JP4187585B2 - Solid-state imaging device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device mounted on a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As is well known, many of the functions added to recent mobile phones are equipped with cameras. These cameras usually have a small digital camera that is a combination of a lens and a solid-state image sensor, such as a CCD, on the main body of the mobile phone, with a lens opening on the surface on which the liquid crystal panel and switch buttons are provided, and on the back side. It is provided as follows. In addition, the functions of mounted cameras are enhanced, and the number of cameras equipped with macro shooting functions is increasing. By the way, if the lens of the camera mounted on the mobile device is exposed on the surface of the mobile phone body in this way, it may cause damage or dirt. Therefore, the camera is covered with some protective cover when not in use. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-309003 A (Page 3, FIGS. 1 to 11)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the installation of the protective cover as described above is effective in preventing damage to the lens and contamination, but if the mobile phone is dropped, the internal structure of the camera will be damaged. It is powerless. For example, when the camera moves the lens in the normal shooting mode and the macro shooting mode, the lens or the lens holder holding the lens may collide with other members and be damaged by an impact such as dropping. obtain. If you close the protective cover while still in the macro shooting mode and shoot the subject at the normal shooting distance without switching to the normal shooting mode at the next shooting, so-called out-of-focus shooting will occur. May end up.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The configuration of the solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes a camera unit mounted on a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone, a frame of the portable electronic device, and a protective cover provided on the device. A first feature of the present invention is that a lens holder that holds a lens and is movable in the optical axis direction of the lens, a first permanent magnet that is integrally disposed on the lens holder, the lens and the lens holder described above and a frame body for accommodating the first permanent magnet described above, the position to cover the lens to this frame with integrally provided with a second permanent magnet, a protective cover lens is movable to a position generally crop It has. The first permanent magnet is arranged at a position corresponding to the second permanent magnet at a position where the protective cover covers the lens, and can be biased in the optical axis direction of the lens by the magnetic force of the second permanent magnet. First, the solid-state imaging device can be protected by closing the protective cover so as to cover the lens and breaking the contact between the lens and the outside. Secondly, when the second permanent magnet integrally provided in the protective cover is in a closed state, the lens holder is attached to the optical axis direction by a magnetic force by facing the first permanent magnet. Since it can be applied, the internal structure is protected even if an impact is applied by dropping or the like.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electromagnetic driving means for driving the first permanent magnet to a first position and a second position moved from the first position by a predetermined distance in the optical axis direction. . The electromagnetic driving means enables the first permanent magnet to be easily moved between a first position corresponding to the normal photographing mode and a second position corresponding to the macro photographing mode by switching a switch.
[0007]
A third feature of the present invention is that the first permanent magnet is separated from the second position in the optical axis direction by the magnetic force of the second permanent magnet at a position where the protective cover covers the lens, are to so that is held in one position. This is because when the first permanent magnet is in the second position and the protective cover is closed, the second permanent magnet faces the first permanent magnet and the first permanent magnet is caused by the magnetic force (repulsive force) of both. The magnet is separated from the second position and held in the first position. As a result, when the protective cover is closed, the solid-state imaging device is always held in the normal photographing mode. Therefore, if you open the protective cover during the next shooting, even if the previous mode is the macro shooting mode, the protective cover will change the camera to the normal shooting mode, so you can shoot without changing the mode. Become.
[0008]
The fourth feature of the present invention is that the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet have the same shape. In addition to reducing the manufacturing cost by using the same shape, the permanent magnet can be reduced in size by increasing the magnetic force between the permanent magnets when the two magnets face each other.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by taking up a solid-state imaging device (small digital camera, hereinafter referred to as “camera unit”) mounted on a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone. The configuration of the solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes a camera unit mounted on a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone, a frame of the portable electronic device, and a protective cover provided on the device. First, an outline of a mobile phone that is a mobile electronic device will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile phone has an operation button 2 and a liquid crystal display panel 3 on the front side of a rectangular parallelepiped frame 1, and an antenna 4 in the upper corner. In addition to the switch button 2a, the operation button 2 is provided with a camera operation switch (not shown).
