Triaxial Lens Actuator with Strain Detection for Compact Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of existing digital still camera lens optics, requiring multiple driving mechanisms for zoom, focus adjustment, and optical handshake correction, hinders downsizing and cost reduction.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a movable lens unit that can be driven along triaxial directions using a single mechanism, combined with strain detectors for position detection, simplifies the construction and reduces the number of required driving mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple driving mechanisms are used for zoom, focus adjustment, and optical handshake correction, then optical performance is improved, but device size and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple driving mechanisms (zoom driving mechanism, focus adjustment driving mechanism, and optical handshake correction driving mechanism) into a single integrated driving mechanism. This mechanism uses a voice coil motor to generate electromagnetic force that drives the movable lens unit along the optical axis for focus adjustment and also enables optical handshake correction by moving the lens unit in orthogonal directions. The merging of these functions into one mechanism directly reduces device size while maintaining optical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable lens unit serves multiple functions: it performs focus adjustment by moving along the optical axis, enables optical handshake correction by moving in orthogonal directions, and can contribute to zoom functionality. The single driving mechanism is designed to universally handle all these functions through coordinated control of the voice coil motor, allowing one mechanism to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity and size.
2Reliability
If multiple driving mechanisms are used for zoom, focus adjustment, and optical handshake correction, then optical performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple driving mechanisms into a single integrated driving mechanism that uses a voice coil motor. This consolidation reduces the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-tested, directly lowering manufacturing costs. The single mechanism design simplifies the supply chain and reduces inventory requirements for multiple specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal driving mechanism performs multiple functions (focus adjustment, optical handshake correction, and zoom) that would traditionally require separate specialized mechanisms. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and simplifies manufacturing processes, making the device more cost-effective to produce while maintaining high optical performance through precise electromagnetic control.
3Device complexity
If a single driving mechanism is used for focus adjustment and optical handshake correction, then device size is reduced, but position detection accuracy may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a position detection device that detects the position of the movable lens unit along the optical axis and provides feedback signals to the control device. The control device uses this feedback information to accurately control the driving mechanism, ensuring precise focus adjustment and optical handshake correction. This feedback loop maintains high position detection accuracy despite the simplified single-mechanism design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with an electromagnetic driving mechanism (voice coil motor) combined with electronic position detection and control. This substitution allows for precise control and measurement through electronic means rather than mechanical linkages, maintaining high accuracy while reducing device size. The electromagnetic system enables fine positional adjustments and accurate detection without the bulk of traditional mechanical positioning components.
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 approach allows for focus adjustment and optical handshake correction with a single driving mechanism, enabling downsizing of the imaging device while maintaining accurate position detection, thus reducing costs and enhancing optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
a driving mechanism for driving the movable lens unit along the first, second, and third directions; wherein the driving mechanism includes: a voice coil motor capable of generating an electromagnetic force
Implementation Method 2
a strain detector for detecting strain in the elastic member; wherein a position of the movable lens unit along the optical axis is determined on the basis of an amount of strain detected by the strain detector
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device includes: a movable lens unit including at least one lens for converging light from a subject and a lens holder supporting the at least one lens; a body base supporting the movable lens unit so as to be capable of moving along a first direction and a second direction which are orthogonal to each other on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the at least one lens and along a third direction which is parallel to the optical axis of the at least one lens; an imager being supported by the body base for converting light transmitted through the movable lens unit to an electrical signal; a driving mechanism being provided on the movable unit and/or body base for driving the movable lens unit along the first, second, and third directions; and a plurality of strain detectors provided between the movable unit and the body base.