Optical Element Drive Damping for AF Rotation Restriction

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional optical-element driving devices experience undesirable shaking and posture instability due to impact during rotation restriction, affecting image quality, and there is a need to suppress this impact without complicating or enlarging the device.

Innovation Solution

The device incorporates a rotation restricting part with recessed and protruding parts on the movable and fixing parts, along with a damper material to contact them, restricting rotation in the circumferential direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the AF fixing part and the AF movable part are made contact with each other to restrict the rotation of the AF movable part, then the rotation of the AF movable part is restricted, but impact is caused at the time of contact which causes undesirable shaking and posture instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposture stability of AF movable partVSAvoidimpact at contact time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a damper between the AF fixing part and the AF movable part before contact occurs. The damper is positioned to absorb impact when the protruding part of the movable part contacts the recessed part of the fixing part, preventing shock transmission that would cause shaking and posture instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a damper as an intermediary element between the AF fixing part and the AF movable part. This mediator absorbs the impact energy during contact, preventing direct transmission of shock forces that would otherwise cause undesirable shaking and affect image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If contact between AF fixing part and AF movable part is used to restrict rotation, then rotation restriction is achieved, but device complexity increases to suppress impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation restriction of AF movable partVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a damper as an intermediary element between the AF fixing part and the AF movable part. This mediator absorbs the impact energy during contact, preventing direct transmission of shock forces that would otherwise cause undesirable shaking and affect image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a damper between the AF fixing part and the AF movable part before contact occurs. The damper is positioned to absorb impact when the protruding part of the movable part contacts the recessed part of the fixing part, preventing shock transmission that would cause shaking and posture instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If contact between AF fixing part and AF movable part is used to restrict rotation, then rotation restriction is achieved, but device size increases to suppress impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation restriction of AF movable partVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a damper between the AF fixing part and the AF movable part before contact occurs. The damper is positioned to absorb impact when the protruding part of the movable part contacts the recessed part of the fixing part, preventing shock transmission that would cause shaking and posture instability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a damper as an intermediary element between the AF fixing part and the AF movable part. This mediator absorbs the impact energy during contact, preventing direct transmission of shock forces that would otherwise cause undesirable shaking and affect image quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

This configuration effectively suppresses impact during rotation restriction without significantly complicating or enlarging the device, maintaining image quality.

Implementation Method 1

a damper material provided to the rotation restricting part so as to make contact with the movable part and the fixing part

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS12526503B2Optical-element driving device, camera module, and camera-mounted device

Publication Date: 2026.01.13 MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO LTD

AI summary

An optical-element driving device that moves a movable part capable of holding an optical element, with respect to a fixing part in an optical-axis direction, the optical-element driving device including: a rotation restricting part that restricts rotation of the movable part in a circumferential direction by contacting recessed and protruding parts with each other, the recessed and protruding parts being disposed on the movable part and the fixing part; and a damper material provided to the rotation restricting part so as to make contact with the movable part and the fixing part.