Camera actuator, camera module, and camera mounted device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11567338-B2
Application number	US-201816616516-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2018
Priority date	May 25, 2017
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

This camera actuator comprises: an optical path bending member; a lens unit disposed at a subsequent stage of the optical path bending member; a first actuator that is disposed near the optical path bending member and displaces the optical path bending member; and a second actuator and a third actuator that are disposed near the lens unit so as to be apart from each other in a first direction, and that respectively displace the lens unit in a second direction and a third direction that are orthogonal to the first direction and orthogonal to each other. As a result, the present invention provides a camera actuator capable of improving the degree of freedom of design around the optical path bending member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera actuator, comprising:
an optical path bending member configured to bend incident light along a direction of a first optical axis, to a direction of a second optical axis;
a lens part disposed in a stage following the optical path bending member;
a first actuator disposed in the vicinity of the optical path bending member, the first actuator being operable to displace the optical path bending member;
a second actuator and a third actuator disposed in the vicinity of the lens part and spaced apart from each other so as to overlap with each other in a first direction parallel to the direction of the first optical axis, the second actuator and the third actuator being operable to displace the lens part in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to the second optical axis, and a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, respectively
a lens guide for holding the lens part; and
a second base capable of accommodating the lens guide;
wherein:
the second base includes a bottom part disposed behind the lens guide, and a side wall part extending from an end of the bottom part in the third direction to the first direction and disposed at side of the lens guide in the third direction;
the second actuator and the third actuator include a magnet and a coil, respectively;
the camera actuator further includes a shield plate made of a magnetic metal and disposed between the magnet of the second actuator and the magnet of the third actuator in the first direction;
the coil of the second actuator is disposed on the side wall part;
the coil of the third actuator is disposed on the bottom part; and
the magnet of the second actuator, the coil of the second actuator, the shield plate, the magnet of the third actuator, the coil of the third actuator are disposed in a side of the lens part in the third direction and spaced apart from each other so as to overlap with each other in the first direction.

2. The camera actuator according to claim 1 , wherein:
the optical path bending member includes an optical path bending surface, and
the first actuator is disposed behind the optical path bending surface with respect to the optical path bending member.

3. The camera actuator according to claim 1 , wherein:
the optical path bending member and the first actuator are disposed apart from each other in the direction of the first optical axis.

4. The camera actuator according to claim 3 , wherein:
the direction of the first optical axis extends from a top part of the camera actuator to a bottom part thereof, and
the first actuator is disposed at the bottom part of the camera actuator.

5. The camera actuator according to claim 3 , wherein
the first actuator swings the optical path bending member about a swing center axis orthogonal to the direction of the first optical axis and the direction of the second optical axis.

6. The camera actuator according to claim 3 , wherein the second actuator displaces the lens part in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the first optical axis and the direction of the second optical axis.

7. The camera actuator according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first actuator and the second actuator constitute a shake correction actuator, and
the third actuator constitutes an actuator for autofocusing.

8. The camera actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a holder that holds the optical path bending member;
a first base including a bearing part that swingably supports the holder; and
an urging mechanism that urges the holder against the first base.

9. The camera actuator according to claim 8 , further comprising a pair of the urging mechanisms, wherein:
the holder includes pressed parts formed on both side surfaces in a width direction of the holder; and
the pair of the urging mechanisms urges the pressed parts of the holder respectively toward a central portion of the holder in the width direction.

10. The camera actuator according to claim 9 , wherein the urging mechanism is a spring member, the pair of which urges the holder against the first base and toward the central portion in the width direction from opposite sides in the width direction of the holder.

11. The camera actuator according to claim 8 , wherein:
the urging mechanism includes a first magnet fixed to the holder, and a yoke fixed to the first base, and
the urging mechanism urges the holder against the first base by a magnetic force generated between the first magnet and the yoke.

12. The camera actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of springs that support the lens guide on the second base so that the lens guide is displaceable in the second direction and the third direction.

13. The camera actuator according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of springs are dispersedly arranged around the lens guide, and a center position of the dispersed arrangement of the plurality of springs coincides with a center of gravity of a movable part including the lens guide and a member that is displaceable with the lens guide.

14. The camera actuator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a holder that holds the optical path bending member;
a first base that swingably supports the holder; and
a swing guide member provided between the holder and the first base, the swing guide member including a spherical swing guide surface on at least a part of the swing guide member, wherein
the holder is swingably supported on the first base via the swing guide member.

15. The camera actuator according to claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the second actuator and the third actuator includes a magnet including a pair of chamfered parts formed on a pair of side surfaces opposite in a predetermined direction, and
the lens guide includes a magnet holding part having a pair of inclined surface parts, the magnet holding part holding the magnet in a state where the pair of chamfered parts and the pair of inclined surface parts are opposed to each other.

16. A camera module, comprising:
the camera actuator according to claim 1 ; and
an image sensor disposed in a stage following a lens part.

17. A camera mounted apparatus, comprising:
the camera module according to claim 16 ; and
a control part that controls the camera module.

Assignees

• Enta Yohei
• Saito Masahiro
• Goami Kazutaka
• Matsuda Hiroshi
• Mitsumi Electric Co Ltd

Inventors

• Enta Yohei
• Saito Masahiro
• Goami Kazutaka
• Matsuda Hiroshi

Classifications

• G02B27/646 Primary

  compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68) · CPC title

• G02B7/09

  adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification · CPC title

• G03B13/36

  Autofocus systems · CPC title

• G03B5/02

  Lateral adjustment of lens · CPC title

• G03B2205/0015

  by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis · CPC title