Stepped Lens Barrel Camera Actuator for Low-Friction Zoom Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera modules face issues such as friction torque, decreased driving force, increased power consumption, and deteriorated optical characteristics due to lens misalignment and tilting during zoom functions, leading to reduced image quality and assembly inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A camera actuator and module design featuring a first and second lens barrel with stepped portions and guide jaws, coupled with piezoelectric driving units, allowing precise control and alignment of lens groups to minimize friction and improve autofocus and zoom functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the separation distance is increased to reduce friction torque, then friction torque resistance is reduced, but lens decent or lens tilt is deepened when zoom movement is reversed
Solution Approach 1:
A guide jaw is introduced as an intermediary component between the lens barrel and housing. The guide jaw features a guide surface that contacts the lens barrel, providing guidance during zoom movement while maintaining appropriate separation distance to reduce friction torque. This mediator enables the lens barrel to move smoothly without excessive friction while preventing lens decent or tilt during reversed zoom movement.
2Ease of manufacture
If symmetrical zoom lens groups are assembled without distinction, then assembly is simplified, but lens groups are arranged at wrong positions causing deteriorated optical characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
Asymmetric identification features are introduced to differentiate between symmetrical zoom lens groups. Specifically, one zoom lens group has a stepped portion on its lens barrel while the other has a flat surface. The guide jaw is configured with a guide surface that selectively contacts only the lens barrel with the stepped portion, ensuring correct positioning during assembly. This asymmetric feature prevents wrong arrangement while maintaining ease of assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If lens groups are moved during zoom, then zoom function is achieved, but friction is generated causing decreased driving force and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The guide jaw acts as a mediator that reduces friction between the lens barrel and housing during zoom movement. By providing a smooth guide surface and maintaining appropriate separation distance, the guide jaw minimizes contact friction, thereby reducing the driving force required and lowering power consumption while still enabling the zoom function.
4Adaptability or versatility
If lens groups are moved during zoom, then zoom function is achieved, but friction torque causes decreased control characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The guide jaw serves as a mediator that improves control characteristics during zoom movement. By reducing friction torque through its guide surface and appropriate separation distance, the guide jaw enables smoother and more predictable lens barrel movement, thereby enhancing control characteristics and reliability of the zoom function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances optical properties, reduces friction, and improves assembly efficiency by ensuring accurate lens positioning, resulting in improved autofocus and zoom capabilities with reduced defects.
Implementation Method 1
coupled with piezoelectric driving units
Implementation Method 2
using guide pins and elastic portions to control the movement of lens barrels
Data Source
AI summary
A camera actuator having a first lens unit, a first lens barrel, and a second lens barrel sequentially arranged in a housing. The camera actuator further includes a first driving unit and a second driving unit for moving the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel in an optical axis direction. Each of the first and second lens barrels includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and side surfaces facing an inner upper surface, an inner lower surface, and an inner side surfaces of the housing. The upper surface of the first lens barrel includes a first stepped portion. The lower surface of the second lens barrel includes a second stepped portion. A first distance from one side surface of the second lens barrel to the second stepped portion is different from a second distance from one side surface of the first lens barrel to the first stepped portion.