Optical Unit Gimbal Mechanism with Hole for Drive Nesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical units become large due to the need for a gimbal mechanism and drive components to be positioned away from each other to prevent contact during movement, leading to increased size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The optical unit incorporates a gimbal mechanism with a large hole portion that allows the drive mechanism to be positioned closer to the movable body, using a coil and magnet configuration with visible components through the hole, enabling miniaturization while maintaining wide-range movement without contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the movable body and gimbal frame are disposed away from each other to prevent contact during swinging, then the movable body can swing freely without contacting the gimbal mechanism, but the optical unit becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is nested within the gimbal frame structure. The coil is disposed inside the gimbal frame, and the magnet is attached to the movable body such that it moves within the space defined by the gimbal frame during swinging motion. This nesting arrangement allows the drive mechanism components to occupy the same spatial envelope as the gimbal frame without requiring additional clearance space, thereby preventing contact while minimizing the overall optical unit size.
2Volume of moving object
If the coil and magnet are positioned close to each other for compact design, then the optical unit size is reduced, but the movable body may contact the gimbal mechanism during swinging
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic field generated by the coil is concentrated in a specific local region within the gimbal frame, creating a focused actuation zone. The magnet on the movable body is positioned to interact with this localized magnetic field only when needed, while the overall geometry of the coil and magnet arrangement ensures that the movable body's swinging path does not intersect with the gimbal frame structure. This local quality approach allows compact positioning without compromising contact prevention.
3Volume of moving object
If the hole portion in the gimbal frame is made large to allow visibility of the drive mechanism, then the drive mechanism can be positioned closer to the movable body, but the structural integrity of the gimbal frame may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The gimbal frame is segmented into multiple structural elements that surround the hole portion rather than forming a continuous solid structure. The frame includes radial and circumferential support members that distribute mechanical loads around the opening, maintaining structural integrity while allowing the hole to be sufficiently large for drive mechanism visibility and positioning. This segmentation allows the frame to span across the hole without requiring excessive material in any single location.
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 allows for a compact optical unit design by positioning the gimbal mechanism closer to the movable body, reducing size and complexity while ensuring the movable body can swing freely without contacting the gimbal mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a drive mechanism including a coil and a magnet, and configured to move the movable body supported by the support mechanism with respect to the fixed body
Implementation Method 2
a gimbal frame provided with a hole portion through which at least a part of the optical module passes and having a spring property
Data Source
AI summary
An optical unit includes a movable body with an optical module; a fixed body; a gimbal mechanism having a hole portion through which at least a part of the optical module passes, and serving as a support mechanism that swingably supports the movable body with respect to the fixed body in a direction intersecting an optical axis direction as a pivot axis; and a drive mechanism having a coil and a magnet, and configured to move the movable body with respect to the fixed body. One of the coil and the magnet, as a movable body drive mechanism, is provided on a lateral portion of the movable body in a direction intersecting the optical axis direction. The hole portion is provided with a size such that at least a part of the movable body drive mechanism is visible through the hole portion when viewed from the optical axis direction.