JP2006276242A - Zoom lens device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a zoom lens device which can be used for a portable phone with a camera and which is compact and inexpensive. <P>SOLUTION: A cam driving gear 48 and a zoom cam 49 are supported on the same rotary shaft 50. When the cam driving gear 48 rotates and an interlocking boss 56 abuts on a coupling projection 59, the zoom cam 49 rotates together so as to individually move two lens groups, thereby performing zoom adjustment. When the rotating direction of the cam driving gear 48 is switched and a circular-arc shaped cam follower 57 formed at the edge of the interlocking boss 56 presses a focus cam 62, the zoom cam 49 slides on the rotary shaft 50 so as to move the two lens groups on an optical axis in the same direction by the same amount, thereby performing focus adjustment. By integrally providing the interlocking boss 56 and the cam follower 57 allowing the zoom cam 49 to perform different operation, the zoom lens device is miniaturized and the cost thereof is reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a small zoom lens device used for a mobile phone with a camera.

  Camera mobile phones with built-in digital cameras have become widespread. A conventional camera-equipped mobile phone uses a single-focus imaging lens and a low-resolution image sensor for downsizing and cost reduction. However, since there are many users who desire a high-quality shooting function for a camera-equipped mobile phone, in recent years, a camera-equipped mobile phone using an optical zoom, autofocus, an image sensor having a large number of pixels, and the like has been sold.

  The zoom lens device requires at least two lens groups that can move in the optical axis direction. In addition, a lens driving mechanism is required that can move each lens group individually during zoom adjustment, move only one lens group during focus adjustment, or move the two lens groups in the same direction by the same amount. Since the digital camera incorporated in the camera-equipped mobile phone is very small, a lens barrel type zoom lens device that requires a precise cam groove on the outer periphery cannot be used. In addition, an outer zoom type zoom lens device in which a lens barrel is drawn out of a mobile phone with a camera by zoom adjustment is not suitable for a mobile phone with a camera that is often handled violently.

  Therefore, a camera-equipped mobile phone equipped with a conventional optical zoom has a nut attached to two lens groups held so as to be movable in the direction of the optical axis, and a rod-shaped feed screw is screwed onto the nut. It uses an inner zoom type lens drive mechanism that rotates a feed screw with a motor. However, when two lens driving mechanisms are incorporated for zooming and focusing, the influence on the size and cost of the camera-equipped mobile phone is large.

  In order to reduce the size and cost of a camera, a zoom lens capable of performing zoom adjustment and focus adjustment with a single lens driving mechanism has been invented. For example, in the zoom lens device described in Patent Document 1, two cam grooves into which cam followers of two lens groups incorporated in a fixed cylinder are inserted are formed in a cam ring rotated on the outer periphery of the fixed cylinder. Of these, one cam groove is wider than the other. In rotation of the cam ring in one direction, each lens group is moved in the optical axis direction by the respective cam groove, and zoom adjustment is performed. When the cam ring is rotated in the other direction, the lens group engaged with the narrow cam groove moves following the cam groove, and the lens group engaged with the wide cam groove has the cam groove as a cam follower. Therefore, the focus adjustment is performed without changing the zoom magnification.

Further, the zoom lens device described in Patent Document 2 is arranged between an intermediate cylinder that moves the front group lens by rotation and a cam cylinder that is provided coaxially with the intermediate cylinder and moves the rear group lens. The zoom adjustment is performed by rotating both the intermediate cylinder and the cam cylinder, and when engaged, the rotation of the cam cylinder is stopped and only the intermediate cylinder is rotated over a predetermined angle range to perform the focus adjustment. A rotation transmission mechanism is provided.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-064708 JP 09-049958 A

  The zoom lens devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 can contribute to miniaturization and low cost of the camera-equipped mobile phone because one motor can be used for both zoom adjustment and focus adjustment. However, both are of the outer zoom type in which a lens barrel is used and the lens barrel is extended forward during zoom adjustment, which is not suitable for a camera-equipped mobile phone.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a small and low-cost inner zoom type zoom lens device that can be used in a mobile phone with a camera.

