CN115903165A - Optical element driving device, camera module, and camera mounting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical element driving device, a camera module and a camera mounting device. The optical element driving device includes: a holding section capable of holding the optical element and moving in the optical axis direction by the driving of the driving section; an accommodating section in which a holding section accommodated inside the accommodating section is supported by a first elastic member extending in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis so as to be movable in the optical axis direction; and a fixing portion that supports the accommodating portion so as to be swingable in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis by a second elastic member extending in the optical axis direction, the first elastic member including: a first connecting part connected with the holding part and electrically connected with the driving part; a second connecting part connected with the accommodating part; a third connecting portion electrically connected to the second elastic member; and an inclined portion inclined such that a height position of the third connecting portion is spaced further from the fixing portion than a height position of the first connecting portion, the height position being a height position in the optical axis direction.

Description

Optical element drive device, camera module, and camera mounting device

Technical Field

The invention relates to an optical element driving device, a camera module and a camera mounting device.

Background

In general, a small camera module is mounted on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. In such a camera module, an optical element driving device for driving an optical element is used.

The Optical element driving device has an Auto Focus function (hereinafter, referred to as an "AF function") and a camera shake correction function (hereinafter, referred to as an "OIS function" or an Optical Image Stabilization). The optical element driving device automatically performs focusing when photographing an object by the AF function, and optically corrects hand vibration (vibration) generated during photographing by the OIS function to reduce image blur.

For example, patent document 1 discloses an optical element driving device having an AF function and an OIS function. The optical element driving device shown in patent document 1 includes: a lens holder capable of holding a lens; a first driving part which is provided with a coil and a magnet and enables the lens support to move in the optical axis direction; and a second driving section that moves the lens holder in a direction intersecting with the optical axis direction.

In the optical element driving device disclosed in patent document 1, the second driving unit includes a support member that movably supports a portion including the lens holder with respect to the base in a direction intersecting with the optical axis direction (for example, a direction orthogonal to the optical axis). The first driving unit includes a conductor portion electrically connected to the coil and the support member and having elasticity in the optical axis direction, and the conductor portion allows the lens holder to move in the optical axis direction. The conductor portion includes a first conductor portion and a second conductor portion arranged at different positions in the optical axis direction. In the conductor portion, a height of a connection position with the support member and a height of a connection position with the lens holder are different from each other.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2016-180836.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

As in the optical element driving device disclosed in patent document 1, the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion, which are disposed at different positions in the optical axis direction, are disposed so as not to contact each other and not to interfere with each other in order to achieve both the electrical function and the elastic function. Therefore, the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion have complicated structures and arrangements (see, for example, fig. 8 and 9 of patent document 1). Due to such a complicated structure and arrangement, there is a possibility that the optical element driving device shown in patent document 1 may suffer from a reduction in assembly accuracy, individual differences, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical element driving device, a camera module, and a camera mounting device that make it possible to simplify the structure and arrangement of a member that movably supports a movable portion in an optical axis direction in a state where a connection position with a portion that movably supports a portion including the movable portion in the optical axis orthogonal direction and a connection position with the movable portion are different from each other.

Means for solving the problems

An optical element driving device of the present invention includes:

a holding section capable of holding the optical element and moving in the optical axis direction by the driving of the driving section;

an accommodating portion that supports the holding portion by a first elastic member extending in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis so that the holding portion is movable in the optical axis direction in a state where the holding portion is accommodated inside the accommodating portion; and

a fixing portion that is disposed at a distance from the housing portion in the optical axis direction and supports the housing portion so as to be swingable in the optical axis orthogonal direction by a second elastic member extending in the optical axis direction,

the first elastic member has: a first connecting portion connected to the holding portion and electrically connected to the driving portion; a second connecting portion connected to the accommodating portion; a third connecting portion electrically connected to the second elastic member; and an inclined portion that is inclined so that a height position of the third connecting portion is spaced further from the fixing portion than a height position of the first connecting portion, the height position being a height position in the optical axis direction.

The camera module of the present invention includes:

the optical element driving device; and

and an imaging unit that images an object image formed by the optical element.

The camera mounting device of the present invention is a camera mounting device as an information device or a transportation device, and includes:

the camera module; and

and an image processing unit that processes the image information obtained by the camera module.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the structure and arrangement of the member that movably supports the movable portion in the optical axis direction can be made more compact in a state where the position of connection between the movable portion and the portion that movably supports the portion including the movable portion in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis is different from the position of connection between the movable portion and the portion.

Drawings

Fig. 1A is a front view showing a smartphone on which a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted;

FIG. 1B is a rear view of the smart phone shown in FIG. 1A;

fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a camera module and an image pickup unit;

fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an optical element driving device of the camera module;

fig. 4 is a perspective view of the optical element driving device main body of the optical element driving device as viewed from the bottom surface side;

fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an optical element driving device main body of the optical element driving device;

fig. 6 is a plan view of the OIS fixing section of the optical element driving apparatus main body;

fig. 7 is a plan view showing the inside of the substrate of the OIS fixing section of the optical element driving apparatus main body;

fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the OIS supporting portion of the optical element driving apparatus main body from the OIS movable portion;

fig. 9 is a bottom view of the OIS movable section of the optical element driving apparatus main body;

fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an OIS movable part of the optical element driving apparatus main body;

fig. 11 is a plan view of an upper plate spring of the optical element driving device main body;

fig. 12 is a plan view of the optical element driving device main body in a state where an upper plate spring is removed from an OIS movable portion of the optical element driving device main body;

fig. 13 is a plan view of the OIS movable portion of the optical element driving apparatus main body;

fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the optical element driving device main body;

fig. 15A is a view for explaining a connecting process of the upper plate spring, and is a view for explaining connection of the upper plate spring to the upper step side of the outer bracket;

fig. 15B is a diagram for explaining a connecting process of the upper leaf spring, and is a diagram for explaining connection of the upper leaf spring to the inner bracket;

fig. 15C is a view for explaining a connecting process of the upper leaf spring, and is a view for explaining connection of the upper leaf spring to a lower step side of the outer bracket;

fig. 15D is a view for explaining a connecting process of the upper plate spring, and is a view for explaining connection between the upper plate spring and the suspension wire;

fig. 16A is a front view of an automobile in which a camera mounting device for mounting an onboard camera module is mounted; and

fig. 16B is a perspective view of the automobile shown in fig. 16A viewed from an oblique rear side.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Optical element driving device

