JP2006284732A - Camera module and imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera module in which downsizing is realized, while having advanced functions, and to provide an imaging apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The camera module includes an imaging element 1; a plurality of optical members 4 and 9 having lenses 5 and 10, respectively of different characteristics; an operation member 18 for controlling the positions of the optical members 4 and 9; and a drive means 32 for driving the operation member 18. The operation member 18 is designed, such that by using the drive force generated by the single-drive means 32, the optical members 4 and 9 are displaced so that the lenses 5 and 10 are made to retract from an optical axis passing through the imaging face 2 of the imaging element 1 and also the optical members 4 and 9, where the lenses 5 and 10 respectively are located on the optical axis are displaced along the optical axis. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera module, and more particularly to a small camera module mounted on a portable terminal or the like. The present invention also relates to an imaging device equipped with a photographing function such as a portable terminal.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a camera module that changes the magnification using one lens by switching between a state in which the lens is interposed on the optical axis and a state in which the lens is not interposed (for example, Patent Document 1). There is also known a camera module that changes the magnification using two lenses by selectively switching lenses having different focal lengths (for example, Patent Document 2).
JP-A-6-102572 Japanese Patent No. 2657104

  By the way, in recent years, mobile terminal devices such as mobile phones equipped with camera modules have become popular, and those that can be easily photographed have become commonplace. Recently, however, the diversity and high quality of captured images have been improved. In order to respond, advanced functions such as a magnification changing function and a focus adjusting function are being demanded.

  However, the camera module proposed in Patent Document 1 or 2 described above does not have a focus adjustment function, and in order for these camera modules to have a focus adjustment function, the lens is arranged in the optical axis direction. A separate driving means for displacing is required.

  In this case, the number of parts is increased and the structure is inevitably complicated, and it is difficult to adopt such a camera module in a mobile phone that is naturally required to be downsized.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera module and an imaging device that can be downsized while having advanced functions.

  The camera module according to the present invention includes an imaging device, a plurality of optical members each having a lens having different characteristics, and each of the optical members so that the lens is withdrawn with respect to an optical axis passing through an imaging surface of the imaging device. And an operation member that displaces an optical member whose lens is positioned on the optical axis along the optical axis, and a single drive means for driving the operation member, wherein the operation member Is a cam member provided with a cam portion corresponding to each optical member, and the cam portion is formed around a rotation axis of the cam member and has a large-diameter first cam surface having a small-diameter relief portion, And a second cam surface having an inclined portion extending radially outward from the escape portion and inclined along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft.

  According to the camera module having the above-described configuration, the magnification changing function is achieved by the operation of the operation member that displaces each optical member so that the lens having different characteristics moves out of and with respect to the optical axis. Is achieved by the operation of the operating member that displaces the optical member positioned on the optical axis along the optical axis, and these two operations are realized by a single driving means that transmits a driving force to the operating member. The operation member is formed with a cam portion corresponding to each optical member, and the optical member shifts from a state along one of the first cam surface or the second cam surface to a state along the other, so that the optical member The member performs the operation of the above-described magnification changing function, and the optical member along this performs the operation of the above-described focus adjustment function by the change in the height of the second cam surface in the rotation axis direction.

  That is, according to the camera module of the present invention, advanced functions such as a magnification change function and a focus adjustment function can be realized by a single drive source and a single cam member, and can also be mounted on a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone. A small camera module can be provided.

  Further, in the case of the above camera module, a plurality of optical systems having different focal lengths can be configured on the optical axis by one lens or a combination of a plurality of lenses, and a reference image by the optical system on the short focal length side When the magnified image area obtained by processing is equivalent to the reference image area by the long focal length optical system, the optical system is arranged so that the long focal length optical system is interposed on the optical axis. A configuration capable of executing the position control of the member can be employed.

  According to this configuration, when the zoom operation is performed, the image quality can be improved by changing the optical system when the magnification required for the zoom operation becomes equal to the magnification of the optical system on the long focal length side. Therefore, it is possible to suitably maintain the image quality over a wide range of magnifications while making it possible to provide an image with an arbitrary magnification.

