JP2006333432A - Optical module and portable terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical module where design freedom in thinning the module in the direction of its optical axis can be increased. <P>SOLUTION: An optical module 7 has a lens group 21; a lens holding body 22 for holding the lens group 21; a base 23 for lens, holding the lens holding body 22 so as to be movable in the direction of the optical axis of the lens group 21; a motor 13, including an output shaft 13b extended in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens group 21, for rotating the output shaft 13b; and a transmission mechanism 53 for converting the rotation of the output shaft 13b into translation motion in the optical axis direction to transmit to the lens holding body 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical module and a mobile terminal including the optical module.

As a technique for driving a lens included in a camera or the like in the optical axis direction, for example, there are the following techniques.
Patent Document 1 discloses an imaging apparatus that includes a focusing imaging lens that is driven along an optical axis by a drive motor, and an aperture stop that adjusts the amount of incident light of the imaging lens. Note that the arrangement of the lens, aperture, and motor is not disclosed.
Patent Document 2 discloses an image pickup apparatus that opens and closes a shutter after driving an image pickup lens to a focus position by a driving force of a motor. The motor is arranged so that the output shaft is parallel to the optical axis.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a front stop second group zoom lens in which an aperture stop is disposed on the subject side of the lens group. Note that the arrangement of motors and the like is not disclosed.
There are also known technologies such as an imaging device that drives a lens and a diaphragm by a single drive source, and a portable terminal that puts an optical member for close-up photography into and out of an optical path by a motor.
JP-A 64-17030 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 03-38625 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-123418

  In the above technique, the motor is arranged so that the output shaft is parallel to the optical axis. Therefore, it is necessary to secure the arrangement area of each part in the optical axis direction by the amount obtained by integrating the moving range of the lens, the length of the motor output shaft, the length of the motor body, etc. Is limited.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an optical module that is thinned in the optical axis direction and a portable terminal including the optical module.

  The optical module of the present invention is output from a lens, a lens holder that holds the lens movably in the optical axis direction of the lens, a drive source having an output shaft that outputs a driving force, and the output shaft. A transmission mechanism that transmits a driving force to the lens holder, a shutter blade, a shutter base that holds the shutter blade so that an optical path of the lens can be opened and closed, and an imaging element on which a light image is formed by the lens; And a substrate on which the image pickup element is provided, and is arranged in a stacked manner in order of the shutter base, the lens holder, and the substrate from one direction with respect to the optical axis direction, and the drive source is the shutter With respect to the substrate for use and the lens holder, they are arranged in parallel in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.

  Preferably, the drive source is arranged so that the output shaft is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, and the transmission mechanism transmits a driving force output from the output shaft, to the optical axis. A worm that rotates about a substantially orthogonal axis, a gear portion that meshes with the worm or a gear that transmits rotation of the worm, and a cam portion that is inclined with respect to a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, A cam gear that rotates about a substantially parallel axis, and the lens holding member abuts on the cam portion and is guided in the optical axis direction.

  Preferably, the apparatus further includes position detection means having a detected part disposed in the cam gear and a detection part disposed in the vicinity of the cam gear, and the position detection means is configured to be detected by the detection unit. The position of the lens is detected by detecting the rotation of the lens.

  Preferably, the cam gear is arranged in the order of the detected portion and the cam portion from the inside of the cam gear.

  Preferably, in the cam gear, the cam portion and the gear portion are arranged concentrically with the cam gear.

  The mobile terminal of the present invention includes a terminal housing and an optical module that is housed in the terminal housing and forms an optical image from an opening provided in the terminal housing, and the optical module includes: A lens, a lens holder that holds the lens movably in the optical axis direction of the lens, a drive source having an output shaft that outputs a driving force, and a driving force output from the output shaft; And a shutter blade, a shutter base that holds the shutter blade so that an optical path of the lens can be opened and closed, an image sensor on which a light image is formed by the lens, and the image sensor. A substrate, and the shutter base, the lens holder, and the substrate are stacked in this order from one direction with respect to the optical axis direction, and the drive source is the shutter base and the lens holder. In contrast, in parallel arranged in the direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a thin optical module and a portable terminal including the optical module.

  1 and 2 are external perspective views showing an embodiment of a mobile phone to which the present invention is applied. The mobile phone 1 is configured as a so-called foldable mobile phone. FIG. 1 shows an open state, and FIG. 2 shows a closed state.

  The mobile phone 1 includes a receiving case 2 and a transmitting case 3, and the receiving case 2 and the transmitting case 3 are connected to each other by a connecting portion 4 so as to be opened and closed. The receiving case 2 and the transmitting case 3 are provided with front side cases 2c and 3c on the side (front side) facing each other in the closed state, and back side cases 2d and 3d on the back side. These cases are integrally formed of, for example, resin.

