JP2004333995A - Lens driving device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens driving device capable of restraining the deviation and the inclination of the optical axis of a lens in the case of moving the lens in the optical axis direction of the lens by simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: When force in an X direction is applied to a lens unit 12, four holding members 26 are moved in the X direction by deflection. The holding members are arranged in such a manner that the the straight lines passing connecting sections 26A and holding sections 26B when viewed from the optical axis L direction at this time are deviated from the optical axis L. A plurality of the holding members 26 are respectively arranged in the directions where the members are respectively rotated around the optical axis L in the position forming the angles obtained by dividing 360° around the optical axis L by the total number of the holding members. The rotation moment around the optical axis L acts on the lens unit 12 and the portions excluding the connecting sections 26A of the holding members 26 and an inner sections 18 of link plates 24 move rotationally around the optical axis L. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lens driving device, and more particularly to a lens driving device capable of moving a lens in the optical axis direction of the lens.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When moving a lens for imaging light in the optical axis direction of the lens, it is generally preferable to move the lens so that the optical axis does not tilt. Therefore, for example, in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 11, an arm 201 that functions as a parallel link is provided outside the lens 200, and the optical axis of the lens 200 is prevented from tilting by the arm 201.
[0003]
However, since the arm 201 is a rigid body and it is necessary to provide the hinge portion 202 in order to function as a parallel link, the structure becomes complicated.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-6-230261 gazette
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and provides a lens driving device capable of suppressing the shift and inclination of the optical axis when the lens is moved in the optical axis direction of the lens with a simple configuration. For the purpose.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a lens driving device according to the present invention includes a lens unit including one or more lenses capable of forming an image of light at a predetermined position, an outer member disposed outside the lens unit, A light transmission port capable of transmitting light incident on the lens is formed, and an outer side outside the light transmission port is fixed to the outer member, and an optical axis direction with respect to the lens unit And an actuator for applying the force of the elastic plate, wherein the elastic plate is constituted by a part of the elastic plate, and a portion other than a portion connected to the outer portion is connected to the outer portion in the optical axis direction of the lens. A plurality of holding members that hold the lens unit, and the holding member is a straight line that passes through the holding portion holding the lens unit and the connecting portion when viewed from the optical axis direction. But Disposed from the optical axis of the lens and arranged in directions rotated around the optical axis of the lens at positions that form an angle obtained by dividing 360 ° by the total number of holding members around the optical axis of the lens. It is characterized by being.
[0007]
In the lens driving device of the present invention, the elastic plate is formed with a light transmission port through which light incident on the lens can be transmitted, and an outer portion outside the light transmission port of the elastic plate is fixed to the outer member. Yes. Here, the outer member is a housing or a member fixed to the housing, and a member to which the lens is relatively moved.
[0008]
The elastic plate is provided with a plurality of holding members which are connected from the outer side and are constituted by a part of the elastic plate. The holding member holds the lens unit at the holding portion, and a portion other than the portion connected to the outer portion can be moved in the optical axis direction of the lens by bending. By the way, when a force in the optical axis direction is applied to the lens unit from the actuator, the lens unit moves with a component in the optical axis direction, but the holding member moves with the connecting portion with the outer portion as a fulcrum, so the lens The holding portion as viewed from the optical axis direction of is moved. If this moving direction coincides with the rotation direction around the optical axis of the lens, the deviation of the optical axis of the lens can be avoided.
[0009]
Therefore, in the lens driving device of the present invention, the holding member is viewed from the optical axis direction so that a straight line passing through the connecting portion and the holding portion is deviated from the optical axis of the lens, and each of the optical axes of the lenses is The lens is arranged in a direction rotated around the optical axis of the lens at a position that forms an angle obtained by dividing 360 ° by the total number of holding members. According to this configuration, the force applied to the lens rotates the lens unit about the optical axis of the lens on a plane whose normal is the optical axis direction. Therefore, the lens unit moves in the optical axis direction and rotates around the optical axis, so that the deviation of the optical axis and the inclination of the optical axis when the lens unit is moved in the optical axis direction can be suppressed.
[0010]
Further, in the lens driving device of the present invention, since one elastic plate is fixed to the outer member and the holding member is configured by this elastic plate, a simple configuration can be achieved.
[0011]
The lens driving device of the present invention may be characterized in that, as described in claim 2, a plurality of the elastic plates are arranged in parallel to each other while being spaced apart in the optical axis direction.
[0012]
According to this configuration, since the plurality of elastic plates are spaced apart from each other in the optical axis direction and arranged in parallel to each other, the holding member functions as a parallel link. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably suppress the inclination of the optical axis when the lens unit is moved.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a lens driving device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The lens driving device of the present invention can be applied to, for example, moving a lens for camera focus adjustment and zooming.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, the lens driving device 10 in this embodiment includes a lens unit 12, a link plate 14, fixing rings 16 and 18, a fixing frame 20, and an actuator 30.
[0015]
The fixed frame 20 has a rectangular frame shape, and the lens unit 12 is disposed therein. The lens unit 12 includes one or more lenses 12B and a cylindrical lens barrel 12A that covers the lens 12B.
