WO2022092557A1

WO2022092557A1 - Camera actuator and camera module including same

Info

Publication number: WO2022092557A1
Application number: PCT/KR2021/012476
Authority: WO
Inventors: 신두식; 이병철; 이경용
Original assignee: 자화전자(주)
Priority date: 2020-10-28
Filing date: 2021-09-14
Publication date: 2022-05-05
Also published as: KR20220056722A

Abstract

Disclosed are a camera actuator and a camera module including same. A camera actuator according to the present invention comprises: a fixing unit which includes an upper cover and a lower base coupled to the upper cover to form a mounting space therein; an actuating unit which performs a plane motion along a plane perpendicular to an optical axis in the mounting space; and a middle actuating member (middle guide) interposed between the upper cover and the actuating unit via a ball so that the actuating unit can perform a plane motion with respect to the fixing unit, wherein at least two actuating magnets are mounted to one surface of the actuating unit, a yoke is disposed at the upper cover to correspond to each of the actuating magnets, the actuating unit is in close contact with the upper cover side with the middle actuating member therebetween by attractive force between the actuating magnet and the yoke corresponding to each other and is spaced apart from the lower base, and an actuating substrate of the actuating unit spaced apart from the lower base and a fixing substrate coupled to the lower base are electrically connected to each other via a plurality of long and slim flexible wires.

Description

Camera actuator and camera module including same

The present invention relates to a camera actuator mounted on a camera module, and in particular, a camera actuator for vibration compensation that prevents or corrects image shake due to movement of a device due to an unstable fixing device or a hand shake of a user holding a camera, and the camera actuator comprising the same It is about the camera module.

Recently, portable terminals such as smart phones (hereinafter referred to as 'mobile') are moving away from the existing simple phone function to keep pace with the advancement of technology, and are a multi-convergence system that can perform various functions such as music, movies, TV, and games. It is evolving, and one of the factors leading to the development of multi-convergence is the Camera Lens Module.

The camera lens module mounted on the mobile is changed to a structure with various additional functions such as auto focus function and optical zoom function in order to meet the recent trend toward high-pixel and high-functionality according to user needs. is becoming In particular, attempts to implement Optical Image Stabilizer technology in a mobile size have been recently progressed from various angles.

Shake compensation technology is a technology that prevents or corrects image shake due to movement of the device due to unstable fixing device or the movement of the user's hand holding the camera. technology to keep it optimal. To implement the vibration compensation technology, the camera module applied to mobile devices and camcorders is equipped with an actuator for vibration compensation.

As a vibration compensation actuator, a VCM (Voice Coil Motor) type using the interaction of a magnetic field and an electric field is well known. In general, the VCM type consists of a magnetic circuit with a coil and a magnet placed facing each other, and the optical unit with the lens mounted thereon is moved in the two-axis direction on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis by electromagnetic force generated by the magnetic circuit to respond to vibration. is composed

The basic principle of the shake compensation function is to move the optical unit mounted with the optical lens in the relative direction of the driving displacement generated by the vibration to match the optical axis and the incident path of the light received by the image sensor. To this end, a configuration is required to guide the optical unit on which the lens is mounted so that it can make a planar motion in the two-axis direction on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

In the conventional camera module, one of the configurations for guiding the optical unit to make a plane motion on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis is a middle guide. In general, the middle guide is configured by inserting a ball between the optical unit and the housing accommodating the optical unit so that the optical unit can make a planar motion with respect to the housing (or base) in the biaxial direction.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional camera actuator to which a middle guide is applied, and FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a coupling cross-section of the camera actuator shown in FIG. 1 .

1 and 2 , the middle guide 70 applied to the conventional camera actuator is a bottom part of the housing 60 so that it can linearly move with respect to the housing 60 in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis. It is mounted on the middle guide 70 and the optical unit 80 constituting the optical system is configured to linearly move along the second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

A plurality of first direction ball rails 74 are provided to correspond to the housing 60 and the middle guide 70 to form a pair so that the middle guide 70 can linearly move in the first direction with respect to the housing 60. is formed, and the middle guide 70 and the optical unit 80 correspond to each other to form a pair in a plurality of second directions so that the optical unit 80 can linearly move in the second direction with respect to the middle guide 70 . A ball rail 72 is formed.

