CN115701556A

CN115701556A - Optical unit

Info

Publication number: CN115701556A
Application number: CN202210914634.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 新井努; 须江猛
Original assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corp
Current assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corp
Priority date: 2021-08-02
Filing date: 2022-08-01
Publication date: 2023-02-10
Also published as: JP2023021802A

Abstract

The invention provides an optical unit, which comprises a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body for holding the movable body to be rotatable, and a driving mechanism for rotating the movable body relative to the fixed body, and can prevent interference between a flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module and the fixed body even if the rotation angle of the movable body relative to the fixed body is increased. In the optical unit (1), the movable body (3) can rotate from the origin position to both sides of the movable body (3) in the direction of rotation relative to the fixed body (4). An opening (18 d) for leading out the flexible printed board (16) to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body (4) is formed in the fixed body (4), and when the movable body (3) is arranged at the origin position, the flexible printed board (16) led out from the optical module (2) is led out to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body (4) from the center of the opening (18 d) in the circumferential direction around the rotation center of the movable body (3).

Description

Optical unit

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an optical unit including a movable body having an optical module such as a camera module, and a fixed body rotatably holding the movable body.

Background

Conventionally, an optical unit with a shake correction function having a shake correction function for correcting a shake of an optical image is known (for example, see patent document 1). The optical unit with a shake correction function described in patent document 1 includes: a movable body holding the optical module; a fixed body holding the movable body; a magnetic drive mechanism for rotating the movable body with respect to the fixed body; a flexible printed circuit board (flexible wiring board) connected to the optical module; and a plate-shaped spring member connecting the movable body and the fixed body.

In the optical unit with shake correction function described in patent document 1, a fixed body holds a movable body via a gimbal mechanism, and the movable body is rotatable with respect to the fixed body in an axial direction in which an X-axis direction orthogonal to an optical axis direction of an optical module is a rotational direction and in an axial direction in which a Y-axis direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction and the X-axis direction is a rotational direction. The spring member functions to define the posture of the movable body with respect to the fixed body when the magnetic drive mechanism is stopped, and the movable body is disposed at a predetermined origin position (reference position) with respect to the fixed body by the biasing force of the spring member when the magnetic drive mechanism is stopped.

Documents of the prior art

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-99503

Disclosure of Invention

The inventors of the present application have developed an optical unit having: a movable body having an optical module such as a camera module; a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body; and a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body, with a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as an axial direction of rotation. In the optical unit, the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from the optical module to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body. The inventors of the present application have studied to increase the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body in such an optical unit. However, if the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body is increased, the possibility that the flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module interferes with the fixed body when the movable body rotates with respect to the fixed body becomes high.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical unit including: a movable body having an optical module; a fixed body for rotatably holding the movable body; and a driving mechanism for rotating the movable body relative to the fixed body, wherein even if the rotation angle of the movable body relative to the fixed body is increased, the interference between the flexible printed substrate drawn out from the optical module and the fixed body can be prevented.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an optical unit according to the present invention includes: a movable body having an optical module; a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body; a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body, with a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical module as an axial direction of rotation; and a flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module, the movable body being rotatable with respect to the fixed body from a predetermined origin position to both sides of the movable body in a rotation direction with respect to the fixed body, the fixed body including an outer peripheral wall portion disposed outside the movable body in a radial direction with a rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body as a center, the fixed body having an opening formed therein for drawing out the flexible printed circuit board to an outer peripheral side of the fixed body, the opening being formed within a predetermined range in a circumferential direction with the rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body as a center, the flexible printed circuit board being drawn out from a center portion of the opening in the circumferential direction with the rotation center of the movable body as a center to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body when the movable body is disposed at the origin position.

In the optical unit of the present invention, the movable body is rotatable with respect to the fixed body from a predetermined origin position to both sides of the movable body in a rotational direction with respect to the fixed body. In the present invention, the fixed body is provided with an opening for drawing out the flexible printed circuit board to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body within a predetermined range in the circumferential direction around the rotation center of the movable body, and when the movable body is disposed at the origin position, the flexible printed circuit board drawn out from the optical module is drawn out to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body from the center of the opening in the circumferential direction around the rotation center of the movable body.

Therefore, in the present invention, even if the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body is increased, it is possible to prevent interference between the flexible printed board and the fixed body when the movable body rotates from the origin position to both sides in the rotation direction of the movable body with respect to the fixed body. In addition, in the present specification, the "center portion of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body" includes a position slightly deviated from a perfect center of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, in addition to the perfect center of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. That is, the "central portion of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body" also includes the substantial center of the opening in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

In the present invention, for example, the optical module includes a flat rigid substrate constituting a part of an outer peripheral surface of the optical module, and the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from a central portion of the rigid substrate in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body to one side in a thickness direction of the rigid substrate. In addition, in the present specification, the "central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body" includes a position slightly deviated from the perfect center of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body, in addition to the perfect center of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body. That is, the "central portion of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body" also includes the substantial center of the rigid substrate in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation center of the movable body.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the width direction of the flexible printed board orthogonal to the thickness direction of the flexible printed board coincides with the first direction. With this configuration, even if the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body is increased, the flexible printed circuit board is easily deformed in accordance with the rotation operation of the movable body when the movable body rotates with respect to the fixed body. Therefore, the flexible printed circuit board can be prevented from interfering with the rotating operation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

In the present invention, for example, a portion of the flexible printed circuit board which is drawn out from a central portion of the rigid board in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body to one side in a thickness direction of the rigid board is defined as a drawn-out portion, and the movable body is disposed on an extension line of the drawn-out portion with respect to the rotation center of the fixed body when viewed from the first direction. That is, the drawn portion is drawn outward in the radial direction around the rotation center of the movable body, for example.

