JP2019028141A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an imaging apparatus which suppresses the rotation of an imaging element with respect to a lens, so as to prevent a captured image from becoming a rotated image.SOLUTION: The imaging apparatus includes a lens barrel which holds the lens, a substrate on which the imaging element receiving light transmitted through the lens, to perform imaging is mounted, and a case which holds the lens barrel and the substrate. The lens barrel is radially fitted in the case. The case has a first rotation regulation part. The substrate has a second rotation regulation part regulating the rotation of the substrate with respect to the case together with the first rotation regulation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

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

  In an imaging apparatus in which a lens barrel and a substrate on which an imaging element is mounted are accommodated in a case, it is necessary to accurately fix the position of the lens barrel with respect to the case in order to increase the accuracy of the optical axis position. As described above, as a configuration for fixing the lens barrel to the case, Patent Document 1 employs a configuration in which a lens barrel is fitted into an opening provided in the front case.

JP 2011-164461 A

  In recent imaging apparatuses such as in-vehicle cameras, it is required to adjust the position of the optical axis with higher accuracy than before. However, in the configuration where the position is fixed by simply fitting the case and the lens barrel as in the conventional case, the position in the rotational direction is not fixed, and the center of the optical axis is the same in the photographed image. However, the image may have been rotated.

  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 lens barrel (3) for holding the lens;
A substrate (41) on which an image sensor for receiving and imaging light transmitted through the lens is mounted;
And a case (1, 8) for holding the lens barrel and the substrate,
The lens barrel and the case are diametrically fitted,
The case has a first rotation restricting portion (1b),
The substrate has a second rotation restricting portion (41a) for restricting rotation of the substrate with respect to the case together with the first rotation restricting portion.
An imaging device.

  In the imaging device having the above-described configuration, the first rotation restricting portion and the second rotation restricting portion can be configured to prevent the substrate and the imaging element from rotating about the optical axis with respect to the case. Thereby, it can prevent that the image imaged by the imaging part turns into an image rotated centering on the optical axis. Also, with the lens barrel, the optical axis deviation in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis is adjusted with the lens barrel, and the optical axis deviation in the rotation direction about the optical axis is adjusted on the substrate. Can be effectively suppressed.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The first rotation restricting portion is a rotation restricting convex portion (1b) protruding from the case with respect to the substrate,
The second rotation restricting portion is a rotation restricting surface (41a) that comes into contact with the rotation restricting convex portion in the rotation direction about the optical axis.

Alternatively, in the imaging apparatus, preferably
The second rotation restricting portion is a rotation restricting convex portion protruding from the case with respect to the substrate,
The first rotation restricting portion is a rotation restricting surface that comes into contact with the rotation restricting convex portion in a rotation direction about the optical axis.

  According to the imaging device having the above-described configuration, the substrate and the imaging device can be prevented from rotating with respect to the case with a simple configuration of the convex portion and the rotation restricting surface.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The lens barrel is in contact with the case in the optical axis direction (E).

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above-described configuration, the relative position between the lens barrel and the case in the optical axis direction can be fixed, so that a configuration in which focus adjustment can be performed relatively easily can be achieved.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The lens barrel includes a first lens barrel and a second lens barrel,
The first lens barrel holds the lens,
The second lens barrel (3b) contacts the case in the optical axis direction and holds the first lens barrel movably in the optical axis direction.

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above configuration, the position of the lens in the optical axis direction can be moved in the lens barrel, so that the focus adjustment can be performed relatively easily.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
A waterproof seal (2) is further provided between the case and the lens barrel in the radial direction.

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above configuration, the compression rate of the waterproof seal can be made substantially uniform, and an excellent waterproof performance can be obtained.

In the imaging apparatus, preferably,
The case includes a front case, and a rear case disposed rearward in the optical axis direction than the front case,
The front case or the rear case has the first rotation restricting portion.

  According to the imaging apparatus having the above configuration, the case can be disassembled into the front case and the rear case, and the rotation of the substrate is suppressed by any one of the first rotation restricting portions. Can be.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment as viewed from the front side. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment as viewed from the front side. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment as viewed from the rear side. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a state in which the front case, the waterproof seal, the lens barrel, and the imaging element substrate are connected from the rear side in the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.

  One feature of the imaging device of the present invention is that the imaging device substrate on which the imaging device is mounted is provided with a rotation restricting portion for preventing the imaging device substrate on which the imaging device is mounted on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis with respect to the front case. I am trying.

  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 image sensor is referred to as “front side” or “front in the optical axis direction”, and the direction in which the image sensor is located with respect to the subject is referred to as “rear side” or “back in the optical axis direction”.

