Lead lens-type folded actuator having AF-driven light-refracting element and camera including actuator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lead lens-type folded actuator in which a light-refracting element is AF-driven, and to a camera equipped with the actuator. The actuator includes a box body including a base and a case and having an inner space. The upper surface of the box body has a through-portion through which incident light from a subject is incident, and the side surface of the box body is provided with a light-emitting part. In the inner space of the box body, a light-refracting AF module, an OIS module, and a lens module, which is inserted into a through-portion formed in the center of an IS module, are arranged in this order from the bottom. The light-refracting AF module includes a light-refracting element, and light emitted from the lens module is incident and refracted by the light-refracting element and is then emitted in a first direction toward the light-emitting part. The light-refracting AF module moves relative to the base in the first direction toward the light-emitting part and is autofocusing-driven to change the focus of the light emitted from the lens module. The OIS module is OIS-driven to slightly move the lens module in the first direction and a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, on a plane perpendicular to the incident light incident on the lens module.

Description

A leading lens type folded actuator having an AF-driven optical refractive element and a camera including the actuator

[0001] The present invention relates to a leading lens type folded actuator having an AF-driven optical refractive element and a camera equipped with such an actuator.

[0002] Smartphone camera performance is improving day by day, and there's a trend toward lower f-number lenses. For example, the recently released Samsung Galaxy S23 model features three rear cameras and one front camera, with apertures of f / 1.8, f / 2.2, and f / 2.4 respectively on the back, and a front camera with an f / 2.2 aperture. The f / 1.8 camera allows for brighter photos even in low-light conditions, while also offering a certain degree of out-of-focus effect.

[0003] In comparison, the Apple iPhone 14 model has two rear cameras and one front camera, with the rear cameras having f / 1.5 and f / 2.4 values, respectively, and the front camera having f / 1.9 value. As a result, the lens with the lowest f / 1.5 value is lower than the f / 1.8 of the Samsung Galaxy S23 model, which shows that it is a product that is more advantageous for night photography.

[0004] Cameras with lower f-numbers can provide bright and clear results when shooting at night, while cameras with lower f-numbers, such as f / 1.2 to f / 1.5, have a shallow depth of field, allowing the subject to stand out and the background to be soft during the day, making them particularly useful for portraits. On the other hand, cameras with higher f-numbers, such as f / 2.4, are used for most photography, allowing more subjects at different distances to be in focus.

[0005] Meanwhile, a folded type camera that has a great advantage in making smartphones thinner has been released recently, that is, a folded camera that has a structure that refracts the light of the subject that is incident vertically to the plane that makes up the camera body by 90 degrees and propagates it in the horizontal direction of the camera body, and places the image sensor at the location where the propagated light reaches.

[0006] The folded camera structure is well illustrated in the drawing of, for example, Korean Patent Publication No. 2021-0035516 (published on April 1, 2021).

[0007] A typical conventional folded camera, as shown in Fig. 1, is composed of a light refracting element (folding element), a lens module, and an image sensor. The light refracting element changes the path of incident light incident in the thickness direction of the mobile device into a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the mobile device, for example, in the width or length direction of the smartphone. The light refracting element includes a prism body, and the lens module includes a plurality of lenses for forming an image, and may include an aperture as needed. In addition, the lens module can be moved by an actuator, thereby implementing optical zoom.

[0008] Conventional folded cameras generally adopt a structure in which the incident light is first refracted 90 degrees by a light refracting element, and then the refracted light is focused by a lens module to acquire an image from the image sensor. Although this structure is desirable in terms of making smartphones thin, it has the problem of not being compatible with the current trend of developing low f-number cameras.

[0009] In other words, conventional folded type cameras have a problem in that they have difficulty securing bright images, i.e., the f-number is high, because there is no lens in front of the light refracting element (prism or mirror).

[0010] Accordingly, development of camera lens products that implement lower f-numbers by placing a lens group in front of the light refractive element as a more recent technology is being explored.

[0011] However, in the case of a structure in which a lens group is arranged in front of a light refractive element like this (hereinafter, such a structure is referred to as a "front lens"), various problems are encountered in the actual design, such as how to apply optical image stabilization (hereinafter abbreviated as "OIS") and auto focusing (hereinafter abbreviated as "AF") technologies.

