JP2018120020A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an imaging device with which it is possible to adjust an optical axis with high accuracy and which can be easily assembled.SOLUTION: Adopted is an imaging device comprising: a substrate on which an imaging unit is mounted; a lens barrel for holding a lens; a holder for holding the lens barrel and interconnected with the substrate; a first support member arranged between the holder and the lens barrel and adjoining the lens barrel on a first plane extending in a direction horizontal to the optical axis; a second support member arranged between the holder and the lens barrel and adjoining the lens barrel on a second plane extending in a direction horizontal to the optical axis; and an urging member for urging the lens barrel to the first support member and second support member, the first plane and the second plane extending in mutually different directions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  One embodiment of the present invention relates to an imaging device or the like.

  In an imaging apparatus having a lens barrel and a substrate on which an imaging device is mounted, it is necessary to adjust the position of the lens barrel relative to the imaging device and adjust the optical axis. As a method for adjusting the optical axis, for example, Patent Document 1 employs a configuration in which the position of the image sensor is fixed so as not to be displaced by fitting. Also, Patent Document 2 discloses a means for positioning and fixing the lens and the image sensor.

JP 2012-74934 A JP 2012-113185 A

  By the way, in recent years, an imaging apparatus used in an automobile or the like has been required to have a configuration that can adjust the optical axis with higher accuracy than before and that does not cause positional deviation. However, in the conventional imaging device, it is not easy to adjust the optical axis with high accuracy.

  The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above-described problems. In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, reference numerals and the like in the drawings are appended in parentheses, but each component of the present invention is not limited to these appendices. It should be construed broadly to the extent that contractors can technically understand.

One means of the present invention is to
A substrate (6) on which an imaging unit is mounted;
A lens barrel (2) for holding the lens;
A holder (1) for holding the lens barrel and connected to the substrate;
A first support member (3) disposed between the holder and the lens barrel and in contact with the lens barrel on a first surface (3a) extending in a direction horizontal to the optical axis;
A second support member (4) disposed between the holder and the lens barrel and in contact with the lens barrel at a second surface (4a) extending in a direction horizontal to the optical axis;
An urging member (7) for urging the lens barrel toward the first support member and the second support member;
The first surface (3a) and the second surface (4a) are surfaces extending in different directions.
An imaging device.

  In the imaging apparatus having the above-described configuration, the first support member, the second support member, and the lens barrel are stably supported by the first support member, the second support member, and the biasing member from at least three directions. By changing the contact position, the positions of the lens barrel and the imaging unit on the plane perpendicular to the optical axis can be adjusted. This makes it possible to adjust the optical axis with higher accuracy and ease than before.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The biasing member is a leaf spring (7).

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above configuration, the leaf spring is used as the urging member, so that the configuration can be made relatively thin and small.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The substrate is fixed to the holder;
The lens barrel is movable in the optical axis direction.

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above-described configuration, the positions of the lens barrel and the imaging unit in the optical axis direction and the direction perpendicular to the optical axis can be adjusted only by adjusting the position of the lens barrel. That is, the optical axis adjustment and the focus adjustment can be performed by adjusting the position of the lens barrel.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The first support member (3) has a third surface (3b) extending in a direction different from the first surface,
The second support member (4) has a fourth surface (4b) extending in a direction different from the second surface,
A first movement restricting member (5a) in contact with the third surface so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis;
A second movement restricting member (5b) in contact with the fourth surface so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis;

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above configuration, the first support member and the second support member are moved by adjusting the first movement restricting member and the second movement restricting member, and the position of the lens barrel in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Adjustments can be made. Thereby, the optical axis can be adjusted only by adjusting the first movement restriction member and the second movement restriction member.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The holder has a mounting surface (1d) on which the first support member and the second support member are arranged,
The first movement regulating member (5a) can pressurize the first support member (3) toward the placement surface (1d) by pressing the third surface (3b),
The second movement restricting member (5b) can pressurize the second support member (4) toward the mounting surface (1d) by pressing the fourth surface (4b).

  According to the imaging device having the above configuration, the first support member and the second support member are pressurized toward the placement surface by the first movement restricting member and the second movement restricting member, and the first support member and the second support member are pressurized. It is possible to more firmly and stably fix the position.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The holder has a first through hole (1b) for inserting the first movement restriction member and a second through hole (1c) for inserting the second movement restriction member.