  The imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging element, a plurality of optical members each having a lens having different characteristics, and the optical members so that the lens is moved back and forth with respect to an optical axis passing through an imaging surface of the imaging element. An operation member for displacing the optical member whose lens is positioned on the optical axis along the optical axis, and a single drive means for driving the operation member, the operation member Is a cam member provided with a cam portion corresponding to each optical member, and the cam portion is formed around a rotation axis of the cam member and has a large-diameter first cam surface having a small-diameter relief portion, And a second cam surface having an inclined portion extending radially outward from the escape portion and inclined along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft.

  According to the imaging device having the above configuration, for the same reason as the camera module of the present invention described above, advanced functions such as a magnification change function and a focus adjustment function can be realized with a single drive source and a single cam member. It becomes possible to provide an excellent imaging device advantageous for downsizing. In addition, as imaging devices, various devices having an imaging function, for example, a dedicated camera such as a digital camera, as well as a device such as a mobile phone, a PDA, a notebook personal computer, and other devices additionally equipped with an imaging function. Is applicable.

  As described above, according to the camera module of the present invention, advanced functions such as a magnification change function and a focus adjustment function can be realized with a single drive source and a single cam member, and in a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone. It is possible to provide a small camera module that can also be mounted.

  Further, according to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, advanced functions such as a magnification changing function and a focus adjustment function can be realized by a single drive source and a single cam member, and an excellent imaging apparatus advantageous for downsizing can be provided. It becomes like this.

  An embodiment of a camera module according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the camera module includes an imaging device 1, optical members 4 and 9 each having a lens, an operation member 18 that operates each optical member 4 and 9, and the operation member 18. Drive means 32 for driving.

  In such a camera module, each of the above elements is housed in a housing (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), and external light is introduced into the housing through the lens to the image sensor 1. In addition, a hole for photographing is formed.

  The imaging element 1 is a well-known element such as a CCD or a CMOS, as shown well in FIG. 2, and has an imaging surface 2 on the surface on the subject side. Further, the periphery of the imaging surface 2 is surrounded by the wall 3. The optical axis of the camera module is set with respect to the image sensor 1 and is set at a position that passes through the imaging surface 2 and is orthogonal to the imaging surface 2. Therefore, the image sensor 1 is positioned so that the optical axis passes through the photographing hole formed in the casing.

  The optical member 4 is disposed on the subject side, one optical member 9 is disposed on the imaging element 1 side, and the optical members 4 and 9 are rotatably supported by the shaft member 14. The shaft member 14 is provided in a direction along the optical axis, and the optical members 4 and 9 rotate perpendicular to the shaft member 14, that is, perpendicular to the optical axis. In addition, between the pair of optical members 4 and 9, a light shielding plate 15 having a diaphragm hole and a shutter 16 driven by an actuator such as an electromagnet are interposed.

  The optical member 4 has a long focal length tele lens 5 having a circular periphery, a frame portion 6 provided so as to surround the periphery of the tele lens 5, an arm portion 7 extending from a part of the frame portion 6, and The operation member 18 includes a follower portion 8 along a cam portion described later. The shooting hole formed in the housing is formed to have a larger diameter than the frame portion 6. The arm portion 7 is formed to have a smaller axial dimension than the frame portion 6. The arm portion 7 is formed with a shaft hole through which the shaft member 14 is inserted, and the optical member 4 is rotatable by the arm portion 7.

  On the other hand, the optical member 9 includes a wide lens 10 having a short focal length, and includes a frame portion 11, an arm portion 12, and a follower portion 13, similar to the optical member 4. Note that the wall portion 3 surrounding the periphery of the imaging surface of the imaging element 1 is formed to have a larger diameter than the frame portion 11. The arm portion 12 is formed to have a smaller axial dimension than the frame portion 11. The arm portion 12 is formed with a shaft hole through which the shaft member 14 is inserted. The optical member 9 is rotatable by the arm portion 12.