In the present invention, the flexible printed board is drawn out toward one side in the optical axis direction, which is the direction of the optical axis of the optical module, for example.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from a central portion of the rigid board in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body to one side in a thickness direction of the rigid board, and then bent twice along an outer peripheral surface of the fixed body. With this configuration, even if the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body is increased, the entire flexible printed circuit board is easily deformed by the rotation operation of the movable body when the movable body rotates with respect to the fixed body. Therefore, the flexible printed circuit board can be effectively prevented from interfering with the turning operation of the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

In the present invention, for example, the outer shape of the fixed body as viewed from the first direction is a rectangle, and the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from the central portion of the rigid board in the circumferential direction around the rotation center of the movable body to one side in the thickness direction of the rigid board, and then bent twice at 90 ° along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the optical unit includes a plate-like member that is attached to the flexible printed circuit board and that defines a bending angle of the flexible printed circuit board. With this configuration, the shape of the flexible printed circuit board that is threaded so as to be bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixed body can be maintained in the threaded state.

In the present invention, it is preferable that a substrate fixing portion for fixing a predetermined portion of the flexible printed substrate bent twice is formed on the fixing body. For example, when a predetermined portion of the flexible printed circuit board bent twice is fixed to a portable device on which the optical unit is mounted, the flexible printed circuit board cannot be passed through the optical unit.

In the present invention, the optical module is, for example, a camera module.

Effects of the invention

As described above, in the present invention, in an optical unit including a movable body having an optical module, a fixed body rotatably holding the movable body, and a drive mechanism rotating the movable body with respect to the fixed body, even if the rotation angle of the movable body with respect to the fixed body is increased, interference between the flexible printed board drawn out from the optical module and the fixed body can be prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an optical unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cover in a state where the cover is removed from the optical unit shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the flexible printed board shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a state of the flexible printed board when the movable body rotates with respect to the fixed body shown in fig. 1.

Detailed Description

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

(integral construction of optical Unit)

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an optical unit 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the optical unit 1 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the optical unit 1 shown in fig. 1 with the cover 19 removed.

In the following description, as shown in fig. 1 and the like, three directions orthogonal to each other are referred to as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction, respectively, the X direction is a left-right direction, the Y direction is a front-rear direction, and the Z direction is a vertical direction. Further, one side in the left-right direction, that is, the X1 direction side in fig. 1 and the like is referred to as the "left" side, the opposite side, that is, the X2 direction side in fig. 1 and the like is referred to as the "right" side, one side in the front-rear direction, that is, the Y1 direction side in fig. 1 and the like is referred to as the "front" side, the opposite side, that is, the Y2 direction side in fig. 1 and the like is referred to as the "rear" side, one side in the up-down direction, that is, the Z1 direction side in fig. 1 and the like is referred to as the "up" side, and the opposite side, that is, the Z2 direction side in fig. 1 and the like is referred to as the "down" side.

The optical unit 1 of the present embodiment is a small and thin unit mounted on a portable device such as a smartphone, for example, and includes a camera module 2 having a lens for photographing and an imaging element. The optical unit 1 is formed in a flat substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having a small thickness as a whole. The optical unit 1 includes: a movable body 3 having a camera module 2; a fixed body 4 (see fig. 1) rotatably holding the movable body 3; a drive mechanism 5 for rotating the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4; and two spherical beads 6 and 7 constituting a rotation fulcrum of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4. The camera module 2 of the present embodiment is an optical module.

The optical axis L of the camera module 2 is orthogonal to the vertical direction. The movable body 3 is rotatable relative to the fixed body 4 in an axial direction in which the vertical direction orthogonal to the optical axis L of the camera module 2 is a rotational direction. That is, the movable body 3 is rotatable with respect to the fixed body 4 around an axis L1 having the vertical direction as the axial direction as the rotation center. The drive mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 in the axial direction in which the vertical direction is rotational. For example, the driving mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 in order to correct the shake of the optical unit 1 during shooting. Alternatively, the driving mechanism 5 rotates the movable body 3 relative to the fixed body 4 for panoramic photography, for example. The vertical direction (Z direction) of the present embodiment is a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis L of the camera module 2. The vertical direction is the thickness direction of the optical unit 1.