A plurality of first direction ball rails 74 provided to be paired with each other on the lower surfaces of the housing 60 and the middle guide 70 are formed with ball grooves (signs omitted), and the middle guide 70 and the optical unit ( Ball grooves (symbols omitted) are also formed in the plurality of second direction ball rails 72 provided to form pairs in 80 . And one ball B is placed between the first direction ball rails 74 and the second direction ball rails 72 .

The ball B is the

corresponding ball rail

72 or 74 during translation in the first direction of the middle guide 70 with respect to the housing 60 or translation of the optical unit 80 with respect to the middle guide 70 in the second direction. It induces stable linear motion while rolling along the ball groove of .

The conventional camera actuator for stabilization of such a configuration has at least one driving force among a first driving force generated by a first direction magnetic circuit (not shown) and a second direction driving force generated by a second direction magnetic circuit (not shown). Accordingly, the optical unit 80 is displaced in the first direction or the second direction in the housing 60, or is simultaneously displaced in the first direction and the second direction, thereby correcting the vibration.

However, in the conventional configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the optical axis direction positions of the first direction ball rail 74 and the second direction ball rail 72 formed in the middle guide 70 overlap each other, the first direction ball rail Since the ball B interposed between the 74 and the second direction ball rail 72 has no choice but to be coaxially aligned in the optical axis direction, there is a limit to reducing the overall height of the camera module.

In particular, the conventional method of realizing vibration compensation by moving the optical unit in a plane with the driving force of the magnetic circuit has a problem in that it requires a large driving force. This is because it responds to vibration by moving the optical unit, which is relatively heavy compared to other components. In order to secure sufficient driving force for stable vibration compensation, the size of the magnetic circuit must be increased accordingly, making it difficult to downsize the product.

[Prior art literature]

[Patent Literature]

(Patent Document 1) Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0116965 (published on October 26, 2018)

The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is a method for counteracting vibration by plane movement of an image sensor unit, which is relatively light compared to the optical unit, and a camera actuator that can compensate for vibration with a small force compared to the conventional method of moving the optical unit. and to provide a camera module including the same.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is a camera actuator capable of lowering the overall height of the product by improving the structure of the middle guide, and thus implementing a slim and compact product (camera module), including the same This is to provide a camera module for

According to one aspect of the present invention as a means of solving the problem,

a fixing part comprising an upper cover and a lower base coupled to the upper cover to form a mounting space therein;

a movable part for performing a planar motion along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis within the mounting space; and

Includes; a middle guide disposed between the upper cover and the movable part so that the movable part can make a planar motion with respect to the fixed part, with the ball inserted for each of the upper cover and the movable part;

At least two driving magnets are mounted on one surface of the movable part, and a yoke is disposed on the upper cover to correspond to each of the driving magnets one by one,

The movable part is in close contact with the upper cover side with the intermediate movable member interposed therebetween by the attractive force between the corresponding driving magnet and the yoke and is spaced apart from the lower base,

It provides a camera actuator in which the movable substrate of the movable part spaced apart from the lower base and the fixed substrate coupled to the lower base are electrically connected through a plurality of thin and long flexible wires.

Here, a coil substrate on which two or more driving coils are mounted so as to face the driving magnet one by one is coupled to the upper cover, and a pair of driving magnets and driving coils to face each other constitute a magnetic circuit that drives the movable part in a plane. there is.

In this case, the magnetic circuit comprising a driving magnet and a driving coil that are paired to face each other includes a first magnetic circuit for planarly driving the movable part in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a first magnetic circuit for driving the movable part in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis and forming the second magnetic circuit. It may be configured as a second magnetic circuit for plane driving in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

In addition, Hall sensors for sensing a change in magnetic force of a corresponding driving magnet may be mounted on the air core of each of the driving coils one by one.

The movable part may be configured to include the movable substrate and an image sensor unit mounted on the movable substrate.

