Camera actuator, camera module, and camera device including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12455496-B2
Application number	US-202418414248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2024
Priority date	Jul 23, 2019
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

A camera actuator includes a housing; a prism unit disposed in the housing; and a driving unit for tilting the prism unit. The prism unit includes a prism mover including a receiving portion; and a prism disposed in the receiving portion. The housing includes a sidewall and a guide portion including an inclined surface disposed on the sidewall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera actuator comprising:
a housing;
a prism unit disposed in the housing; and
a driving unit for tilting the prism unit,
wherein the prism unit includes:
a prism mover including a receiving portion; and
a prism disposed in the receiving portion, and

wherein the housing includes:
a side wall; and
a guide part located between the side wall and the prism mover, the guide part including an inclined surface disposed on the side wall, the inclined surface becoming gradually further away from the side wall as the inclined surface approaches an outer perimeter of the side wall,

wherein the prism unit includes a sidewall and a first moving part disposed on the sidewall,
wherein the guide part includes a rail for guiding the first moving part, and
wherein the first moving part is disposed between the housing and the sidewall.

2. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the guide part includes an inclined region inclined in a direction away from an optical axis.

3. The camera actuator of claim 2 , wherein the inclined region is formed on at least one of the rail and a bottom surface between the rail.

4. The camera actuator of claim 3 , wherein the bottom surface between the rail includes a bottom inclined region and a flat surface between the optical axis and the bottom inclined region.

5. The camera actuator of claim 2 , wherein a height of the rail from the side wall of the housing is constant.

6. The camera actuator of claim 5 , wherein the rail includes the inclined region and a flat region between the inclined region and the optical axis.

7. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the guide part includes a first guide part and a second guide part,
wherein the first guide part includes a first inclined surface, and the second guide part includes a second inclined surface spaced apart from the first inclined surface in a first direction,
wherein the first inclined surface is further away from the side wall as the first inclined surface moves away from the second inclined surface along the first direction, and
wherein the second inclined surface is further away from the side wall as the second inclined surface moves away from the first inclined surface along the first direction.

8. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the prism unit further includes a first stopper disposed on the sidewall.

9. The camera actuator of claim 1 , wherein the inclined surface at a position closest to the outer perimeter is located farthest from the side wall, and the inclined surface at a position farthest from the outer perimeter is located closest to the side wall.

10. A camera actuator comprising:
a housing;
a prism unit disposed in the housing; and
a driving unit for tilting the prism unit,
wherein the prism unit includes:
a sidewall, the sidewall having a flat surface; and
a first moving part and a first stopper protruding from the flat surface of the sidewall, and

wherein the housing includes a guide part including a rail for guiding the moving part,
wherein a shortest length from the sidewall to an uppermost portion of the first moving part is longer than a shortest length from the sidewall to an uppermost portion of the first stopper.

11. The camera actuator of claim 10 , wherein the first moving part has a ball or hemispherical shape.

12. The camera actuator of claim 10 , wherein the guide part includes an inclined region inclined in a direction away from an optical axis, and
wherein the inclined region is formed on at least one of the rail and a bottom surface between the rail.

13. The camera actuator of claim 12 , wherein the bottom surface between the rail includes a bottom inclined region and a flat surface between the optical axis and the bottom inclined region.

14. The camera actuator of claim 10 , wherein the guide part includes a first guide part and a second guide part,
wherein the first guide part and the second guide part are symmetrical with respect to the optical axis,
wherein the housing includes an opening formed between the first guide part and the second guide part,
wherein the driving unit includes a coil part and a magnet facing the coil part, and
wherein the coil part or the magnet of the driving unit is disposed in the opening.

15. The camera actuator of claim 10 , wherein the first moving part is disposed between the housing and the sidewall, and
wherein the sidewall of the prism unit includes a recess in which the first moving part is disposed.

16. The camera actuator of claim 10 , wherein the driving unit includes a circuit board, and
wherein the circuit board includes a first board region disposed on a side wall of the housing and a second board region disposed on a bottom surface of the housing.

17. The camera actuator of claim 16 , wherein the driving unit further includes a first magnet disposed on a front surface of the first board region and a first back yoke disposed on a rear surface of the first board region, and
wherein a horizontal width of the first back yoke is smaller than a horizontal width of the first magnet.

18. The camera actuator of claim 10 , wherein a third recess is provided at a bottom surface of the prism mover, and
wherein a second magnet is disposed in the third recess.

Assignees

• Lg Innotek Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Chang Yeon
• Lee Sung Guk

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/54

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

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• G03B17/17 Primary

  with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera · CPC title

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title