[0012] That is, when designing a leading lens structure for a low f-number, if AF technology is applied to the leading lens, the camera lens part protrudes in the direction of the thickness of the smartphone or more space is required to move back and forth in the direction of the thickness of the smartphone, which causes a problem in that the slimness of the smartphone cannot be fully realized, and if the OIS technology is designed and controlled in a form that rotates the light refraction element as in Korean Patent Publication No. 2022-0108526, the package design is very difficult due to the complex design elements, and the manufacturing cost increases.

[0013] In addition, a design plan that implements AF by moving the assembly that combines the leading lens and the optical refractive element together in a direction parallel to the optical axis entering the image sensor can be considered. However, if the optical refractive element and the leading lens are moved horizontally in this way, the lens will be seen moving in a vertical direction when the camera is operated, which may cause consumers to doubt the durability or stability of the product, which may lower satisfaction with the product quality.

[0014] [Prior Art Literature]

[0015] (Patent Document 1) KR 10-2021-0035516 A (2021.04.01)

[0016] (Patent Document 2) KR 10-2022-0108526 A (2022.08.03)

[0017] The present invention provides a lead lens type folded actuator of an entirely new configuration not found in the prior art and a camera equipped with this actuator, by applying a technology for correcting shake by horizontally moving the lens group itself on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction to the lead lens, but not applying the AF function to the lead lens, and applying a technology for moving only the light refracting element in the optical axis direction for AF.

[0018] One embodiment of the present invention provides a folded actuator having a configuration in which a leading lens is driven by an actuator capable of moving horizontally in a plane perpendicular to an incident optical axis for an OIS function, thereby smoothly performing an OIS function while implementing a low f-number, and in which an optical refractive element is moved in the direction of the optical axis of a light exit portion of the actuator to implement an AF function.

[0019] Another problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to provide a camera equipped with such a folded actuator.

[0020] In addition, when applying the folded actuator of the present invention to a camera, it is to provide control to offset the movement of an image due to the movement of a light refractive element.

[0021] As a solution of the present invention to achieve the above purpose,

[0022] A box body composed of a lower base forming an internal space and an upper case, the upper surface of which has a penetration portion through which incident light from a subject enters and a light emission portion formed on the side thereof;

[0023] A light refraction AF module accommodated in the inner space of the box body, including a light refraction element;

[0024] An OIS module is accommodated in the internal space of the box, including a lens module positioned between the optical refraction AF module and the subject;

[0025] The above lens module emits incident light from the subject toward the light refraction AF module as light having a focal length,

[0026] The light refracting element of the light refracting AF module refracts the light emitted from the lens module and emits it in a first direction toward the light emission portion,

[0027] The above optical refraction AF module moves relatively in the first direction with respect to the base to drive auto-focusing and change the focus of the light emitted from the lens module.

[0028] The above OIS module provides an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator characterized in that the optical refractive element is driven by OIS in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on a plane perpendicular to the incident light incident on the lens module, thereby moving the lens module in the first direction and the second direction.

[0029] Here, the optical refraction AF module is composed of an optical refraction element and an AF carrier, and the optical refraction element may be a right-angled triangular prism or reflector that can refract incident light incident on the lens module from the subject toward the light output portion.

[0030] In addition, an AF drive magnet may be attached to the bottom surface of the AF carrier, and an AF drive coil may be inserted into the bottom surface of the base facing the AF carrier.

[0031] And, on the bottom surface of the left and right sides in the width direction of the AF carrier, an AF movable side ball rail is formed in a first direction, which is the AF driving direction, and on the upper surface of the bottom surface of the left and right sides in the width direction of the base, an AF fixed side ball rail is formed in the first direction, and the AF balls are inserted between the AF movable side ball rail of the AF carrier and the AF fixed side ball rail of the base so that the movement of the AF balls is guided during AF driving.

[0032] According to one aspect of the present invention, the OIS module may be configured with a first OIS carrier that is driven by an OIS in a second direction relative to the base, and a second OIS carrier that is driven by an OIS in a first direction relative to the first OIS carrier.

[0033] In addition, the first OIS carrier and the second OIS carrier may have a rectangular outline when viewed from above, and a circular through-hole formed in the center into which a lens module is inserted, and a first OIS movable side ball rail may be formed in the second direction at each corner portion of the bottom surface of the first OIS carrier.