  The receiving case 2 is provided with a main display unit 5 that displays an image on the front side and a sub display unit 6 that displays an image on the back side along each surface. The main display unit 5 and the sub display unit 6 are configured by a liquid crystal display, for example. In addition, the receiver case 2 is provided with an optical module 7 for imaging a subject from an opening 2e provided in the back side case 2d, and a strobe 8 that emits light from the back side.

  The transmitter case 3 includes an operation unit 9 on the front side. Various buttons for operating the cellular phone 1 such as a numeric keypad 9a are arranged on the operation unit 9. The cellular phone 1 performs radio communication or imaging with the optical module 7 in response to an input operation to the numeric keypad 9a.

  The mobile phone 1 is provided with a high-frequency circuit for radio communication, an antenna, a microphone and a speaker for telephone call, which are not shown.

  FIG. 3A is a schematic perspective view of the optical module 7, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. Note that the y-axis direction in FIG. 3 is the optical axis direction, and the lower left side in FIG. 3A and the upper side in FIG. 3B are the subject side (upper side in FIG. 2).

  The optical module 7 includes a subject side cover 11, a shutter unit 12, a lens unit 14, a substrate cover 15, and a substrate 16 stacked in order from the subject side in the optical axis direction, and is generally formed into a thin rectangular parallelepiped thin in the optical axis direction. Is formed.

  Specifically, the subject side cover 11, the lens unit 14 (lens base 23 to be described later), the substrate cover 15, and the substrate 16 are formed in a substantially rectangular shape having substantially the same size as viewed in the optical axis direction. The side surfaces of these parts constitute side surfaces of the overall shape, and the subject side cover 11 and the substrate 16 constitute the subject side surface of the overall shape and the back surface thereof. The optical module 7 is configured as a relatively small module. For example, the width of the surface orthogonal to the optical axis is 22 mm × 16 mm, and the thickness in the optical axis direction is 6.9 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the optical module 7 has a built-in motor 13 for driving the lens in the optical axis direction, and the focus position can be adjusted by moving the lens in the optical axis direction. It is.

  4 is an exploded perspective view of the optical module 7 viewed from the subject side, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the optical module 7 viewed from the opposite side of the subject side. In FIG. 5, the substrate cover 15 and the substrate 16 are omitted.

  The subject side cover 11 is formed in a rectangular box shape as a whole, and has a plate surface 11a on the subject side and a side surface 11b surrounding the outer periphery of the plate surface 11a. At one end side in the x-axis direction, a rectangular opening portion 11c that is approximately half the size of the subject-side cover 11 opens, and most of the shutter unit 12 is exposed. The subject side cover 11 is made of, for example, metal. In the optical module 7, the subject side cover 11 may be omitted.

  The shutter unit 12 is formed in a thin, substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape having an outer shape that is approximately half as wide as the lens unit 14 as a whole. As shown in FIG. 5, a circular recess 12a centered on the optical path is provided on the lens unit 14 side of the shutter unit 12. As shown in FIG. 3B, the recess 12a will be described later. The lens group 21 is inserted, and the concave portion 12 a can define a part of the moving region of the lens group 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the motor 13 is a lens unit that is arranged in parallel with the shutter unit 12 with respect to the optical axis, that is, the shutter unit 12 and the motor 13 are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis. 14 on the subject side. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the motor 13 is located on the radially outer side of the lens group 21 to be described later.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a flexible printed wiring board (FPC) 32 for electrically connecting the shutter unit 12, the motor 13 and the like to the substrate 16 is provided on the subject side of the motor 13. It has been.

  The lens unit 14 includes a lens group 21, a lens holder 22 that holds the lens group 21, and a lens base body 23 that holds the lens holder 22 so as to be movable in the optical axis direction of the lens group 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the lens group 21 includes, for example, three optical lenses. From the subject side, the first lens 24, the mask 25, the second lens 26, the mask 27, and the third lens 28 are arranged in this order. Are stacked. The first lens 24, the second lens 26, and the third lens 28 are configured such that the diameter gradually increases from the subject side. A single lens may be held by the lens holder 22.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the lens holding body 22 has a circular recess that is reduced in a step shape so that the lenses 24, 26, and 28 are fitted and inserted. The first lens 24, the second lens 26, and the third lens 28 are housed and stacked in that order in the concave portion, and a ring-shaped retainer 29 is further stacked, and the retainer 29 is attached to the lens holder 22 with an adhesive. The lens group 21 is held by the lens holding body 22 by being fixed by a fixing means such as. The lens holder 22 is made of, for example, resin.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lens base 23 is formed of, for example, a resin, and the overall shape is a generally rectangular parallelepiped. The area of the lens base 23 is approximately the same as that of the subject-side cover 11, and the subject-side cover 11 is placed on the lens base 23 from above the shutter unit 12 and the motor 13 and is fitted to the lens base 23. The subject-side cover 11 and the lens base 23 are fixed by, for example, inserting the claw portions 11d provided on the subject-side cover 11 into a plurality of hole-like engaging portions 23a provided on the lens base 23. And being locked.

