JP2005195682A - Camera module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera module improved in assemblability at the assembly time of a camera. <P>SOLUTION: The camera module includes a lens holder 5 holding a lens 6, a holder which holds the lens holder so as to move in an optical axis direction and an adjusting member 7 fixed at the outer periphery part of the lens holder 5 with an adhesive. A tapered part 506 whose diameter is reduced toward a subject side is provided on the outer periphery of the lens holder. A groove part 705 is easily filled with the adhesive by providing the tapered part 506. By providing the groove part 705 and connecting the lens holder 5 and the member 7, the adhesion of them is more surely realized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a camera module that captures an image using an image sensor, and more particularly to a camera module that has a macro (close-up) imaging function in addition to a normal imaging function.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a function of performing focusing or zooming by moving the position of a lens held in a lens holder by a driving force of a motor or the like and changing a focal length is known.

  An example of a mechanism for moving the lens holder in the optical axis direction is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 13, a male screw portion 1003 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of a lens frame 1000 that holds lenses 1001 and 1002, and a holding hole 1005 is formed in a lens holder 1004. An internal thread portion 1006 is formed on the peripheral surface. The lens frame 1000 is screwed into a holding hole 1005 formed in the lens holder 1004. When the lens frame 1000 is moved with respect to the lens holder 1004 in the optical axis direction, the lens is moved forward and backward in the optical axis direction by rotating the lens frame 1000 with respect to the lens holder 1004.

JP-A-9-21938

  However, if the lens frame holding the lens is rotated around the optical axis and the lens frame is advanced or retracted relative to the lens holder, the lens rotation center may not match the optical axis. A shift occurs in the center position of the lens.

  If the camera is used for a digital camera or a video camera, the lens and the imaging surface are large, so the effect on the captured image is small. However, in a small camera stored in a mobile phone or the like, the lens and the imaging surface are small. Therefore, the effect on the image is large.

  In addition, there is room for improvement in improving the assemblability when assembling the camera module.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a camera module with improved assemblability.

  In order to achieve this object, a camera module according to claim 1 is provided with a lens holder that holds a lens, a holder that holds the lens holder so as to be movable in an optical axis direction, and an adhesive on an outer peripheral portion of the lens holder. A camera module having an adjustment member to be fixed, wherein an outer periphery of the holder is provided with a taper that decreases in diameter toward the subject side.

  The invention described in claim 1 is characterized in that the outer circumference of the lens holder is provided with a taper that decreases in diameter toward the subject side. When the position is adjusted and the lens holder is attached to the adjustment member, the taper is provided on the object side, so that the adhesive can be easily filled. Further, by providing a taper and connecting the lens holder and the adjustment member, it is possible to more reliably bond these.

  The camera module according to claim 2 is the camera module according to claim 1, wherein the subject-side surface of the lens holder is located around the first surface and the first surface, and A peripheral surface that is a step portion between the first surface and the second surface, and a plurality of grooves are formed in the circumferential direction to form an uneven surface. It is characterized by being.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the subject-side surface of the lens holder has a first surface and a second surface lower than the first surface, and the first surface and the second surface A plurality of grooves are formed in the circumferential direction on the peripheral surface to be a stepped portion with a concave and convex surface. Therefore, the lens holder can be easily held, and the lens holder can be positioned successfully when the lens holder is attached to the adjustment member.

  As is apparent from the above description, the present invention can provide a camera module with improved assemblability during camera assembly.

  Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, the configuration of the camera module 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the camera module 1 of this embodiment, an image pickup device 3 such as a CCD is mounted on one surface of a substrate 2. On the substrate 2 on which the image sensor 3 is mounted, a holder 4 is fixed so as to surround the image sensor 3, and on the upper part of the holder 4 (on the side opposite to the contact portion of the holder 4 with the substrate 2). An inner cylindrical portion 403 that engages with the lens holder 5 is formed.