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above configuration, the first movement restriction member and the second movement restriction member can be adjusted from the outside of the holder. Thereby, it can be set as the structure which can implement optical axis adjustment more easily.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The first surface and the second surface have substantially the same angle in the opposite direction with respect to the placement surface,
With respect to the mounting surface, the third surface and the fourth surface have substantially the same angle in opposite directions.

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above-described configuration, the first support member and the second support member can be configured to easily move in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. Thereby, it can be set as the structure which can perform an optical axis adjustment easily.

The external appearance perspective view of an imaging device. The exploded perspective view of an imaging device. The top view of the imaging device seen from the upper side (Y-axis direction). Sectional drawing of the imaging device in the position of BB of FIG. Sectional drawing of the imaging device in the position of CC of FIG.

  The image pickup apparatus of the present invention can move the first support member and the second support member to the X axis perpendicular to the optical axis while supporting the lens barrel by the slope of the first support member and the slope of the second support member. One feature is that the position of the lens barrel can be adjusted on the X-axis and the Y-axis by simply moving the first support member and the second support member.

An embodiment according to the present invention will be described according to the following configuration. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. In addition, in each drawing, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component and the description may be abbreviate | omitted.
1. Embodiment 2. FIG. Supplementary matter

<1. Embodiment>
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment as viewed from the upper side (Y-axis direction). FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.

  In this specification, the center position of the lens and the center position of the light incident on the image sensor is referred to as an “optical axis”. An imaging target located on the opposite side of the imaging element from the lens is referred to as a “subject”. The direction in which the subject is located with respect to the lens may be referred to as “front in the optical axis direction” or “subject side”. The direction in which the image sensor is positioned with respect to the lens may be referred to as “back in the optical axis direction” or “image sensor side”. Each figure shows an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis that are orthogonal to each other. The Z axis is a direction parallel to the direction in which the optical axis extends. In this specification, the adjustment of the distance between the lens (or the lens barrel including the lens) and the image sensor in the optical axis direction is referred to as “focus adjustment”. The term “optical axis adjustment” refers to adjusting the position of a lens (or a lens barrel including a lens) and an image sensor on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment includes a holder 1, a lens barrel 2, a first support member 3, a second support member 4, a first movement restriction member 5 a, and a second movement restriction. The member 5b, the substrate 6, and the biasing member 7 are included.

<Holder 1>
The holder 1 is a housing portion of the imaging apparatus, and includes a lens barrel 2, a first support member 3, a second support member 3, a first movement restriction member 5a, a second movement restriction member 5b, a substrate 6, and an urging force. The member 7 is held. The holder 1 has an opening 1a at a position including the optical axis, and the light that has passed through the lens barrel 2 passes through the opening 1a and is irradiated onto the imaging element 6a.

  The holder 1 has a placement surface 1d that is horizontal with the XZ plane. The first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are disposed on the placement surface 1d. The lower surface (bottom surface) of each of the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 is in contact with the placement surface 1d. The holder 1 has a surface 1e parallel to the XY plane in front of the optical axis direction. The holder 1 has an XY plane and a horizontal surface 1f on the rear side in the optical axis direction facing the surface 1e. The surface 1e is in contact with the front surfaces of the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 in the optical axis direction. The surface 1 f is in contact with the rear surfaces of the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 in the optical axis direction. That is, the holder 1 supports the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction while restricting movement in the Z-axis direction.

  The holder 1 has a first through hole 1b and a second through hole 1c extending in the X-axis direction. The first movement restricting member 5a is inserted into the first through hole 1b, and the second movement restricting member 5b is inserted into the second through hole 1c. Each of the first through hole 1b and the second through hole 1c has a thread on the inner peripheral side.

  The holder 1 is connected to the biasing member 7 by connecting screws 8a and 8b. The holder 1 has a screw hole into which the connecting screws 8a and 8b are inserted.

  The holder 1 is connected to the substrate 6 by connecting screws 9a and 9b. The holder 1 has a screw hole into which the connecting screws 9a and 9b are inserted.

<Lens barrel 2>
The lens barrel 2 is a cylindrical member that extends in the optical axis direction. The lens barrel 2 holds one or more optical members including the lens 2a.

