Camera actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12003835-B2
Application number	US-202017629231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2020
Priority date	Jul 23, 2019
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

A camera actuator according to an embodiment includes a housing; a prism unit disposed in the housing; and a driving unit for tilting the prism unit, wherein a ball bearing and a pulling magnet for generating attractive force to each other are disposed in the prism unit and the housing, and wherein the prism unit is supported to the housing by the attractive force between the ball bearing and the pulling magnet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera actuator comprising:
a housing;
a prism unit disposed in the housing;
a driving unit for tilting the prism unit;
a tilting member disposed between the housing and the prism unit to provide a tilting axis for tilting the prism unit; and
a magnet disposed on the housing,
wherein the housing has a first side wall facing the prism unit in an optical axis direction,
wherein the housing includes a first recess provided at an inner surface of the first side wall and a second recess provided at an outer surface of the first side wall,
wherein the tilting member is disposed in the first recess of the housing and the magnet is disposed in the second recess, and
wherein the magnet is disposed farther from the prism unit than the tilting member in the optical axis direction.

2. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the magnet overlaps the tilting member in the optical axis direction.

3. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the prism unit includes:
a prism mover having a receiving portion; and
a prism disposed in the receiving portion of the prism mover, and
wherein a portion of the tilting member is disposed on the prism mover.

4. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the prism unit facing the magnet includes a groove in which the tilting member is disposed.

5. The camera actuator of claim 4 , wherein
the tilting member includes a first portion disposed in the first recess, a second portion disposed in the groove, and a third portion disposed between the first recess and the groove.

6. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the prism unit is rotatably provided in at least one of a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the optical axis direction with respect to the ball bearing as a reference axis.

7. The camera actuator of claim 6 , wherein the driving unit includes:
a first driving unit providing a driving force for rotating the prism unit in the first direction; and
a second driving unit providing a driving force for rotating the prism unit in the second direction, and
wherein the first driving unit and the second driving unit are disposed on a first outer surface of the prism unit and a second outer surface facing the first outer surface, respectively.

8. The camera actuator of claim 7 ,
wherein the housing includes a second sidewall connected to the first sidewall and overlapping the prism unit in the first direction, and
wherein the second side wall is provided with a plurality of housing holes spaced apart from each other in the optical axis direction.

9. The camera actuator of claim 8 ,
wherein the plurality of housing holes have different sizes.

10. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the first recess and the second recess have different sizes.

11. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the magnet is fixed and disposed in the second recess of the housing.

12. The camera actuator of claim 1 , further comprising a cover member disposed on the housing,
wherein the magnet is disposed on an inner surface of the cover member facing the second recess.

13. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the driving unit includes a driving unit circuit board.

14. A camera actuator comprising:
a housing;
a prism unit disposed in the housing;
a driving unit for tilting the prism unit; and
a ball bearing,
wherein the prism unit includes a recess for receiving the ball bearing,
wherein the housing includes a pulling member for generating electromagnetic attractive force with the ball bearing,
wherein the prism unit is tilted based on the ball bearing, and
wherein the ball bearing includes a contact portion in direct contact with the pulling member.

15. The camera actuator of claim 14 , wherein the ball bearing is in point contact with the pulling member.

16. The camera actuator of claim 14 , wherein the ball bearing is made of a magnetic material, and the pulling member is made of a magnet.

17. The camera actuator of claim 14 , wherein the ball bearing is made of a magnet, and the pulling member is made of a magnetic material.

18. The camera actuator of claim 14 , wherein the housing includes a housing hole formed on a side portion facing the ball bearing,
wherein the housing hole includes:
a first portion disposed on an inner surface of the side portion of the housing; and
a second portion connected to the first portion and disposed on an outer surface of the side portion,
wherein at least a part of the ball bearing is disposed in the first portion, and
wherein the magnet is disposed in the second portion.

Assignees

• Lg Innotek Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jang Young Bae
• Lee Seong Min

Classifications

• G03B30/00

  Camera modules comprising integrated lens units and imaging units, specially adapted for being embedded in other devices, e.g. mobile phones or vehicles · CPC title

• G03B5/00

  Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing · CPC title

• G02B7/1805

  for prisms (G02B7/181 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N23/68

  for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations · CPC title

• H04N23/54 Primary

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title