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 1, a recess 1 a is provided on the back side of the frame body 1 at a position closer to the upper portion, and is provided so as to be opened and closed by sliding a protective cover 5. A second permanent magnet 6 described later is fixed to the back surface of the protective cover 5. In FIG. 1A, the protective cover 5 is located at the top of the concave portion 1a and is closed, but in FIG. 1B, the protective cover 5 is slid (lowered) and the upper portion of the concave portion 1a is covered. It is in an exposed state. Above the exposed concave portion 1a, the lens 16 of the camera unit 7 is provided so as to face outward, that is, in a direction in which a subject image can be formed on a CCD 15 described later. When the camera unit 7 is not used, the protective cover 5 protects the camera unit 7 by closing the recess 1a and covering the lens 16 of the camera unit 7 as shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5B, the image can be taken by sliding downward and opening the lens 16 so that the lens 16 is exposed.
[0011]
Next, the configuration of the camera unit 7 mounted on the electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, a holder 12 is fixed on a substrate 11, and the holder 12 is formed by forming a flange portion 12b on a rectangular tube portion 12a. A conical opening portion 12 d is provided along the optical axis of the lens 16 in the partition portion 12 c formed inside the rectangular tube portion 12 a. A circular groove 12e centered on the optical axis is provided in a ring shape on the front surface (upper surface in the drawing) of the flange portion 12b, and the lower end portion of the lens holder 13 is fitted in this groove portion. An optical filter 14 is provided on the lower surface of the partition portion 12c so as to cover the opening 12d, and a CCD 15 is provided on the upper surface of the substrate 1 positioned inside the cylindrical portion 12a as an image sensor. The image sensor is not limited to the CCD, and can be changed as appropriate.
[0012]
The lens holder 13 is substantially formed in a cylindrical shape with a step, and has a large diameter portion positioned below and a lower end thereof mounted on the upper surface of the holder 12 via the groove 12e. . A lens opening 13a is formed along the optical axis of the lens in the partition formed at the top of the lens holder 13, and the upper surface is flat on the lower surface of the partition so as to cover the lens opening 13a. A lens 16 having a convex bottom surface is attached. The lens 16 is pressed inside the lens holder by a lens cap 17 in which a flange portion formed on the outer peripheral portion is fitted inside the lens holder 13.
[0013]
A male screw is engraved on the outer periphery of the upper portion of the lens holder 13, and a female screw portion engraved on the inner peripheral portion of the ring-shaped magnet holder 18 is screwed into this. In the case of focus adjustment, fine adjustment is possible by rotating the magnet holder 18 and the lens holder 13 relatively to move the lens 16 forward and backward. A first permanent magnet 19 formed in a ring shape is fixed to the outer periphery of the lower portion of the magnet holder 18. The first permanent magnet 19 has a rectangular cross section and a planar shape formed in a ring shape as shown in FIG. The first permanent magnet 19 is formed by dividing the circumference into four and alternately magnetizing N magnetic poles and S magnetic poles. In addition, if the 1st permanent magnet 19 and the 2nd permanent magnet 6 are made into the same thing, while being able to obtain a strong magnetic force mutually, it is useful for the improvement of productivity, such as simplification of a manufacturing process.