  In order to solve the above problems, a zoom lens device according to the present invention includes a cam drive gear that rotates in a first direction by forward rotation of a motor and rotates in a second direction by reverse rotation, and a rotation shaft that is parallel to the optical axis. A zoom cam that is rotatably and slidably supported and moves in the optical axis direction in association with the first lens group and the second lens group, and a first cam provided on either one of the cam drive gear and the zoom cam. A linkage member and a cam follower, and a second linkage member that is provided on the other side and abuts against the first linkage member when the cam drive gear rotates in the first direction and transmits the rotation of the cam drive gear to the zoom cam. The second linkage member is disposed at a position away from the width dimension of the first linkage member, and comes into contact with the first linkage member when the cam drive gear rotates in the second direction. The rotation of the cam drive gear A third linking member that transmits to the cam, and a second linking member provided between the second linking member and the third linking member, and the first linking member and the second linking member after the rotation direction of the cam drive gear is switched. Alternatively, a focus cam that is pressed by the cam follower and slides the zoom cam in the axial direction until the third link member comes into contact with the third link member, and the first link member and the cam follower are integrally provided. ing. Thereby, the number of parts can be reduced, and cost reduction and size reduction can be achieved.

  In addition, the first link member is a bar-shaped part that is in contact with the second link member and the third link member on its side surface, and the cam follower has a substantially arc shape formed at the tip of the first link member. Since it consists of an end surface, it can be manufactured at low cost. Moreover, since the structure is simple, it is difficult for failures to occur.

  According to the zoom lens device of the present invention, components having different functions are provided integrally, and a single component can serve as a plurality of functions. Therefore, the zoom lens device can be reduced in size and cost.

  1 and 2 are an external view and a block diagram showing a configuration of a camera-equipped mobile phone embodying the present invention. The camera-equipped mobile phone 2 includes a telephone unit 6 including a reception unit 4 and a transmission unit 5 that are foldably connected by a hinge unit 3, and a camera unit 7 that is a digital camera incorporated in the reception unit 4. It is composed of A transparent protective plate 8 that protects the zoom lens device of the camera unit 7 is exposed to the outside on the outer surface of the receiver unit 4.

  A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 11 on which various information related to the telephone such as an address book and a telephone number, an image taken by the camera unit 7 and the like, and a reception speaker 12 are incorporated on the inner side of the reception unit 4. ing. On the inner surface side of the transmission section 5, in addition to the transmission microphone 13, operations including a dial button and various setting buttons for performing a dial operation at the time of transmission, a shutter button 14 and a zoom button 15 that are operated at the time of shooting, and the like. A portion 16 is provided. When the memory card 18 is loaded in the card slot 17 provided on the side surface of the transmitter section 5, an image photographed by the camera section 7 can be stored in the memory card 18 as image data.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the external shape of the camera unit 7. The camera unit 7 includes a zoom lens device 20 and an image sensor 21 attached to the outside of the zoom lens device 20. For example, a CCD type sensor is used as the image sensor 21, but a CMOS type image sensor may be used.

  The zoom lens device 20 includes a box-shaped lens housing 25 in which components are compactly incorporated, and a lid member 26 that closes an opening 25 a on the upper surface of the lens housing 25. As shown in FIG. 4, on the front surface 25 b and the back surface 25 c of the lens housing 25, circular shooting openings 27 and 28 through which subject light passes are provided so as to face the protection plate 8 and the image sensor 21. ing. Between the photographing apertures 27 and 28, first to third lens groups 30 to 32 constituting a zoom lens are incorporated. The third lens group 32 is fitted and fixed to the photographing aperture 28. Further, a lens driving mechanism 34 (see FIG. 3) for moving the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 along the photographing optical axis is incorporated on the side of the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31.