2. Lens unit

3. Cover

4. Optical element driving device body

5. Image pickup unit

10 OIS movable part

11 AF moving part

12 AF fixing part

20 OIS fixed part

21. Substrate

22. Substrate

23A, 23B, 25 terminal

24. Opening part

30 OIS support part

31. Suspension wire

32. Vibration damping member

40 AF support part

41A, 41B upper leaf spring

42. Lower side plate spring

50A AF drive part

50B OIS drive unit

51 Coil for AF

51a terminal

52a, 52b, 52c, 52d OIS coil

53a, 53b, 53c, 53d magnet

111. Inner side support

111a outer peripheral part

111b projection

111c upper part

111d projection

111e bottom

112. Opening part

112a inner peripheral portion

121. Outer bracket

121a outer periphery

121b mounting part

121c upper step part

121d lower step part

121e, 121f, 121g protrusions

121h mounting part

Bottom 121i

121j projection

122. Opening part

122a inner peripheral portion

122b holding recess

122c sliding recess

123. Vibration damping component

301. Opening of the container

302. Open face

303. Inner wall

401. Opening(s)

411. Outer connecting part

411a through hole

412. Upper step connecting part

412a fitting hole

413. Upper step connecting part

413a fitting hole

414. Upper and lower step connecting part

414a upper and lower step connecting arm part

414b upper and lower step connecting arm parts

415. Lower step connecting part

415a fitting hole

416. Vibration damping arm

416a end portion

416b branch arm part

417. Arm part

418. Inner side connecting part

418a fitting hole

419. Inner connecting part

419a terminal

421. Inner frame part

422. Abutting part

423. Arm part

424. Connecting part

424a fitting hole

501. Image sensor substrate

502. Image pickup device

503. Control unit

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[ Intelligent Mobile phone ]

Fig. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a smartphone M (an example of a camera-mounted device) in which a camera module a according to the present embodiment is mounted. Fig. 1A is a front view of the smartphone M, and fig. 1B is a rear view of the smartphone M.

The smartphone M has a back camera OC1, and a camera module a is applied to the back camera OC 1. The camera module a has an AF function and an OIS function, and can automatically perform focusing when capturing an object and optically correct hand shake (vibration) generated during capturing to capture an image without blurring.

[ Camera Module ]

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the camera module a and the imaging unit 5. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the optical element driving device 1 of the camera module a shown in fig. 2. Note that the lens portion 2 is not shown in fig. 3. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, an orthogonal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is used for description. The same orthogonal coordinate system (X, Y, Z) is also shown in the figures described later. The direction intermediate to the X direction and the Y direction, i.e., the diagonal direction when the camera module a is viewed from the Z direction in a plan view, is described as the U direction and the V direction (see fig. 7 described later).

For example, when shooting is performed by the smartphone M, the camera module a is mounted such that the X direction is the left-right direction (or the up-down direction), the Y direction is the up-down direction (or the left-right direction), and the Z direction is the front-back direction. The Z direction is a direction extending in the direction of the optical axis OA of the lens unit 2 when the lens unit 2 is assembled to the camera module a. That is, the Z direction is the optical axis direction, and in fig. 2 and 3, the upper side (+ Z side) in the drawing is the optical axis direction light receiving side, and the lower side (-Z side) is the optical axis direction image forming side.

Hereinafter, the X direction and the Y direction orthogonal to the Z axis are referred to as "orthogonal optical axis directions", and the XY plane is referred to as "orthogonal optical axis plane". The direction extending radially from the optical axis OA is referred to as a "radial direction", and the direction extending so as to surround the optical axis OA is referred to as a "circumferential direction". The radial direction and the circumferential direction may be regarded as the radial direction and the circumferential direction of the openings 301 and 401 formed in the center portions in a plan view of the cover 3 and the optical element driving device body 4, which will be described later.

As shown in fig. 2, the camera module a includes an optical element driving device 1 that realizes an AF function and an OIS function, a lens unit 2 configured by accommodating a lens in a cylindrical lens barrel, an image pickup unit 5 that picks up an object image formed by the lens unit 2, and the like. That is, the optical element driving device 1 is a "lens driving device" that drives the lens unit 2 as an optical element.

[ case ]

In the optical element driving device 1, the outside of the optical element driving device main body 4 is covered with the cover 3. The cover 3 is a covered rectangular prism shaped in a plan view as viewed from the optical axis direction. In the present embodiment, the cover 3 has a square shape in plan view. The cover 3 has a substantially circular opening 301 on the upper surface (the surface on the light receiving side in the optical axis direction). The lens unit 2 is accommodated in the opening 401 of the optical element driving device main body 4, faces outward from the opening 301 of the cover 3, and is configured to protrude to a position closer to the light receiving side in the optical axis direction than the opening surface 302 of the cover 3, for example, in accordance with the movement in the optical axis direction. The inner wall 303 of the cover 3 is fixed to the base 21 of the OIS fixing section 20 of the optical element driving device body 4 by, for example, adhesion, and accommodates the OIS movable section 10 and the like therein together with the base 21.

[ image pickup part ]

The imaging unit 5 is disposed on the optical axis direction imaging side of the optical element driving device 1. The imaging unit 5 includes, for example, an image sensor substrate 501, an imaging element 502 mounted on the image sensor substrate 501, and a control unit 503. The image pickup device 502 is configured by, for example, a CCD (charge-coupled device) type image sensor, a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) type image sensor, or the like, and picks up an image of a subject imaged by the lens portion 2.

The control unit 503 is constituted by, for example, a control IC, a driver IC, and the like, and controls the driving of the optical element driving device 1. The optical element driving device 1 is mounted on the image sensor substrate 501, and is mechanically and electrically connected thereto. The control unit 503 may be provided on the image sensor substrate 501, or may be provided on a camera-mounted device (smartphone M in the present embodiment) on which the camera module a is mounted.

[ optical element drive device body ]

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the optical element driving device main body 4 of the optical element driving device 1 viewed from the bottom surface side. Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the optical element driving device main body 4 of the optical element driving device 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the OIS fixing section 20 of the optical element driving device body 4. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the substrate 22 of the OIS fixing section 20 of the optical element driving device main body 4. Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the optical element driving device body 4, which is shown with the AF support portion 40 separated from the OIS movable portion 10. Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the OIS movable section 10 of the optical element driving apparatus main body 4. Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the OIS movable section 10 of the optical element driving apparatus body 4. The optical element driving device main body 4 will be described with reference to fig. 4 to 10.

As shown in fig. 5, the optical element driving device body 4 includes an OIS movable portion 10, an OIS fixed portion 20, an OIS supporting portion 30, an AF supporting portion 40, and the like.