  The pair of optical members 4 and 9 are configured so that a force for bringing them close to each other along the axial direction acts, and specifically, they are connected by a known elastic member 17 such as a spring. In addition, the pair of optical members 4 and 9 are configured to be restricted by a predetermined restricting means from approaching each other at a predetermined interval.

  The operation member 18 is a cam member that is driven to rotate, and the cam member 18 has two cam portions (an upper cam portion and a lower cam portion) corresponding to the optical members 4 and 9 along the rotation axis. ) 19 and 28 are provided. Thus, the two optical members can be operated by one operating member. Specifically, the followers 8 and 13 of the optical members 4 and 9 are in contact with the cams 19 and 28, respectively.

  The cam member 18 is rotationally driven by known driving means 32 such as a motor via a gear provided at the lower end, and the rotational axis thereof is provided along the optical axis. Further, the cam member 18 is driven counterclockwise as viewed from above, but is not limited thereto, and may be driven clockwise, and the rotation direction can be appropriately changed. May be.

  The cam portions 19 and 28 have the same shape in relation to the follower portions 8 and 13 that are in contact with the cam portions 19 and 28, and the phases of the cam portions 19 and 28 are shifted by a half cycle from the rotation axis. Formed in position.

  Specifically, the cam portion 19 is formed around the rotation axis of the cam member 18 and has a large-diameter first cam surface 20 having a small-diameter relief portion 21, and extends radially outward from the relief portion 21. And a second cam surface 22 having an inclined portion along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft.

  The first cam surface 20 is an arcuate surface having a constant radius of curvature over a predetermined angle range.

  On the other hand, the second cam surface 22 is formed in a fan shape when viewed from above over an angle range equivalent to the angle range in which the escape portion 21 is formed, and the inclined portion 23 whose height in the rotation axis direction changes, and the inclination The flat part 26,27 with the constant height of the rotating shaft direction formed in the both sides of the part 23 is comprised. The flat portions 26 and 27 are regions in which the follower portion 8 of the optical member 4 rotating around the shaft member 14 enters or exits radially inward from the outer peripheral side of the cam member 18. It is. The inclined portion 23 is composed of two slopes (slow slope and steep slope) 24 and 25 having different slopes.

  Similar to the upper cam portion 19, the lower cam portion 28 includes a first cam surface 29, a relief portion 30, and a second cam surface 31.

  The optical members 4 and 9 are biased toward the optical axis by a known elastic member such as a torsion coil spring, and when the follower portions 8 and 13 come into contact with the corresponding first cam surfaces 20 and 29, respectively. The follower portions 8 and 13 rotate from the first cam surfaces 20 and 29 to the second cam surfaces 22 and 31 in a direction away from the optical axis against the biasing force. When the transition is made, the second cam surfaces 22 and 31 are urged by the elastic member 17.

  The operation of the optical members 4 and 9 by the camera module having the above configuration will be described based on the schematic side view shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the member positioned on the optical member 4 is the camera module housing 33, and the hole 34 is the shooting hole formed in the housing 33.

  First, in the state shown in FIG. 3A, the optical member 4 having the tele lens 5 is in the retracted position, and the optical member 9 having the wide lens 10 is in the optical axis position. Next, as an operation for changing the magnification, the lenses 5 and 10 are switched, and the state shown in FIG. 3B, that is, the optical member 4 is in the optical axis position and the optical member 9 is in the retracted position.

  Then, as a focus adjustment operation, the optical member 4 having the tele lens 5 is displaced on the optical axis toward the subject, and the state shown in FIG. At this time, as described above, since the frame portion 6 of the optical member 4 has a smaller diameter than the hole 34 for photographing and the frame portion 6 protrudes from the arm portion 7, the optical member 4 has the frame portion 6. Can be displaced to a position where it enters the shooting hole 34.