[0014]
An electromagnetic driving means 20 for moving the lens holder 13 back and forth is provided around the lens holder 13 and on the upper surface of the flange portion of the holder 12. The electromagnetic drive means 20 is composed of a first stator 21, a coil 22, and a second stator 23. The first stator 21 is made of a soft magnetic material formed in an L-shaped cross section and in an annular shape, and the coil 22 is formed by winding a wire 22b around a concave portion of a bobbin 22a formed in a U-shaped cross section. The second stator 23 is made of a soft magnetic material formed in a ring shape with an inverted L-shaped cross section larger than that of the first stator 21, and is positioned so as to surround the first starter 21 and the coil 22.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 4, protrusions 23 b and 23 b are formed on the inner peripheral portion of the upper surface of the second stator 23 at two opposite left and right portions of the circular inner peripheral portion 23 a. Each protrusion 23b protrudes above the first permanent magnet 19 and can be attracted and / or repelled. Moreover, although the upper end part of the 1st stator 21 is ring-shaped, this part is facing one surface (lower surface) of the 1st permanent magnet 19, and this can be similarly attracted | sucked and / or repelled. is there.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the camera unit 7 will be described. The basic operation of the camera unit 7 is that the protective cover 5 is slid open, the opening 1b of the frame 1 is directed toward the subject, and an image formed on the CCD 15 through the lens 16 is turned on by turning on the release switch. It is to read and memorize. 3 and 4, the lens holder 13 (lens 16) is retracted in the optical axis direction of the lens 16 when the lower surface of the first permanent magnet 19 is attracted to the upper end of the first stator 21. That is, it is understood that the normal photographing mode is set because the first position is maintained.
[0017]
If the release switch is turned on in this state, imaging in the normal shooting mode can be obtained. Next, in order to perform macro photography, when a mode changeover switch (not shown) is operated, the electromagnetic drive means 20 is activated to excite the first stator 21 to the N pole in the coil 22 and the second stator 23 to S. A current that excites the pole flows. As a result, the first permanent magnet 19 is attracted to the lower surface of the second stator 23. That is, the macro photography mode is set by moving the lens 16 to the front position in the optical axis direction, that is, the second position, and separating the distance between the lens 16 and the CCD 15. After entering the macro photography mode, the power supply to the coil 22 is turned off to save power, but the first permanent magnet 19 and the soft magnetic material of the second stator 23 are adsorbed. This holds that state.
[0018]
Next, when returning to the normal photographing mode, when the changeover switch is operated, the current that excites the first stator 21 to the S pole and the second stator 23 to the N pole in the coil 22 of the electromagnetic driving means 20 is as follows. The lower surface of the first permanent magnet 19 is attracted to the upper end portion of the first stator 21, and the lens 16 is held at the first position to enter the normal photographing mode. In addition to this, the return to the normal photographing mode is also performed by closing the protective cover 5 as described later.
[0019]
As described above, the solid-state imaging device according to the present invention is configured by mounting the camera unit on the frame of the portable electronic device. Here, the camera unit 7 is mounted on the frame 1 of the electronic device. explain. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show that the lens is exposed from the opening 1b when the protective cover 5 is opened, and is ready for photographing (see FIG. 1B). As shown in the figure, the camera unit 7 is in contact with the positioning portion 1 d formed inside the frame body 1 via the ring-shaped elastic member 24 inside the frame body 1. A recess 1a is formed in the frame body 1 positioned in front of the camera unit 7 in the optical axis direction (upward in the drawing), and an opening 1b is provided at the center of the bottom plate of the recess 1a. Are provided with long groove-like guide grooves 1c, 1c that allow the protective cover 5 to slide.
[0020]
The state shown in FIG. 6 is the normal shooting mode, and the state shown in FIG. 7 is the macro shooting mode. Any mode can be obtained by operating the mode switch. Under this state, since the protective cover 5 does not cover the front of the camera 7, the lens 16 is exposed to the position at the time of shooting, that is, the first position in the normal shooting mode or the second position in the macro shooting mode. Is retained.