  The first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 include lens portions 30a and 31a, bearing portions 30b, 30c, 31b, and 31c, pin-shaped cam followers 30d and 31d that protrude in the outer peripheral direction, and springs, respectively. The hanging pieces 30e, 31e are integrally provided with a transparent plastic. The first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 are supported so as to be movable in the photographing optical axis direction by inserting the slide shafts 37 and 38 into the bearing portions 30b, 30c, 31b, and 31c. The slide shafts 37 and 38 are pivotally supported in bearing holes 25d and 25e formed in the front surface 25b and the back surface 25c of the lens housing 25.

  Press springs 41 and 42 inserted through slide shafts 37 and 38 are in contact with the front surfaces of the bearing portions 30b and 30c of the first lens group 30 to press the first lens group 30 toward the rear of the photographing optical axis. To do. A tension spring 43 is hung on the spring hanging pieces 30e and 31e, and urges the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 in the approaching direction.

  The lens drive mechanism 34 includes a motor 46, a motor gear 47 that is a worm gear attached to a rotation shaft 46a of the motor 46, a worm wheel L1 that converts the rotation direction of the motor gear 47 into a direction orthogonal to 90 °, A plurality of reduction gears L2 to L6 that reduce and transmit the rotation of the worm wheel L1, a cam drive gear 48 rotated by the reduction gear L6, and a cylindrical zoom cam 49 rotated by the cam drive gear 48 It is configured. The motor 46 is a pulse motor, and is rotated when the zoom button 15 is operated to perform zoom adjustment, or when the shutter button 14 is half-pressed to perform focus adjustment.

  The worm wheel L1 and the cam drive gear 48 are supported on the rotary shaft 50 so as to be rotatable, and the zoom cam 49 is supported so as to be rotatable and slidable. The rotating shaft 50 is fixed to bearing holes 25f and 25g formed in the front surface 25b and the back surface 25c of the lens housing 25. Thus, by supporting the two gears L1, 48 and the zoom cam 49 on the same axis, the number of parts of the zoom lens device 20 can be reduced, which can contribute to downsizing and cost reduction. Although not shown to avoid complication of the drawing, the motor 46 and the reduction gears L2 to L6 are supported by well-known bosses and bearings provided on the lens housing 25 and the lid member 26.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the cam drive gear 48, a groove portion 48b in which no tooth row is formed is formed at the center of the tooth surface portion of the gear portion 48a meshing with the reduction gear L6. A rib 53, which is a restricting member provided on the inner surface of the lid member 26, is inserted into the groove 48b. Thereby, the movement of the cam drive gear 48 in the axial direction is restricted. In addition, since the end surface of the rib 53 is formed in an arc shape in accordance with the curved surface of the groove portion 48b, the cam drive gear 48 can be reliably prevented from sliding even if the width of the rib 53 is narrow. Further, by attaching the lid member 26 to the lens housing 25, the rib 53 is inserted into the groove portion 48b of the cam drive gear 48, so that the number of assembly steps does not increase.

  As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7A, which is a development view of the cam drive gear 48 and the zoom cam 49, the end surface of the cam drive gear 48 on the side with respect to the zoom cam 49 protrudes along the axial direction. Are provided with three protruding interlocking bosses 56 arranged at a fixed angle. The interlocking boss 56 is a first interlocking member that constitutes an interlocking mechanism, and an arc-shaped cam follower 57 is integrally formed at the tip of each interlocking boss 56.

  On the end face of the zoom cam 49 on the side of the cam drive gear 48, there are formed three connecting protrusions 59 protruding along the axial direction and arranged at a constant angle in the rotation direction. The connection protrusion 59 is disposed away from the width dimension of the interlocking boss 56 and acts as a second link member and a third link member with respect to the link boss 56. Between each connecting projection 59, two slopes 61a, 61b, a top surface 61c provided in a position adjacent to both of the slopes 61a, 61b and close to the cam drive gear 48, and the connecting projection 59 And substantially triangular focus cams 62 are provided which are provided with flange surfaces 61d and 61e connected to the slopes 61a and 61b.