In the present embodiment, when the drive coil 23 described later, which constitutes a part of the drive mechanism 5, is in a non-energized state, the movable body 3 does not rotate with respect to the fixed body 4, and the movable body 3 is arranged at a predetermined origin position (reference position) with respect to the fixed body 4, the direction of the optical axis L (optical axis direction) of the camera module 2 coincides with the front-rear direction. Movable body 3 is rotatable with respect to fixed body 4 from the origin position to both sides of movable body 3 in the rotational direction with respect to fixed body 4.

The movable body 3 can rotate by about 10 ° in the clockwise direction of fig. 3 (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as "clockwise direction") and the counterclockwise direction of fig. 3 (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as "counterclockwise direction"), respectively, from the origin position, for example. In the following description, a radial direction around the rotation center of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 is referred to as a "radial direction", and a circumferential direction (circumferential direction) around the rotation center of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 is referred to as a "circumferential direction".

The entire movable body 3 is formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape with a small thickness in the vertical direction. The movable body 3 includes, in addition to the camera module 2, a frame 8 to which the camera module 2 is fixed and a magnetic plate 9 fixed to the frame 8. The camera module 2 is formed in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape having a small thickness in the vertical direction. The upper surface, the lower surface, the rear surface, and the side surfaces in the left-right direction of the camera module 2 are flat surfaces. The upper surface and the lower surface of the camera module 2 are orthogonal to the vertical direction. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the lateral side of the camera module 2 in the left-right direction is orthogonal to the left-right direction, and the rear surface of the camera module 2 is orthogonal to the front-rear direction.

The frame 8 is composed of a first frame 10 covering the lateral and lower surfaces of the camera module 2 in the left-right direction, and a second frame 11 covering the upper surface of the camera module 2. The first frame 10 and the second frame 11 are formed by bending a thin metal plate into a prescribed shape. The first frame 10 has: two side surface portions 10a constituting lateral surfaces of the first frame 10 in the left-right direction; and a bottom surface portion 10b constituting a bottom surface of the first frame 10. The side surface portion 10a is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the thickness direction of the side surface portion 10a coincides with the left-right direction.

The bottom surface portion 10b is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The thickness direction of the bottom surface portion 10b coincides with the vertical direction. A through hole 10c that penetrates the bottom surface portion 10b in the vertical direction is formed in the center portion of the bottom surface portion 10b. The through-hole 10c is formed in a circular hole shape. The beads 6 are disposed below the bottom surface portion 10b. The inner diameter of the through-hole 10c is smaller than the outer diameter of the bead 6. The upper end of the bead 6 is disposed in the through-hole 10c.

The second frame 11 includes: an upper surface portion 11a formed in a rectangular flat plate shape; and two protruding portions 11b protruding outward in the left-right direction from the upper surface portion 11 a. The thickness direction of the upper surface portion 11a coincides with the vertical direction. The upper surface portion 11a is fixed to the upper end of the first frame 10. A through hole 11c penetrating the upper surface portion 11a in the vertical direction is formed in the center portion of the upper surface portion 11 a. The through-hole 11c is formed in a circular hole shape. Beads 7 are arranged on the upper side of the upper surface portion 11 a. The inner diameter of the through-hole 11c is smaller than the outer diameter of the bead 7. The lower end of the bead 7 is disposed in the through hole 11c.

The through-hole 11c is arranged at the same position as the through-hole 10c in the horizontal direction, and the through-hole 11c overlaps the through-hole 10c when viewed in the vertical direction. That is, the beads 6 and 7 are arranged at the same position in the horizontal direction, and the beads 6 and 7 overlap when viewed from the vertical direction. The center of the bead 6 and the center of the bead 7 are arranged on the axis L1.

The projecting portion 11b is formed in an L-shape in which a distal end portion of the projecting portion 11b is bent at a right angle downward. The tip end of the projecting portion 11b extending downward serves as an engaging portion 11d that engages with a positioning recess 24d of a drive magnet 24 described later that constitutes a part of the drive mechanism 5. The engaging portion 11d is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the thickness direction of the engaging portion 11d coincides with the left-right direction. The engaging portion 11d is disposed at a position laterally outward of the side surface portion 10 a.

The magnetic plate 9 is made of a magnetic material having magnetism. The magnetic plate 9 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape having a thickness equal to that of the side surface portion 10a of the first frame 10. The magnetic plate 9 is fixed to the outer side surface of the side surface portion 10a in the left-right direction. When movable body 3 is arranged at the origin position, the thickness direction of magnetic plate 9 coincides with the left-right direction.

As described above, the camera module 2 includes the lens and the imaging element. The image pickup element is arranged on the rear end side of the camera module 2, and an object arranged on the front side of the camera module 2 is picked up by the camera module 2. The camera module 2 includes a magnetic drive mechanism for autofocusing. The camera module 2 includes a rigid board 15 on which an image pickup device is mounted. The rigid substrate 15 is, for example, a glass epoxy substrate. The rigid substrate 15 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The rigid board 15 constitutes a part of the outer peripheral surface of the camera module 2. Specifically, the rigid board 15 constitutes the rear surface of the camera module 2.