  A substantially rectangular recess 23b is provided on the subject side of the lens base 23 as a whole, and the shutter unit 12 is fixed to the lens base 23 in a state of being fitted and inserted into the recess 23b. Note that a part of the recess 23b is formed in a hole shape in order to secure an optical path. The shutter unit 12 and the lens base 23 are fixed by, for example, inserting a screw 101 into a through-hole of the lens base 23 and screwing it into the shutter unit 12.

  Further, a concave portion 23c is provided adjacent to the concave portion 23b on the subject side of the lens base 23, and the motor 13 is fixed to the lens base 23 while being accommodated in the concave portion 23c. Note that a part of the recess 23c may be formed in a hole shape. The motor 13 is fixed to the lens base 23 by, for example, fixing the motor 13 to the motor fixing member 31 by soldering or welding, and the screw 102 inserted into the through hole of the motor fixing member 31 is the screw of the lens base 23. This is done by being screwed into the hole. The motor fixing member 31 is made of, for example, a flat metal and is disposed on the subject side of the motor 13.

  The shutter unit 12 and the motor 13 are accommodated in the concave portion 23b or the concave portion 23c of the lens base 23, so that the subject side surface of the lens base 23, the subject side surface of the shutter unit 12, and the motor fixing member 31 The surface on the subject side has substantially the same position in the optical axis direction.

  The substrate cover 15 is formed of a resin, for example, and has a generally thin rectangular parallelepiped shape. The substrate cover 15 is provided with an opening 15a for securing an optical path. A plurality of recesses 15b (see FIG. 3B) that can accommodate various components provided on the substrate 16 are provided on the substrate 16 side of the substrate cover 15. An IR cut filter 33 is provided on the substrate cover 15 on the lens unit 14 side.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the substrate 16 is configured as a rigid substrate by a hard substrate material, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape as a whole. The substrate 16 is a multilayer printed board in which a pattern layer, a ground layer, and a power supply layer are laminated on an insulating layer formed of, for example, a hard resin.

  A light image is formed by the lens group 21 on the subject-side surface 16a of the substrate 16, and an image sensor 35 that outputs a signal corresponding to the formed light image, and a connector portion connected to the connector portion 32b of the FPC 32. Various electronic components such as 36 are provided.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the surface 16b of the substrate 16 opposite to the subject is only provided with an FPC 37 extending along the surface 16b and extending from the substrate 16. The 16b side is formed substantially flat. The FPC 37 may be connected to the subject-side surface 16a and nothing may be mounted on the surface 16b opposite to the subject.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the substrate 16 forms a surface opposite to the subject side in the overall shape of the optical module 7, and the optical module 7 is attached to the mobile phone 1. When mounted, for example, the surface 16 b opposite to the subject side of the substrate 16 abuts on an appropriate member such as a substrate (not shown) provided inside the cellular phone 1 and is held by the cellular phone 1. The The FPC 37 is provided with a connector 38 for connecting to a substrate or the like provided inside the mobile phone 1.

  The image sensor 35 is a CCD, for example, and outputs a signal corresponding to the received light. The signal output from the image sensor 35 is output to the image processing unit provided on the substrate for the display unit of the mobile phone 1 through the substrate 16 and the FPC 37 and processed. The optical image is displayed on the main display unit 5 or the sub display unit 6.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the shutter unit 12, and the upper side of the drawing corresponds to the subject side. The shutter unit 12 includes a shutter base 41 formed in a box shape as a whole, a neutral density filter 42 accommodated in the shutter base 41, a neutral density filter pressing plate 43 that holds the neutral density filter 42, and a shutter base 41. A plurality of shutter blades 44A to 44D, and a pressing plate 45 for pressing the shutter blades 44A to 44D. Note that the shutter base 12 and the presser plate 45 substantially constitute the outer shape of the shutter unit 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the cellular phone 1, the shutter unit 12 and the lens unit 14 each have a shutter base 41 and a lens base 23. The shutter base 41 and the lens base 23 are combined to constitute a part of the optical module 7.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an opening for transmitting incident light to the lens unit 14 is provided on the bottom surface of the shutter base 41. The shape of the opening is appropriate, but is rectangular, for example. A plurality of fixed convex portions 41a and movable convex portions 41b are provided around the opening, and the fixed convex portions 41a and the movable convex portions 41b are inserted into through holes provided in the neutral density filter 42 and the shutter blades 44A to 44D, By driving the movable convex part 41b and rotating the neutral density filter 42 and the shutter blades 44A to 44D around the fixed convex part 41a, the optical filter is opened and closed and the optical path is opened and closed by the shutter blades 44A to 44D.