  On the other hand, when the wide lens 10 performs the focus adjustment operation, the optical member 9 having the wide lens 10 is displaced from the state shown in FIG. The state shown in D) is obtained. At this time, as described above, the frame portion 11 of the optical member 9 has a smaller diameter than the wall portion 3 surrounding the imaging surface 2 of the imaging element 1, and the frame portion 11 protrudes from the arm portion 12. Therefore, the optical member 9 can be displaced to a position where the frame portion 11 enters the inside of the wall portion 3. Further, the frame portion 11 of the optical member 9 is brought into contact with the image pickup device 1 so that the image pickup surface 2 of the image pickup device 1 is covered with the frame portion 11.

  Next, an example of the operation of the cam member 18 for operating the optical members 4 and 9 as described above will be described based on FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, the position indicated by S in FIGS. 1 and 2 (the transition portion on the gentle slope side between the first cam surface and the second cam surface) is 0 °, and the upper cam portion 19 will be mainly described. To do.

  First, at 0 °, the optical member 4 is in the retracted position (the state shown in FIG. 3A), and the follower portion 8 is in contact with the first cam surface 20 and the second cam surface 22 The height is equal to the flat portion 26.

  Next, when the cam member 18 rotates, the follower portion 8 is disengaged from the first cam surface 20 and is displaced inward in the radial direction on the flat portion 26. Accordingly, the tele lens 5 approaches the optical axis. Displace to Then, within about 60 ° from the start of rotation of the cam member 18, the follower portion 8 changes its direction, the tele lens 5 is inserted on the optical axis, and the optical member 4 is in the optical axis position (FIG. 3 (B) state).

  When the cam member 18 further rotates, the follower portion 8 reaches the gentle slope 24 of the second cam surface 22 and rises to the top along the gentle slope 24 over an angle range of about 90 ° (FIG. 3 ( C) state). The focus adjustment is performed while ascending the gentle slope 24. The top is at an angular position of about 150 °.

  Then, the follower portion 8 reaches the steep slope 25 of the second cam surface 22, descends along the steep slope 25 over an angle range of about 30 °, and returns to the flat portion 27 at an angular position of about 180 ° ( 2 and FIG. 3B). The focus adjustment may be performed not only while ascending along the gentle slope 24 but also while descending along the steep slope 25.

  Then, the follower portion 8 is displaced radially outward on the flat portion 27 over an angular range of about 60 °, and accordingly, the tele lens 5 is displaced so as to be detached from the optical axis. Further, the follower portion 8 is in contact with an end surface defining the end of the second cam surface 22 and receives a force acting radially outward with the edge of the end surface as a fulcrum. In this way, the follower portion 8 changes its direction, the tele lens 5 is detached from the optical axis, and the optical member 4 returns to the retracted position (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A). At this time, the follower portion 8 is at an angular position of about 240 ° and contacts the first cam surface 20.

  Thereafter, the follower portion 8 abuts on the first cam surface 20 over an angular range of about 120 ° up to an angular position of 0 °.

  As described above, the other lower cam portion 28 has the same shape as the upper cam portion 19 with a phase shifted by a half cycle. For this reason, for example, when the optical member 4 is at the optical axis position and the follower portion 8 contacts the inclined portion 23 of the second cam surface 22, the follower portion 13 of the optical member 9 It is in contact with the first cam surface, that is, the optical member 9 is in the retracted position.

  As described above, according to the camera module of the present embodiment, advanced functions such as a magnification change function and a focus adjustment function can be realized with a single driving means and a single cam member, and a portable terminal such as a cellular phone. It becomes possible to provide a small camera module that can be mounted on the apparatus.

  Further, since the optical member 4 can be displaced along the optical axis so that a part of the optical member 4 enters the photographing hole 34 in a state where the tele lens 5 is positioned on the optical axis, the focus adjustment is performed. Therefore, it is possible to secure an effective region in which the optical member 4 can be displaced in order to perform an excellent focus adjustment function, and to reduce the thickness of the housing.