  The optical member held by the lens barrel 2 includes a lens, a spacer, a caliber plate, an optical filter (not shown), and the like in addition to the lens 2a. The lens including the lens 2a is made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic, and transmits light from the front in the optical axis direction while refracting light from the front in the optical axis direction. The spacer is a disk-shaped member having an appropriate thickness in the optical axis direction, and adjusts the position of each lens in the optical axis direction. The spacer has an opening at the center including the optical axis. The aperture plate determines the outermost position of the light passing therethrough. The optical filter suppresses or blocks light having a predetermined wavelength. The optical filter includes, for example, an infrared cut filter that suppresses passing infrared rays. The number of these optical members can be arbitrarily changed.

  The lens barrel 2 is disposed so as to contact the first slope 3 a of the first support member 3 and the second slope 4 a of the second support member 4. The first slope 3a and the second slope 4a and the lens barrel 2 are in linear contact with the Z-axis direction. That is, when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, the lens barrel 2 is in contact with each of the first inclined surface 3a and the second inclined surface 4a at one point. The position of the lens barrel 2 in the Y-axis direction changes according to the distance in the X-axis direction between the first support member 3 and the second support member 4. The position of the lens barrel 2 in the X-axis direction changes according to the positions of the first support member 3 and the second support member 4. That is, the position of the lens barrel 2 in the XY plane changes according to the positions of the first support member 3 and the second support member 4.

  One end of the lens barrel 2 in the Y-axis direction is in contact with the curved portion 7a of the urging member 7 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The lens barrel 2 is in contact with the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 while being urged in the Y-axis direction by the urging member 7.

  The lens barrel 2 has a groove 2b that is recessed in a groove shape from the outer peripheral position toward the inner peripheral side (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The position of the groove portion 2b in the Z-axis direction changes according to the rotational position. Therefore, the position of the lens barrel 2 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) can be changed by a method of inserting and rotating a pin or the like in the groove 2b. For example, an eccentric pin with an eccentric core may be inserted into the groove 2b to change the position of the lens barrel 2 in the optical axis direction.

<First support member 3 and second support member 4>
The first support member 3 and the second support member 4 have a planar lower surface (bottom surface) in contact with the placement surface 1d. The first support member 3 has a first slope 3a and a third slope 3b. The second support member 4 has a second slope 4a and a fourth slope 4b. The first slope 4a and the fourth slope 4b in the XY plane are parallel, and the second slope 4a and the third slope 3b are parallel. In the XY plane, the first slope 3a and the third slope 3b are line symmetric with respect to the Y axis, and the second slope 4a and the fourth slope 4b are line symmetric with respect to the Y axis. In this embodiment, since the 1st supporting member 3 and the 2nd supporting member 4 are the same shapes, manufacturing cost is cheap and it is easy to assemble. However, the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 do not necessarily have the same shape. Further, the first inclined surface 3a to the fourth inclined surface 4b may be inclined surfaces in independent directions.

  The third inclined surface 3b of the first support member 3 is in contact with the first movement restriction member 5a. The position of the first support member 3 in the X-axis direction is determined by the amount of insertion of the first movement restriction member 5a into the first through hole 1b. Since the third inclined surface 3b has a predetermined angle with respect to the vector in the extending direction (X-axis direction) of the first movement restricting member 5a, the force applied to the first support member 3 from the first movement restricting member 5a. Are distributed in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Therefore, a force that pushes the first support member 3 against the placement surface 1d is applied from the first movement restriction member 5a to the first support member 3. The same applies to the second support member 4.

  The first support member 3 of the present embodiment has a linear portion in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction at a portion connecting the lower surface, the first inclined surface 3a, and the third inclined surface 3b. Absent. That is, the first support member 3 may have a triangular prism shape having three surfaces: a lower surface, a first inclined surface 3a, and a third inclined surface 3b. The same applies to the second support member 4.

<First Movement Restricting Member 5a and Second Movement Restricting Member 5b>
Each of the first movement restriction member 5a and the second movement restriction member 5b is a screw-like member having a thread on the outer periphery of the shaft portion. The first movement restricting member 5a is inserted into the first through hole 1b and is screwed, and the second movement restricting member 5b is inserted into the second through hole 1c and is screwed. The heads of the first movement restriction member 5 a and the second movement restriction member 5 b are exposed to the outside of the holder 1.