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. 1 and 2 are external perspective views of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a view seen from the front side, and FIG. 2 is a view seen from the rear side. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view seen from the front side, and FIG. 4 is a view seen from the rear side. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a state in which the front case, the waterproof seal, the lens barrel, and the image pickup device substrate are connected from the rear side in the image pickup apparatus of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment includes a front case 1, a waterproof seal 2, a lens barrel 3, an imaging element substrate 41, an electronic component substrate 42, a shield plate 6, a waterproof seal 7, The rear case 8, the connector 9, and the couplers 51, 52, and 53 are configured.

<Front case 1>
The front case 1 is a member that forms a housing (case) of the imaging device together with the rear case 8, and is formed of resin or the like. The front case 1 has an opening 1a centered on the optical axis in the front in the optical axis direction, and the rear in the optical axis direction is open so as to be connectable to the rear case 8 and is formed so as to cover the optical axis. It has a rectangular side surface. By connecting the front case 1 and the rear case 8, a space for accommodating the waterproof seal 2, the lens barrel 3, the imaging element substrate 41, the electronic component substrate 42, the shield plate 6, the waterproof seal 7, and the like is formed. Is done. As shown in FIG. 1, the lens 3 a held by the lens barrel 3 is located in the opening 1 a in the optical axis direction front of the front case 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the front case 1 and the lens barrel 3 are diameter-fitted by contacting at the position of the opening 1 a of the front case 1. When the front case 1 and the lens barrel 3 are diameter-fitted at the position of the opening 1a, the optical axis that is the center of the lens 3a is determined. In the present specification, “diameter fitting” refers to fitting by being arranged in the radial direction without a substantial gap.

<Rotation restricting convex portion 1b>
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the front case 1 has a rotation restricting convex portion 1 b that protrudes in an axial shape rearward in the optical axis direction from the front surface in the optical axis direction. The rotation restricting convex portion 1b is cylindrical. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rotation restricting convex portion 1 b comes into contact with the cutout portion 41 a of the image sensor substrate 41 in the assembled state. More specifically, the outer peripheral surface of the rotation restricting convex portion 1b comes into contact with the edge portion of the notch portion 41a. The rotation restricting convex portion 1b is formed at a position facing the notch portion 41a in the optical axis direction.

<Rear case 8>
As described above, the rear case 8 is connected to the front case 1 to form a space for accommodating the lens barrel 3, the image pickup device substrate 41, the electronic component substrate 42, and the like. The rear case 8 is a plate-like member having a surface substantially perpendicular to the optical axis. The rear case 8 has an opening on the rear side in the optical axis direction. A protrusion of the connector 9 is inserted into the opening of the rear case 8. The rear case 8 is connected to the front case 1 by a connecting tool 52 and is connected to the connector 9 by a connecting tool 53.

<Waterproof seal 2>
The waterproof seal 2 is an annular member formed of an elastic member such as rubber, and is disposed between the front case 1 and the lens barrel 3 so that the front case 1 and the lens barrel 3 are connected. Acts to connect without gaps. The waterproof seal 2 is disposed on the radially outer side of the lens barrel 3 and on the radially inner side of the front case 1 (see FIG. 6). That is, the waterproof seal 2 is disposed between the lens barrel 3 and the front case 1 in a direction (radial direction) perpendicular to the optical axis. The waterproof seal 2 has an annular shape along the outer periphery of the lens barrel 3. The waterproof seal 2 is disposed in the vicinity of the opening 1a at a position rearward in the optical axis direction of the position of the opening 1a where the lens barrel 3 and the front case 1 are diameter-fitted (see FIG. 6).

<Lens barrel 3>
The lens barrel 3 includes a cylindrical barrel extending in the optical axis direction and a lens holder 3b. The lens barrel portion of the lens barrel 3 holds one or more optical members including the lens 3a. The optical member held by the lens barrel 3 includes a lens, a spacer, a diameter plate, an optical filter, and the like in addition to the lens 3a. The lens including the lens 3a is formed 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 plate-like and annular 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 holder 3 b is a plate-like member that is disposed behind the lens barrel portion in the lens barrel 3 in the optical axis direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the front surface in the optical axis direction of the lens holder 3b is in contact with the rear surface in the optical axis direction of the front case 1 at the position "E" in FIG. The position in the optical axis direction 3 is fixed. The lens holder 3b has a thread on the radially inner side, and is screw-fitted to the lens barrel at the position “D” in FIG. By rotating the lens barrel portion, the screwing amount of the lens barrel portion with respect to the lens holder 3b changes, and thereby the positions of the lens holder 3b and the optical member including the lens barrel portion and the lens 3a change. By changing the screwing amount of the lens barrel portion with respect to the lens holder 3b, the position of the imaging element 44 with respect to the optical member including the lens 3a can be changed, and thereby focus adjustment can be performed.