[0016]
Two fixing rings 16 are arranged on both sides of the lens unit 12. The fixing ring 16 has a plate shape and is formed of a rigid body. As shown in FIG. 2B, the fixing ring 16 has a substantially square shape, and the corners 16A are formed by extending the plate surfaces at the four corners. An insertion convex portion 16B that can be inserted into insertion holes 14A and 18A, which will be described later, is formed in the corner portion 16A in the normal direction of the plate surface. In addition, a light transmission port 17 capable of transmitting light incident on the lens 12 </ b> B is formed at the center of the fixing ring 16. The lens unit 12 and the fixing ring 16 are fixed so that the optical axis L of the lens 12B and the normal line of the center portion of the fixing ring 16 coincide.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the link plates 14 are arranged outside the plate surface of the fixing ring 16 so as to be parallel to each other so that the normal line of the central portion coincides with the optical axis L. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the link plate 14 is formed of a single square plate having elasticity. A light transmission port 15 capable of transmitting light incident on the lens 12B is formed at the center of the link plate 14. In the link plate 14, four L-shaped cuts 22 are formed so as to surround the light transmission port 15. The notch 22 causes the link plate 14 to be connected to the outermost portion 24 located on the outermost peripheral side, a holding member 26 connected from the outer portion 24 (hereinafter, the connecting portion is referred to as a “connecting portion 26A”), and closest to the light transmission port 15 side. A positioned inner portion 28 is formed. Each holding member 26 is arranged in a direction rotated around the optical axis L at a position forming 90 ° with respect to the optical axis L of the adjacent holding member 26 and the lens. The holding member 26 and the inner portion 28 are connected via a holding portion 26B. Further, as shown in FIG. 3A, the elastic force allows a portion other than the connecting portion 26A to move in the optical axis L direction of the lens. The cuts 22 are preferably formed with a predetermined width so that the portions on both sides of the cuts 22 do not touch each other.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 2B, the fixing ring 16 has a shape along the inner portion 28 of the link plate 14, and the inner portion 28 and the fixing ring 16 are overlapped. In the link plate 14, an insertion hole 14A is formed in the holding portion 26B, and the insertion convex portion 16B is inserted through the insertion hole 14A. The holding portion 26B can hold the lens unit 12 with the holding portion 26B. The straight line passing through the holding portion 26B and the connecting portion 26A is arranged so as not to pass through the optical axis L, that is, deviate from the optical axis L.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 4, the outer portion 24 of the link plate 14 is attached to the inner wall of the fixed frame 20. The holding member 26 formed on the two link plates 14 functions as a parallel link when the lens unit 12 moves in the optical axis L direction.
[0020]
Fixing rings 18 are arranged on both outer sides of the link plate 14 so that the normal line of the center portion coincides with the optical axis L. The fixing ring 18 has substantially the same shape as the fixing ring 16, and the position with respect to the link plate 14 is also the same. As a result, the inner portion 28 of the link plate 14 is sandwiched between the fixing ring 16 and the fixing ring 18, and the inner portion 28 is not bent. An insertion hole 18A into which the insertion protrusion 16B can be inserted instead of the insertion protrusion 16B is formed in the fixing ring 18, and the insertion protrusion 16B is inserted through the insertion hole 18A. The insertion projection 14B inserted through the insertion hole 14A and the insertion hole 18A is caulked from the outside, whereby the lens unit 12, the fixing ring 16, the link plate 14, and the fixing ring 18 are assembled together.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4, the actuator 30 is composed of a spiral piezoelectric element, one end is fixed to a convex portion 20 </ b> A formed on the inner wall of the fixed frame 20, and the other end is attached to the fixing ring 16. It has been. The actuator 30 can be displaced in the X direction or Y direction along the optical axis L by applying a voltage from a circuit (not shown).
[0022]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
[0023]
When a voltage is applied to the actuator 30 from a circuit (not shown), a force in the X direction (or Y direction) is applied to the lens unit 12 by a force that causes the actuator 30 to move in the X direction (or Y direction). The As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the four holding members 26 move in the X direction (FIG. 5B) (or the Y direction (FIG. 5A)) due to bending. At this time, when viewed from the direction of the optical axis L, the straight line passing through the connecting portion 26A and the holding portion 26B is arranged so as to deviate from the optical axis L, and each of the plurality of holding members 26 is 360 around the optical axis L. It is arranged in a direction rotated around the optical axis L at a position forming an angle (90 ° here) obtained by dividing ° by the total number of holding members (here, 4). Therefore, a rotational moment about the optical axis L acts on the lens unit 12, and the portions other than the connecting portion 26 </ b> A of the holding member 26 and the inner portion 28 of the link plate 14 are shown by two-dot chain lines in FIG. 5. Then, it rotates around the optical axis L. As a result, the lens unit 12 is also moved in the direction of the optical axis L while rotating. Therefore, the lens unit 12 can be moved in the direction of the optical axis L without tilting the optical axis L and without shifting the optical axis L.
[0024]
Moreover, in this embodiment, since the one link board 14 is comprised with one elastic board, it can be set as a simple structure.