  An actuator (not shown) for driving the movable convex portion is housed in the shutter base 41. For example, it is accommodated in a convex portion 41c around the concave portion 12a (see FIG. 5). The operation of the actuator is controlled by a control unit (not shown) of the mobile phone 1 via the FPC 32, the substrate 16, and the FPC 37.

  7 is a perspective view of the lens unit 14 viewed from the side opposite to the subject, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the internal configuration of the lens unit 14 viewed from the subject side.

  The lens holding body 22 includes guided portions 22 a and 22 b that protrude outward in the radial direction of the lens 21. A through hole 22c is provided in the guided portion 22a, and a guide shaft 51 is inserted through the through hole 22c. The guide shaft 51 extends in the optical axis direction and is fixed to the lens base 23, and guides the guided portion 22a in the optical axis direction. The guided portion 22 b is inserted into a concave rail portion 23 d provided on the lens base 23. The rail portion 23d is formed so as to extend in the optical axis direction, and guides the guided portion 22b in the optical axis direction.

  The motor 13 is composed of, for example, a stepping motor, and includes a motor main body 13a including a rotor and the like, and an output shaft 13b extending from the motor main body 13a and driven to rotate. The motor body 13a is formed in, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape, and the output shaft 13b extends from the end surface of the cylindrical shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the motor body 13a has a length in the direction of the output shaft 13b larger than a width in a direction orthogonal to the output shaft 13b. The length obtained by integrating the length of the motor main body 13a and the length of the output shaft 13b is larger than the diameter of the lens group 21, and the width in the direction perpendicular to the output shaft 13b of the motor main body 13a is the optical axis of the lens group 21. It is smaller than the thickness in the direction (see FIG. 3B).

  The motor 13 extends so that the output shaft 13b extends in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis and in a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction with the shutter unit 12 (z-axis direction, see also FIGS. 4 and 5). Is arranged. That is, the motor 13 is arranged with the longitudinal direction in the overall shape orthogonal to the optical axis and the short direction parallel to the optical axis.

  A terminal folder 52 is provided on the side of the motor body 13a opposite to the shutter unit 12, and the terminal 52a of the terminal folder 52 is connected to the FPC 32 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The operation of the motor 13 is controlled by the control unit (not shown) of the mobile phone 1 through the FPC 37, the substrate 16, the FPC 32, and the terminal folder 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lens unit 14 is provided with a transmission mechanism 53 that converts the rotation of the output shaft 13 b of the motor 13 into a linear motion in the optical axis direction and transmits the linear motion to the lens holder 22. .

  The transmission mechanism 53 includes a worm 54 provided on the output shaft 13 b of the motor 13, a worm wheel 55 that meshes with the worm 54, and a cam gear 56 that meshes with the worm wheel 55. The worm 54, the worm wheel 55, and the cam gear 56 function as a cam drive unit that drives a cam unit 56b described later.

  The worm 54 and the worm wheel 55 constitute a worm gear device, and the rotation around the axis orthogonal to the optical axis of the output shaft 13b is converted into the rotation around the axis parallel to the optical axis. That is, the worm 54 rotates about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis, and the worm wheel 55 rotates about an axis parallel to the optical axis by the driving force transmitted by the worm 54.

  The worm wheel 55 includes a large-diameter gear portion 55 a that meshes with the worm 54 and a small-diameter gear portion 55 b that has fewer teeth than the large-diameter gear portion 55 a and meshes with the cam gear 56. The transmitted rotation is decelerated at a predetermined reduction ratio and transmitted. As shown in FIG. 5, the worm wheel 55 is inserted into a circular recess 23e provided in the lens base 23 and a shaft 31b protruding from the motor holding member 31. It is pivotally supported.

  9A is a perspective view of the cam gear 56 viewed from the subject side, and FIG. 9B is a front view of the cam gear 56 viewed in the direction of the rotation axis.

  The cam gear 56 includes a gear portion 56a at a part of the outer peripheral portion, and a cam portion 56b at another part of the outer peripheral portion. The gear part 56 a and the cam part 56 b are formed over substantially half the circumference of the cam gear 56. The gear portion 56a meshes with the worm wheel 55, and the cam gear 56 rotates about an axis parallel to the optical axis.

  The cam portion 56b has a cam surface 56c that is inclined with respect to a surface orthogonal to the rotation axis of the cam gear 56, that is, inclined to a surface orthogonal to the optical axis. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the lens holding body 22 has a contact portion 22d that contacts the cam surface 56c, and the contact portion 22d can slide on the cam surface 56c as the cam gear 56 rotates. It is. The lens holder 22 is biased toward the cam surface 56 c by a spring 57. Accordingly, the lens holder 22 is guided in the optical axis direction as the cam gear 56 rotates. The spring 57 is, for example, a coiled compression spring, and is sandwiched between the lens holding body 22 and the lens base 23 with a predetermined compression force.