  The lens barrel portion is an example of the “first lens barrel” in the present invention, and the lens holder 3b is an example of the “second lens barrel” in the present invention.

<Image sensor substrate 41 and electronic component substrate 42>
The image sensor substrate 41 is a rigid substrate on which electronic components including the image sensor 44 are mounted. Note that only the image sensor 44 may be mounted on the image sensor substrate 41. The electronic component substrate 42 is a rigid substrate on which electronic components are mounted. The electrical signal acquired by the imaging device 44 is subjected to predetermined electrical processing or signal processing by the electronic components mounted on the imaging device substrate 41 and the electronic component substrate 42, and then output as image data to the outside of the imaging device. Is done. The image sensor substrate 41 is electrically connected to the electronic component substrate 42 by the flexible substrate 43. The imaging element substrate 41, the electronic component substrate 42, and the flexible substrate 43 are covered with the shield plate 6. The image sensor substrate 41 is an example of the “substrate” in the present invention.

  The flexible substrate 43 is a flexible substrate and includes a conductive wire for electrically connecting the imaging element substrate 41 and the electronic component substrate 42. The flexible substrate 43 may be referred to as FPC.

  The image pickup device substrate 41 and the electronic component substrate 42 are fixed by being connected to the lens holder 3 b of the lens barrel 3 by a plurality of connectors 51.

  The imaging element 44 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. In the imaging apparatus, an imaging unit that requires an imaging function other than the imaging element 44 may be employed. The imaging device is an example of the “imaging unit” in the present invention.

  The image pickup device substrate 41 is formed in a rectangular shape in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and has a cutout portion 41a formed so as to cut out inward in the optical axis direction in the vicinity of the corner portion. The notch 41a is formed at a position facing the rotation restricting convex portion 1b of the front case 1 in the optical axis direction. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the assembled state, the notch 41 a and the rotation restricting convex portion 1 b abut on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis in the rotation direction with the optical axis as the central axis. This restricts the image pickup device substrate 41 from being displaced in the rotational direction with respect to the front case 1.

<Shield plate 6>
The shield plate 6 is formed of a conductive plate-like member, and is arranged so as to cover the imaging element substrate 41, the electronic component substrate 42, and the flexible substrate 43 in an assembled state. Thereby, electromagnetic noise given from the outside can be shielded by the shield plate 6, and it is possible to prevent the imaging device substrate 41, the electronic component substrate 42, and the flexible substrate 43 from malfunctioning due to the influence of electromagnetic noise. . Further, electromagnetic noise can be suppressed from being emitted from the imaging element substrate 41, the electronic component substrate 42, and the flexible substrate 43 to the outside.

<Waterproof seal 7>
The waterproof seal 7 is a member formed of an elastic member such as rubber like the waterproof seal 2, and is disposed between the front case 1 and the rear case 8, so that the front case 1 and the rear case 8 Acts to connect the two without gaps. The waterproof seal 7 has a shape corresponding to the connecting surface between the front case 1 and the rear case 8, and the waterproof seal 7 of the present embodiment has a rectangular shape with corner portions cut out.

<Connector 9>
The connector 9 is disposed behind the rear case 8 in the optical axis direction, and is connected to the rear case 8 by a connector 53. The connector 9 is used as a fixture for attaching the imaging device to an attachment target device while electrically connecting the imaging device and an external device. The connector 9 is connected to a terminal 42a (see FIG. 4) protruding rearward from the electronic component board 42 in the optical axis direction.

  As described above, the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the rotation restricting convex portion 1b and the cutout portion 41a that function as the rotation restricting portion, and thus the image pickup device substrate 41 and the image pickup device 44 with respect to the front case 1. Can be prevented from rotating with respect to the optical axis. Thereby, it can prevent that the image imaged with the image pick-up element 44 turns into a rotated image. Further, with the front case 1 as a reference, the lens barrel 3 adjusts the optical axis deviation in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and the imaging element substrate 41 adjusts the optical axis deviation in the rotation direction with the optical axis as the central axis. Therefore, the optical axis shift can be effectively suppressed.