[0034] In addition, a second OIS fixed-side ball rail may be formed in the first direction at each corner portion of the upper surface of the first OIS carrier, a second OIS movable-side ball rail may be formed in the first direction at each corner portion of the lower surface of the second OIS carrier, and a second OIS ball may be inserted between the first OIS carrier and the second OIS carrier to be guided in the first direction when the OIS module is driven in the first direction.

[0035] And, among the sides of the second OIS carrier, a first OIS magnet may be mounted on a side facing the first OIS driving coil of the base, and a second OIS magnet may be mounted on a side of the second OIS carrier facing the second OIS driving coil of the base.

[0036] According to one aspect of the present invention, the base may also be a body having an open upper portion, a light transmitting portion formed through the front, a first OIS driving coil inserted into the upper portion of a side of the base, and a second OIS driving coil inserted into the upper portion of the other side.

[0037] Additionally, a light refraction AF module is placed in the space below the upper surface of the step formed at a certain intermediate height of the above base, and an OIS module is placed above it.

[0038] In addition, a first OIS fixed side ball rail can be formed in the second direction on the upper surface of the step portion of the above base.

[0039] Additionally, a first OIS ball is inserted between the base and the OIS module, so that the first OIS ball can be guided in the first direction when the OIS module is driven in the second direction.

[0040] According to another aspect of the present invention as a means of solving the problem, the optical refractive element according to the above-described aspect is an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator;

[0041] A camera module is provided, which includes an image sensor module in which the optical refractive element is positioned adjacent to a light emitting portion of an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator, and the optical refractive element receives light passing through the AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator and outputs image information corresponding to the received light.

[0042] In addition, the camera module outputs a captured image by moving the image in the image sensor module or the image sensor module itself by the amount of change in the position of the optical axis due to the AF operation of the optical refraction AF module.

[0043] In addition, when moving an image in the image sensor module, the pixel movement amount in the image sensor module is calculated based on a signal for driving the AF of the optical refraction AF module, and the image is moved and displayed according to the pixel movement amount, thereby offsetting the movement amount of the screen due to the AF driving of the optical refraction AF module.

[0044] In addition, when moving the image sensor module itself, the amount of movement of the image sensor module can be calculated based on a signal for AF driving of the optical refraction AF module, and by moving the image sensor module, the amount of movement of the subject focus due to AF driving of the optical refraction AF module can be offset.

[0045] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lens module is arranged at the front so that the incident light from the subject incident on the actuator first encounters it, and the OIS function is driven in a space corresponding to the height of the lens group, so that not only can a low f-number be secured, but OIS can be implemented in a minimum package space, and further, by driving the optical refraction AF module in the direction of the actuator light exit portion to implement the AF function, the effect of not requiring an AF driving space in the direction of the actuator height is achieved.

[0046] In particular, since a complex structure for rotating a light refracting element for OIS operation as in the prior art is not required, difficulties in package design can be overcome and manufacturing costs can also be reduced.

[0047] In addition, since the lens is configured to not move horizontally when the camera is in operation, the problem of the prior art, which causes the lens to move horizontally and thus raises doubts about the durability or stability of the product among consumers, is resolved, which can have the effect of increasing satisfaction with the product quality.

[0048] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram of a folded camera of the prior art.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a combined folded actuator according to one embodiment of the present invention and a combined relationship between the folded actuator and the image sensor module.

[0050] Figure 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the folded actuator illustrated in Figure 2.

[0051] Figure 4 is a fully exploded perspective view of the folded actuator illustrated in Figure 3.

[0052] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the folded actuator illustrated in Figure 4 viewed from below.

[0053] Figure 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the base shown in Figures 3 and 4, with the side walls of the base removed to reveal the inside of the base.

[0054] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the folded actuator illustrated in Fig. 2 (a) viewed along line AA.

[0055] Fig. 8 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of Fig. 7 and showing the change in focal length during AF operation.

[0056] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. Prior to this, it should be noted that the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted solely based on their dictionary meanings. Rather, they should be interpreted based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms to best explain his or her invention. Therefore, they should be interpreted with meanings and concepts consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0057] Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments and do not show all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 2 below, the overall configuration of the actuator of the present invention and its coupling relationship with the image sensor module (200) will first be described, and then a detailed description will be given of an embodiment of the present invention that implements each of the functions of AF and OIS.