  A cam portion 64 protruding in the outer peripheral direction is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the zoom cam 49, and a first cam surface 65 and a second cam surface 66 are provided on the end surface of the cam portion 64. As shown in FIG. 8, which is a development view of these cam surfaces 65, 66, the first cam surface 65 has an arc shape in which both end portions are arranged at the same position in the optical axis direction. The cam surface 66 has a linear inclination from the wide end to the tele end. The flange surfaces 61d and 61e are at the same position in the optical axis direction because the zoom cam 49 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 4 to adjust the zoom from tele to wide and counterclockwise. In order to perform zoom adjustment from wide to tele, the focus positions of the flange surfaces 61d and 61e at both ends are set to the same position (for example, infinity), and different distances (for example, closest) to the top surfaces 61c of the inclined surfaces 61a and 61b It is to do.

  In the first lens group 30, a cam follower 30 d provided by being offset to the rear in the optical axis direction comes into contact with the first cam surface 65 by pressing of the pressing springs 41 and 42. When the second lens group 31 is pulled by the tension spring 43, the cam follower 31 d provided on the outer periphery comes into contact with the second cam surface 66.

  For example, when the cam drive gear 48 is rotated in the wide direction W shown in FIG. 6, one side surface 56 a of the interlocking boss 56 is connected to one side surface 59 a of the connecting projection 59 as shown in FIG. By pressing, the zoom cam 49 is rotated clockwise in FIG. As a result, the first lens group 30 moves toward the front end side of the optical axis, and the second lens group 31 moves toward the rear end side. Therefore, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. Is set on the wide-angle side. When the cam drive gear 48 is rotated in the tele direction T, the other side surface 56b of the interlocking boss 56 presses the other side surface 59b of the connecting projection 59 as shown in FIG. Is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. As a result, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 9A, the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 move toward the tip side in the optical axis direction, and the zoom magnification is set to the telephoto side. The

  When the rotation of the cam drive gear 48 switches from the rotation in the wide direction W to the rotation in the tele direction T shown in FIG. 7B, the cam follower 57 of the interlocking boss 56 contacts the focus cam 62. Since the interlocking boss 56 and the cam follower 57 are integrally formed in this manner, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where they are separately provided, which can contribute to downsizing and low cost.

  The zoom cam 49 is press-fitted with, for example, a rotary shaft 50 so that a predetermined amount of friction is generated during rotation. This friction F is, for example, smaller than the rotational torque T1 when the interlocking boss 56 of the cam drive gear 48 presses the connecting projection 59 to rotate the zoom cam 49, and the cam follower 57 presses the inclined surfaces 61a, 61b of the focus cam 62. As a result, the rotational torque T2 generated in the rotational direction of the zoom cam 49 is larger. Therefore, when the cam drive gear 48 switches from the rotation in the wide direction W to the tele direction T, even if the cam follower 57 comes into contact with the inclined surface of the focus cam 62, the zoom cam 49 does not rotate and does not rotate in the axial direction. Slide to.

  At the time of this sliding, as shown in FIG. 9B, the first cam surface 65 presses the cam follower 30 d of the first lens group 30 in the optical axis direction, and the second lens group 31 is biased by the tension spring 43. 2 The cam follower 31d moves to the tip end side in the optical axis direction so as to come into contact with the cam surface 66. As described above, since the section in which the zoom direction is switched can be used to move both in the optical axis direction without changing the distance between the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31, one motor can be used. With the lens driving mechanism 43 using 46, focus adjustment can be performed without changing the zoom magnification.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, which is an end view on the worm wheel L1 side, and FIG. 10B, which is an end view on the focus cam 62 side of the zoom cam 49, the first cam surface 65 and the second cam surface 66 Are provided with restricting protrusions 69 and 70 that protrude radially from the center of rotation. When the zoom cam 49 rotates more than a predetermined amount, the restricting projections 69 and 70 come into contact with the cam followers 30d and 31d of the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31, respectively, and the rotation of the zoom cam 49 is stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the system controller 75 controls each unit of the telephone unit 6 and the camera unit 7 in response to input operations from various buttons of the operation unit 16. When the camera-equipped mobile phone 2 is switched to the photographing mode, the system controller 75 reads out various programs stored in the ROM 77 via the data bus 76 and drives each part of the camera unit 7 according to these programs.