The OIS movable portion 10 includes an AF movable portion 11 (a holding portion in the present invention), an AF fixing portion 12, and the like (a housing portion in the present invention) (see fig. 8 and 10), and the detailed configuration of the OIS movable portion 10 will be described later. The AF movable unit 11 can hold the lens unit 2 (see fig. 2), and includes an AF coil 51 (see fig. 10) constituting an AF drive unit 50A. The AF fixing portion 12 accommodates the AF movable portion 11 therein, and supports the AF movable portion 11 by the AF supporting portion 40 ( upper leaf springs 41A and 41B and lower leaf spring 42) so that the AF movable portion 11 can move in the optical axis direction. The AF fixing section 12 includes magnets 53a to 53d (see fig. 10) constituting the AF driving section 50A. The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B correspond to a first elastic member in the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the AF drive unit 50A including the AF Coil 51 and the magnets 53a to 53d functions as a Voice Coil Motor (VCM) of a moving Coil type. With this structure, the AF movable part 11 can move in the optical axis direction with respect to the AF fixing part 12. That is, the AF movable portion 11 is a movable body movable in the optical axis direction, and the AF fixing portion 12 is a fixed body with respect to the AF movable portion 11.

The OIS fixing section 20 (the fixing section in the present invention) supports the OIS movable section 10 so as to be swingable in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis via the OIS supporting section 30 (the suspension wire 31) (see fig. 5), and the detailed configuration of the OIS fixing section 20 will be described later. The OIS fixing section 20 includes OIS coils 52a to 52d (see fig. 7) constituting the OIS driving section 50B. As described above, the OIS movable section 10 (AF fixed section 12) includes the magnets 53a to 53d, and the magnets 53a to 53d also constitute the OIS driving section 50B. The suspension wire 31 corresponds to a second elastic member in the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the OIS driver 50B, which is composed of the OIS coils 52a to 52d and the magnets 53a to 53d, functions as a moving-magnet VCM. With this configuration, the OIS movable section 10 can be swung in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis with respect to the OIS fixing section 20. That is, the OIS movable section 10 is a movable body that can swing in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and the OIS fixing section 20 is a fixed body with respect to the OIS movable section 10.

[ OIS securing part ]

The OIS fixing section 20 is disposed on one side in the optical axis direction (on the image side in the optical axis direction) with a space from the OIS movable section 10, and the OIS movable section 10 is supported so as to be swingable in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis by an OIS supporting section 30 extending in the optical axis direction.

The OIS fixing section 20 includes: a base body 21 having an outer shape of a substantially rectangular shape in plan view; and a substrate 22 (see fig. 5 and 6) disposed on the light-receiving side of the base 21 in the optical axis direction.

The base 21 is formed of, for example, PAR, a PAR alloy obtained by mixing a plurality of resin materials including PAR, or a molding material made of a liquid crystal polymer.

The base 21 and the substrate 22 have a through hole A1 formed in the center portion in a plan view. The through hole A1 is formed in a circular shape, for example, and the lower end portion of the lens unit 2 (see fig. 2) is inserted when the AF movable unit 11 moves to the image side in the optical axis direction. In this way, the lower end portion of the lens unit 2 can be inserted into the through hole A1, and therefore, the height of the optical element driving device 1 can be reduced. The shape of the through hole A1 is appropriately changed according to the shape of the lens portion 2.

The base 21 is embedded with wiring (not shown) by insert molding, for example. One end of the wiring embedded in the base 21 is exposed as terminals 23A and 23B from the bottom of the base 21 (see fig. 3 and 4). The terminals 23A and 23B are electrically connected to an external device (for example, the control unit 503). The other end of the wiring is partially connected to the substrate 22, and partially exposed as terminals 25 from openings 24 formed at four corners of the base 21 (see fig. 6). The terminal 25 is connected to a suspension wire 31 described later constituting the OIS support portion 30.

The substrate 22 is a substrate having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, like the base 21. Although not shown in detail, the substrate 22 is a multilayer printed wiring board in which unit layers including conductor layers and insulating layers are stacked in a plurality of layers. In the present embodiment, wiring and connection terminals (not shown) to the OIS coils 52a to 52d, the hall elements (not shown), and the like are integrally formed on the substrate 22.

The OIS coils 52a to 52d are disposed at the four corners of the substrate 22 (see fig. 7). The OIS coil 52a and the OIS coil 52c, which are one pair of the four OIS coils 52a to 52d, face each other in the U direction, and the OIS coil 52b and the OIS coil 52d, which are the other pair, face each other in the V direction. The OIS coils 52a to 52d are disposed so as to face the magnets 53a to 53d (see fig. 10) in the optical axis direction.

The OIS coils 52a to 52d and the magnets 53a to 53d are sized and arranged such that the magnetic field radiated from the bottom surfaces of the magnets 53a to 53d traverses opposite sides (long sides) of the OIS coils 52a to 52d and returns to the magnets 53a to 53d. Here, the OIS coils 52a to 52d have the same shape as the shape (substantially isosceles trapezoid shape) of the magnets 53a to 53d when viewed from the top. This enables the driving force (electromagnetic force) for swinging the OIS movable section 10 in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis to be efficiently generated.

The pair of opposing OIS coils 52a and 52c are connected to each other by a wire, and the other pair of opposing OIS coils 52b and 52d are also connected to each other by a wire, and current is supplied to each pair of OIS coils. The OIS coil 52a, 52c and the magnet 53a, 53c constitute an OIS VCM for swinging the OIS movable portion 10 in the U direction. The OIS coil 52b, 52d and the magnets 53b, 53d form an OIS VCM for swinging the OIS movable portion 10 in the V direction.

A hall element (not shown) for detecting a change in magnetic field by the hall effect is mounted on the bottom side (image forming side in the optical axis direction) of the substrate 22. In the present embodiment, the hall elements are disposed at positions corresponding to the OIS coils 52b and 52c, respectively. When the OIS movable section 10 swings in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis, the magnetic field of the magnets 53a to 53d changes. By detecting the change in the magnetic field by the hall element, the position of the OIS movable portion 10 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis can be detected. Further, a magnet for a hall element different from the magnets 53a to 53d may be separately disposed in the OIS movable section 10.

In the present embodiment, the base 21 and the substrate 22 are bonded to each other with an epoxy resin material having elasticity, for example. Since the base 21 and the substrate 22 are integrated by adhesion, the OIS fixing portion 20 has improved mechanical strength, and the base 21 and the substrate 22 can be thinned while ensuring desired drop impact resistance.

[ OIS supporting part ]

The OIS supporting section 30 connects the OIS movable section 10 and the OIS fixing section 20, which are disposed at intervals in the optical axis direction, and supports the OIS movable section 10 relative to the OIS fixing section 20 so as to be swingable in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis. In the present embodiment, the OIS supporting portion 30 is configured by 4 suspension wires 31 extending in the optical axis direction (see fig. 5). The OIS supporting section 30 may be formed of a member other than the suspension wire 31.