In addition, a plurality of first direction ball rails and a plurality of second direction ball rails are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate movable member, respectively, and the upper cover corresponds to one matching each of the plurality of first direction ball rails. A first direction upper ball rail is formed, and a corresponding second direction lower ball rail is formed in the movable part to match each of the plurality of second direction ball rails, and a corresponding first direction ball rail and a first direction ball rail are formed to face each other. One ball may be placed between the upper ball rails in the direction and between the ball rails in the second direction and the lower ball rail in the second direction.

Preferably, the first direction ball rail and the second direction ball rail formed on the intermediate movable member are spaced apart from each other so as not to overlap or overlap each other when viewed from the optical axis direction, and at least partially overlap when viewed from the first direction, whereby the intermediate movement A reduction in the height of the member and the camera actuator through it can achieve miniaturization.

In addition, a magnet is mounted on one side of the upper surface of the movable part, and a magnetic material is disposed on one side of the intermediate movable member to correspond to the magnet, and the movable part is in close contact with the intermediate movable member with the ball interposed therebetween by the attractive force between the magnet and the magnetic material can be

According to another aspect of the present invention as a means of solving the problem,

A camera actuator according to the aspect described above; and

It provides a camera module including; an optical unit coupled to the upper cover of the camera actuator or coupled to a separate optical axis direction movable element.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the image sensor unit, which is relatively light compared to the optical unit, is moved in a plane to cope with the shaking, with a small force compared to the conventional method for responding to the shaking by moving the relatively heavy optical unit. Vibration compensation can also be implemented, and the size of the magnetic circuit can be reduced as the required driving force is reduced, thereby reducing the size of the product.

In addition, the embodiment of the present invention has a unique structure (the first direction ball rail and the second direction ball rail are spaced apart from each other so as not to overlap or overlap each other when viewed in a plan view, and a part of the two ball rails overlap only when viewed from the first direction) Visible structure), it is possible to reduce the height of the camera module by applying an intermediate movable member. In other words, it has the advantage of being able to implement a slimmer and more compact product.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional camera actuator to which a middle guide is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a coupling cross-section of the camera actuator shown in FIG. 1 .

3 is an exploded perspective view of a camera actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the camera actuator shown in Figure 3 viewed from the bottom.

FIG. 5 is a combined perspective view of the camera actuator shown in FIG. 3 ;

6 is a cross-sectional view of the camera actuator shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the A-A and B-B directions, respectively.

7 is a view showing an intermediate movable member. FIG. 7 (a) is a plan view of the intermediate movable member, and FIG. 7 (b) is a front view of the intermediate movable member as viewed from the first direction.

8 is a plan view and a front view of the movable part and the fixed substrate shown in FIGS. 3 and 4;

9 is a view showing an operating state of a camera actuator according to an aspect of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of the camera actuator shown in FIG.

10 is a schematic diagram of a camera module including a camera actuator according to an aspect of the present invention described above.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

Terms used in the specification are used only to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the present specification, terms such as “comprise” or “have” are intended to designate that a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification exists, and includes one or more other features or It should be understood that the existence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof does not preclude the possibility of addition.

Also, terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The above terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

In addition, terms such as "unit", "unit", "module" and the like described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented as hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software.

An embodiment to be described below is applied to a camera of a portable user device, and the portable terminal refers to a portable user device. However, these are only general terms, and the present embodiment includes a mobile phone, a palm sized personal computer (PC), a personal communication system (PCS), a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a portable PC. (HPC: Hand-held PC), smart phone, wireless LAN (Local Area Network) terminal, laptop computer, netbook, tablet personal computer, non-mobile game console, VR device (Virtual Reality) ), vehicles, etc., can be applied to various devices or fields.

Therefore, the use of the term portable user equipment should not be used to limit the application of this embodiment to a specific type of device.

In the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals will be assigned to the same components for the same components, and overlapping descriptions thereof will be omitted. And, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described using a three-axis coordinate system for convenience of description. In the drawing, the Z-axis is a height direction of the camera actuator, and indicates a direction in which externally introduced light passes, that is, the optical axis direction, and the X-axis (first direction) indicates a direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, the Z-axis. And the Y-axis (second direction) indicates a direction perpendicular to the X-axis on a plane perpendicular to the Z-axis.