The thickness direction of the rigid board 15 coincides with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. That is, the thickness direction of the rigid board 15 coincides with the front-rear direction when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position. A flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 16 is led out from the rigid substrate 15. That is, the optical unit 1 includes the FPC16 led out from the camera module 2. Power is supplied to the camera module 2 via the FPC16. The image data acquired by the image pickup device is transmitted to the portable device equipped with the optical unit 1 via the FPC16.

The FPC16 is led out from the center portion in the left-right direction of the rigid substrate 15 to the rear side. In addition, the FPC16 is led out to the rear side from the center portion of the camera module 2 in the left-right direction, and is led out to the rear side from the center portion of the movable body 3 in the left-right direction. The specific structure of FPC16 and the threading of FPC16 will be described later.

The fixed body 4 includes: a housing 18 that constitutes the lateral side and the lower side of the fixed body 4 in the lateral direction; a cover 19 that constitutes an upper surface of the fixed body 4; and a fixing plate 20 fixed to the case 18. The outer shape of the fixing body 4 when viewed from the vertical direction is rectangular. Specifically, the outer shape of the fixing body 4 when viewed from the vertical direction is a rectangle with the lateral direction as the longitudinal direction and the front-rear direction as the short direction. The housing 18 is formed of a resin material. The cover 19 is formed by bending a thin metal plate into a predetermined shape. The fixing plate 20 is formed of a thin metal plate. The fixing plate 20 is formed in a substantially disk shape.

The case 18 is composed of two side surface portions 18a constituting lateral surfaces of the case 18 in the left-right direction and a bottom surface portion 18b constituting a lower surface of the case 18. Movable body 3 is disposed above bottom surface 18 b. Further, movable body 3 is disposed between two side surface portions 18a in the left-right direction. The side surface portion 18a of the present embodiment is an outer peripheral wall portion disposed radially outside the movable body 3. That is, fixed body 4 includes an outer circumferential wall portion disposed radially outside movable body 3.

An opening 18d for drawing FPC16 to the outer peripheral side of case 18 is formed between the rear ends of both side surface portions 18 a. That is, an opening 18d for drawing the FPC16 to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body 4 is formed in the fixed body 4. The opening 18d is formed within a prescribed range in the circumferential direction. The width of the opening 18d in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the camera module 2 in the left-right direction when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position.

The right end of the opening 18d is disposed on the right side of the right side surface of the camera module 2 when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, and the left end of the opening 18d is disposed on the left side of the left side surface of the camera module 2 when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position. The opening 18d also functions to prevent a drive magnet 24, which will be described later and constitutes a part of the drive mechanism 5, from interfering with the housing 18 when the movable body 3 is rotated relative to the fixed body 4. Further, an opening for photographing a subject disposed in front of the camera module 2 is formed between the front ends of the two side surface portions 18 a.

The side surface portion 18a is formed with a through hole 18c penetrating in the left-right direction. A driving coil 23, which will be described later, constituting a part of the driving mechanism 5 is disposed in the through hole 18c. An FPC fixing portion 18f protruding to the left is formed at the front end of the side surface portion 18a disposed on the left side. A predetermined portion on the front end side of the FPC16 is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f. That is, the fixed body 4 is formed with an FPC fixing portion 18f as a substrate fixing portion for fixing a predetermined portion of the FPC16.

The fixing plate 20 is fixed to the center of the upper surface of the bottom surface 18 b. A bead disposing portion 20a for disposing the lower end portion of the bead 6 is formed in the center of the fixing plate 20. The bead arrangement part 20a is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape bulging downward, and the upper surface of the bead arrangement part 20a is formed in a hemispherical concave curved surface recessed downward. The beads 6 are disposed above the bead disposition portion 20a.

The cover 19 is fixed to the upper end of the housing 18. The movable body 3 is disposed below the cover 19. A spring portion 19a for biasing the ball 7 is formed in the center of the cover 19. That is, the cover 19 is a plate spring. The spring portion 19a is slightly cut and raised toward the lower side. A bead arrangement portion 19b for arranging the upper end portion of the bead 7 is formed at the tip end portion of the spring portion 19a. The bead arrangement portion 19b is formed in a substantially hemispherical shape bulging upward, and the lower surface of the bead arrangement portion 19b is a hemispherical concave curved surface recessed upward. The beads 7 are disposed below the bead disposition portion 19b.

The spring portion 19a biases the ball 7 downward. The ball 7 is in contact with the lower surface of the ball placement portion 19b and the upper end edge of the through hole 11c of the second frame 11 at a predetermined contact pressure by the biasing force of the spring portion 19a. As described above, the beads 6 are arranged at the same positions as the beads 7 in the horizontal direction, and are brought into contact with the lower end edges of the through-holes 10c of the first frame 10 and the upper surface of the bead arrangement portion 20a at a predetermined contact pressure by the biasing force of the spring portions 19a. As described above, the movable body 3 can rotate relative to the fixed body 4 about the axis L1 passing through the centers of the beads 6 and 7.

