LENS HOLDER DRIVE APPARATUS, AND CAMERA EQUIPPED THEREWITH

• US 20120229901A1
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsumi Electric Co., Ltd. (Minebea Mitsumi, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sugawara, Masayoshi, MORIYA, Akihiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,001,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/557
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/001 Miniaturised objectives for electronic devices, e.g. portable telephones, webcams, PDAs, small digital cameras G02B23/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/09 adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0015 by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0069 using electromagnetic actuators, e.g. voice coils
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/00 Focusing arrangements of general interest for cameras, projectors or printers
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/10 Power-operated focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/682 Vibration or motion blur correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof

Abstract

Provided is a small, low-profile lens holder apparatus. A lens holder apparatus includes: a lens holder to which a lens section can be attached; a first drive section that moves the lens holder in a first direction along the optical axis; a second drive section that moves the lens holder in a second direction and/or third direction that are perpendicular to the optical axis and differ from each other; a supporting section that includes a base disposed in a position spaced from the lens holder and a supporting member that supports the lens holder so as to be able to move in the second direction and/or third direction; and a position detection section that is disposed on the supporting section in order to detect a position in the second direction and/or third direction of the lens holder with respect to the base.

Claims

1. A lens holder drive apparatus comprising:

a lens holder to which a lens section can be attached;

a first drive section that moves the lens holder in a first direction along an optical axis;

a second drive section that moves the lens holder in a second direction and/or third direction that are perpendicular to the optical axis and differ from each other;

a supporting section that includes a base disposed in a position spaced from the lens holder and a supporting member that supports the lens holder so as to be able to move in the second direction and/or the third direction;

and a position detection section that is disposed on the supporting section in order to detect a position in the second direction and/or the third direction of the lens holder with respect to the base.

2. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lens holder is supported so as to be able to move in the first direction by a lens holder supporting section, the lens holder supporting section including a lens holder supporting frame disposed outside the lens holder and a leaf spring fixed in a linked fashion between the lens holder and the lens holder supporting frame.

3. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the leaf spring is composed of an upper leaf spring fixed to a top of the lens holder and a top of the lens holder supporting frame, and a lower leaf spring fixed to a bottom of the lens holder and a bottom of the lens holder supporting frame.

4. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member is a plurality of suspension wires.

5. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the suspension wire has one end fixed to the base and the other end fixed to the lens holder supporting section.

6. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the other end of the suspension wire is fixed to a top of the lens holder supporting section.

7. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first drive section and the second drive section each include a coil and a magnet, and move the lens holder by means of collaborative mutual action of the coil and the magnet.

8. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 7, wherein one of the coils is formed on a coil board, and includes a plurality of coil parts spaced from each other in a plane of the coil board.

9. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the position detection section is disposed in a position corresponding to spacing between the plurality of coil parts spaced from each other.

10. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first drive section and the second drive section are covered with a cover.

11. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position detection section is a Hall device or a photo reflector.

12. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an imaging device can be attached to the base.

13. A camera comprising the lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 1.

14. A lens holder drive apparatus comprising:

a lens holder to which a lens section can be attached;

a first drive section that moves the lens holder in a first direction along an optical axis;

a second drive section that moves the lens holder in a second direction and/or third direction that are perpendicular to the optical axis and differ from each other;

a base printed wiring board that is disposed in a position spaced from the lens holder; and

a position detection section that is connected to the base printed wiring board in order to detect a position in the second direction and/or the third direction of the lens holder and the base printed wiring board.

15. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the lens holder is supported so as to be able to move in the first direction by a lens holder supporting section, the lens holder supporting section including a lens holder supporting frame disposed outside the lens holder and a leaf spring fixed in a linked fashion between the lens holder and the lens holder supporting frame.

16. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the leaf spring is composed of an upper leaf spring fixed to a top of the lens holder and a top of the lens holder supporting frame, and a lower leaf spring fixed to a bottom of the lens holder and a bottom of the lens holder supporting frame.

17. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the base printed wiring board has a supporting member that supports the lens holder so as to be able to move in the second direction and/or third direction.

18. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first drive section and the second drive section each include a coil and a magnet, and move the lens holder by means of collaborative mutual action of the coil and the magnet.

19. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 18, wherein one of the coils is formed on a coil board, and includes a plurality of coil parts spaced from each other in a plane of the coil board.

20. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the position detection section is disposed in a position corresponding to spacing between the plurality of coil parts spaced from each other.

21. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the position detection section is a Hall device or a photo reflector.

22. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 14, wherein an imaging device can be attached to the base printed wiring board.

23. A camera comprising the lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 14.

24. A lens holder drive apparatus comprising:

a lens holder to which a lens section can be attached;

a first drive section that moves the lens holder in a first direction along an optical axis;

a second drive section that moves the lens holder in a second direction and/or third direction that are perpendicular to the optical axis and differ from each other;

a supporting section that includes a base disposed in a position spaced from the lens holder and a supporting member that supports the lens holder so as to be able to move in the second direction and/or the third direction; and

a position detection section that is disposed on the supporting section in order to detect a position in the second direction and/or the third direction of the lens holder with respect to the base, wherein;

the lens holder is supported so as to be able to move in the first direction by a lens holder supporting section that includes a lens holder supporting frame disposed outside the lens holder and a leaf spring fixed in a linked fashion between the lens holder and the lens holder supporting frame;

the first drive section and second drive section each include a coil and a magnet, and one of the coils is formed on a coil board, includes a plurality of coil parts spaced from each other in a plane of the coil board, and moves the lens holder by means of collaborative mutual action; and

the supporting member has one end fixed to the base and the other end fixed to the lens holder supporting section.

25. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the leaf spring is composed of an upper leaf spring fixed to a top of the lens holder and a top of the lens holder supporting frame, and a lower leaf spring fixed to a bottom of the lens holder and a bottom of the lens holder supporting frame.

26. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the supporting member is a plurality of suspension wires.

27. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the other end of the suspension wire is fixed to a top of the lens holder supporting section.

28. The lens holder drive apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the suspension wire is used for power feeding to the first drive section.