  Two lenses 6 that form a subject image on the image sensor 3 are held inside the lens holder 5. Further, the lens holder 5 is formed with a circumferential groove 501 that engages with the inner cylindrical portion 403 of the holder 4, and the inner cylindrical portion 403 is fitted into the circumferential groove 501. In addition, a taper 506 that is reduced in diameter toward the subject side is provided on the outer periphery of the lens holder 5.

  An adjustment member 7 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical lens holder 5. The adjustment member 7 is provided with a screw portion 701 that is screwed with the screw portion 502 provided on the lens holder 5. A taper 707 whose diameter decreases toward the subject side is provided on the subject side of the screw portion 701. The lens holder 5 is attached to the adjustment member 7 by screwing between the screw portions and then rotated around the optical axis to focus the lens 6 accommodated in the lens holder 5. After the focusing of the lens 6 is completed, an adhesive is applied to fix the lens holder 5 to the adjustment member 7. As shown in FIG. 1, a groove portion 705 for filling an adhesive formed by the taper 506 and the taper 707 is provided at a connection portion between the lens holder 5 and the adjustment member 7 on the light incident side where the photographing light is incident. Yes. The groove 705 is filled with an adhesive to bond the lens holder 5 and the adjustment member 7 together. The adjustment member 7 fixed to the lens holder 5 functions as a part of the lens holder 5.

  A ring-shaped rotating member 8 is sandwiched between the adjusting member 7 and the holder 4, and these members are urged by a circular urging member 9. On the lower surface of the ring-shaped rotating member 8 (on the contact surface side with the holder 4), a cam surface for applying a driving force for moving the lens holder 5 back and forth in the optical axis direction (cam contour for realizing a predetermined driving force by the cam) Is formed). By rotating the rotating member 8 on which the cam surface is formed around the optical axis, the adjusting member 7 on the rotating member 8 and the lens holder 5 fixed to the adjusting member 7 move in the optical axis direction. Further, the urging member 9 that presses the adjusting member 7 in the direction from the lens 6 to the substrate 2 is formed of a ring-shaped leaf spring as shown in FIG. 2, and the urging force is reduced by bending the urging member 9. Works and presses the adjustment member 7. FIG. 2 shows a front view of the camera module shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front.

  The holder 4 is provided with an inner cylindrical portion 403, a column portion 404 that surrounds the periphery of the lens holder 5, and a wall portion 405. These increase the strength of the camera module 1 and serve to protect the lens 6 and the image sensor 3 from external force.

  The structure of each part mentioned above is demonstrated in detail. First, the configuration of the holder 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 shows a top view of the holder 4 as viewed from above, FIG. 4 shows the shape of a cut surface obtained by cutting the holder 4 along the line AA ′ shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. The bottom view which looked at the holder 4 from the board | substrate 2 side is shown. First, as shown in the top view of FIG. 3, the holder 4 is provided with an opening 402 for guiding the light collected by the lens 6 to the image sensor 3 in the central region of the substantially circular bottom surface portion 401. Yes. An inner cylindrical portion 403 is erected on the bottom surface portion 401 so as to surround the opening 402 around the opening 402. The inner cylindrical portion 403 engages with the circumferential groove 501 of the lens holder 5 to hold the lens holder 5 slidably with respect to the holder 4. The sliding contact surfaces between the holder 4 and the lens holder 5 are the outer peripheral surface 403 a of the inner cylindrical portion 403 and the inner peripheral surface 501 a of the circumferential groove 501. Since the sliding contact surface is on the outer peripheral surface 403a side, even when the lens holder 5 moves and dust such as rubbing scraps is generated on the sliding contact surface, the dust does not enter the lens holder 5. It does not enter the light path.