3 is an exploded perspective view of a camera actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the camera actuator shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the bottom. And FIG. 5 is a combined perspective view of the camera actuator shown in FIG. 3 , and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the camera actuator shown in FIG. 5 as viewed from the A-A and B-B directions, respectively.

3 to 6, the camera actuator 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention is largely, the fixed part 20 and the movable part 25, and the ball between the fixed part 20 and the movable part 25. It includes an intermediate movable member 24 interposed as a medium.

For reference, the fixed part 20 and the movable part 25 are relative concepts, and the fixed part 20 means a part fixed to the movable part 25 , and the movable part 25 is a fixed part 20 . It refers to a portion that is displaced along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

In the camera actuator 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the fixing part 20 may be composed of an upper cover 21 and a lower base 22 in combination therewith to form a mounting space (symbol omitted) therein. The upper cover 21 may have a configuration in which the opening 210 is formed with a predetermined area in the center, and the lower base 22 is a plate-shaped body having a predetermined thickness having a rectangular (rectangular or square) planar shape as illustrated in the drawings. can be composed of

The movable part 25 is provided to perform a planar motion along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis within the mounting space of the fixed part 20 . The movable part 25 may include a movable substrate 26 and an image sensor unit 27 mounted on the movable substrate 26 . In this case, the image sensor unit 27 may further include an image sensor 270 for collecting image information from the light passing through the opening 210 and a sensor board 272 for mounting the image sensor 270 .

The intermediate movable member 24 guides the planar motion (movement on a plane perpendicular to the optical axis) of the movable part 25 with respect to the fixed part 20 . The intermediate movable member 24 is disposed by sandwiching a plurality of balls B1 and B2 between the upper cover 21 and the movable part 25 of the fixed part 20, and the fixed part ( 20) with respect to the movable part 25 in the first direction, or only the movable part 25 relative to the fixed part 20 in the second direction.

At least two driving magnets M1 and M2 are mounted on one surface of the movable part 25 . And yokes Y1 and Y2 are disposed on the inner upper surface of the upper cover 21 so as to correspond to each of the driving magnets M1 and M2. At this time, an attractive force acts between the corresponding driving magnets M1 and M2 and the yokes Y1 and Y2, and accordingly, the movable part 25 with the intermediate movable member 24 interposed therebetween is moved to the upper cover 21. ) side and spaced apart from the lower base 22 .

The magnetic force of the driving magnets M1 and M2 is concentrated toward the driving coils C1 and C2 to be described later by the yokes Y1 and Y2. In addition, the attractive force between the yokes (Y1, Y2) and the driving magnets (M1, M2) acts as a restoring force for returning the movable part 25 to its original position when the current is cut off. Accordingly, when the current is cut off (when no current flows in the driving coils C1 and C2), centering (accurately aligning the movable part 25 on the optical axis line) can be implemented.

A coil substrate 23 on which the driving coils C1 and C2 are mounted is coupled to the upper cover 21 in a structure that matches and faces each of the driving magnets M1 and M2. At this time, the driving magnets M1 and M2 and the driving coils C1 and C2, which are paired to face each other, drive the movable part 25 with respect to the fixed part 20 in the biaxial direction on the X-Y plane of the drawing perpendicular to the optical axis. to form a magnetic circuit.

Preferably, the magnetic circuit composed of the driving magnets M1 and M2 and the driving coils C1 and C2 that are paired to face each other may move the movable part 25 in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis (X-axis direction in the drawing). ), and a second magnetic circuit MC2 for planarly driving the movable part 25 in a second direction (Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the optical axis and perpendicular to the first direction. can be composed of

In other words, the first magnetic circuit MC1 includes one driving magnet M1 and one driving coil C1 facing each other to generate a driving force for moving the movable part 25 in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis. and the second magnetic circuit MC2 also includes one driving magnet M2 and one driving coil C2 facing each other to generate a driving force for moving the movable part 25 in a second direction perpendicular to the optical axis. .

Each of the driving coils C1 and C2 may be configured in the form of an air-core coil. At this time, a Hall sensor (HS) that detects the position of the movable unit 25 from a change in magnetic force of the corresponding driving magnets M1 and M2 may be mounted one by one in the air core at the center of each of the driving coils C1 and C2. . The sensing information of the hall sensor HS is provided to a drive IC (not shown), and the drive IC feedback-controls the coils C1 and C2 based on the received sensing information.