  A timing generator (TG) 80 generates a reference pulse and inputs it to the CCD driver 81 or the like. The CCD driver 81 drives the image sensor 21 according to the reference pulse. The image sensor 21 outputs an analog imaging signal based on the subject light incident through the lens groups 30 to 32.

  The imaging signal sequentially output from the image sensor 21 is an analog front end chip in which a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS), a variable gain amplifier (GCA), an A / D converter (ADC), etc. are incorporated in one chip. A circuit (AFE) 84 converts the digital image data. The image data thus obtained is subjected to simple image processing for through image display by the image processing circuit 85 and is sequentially written in the image memory 86. The image data written in the image memory 86 is read by the system controller 75 and is displayed as a through image on the LCD panel 11 by the LCD driver 87.

  The AF circuit 90 calculates an AF evaluation value from the contrast of image data for one screen generated by the image processing circuit 85. In general, the contrast of the image is highest when the subject image is in focus, and at this time, the AF evaluation value is also highest. The AF evaluation value is input to the system controller 75 as an AF evaluation value signal. The system controller 75 controls the motor driver 91 while constantly monitoring successively input AF evaluation value signals, and moves the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 to the focus matching position.

  When the shutter button 14 is operated during the live view display, advanced image processing for photographing is performed on the image data at that moment by the image processing circuit 85. Image data written in the image memory 86 after image processing is read by the system controller 75 and written to the memory card 18 via the media controller 94.

  Next, the photographing process of the camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present invention will be described. When shooting is performed using the camera-equipped mobile phone 2, the folded reception unit 4 and transmission unit 5 are brought into an unfolded state, and the selection button of the operation unit 16 is operated to select a shooting mode. When the shooting mode is selected, an origin position setting process for setting the zoom state of the zoom lens device 20 to the wide position is performed.

  In the origin position setting process, for example, the position of the first lens group 30 in the optical axis direction is confirmed using an optical sensor (not shown). The system controller 75 controls the motor driver 91 to rotate the motor 46 counterclockwise in FIG. The cam drive gear 48 rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure, and as shown in FIG. 7A, the side face 59a of the connecting projection 59 is pressed by the side face 56a of the interlocking boss 56, thereby rotating the zoom cam 49 in the same direction. . As a result, the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 move to the wide position indicated by the solid line in FIG. When the system controller 75 receives a detection signal indicating that the first lens group 30 has finished moving to the wide position from the optical sensor, the system controller 75 stops the rotation of the motor 46 and ends the origin position setting process.

  Since the image of the subject light incident on the image sensor 21 is displayed on the LCD panel 11 as a through image, the user operates the zoom button 15 while viewing the image to change the zoom magnification, or presses the shutter button 14. Press halfway to focus and frame the image being shot. For example, when the zoom button 15 is operated to the tele side, the motor 46 starts to rotate clockwise in FIG. The cam drive gear 48 rotates counterclockwise in the figure, and as shown in FIG. 7B, the side face 59b of the connecting projection 59 is pressed by the side face 56b of the interlocking boss 56, and the zoom cam 49 rotates in the same direction. Let Thus, the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 move toward the tele position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

  When the shutter button 14 is half-pressed, the system controller 75 determines the direction of rotation of the motor 46 by determining whether the current zoom adjustment is performed from wide to tele or from tele to wide. To do. For example, as described above, when zoom adjustment is performed from wide to tele, the motor 46 is rotated in the opposite direction at the time of zoom adjustment, that is, counterclockwise in FIG. As a result, the cam drive gear 48 rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure, and the cam follower 57 contacts the inclined surface 61a of the focus cam 62 as shown in FIG. The zoom cam 49 slides toward the tip end side of the optical axis as shown in FIG. 9B by the action of the rotational torque T2 generated by the cam follower 57 and the inclined surface 61a and the friction F in the rotational direction. Thereby, focus adjustment is performed while the zoom magnification is maintained.