  The first movement restricting member 5a and the second movement restricting member 5b are not necessarily screw-shaped and may be shaft-shaped members having no thread.

<Substrate 6>
The substrate 6 is a rigid substrate on which electronic components including the image sensor 6a are mounted. The substrate 6 has a screw hole into which the connecting screws 9a and 9b are inserted. The substrate 6 is connected to the holder 1 by connecting screws 9a and 9b inserted through screw holes. Since the substrate 6 is fixed to the holder 1, the position of the image sensor 6 a is fixed to the holder 1.

  The imaging element 6a is a photoelectric conversion element that converts irradiated light into an electrical signal, and is, for example, a C-MOS sensor or a CCD, but is not limited thereto. The imaging element 6a is an example of the “imaging unit” in the present invention. In the imaging apparatus, an imaging unit that requires an imaging function other than the imaging element 6a may be employed.

<Biasing member 7>
The biasing member 7 is a leaf spring that elastically applies a biasing force, and biases the lens barrel 2 in the Y-axis direction toward the first support member 3 and the second support member 4. The biasing member 7 has a curved portion 7a. The curved portion 7 a of the urging member 7 is in contact with the lens barrel 2. By being biased by the biasing member 7, the position of the lens barrel 2 is stabilized. The biasing member 7 of the present embodiment has a leaf spring shape and is thinner in the Y-axis direction than the biasing member such as a coil spring. Therefore, the thickness of the imaging device in the Y-axis direction can be reduced. The biasing member 7 may be replaced with a biasing member such as a coil spring, but may be thick in the Y-axis direction of the imaging device.

  The urging member 7 has an opening at a position corresponding to the groove 2 b of the lens barrel 2. That is, the groove portion 2 b of the lens barrel 2 is visually recognized from the opening of the urging member 7. In the assembly process, a jig is inserted from the opening toward the groove 2b of the lens barrel 2, and the position of the lens barrel 2 in the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) is adjusted.

  The urging member 7 has a screw hole into which the connecting screws 8a and 8b are inserted. The urging member 7 is connected to the holder 1 by connecting screws 8a and 8b inserted through screw holes.

<Optical axis adjustment and focus adjustment>
In the imaging apparatus having the above configuration, optical axis adjustment and focus adjustment are performed as follows.

  As already described, the position of the lens barrel 2 in the XY plane changes depending on the positions of the first support member 3 and the second support member 4. The first support member 3 and the second support member 4 move only in the X-axis direction by adjusting the insertion amounts of the first movement restriction member 5a and the second movement restriction member 5b. Therefore, by adjusting the insertion amount of the first movement restricting member 5a and the second movement restricting member 5b, the position of the lens barrel 2 changes and the optical axis changes. By adjusting the insertion amounts of the first movement restricting member 5a and the second movement restricting member 5b so that the optical axis that is the center position of the lens barrel 2 is located at the center of the imaging element 6a in the XY plane, the optical axis Adjustment is complete.

  When adjusting the focus, the operator inserts a jig from the opening of the urging member 7 toward the groove 2b of the lens barrel 2, and the optical axis direction (Z-axis direction) of the lens barrel 2 through the groove 2b. ) Position. Thereby, focus adjustment is performed.

  When the focus adjustment is completed, the position of each member may be fixed using an adhesive as necessary. However, even if an adhesive is not necessarily used, it can be fixed after optical axis adjustment and focus adjustment.

  As described above, in the imaging apparatus according to this embodiment, the first support member 3, the second support member 4, and the urging member 7 support the lens barrel stably from at least three directions as described above. The positions of the lens barrel 2 and the imaging element 6a on the plane perpendicular to the optical axis (XY plane) are changed by changing the contact position between the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 and the lens barrel 2. Can be adjusted. Thereby, the optical axis can be adjusted.

  In the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment, the substrate 6 is fixed to the holder 1 and the lens barrel is movable in the optical axis direction, so that the positions of the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are adjusted. The optical axis adjustment and the focus adjustment can be performed only by adjusting the position of the lens barrel 2.

  In particular, in the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are moved by adjusting the first movement restricting member 5a and the second movement restricting member 5b, and the position of the lens barrel 2 is adjusted. Can be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the optical axis from the outside of the holder 1 by adjusting the insertion amounts of the first movement restriction member 5a and the second movement restriction member 5b.