[0021]
FIG. 8 shows a state (see FIG. 1A) in which the protective cover 5 is closed and the front of the lens holder 13, that is, the lens 16 is covered. The protective cover 5 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front and a flat plate surface 5a. The protective cover 5 has a flat plate surface 5a on the back side, that is, on both sides of the side facing the opening 1b and the lens 16 (lower surface in FIG. A pair of elastic engagement portions 5b, 5b are provided in parallel to protrude in the direction of the camera unit 7. A locking claw portion is formed at the tip of each elastic engagement portion 5b. In the protective cover 5, the engaging portions 5 b, 5 b described above pass through the guide groove portions 1 c, 1 c provided at the bottom of the concave portion 1 a of the frame body 1, and a locking claw portion at the tip is the back surface (inner surface) of the frame body 1. It is impossible to drop off by locking to the) side. In addition, since the protective cover 5 is accommodated in the recessed part 1a formed ahead, the surface of the frame body 1 is flush with the surface of the frame 1 and can be moved within the formation range of the recessed part 1a. The second permanent magnet 6 described above is fixed to the center of the back surface of the protective cover 5. The second permanent magnet 6 has the same shape as that of the first permanent magnet 19 (see FIG. 5), and the position corresponding to the first permanent magnet 19 when the protective cover 5 is closed, that is, the second permanent magnet. 6 and the first permanent magnet 19 are disposed at positions where at least the frame body 1 is disposed, and the magnetic poles are also provided correspondingly.
[0022]
Therefore, in the state shown in FIG. 8, the magnetic repulsive force acts between the pair of permanent magnets 6 and 19, so that the lens 16 provided substantially integrally with the first permanent magnet 19 moves backward. The first position is held in a state of being urged in the direction of moving. In this holding state, the urging force disappears when the protective cover 5 is opened, but it can be held at that position by the magnetic attractive force between the first stator 21 and the first permanent magnet 19. Therefore, when the protective cover 5 is opened, the normal shooting mode is always set. Therefore, the next shooting can be performed in the normal shooting mode without switching the mode.
[0023]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the first permanent magnet 19 moves forward and is attracted to the lower surface of the second stator 23, the macro shooting mode in which the distance between the lens 16 and the CCD 15 is slightly increased. It has become. If the protective cover 5 is closed in this state, a magnetic repulsive force is generated between the pair of permanent magnets 19 and 6 as described above, and an urging force acts so as to move the lens 16 and the like together with the lens holder to the first position. become. The magnetic attraction force between the first permanent magnet 19 and the second stator 23 is generated between the permanent magnet and the magnetic body, and the protrusions 23b and 23b of the second stator 23 (see FIG. 4). Since it acts only in this part, it is much weaker than the magnetic repulsion between permanent magnets. Therefore, when the protective cover 5 is closed in the macro photographing mode, the first permanent magnet is separated from the second stator 23, and the lens 16 is thereby retracted and biased in the optical axis direction. Is kept in the state.
[0024]
This means that when the protective cover 5 is closed, the camera is always in the normal shooting mode regardless of the shooting mode in which it was used the last time. Unless this is the case, the release switch can be operated without checking the mode, and mistakes such as accidental shooting in the macro shooting mode will not be violated. Since the change-over switch only needs to be operated in the case of macro photography that is not frequently used, it is easy to use.
[0025]
Thus, since the protective cover 5 is slid and arranged at a position covering the lens 16 of the camera unit 7, damage and contamination of the lens 16 can be prevented. Further, the first permanent magnet 19 and the second permanent magnet 6 are arranged at positions corresponding to each other, and the first permanent magnet 19 is urged in the optical axis direction of the lens 16 by the magnetic force with the second permanent magnet. Therefore, even when an impact is applied to the electronic device, the internal structure of the camera unit 7, that is, the lens 16, the lens holder 13, the magnet holder 18, and the like can be prevented from colliding with other members, and damage to these can be prevented. It becomes possible.
[0026]
Further, since the first permanent magnet 19 is separated in the optical axis direction of the lens 16 by the repulsive force with the second permanent magnet, the camera unit 7 can be mounted only by arranging the protective cover 5 at a position covering the lens 16. The normal shooting mode can be set, and switching to the normal shooting mode, which is frequently used at the next shooting, becomes unnecessary, and the operability of the camera unit 7 is improved.