[0059] FIG. 2 (a) is a perspective view showing a combination of a folded actuator (hereinafter referred to as “actuator”) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is a drawing showing a combination relationship between an actuator (100) and an image sensor module (200) of the present invention.

[0060] The -Z-axis direction illustrated in FIG. 2 is the incident optical axis direction in which light is incident on the lens module (180), and the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, which are two directions perpendicular to the incident optical axis direction (-Z-axis direction), are directions in which the OIS module (170) moves by the OIS drive to compensate for shaking of the incident optical axis due to hand shake during shooting. In the following description, the X-axis direction is referred to as the first direction and the Y-axis direction is referred to as the second direction, but this is only an example, and either direction of the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction can be the first direction, and the other direction can be the second direction. In addition, in describing the actuator of the present invention, the +X-axis direction is expressed as front and the -X-axis direction as back, and the front-back direction means the X-axis direction, which is the first direction. In this case, the part where the light emitting portion (101) of the actuator shown in FIG. 2 is located can be referred to as the front part, and the width direction in the present invention means the left and right directions when viewed from the side of the light emitting portion (101) with the Y-axis as the direction.

[0061] The actuator (100) of the present invention shown in Fig. 2 (a) is composed of a base (110) forming a bottom portion and a case (190) covering the base, and forms a roughly hexahedral box body. A circular through-hole is formed on the upper surface of the case (190) through which incident light from a subject is incident to the lens module (180). More preferably, the circular through-hole may be larger than the diameter of the lens module (180) by the size of the OIS driving stroke so that incident light incident to the lens module (180) is not blocked when the OIS is driven in the first and second directions of the OIS module.

[0062] Next, an approximately square light emitting portion (101) is provided by a bottom surface of a side penetration portion formed in a base and a T-shaped penetration portion on one side of a case (190) so that incident light from a subject can reach the image sensor module (200) while being refracted by a light refracting element (120) inside an actuator, and an image sensor module (200) is arranged adjacent to the light emitting portion (101) on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis direction in the light emitting portion, so that a camera can be implemented.

[0063] Next, FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the actuator of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein the actuator of the present invention has an optical refraction AF module (140), an OIS module (170), and a lens module (180) arranged sequentially from the bottom in an internal space formed by combining a base (110) and a case (190), and the optical refraction AF module (140) is arranged in the space below the plane of a step portion formed at a certain intermediate height of the base (110), and the OIS module (170) is arranged above the plane of the step portion. In addition, the optical refraction AF module (140) is driven in a first direction (X-axis direction) with respect to the base (110), and the OIS module (170) includes a coil and a magnet, etc., so as to drive the lens module (180) in the first direction (X-axis direction) and the y-axis direction.

[0064] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are exploded perspective views of the entire folded actuator illustrated in FIG. 3, each being a perspective view viewed from above and below, respectively, showing the detailed components of the AF module, OIS module (170), and lens module (180) in an exploded manner, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the AA plane illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a cut-away perspective view of the base (110) illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the side wall of the base (110) removed so that the inside of the base (110) is visible.

[0065] Referring to these drawings, the base (110) constituting the folded actuator of the present invention is a roughly hexahedral body with an open upper portion, a square light-passing portion (111) is formed through the front, a first coil mounting portion into which a first OIS driving coil is inserted is formed on the upper portion of the light-passing portion, and a second coil mounting portion into which a second OIS driving coil (C3) is inserted is formed on the upper side of the base (110). Although the embodiment shown in the drawings only shows the first coil mounting portion being arranged on the front side of the base (110), the first coil mounting portion may of course be arranged on the rear side of the base (110), and although the second coil mounting portion is provided on the right side when viewed from the front of the base (110), it is also of course possible to provide it on the left side of the base (110).

[0066] In addition, if necessary, the actuator of the present invention may have one OIS driving coil arranged in the front and rear of the base (110) and one OIS driving coil arranged on the left and right sides, and the number of driving coils may be applied in various directions as needed, so that the base (110) may have various coil mounting portions arranged in the front, back, left, and right sides, for example, one each in the front and rear, one only on the right side, or one on the back, one each on the left and right sides, etc.