The drive mechanism 5 includes: a drive coil 23 wound in a hollow shape; a drive magnet 24 disposed to face the drive coil 23 in the radial direction; and a magnetic plate 25 for fixing the driving magnet 24. The drive mechanism 5 of the present embodiment includes a drive coil 23, a drive magnet 24, and a magnetic plate 25, which are disposed on both sides of the movable body 3 in the left-right direction. Driving coil 23, driving magnet 24, and magnetic plate 25 are arranged at a pitch of 180 ° with respect to the rotation center of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4.

The magnetic plate 25 is formed by bending a metal plate made of a magnetic material into a predetermined shape. The magnetic plate 25 is composed of a fixed portion 25a fixed to the magnetic plate 9 and two inclined portions 25b connected to both ends of the fixed portion 25a in the front-rear direction. The fixed portion 25a is fixed to the outer side surface of the magnetic plate 9 in the left-right direction. The inclined portion 25b connected to the front end of the fixed portion 25a is inclined with respect to the fixed portion 25a so as to be directed inward in the left-right direction as it is directed toward the front side. The inclined portion 25b connected to the rear end of the fixed portion 25a is inclined with respect to the fixed portion 25a so as to be directed inward in the left-right direction as it is directed rearward.

The driving magnet 24 is formed into a block shape having a generally crescent shape when viewed in the vertical direction. The driving magnet 24 is fixed to a fixed portion 25a of the magnetic plate 25, and is fixed to the movable body 3 via the magnetic plate 25. The upper surface and the lower surface of the drive magnet 24 are planes perpendicular to the vertical direction. The outer surface of the driving magnet 24 in the radial direction is a magnet-side opposing surface 24a opposing the driving coil 23. The magnet-side opposite surface 24a is formed in a convex curved surface shape. The magnet-side opposite surface 24a is formed in an arc shape having a center of curvature at the center of rotation of the movable body 3 when viewed in the vertical direction. The center angle of the magnet-side opposing surface 24a when viewed in the vertical direction is, for example, about 90 °. The magnet-side opposing surface 24a is magnetized to two poles in the circumferential direction.

The inner surface of the driving magnet 24 in the radial direction is composed of a flat fixed surface 24b fixed to the fixed portion 25a and a flat inclined surface 24c continuous with both ends of the fixed surface 24b in the front-rear direction. The fixed surface 24b is fixed to the lateral outer surface of the fixed portion 25a and contacts the lateral outer surface of the fixed portion 25 a. The inclined surface 24c continuing to the front end of the fixed surface 24b is inclined with respect to the fixed surface 24b so as to face inward in the left-right direction as it faces forward, and the inclined surface 24c continuing to the rear end of the fixed surface 24b is inclined with respect to the fixed surface 24b so as to face inward in the left-right direction as it faces rearward.

A positioning recess 24d for positioning the driving magnet 24 with respect to the movable body 3 is formed in the center of the fixed surface 24 b. The engaging portion 11d engages with the positioning recess 24d. In the present embodiment, the driving magnet 24 is positioned with respect to the movable body 3 in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2 by the engagement of the engaging portion 11d with the positioning recess 24d. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the two driving magnets 24 are disposed symmetrically with respect to the left and right.

The driving coil 23 is an air-core coil formed by winding a wire into a hollow shape. The driving coil 23 includes a pair of (two)

effective sides

23a and 23b parallel to the vertical direction, a connecting side 23c connecting upper ends of the pair of

effective sides

23a and 23b, and a connecting side 23c connecting lower ends of the pair of

effective sides

23a and 23 b. The

effective sides

23a, 23b are portions contributing to the driving force of the driving mechanism 5. The driving coil 23 is bent along the magnet-side opposing surface 24a having an arc shape when viewed in the vertical direction. The pair of

effective side portions

23a and 23b are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.

The driving coil 23 is disposed radially outside the driving magnet 24. The driving coil 23 is disposed outside the driving magnet 24 in the left-right direction. The driving coils 23 are disposed in the through-holes 18c of the case 18, and the two driving coils 23 are disposed symmetrically with respect to each other. The driving coil 23 is mounted on a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) 26. FPC26 is fixed to the outer side surface and the lower surface of case 18 in the left-right direction, and driving coil 23 is fixed to fixed body 4 through FPC 26. When a current is supplied to driving coil 23, movable body 3 rotates with respect to fixed body 4 about axis L1 as the center of rotation.

A flat magnetic plate 27 made of a magnetic material is fixed to a surface of the FPC26 opposite to the surface on which the driving coil 23 is mounted (specifically, an outer surface of the FPC26 in the left-right direction). The magnetic plate 27 is formed in a rectangular shape. The thickness direction of the magnetic plate 27 coincides with the left-right direction. When viewed from the top-bottom direction in a state where the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the polarization position of the drive magnet 24 magnetized to two poles in the circumferential direction and the center of the magnetic plate 27 in the front-rear direction are disposed at the same position in the circumferential direction.

The position of movable body 3 disposed at the origin position is maintained by the magnetic attraction force generated between driving magnet 24 and magnetic plate 27. That is, driving magnet 24 and magnetic plate 27 function to maintain movable body 3 in the original position when no current is supplied to driving coil 23. In the present embodiment, the driving magnet 24 and the magnetic plate 27 constitute a position holding mechanism for maintaining the movable body 3 in the original position.