[0025]
In this embodiment, the example in which the fixing rings 16 and 18 are arranged on both sides of the link plate 14 has been described. However, the fixing rings 16 and 18 are not necessarily required. In particular, by arranging the fixing rings 16 and 18, the inner portion 28 of the link plate 14 is not bent, and the lens unit 12 can be stably held.
[0026]
In this embodiment, the example in which the link plates 14 are arranged on both sides of the lens unit 12 has been described. However, the link plates 14 may be arranged only on one side of the lens unit 12. In particular, by arranging them parallel to each other on both sides, the holding member 26 formed on the link plate 14 can function as a parallel link, and the optical axis when the lens unit 12 moves in the optical axis L direction more reliably. The inclination of L can be suppressed.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, an example in which a spiral piezoelectric element is used as the actuator 30 has been described. However, as the actuator 30, a configuration using a coil and a magnet can be used as shown in FIG. In this case, a cylindrical coil 32 is disposed on the inner wall of the fixed frame 20, and a cylindrical magnet 34 is attached to the outer wall of the lens barrel 12A. When a current flows through the coil 32, a force is applied to the magnet 34, and the lens unit 12 is moved in the X direction (FIG. 7B) or the Y direction (FIG. 7A).
[0028]
In this embodiment, an example in which four holding members 26 are provided has been described. However, two or three holding members 26 may be provided, or five or more holding members 26 may be provided. For example, when two holding members are provided, as shown in FIG. 8, each holding member 26 may be arranged so as to be positioned on the opposite side with the light transmission port 15 interposed therebetween.
[0029]
The lens driving device 10 of the above embodiment can be used for the focus adjustment and zooming of the lens of the digital camera 70 as shown in FIG. The digital camera 70 includes a casing 71, a lens barrel 72 that can be extended to the front, and a shutter button 74 on the upper surface. The lens driving device 10 can drive the lens barrel 72 or a focus adjustment lens unit (not shown) incorporated in the lens barrel 72. FIG. 10 shows a schematic block diagram of the digital camera 70. The digital camera 70 includes an operation unit 82, an LCD 84, a CPU 86, a driver circuit 88, a media I / F 90 (accessible to the external media 96), a built-in memory 92, a shutter button 74, and a communication I / F 94. The lens driving device 10 is connected to the driver circuit 88 and is driven based on a signal from the driver circuit 88.
[0030]
Further, the lens driving device 10 of the above-described embodiment can also be applied to a camera-equipped mobile phone. In this case, an amplifier or an AD converter may be included in the camera-equipped mobile phone.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the lens driving device of the present invention, since the lens unit rotates around the optical axis when moving in the optical axis direction, the optical axis when moving the lens unit in the optical axis direction. And the inclination of the optical axis can be suppressed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lens driving device according to an embodiment.
2A is a view of the link plate of the present embodiment as viewed from the optical axis direction, and FIG. 2B is a view of the link plate with the fixing ring attached as viewed from the optical axis direction.
FIG. 3A is a view showing a state after the inner part of the link plate of the present embodiment has moved in the optical axis direction, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the inner part of the link plate moved in the optical axis direction. It is a figure which shows the state before performing.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of the lens driving device of the present embodiment as viewed from a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.
FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating a state where the lens unit is moved in the Y direction, and FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a state where the lens unit is moved in the X direction.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which the holding member and the inner side of the link plate of the present embodiment are rotated around the optical axis.
7A and 7B show a modification of the actuator of the present embodiment, in which FIG. 7A is a diagram showing a state where the lens unit has moved in the Y direction, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a state where the lens unit has moved in the X direction. FIG.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a modification of the holding member of the present embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a camera to which the lens driving device of the present embodiment can be applied.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a camera to which the lens driving device of this embodiment can be applied.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a conventional lens moving device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Lens drive device 12B Lens 12 Lens unit 14 Link board 15 Light transmission port 20 Fixed frame (outer member)
26 holding member 26A connecting part 26B holding part 30 actuator 32 coil (actuator)
34 Magnet (actuator)
L Optical axis

Claims (2)

A lens unit including one or more lenses capable of focusing light on a predetermined position;
An outer member disposed outside the lens unit;
A light transmission port capable of transmitting light incident on the lens is formed, and an elastic plate in which an outer portion outside the light transmission port is fixed to the outer member;
An actuator for applying a force in the optical axis direction to the lens unit;
With
The elastic plate is constituted by a part of the elastic plate, and is connected from the outer portion, and a portion other than the connecting portion with the outer portion is movable in the optical axis direction of the lens, and holds the lens unit. A plurality of holding members are provided,
The holding members are arranged such that a straight line passing through the holding portion holding the lens unit and the connecting portion is deviated from the optical axis of the lens as viewed from the optical axis direction, and each of the holding members is an optical axis of the lens. A lens driving device, wherein the lens driving device is disposed in a direction rotated around the optical axis of the lens at a position that forms an angle obtained by dividing 360 ° by the total number of holding members. The lens driving device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the elastic plates are arranged in parallel to each other while being spaced apart in the optical axis direction.

Images