  The inclination angle of the cam surface 56c may be set as appropriate. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the inclination angle of the end-side cam surface 56e on both end sides is set to the center-side cam surface 56d between the both ends. The tilt angle may be set to 0 or less than the tilt angle, and the movement of the lens holder 22 in the optical axis direction when the cam gear 56 overruns may be suppressed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the lens unit 14 is provided with a photoelectric sensor 61 for detecting the rotational position of the cam gear 56 and thus detecting the position of the lens holder 22 in the optical axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the photoelectric sensor 61 as a detection unit in the position detection unit is configured by a reflective photoelectric sensor, and includes a light emitting unit 61a and a light receiving unit 61b. The photoelectric sensor 61 is disposed so as to face the surface orthogonal to the rotation axis of the cam gear 56, the light emitting unit 61 a emits light to the cam gear 56, and the light receiving unit 61 b receives light reflected by the cam gear 56. Then, an electrical signal corresponding to the received light is output.

  Also, the position of the lens can be detected with the position where the received light quantity is a predetermined amount as a reference position. In particular, when the change in the received light quantity is not a sudden change but a gentle change, the lens position can be grasped with reference to the lens position at a predetermined light quantity in the middle of the gentle change.

  For example, the photoelectric sensor 61 is configured by a sensor that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 61b, and outputs an on signal and an off signal depending on whether the amount of light exceeds a certain threshold. Switch between and.

  The photoelectric sensor 61 is connected to the substrate 16 by connecting the FPC 32 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) to a terminal 61c (see FIG. 8) provided on the side opposite to the side facing the cam gear 56. The operation of the photoelectric sensor 61 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) of the mobile phone 1 via the FPC 32, the substrate 16, and the FPC 37.

  As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the position of the cam gear 56 facing the photoelectric sensor 61, that is, the position concentric with the cam portion 56b, causes the light from the light emitting portion 61a to enter the light receiving portion 61b. It functions as a detected portion 56f that reflects. The detected portion 56f is located, for example, on the inner peripheral side of the cam portion 56b. The detected portion 56f includes a first reflecting portion 56g and a second reflecting portion 56h.

  The first reflecting portion 56g is formed on a protrusion that protrudes closer to the photoelectric sensor 61 than the second reflecting portion 56h. The first reflecting portion 56g is set to have a higher light reflectance than the second reflecting portion. For example, the surface of the first reflecting portion 56g on the photoelectric sensor 61 side is subjected to mirror finishing or white coating by metal deposition or the like, and the surface of the second reflecting portion 56h is subjected to a satin finish, etc. The reflectance of 56 g is set higher than the reflectance of the second reflecting portion 56 h.

  The first reflecting portion 56g is shorter than the cam portion 56b in the circumferential direction and is formed so as to be within the range of the cam portion 56b. Specifically, the length of the first reflecting portion 56g is equal to the length of the central cam surface 56d. When the lens holder 22 is in contact with the central cam surface 56d, the photoelectric sensor 61 receives the reflected light from the first reflecting surface 56g and outputs a signal. When it abuts on the side cam surface 56e, that is, when the lens holder 22 reaches the end of the movement range in the optical axis direction, it receives the reflected light from the second reflecting surface 56h and outputs a signal. To do. The circumferential position between the first reflecting portion 56g and the central cam surface 56d is set to be shifted by an amount corresponding to the positional shift between the photoelectric sensor 61 and the contact portion 22d of the lens holding body 22. ing.

  A control unit (not shown) of the mobile phone 1 specifies the origin position of the cam gear 56 based on the position when the signal from the photoelectric sensor 61 is switched between the on signal and the off signal, and based on the origin position. Thus, the rotational position of the cam gear 56 is controlled.

  According to the above embodiment, the motor 13 is disposed so that the output shaft 13 b extends in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens group 21, and the rotation of the output shaft 13 b is translated in the optical axis direction by the transmission mechanism 53. Since the lens group 21, the motor main body 13a, and the motor output shaft 13b are arranged in series in the optical axis direction, the thickness can be reduced. It becomes possible. In other words, in contrast to the conventional arrangement in which the output axis 13b is parallel to the optical axis, the number of options for making the output axis 13b orthogonal to the optical axis increases, and the degree of freedom in design is improved.

  For example, the motor 13 is provided on the outer side in the radial direction of the lens group 21 or arranged in parallel with the shutter unit 12 (shutter base body 41), so that the thickness can be reduced. The entire shape of the shutter base 41, the lens base 23, the substrate cover 15, and the substrate 16 stacked in this order can be configured to be thin and thin in the optical axis direction.