(Structure and threading of FPC)

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the FPC16 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a state of FPC16 when movable body 3 rotates with respect to fixed body 4 shown in fig. 1. In fig. 5, the through hole 11c of the second frame 11 is not shown.

The FPC16 is integrally formed in an elongated band shape. The FPC16 is arranged such that the width direction of the FPC16 orthogonal to the thickness direction of the FPC16 coincides with the vertical direction. That is, the width direction of the FPC16 coincides with the vertical direction. As described above, the FPC16 is drawn out from the center portion in the left-right direction of the rigid substrate 15 to the rear side. That is, the FPC16 is drawn out to the rear side from the center portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction.

In the present embodiment, the FPC16 is drawn radially outward from the center of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction. That is, the direction in which the FPC16 is drawn out from the center of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction coincides with the radial direction. Specifically, the FPC16 is drawn out from the center portion of the rigid board 15 in the circumferential direction to one side in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2, and the direction in which the FPC16 is drawn out from the center portion of the rigid board 15 in the circumferential direction coincides with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. As described above, the thickness direction of the rigid board 15 coincides with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2, and the FPC16 is drawn out from the center of the rigid board 15 in the circumferential direction toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid board 15.

When movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, FPC16 is drawn out from the center of opening 18d of case 18 in the circumferential direction toward the outer circumferential side of fixed body 4. That is, when movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, FPC16 is drawn out from the center in the left-right direction of opening 18d toward the outer peripheral side of fixed body 4. The FPC16 is drawn out from the central portion in the circumferential direction of the rigid substrate 15 toward one side in the thickness direction of the rigid substrate 15, and then bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixing body 4. Specifically, the FPC16 is pulled out to the rear side from the center of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction, and then bent twice at 90 ° along the outer peripheral surface of the housing 18.

In the present embodiment, the FPC16 drawn out from the rigid board 15 to the rear side is bent to the left side and wound to the left side, and then bent to the front side and wound to the front side, and the FPC16 is bent into a substantially square groove shape (substantially U-shape). A predetermined portion on the front end side (front end side) of the FPC16 bent twice is fixed to an FPC fixing portion 18f of the housing 18. Specifically, a reinforcing plate 32 in the form of a rectangular thin flat plate is fixed to a predetermined portion on the front end side of the FPC16 bent twice, and the reinforcing plate 32 is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f. That is, a predetermined portion of the FPC16 bent twice is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f via the reinforcing plate 32.

The FPC16 includes a fixed portion 16a fixed to the rigid substrate 15, an overlapping portion 16b overlapping a part of the fixed portion 16a, a lead portion 16c led out to the rear side from the center of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction, a first passing portion 16d passing through the rear end of the lead portion 16c to the left side, and a second passing portion 16e passing through the left end of the first passing portion 16d to the front side.

The thickness direction of the fixed portion 16a and the thickness direction of the overlapping portion 16b coincide with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. The overlapping portion 16b is disposed behind the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a, and overlaps the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. The upper end of the right portion of the fixed portion 16a is connected to the upper end of the overlapping portion 16b, and the FPC16 is folded back 180 ° at the connecting portion of the right portion of the fixed portion 16a and the overlapping portion 16 b. The front surface of the overlapping portion 16b is fixed to the rear side of the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a by double-sided tape or the like.

The leading end of the lead portion 16c is connected to the left end of the overlapping portion 16 b. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the thickness direction of the drawn portion 16c coincides with the left-right direction. The FPC16 is bent at 90 ° at the connecting portion of the overlapping portion 16b and the lead-out portion 16 c. As described above, the FPC16 is drawn out from the center of the rigid board 15 in the circumferential direction toward the outside in the radial direction (specifically, toward one side in the optical axis direction of the camera module 2). Therefore, the center of rotation of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 is arranged on the extension line of drawn-out portion 16c as viewed in the vertical direction. The lead-out portion 16c is disposed on the optical axis L of the camera module 2 when viewed from the vertical direction. The rear end of the lead portion 16c is disposed rearward of the rear end surface of the side surface portion 18 a.

The right end of the first wound portion 16d is connected to the rear end of the lead portion 16 c. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the thickness direction of the first wound portion 16d coincides with the front-rear direction. The FPC16 is bent at 90 ° at the connection portion of the lead-out portion 16c and the first passing-around portion 16 d. The first wound portion 16d is disposed on the rear side of the housing 18. A gap is formed between the rear end surface of the side surface portion 18a disposed on the left side and the first passing portion 16 d.

The rear end of the second wound portion 16e is connected to the left end of the first wound portion 16 d. When the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the thickness direction of the second winding portion 16e coincides with the left-right direction. The FPC16 is bent at 90 ° at the connecting portion of the first passing-around portion 16d and the second passing-around portion 16 e. The second wound portion 16e is disposed on the left side of the housing 18. A gap is formed between the left side surface of the side surface portion 18a disposed on the left side and the second passing portion 16 e. A reinforcing plate 32 is fixed to a predetermined portion of the distal end side of the second passing portion 16 e. The reinforcing plate 32 is fixed to the left surface of the FPC fixing portion 18f by a double-sided adhesive tape or the like.