That is, the drive IC recognizes in real time a change in the relative position of the movable part 25 with respect to the fixed part 20 based on the sensing information (change in the position of the driving magnets M1 and M2) provided by the hall sensors HS, Based on the recognized position value compared to the initial position, feedback control of each driving coil C1 and C2 is performed. Accordingly, relative position control of the movable part 25 with respect to the fixed part 20 , that is, vibration compensation can be accurately and precisely implemented.

As described above, the present invention offsets the vibration by causing the movable part 25 to move in the two-axis direction perpendicular to the optical axis in the mounting space with the driving force generated by the magnetic circuits, and during the process, the upper cover 21 and the intermediate movable member ( 24) and a plurality of balls B1 and B2 rolling between the intermediate movable member 24 and the movable part 25, so that the movable part 25 for the fixed part 20 in a state spaced apart from the lower base 22 ) can be stably implemented without large friction.

A ball rail is formed on each of the upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate movable member 24 to partition the ball driving area so that the balls B1 and B2 can stably roll. The ball rail includes a plurality of first direction ball rails 240 formed in a plurality, preferably four places, on the upper surface of the intermediate movable member 24, and a plurality, preferably four, on the lower surface of the opposite intermediate movable member 24. It may be formed of a second direction ball rail 242 .

A corresponding first direction upper ball rail 200 is formed on the upper cover 21 to match each of the first direction ball rails 240 one by one, and the second direction ball rail 242 is formed on the movable part 25, respectively. A corresponding second direction lower ball rail 252 may be formed to match one by one. At this time, a ball B1 is formed between the first direction ball rail 240 and the first direction upper ball rail 200 and between the second direction ball rail 242 and the second direction lower ball rail 252 corresponding to face each other. B2) is placed one by one.

3 and 4, reference numeral 255 denotes a magnet mounted on one upper surface of the movable part 25, and reference numeral 245 denotes a magnetic material disposed on one side of the intermediate movable member 24 corresponding to the magnet 245, and a magnet ( 255), an attractive force acts between the magnetic body 245 and the magnetic body 245, and the movable part 25 is in close contact with the intermediate movable member 24 with the ball B2 therebetween. Directional plane motion can be stably implemented.

In the drawing, a magnet 255 is mounted on one upper surface of the movable part 25, and a configuration in which a magnetic body 245 is disposed on one side of the intermediate movable member 24 at a position corresponding to the magnet 255 is shown as an example. , Conversely, since the magnet is disposed on one side of the intermediate movable member 24, and a magnetic material may be disposed on the upper surface of one side of the movable part 25 at a position corresponding to the magnet, such modifications may also be included in the scope of the present invention. make it clear

As shown in FIG. 7 , the first direction ball rail 240 and the second direction ball rail 242 formed on the intermediate movable member 24 are viewed from the optical axis direction (see FIG. 7 (a)). They may be spaced apart from each other so as not to overlap or overlap each other. However, when viewed from the first direction, the first direction ball rail 240 and the second direction ball rail 242 adjacent to each other may have a configuration in which at least a portion overlaps.

The conventional middle guide (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2) of a configuration in which the optical axis direction positions of the first direction ball rail and the second direction ball rail overlap each other is arranged to perform rolling motion along the first direction ball rail and the second direction ball rail The balls are also structured to be coaxially aligned when viewed from the optical axis, so there is a limit to reducing the overall height of the camera module.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the first direction ball rail 240 and the second direction ball rail 242 are spaced apart so as not to overlap or overlap each other when viewed from a plane, the balls contacting each of the corresponding ball rails (B1, B2) also do not overlap each other when viewed from a plane, and only when viewed from the first direction (see (b) of FIG. do.

That is, the balls B1 and B2 contacting each of the first and second direction ball rails 240 and 242 do not overlap or overlap each other when viewed from a plane, but when viewed from the first direction (X-axis direction), the two balls ( Part of B1, B2) seems to be overlapped, and if at least a portion of the two balls B1 and B2 is configured to overlap only when viewed from the first direction, the overall intermediate movement by the overlapping height of the two balls (B1, B2) Since the height of the member 24 is reduced, it is possible to achieve miniaturization of the product.