  Further, when a part of the optical member 9 enters the inside of the wall portion 3, the space between the wide lens 10 and the imaging surface 2 is surrounded by the frame portion 11 and the wall portion 3, and dust or The disturbance light can be effectively blocked. And since the frame part 11 of the optical member 9 is brought into contact with the image sensor 1 and the imaging surface 2 of the image sensor 1 is covered with the frame part 11, the dust and disturbance light can be more effectively blocked. Can do.

  When the frame portion 11 of the optical member 9 is brought into contact with the image pickup device 1 in this way, dust or the like can be blocked even if the wall portion 3 is omitted, and when the wall portion 3 is provided, Even if the part 11 is not brought into contact with the image sensor 1, the effect of blocking dust and the like can be expected.

  By the way, in the camera module, a plurality of optical systems having different focal lengths can be configured on the optical axis by one lens or a combination of a plurality of lenses positioned on the optical axis, and optical magnifications are discretely different. A plurality of images can be obtained, but by using the digital zoom together, an image having a continuously changing magnification can be obtained based on the image obtained by the optical system.

  Specifically, when the region of the enlarged image obtained by processing the reference image by the short focal length side optical system is equivalent to the region of the reference image by the long focal length side optical system, the long focal length side optical Position control of the optical member is performed so that the system is in a state of being interposed on the optical axis.

  Each optical system may be composed of a single lens or may be composed of a combination of a plurality of lenses. In this case, the focal length of the optical system is the combined focal length of each lens.

  Hereinafter, based on FIG. 5, a camera including a tele lens 5 having an optical magnification of 2.5 as an optical system on the long focal length side and a wide lens 10 having an optical magnification of 1 as an optical system on the short focal length side. In the module, a zoom operation for continuously increasing the magnification is performed, and an image is provided by continuously enlarging the image from 1 × which is the optical magnification of the wide lens 10 to 5 × which is larger than the optical magnification of the tele lens 5. To do. The digital processing and the lens switching processing are performed by an arbitrary arithmetic processing device.

  First, a wide lens 10 is interposed on the optical axis, and a first reference image by the wide lens 10 is obtained. Then, in response to an operation for increasing the magnification, the first reference image is enlarged by digital processing to provide an enlarged image. At this time, the image quality of the provided image has a relationship that decreases as the magnification increases. When the magnification is increased to 2.5, an operation of switching the lens interposed on the optical axis from the wide lens 10 to the tele lens 5 is performed.

  When the second reference image obtained by the tele lens 5 is obtained, the enlarged image enlarged up to 2.5 times is replaced with the second reference image. By this processing, the image quality of the provided image becomes comparable to that of the first reference image. At this time, the image providing area of the enlarged image and the area of the second reference image are the same. When an operation for further increasing the magnification is performed, the second reference image is enlarged by digital processing to provide an enlarged image. At this time, as before, the image quality of the provided image has a relationship of decreasing as the magnification increases.

  In this way, when the zoom operation is performed, the image quality can be improved by changing the optical system when the magnification required for the zoom operation becomes the magnification of the optical system on the long focal length side. Thus, it is possible to provide an image with an arbitrary magnification while suitably maintaining the image quality over a wide magnification range.

  The camera module according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the imaging element 1 may have a configuration in which the imaging surface 2 is closed by a fixing member 35 having a transparent portion disposed at least on the optical axis. In this way, dust and disturbance light can be effectively blocked. In this case, the fixing member 35 is a member including a lens, and particularly preferably a member including a standard lens or a wide-angle lens.

  In the above embodiment, the cam member 18 has been described as having the two cam portions 19 and 28 formed at positions where the phase is shifted by a half cycle. However, the degree of shifting the phase and the cam portion provided. The number, the shape of the cam portion, the degree of inclination, etc. are not limited to this. And the cam member which a camera module has is not limited to one, A plurality may be sufficient as long as it is each rotationally driven by one drive means.