Plate-

like members

30 and 31 are attached to the FPC16, and the plate-

like members

30 and 31 define bending angles of the FPC16 at which the plate-like members are bent at 90 ° at three points. That is, the optical unit 1 includes plate-

like members

30 and 31 that define the bending angle of the FPC16, and the plate-

like members

30 and 31 are attached to the FPC16. The plate-like member 30 is formed by bending a flat metal plate (sheet metal) twice at 90 °. The plate-like member 31 is formed by bending a flat metal plate at 90 ° once.

The plate-

like members

30 and 31 are provided with notches or openings to facilitate bending of the plate-like members 30 and 31 (see fig. 4). The plate-like member 30 is attached to the FPC16 so as to contact the rear surface of the right side portion of the fixed portion 16a, the front surface of the overlapping portion 16b, the left surface of the lead portion 16c, and the front surface of the right end portion of the first wound portion 16 d. The plate-like member 31 is attached to the FPC16 so as to be in contact with the front surface of the left end portion of the first wound portion 16d and the right surface of the rear end portion of the second wound portion 16 e.

In the optical unit 1, when the movable body 3 is rotated in the clockwise direction with respect to the fixed body 4, the FPC16 is deformed as shown in fig. 5 (a). Even if movable body 3 rotates to the clockwise rotation end with respect to fixed body 4, drawn-out portion 16c does not reach the right end of opening 18d in the circumferential direction. When movable body 3 is rotated counterclockwise with respect to fixed body 4, FPC16 is deformed as shown in fig. 5 (B). Even if movable body 3 rotates to the counterclockwise rotation end with respect to fixed body 4, drawn-out portion 16c does not reach the left end of opening 18d in the circumferential direction.

(main effects of the present embodiment)

As described above, in the present embodiment, the movable body 3 is rotatable relative to the fixed body 4 in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction from the origin position. In the present embodiment, an opening 18d for drawing the FPC16 to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body 4 is formed between the rear ends of the two side surface portions 18a of the housing 18, and when the movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position, the FPC16 drawn out from the camera module 2 is drawn out from the center of the opening 18d in the circumferential direction to the outer peripheral side of the fixed body 4.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the rotation angle of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 is increased, interference between FPC16 and fixed body 4 when movable body 3 rotates can be prevented. Specifically, even if the angle of rotation of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 is increased, interference between drawn-out portion 16c and side surface portion 18a when movable body 3 rotates can be prevented. In the present embodiment, since FPC16 is drawn radially outward from the center of rigid board 15 in the left-right direction, even if the angle of rotation of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 is increased, interference between FPC16 and driving magnet 24 disposed on the left side when movable body 3 rotates can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the vertical direction, which is the axial direction of rotation of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4, coincides with the width direction of FPC16. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the rotation angle of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 is increased, FPC16 is easily deformed in accordance with the rotation operation of movable body 3 when movable body 3 rotates with respect to fixed body 4. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the FPC16 from interfering with the turning operation of the movable body 3.

In the present embodiment, the FPC16 is drawn out from the center of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction to the rear side, and then bent twice along the outer circumferential surface of the fixed body 4. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the rotation angle of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 is increased, the entire FPC16 is easily deformed in accordance with the rotation operation of movable body 3 when movable body 3 rotates with respect to fixed body 4. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to effectively prevent FPC16 from interfering with the turning operation of movable body 3.

In the present embodiment, plate-

like members

30, 31 defining the bending angle of the FPC16 are attached to the FPC16. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the shape of the FPC16 that is passed through so as to be bent twice along the outer peripheral surface of the fixing body 4 can be maintained in the passed-through state. In the present embodiment, since the predetermined portion on the distal end side of the second wound portion 16e of the FPC16 bent twice is fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f of the housing 18 via the reinforcing plate 32, the winding of the FPC16 can be determined in the optical unit 1.

(other embodiments)

The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made within a scope not changing the gist of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the direction in which the FPC16 is drawn out from the center of the rigid board 15 in the circumferential direction may be inclined with respect to the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. That is, the thickness direction of the rigid board 15 may not coincide with the optical axis direction of the camera module 2. In the above embodiment, the direction in which the FPC16 is drawn out from the center of the rigid board 15 in the circumferential direction may be offset from the radial direction. That is, the center of rotation of movable body 3 with respect to fixed body 4 may not be arranged on the extension line of drawn-out portion 16c when viewed from the vertical direction. In the above embodiment, the FPC16 may be drawn out to the rear side from a position deviated from the central portion in the circumferential direction of the rigid substrate 15.

In the above embodiment, the outer shape of the fixing body 4 when viewed from the vertical direction may be a shape other than a rectangle. In this case, for example, the bending angle of the FPC16 bent twice after being drawn out to the rear side from the rigid substrate 15 may be different from 90 °. That is, in the above embodiment, the bending angle of the FPC16 which is drawn from the rigid substrate 15 to the rear side and then bent twice may be an acute angle or an obtuse angle.