  The substrate 16 has a width equal to or greater than that of the shutter base 41, the motor 13, the lens base 23, and the substrate cover 15, and the surface 16b of the substrate 16 opposite to the surface 16a on which the imaging element 35 is provided is an optical module. 7 is formed on one surface, and only the FPC 37 extending along the surface is provided on the opposite surface 16b. Therefore, when the optical module 7 is mounted, the substrate 16 is attached to the cellular phone 1. It can be placed in contact with an internal flat portion, for example, a main substrate. Therefore, the mounting of the optical module 7 is facilitated and the fixing is also performed reliably.

  The transmission mechanism 53 is provided with a cam portion 56b having a cam surface 56c that is inclined with respect to a surface orthogonal to the optical axis, and the lens holder 22 is moved along the surface orthogonal to the optical axis of the cam portion. Since it is guided in the axial direction, the movement characteristics of the lens holder 22 can be set by adjusting the inclination angle and height of the cam surface 56c. For example, even if the rotational speed of the motor 13 is constant, the lens holder It is possible to prevent the lens holder 22 from moving in the optical axis direction even if the moving speed of the motor 22 is changed or the motor 13 overruns. In other words, the control of the motor 13 can be facilitated and the control accuracy can be relaxed.

  By providing a spring 57 for urging the lens holding body 22 to the cam surface 56c, not only the lens holding body 22 is pushed up and guided by the raising of the cam surface 56c, but the lens holding body 22 follows the lowering of the cam surface 56c. Can guide you.

  Since the cam portion 56b is provided in the cam gear 56 that rotates about an axis parallel to the optical axis to guide the lens holder 22, the thickness can be reduced in the optical axis direction. In other words, since the cam gear is generally thin and thin in the direction of the rotation axis, the arrangement area in the direction of the optical axis is smaller when the rotation axis is parallel to the optical axis than in the case where the rotation axis is orthogonal to the optical axis, thereby reducing the thickness. It is done.

  Since the gear portion 56a is provided at a part of the outer peripheral portion of the cam gear 56 and the cam portion 56b is provided at the other portion of the outer peripheral portion of the cam gear 56, the shape is relatively simple. Setting and assembling of the arrangement area is relatively easy. In addition, since the cam portion 56b is provided on the outer peripheral portion, the cam portion 56b is longer with respect to the rotation angle than when the cam portion 56b is provided on the inner peripheral side. The lens holder 22 can be smoothly guided.

  Since the photoelectric sensor 61 is arranged and the position of the lens holding body 22 is detected based on the change in the reflected light accompanying the rotation of the cam gear 56, the position of the lens holding body 22 can be detected easily and accurately.

  For example, a photoelectric sensor 61 that outputs a different signal according to a change in the amount of reflected light is provided, and the light of the photoelectric sensor 61 is reflected by the first reflecting portion 56g when the lens holder 22 is in the central range of the moving range. Is reflected, and the light of the photoelectric sensor 61 is reflected by the second reflecting portion 56h in which the amount of reflected light is different from that of the first reflecting portion 56g when the lens holder 22 is at the end of the moving range. The end position of the movement range of the lens holder 22 can be easily detected.

  The first reflecting portion 56g is protruded to the photoelectric sensor side from the second reflecting portion 56h, and the surface of the first reflecting portion 56g is processed to have a higher reflectance than the second reflecting portion 56h. Therefore, the difference in the amount of light reflected to the photoelectric sensor 61 between the two becomes larger, and the boundary between the first reflecting portion 56g and the second reflecting portion 56h is detected more accurately.

  In the present embodiment, the cam gear 56 is arranged from the inside in the order of the detected portion 56f (the first reflecting portion 56g and the second reflecting portion 56h) and the cam portion 56b. Accordingly, the position control of the lens can be accurately performed for a long period of time while the cam gear 56 and the peripheral parts of the cam gear 56 are accommodated in the minimum necessary space. Specifically, by forming the detected portion 56f on the innermost side, the photoelectric sensor 61 disposed opposite to the detection portion 56f can be brought closer to the center side of the concentric circle of the cam gear 56, so that the small size in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Can be realized. Further, since the cam portion 56b is formed on the outer side, the inclination angle described above can be made gentler than that formed on the inner side, so that the contact portion 22d and the central cam surface are caused by the gravity of the lens holding body 22 described above. Sliding between 56c is less likely to occur.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be implemented in various aspects.

  The target to which the optical module of the present invention is applied is not limited to a mobile phone, and may be applied to various devices such as a digital camera and a surveillance camera.

  The drive source may be disposed at an appropriate position with respect to the lens, the shutter, the image sensor, etc., as long as the output axis is disposed in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.

  The transmission mechanism only needs to convert rotation about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis of the drive source into a translational motion in the optical axis direction and transmit it to the lens holder, and is not limited to one using a cam. For example, rotation about an axis orthogonal to the optical axis may be converted into translational movement in the optical axis direction by a slider link mechanism including a rack and a pinion.