  In the present invention, the camera module has two optical members. However, the camera module may have only one optical member.

  In this embodiment, the camera module is described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to various imaging devices such as a mobile phone and a PDA having the same configuration.

  The camera module according to the present invention has advanced functions such as a magnification change function and a focus adjustment function, and can reduce the size of the camera module. This is particularly useful in the field of portable terminal devices.

  In addition, since the imaging device of the present invention has advanced functions such as a magnification change function and a focus adjustment function, the imaging device can be reduced in size. Applicable.

1 is a perspective view of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state where an optical member on an image sensor side is at an optical axis position. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the camera module according to the embodiment in a state where the optical member on the subject side is at the optical axis position. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the operation of the camera module according to the embodiment, and FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the optical member on the subject side is in the retracted position and the optical member on the imaging element side is in the optical axis position. Cross-sectional view, (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where the optical member on the subject side is at the optical axis position, and the optical member on the image sensor side is in the retracted position, and (C) is an optical member on the subject side. FIG. 4D is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state where a part of the optical member is in the shooting hole at the axial position, and FIG. Schematic sectional view showing a state in which a part of the wall has entered the inside of the wall The figure explaining operation | movement of the optical member of the camera module which concerns on the embodiment The figure which shows the relationship between the image quality of the image image | photographed using the camera module which concerns on the embodiment, and magnification. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the camera module which concerns on other embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a schematic sectional drawing of a camera module provided with the fixing member which obstruct | occludes an imaging surface, and two optical members which can be displaced, B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a camera module including a fixing member that closes the imaging surface and one optical member that can be displaced.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Imaging element 2 Imaging surface 3 Wall part 4 Optical member 5 Tele lens 6 Frame part 7 Arm part 8 Follower part 9 Optical member 10 Wide lens 11 Frame part 12 Arm part 13 Follower part 14 Shaft member 15 Light-shielding plate 16 Shutter 17 Elastic member 18 Cam member 19 Upper cam portion 20 First cam surface 21 Escape portion 22 Second cam surface 23 Inclined portion 24 Slow slope 25 Steep slope 26 Flat portion 27 Flat portion 28 Lower cam portion 29 First cam surface 30 Escape portion 31 Second cam surface 32 Driving means 33 Housing 34 Shooting hole 35 Fixing member S Transition portion on the gentle slope side between the first cam surface and the second cam surface

Claims (3)

An image sensor, a plurality of optical members each having a lens having different characteristics, and each optical member is displaced so that the lens moves out and with respect to an optical axis passing through an image pickup surface of the image sensor, and the lens is light A camera module comprising: an operating member that displaces an optical member positioned on the axis along the optical axis; and a single driving unit that drives the operating member,
The operation member is a cam member provided with a cam portion corresponding to each optical member, and the cam portion is formed around a rotation axis of the cam member and has a large-diameter first cam surface having a small-diameter relief portion. And a second cam surface having an inclined portion extending radially outward from the escape portion and inclined along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft. A camera module capable of configuring a plurality of optical systems having different focal lengths on the optical axis by one lens or a combination of a plurality of lenses,
When the area of the enlarged image obtained by processing the reference image by the optical system on the short focal length side is equivalent to the area of the reference image by the optical system on the long focal length side, the optical system on the long focal length side is on the optical axis. The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the camera module is configured to be able to execute position control of the optical member so as to be in a state of being interposed in the camera. An image sensor, a plurality of optical members each having a lens having different characteristics, and each optical member is displaced so that the lens moves out and with respect to an optical axis passing through an image pickup surface of the image sensor, and the lens is light An imaging apparatus comprising: an operating member that displaces an optical member positioned on the axis along the optical axis; and a single driving unit that drives the operating member,
The operation member is a cam member provided with a cam portion corresponding to each optical member, and the cam portion is formed around a rotation axis of the cam member and has a large-diameter first cam surface having a small-diameter relief portion. And a second cam surface having an inclined portion extending radially outward from the escape portion and inclined along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft.

Images