8 is a plan view and a front view illustrating a movable part and a fixed substrate;

Referring to FIG. 8 and previously attached FIGS. 3 and 6 together, as mentioned above, the movable part 25 has the lower base 22 due to the attractive force generated between the driving magnets M1 and M2 and the yokes Y1 and Y2. ) is spaced a predetermined distance from it and is maintained in a buoyant state. At this time, the movable substrate 26 constituting the movable part 25 is electrically connected to the fixed substrate 29 and the plurality of flexible wires 28 coupled to and fixed at a predetermined position of the lower base 22 .

Each flexible wire 28 has a structure in which an insulating layer is formed by covering the surface of a thin and long conductive conductor with an insulator such as a synthetic resin, and can be easily bent. Accordingly, when the movable part 25 is moved in the first direction or the second direction with respect to the fixed part 20 with the driving force generated by the above-described magnetic circuit, the electric connection with the fixed substrate 29 is maintained while the predetermined driving force is maintained. You can move freely within range.

The operation of the camera actuator according to an aspect of the present invention configured as described above will be briefly described.

9 is a view showing an operating state of a camera actuator according to an aspect of the present invention, and FIG. 9 (a) is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the present invention when correcting the first direction shake, FIG. 9 (b) is It is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the present invention when correcting the vibration in the second direction.

First, let's look at the shake correction for the first direction.

Referring to FIG. 9A , when vibration in the first direction is sensed, a current is applied to the first direction driving coil C1 through the coil substrate 23 under the control of a drive IC (not shown). More specifically, depending on whether the sensed first directional shaking is in the right or left direction based on FIG. 9A , the drive IC applies a +/- current to the first directional driving coil C1 or vice versa -/+ current is applied.

When +/- or -/+ current is applied to the driving coil C1 in the first direction under the control of the drive IC according to the vibration detection, the driving coil C1 is magnetized and an electric field is generated in a specific direction according to the direction of the applied current. is generated, and the interaction between the generated electric field and the magnetic field of the driving magnet M1 in the first direction generates a drive force (force to move the movable part to the right or left in the drawing with respect to the fixed part).

By this force, the movable part 25 linearly moves along the first direction together with the intermediate movable member 24 in the direction and the amount of displacement corresponding to the direction and strength of the current applied to the first direction driving coil C1, As a result, the image sensor unit 27 constituting the movable part 25 moves in the right or left direction in the drawing along the first direction to cancel the vibration in the first direction.

In this process, the Hall sensor HS disposed in the air core of the first direction driving coil C1 outputs a detection signal of a corresponding size according to a change in the position of the first direction driving magnet M1, and the drive IC Based on the output of the hall sensor, the first direction position of the movable part 25 is recognized in real time. In addition, by feedback-controlling the first direction driving coil C1 based on the recognized position value compared to the initial position, the first direction vibration correction may be accurately implemented.

After the first vibration compensation, when the force to move the movable part 25 in the first direction is removed (blocking the current to the first direction driving coil C1), the first direction driving magnet M1 and the first direction corresponding thereto The movable part 25 naturally returns to its original neutral position by the mutually pulling force between the yokes Y1, that is, the attractive force acting between the first direction driving magnet M1 and the first direction yoke Y1.

Next, we will look at vibration compensation in the second direction.

Referring to FIG. 9B , when the vibration in the second direction is sensed, a current is applied to the second direction driving coil C2 through the coil substrate 23 under the control of the drive IC (not shown). More specifically, the drive IC applies a +/- current to the first direction driving coil C1 or vice versa, depending on whether the sensed second direction vibration is in the right or left direction based on FIG. 9B . -/+ current is applied.

When +/- or -/+ current is applied to the second direction driving coil C2 under the control of the drive IC according to the vibration detection, the corresponding driving coil C2 is magnetized and an electric field is generated in a specific direction according to the direction of the applied current. is generated, and the interaction between the generated electric field and the magnetic field of the driving magnet M2 in the second direction causes a force (Drive force, a force to move the movable part 25 to the right or left in the drawing with respect to the fixed part 20) This happens.