[0067] In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, an AF coil mounting portion (114) into which an AF drive coil (C1) is inserted is provided on the bottom surface of the base (110). More preferably, a groove portion having a predetermined depth may be formed in the width direction or the front-back direction of the bottom surface of the base (110) so that the AF drive coil can be mounted on the AF coil mounting portion (114) while being electrically connected to a flexible PCB (P) on which a printed circuit is formed. More preferably, an AF fixed-side yoke (Y1-1) is attached to the outside of the flexible PCB (P) so that the electromagnetic force of the AF drive coil (C1) can be effectively transmitted to the AF magnet (M1) and the AF movable-side yoke (Y1-2).

[0068] And, as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 6, on the inside of the base (110), an AF fixed side ball rail (R1) capable of guiding an AF ball (B1) to be described later in a first direction is formed on the upper surface of the bottom portion of the base (110) to the left and right in the width direction, and a first OIS fixed side ball rail (R2) capable of guiding a first OIS ball (B2) to be described later in a second direction is formed on the upper surface of a step portion (116) located at a certain height H of the base (110).

[0069] Next, the optical refraction AF module (140) constituting the folded actuator of the present invention is composed of an optical refraction element (120) whose cross-section is approximately a right triangle with the plane formed by the incident optical axis (-Z axis) and the exit optical axis (X axis) as a cross-section, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, and an AF carrier (130) in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with an inclined surface portion on which the inclined surface of the optical refraction element is seated being concave on one side.

[0070] And, an AF driving magnet (M1) is attached to the bottom surface of the AF carrier (130), and it is preferable that an AF carrier bottom recessed portion (133) is formed at the bottom surface of the AF carrier at the position where the AF driving magnet (M1) is attached, with a depth corresponding to the thickness of the AF driving magnet, as shown in FIG. 5, and a first yoke (Y1-2) may be attached between the AF driving magnet and the bottom surface of the AF carrier.

[0071] In addition, on the bottom surface of the left and right sides in the width direction of the AF carrier (130), an AF movable side ball rail (R3) that guides the movement of the AF ball (B1) during AF operation is formed in the first direction, which is the AF operation direction, and it is preferable that four ball rails (R3) are formed so as to be able to guide four AF balls (B1).

[0072] In addition, as previously explained, on the upper surface of the bottom of the base (110) facing the lower surface of the AF carrier, as shown in FIG. 6, an AF fixed-side ball rail (R1) is formed in the AF driving direction to guide the AF ball (B1) in the AF driving direction, and it is preferable that four AF fixed-side ball rails (R1) are formed, similar to the four AF movable-side ball rails (R2) of the AF carrier.

[0073] By the above configuration, the optical refraction AF module (140) of the present invention is driven in the first direction with respect to the base (110) to perform auto focusing.

[0074] Next, the OIS module (170) constituting the folded actuator of the present invention is composed of a first OIS carrier (150) driven in a second direction relative motion with respect to the base (110), as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and a second OIS carrier (160) driven in a first direction relative motion with respect to the first OIS carrier (150).

[0075] The first OIS carrier (150) and the second OIS carrier (160) have a rectangular outline when viewed from above, and a circular penetration portion is formed in the center into which a lens module (180) is inserted.

[0076] In addition, at each corner portion of the bottom surface of the first OIS carrier (150), a first OIS movable side ball rail (R4) is formed in the second direction to guide the first OIS ball (B2) in the second direction when the OIS is driven in the second direction, and at each corner portion of the top surface of the first OIS carrier (150), a second OIS fixed side ball rail (R5) is formed in the first direction to guide the second OIS ball (B3) in the first direction when the OIS is driven in the first direction.

[0077] Next, a second OIS movable side ball rail (R6) that guides the second OIS ball (B3) in the first direction when the OIS is driven in the first direction is formed in the first direction at each corner of the bottom surface of the second OIS carrier (160), and a first OIS magnet mounting portion (161) on which a first OIS magnet is mounted may be formed on a side of the second OIS carrier (160) that faces the first OIS driving coil mounting portion of the base (110), and a second OIS magnet mounting portion (162) on which a second OIS magnet (M3) is mounted may be formed on a side of the second OIS carrier (160) that faces the second OIS driving coil mounting portion (113) of the base (110).