  Further, in the peripheral part of the holder 4, a pillar part 404 having legs for separating the bottom face part 401 from the substrate 2 by a predetermined distance, and concentration of external force on the pillar part 404 are prevented, and the camera module 1 A wall portion 405 for increasing the strength is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, three pillar portions 404 are provided in the peripheral portion of the bottom surface portion 401 (a position that is substantially equidistant from the center of the bottom surface portion 401). The column portions 404 provided at the three locations are arranged so that their circumferential intervals are substantially equal. This is to increase the stability of the holder 4 erected on the substrate 2. In other words, in this embodiment, the outer periphery is large due to the rotating member 8 and the like, and only the surrounding member 409 surrounding the periphery of the imaging element 3 is poor in stability, and the column portion 404 is provided. (In particular, in this embodiment, the rotating member 8 protrudes outside the holder 4 as shown in FIG. 1, so that the holder 4 on which the rotating member 8 is placed is fixed to the substrate 2 at three locations. doing).

  As shown in FIG. 4, a claw portion 406 is provided at the tip portion of the column portion 404 (on the side opposite to the substrate 2). The end of the urging member 9 is hung on the claw portion 406 and pushed up by the first protrusion 703 provided on the adjustment member 7 from below, so that the urging member 9 made of a leaf spring is bent, and the adjustment member 7 and the adjustment member The rotating member 8 provided below 7 is pressed downward (on the substrate 2 side).

  Three pedestal members 407 are arranged at a position slightly inside (center side) from the peripheral portion of the bottom surface portion 401 provided with the column portion 404 and the wall portion 405. Similar to the column portion 404, the base member 407 is also substantially equidistant from the center of the bottom surface portion 401, and is arranged so that the respective circumferential intervals are substantially equal. The pedestal member 407 is a protrusion that is one step higher than the bottom surface portion 401, and makes the pedestal member 407 contact the cam surface of the rotating member 8. Therefore, the contact area with the rotating member 8 can be reduced, the frictional resistance can be reduced, and the rotating member 8 can be easily rotated. Further, by providing the pedestal member 407 that is one step higher than the bottom surface portion 401, the cam surface unevenness provided on the lower surface of the rotating member 8 can be efficiently transmitted to the adjustment member 7 connected to the lens holder 5. it can.

  Next, the configuration of the holder 4 on the substrate side (lower surface side) will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, an enclosing member 409 that surrounds the image sensor 3 provided on the substrate 2 is provided on the substrate side of the holder 4. In the region surrounded by the enclosing member 409, an image sensor arrangement space for arranging the image sensor 3 and a filter arrangement space for filtering the light collected by the lens 6 are provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the filter 10 is disposed between the lens 6 and the image sensor 3.

  Further, the leg portions of the three column portions 404 are provided on the lower surface side of the holder 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the three legs are arranged such that their circumferential intervals are substantially equal. Further, an opening 408 is formed on the front surface of the leg portion (in the center direction of the bottom surface portion 401). From the opening 408, the claw portion 406 of the column portion 404 can be seen. The opening 408 can be formed when the claw portion 406 is formed.

  Next, the shape of the rotating member 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A shows a top view of the rotating member 8, and FIG. 6B shows a bottom view of the rotating member 8. As shown in FIG. 7 and 8 show the shape of the cam surface formed on the rotating member 8. FIG. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the rotating member 8 includes a ring-shaped member 801 in which a central portion of a circle is cut out, and a lever member 802 attached to the ring-shaped member 801. The ring-shaped member 801 is formed with a cam surface (a surface on which a cam contour for realizing a predetermined driving force by the cam is formed) on the lower surface side in contact with the holder 4.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the cam surface is composed of three surfaces having different thicknesses in the optical axis direction when the rotating member 8 is attached to the camera module 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the third surface of the inclined surface that connects the first surface 803 having the thickest thickness, the second surface 804 having the smallest thickness, and the first surface 803 and the second surface 804. A surface 805. FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the rotary member 8 cut in half and the cross section seen from the side.