[0027]
In addition, since the first permanent magnet 19 and the second permanent magnet 6 have the same shape and the same arrangement of magnetic poles, the manufacturing process of the two permanent magnets can be simplified and the positions where the two correspond to each other. It is possible to increase the magnetic force between the two when placed in the.
[0028]
In the present embodiment, the positions of the concave portion 1a and the camera unit 7 are the back side of the frame 1, but these positions are not limited to this and can be changed as appropriate. For example, both may be arranged on the front side of the frame 1, that is, the side on which the operation buttons 2, the liquid crystal display panel 3, etc. are formed.
[0029]
Further, in the present embodiment, the first permanent magnet 19 and the second permanent magnet 6 have the same shape and the same magnetic pole arrangement, but the shape and magnetic pole arrangement of both are not limited to this. The shape and the magnetic pole arrangement may be different.
[0030]
Further, in the present embodiment, when the first permanent magnet 19 and the second permanent magnet 6 are arranged at positions corresponding to each other, the first permanent magnet 19 is caused by the attractive force with the second permanent magnet. Although it is configured to be separated in the optical axis direction of the lens 16, the first permanent magnet 19 may be configured to approach the optical axis direction of the lens 16 by a repulsive force with the second permanent magnet. In this case, for example, the positions of the permanent magnets may be rotated by 90 ° so that the magnetic forces attracted to each other work when they are arranged at positions corresponding to each other. According to such a configuration, when the camera unit 7 closes the protective cover 5, the macro shooting mode is always set, so that operability is improved when the macro shooting mode is frequently used.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, by providing a protective cover in front of the camera, the lens and the like are protected when the solid-state imaging device is not used. Further, since a permanent magnet having the same shape as the mode switching permanent magnet is provided on the back side of the protective cover, the lens holder (lens) can be held in a state of being urged along the optical axis. For this reason, even when an impact is applied due to dropping or the like, the lens holder is prevented from colliding with other members inside, so that damage to the internal mechanism of the solid-state imaging device can be prevented. In addition, if the protective cover is closed when the camera is not in use, the normal shooting mode is always maintained regardless of the shooting mode before the camera is closed. Is no longer necessary. This is convenient because it is rarely necessary to switch only during macro photography.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B show the overall appearance of a portable electronic device equipped with a solid-state imaging device according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a state in which a protective cover is closed, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the open state.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the front of the portable electronic device.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration example of a camera unit.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a configuration example of a permanent magnet.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the camera unit is attached to the frame, and a state in which the protective cover is opened and the normal photographing mode is set.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a macro photographing mode is set.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the camera unit is attached to the frame, and a state in which the protective cover is closed.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Frame 1a Concave part 5 Protective cover 6 2nd permanent magnet 7 Camera unit 11 Board | substrate 12 Holder 13 Lens holder 15 Solid-state image sensor (CCD)
16 Lens 18 Magnet holder 19 First permanent magnet 20 Electromagnetic drive means 21 First stator 22 Coil 23 Second stator 23b Projection 24 Elastic member

Claims (4)

A lens holder that holds the lens and is movable in the optical axis direction of the lens, a first permanent magnet that is integrally disposed on the lens holder, the lens, the lens holder, and the first permanent magnet are housed. A frame and a second permanent magnet, and a protective cover provided on the frame so as to be movable to a position where the lens is covered and a position where the lens is exposed;
The first permanent magnet is disposed at a position corresponding to the second permanent magnet at a position where the protective cover covers the lens, and is biased in the optical axis direction by the magnetic force of the second permanent magnet. A solid-state imaging device. 2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising: an electromagnetic driving unit that drives the first permanent magnet to a first position and a second position moved from the first position by a predetermined distance in the optical axis direction. A solid-state imaging device. 3. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein the first permanent magnet is separated from the second position in the optical axis direction by the magnetic force of the second permanent magnet at a position where the protective cover covers the lens. A solid-state imaging device, which is held in the first position. 4. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet have the same shape. 5.

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