Actuator for linear motion and tilting motion

• US 7,725,014 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lam, Sio Kuan, Fan, Wing Ming, Liu, Tiegang, Ng, Ho Shan, Cheng, Kwok Sing
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval; Melissa J
• Assistant Examiner(s): RHODES, JR, LEON W
• Application Number:
  US11/896,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20090059373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 396/55, 359/824, 348/208.11, 348/208.12
• US Class Current: 396/55
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems

Abstract

There is provided an actuator used in an optical system comprising a housing, a carrier disposed at least partly inside the housing, and a plurality of linear motion transducers coupled to the carrier and substantially evenly spaced around the carrier within the housing. Each linear motion transducer is able to produce linear motion when energized displacing the carrier relative to the housing to produce linear motion, tilting motion, or both of the carrier.

Claims

1. An actuator for an image capture optical system which can perform both auto-focusing and anti-shake operations, comprising:

a housing;

a carrier configured to hold an imaging lens unit, the carrier positioned at least partially within the housing;

at least one spring positioned between the carrier and the housing to provide restoring force to the carrier;

a plurality of linear motion transducers positioned around the carrier such that each of the linear motion transducers is configured to be selectively energized and is capable of providing linear motion and tilting motion to the carrier;

wherein each of the linear motion transducers comprises at least one coil and at least one magnetic element; and

wherein one or more linear motion transducers are selectively actuated to cause tilting of the carrier relative to a longitudinal axis of the carrier for shaking compensation; and

wherein all linear motion transducers are actuated to produce linear motion in an equal amount such that the carrier is moved in a linear motion along the longitudinal axis of the carrier for focusing operation.

2. The actuator according to claim 1 wherein the linear motion transducers provide the linear motion to the carrier such that auto-focusing of the imaging lens unit is performed by moving the carrier such that the distance between an image capturing mechanism and the carrier is changed.

3. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the housing is non-metallic.

4. The actuator according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is non-metallic.

5. An image capture device incorporating the actuator of claim 1.

6. A camera module incorporating the actuator of claim 1, comprising:

at least one imaging lens unit positioned at least partially within the carrier;

an image capturing mechanism on which the imaging lens unit forms an image;

a spacer positioned between the actuator and the image capturing mechanism.

7. A camera module incorporating the actuator of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to control the actuator by driving the linear motion transducers.