  The rotating member 8 is formed such that three base members 407 provided on the holder 4 are always in contact with each other on the same surface of the rotating member 8. That is, when the surface in contact with one pedestal member 407 is the first surface 803, the surface in contact with the other pedestal member 407 is the second surface 804 or the third surface 805. No, the same surface always contacts the three base members 407. The cam surface having such a shape is disposed between the base member 407 and the adjustment member 7 of the holder 4. When the first surface 803 is sandwiched between the pedestal member 407 and the adjustment member 7, the adjustment member 7 and the lens holder 5 fixed to the adjustment member 7 move forward in the optical axis direction (direction away from the substrate 2). The lens 6 is disposed at the close-up position. Further, when the rotating member 8 is rotated by the lever member 802 and the second surface 804 is sandwiched between the pedestal member 407 and the adjusting member 7, the lens holder 5 fixed to the adjusting member 7 and the adjusting member 7. Retreats in the direction of the optical axis (direction approaching the substrate 2), and the lens 6 is disposed at the normal photographing position.

  In the present embodiment, a slippery material such as POM (Polyoxymethylene) is applied as the rotating member 8, but it is not particularly limited to this material. In this embodiment, the cam surface is provided on the lower surface side (substrate side) of the rotating member 8, but the surface on which the cam surface is provided is provided on the upper surface (surface in contact with the adjusting member 7) side of the rotating member 8. It may be.

  Next, the configuration of the adjustment member 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. 9A shows the configuration of the upper surface of the adjustment member 7 (the surface side in contact with the urging member 9), and FIG. 9B shows the rear surface of the adjustment member 7 (with the rotation member 8 and the rotation member 8). The configuration of the contacting surface side) is shown. FIG. 10 is a side view of the adjustment member 7 as viewed from the side. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the adjusting member 7 is also in a ring shape, and a rotation stopper 702 is provided on the side surface of the ring-shaped adjusting member 7. The rotation stopper 702 serves as a stopper for preventing the adjustment member 7 on the rotation member 8 from rotating by rotating the rotation member 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotation stop 702 contacts the wall portions 405 provided on both sides, so that the adjustment member 7 is fixed so as not to rotate.

  Further, a screw portion 701 that is screwed with the screw portion 502 of the lens holder 5 is formed on the side surface opposite to the side surface on which the rotation stopper 702 of the adjustment member 7 is provided (that is, the contact surface with the lens holder 5). ing. Further, a non-slip portion 706 at the time of assembly is formed on the outer periphery of the adjustment member 7 on the opposite side to the position where the rotation stopper 702 is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the adjustment member 7 has protrusions on the upper and lower surfaces. The first protrusions 703 provided on the upper surface (the surface side in contact with the urging member 9) are provided at three locations as shown in FIG. 9A or FIG. Plays a role of pushing up from the side. The nail | claw part 406 of the holder 4 which presses the biasing member 9 from the top, and the 1st projection part 703 pushed up from the bottom are not pressing the same position on both upper and lower surfaces of the biasing member 9, The urging force is applied to the urging member 9 by slightly shifting the position of the urging member 9. Moreover, the 2nd projection part 704 provided in the lower surface (surface which contact | connects the rotating member 8) side of the adjustment member 7 shown to FIG. 9 (B) and FIG. 10 is provided in three places similarly to the 1st projection part 703. The contact area with the rotating member 8 is reduced, and the frictional force generated between the rotating member 8 and the rotating member 8 is reduced.

  Here, the connection between the lens holder 5 and the adjustment member 7 will be described in detail. Although the lens 6 is attached to the lens holder 5, the lens 6 must be focused when the lens holder 5 is attached to the adjusting member 7 due to errors that occur during the manufacture of the parts. In this embodiment, screw portions (701, 502) are provided on the joint surface between the adjustment member 7 and the lens holder 5, and these screw portions (701, 502) are screwed together. Then, the lens holder 5 is rotated to move in the optical axis direction, and the lens 6 is focused (initial setting).

  When focusing the lens 6 held by the lens holder 5, the lens holder 5 is manually rotated to move the lens holder 5 forward and backward in the optical axis direction. Therefore, the lens holder 5 is preferably formed so that a person can easily hold it. In the present embodiment, the surface of the lens holder 5 on which the photographing light strikes is arranged around the first surface 503 around the lens 6 and the first surface 503 as shown in FIG. The second surface 504 is one step lower than the second surface 504. As shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12, irregularities 505 are formed on the side surface that becomes the step portion between the first surface 503 and the second surface 504 so that the lens holder 5 can be easily gripped by hand. ing.