  In addition, when the translational movement in the optical axis direction is realized by the cam, the cam surface only needs to change the height of the cam surface in the optical axis direction, and the cam is provided on the cam gear that rotates around the axis parallel to the optical axis. It is not limited to things. For example, it may be converted into a translational movement in the optical axis direction by a cam that rotates around an axis orthogonal to the optical axis and the distance from the rotation axis to the peripheral portion changes according to the position in the circumferential direction. The cam surface inclined to the plane orthogonal to the optical axis may be linearly driven along the plane orthogonal to the optical axis to convert into a translational motion in the optical axis direction.

  When converting into translational motion in the optical axis direction by a cam gear rotating about an axis parallel to the optical axis, the cam gear may mesh with the worm and the cam gear may also serve as the worm wheel. Further, another gear may be interposed between the worm wheel and the cam gear. For example, the worm may be provided on an axis parallel to the output shaft to which the rotation of the output shaft is transmitted without providing the worm on the output shaft. As long as the cam portion is provided concentrically with the gear portion, the cam portion may be arranged at an appropriate position in consideration of the purpose and effect. For example, as shown in the embodiment, the cam portion 56b is arranged at a location different from the gear portion 56a, and the cam portion 56b and the gear portion 56a are arranged in a circular shape having the same diameter around the rotation center axis of the cam gear 56. As a result, the cam gear 56 can be downsized. Further, when it is necessary to take the cam portion 56b and the gear portion 56a long in the circumferential direction, the cam portion 56b is formed inside the gear portion 56a and the detected portion 56f is further formed inside the gear portion 56a. The cam gear 56 as a whole can be downsized while the cam portion 56b is long, and the gravity of the lens holder 22 can prevent slippage between the contact portion 22d and the central cam 56c.

  The photoelectric sensor has a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, and may be any one that changes an output signal according to a change in reflected light of light emitted from the light emitting unit, and is limited to one that outputs a signal according to the amount of light. Not. For example, a position sensor (PSD) or a photoelectric sensor having a two-divided photodiode may be used as the photoelectric sensor, and the position of the cam gear may be specified based only on the change in the distance between the photoelectric sensor and the cam gear.

  The to-be-detected part should just be formed so that reflected light may be changed with rotation of a cam gear. Therefore, for example, only the first reflection part that reflects the light of the photoelectric sensor is provided when the lens holder is in the first position, and the light of the photoelectric sensor is completely absent when the lens holder is in the second position. You may make it not reflect. Further, the present invention is not limited to the one provided on the inner peripheral side of the cam portion on the surface orthogonal to the optical axis of the cam gear. For example, a photoelectric sensor is arranged on the outer side in the radial direction of the cam gear and the detection light is irradiated in the radial direction of the cam gear You may make it reflect, and you may set a to-be-detected part in the outer peripheral side of a cam part.

  Further, the position of the first reflection surface detected by the photoelectric sensor when the lens holding member abuts between the end portions of the cam portion may not overlap the cam portion. For example, you may provide in the position facing a cam part on both sides of a rotating shaft. Even in this case, the length of the first reflection surface is made shorter than the length of the cam portion, and the amount of deviation between the photoelectric sensor and the contact portion of the lens holder is determined between the cam portion and the first reflection surface. What is necessary is just to make it equal to deviation | shift amount.

In the present application, the following inventions can be extracted.
A lens,
A lens holder for holding the lens;
A lens base that holds the lens holder movably in the optical axis direction of the lens;
A driving source;
A cam gear that rotates about an axis parallel to the optical axis of the lens by the driving force of the driving source and drives the lens base;
With
The cam gear is
A gear portion that meshes with a worm or gear that transmits the driving force of the driving source;
A cam portion provided concentrically with the gear portion and having a cam surface inclined with respect to a surface orthogonal to the optical axis;
With
The lens module includes an abutting portion that abuts on the cam surface and is guided in the optical axis direction as the cam gear rotates.

  In the present invention, the output axis of the motor does not have to be orthogonal to the optical axis. For example, the output axis of the motor may be parallel to the optical axis. And also in the said invention, the various preferable aspects similar to invention of this application may be included. For example, the gear part is provided in a part of the outer peripheral part of the cam gear, and the cam part is provided in another part of the outer peripheral part of the cam gear.

In the present application, the following inventions can be extracted.
A lens,
A lens holder for holding the lens;
A lens base that holds the lens holder movably in the optical axis direction of the lens;
A driving source;
A cam gear that rotates by the driving force of the driving source and drives the lens base;
With
An optical module further comprising a photoelectric sensor that irradiates light to the cam gear to receive reflected light, and detects a position of the lens holding body based on a change in the reflected light accompanying rotation of the cam gear.