By this force, the movable part 25 linearly moves in the second direction with respect to the intermediate movable member 24 in the direction and displacement corresponding to the direction and strength of the current applied to the second direction driving coil C2 ( When correcting the vibration in the second direction, the intermediate movable member 24 becomes a fixed body), as a result, the image sensor unit 27 moves in the right or left direction in the drawing along the second direction to cancel the vibration in the second direction do.

In this process, the Hall sensor HS disposed in the air core of the second direction driving coil C2 outputs a detection signal of a corresponding size according to a change in the position of the second direction driving magnet M2, and the drive IC The second direction position of the movable part 25 is recognized in real time based on the output of the hall sensor. In addition, by feedback-controlling the second direction driving coil C2 based on the recognized position value compared to the initial position, the second direction vibration correction may be accurately implemented.

After the second vibration compensation, when the force to move the movable part 25 in the second direction is removed (blocking the current to the second direction driving coil C2), the second direction driving magnet M2 and the second direction yoke Y2 ), and by making a relative motion with respect to the intermediate movable member 24 to which the movable part 25 is fixed by the mutually pulling force, that is, the attractive force acting between the aforementioned magnet 255 and the magnetic body 245, the original second It will naturally return to the directional neutral position.

Of course, only the first direction shake correction and the second direction shake correction have been described above, but the actual shaking occurs in a form including two direction components (a first direction component and a second direction component) at the same time. In this case, the movable part 25 moves in a diagonal direction on the X-Y plane by a combination of the above-described driving force for correcting the vibration in the first direction and the driving force for correcting the vibration in the second direction, thereby canceling the vibration.

Referring to FIG. 10 , the camera module 1 according to another aspect of the present invention is largely composed of a camera actuator 2 and an optical unit 4 . Here, the camera actuator is the same as the camera actuator 2 according to the above-described aspect, and the optical unit 4 includes a lens barrel (a symbol omitted) and a plurality of lenses accommodated in the lens barrel at a predetermined interval along the optical axis direction. It includes a lens group (not shown) composed of

The lens barrel is arranged to receive the light reflected by the subject and to pass the received light in the direction of the optical axis. As mentioned above, the lens barrel accommodates a lens group composed of a plurality of lenses, and in this case, each of the lenses constituting the lens group may have the same or different optical properties such as focal length and refractive index.

The optical unit 4 may be coupled to the opening 210 of the upper cover 21 of the camera actuator 2 or coupled to a separate optical axis direction movable element not shown. Here, the separate optical axis direction movable element may be, for example, an AF carrier. Although not shown, an IR filter may be installed on the optical path between the optical unit 4 and the image sensor unit 27 of the camera actuator 2 .

In this case, the IR filter filters a specific wavelength, preferably an infrared wavelength, included in the incident light (light that has passed through the optical unit 4), and functions so that the infrared wavelength filtered light can be projected onto the image sensor unit.

Most of the conventional camera actuators for vibration compensation require a large driving force because they respond to the vibration by moving a relatively heavy optical unit compared to other components with the driving force generated by the magnetic circuit. In this case, in order to secure sufficient driving force for stable vibration compensation, the size of the magnetic circuit must be increased accordingly, so it is difficult to achieve miniaturization of the product.

On the other hand, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the image sensor unit, which is relatively light compared to the optical unit, is moved in a plane to respond to the shaking, a smaller force compared to the conventional method of moving the optical unit as described above to respond to the shaking Vibration compensation can also be implemented with this, and the size of the magnetic circuit can be reduced as the required driving force is reduced, which is advantageous for product miniaturization.

In addition, the conventional configuration (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2) in which the optical axis direction positions of the first direction ball rail and the second direction ball rail overlap each other is arranged to perform rolling motion along the first direction ball rail and the second direction ball rail. The ball is also a structure that can only be coaxially aligned when viewed from the optical axis direction, so there is a disadvantage in that there is a limit in reducing the overall height of the camera module.