One end (end on the image side in the optical axis direction) of the suspension wire 31 is fixed to the OIS fixing section 20. As described above, in the present embodiment, one end of the suspension wire 31 is connected to the terminals 25 disposed at the four corners of the base 21 and fixed to the OIS fixing section 20. On the other hand, the other end (end on the light receiving side in the optical axis direction) of the suspension wire 31 is fixed to the OIS movable section 10. In the present embodiment, the other end of the suspension wire 31 is connected to the external connection portions 411 disposed at four corners of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B fixed to the OIS movable portion 10, and is fixed to the OIS movable portion 10.

The suspension wire 31 functions as an elastic member that supports the OIS movable section 10 relative to the OIS fixing section 20 so as to be swingable in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis. The suspension wire 31 functions as a power supply member for supplying power to the AF coil 51 of the AF movable unit 11 via the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B.

In the present embodiment, the vibration damping member 32 is disposed in the vicinity of the other end side of the suspension wire 31 on the image side in the optical axis direction of the connection portion connected to the outer connection portion 411. The suspension wires 31 penetrate the inside of the damper member 32, and the damper member 32 is attached to the attachment portions 121b formed at the four corners of the outer holder 121 of the OIS movable portion 10.

Since the vibration damping member 32 is interposed between the suspension wire 31 and the outer holder 121, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unnecessary resonance (higher-order resonance mode) and improve the stability of the operation of the optical element driving device 1. Further, the stress generated in the suspension wire 31 is dispersed by the vibration damping member 32, and the breakage due to metal fatigue or the like of the suspension wire 31 can be suppressed, so that the reliability of the optical element driving device 1 can be improved.

As the vibration damping member 32, for example, ultraviolet curable silicone or the like can be used. For example, the glue can be easily applied or injected to the target site using a dispenser. For example, the vibration damping member 32 is formed by applying or injecting an ultraviolet curing type silicone gel to the mounting portion 121b through which the suspension wire 31 is inserted by a dispenser, and curing the silicone gel by irradiation with ultraviolet rays. Although ultraviolet-curable silicone rubber is used as an example of the vibration damping member 32, the present invention is not limited to this, and other materials such as room-temperature-curable silyl polymer-based elastic adhesives may be used.

[ OIS movable part ]

The OIS moving section 10 includes magnets 53a to 53d (see fig. 10) each formed of a permanent magnet, and is swingable in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis by driving the OIS driving section 50B (the OIS coils 52a to 52d and the magnets 53a to 53 d). As described above, the OIS movable section 10 is supported by the OIS fixing section 20 so as to be swingable in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis via the OIS supporting section 30 (the suspension wire 31). The OIS movable section 10 moves in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis during hand shake correction by the OIS function, for example.

The OIS movable section 10 includes an AF movable section 11, an AF fixing section 12, and the like (see fig. 8 and 10).

The AF movable part 11 has an AF coil 51, and the AF movable part 11 can be moved in the optical axis direction by driving of the AF driving part 50A (the AF coil 51 and the magnets 53a to 53 d). The AF movable part 11 is supported by the AF fixing part 12 via an AF support part 40 ( upper leaf springs 41A and 41B and lower leaf spring 42) so as to be swingable in the optical axis direction. The AF movable portion 11 moves in the optical axis direction, for example, when focusing the AF function.

[ AF Movable part ]

The AF movable part 11 is a lens holder capable of holding the lens part 2 (see fig. 2), and includes an AF coil 51. The AF movable portion 11 can be moved in the optical axis direction by the AF driving portion 50A (the AF coil 51 and the magnets 53a to 53 d) while holding the lens portion 2. The AF movable portion 11 is movably attached to the AF fixing portion 12 in the optical axis direction by an AF support portion 40 ( upper leaf springs 41A and 41B and a lower leaf spring 42) (see fig. 8).

The AF movable part 11 is formed of, for example, polyarylate (PAR), a PAR alloy obtained by mixing a plurality of resin materials including PAR, a liquid crystal polymer, or the like.

The AF movable portion 11 has an inner holder 111 having a substantially circular frame shape, and an opening 112 (see fig. 10) opened in a substantially cylindrical shape is formed inside the inner holder 111. For example, a mounting groove or the like is formed in the inner peripheral portion 112a of the opening 112, and the lens unit 2 (see fig. 2) can be held by the mounting groove or the like in the inner peripheral portion 112a. Instead of the mounting groove or the like, the lens unit 2 may be held on the inner peripheral portion 112a by an adhesive or the like.

A winding constituting the AF coil 51 is wound around the outer peripheral portion 111a of the inner holder 111. Terminals 51A at both ends of the AF coil 51 are electrically connected to terminals 419a of an inner connecting portion 419 of upper leaf springs 41A and 41B (see fig. 11).

Further, a protruding portion 111b that protrudes outward in the radial direction is provided on the outer peripheral portion 111a of the inner bracket 111. In the present embodiment, four protrusions 111b are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The protruding portions 111b are inserted into slide recesses 122c (described later) and slidably supported by the slide recesses 122c (see fig. 10).

Further, a projection 111d projecting toward the light receiving side in the optical axis direction is provided on an upper portion 111c of the inner holder 111 on the light receiving side in the optical axis direction. In the present embodiment, four protrusions 111d are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The projection 111d is fitted into a fitting hole 418a of an upper leaf spring 41A, 41B described later, and connects the inner bracket 111 and the upper leaf spring 41A, 41B.

Further, an abutting portion 422 of the lower leaf spring 42 described later abuts against a bottom portion 111e on the image side in the optical axis direction of the inner holder 111 (see fig. 9). Note that, when the bottom portion 111e is provided with the same projection 111f as the projection 111d (see fig. 9) and the contact portion 422 is provided with the same fitting hole 422a as the fitting hole 418a (see fig. 8), the inner bracket 111 and the lower leaf spring 42 may be connected by fitting these members.

[ AF fixing part ]

The AF fixing portion 12 is a housing portion that houses the AF movable portion 11 therein, and includes magnets 53a to 53d (see fig. 10). The AF fixing section 12 is movable in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis by the OIS driving section 50B (the OIS coils 52a to 52d and the magnets 53a to 53 d) together with the AF movable section 11. The AF fixing section 12 is attached to the OIS fixing section 20 (base 21) so as to be swingable in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis via the OIS supporting section 30 (suspension wire 31).

The AF fixing part 12 is formed of, for example, polyarylate (PAR), a PAR alloy obtained by mixing a plurality of resin materials including PAR, a liquid crystal polymer, or the like.

The AF fixing portion 12 has a substantially square frame-shaped outer holder 121, and an opening 122 that opens in a substantially square tube shape is formed inside the outer holder 121. A holding recess 122b and a sliding recess 122c are formed in an inner peripheral portion 122a of the opening 122.

