured images. The storage unit 254 may be included in the control unit 252.

[0048] As described above, the camera module 300 captures an image of a subject formed via the lens unit 20 with the image sensor 304 and outputs the captured image. The image captured by the camera module 300 is also referred to as a captured image.

[0049] The imaging element 304 may be configured, for example, as a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor or a charge coupled device (CCD). The imaging element 304 has an imaging surface on which multiple pixels are arranged. Each pixel outputs a signal specified by a current or voltage according to the amount of incident light. The signal output by each pixel is also referred to as imaging data.

[0050] The imaging data may be read by the camera module 300 for all pixels and captured by the control unit 252 as a captured image. A captured image read by all pixels is also referred to as a maximum captured image. The imaging data may be read by the camera module 300 for some pixels and captured as a captured image. In other words, the imaging data may be read from pixels in a predetermined capture range. The imaging data read from pixels in the predetermined capture range may be captured as a captured image. The predetermined capture range may be set by the control unit 252. The camera module 300 may acquire the predetermined capture range from the control unit 252. The imaging element 304 may capture an image of a predetermined capture range from the subject image formed via the lens unit 20.

[0051] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the shapes of the lens, housing, lens barrel, etc. are not limited to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, some or all of the above-described embodiments may be combined, or part of the configuration of one of the above-described embodiments may be omitted, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0052] 20 Lens unit 22 Lens barrel 23 First housing (housing) 23b Top plate portion 23c Locking portion 24 Second housing 31 First lens 60 Vibration mechanism 61 Piezoelectric element (vibrator) 62 Vibrating body 150 Mounting portion 150a Opening 240 Vehicle (mobile body) 242 Information processing device (processing device) 243 Display device 250 Imaging device 252 Control unit 300 Camera module 304 Imaging element

Claims

1. A lens unit comprising a lens group in which a number of lenses are arranged along the optical axis of the lenses, and a vibration mechanism for vibrating a first lens among the plurality of lenses which is located closest to the object, the lens unit comprising: a housing in which the first lens is mounted; a lens barrel in which a lens located closer to the image side than the first lens is mounted, the lens barrel being disposed radially inward from the housing and closer to the image side than the first lens; and the vibration mechanism being disposed between the housing and the lens barrel; the first lens is inserted into an opening formed in an attachment part on the vehicle side to which the lens unit is attached from the back side of the attachment part, and protrudes from the surface of the attachment part; and the top plate part of the housing is disposed inside the back side of the attachment part.

2. The lens unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing comprises a top plate portion disposed inside the rear surface of the mounting portion, and a locking portion protruding from the top plate portion toward the object side and locking to the first lens.

3. A camera module comprising the lens unit according to claim 1 or 2, and an image sensor that converts light focused through the lens group of the lens unit into an electrical signal.

4. An imaging system comprising: an imaging device having a camera module as claimed in claim 3; a control unit for controlling said camera module and processing electrical signals output from the imaging element of said camera module; a processing device for processing image signals acquired by said imaging device; and a display device for displaying images processed and output by said processing device.

5. A vehicle equipped with the imaging system according to claim 4, wherein information is output to a passenger by the display device.

Images