  The system controller 75 controls the motor driver 91 while constantly monitoring the AF evaluation value signal sequentially input from the AF circuit 90, and moves the first lens group 30 and the second lens group 31 to the focus matching position. When the subject is in focus, for example, the fact may be displayed on the LCD panel 11 or a lamp or the like may be caused to emit light. When the shutter button 14 is operated during the live view display, the image data at that moment is subjected to advanced image processing for photographing by the image processing circuit 85 and written to the memory card 18.

  In the above embodiment, the zoom cam is formed by one component, but may be configured by a plurality of components. Hereinafter, a zoom lens device according to a second embodiment in which a zoom cam is constituted by two parts and a cam drive gear is incorporated between these parts will be described. Note that components having the same functions as those of the zoom lens device according to the first embodiment are described using the same component names and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  A zoom lens device 100 shown in FIG. 11 includes a lens housing 101 in which first to third lens groups 102 to 104 and a lens driving mechanism 105 are incorporated, and an image sensor 106 is attached to the rear surface. Similarly to the above-described embodiment, the lens driving mechanism 105 includes a motor 107, a plurality of reduction gears 108 that reduce and transmit the rotation of the motor 107, and the first lens group 102 and the second lens group 103 as optical axes. The zoom cam unit 109 is moved in the direction, and a lid member 110 that closes the lens housing 101.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the zoom cam unit 109 includes a first cam member 114 having a first cam surface 113 that moves the first lens group 102 on the outer periphery, and a second cam that moves the second lens group 103. The surface 115 is comprised from the 2nd cam member 116 provided in the outer periphery, and the cam drive gear 117 integrated between these 1st cam members 114 and the 2nd cam members 116. The first cam member 114, the second cam member 116, and the cam drive gear 117 are rotatably supported on the same rotation shaft 118.

  The cam drive gear 117 includes a gear part 120 to which the rotation of the motor 107 is transmitted via the reduction gear 108 and three interlocking bosses 121 and 122 formed on both end faces of the gear part 120. Arc-shaped cam followers 123 and 124 are formed at the tips of the interlocking bosses 121 and 122, respectively. The gear portion 120 is provided with a groove portion 120a. Since the arc-shaped rib 127 provided on the inner surface of the lid member 110 is inserted into the groove portion 120a, the cam drive gear 117 does not move in the axial direction. .

  A groove 130 into which the interlocking boss 122 is inserted is formed on the end surface of the second cam member 116 with respect to the cam drive gear 117. Although not shown in detail, a similar groove is formed on the end surface of the first cam member 114 with respect to the cam drive gear 117. Inside these grooves 130 and the like, there are provided connection projections and focus cams similar to those used in the first embodiment. At the time of zoom adjustment, the interlocking bosses 121 and 122 press the connecting projections in the groove 130 to rotate the two cam members 114 and 116 in the same direction. As a result, the first lens group 102 and the second lens group 103 move in the optical axis direction along the first cam surface 113 and the second cam surface 115, and the zoom magnification is changed. Further, at the time of focus adjustment, the cam followers 123 and 124 press the focus cam in the groove 130 to slide the first cam member 114 and the second cam member 116 toward the front end side in the optical axis direction.

