Optical module

• US 20060216014A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Precision Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Precision Incorporated (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Morinaga, Shinji, Nakagawara, Toshihiko
• Granted Patent: US 7,330,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/144
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence

Abstract

There is provided an optical module having a circuit board that includes an imaging element, a lens barrel that is fixed onto the circuit board to movably accommodate a lens holder having a lens that forms an image on an imaging surface of an imaging element in a light axis direction, a cylindrical cam having a cam surface engaged with a protrusion disposed in the outside of the lens barrel and extending from a side face of the lens holder to move the lens holder, and a drive section in which an actuator drives the cylindrical cam via a gear train and also having a cover that integrally covers the lens barrel and the actuator and determines the positional relationship between the lens barrel and the drive section.

Claims

1. An optical module comprising:

a circuit board that includes an imaging element;

a lens barrel that is fixed onto the circuit board to movably accommodate a lens holder having a lens that forms an image on an imaging surface of an imaging element in a light axis direction;

a cylindrical cam having a cam surface engaged with a protrusion disposed in the outside of the lens barrel and extending from a side face of the lens holder to move the lens holder;

a drive section in which an actuator drives the cylindrical cam via a gear train; and

a cover that integrally covers the lens barrel and the actuator and determines the positional relationship between the lens barrel and the drive section.

2. The optical module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator and the gear train are assembled in the cover in advance.

3. The optical module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a through-hole is formed in the cover for positioning the lens barrel.

4. A portable electronic device comprising an optical module that includes:

a circuit board that includes an imaging element;

a lens barrel that is fixed onto the circuit board to movably accommodate a lens holder having a lens that forms an image on an imaging surface of an imaging element in a light axis direction;

a cylindrical cam having a cam surface engaged with a protrusion disposed in the outside of the lens barrel and extending from a side face of the lens holder to move the lens holder;

a drive section in which an actuator drives the cylindrical cam via a gear train; and

a cover that integrally covers the lens barrel and the actuator and determines the positional relationship between the lens barrel and the drive section.

5. An assembling method of an optical module comprising the steps of:

assembling an imaging forming section that includes a circuit board having an imaging element, a lens barrel that is fixed onto the circuit board to movably accommodate a lens holder having a lens that forms an image on an imaging surface of the imaging element in a light axis direction, and a cylindrical cam having a cam surface engaged with a protrusion disposed in the outside of the lens barrel and extending from a side face of the lens holder to move the lens holder;

assembling a drive section that includes a cover having a through-hole that penetrates the lens barrel, an actuator that is set on the cover, and a gear train that is disposed on the cover to transmit a driving force of the actuator; and

inserting the lens barrel in the through-hole, engaging the cylindrical cam and the gear train, and combining the imaging forming section and the drive section.