  The configuration that functions as the rotation restricting portion does not necessarily include the rotation restricting convex portion 1b and the cutout portion 41a. If the constitution restricts the rotation of the imaging element substrate 41 with respect to the front case 1, another configuration may be used. A configuration can be adopted. For example, the imaging device substrate 41 may have a convex portion and the front case 1 may have a cutout portion. Further, a configuration in which the image pickup device substrate 41 has a through hole or a groove instead of the notch 41a and the rotation restricting convex portion 1b is inserted into the through hole or the groove may be adopted. That is, by adopting a configuration in which a part of the front case 1 and a part of the imaging element substrate 41 are in contact with each other in the rotational direction with respect to the optical axis, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

  In the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment, the front surface in the optical axis direction of the lens holder 3b of the lens barrel 3 and the rear surface in the optical axis direction of the front case 1 are in contact with each other. The relative position between the lens barrel 3 and the front case 1 can be fixed, and a configuration in which focus adjustment can be performed relatively easily can be achieved.

  In the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment, the lens barrel 3 includes a lens barrel portion and a lens holder 3b, and the lens holder 3b abuts on the front case 1 and is screwed to the lens barrel portion. Therefore, the lens barrel that holds the lens 3a is configured to be movable in the optical axis direction with respect to the lens holder 3b. With this configuration, since the position of the lens 3a in the optical axis direction can be moved in the lens barrel 3, a configuration in which focus adjustment can be performed relatively easily can be achieved.

  Further, in the imaging device of the present embodiment, since the waterproof seal 2 is disposed between the front case 1 and the lens barrel 3 in the radial direction, the force applied to the waterproof seal 2 becomes equal, and the waterproof seal 2 The compression rate can be made substantially uniform, and a configuration that provides excellent waterproof performance can be obtained.

<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 imaging device of the embodiment, the configuration example including the imaging element substrate 41 and the electronic component substrate 42 has been described, but the number of substrates can be arbitrarily changed. For example, a configuration having only one substrate on which the imaging element 44 and the electronic component are mounted may be used, or a configuration having three or more substrates may be used.

  Further, the front case 1 and the rear case 8 are not limited to the configuration as in the embodiment. For example, the front case 1 is a plate-like member that forms a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction, the rear case 8 is a plate-like member that forms a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and light from the outer edge of the plate-like member. It may have a shape such as having a side surface protruding forward in the axial direction. That is, the front case 1 and the rear case 8 can adopt any shape that forms a casing (case) by being connected. Further, the front case 1 and the rear case 8 may be formed of a material other than resin.

  Further, the lens barrel 3 is not necessarily configured to include the lens holder 3b. That is, a configuration in which the lens barrel 3 and the lens holder 3b are integrally formed may be employed, or a configuration including only the lens barrel 3 may be employed.

  The present invention is suitably used as an in-vehicle imaging device that needs to adjust the optical axis with high accuracy.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Front case 1a ... Opening part 1b ... Rotation restricting convex part 2 ... Waterproof seal 3 ... Lens barrel 3a ... Lens 3b ... Lens holder 41 ... Imaging element board | substrate 41a ... Notch part 42 ... Electronic component board | substrate 42a ... Terminal 43 ... Flexible Substrate 44 ... imaging elements 51, 52, 53 ... connector 6 ... shield plate 7 ... waterproof seal 8 ... rear case 9 ... connector

Claims (7)

A lens barrel that holds the lens;
A substrate on which an image sensor for receiving and imaging light transmitted through the lens is mounted;
A case for holding the lens barrel and the substrate,
The lens barrel and the case are diametrically fitted,
The case has a first rotation restricting portion,
The substrate has a second rotation restricting portion that restricts rotation of the substrate with respect to the case together with the first rotation restricting portion.
Imaging device. The first rotation restricting portion is a rotation restricting convex portion protruding from the case with respect to the substrate,
The second rotation restricting portion is a rotation restricting surface that comes into contact with the rotation restricting convex portion in a rotation direction about the optical axis.
The imaging device according to claim 1. The second rotation restricting portion is a rotation restricting convex portion protruding from the case with respect to the substrate,
The first rotation restricting portion is a rotation restricting surface that comes into contact with the rotation restricting convex portion in a rotation direction about the optical axis.
The imaging device according to claim 1. The lens barrel is in contact with the case in the optical axis direction;
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The lens barrel includes a first lens barrel and a second lens barrel,
The first lens barrel holds the lens,
The second lens barrel is in contact with the case in the optical axis direction and holds the first lens barrel movably in the optical axis direction.
The imaging device according to claim 4. In the radial direction, further comprising a waterproof seal disposed between the case and the lens barrel,
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The case includes a front case, and a rear case disposed rearward in the optical axis direction than the front case,
The front case or the rear case has the first rotation restricting portion;
The imaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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