The holding recess portions 122b are provided at four corners of the inner peripheral portion 122 a. Magnets 53a to 53d are attached to the holding recess 122b, respectively. A pair of the magnets 53a and 53c of the four magnets 53a to 53d are disposed so as to face each other in the U direction, and a pair of the other magnets 53b and 53d are disposed so as to face each other in the V direction. The magnets 53a to 53d are arranged to face the AF coil 51 in the radial direction. The magnets 53a to 53d are disposed so as to face the OIS coils 52a to 52d, respectively, in the optical axis direction.

In addition, four sliding recessed portions 122c are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction in the inner circumferential portion 122 a. The sliding recessed portions 122c are disposed between the adjacent retaining recessed portions 122 b. The sliding recesses 122c slidably support the respective inserted protrusions 111b.

Mounting portions 121b are formed at four corners of the outer peripheral portion 121a of the outer holder 121. The mounting portion 121b is formed to be recessed radially inward and open to both the light receiving side and the image forming side in the optical axis direction. The suspension wire 31 is inserted into the recessed portion of the mounting portion 121b, and the damping member 32 is mounted to the mounting portion 121b so as to include the portion where the suspension wire 31 is embedded in the recessed portion.

Further, an upper step portion 121c and a lower step portion 121d, which are flat surfaces extending in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, are formed on the upper portion of the outer holder 121. The upper step portion 121c is formed to have a height position from the OIS fixing portion 20 (base 21) in the optical axis direction higher than the lower step portion 121d. In the present embodiment, upper step portions 121c are provided at four corners of an upper portion of the outer holder 121. The lower step portions 121d are provided adjacent to the upper step portions 121c and at a height position radially inward of the upper step portions 121c and lower than the upper step portions 121c.

The upper step portion 121c is provided with protrusions 121e and 121f protruding toward the light receiving side in the optical axis direction, respectively. Further, the lower step portions 121d are provided with protrusions 121g protruding toward the light receiving side in the optical axis direction, respectively. The projections 121e, 121f, and 121g are fitted into fitting holes 412a, 413a, and 415a of upper leaf springs 41A and 41B, respectively, which will be described later, and connect the outer holder 121 and the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B (see fig. 11).

Further, the lower step portions 121d are formed with mounting portions 121h, respectively. The mounting portion 121h is formed to be recessed radially outward and open to the light-receiving side in the optical axis direction. The end portion 416a of the damper arm portion 416 of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B, which will be described later, is inserted into the mounting portion 121h, and the damper member 123 is mounted to the mounting portion 121h so as to include a recessed portion in which the end portion 416a is embedded. The damping member 123 may be made of the same material as the damping member 32, and the forming method and function are the same as those of the damping member 32, and therefore, a repetitive description thereof will be omitted.

Further, a bottom portion 121i of the outer holder 121 is provided with a protrusion 121j protruding toward the imaging side in the optical axis direction. In the present embodiment, four protrusions 121j are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (see fig. 9). The projection 121j is fitted into a fitting hole 424a (see fig. 8 and 9) of a connecting portion 424 of the lower leaf spring 42 described later, and connects the outer holder 121 and the lower leaf spring 42 (see fig. 9).

[ AF Driving part ]

The AF driving portion 50A is an actuator that moves the AF movable portion 11 in the optical axis direction. The AF drive unit 50A is configured as a moving coil VCM having an AF coil 51 and magnets 53a to 53d.

As described above, the AF coil 51 is formed of the winding wound around the outer peripheral portion 111a of the inner holder 111. As described above, the magnets 53a to 53d are attached to the holding recess portion 122b of the inner peripheral portion 122a of the outer holder 121 and are arranged to face the AF coil 51 in the radial direction. Here, as an example, the magnets 53a to 53d are arranged at four positions in the circumferential direction of the AF coil 51 so as to face the AF coil 51.

The magnets 53a to 53d are magnetized so as to form a magnetic field that radially passes through the AF coil 51, for example, so as to have N poles on the outer circumferential side and S poles on the inner circumferential side.

When power is not supplied to the AF coil 51 (when power is not supplied), the AF movable portion 11 is elastically supported at a predetermined position (reference position) by an AF support portion 40 ( upper leaf springs 41A and 41B and lower leaf spring 42) described later.

When power is supplied to the AF coil 51 via the suspension wire 31 and the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B, a lorentz force is generated in the AF coil 51 due to interaction between the current flowing through the AF coil 51 and the magnetic field of the magnets 53a to 53d. The direction of the lorentz force is a direction (Z direction) orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field of the magnets 53a to 53d and the direction of the current flowing through the AF coil 51. Since the magnets 53a to 53d are fixed to the AF fixing section 12 side, a reaction force acts on the AF coil 51, and the reaction force becomes a driving force of the VCM. When the direction and magnitude of the current flowing through the AF coil 51 are controlled, the AF movable unit 11 having the AF coil 51 moves to the light receiving side in the optical axis direction or the image forming side in the optical axis direction with respect to the reference position, and focusing is performed.

[ OIS drive section ]

The OIS driving unit 50B is an actuator for moving the OIS movable unit 10 in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The OIS driver 50B is configured to include OIS coils 52a to 52d and magnets 53a to 53d, and is a moving magnet VCM.

As described above, the OIS coils 52a to 52d are arranged at the four corners of the base 21 (substrate 22). As described above, the magnets 53a to 53d are attached to the holding recess portion 122b of the inner peripheral portion 122a of the outer holder 121 and are arranged to face the OIS coils 52a to 52d, respectively, in the optical axis direction.

The magnets 53a to 53d are arranged such that the magnetic field radiated from the bottom surfaces thereof crosses both opposing sides (long sides) of the OIS coils 52a to 52d and returns to the magnets 53a to 53d.

When no power is supplied to the OIS coils 52a to 52d (when no power is supplied), the OIS movable portion 10 is elastically supported at a predetermined XY position (XY reference position) by the OIS support portion 30 (suspension wire 31).

When power is supplied to the OIS coils 52a to 52d, lorentz forces are generated in the OIS coils 52a to 52d due to the interaction between the magnetic field of the magnets 53a to 53d and the current flowing through the OIS coils 52a to 52 d. The lorentz force direction is a direction (V direction or U direction) orthogonal to the direction of the magnetic field (Z direction) and the direction of the current (U direction or V direction) in the long side portions of the OIS coils 52a to 52 d. Since the OIS coils 52a to 52d are fixed to the OIS fixing section 20, a reaction force acts on the magnets 53a to 53d. This reaction force serves as a driving force of the OIS VCM, and the OIS movable portion 10 having the magnets 53a to 53d swings in the XY plane, thereby correcting hand shake.

