Optical unit

• US 11,119,391 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2020
• Issued: 09/14/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Sankyo Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Sue, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Flohre, Jason A
• Application Number:
  US16/830,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20200310228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0023 by tilting or inclining one or more optical elements with respect to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/52 Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• 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 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

Provided is an optical unit 10 including a movable body 14 provided with a camera module equipped with an image pickup element 50 and an optical element 12a, a fixed body 16, support mechanisms 9 and 20 configured to movably support the movable body 14 with respect to the fixed body 16, and drive units 18A to 18C configured to move the movable body 14 with respect to the fixed body 16. The movable body 14 is supported by the support mechanisms 9 and 20 in a state where the movable body 14 does not contact the fixed body 16 in an optical axis direction, and the optical unit 10 includes a heat dissipation member 11 made of metal and coupled to the image pickup element 50 and the support mechanisms 9 and 20.

Claims

1. An optical unit comprising:

a movable body including a camera module equipped with an image pickup element and an optical element;

a fixed body;

a support mechanism configured to movably support the movable body with respect to the fixed body; and

a drive unit configured to move the movable body with respect to the fixed body, wherein

the movable body is supported by the support mechanism in a state where the movable body does not contact the fixed body in an optical axis direction,

the optical unit includes a heat dissipation member made of metal and coupled to the image pickup element and the support mechanism,

the heat dissipation member comprises a rolling frame coupled to lands of the image pickup element,

the rolling frame comprises a frame-shaped unit arranged around the image pickup element and a coupling unit extending outward from the frame-shaped unit and coupled to the support mechanism,

the coupling unit has a thin plate shape and comprises a U-shaped unit having a substantial U-shape and allowing for pivoting of the camera module in a roll direction, and

the movable body including the camera module is held so as to be displaceable in the roll direction with the optical axis direction as a pivot axis via the coupling unit of the rolling frame,

wherein heat in the image pickup element is dissipated to the support mechanism via the coupling unit of the rolling frame.

2. The optical unit according to claim 1, wherein

the coupling unit of the rolling frame is coupled to a movement fulcrum portion, of the support mechanism, for moving the movable body with respect to the fixed body.

3. The optical unit according to claim 1, wherein

the frame-shaped unit of the rolling frame is arranged to contact a side surface of the image pickup element intersecting the optical axis direction.

4. The optical unit according to claim 3, wherein

the frame-shaped unit of the rolling frame is arranged to surround the image pickup element.

5. An optical unit comprising:

a movable body including a camera module equipped with an image pickup element and an optical element;

a fixed body;

a support mechanism configured to movably support the movable body with respect to the fixed body; and

a drive unit configured to move the movable body with respect to the fixed body, wherein

the movable body is supported by the support mechanism in a state where the movable body does not contact the fixed body in an optical axis direction,

the optical unit includes a heat dissipation member made of metal and coupled to the image pickup element and the support mechanism,

the heat dissipation member is a gimbal frame supported by the movable body and the fixed body via the support mechanism, and

the gimbal frame is configured to be supported by the support mechanism as a result of a spherical convex surface and a spherical concave surface abutting with each other.

6. The optical unit according to claim 5, wherein

the support mechanism comprises:

a first support mechanism fixed to the fixed body, the first support mechanism being configured to swingably support the movable body with respect to the fixed body with a first direction intersecting the optical axis direction as a swing axis; and

a second support mechanism fixed to the movable body, the second support mechanism being configured to swingably support the movable body with respect to the fixed body with a second direction intersecting both the optical axis direction and the first direction, as a swing axis.