Optical unit, solid-state image sensing device and electronic apparatus comprising same

• US 20080265134A1
• Filed: 04/24/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kinoshita, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 7,923,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/206
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/0352 Unipolar motors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A camera module 100a includes a lens unit 1a, which includes a lens 11 and a lens holder 12 holding the lens 11 therein, and an image sensing unit 2a, which has a solid-state image sensor 24. A position adjustment of the lens 11 is performed by moving the lens 11 independently of the lens holder 12, by use of electromagnetic force. This allows a fine adjustment of a position of the lens 11, thereby improving the alignment precision of the lens 11. Thus, a solid-state image sensing device is provided, which can make fine adjustments of focal lengths.

Claims

1. A solid-state image sensing device which includes an optical unit including a lens and a lens holder holding the lens therein, and an image sensing unit having a solid-state image sensor, the solid state image sensing device comprising:

a position adjusting section for adjusting a position of the lens by moving the lens, independently of the lens holder, by use of electromagnetic force.

2. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

the position adjusting section includes a coil, a magnetic body, and an elastic body; and

the position adjusting section adjusts the lens position by expanding and contracting the elastic body, due to the electromagnetic force which acts between the coil and the magnetic body.

3. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the coil or the magnetic body is provided to the lens holder,

the elastic body is coupled with the coil or the magnetic body provided to the lens holder, and holds the lens.

4. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the optical unit and the image sensing unit are fixed detachable from each other.

5. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the lens holder is fixed to the image sensing unit.

6. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein:

the image sensing unit includes a transparent lid section covering a receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor, and a sealing section sealing the image sensing unit in such a manner that the surface of the transparent lid section is exposed; and

the lens holder and the exposed part of the transparent lid section are engaged with each other.

7. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

a whole outer edge of the transparent lid section exposed from the sealing section is covered by the lens holder; and

a bottom surface of the lens holder and a surface of the sealing resin is in contact with each other.

8. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the coil, the magnetic body, and the elastic body are all provided to the optical unit.

9. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the magnetic body and the elastic body are provided to the optical unit; and

the coil is provided to the image sensing unit.

10. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

the magnetic body is embedded in a surrounding of the lens,

one end of the elastic body is fixed to the lens holder, and the other end thereof is coupled with the magnetic body.

11. The solid-state image sensing body as set forth in claim 2, wherein the optical unit and the image sensing unit are collectively sealed with resin.

12. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein:

the optical unit includes a pressing member fixed to the lens holder, and a supporting section supporting the pressing member; and

when the optical unit is fixed to the image sensing unit, the bottom surface of the lens holder and the surface of the sealing section are in contact with each other due to the pressing of the lens holder to the transparent lid section by the pressing member.

13. The solid-state image sensing device as set forth in claim 12, wherein the optical unit is fixed to the image sensing unit by screwing the supporting section to the sealing section.

14. An electronic apparatus comprising a solid-state image sensing device, wherein:

the solid-state image sensing device which includes an optical unit including a lens and a lens holder holding the lens therein and an image sensing unit having a solid-state image sensor, the solid-state image sensing device includes;

a position adjusting section adjusting the position of the lens by moving the lens, independently of the lens holder, by use of electromagnetic force.

15. An optical unit which includes a lens and a lens holder holding the lens therein, the optical unit comprising:

a position adjusting section for adjusting a position of the lens by moving the lens, independently of the lens holder, by use of electromagnetic force.