In the above embodiment, the number of times of bending the FPC16 drawn out to the rear side from the center portion of the rigid substrate 15 in the circumferential direction may be one time, or may be three or more times. In the above embodiment, the FPC16 drawn out to the rear side from the center of the rigid board 15 in the circumferential direction may be passed directly to the rear side without being bent. In the above embodiment, the predetermined portion on the distal end side of the second passing portion 16e of the FPC16 may be fixed to a frame or the like of the portable device to which the optical unit 1 is attached, instead of the FPC fixing portion 18f of the housing 18. That is, the reinforcing plate 32 may be fixed to a frame or the like of the portable device to which the optical unit 1 is attached, instead of the FPC fixing portion 18f. In the above embodiment, the predetermined portion on the distal end side of the second passing portion 16e may be directly fixed to the FPC fixing portion 18f.

In the above embodiment, the position holding mechanism for maintaining the state in which movable body 3 is disposed at the origin position may be a spring member such as a leaf spring. When the position holding mechanism is a leaf spring, the leaf spring includes, for example, a fixed portion to be fixed to movable body 3, a fixed portion to be fixed to fixed body 4, and a plurality of spring portions connecting the fixed portions. In the above embodiment, the driving mechanism 5 may include only one driving coil 23 and one driving magnet 24, or may include three or more driving coils 23 and three or more driving magnets 24.

In the above embodiment, the driving coil 23 and the driving magnet 24 may be disposed to face each other in the vertical direction. In this case, the driving coil 23 may be wound with the vertical direction as the axial direction of winding, or may be wound with the front-rear direction as the axial direction of winding. In this case, the driving magnet 24 may be disposed only on one side in the vertical direction of the driving coil 23, or the driving magnets 24 may be disposed on both sides in the vertical direction of the driving coil 23.

In the above embodiment, the driving coil 23 may be fixed to the movable body 3, and the driving magnet 24 may be fixed to the fixed body 4. In this case, the driving magnet 24 is disposed radially outside the driving coil 23. In the above embodiment, the optical unit 1 may include an optical module other than the camera module 2. For example, the optical unit 1 may include a laser module that emits laser light as the optical module.

Description of the symbols

1. Optical unit

2. Cam module (optical module)

3. Movable body

4. Fixing body

5. Driving mechanism

15. Rigid substrate

16 FPC (Flexible printed substrate)

16c lead-out part

18a side surface (outer wall)

18d opening

18f FPC fixed part (substrate fixed part)

30. 31 plate-like member

L Camera Module optical axis (optical axis of optical Module)

Z first direction.

Claims

1. An optical unit is characterized by comprising:

a movable body having an optical module;

a fixed body that rotatably holds the movable body;

a drive mechanism that rotates the movable body with respect to the fixed body, with a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical module as an axial direction of rotation; and

a flexible printed substrate led out from the optical module,

the movable body is rotatable with respect to the fixed body from a predetermined origin position to both sides of the movable body in a rotational direction with respect to the fixed body,

the fixed body has an outer peripheral wall portion disposed outside the movable body in a radial direction around a rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body,

an opening for drawing out the flexible printed board to an outer peripheral side of the fixed body is formed in the fixed body,

the opening is formed within a predetermined range in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body,

when the movable body is disposed at the origin position, the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from a center portion of the opening in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body toward an outer peripheral side of the fixed body.

2. An optical unit according to claim 1,

the optical module includes a flat plate-shaped rigid substrate constituting a part of an outer peripheral surface of the optical module,

the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from a central portion of the rigid board in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body to one side in a thickness direction of the rigid board.

3. An optical unit according to claim 2,

the width direction of the flexible printed substrate orthogonal to the thickness direction of the flexible printed substrate coincides with the first direction.

4. An optical unit according to claim 3,

a portion of the flexible printed circuit board which is drawn out from a central portion of the rigid board in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body to one side in a thickness direction of the rigid board is defined as a drawn-out portion,

a rotation center of the movable body with respect to the fixed body is arranged on an extension line of the drawn-out portion when viewed from the first direction.

5. An optical unit according to claim 4,

the flexible printed board is led out toward one side of the optical axis direction which is the direction of the optical axis of the optical module.

6. An optical unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5,

the flexible printed circuit board is drawn out from a central portion of the rigid board in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body to one side in a thickness direction of the rigid board, and then bent twice along an outer circumferential surface of the fixed body.

7. An optical unit according to claim 6,

the outer shape of the fixing body when viewed from the first direction is a rectangle,

the flexible printed board is drawn out from a central portion of the rigid board in a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the movable body to one side in a thickness direction of the rigid board, and then bent twice at 90 ° along an outer peripheral surface of the fixed body.

8. An optical unit according to claim 6 or 7,

the flexible printed circuit board includes a plate-like member that is attached to the flexible printed circuit board and that defines a bending angle of the flexible printed circuit board.

9. An optical unit according to any one of claims 6 to 8,

the fixing body is provided with a substrate fixing portion for fixing a predetermined portion of the flexible printed substrate bent twice.

10. An optical unit according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the optical module is a camera module.