In contrast, the embodiment of the present invention has a unique structure (the first direction ball rail and the second direction ball rail are spaced apart so as not to overlap or overlap each other when viewed in a plan view, and when viewed from the first direction (FIG. 7 (b) ) only, the height of the camera module can be reduced by applying an intermediate movable member with a structure in which parts of the two ball rails overlap). In other words, it is possible to realize a slimmer and more compact product overall.

In the above detailed description of the present invention, only specific embodiments thereof have been described. However, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular form recited in the detailed description, but rather, it is to be understood to cover all modifications and equivalents and substitutions falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. should be

[Explanation of code]

1: camera module 2: camera actuator

4: optical unit 20: fixed part

21: upper cover 22: lower base

23: coil substrate 24: intermediate movable member

25 movable part 26: movable board

27: image sensor unit 28: flexible wire

29: fixed substrate 200: first direction upper ball rail

210: opening 240: first direction ball rail

242: second direction ball rail 245: magnetic material

252: second direction lower ball rail 255: magnet

B1, B2: Ball C1, C2: Driving coil

HS : Hall sensor M1, M2 : Driving magnet

MC1: first magnetic circuit MC2: second magnetic circuit

Claims

a fixing part comprising an upper cover and a lower base coupled to the upper cover to form a mounting space therein;

a movable part for planar motion along a plane perpendicular to the optical axis within the mounting space; and

and a middle movable member (Middle guide) interposed between the upper cover and the movable part through a ball so that the movable part can make a planar motion with respect to the fixed part;

At least two driving magnets are mounted on one surface of the movable part, and a yoke is disposed on the upper cover to correspond to each of the driving magnets one by one,

The movable part is in close contact with the upper cover side with the intermediate movable member interposed therebetween by the attractive force between the corresponding driving magnet and the yoke and is spaced apart from the lower base,

A camera actuator in which the movable substrate of the movable part spaced apart from the lower base and the fixed substrate coupled to the lower base are electrically connected through a plurality of thin and long flexible wires.
The method of claim 1,

A coil substrate on which two or more driving coils are mounted so as to face the driving magnet one by one is coupled to the upper cover,

A camera actuator in which a pair of driving magnets and driving coils to face each other constitute a magnetic circuit for driving the movable part in a plane.
3. The method of claim 2,

The magnetic circuit comprising a driving magnet and a driving coil that are paired to face each other,

a first magnetic circuit for planarly driving the movable part in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis;

and a second magnetic circuit for plane driving the movable part in a second direction perpendicular to the optical axis and perpendicular to the first direction.
3. The method of claim 2,

A camera actuator in which a Hall sensor for sensing a change in magnetic force of a corresponding driving magnet is mounted on an air core of each of the driving coils.
The method of claim 1,

The movable part,

the movable substrate;

A camera actuator including an image sensor unit mounted on the movable substrate.
The method of claim 1,

A plurality of first direction ball rails and a plurality of second direction ball rails are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the intermediate movable member, respectively,

A corresponding first direction upper ball rail is formed on the upper cover to match each of the plurality of first direction ball rails,

A second direction lower ball rail corresponding to each of the plurality of second direction ball rails is formed on the movable part to be matched one by one,

A camera actuator in which balls are interposed one by one between a first direction ball rail and a first direction upper ball rail, and between a second direction ball rail and a second direction lower ball rail, which correspond to each other so as to face each other.
7. The method of claim 6,

The first direction ball rail and the second direction ball rail formed on the intermediate movable member are spaced apart from each other so as not to overlap or overlap each other when viewed from the optical axis direction, and at least partially overlap when viewed from the first direction.
The method of claim 1,

A magnet is mounted on the upper surface of one side of the movable part,

A magnetic body is disposed on one side of the intermediate movable member so as to correspond to the magnet,

A camera actuator in which the movable part is in close contact with the intermediate movable member with the ball interposed therebetween by the attractive force between the magnet and the magnetic body.
The method of claim 1,

Each of the plurality of flexible wires has a configuration in which an insulating layer is formed by covering the surface of a thin and long conductive conductor with an insulator, and is easily bent.
The camera actuator according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and

A camera module comprising a; an optical unit coupled to the upper cover of the camera actuator or coupled to a separate optical axis direction movable element.