[ AF support part ]

The AF support portion 40 includes upper leaf springs 41A and 41B and a lower leaf spring 42, and the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B and the lower leaf spring 42 support the AF movable portion 11 in the optical axis direction so as to be movable with respect to the AF fixing portion 12 (see fig. 8). The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B connect the AF movable portion 11 and the AF fixing portion 12 on the light receiving side in the optical axis direction, and support the AF movable portion 11 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction. The lower leaf spring 42 connects the AF movable portion 11 and the AF fixing portion 12 to each other on the image side in the optical axis direction, and supports the AF movable portion 11 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction.

[ lower leaf spring ]

The lower plate spring 42 is made of a plate spring made of beryllium copper, nickel copper, stainless steel, or the like, for example, and functions as an elastic member. The lower leaf spring 42 is formed by, for example, punching a metal plate.

The lower plate spring 42 includes an inner frame portion 421, a contact portion 422, an arm portion 423, and a connecting portion 424 (see fig. 8).

The inner frame 421 is a portion on the inner peripheral side of the lower plate spring 42, and has a circular shape along the bottom 111e of the inner holder 111. The inner frame portion 421 connects the abutting portions 422 provided in plural in the circumferential direction.

A plurality of contact portions 422 are provided along the circumferential direction of the inner frame portion 421, and here, four contact portions 422 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The abutting portion 422 abuts against the bottom portion 111e of the inner holder 111, and elastically supports the inner holder 111. Further, the abutting portion 422 may be provided with a fitting hole 422a (see fig. 8). In this case, the bottom portion 111e is provided with a projection 111f (see fig. 9), and the fitting hole 422a is fitted to the projection 111f, thereby connecting the inner bracket 111 and the lower leaf spring 42.

The connecting portion 424 is a portion on the outer peripheral side of the lower leaf spring 42, and a plurality of connecting portions 424 are provided in the circumferential direction, and here, four connecting portions 424 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The connecting portion 424 has an engagement hole 424a. The connecting portion 424 is fitted to the protrusion 121j of the bottom portion 121i of the outer holder 121 through the fitting hole 424a, thereby connecting the outer holder 121 and the lower leaf spring 42.

The arm portion 423 is a portion that connects the abutment portion 422 and the connection portion 424, extends in the circumferential direction from the abutment portion 422 to the connection portion 424, and has, for example, a zigzag shape. When the AF movable portion 11 (inner holder 111) moves in the optical axis direction, the arm portion 423 is elastically deformed.

The lower leaf spring 42 elastically supports the AF movable portion 11 with respect to the AF fixing portion 12 by the above-described configuration.

[ Upper leaf spring ]

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B of the optical element driving device main body 4. Fig. 12 is a plan view showing a state in which the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are attached to the OIS movable section 10 of the optical element driving device main body 4. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the OIS movable section 10 of the optical element driving apparatus main body 4. Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the optical element driving device main body 4.

The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B will be described with reference to fig. 11 to 14. Hereinafter, the height position refers to a height position in the optical axis direction with respect to the OIS fixing section 20 (base 21).

The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are, for example, leaf springs made of beryllium copper, nickel copper, stainless steel, or the like, and function as elastic members. The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are connection members for electrically connecting the suspension wire 31 and the AF coil 51, and also function as conductive paths.

The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are formed of two members to supply power to the AF coil 51. The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are formed by, for example, punching a single metal plate. Since the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B have the same structure, the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B include an outer connecting portion 411, upper step connecting portions 412 and 413, upper and lower step connecting portions 414 and 415, a damper arm portion 416, an arm portion 417, an inner connecting portion 418, and an inner connecting portion 419 (see fig. 11).

The outer connection portion 411 (third connection portion in the present invention) is disposed at a position protruding radially outward from the mounting portion 121B formed at the four corners of the outer holder 121 in a plan view when the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are mounted to the outer holder 121. The outer connecting portion 411 has an insertion hole 411a through which the suspension wire 31 is inserted. The suspension wire 31 inserted into the insertion hole 411a is connected to the outer connection portion 411 by solder 31 a.

The upper-stage connecting portion 412 (a second connecting portion, an upper-side second connecting portion in the present invention) is connected to the outer-side connecting portion 411 by a connecting portion 411b extending along one side of the outer bracket 121. The upper connection part 413 (the second connection part and the upper second connection part in the present invention) is connected to the outer connection part 411 by a connection part 411c extending along the other side of the outer bracket 121.

The upper step connecting portion 412 has a fitting hole 412a into which the protrusion 121e of the upper step portion 121c of the outer holder 121 is fitted. The upper step connecting portion 413 has a fitting hole 413a into which the protrusion 121f of the upper step portion 121c of the outer holder 121 is fitted. The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are connected to the upper step portion 121c of the outer holder 121 by fitting the protrusions 121e and 121f into the fitting holes 412a and 413a, respectively.

In this way, the upper step connection portions 412 and 413 are connected to the upper step portion 121c, and the height positions of the outer connection portion 411, the upper step connection portion 412, and the upper step connection portion 413 are the same or substantially the same. As described above, since the upper step portion 121c is a plane extending in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the height positions of the outer connecting portion 411, the upper step connecting portion 412, and the upper step connecting portion 413 can be easily made the same or substantially the same.

The height of the outer connection portion 411 may be higher than the height of the upper connection portion 412 and the upper connection portion 413. In this case, for example, the upper step portion 121c may be inclined so that the height position of the radially outer side (the side of the outer connection portion 411) of the upper step portion 121c is higher than that of the radially inner side. For example, the coupling portions 411b and 411c may be inclined so that the height position of the radially outer side (the outer coupling portion 411 side) of the coupling portions 411b and 411c is higher than the radially inner side.

For example, the height positions of the radially inner side and the radially outer side (the outer connecting portion 411 side) of the upper step portion 121c are made the same, and the height positions of the radially inner side and the radially outer side (the outer connecting portion 411 side) of the connecting portion 411b and the connecting portion 411c are made the same. Furthermore, a bridge portion 411d (see fig. 11) connecting the connection portion 411b and the connection portion 411c to the outer connection portion 411 may be inclined such that the height position on the outer connection portion 411 side is higher than the connection portion 411b side and the connection portion 411c side.

The lower step connecting portion 415 (a second connecting portion, a lower side second connecting portion in the present invention) is connected to the upper step connecting portion 413 by the upper and lower step connecting portion 414. Before the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are attached to the outer holder 121, the height positions of the lower step connection portion 415 are the same as the height positions of the outer connection portion 411, the upper step connection portion 412, and the upper step connection portion 413.

The lower step connection portion 415 has a fitting hole 415a into which the protrusion 121g of the lower step portion 121d of the outer holder 121 is fitted. The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are connected to the lower step portion 121d of the outer holder 121 by fitting the projection 121g into the fitting hole 415a. Thus, the lower step connection portion 415 is connected to the lower step portion 121d having a different height position from the upper step portion 121c.