[0078] And the first OIS magnet (M2) and the second OIS magnet (M3) are attached to the first OIS magnet mounting portion (161) and the second OIS magnet mounting portion (162), respectively.

[0079] Next, the lens module (180) inserted into the circular penetration portion of the second OIS carrier (160) may be composed of a lens group (181) and a lens bezel ring (183). Here, the lens group may be configured such that lenses are inserted into a cylindrical barrel, and the lens bezel ring (183) may be configured such that it is attached or combined to the outer surface, the inner surface, or the outer surface and the inner surface of the barrel.

[0080] In addition, a PCB circuit may be provided to apply driving power of appropriate size and direction to the AF driving coil (C1), the first OIS driving coil (C2), and the second OIS driving coil (C3), and preferably, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it may be configured as a single flexible PCB (P) capable of controlling all three coils.

[0081] Through the above configuration, when the current according to the control command of the control unit (not shown) is applied to the second OIS driving coil (C3), the OIS module (170) of the present invention generates an attractive or repulsive force by interaction with the second OIS magnet (M3) arranged on the side of the second OIS carrier (160), and at this time, the second OIS ball (B3) placed between the first OIS carrier (150) and the second OIS carrier (160) is restrained from moving in the second direction by the second OIS fixed-side ball rail (R5), so that the first OIS carrier (150) and the second OIS carrier (160) become one when driving by shaking in the second direction, and as a result, the first OIS moving-side ball rail formed in the second direction located on the lowermost surface of the first OIS carrier (150) and the second OIS carrier (160) that are integrated and the first OIS fixed-side ball rail formed in the second direction located on the upper surface of the step portion of the base (110) The first OIS carrier (150) and the second OIS carrier (160) are driven to vibrate the OIS in the second direction through the first OIS ball (B2) placed between the ball rails.

[0082] Next, when the current according to the control command of the control unit (not shown) is applied to the first OIS driving coil (C2), the OIS module (170) of the present invention generates an attractive or repulsive force by interaction with the first OIS magnet (M2) arranged on the side of the second OIS carrier (160), and at this time, the second OIS carrier (160) causes the OIS vibration drive in the first direction with respect to the first OIS carrier (150) via the second OIS ball (B3) placed between the second OIS fixed-side ball rail (R5) located on the upper surface of the first OIS carrier (150) and the second OIS movable-side ball rail (R6) located on the lower surface of the second OIS carrier (160).

[0083] The embodiment of the present invention described above is for a case where the first OIS carrier (150) moves relative to the base (110) in a second direction and the second OIS carrier (160) moves relative to the first OIS carrier (150) in a first direction. However, if necessary, it is also possible for the OIS function to be implemented by the first OIS carrier (150) moving relative to the base (110) in a first direction and the second OIS carrier (160) moving relative to the first OIS carrier (150) in a second direction.

[0084] In addition, as shown in Fig. 6, the step portion (116) may be composed of a front step portion (116-1) having a height H1 on the front side of the actuator and a rear step portion (116-2) having a height H2 on the rear side, and the heights of H1 and H2 may be the same.

[0085] In addition, a first piece groove (102-1) can be formed in the front side step portion (116-1) so that a first piece (102) can be inserted, and a second piece groove (103-1) can be formed in the rear side step portion (116-2) so that a second piece (103) can be inserted, so that the first piece (102) and the second piece (103) can be attached.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 7, the first iron piece (102) and the second iron piece (103) exert an attractive force by interacting with the second OIS magnet (M2) attached to the side of the second OIS carrier (160) of the OIS module (170), and the second iron piece (103) exerts an attractive force with the OIS module magnet (M4) attached to the bottom surface of the second OIS carrier (160) of the OIS module (170), thereby maintaining an attractive force between the OIS module (170) and the base (110), so that the OIS module (170) and the base (110) are not separated even when the upper and lower surfaces of the actuator are turned over.

[0087] Next, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module including an actuator according to one aspect described above. The camera module, which is an embodiment of the present invention, is largely configured to include an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator having a light refractive element, and an image sensor module that is positioned adjacent to a light emitting portion of the actuator and receives light passing through the AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator and outputs image information corresponding to the received light.