  Note that, by changing the shape of the focus cam provided in the groove 130 of each cam member 114, 116, the first cam member 114 and the second cam member 116 may be moved in the same direction by the same amount during focus adjustment. It is possible to change the moving direction and moving amount. Furthermore, only one of the cam members can be moved.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the two lens groups are moved in the optical axis direction using the zoom cam arranged on the side of the lens group, but the cam is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the lens group is formed inside the cam. It may be incorporated. Hereinafter, the zoom lens device according to the third embodiment in which a lens group is incorporated inside a cylindrical cam will be described. However, components having the same functions as those of the zoom lens device according to each of the above embodiments have the same component names. Detailed explanation will be omitted.

  In the zoom lens device 150 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a lens barrel 152 and a lens driving mechanism 153 are incorporated in a lens housing 151, and an image sensor 154 is attached to the rear surface. The lens driving mechanism 153 includes a motor 155 and a plurality of reduction gears 156 that decelerate and transmit the rotation of the motor 155, as in the above-described embodiment. Circular photographing openings 159 and 160 are provided on the front surface 151 a and the back surface 151 b of the lens housing 151. In the photographing opening 160, three notches 161 are formed in which the rear end of the lens barrel 152 is locked.

  As shown in an exploded view in FIG. 15, the lens barrel 152 includes a fixed cylinder 165 fixed in the lens casing 151, and a first lens group 166 and a second lens group 167 incorporated in the fixed cylinder 165. A third lens group 168 incorporated in the rear end of the fixed cylinder 165, a cam cylinder 169 inserted through the outer periphery of the fixed cylinder 165, and a ring shape inserted through the rear end outer periphery of the fixed cylinder 165 and rotated by the motor 155 The cam drive gear 170 and a spring 171 inserted through the fixed cylinder 165 to press the cam cylinder 169 rearward of the optical axis.

  A groove 170a is formed in a tooth surface portion of the cam drive gear 170, and an arc-shaped rib 172 provided on the lower surface of the lens housing 151 is inserted into the groove 170a. Movement in is restricted. Since the insertion of the rib 172 into the groove 170a is performed accompanying the incorporation of the lens barrel 152 into the lens housing 151, the number of assembling steps is not reduced.

  Three rectilinear grooves 174 into which the cam followers 166a and 167a of the first lens group 166 and the second lens group 167 are inserted are formed on the outer periphery of the fixed cylinder 165. Three arc-shaped cam grooves 175 and 176 into which the cam followers 166a and 167a are inserted are formed on the outer periphery of the cam cylinder 169, respectively. Thus, when the cam cylinder 169 rotates on the outer periphery of the fixed cylinder 165, the first lens group 166 and the second lens group 167 move along the cam grooves 175 and 176 in the optical axis direction.

  Three interlocking bosses 180 are provided on the front end face of the cam drive gear 170, and an arc-shaped cam follower 181 is provided at the tip of the interlocking boss 180. Three connecting projections 182 and a focus cam 183 disposed between the connecting projections 182 are formed at the rear end of the cam cylinder 169. At the time of zoom adjustment, the interlocking boss 180 presses the connecting projection 182 to rotate the cam cylinder 169 and moves the first lens group 166 and the second lens group 167 in the optical axis direction according to the cam grooves 175 and 176. At the time of focus adjustment, the cam follower 181 presses the focus cam 182 to move the cam cylinder 169 to the tip side in the optical axis direction. Thereby, the focus adjustment is performed without changing the zoom magnification.

  In the zoom lens device 150 using the cam barrel 169, if the friction between the fixed barrel 165 and the cam barrel 169 is not set appropriately, the cam barrel 169 is moved when the cam barrel 169 is moved in the optical axis direction during focus adjustment. Will rotate. For this reason, if it is not possible to set the friction appropriately, the zoom lens device 150 may be changed to a step type zoom lens device.