The upper-lower step connecting portion 414 (inclined portion in the present invention) is a portion connecting the upper step connecting portion 413 and the lower step connecting portion 415. Before the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are attached to the outer frame 121, the upper-lower connecting portion 414 extends at the same height position as the height positions of the outer connecting portion 411, the upper-lower connecting portion 412, and the upper-lower connecting portion 413. As described below with reference to fig. 15A to 15D, the upper and lower-stage coupling portions 414 are elastically deformed by pressing the upper and lower-stage coupling portions 414 into the image side in the optical axis direction. Thus, by inclining one or both of the upper and lower step connecting arm portions 414a and 414b of the upper and lower step connecting portion 414, the upper step connecting portions 412 and 413 are spaced apart from the OIS fixing portion 20 (base 21) more than the lower step connecting portion 415.

Since the upper and lower-stage coupling portions 414 are elastically deformed and inclined as described above, the upper and lower-stage coupling portions 414 are preferably long in consideration of stress and the like, and therefore the upper and lower-stage coupling portions 414 are formed in a U-shape having the upper and lower-stage coupling arm portions 414a and 414 b.

The vibration damping arm portion 416 is a portion for damping vibration of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B, and is branched from the arm portion 417 to the mounting portion 121h of the lower step portion 121d of the outer holder 121. The damping arm portion 416 has an end portion 416a and a branch arm portion 416b. The branch arm portion 416b branches from the arm portion 417, an end portion 416a as an end portion of the branch arm portion 416b is inserted inside the mounting portion 121h, and the vibration damping member 123 is mounted on the mounting portion 121h so as to fit the end portion 416 a.

The arm portion 417 is a portion connecting the lower step connecting portion 415 and the inner connecting portion 418, and extends from the lower step connecting portion 415 to the inner connecting portion 418 in the circumferential direction, and has, for example, a zigzag shape. When the AF movable portion 11 (inner holder 111) moves in the optical axis direction, the arm portion 417 elastically deforms.

The inner connection portion 418 (first connection portion in the present invention) is a portion on the inner circumferential side of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B. The inner connection portion 418 has a fitting hole 418a. The inner connecting portion 418 is fitted to the projection 111d of the upper portion 111c of the inner bracket 111 through the fitting hole 418a, thereby connecting the inner bracket 111 and the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B. In the non-driving state of the optical element driving device 1, the height position of the inner connecting portion 418 is the same as or substantially the same as the height position of the lower step connecting portion 415.

As described above, the lower step connection portion 415 is connected to the lower step portion 121d, and the lower step connection portion 415 is a plane extending in the optical axis orthogonal direction. Therefore, in the non-driving state of the optical element driving device 1, the height positions of the lower-stage connecting portion 415 and the inner-side connecting portion 418 can be easily made the same or substantially the same.

Each of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B includes two sets of an outer connecting portion 411, upper step connecting portions 412 and 413, an upper-lower step connecting portion 414, a lower step connecting portion 415, a damper arm portion 416, an arm portion 417, and an inner connecting portion 418. In each of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B, the inner connecting portion 419 is a portion that connects the two sets of inner connecting portions 418 to each other. The inner connecting portion 419 is an inner peripheral portion of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B, and has a semicircular shape along the upper portion 111c of the inner bracket 111. In each of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B, the inner connecting portion 419 has terminals 419a, and the terminals 419a are connected to the terminals 51A at both ends of the AF coil 51.

With the above-described configuration, the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B elastically support the AF movable portion 11 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction with respect to the AF fixing portion 12, and supply power to the AF coil 51.

[ connecting Process of Upper leaf spring ]

Next, a process of connecting the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B to the AF movable unit 11 (inner holder 111) and the AF fixing unit 12 (outer holder 121) will be described with reference to fig. 15A to 15D.

Fig. 15A to 15D are views for explaining a connecting process of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B. Fig. 15A is a diagram for explaining the connection of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B to the upper side of the outer holder 121.

Fig. 15B is a diagram for explaining the connection of the side plate springs 41A and 41B to the inner holder 111. Fig. 15C is a view for explaining the connection of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B to the lower step side of the outer bracket 121. Fig. 15D is a diagram for explaining the connection between the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B and the suspension wire 31.

The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are flat before the inner holder 111 and the outer holder 121 are connected.

(1) The fitting holes 412a and 413a of the upper step connection portions 412 and 413 of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are fitted to the protrusions 121e and 121f of the upper step portion 121c of the outer holder 121 (see fig. 15A).

(2) The fitting holes 418a of the inner connection portions 418 of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B are fitted to the protrusions 111d of the upper portion 111c of the inner bracket 111 (see fig. 15B). At this time, the upper-lower-stage coupling portion 414 and the arm portion 417 which couple the upper-stage coupling portion 413 and the inner-side coupling portion 418 are elastically deformed as shown in fig. 15B.

(3) The upper-lower-stage coupling portion 414 that couples the upper-stage coupling portion 413 and the lower-stage coupling portion 415 is pressed from above (in the direction of the arrow shown in fig. 15C). Thereby, the fitting holes 415a of the lower step connection portions 415 of the upper leaf springs 41A, 41B are fitted to the protrusions 121g of the lower step portion 121d of the outer holder 121 (see fig. 15C). At this time, as shown in fig. 15C, the inclined portion is formed in the upper-lower-stage coupling portion 414 (the upper-lower-stage coupling arm portions 414a, 414B), and the upper leaf springs 41A, 41B have a three-dimensional structure.

(4) The suspension wire 31 is inserted through the insertion hole 411A of the outer connection portion 411 of the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B, and the outer connection portion 411 and the suspension wire 31 are connected by the solder 31A.

Through the above connecting step, the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B can be easily connected to the inner holder 111 and the outer holder 121. Although the fitting holes 412a, 413a, 415a, and 418a are fitted to the protrusions 111d, 121e, 121f, and 121g, other methods such as adhesion may be used if they can be connected and fixed.

[ operation of optical element drive device ]

In the optical element driving device 1, when a current is supplied to the AF coil 51, the AF movable portion 11 moves in the optical axis direction (Z direction) in accordance with the direction and magnitude of the supplied current, and focusing is performed.

In the optical element driving device 1, current is supplied to the OIS coils 52a to 52d, and the OIS movable unit 10 oscillates in the plane orthogonal to the optical axis according to the direction and magnitude of the supplied current, thereby correcting camera shake.