[0088] Next, (a), (b), and (c) of FIG. 8 illustrate a camera composed of a leading lens type folded actuator driven by an AF of the optical refraction element of the present invention and an image sensor module. FIG. 8 (b) illustrates that the optical refraction AF module (140) has moved by Af1 in the direction in which the image sensor module is placed, i.e., in the first direction, and FIG. 8 (c) illustrates that the optical refraction AF module (140) has moved by Af2 in the direction in which the image sensor module is placed, i.e., in the first direction, from the position of (b).

[0089] When the above-described optical refraction AF module (140) moves in the first direction as described above, the path of light incident on and emitted from the lens module (180) is refracted as shown in the figure by the optical refraction element moved in the first direction, and at this time, the values ​​Fh1, Fh2, and Fh3, which represent the distance from the point of refracting in the optical refraction element to the point reaching the front of the image sensor module, always represent constant values, while the distances Fv1, Fv2, and Fv3, which connect the point of exit from the lens module (180) and the point of refracting in the optical refraction element, gradually shorten as the optical refraction AF module (140) moves.

[0090] As a result, the distance that light travels from the lens module (180) to the image sensor module (which corresponds to the focal length of the lens module) becomes shorter as the optical refraction AF module (140) moves toward the image sensor module, which results in a shortened focusing distance. That is, when the focusing distance changes due to the movement of the optical refraction AF module (140), and a signal for auto-focusing is applied to the optical refraction AF module (140) through this, the auto-focusing function can be implemented.

[0091] However, when the optical refraction AF module (140) is operated in this manner, the optical axis of the image formed by the lens module (180) changes from the initial Fv1 position to the Fv2 position, and then from the Fv2 position to the Fv3 position, as shown in FIG. 8. Therefore, it is necessary to display the captured image by moving the image in the image sensor module or the image sensor module itself by the amount of change in the position of the optical axis due to the AF operation of the optical refraction AF module (140).

[0092] At this time, when moving the image in the image sensor module, the pixel movement amount in the image sensor module is calculated based on the signal for AF driving of the optical refraction AF module (140), and the image is moved and displayed according to the pixel movement amount, thereby offsetting the movement amount of pixel data due to AF driving of the optical refraction AF module (140).

[0093] In addition, more preferably, a process of storing the pixel movement amount according to the control code during AF operation and checking and storing the pixel movement amount during AF operation calibration may be additionally applied.

[0094] In another embodiment, when moving the image sensor module itself, the amount of movement of the image sensor module is calculated based on a signal for AF driving of the optical refraction AF module (140), and by moving the image sensor module using a coil and magnet configured separately, which are not shown in the drawing, the amount of movement of the optical axis due to AF driving of the optical refraction AF module (140) can be offset.

[0095] [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 100: Folded Actuator