  As is well known, the step-type zoom lens device is a method in which the zoom magnification is changed stepwise, and the stop position of the cam cylinder 169 at each zoom position is predetermined. As shown in FIG. 16, for example, a protrusion 190 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end of the fixed cylinder 165, and a groove 191 into which the protrusion 190 is inserted is formed on the inner surface of the distal end of the cam cylinder 169 in accordance with each zoom position. Since the protrusion 190 and each groove 191 always face each other when the zoom magnification is changed and the rotation of the cam cylinder 169 is stopped, when the cam cylinder 169 is moved to the tip end side of the optical axis during focus adjustment, The protrusion 190 can enter the groove 191 to restrict the rotation of the cam cylinder 169.

  Since the cam cylinder 169 is biased toward the rear of the optical axis by the spring 171, the protrusion 190 and the groove 191 are not engaged when the cam cylinder 169 is rotated during zoom adjustment. Further, although the protrusion 190 is formed on the fixed cylinder 165 and the groove 191 is formed on the cam cylinder 169, the reverse may be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, the cam drive gear is provided with the interlocking boss and the cam follower as the first linkage member, and the zoom cam is provided with the second and third linkage members and the focus cam. Moreover, although the pulse motor was used as a motor, you may use other motors, such as a DC motor. Further, although a camera-equipped mobile phone has been described as an example, it can also be used as a zoom lens device such as a normal digital camera, a video camera, and a silver salt camera.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance shape of the mobile telephone with a camera using the zoom lens apparatus of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile phone with a camera. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance shape of the zoom lens apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a zoom lens apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the axial support state of a zoom cam. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the mechanism which links between a cam drive gear and a zoom cam. It is explanatory drawing which shows the linkage state of a cam drive gear and a zoom cam. It is a development view of each cam surface of the zoom cam. It is a top view showing the movement of each part at the time of zoom adjustment of a zoom lens apparatus, and focus adjustment. It is a side view showing the end surface of a zoom cam. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance shape of the zoom lens apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a zoom cam unit. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance shape of the zoom lens apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the zoom lens apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of a lens-barrel. It is a perspective view which shows the shape of the protrusion and groove | channel which regulate rotation of a cam cylinder.

Explanation of symbols

2 Mobile Phone with Camera 7 Camera Unit 20 Zoom Lens Device 21 Image Sensor 30 First Lens Group 31 Second Lens Group 32 Third Lens Group 34 Lens Drive Mechanism 46 Motor 48 Cam Drive Gear 48b Groove 49 Zoom Cam 53 Rib 56 Interlocking Boss 57 Cam follower 59 Connecting protrusion 62 Focus cam

Claims (2)

A first lens group and a second lens group disposed on the optical axis;
Support means for supporting the first lens group and the second lens group so as to be movable in the optical axis direction;
A motor that rotates forward when moving the first lens group and the second lens group toward the wide-angle position, and reverses when moving toward the telephoto position;
A cam drive gear that rotates in the first direction by forward rotation of the motor and rotates in the second direction by reverse rotation;
A zoom cam that is rotatably and slidably supported on a rotation axis parallel to the optical axis, and moves in the optical axis direction in association with the first lens group and the second lens group;
A first linkage member provided on one of the cam drive gear and the zoom cam, and a cam follower;
A second linkage member that is provided on the other side and that contacts the first linkage member when the cam drive gear rotates in the first direction and transmits the rotation of the cam drive gear to the zoom cam; and the second linkage The member is arranged at a position away from the width dimension of the first linkage member, and the cam drive gear is in contact with the first linkage member when the cam drive gear rotates in the second direction. Is provided between the second linkage member and the third linkage member, and the rotation direction of the cam drive gear is changed, and then the first linkage member and the third linkage member are transmitted to the zoom cam. A focus cam that is pressed by the cam follower and slides the zoom cam in the axial direction until the second or third linkage member comes into contact therewith,
The zoom lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first linkage member and the cam follower are provided integrally. The first linkage member is a rod-shaped component, and a side surface of which is in contact with the second linkage member and the third linkage member, and the cam follower is formed in a substantially arc shape formed at the tip of the first linkage member. The zoom lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the zoom lens apparatus comprises:

Images