[ Effect ]

As described above, in the optical element driving device 1 of the present embodiment, the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B have a flat shape before the inner holder 111 and the outer holder 121 are connected, and the upper-lower-stage connecting portion 414 is inclined when the inner holder 111 and the outer holder 121 are connected. Therefore, it is not necessary to adopt a structure having leaf springs arranged at different positions in the optical axis direction as in the conventional technique described above, and the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B can be more simply structured and arranged. The upper leaf springs 41A and 41B can support the AF movable portion 11 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction in a state where the connection position with the suspension wire 31 and the connection position with the AF movable portion 11 are different from each other, and the suspension wire 31 can support the OIS movable portion 10 so as to be movable in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

As described above, in the optical element driving device 1 of the present embodiment, the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B have the tiltable vertical coupling portion 414. Therefore, when the upper bracket 111 and the lower bracket 121 are connected, the upper and lower connecting portions 414 are press-fitted to different portions from the upper connecting portions 412 and 413 and the inner connecting portion 418, thereby connecting the lower connecting portion 415 to the outer bracket 121. As a result, the process of connecting the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B to the inner holder 111 and the outer holder 121 can be easily performed.

As described above, in the optical element driving device 1 according to the present embodiment, the upper leaf springs 41A and 41B have the inclined upper and lower step connecting portions 414, and the step connecting portions 412 and 413 are spaced apart from the OIS fixing portion 20 (base 21) more than the upper and lower step connecting portions 415. Therefore, the height position of the outer connecting portion 411 connected to the suspension wire 31 can be increased without increasing the height of the AF movable portion 11 (inner bracket 111). As a result, the height of the optical element driving device 1 can be reduced while ensuring the stroke of the AF movable portion 11 in the optical axis direction, and the length of the suspension wire 31 can be increased, thereby improving the durability of the suspension wire 31 against an impact such as dropping. Further, since the length of the suspension wire 31 can be increased, the OIS movable section 10 can be easily swung in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

As described above, in the optical element driving device 1 of the present embodiment, the height positions of the lower step connecting portion 415 and the inner connecting portion 418 in the optical axis direction are substantially the same in the non-energized state (non-driven state). Therefore, the inclination of the AF movable part 11 with respect to the AF fixing part 12 can be suppressed, and the inclination characteristics can be improved.

[ other embodiments ]

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified within a range not departing from the gist thereof.

In the above-described embodiment, the smartphone M has been described as an example, but the present invention is applicable to a camera-mounted device including a camera module and an image processing unit that processes image information obtained by the camera module. The camera-mounted device includes an information apparatus and a transportation apparatus. The information equipment includes, for example, a portable phone with a camera, a notebook computer, a tablet terminal, a portable game machine, a web camera, an in-vehicle device with a camera (e.g., a rear monitor device, a drive recorder device). In addition, the transportation device includes, for example, an automobile.

Fig. 16A and 16B are diagrams illustrating an automobile V as a Camera mounting device on which an in-Vehicle Camera module VC (Vehicle Camera) is mounted. Fig. 16A is a front view of the automobile V, and fig. 16B is a rear perspective view of the automobile V. The vehicle V is mounted with the camera module a described in the above embodiment as the vehicle-mounted camera module VC. As shown in fig. 16A and 16B, the vehicle-mounted camera module VC is attached to, for example, a windshield toward the front or a tailgate toward the rear. The vehicle-mounted camera module VC is used as a vehicle-mounted camera module for rear monitoring, a vehicle data recorder, collision avoidance control, automatic driving control, and the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the optical element driving device 1 that drives the lens unit 2 as an optical element has been described, but the optical element to be driven may be an optical element other than a lens, such as a mirror or a prism. In addition, the present invention can be applied not only to the case of auto-focusing but also to the case of moving the AF movable portion 11 in the optical axis direction, for example, zooming (zoom).

The configuration of the AF coil, the OIS coil, and the magnet is not limited to those described in the embodiments. For example, the magnet may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape and be disposed around the AF coil so that the magnetization direction coincides with the radial direction. Further, the flat AF coil may be disposed around the lens portion so that the coil surface is parallel to the optical axis direction, and the rectangular parallelepiped driving magnet may be disposed so that the magnetization direction intersects with the coil surface of the AF coil.

In the above embodiment, the description has been given of the case where the magnets serve as both the AF magnets and the OIS magnets, but the AF magnets and the OIS magnets may be provided separately. The present invention can also be applied to an optical element driving apparatus having only an OIS function.

The embodiments and modifications of the present invention have been described above. The above description is illustrative of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the description of the configuration of the above-described apparatus and the shapes of the respective portions is an example, and it is obvious that various modifications and additions can be made to these examples within the scope of the present invention.

Industrial applicability

The optical element driving device and the camera module according to the present invention are useful as an optical element driving device and a camera module which are mounted on a camera mounting device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, a digital camera, a notebook computer, a tablet terminal, a portable game machine, and a vehicle-mounted camera.

Claims (7)

1. An optical element driving device is characterized by comprising:

a holding unit capable of holding the optical element and moving in the optical axis direction by driving of the driving unit;

an accommodating section that supports the holding section by a first elastic member extending in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis so that the holding section can move in the optical axis direction in a state where the holding section is accommodated inside the accommodating section; and

a fixing portion that is disposed at a distance from the housing portion in the optical axis direction and supports the housing portion so as to be swingable in the optical axis orthogonal direction by a second elastic member extending in the optical axis direction,

the first elastic member has: a first connecting portion connected to the holding portion and electrically connected to the driving portion; a second connecting portion connected to the accommodating portion; a third connecting portion electrically connected to the second elastic member; and an inclined portion that is inclined so that a height position of the third connecting portion is spaced further from the fixing portion than a height position of the first connecting portion, the height position being a height position in the optical axis direction.

2. The optical element driving device according to claim 1,

the second connecting portion has a lower second connecting portion and an upper second connecting portion, a height position of the upper second connecting portion in the optical axis direction is spaced further from the fixing portion than a height position of the lower second connecting portion in the optical axis direction,

the inclined portion connects the lower second connection portion and the upper second connection portion.

3. The optical element driving device according to claim 2,

the first connecting portion and the lower second connecting portion are connected so that the height positions thereof in the optical axis direction are substantially the same in a non-driven state.

4. The optical element driving device according to claim 2 or 3,

the upper second connecting portion and the third connecting portion are connected so that the height positions in the optical axis direction are substantially the same.

5. The optical element driving device according to claim 2 or 3,

the upper second connecting portion and the third connecting portion are connected so as to be spaced apart from the fixing portion by a height position of the third connecting portion, which is a height position in the optical axis direction, from a height position of the upper second connecting portion.

6. A camera module is characterized by comprising:

an optical element driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; and

and an imaging unit that images the subject image formed by the optical element.

7. A camera-mounted device that is an information device or a transportation device, the camera-mounted device comprising:

the camera module of claim 6; and

and an image processing unit that processes the image information obtained by the camera module.

Images