  In the present invention, the output axis of the motor does not have to be orthogonal to the optical axis. For example, the output axis of the motor may be parallel to the optical axis. The cam gear is not limited to one that rotates around an axis parallel to the optical axis, and may be a cam gear that rotates around an axis orthogonal to the optical axis, for example. And also in the said invention, the various preferable aspects similar to invention of this application may be included. For example, the cam gear is set to be concentric with the cam portion, and has a detection portion that reflects light from the photoelectric sensor to the photoelectric sensor, and the detection portion includes a first lens holder. A first reflector that reflects light from the photoelectric sensor to the photoelectric sensor when in the position, and light from the photoelectric sensor to the photoelectric sensor when the lens holder is in the second position; And at least any one of a reflectance and the distance with the said photoelectric sensor has a 2nd reflection part different from a said 1st reflection part.

  In the present application, the following inventions can be extracted.

A lens,
A lens substrate for holding the lens;
A shutter base for holding shutter blades for opening and closing the optical path of the lens;
A substrate provided with an image sensor on which a light image is formed by the lens;
A cover member that covers the imaging element side of the substrate;
With
The shutter base, the lens base, the cover member, and the substrate are laminated in this order.
The substrate has a width equivalent to that of the shutter substrate, the lens substrate, and the cover member, and a flexible surface extending along the surface of the substrate on the side opposite to the surface on which the imaging element is provided. An optical module with only a printed wiring board.

A lens,
A lens substrate for holding the lens;
A shutter base for holding shutter blades for opening and closing the optical path of the lens;
A substrate provided with an image sensor on which a light image is formed by the lens;
A cover member that covers the imaging element side of the substrate;
With
The shutter base, the lens base, the cover member, and the substrate are laminated in this order.
The substrate has the same area as the shutter base, the lens base, and the cover member, and is provided on the surface on which the image sensor is provided, of the surface on which the image sensor is provided and the opposite surface. Only electronic components are mounted on optical modules.

  In these inventions, there may be no configuration for moving the lens. Further, the overall shape may not be a thin shape. And also in the said invention, the various preferable aspects similar to invention of this application may be included.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the mobile telephone of embodiment of this invention in an open state. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the mobile telephone of FIG. 1 in a closed state. It is the external appearance perspective view and sectional drawing of the optical module of the mobile telephone of FIG. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the optical module of FIG. 3 from the to-be-photographed object side. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the optical module of FIG. 3 from the opposite side to the to-be-photographed object side. It is a disassembled perspective view of the shutter unit of the optical module of FIG. It is a perspective view of the lens unit of the optical module of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of the lens unit of FIG. It is a figure which shows the cam gear of the lens unit of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  24, 26, 28 ... lens, 22 ... lens holder, 23 ... lens base, 13 ... drive source, 53 ... transmission mechanism.

Claims (6)

A lens,
A lens holder that holds the lens movably in the optical axis direction of the lens;
A driving source having an output shaft for outputting a driving force;
A transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force output from the output shaft to the lens holder;
Shutter blades;
A shutter base for holding the shutter blade so that the optical path of the lens can be opened and closed;
An image sensor on which a light image is formed by the lens;
A substrate on which the image sensor is provided;
With
The shutter base, the lens holder, and the substrate are stacked in this order from one direction with respect to the optical axis direction,
The drive source is disposed in parallel with the shutter base and the lens holder in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis. The drive source is arranged so that the output axis is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis,
The transmission mechanism is
A worm that transmits a driving force output from the output shaft and rotates around an axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis;
A gear portion that meshes with the worm or a gear that transmits the rotation of the worm, and a cam gear that is inclined with respect to a plane orthogonal to the optical axis, and a cam gear that rotates about an axis substantially parallel to the optical axis, Prepared,
The optical module according to claim 1, wherein the lens holding member abuts on the cam portion and is guided in the optical axis direction. A position detecting means having a detected portion arranged in the cam gear and a detecting portion arranged in the vicinity of the cam gear;
The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the position detection unit detects the position of the lens by detecting the rotation of the cam gear by the detection unit. The optical module according to claim 3, wherein the cam gear is arranged in order of the detected portion and the cam portion from the inside of the cam gear. The optical module according to claim 2, wherein the cam gear includes the cam portion and the gear portion arranged concentrically with the cam gear. A terminal housing;
An optical module that is housed in the terminal housing and forms an optical image from an opening provided in the terminal housing;
The optical module is
A lens,
A lens holder that holds the lens movably in the optical axis direction of the lens;
A driving source having an output shaft for outputting a driving force;
A transmission mechanism for transmitting the driving force output from the output shaft to the lens holder;
Shutter blades;
A shutter base for holding the shutter blade so that the optical path of the lens can be opened and closed;
An image sensor on which a light image is formed by the lens;
A substrate on which the image sensor is provided,
The shutter base, the lens holder, and the substrate are stacked in this order from one direction with respect to the optical axis direction,
The mobile terminal is arranged in parallel with the shutter base and the lens holder in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.

Images