  In the configuration of the present embodiment, the first support member 3 and the second support member 4 are pressurized against the mounting surface 1d by the first movement restriction member 5a and the second movement restriction member 5b, and the first support member It is possible to fix the position of 3 and the 2nd support member 4 more firmly and stably.

  In particular, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the heads of the first movement restriction member 5a and the second movement restriction member 5b are exposed to the outside of the holder 1, so that the optical axis can be adjusted relatively easily. it can.

<2. Supplementary items>
The specific description of the embodiment of the present invention has been given above. In the above description, the description is merely an embodiment, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, but is broadly interpreted to the extent that a person skilled in the art can grasp.

  In the configuration of the embodiment, the holder 1 and the substrate 6 are connected by the connecting screws 9a and 9b, but may be connected by another means. Similarly, the holder 1 and the urging member 7 may be coupled by means such as a rivet other than the coupling screws 8a and 8b.

  In the configuration of the embodiment, the optical axis adjustment and the focus adjustment are performed after the substrate 6 is fixed to the holder 1, but the optical axis is adjusted while the position of the substrate 6 can be adjusted with respect to the holder 1. Adjustment and focus adjustment may be performed. However, the assembly process can be simplified by adopting a configuration in which the optical axis adjustment and the focus adjustment can be performed while the substrate 6 is fixed to the holder 1.

  Further, the adjustment of the position of the lens barrel 2 in the optical axis direction is not necessarily performed by the groove 2b, and may be performed by another method. For example, the position of the lens barrel 2 in the optical axis direction may be adjusted using a movement restricting member such as a screw while urging the lens barrel 2 from one side in the optical axis direction.

  Further, the configuration extending to the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis is not necessarily completely horizontal with the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, and may have a predetermined angle with respect to each axis. For example, the first through hole 1b and the second through hole 1c do not necessarily extend horizontally in the X axis direction, and may extend in a direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the X axis.

  The image pickup apparatus of the present invention is particularly useful as an in-vehicle image pickup apparatus mounted on an automobile or the like that needs to adjust an optical axis with high accuracy.

  The present invention is suitably used as an in-vehicle imaging device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Holder 1a ... Opening part 1b ... 1st through-hole 1c ... 2nd through-hole 1d ... Mounting surface 2 ... Lens-barrel 2a ... Lens 2b ... Groove part 3 ... 1st support member 3a ... 1st slope 3b ... 3rd Slope 4 ... second support member 4a ... second slope 4b ... fourth slope 5a ... first movement restriction member 5b ... second movement restriction member 6 ... substrate 6a ... imaging element 7 ... biasing member 7a ... curved portions 8a, 8b , 9a, 9b ... connecting screws

Claims (7)

A substrate on which an imaging unit is mounted;
A lens barrel that holds the lens;
A holder for holding the lens barrel and connected to the substrate;
A first support member disposed between the holder and the lens barrel and in contact with the lens barrel on a first surface extending in a direction horizontal to the optical axis;
A second support member disposed between the holder and the lens barrel and in contact with the lens barrel on a second surface extending in a direction horizontal to the optical axis;
A biasing member that biases the lens barrel toward the first support member and the second support member;
The first surface and the second surface are surfaces extending in different directions.
Imaging device. The biasing member is a leaf spring;
The imaging device according to claim 1. The substrate is fixed to the holder;
The lens barrel is movable in the optical axis direction;
The imaging device according to claim 1 or 2. The first support member has a third surface extending in a direction different from the first surface,
The second support member has a fourth surface extending in a direction different from the second surface,
A first movement regulating member in contact with the third surface so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis;
A second movement restricting member in contact with the fourth surface so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis,
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The holder has a mounting surface on which the first support member and the second support member are arranged,
The first movement restricting member can pressurize the first support member toward the mounting surface by pressing the third surface,
The second movement restricting member can pressurize the second support member toward the mounting surface by pressing the fourth surface.
The imaging device according to claim 4. The holder has a first through hole into which the first movement restriction member is inserted, and a second through hole into which the second movement restriction member is inserted.
The imaging device according to claim 4 or 5.
The first surface and the second surface have substantially the same angle in the opposite direction with respect to the placement surface,
With respect to the mounting surface, the third surface and the fourth surface have substantially the same angle in the opposite direction.
The imaging device according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

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