[0097] 101: Light emission unit

[0098] 102: The First Iron Fist

[0099] 103: The Second Iron Fist

[0100] 110: Base

[0101] 111: Light emission unit

[0102] 112: 1st OIS coil mounting part

[0103] 113: Second OIS coil mounting section

[0104] 114: AF coil mounting section

[0105] 116: Step section

[0106] 116-1: Front step

[0107] 116-2: Rear step

[0108] 120: Light refractive element

[0109] 130: AF carrier

[0110] 133: AF magnet mounting section

[0111] 140: Optical refraction AF module

[0112] 150: 1st OIS carrier

[0113] 160: Second OIS carrier

[0114] 161: 1st OIS magnet mounting part

[0115] 162: Second OIS magnet mounting part

[0116] 170: OIS module

[0117] 180: Lens module

[0118] 181: Lens group

[0119] 183: Lens bezel ring

[0120] 190: Case

[0121] 200: Image sensor module

[0122] B1: AF guide ball

[0123] B2: 1st OIS guide ball

[0124] B3: 2nd OIS guide ball

[0125] C1: AF drive coil

[0126] C2: 1st OIS drive coil

[0127] C3: Second OIS drive coil

[0128] M1: AF magnet

[0129] M2: 1st OIS magnet

[0130] M3: Second OIS magnet

[0131] M4: OIS Carrier Magnet

[0132] R1: AF fixed-side ball rail

[0133] R2: AF movable side ball rail

[0134] R3: 1st OIS fixed side ball rail

[0135] R4: 1st OIS movable side ball rail

[0136] R5: 2nd OIS fixed side ball rail

[0137] R6: 2nd OIS movable side ball rail

[0138] Y1-1 AF fixed-side yoke

[0139] Y1-2 AF movable side yoke

Claims

1. A box body composed of a lower base forming an internal space and an upper case, with a penetration portion formed on the upper surface through which incident light from a subject enters, and a light exit portion formed on the side surface; An optical refraction AF module accommodated in the inner space of the box body, including an optical refraction element; An OIS module is accommodated in the internal space of the box, including a lens module positioned between the optical refraction AF module and the subject; The above lens module emits incident light from the subject as light having a focal length toward the light refraction AF module, The light refracting element of the above light refracting AF module refracts the light emitted from the lens module and emits it in a first direction toward the light emission portion, The above optical refraction AF module moves relatively to the base in the first direction to perform auto-focusing and change the focus of the light emitted from the lens module. The above OIS module is an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator characterized in that the optical refractive element is driven by OIS in the first direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction on a plane perpendicular to the incident light incident on the lens module to move the lens module in the first direction and the second direction.

2. In paragraph 1, The above optical refraction AF module is composed of an optical refraction element and an AF carrier, and the optical refraction element is characterized by being a right-angled triangular prism or reflector that can refract incident light incident on the lens module from the subject toward the light exit portion, and the optical refraction element is an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator.

3. In the second paragraph, an AF driving magnet is attached to the bottom surface of the AF carrier, and an AF driving coil is inserted into the bottom surface of the base facing the AF carrier. The optical refractive element is an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator.

4. In the third paragraph, an AF movable side volley rail is formed in a first direction, which is an AF driving direction, on the bottom surface of the left and right sides in the width direction of the AF carrier, an AF fixed side volley rail is formed in the first direction on the upper surface of the bottom surface of the left and right sides in the width direction of the base, and AF balls are inserted between the AF movable side volley rail of the AF carrier and the AF fixed side volley rail of the base so that the movement of the AF balls is guided during AF driving. The optical refractive element is an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator characterized in that 5. In paragraph 1, The above OIS module is characterized by an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator comprising a first OIS carrier driven by a second direction relative motion with respect to the base, and a second OIS carrier driven by a first direction relative motion with respect to the first OIS carrier.

6. In paragraph 1, A folded actuator of a leading lens type driven by an AF optical refraction element characterized in that an optical refraction AF module is arranged in the space below and an OIS module is arranged above based on the upper surface of a step formed at a certain intermediate height of the above base.

7. In paragraph 6, A folded actuator of the AF-driven leading lens type, characterized in that the optical refractive element has a first OIS fixed-side ball rail formed in the second direction on the upper surface of the step portion of the above base.

8. In the first paragraph, a first OIS ball is inserted between the base and the OIS module, and the first OIS ball is guided in the first direction when the OIS module is driven in the second direction. A folded actuator having a leading lens type and an AF-driven optical refractive element.

9. A leading lens type folded actuator having an AF-driven optical refractive element as described in any one of claims 1 to 8; A camera module including an image sensor module in which the optical refractive element is positioned adjacent to a light emitting portion of an AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator, and the optical refractive element receives light passing through the AF-driven leading lens type folded actuator and outputs image information corresponding to the received light.

10. In paragraph 9, A camera module characterized in that it outputs a photographed image by moving an image in an image sensor module or the image sensor module itself by the amount of change in the position of the optical axis according to the AF operation of the above optical refraction AF module.

11. In paragraph 10, A camera module characterized in that, when moving an image in the image sensor module, the pixel movement amount in the image sensor module is calculated based on a signal for AF driving of the optical refraction AF module, and the image is moved and displayed in accordance with the pixel movement amount, thereby offsetting the movement amount of the screen due to the AF driving of the optical refraction AF module.

12. In paragraph 10, A camera module characterized in that, when moving the image sensor module itself, the amount of movement of the image sensor module is calculated based on a signal for AF driving of the optical refraction AF module, and the amount of movement of the subject focus due to the AF driving of the optical refraction AF module is offset by moving the image sensor module.

Images