  Next, after positioning and fixing the lens holder 5 and the adjustment member 7, the adjustment member 7 is urged by the urging member 9. The outer peripheral portion of the lens holder 5 in which the adjustment member 7, the rotation member 8, and the holder 4 are overlapped in the optical axis direction is urged by the urging member 9, and these members are pressed downward (substrate 2 side). . When the lens holder 5 is attached to the adjustment member 7 and the lens holder 5 is moved in order to focus the lens 6, the lens holder 5 is pushed to the substrate 2 side. The pressing direction by the urging member 9 is the same direction as this pressing direction (image side in the optical axis direction). Therefore, the direction in which the urging member 9 is pressed after focusing is the same as the direction in which the biasing member 9 is pressed in the optical axis direction at the time of focusing, and there is no deviation in the focus adjusted by focusing.

  When the urging by the urging member 9 is finished, the lens holder 5 and the adjusting member 7 are fixed by applying an adhesive to the screwed portion between the lens holder 5 and the adjusting member 7. When the lens holder 5 is fixed to the adjustment member 7, a groove portion 705 for filling an adhesive is formed at the connection portion between the light-incident side lens holder 5 and the adjustment member 7, as shown in FIG. 12. The The lens holder 5 is formed with a taper 506 so that the cross-sectional area decreases from the light incident surface side toward the substrate 2 side. Similarly, the adjustment member 7 is also formed with a taper 707 so that the cross-sectional area decreases from the light incident surface side toward the substrate 2 side. By connecting the lens holder 5 having such a shape and the adjustment member 7, a groove 705 is formed on the connection surface on the light incident side. The lens holder 5 and the adjustment member 7 can be reliably bonded by dropping and bonding the adhesive to the groove portion 705. In addition, since the groove 705 is provided on the light incident side opposite to the side on which the holder 4 that holds the lens holder 5 is disposed, the groove 705 can be easily filled with the adhesive.

  In the camera module 1 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a biasing member 9 that biases the adjustment member 7 is disposed on the adjustment member 7. Therefore, it is difficult for the urging member 9 to drop the adhesive into the groove 705. However, by forming the end of the lens holder 5 that contacts the adjusting member 7 with a taper shape, a groove 705 having an opening on the light incident side can be formed, and the adhesive can be easily dropped onto the groove 705. Become.

  The camera module 1 manufactured in this way can change the position of the lens 6 and switch the focal length by turning the lever member 802 of the rotating member 8. When the first surface 803 of the rotating member 8 is sandwiched between the pedestal member 407 and the adjustment member 7, the adjustment member 7 and the lens holder 5 fixed to the adjustment member 7 are advanced in the optical axis direction (away from the substrate 2). The lens 6 can be arranged at the close-up position. Further, when the rotating member 8 is rotated by the lever member 802 and the second surface 804 is sandwiched between the pedestal member 407 and the adjusting member 7, the lens holder 5 fixed to the adjusting member 7 and the adjusting member 7 is lighted. The lens 6 can be disposed at the normal photographing position by retreating in the axial direction (direction approaching the substrate 2).

  The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment described above, the cam surface formed on the rotating member 8 is the two surfaces of the first surface 803 and the second surface 804, but a plurality of surfaces having different thicknesses in the optical axis direction are provided. The focal length may be adjusted more finely.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the Example of a camera module. It is the front view which looked at the camera module of the Example from the front. It is the top view which looked at the holder 4 from the top. It is sectional drawing which shows the shape of the cut surface cut | disconnected by the AA 'line shown in FIG. It is the bottom view which looked at the holder 4 from the bottom. (A) is the top view which looked at the rotation member 8 from the top, (B) is the bottom view which looked at the rotation member 8 from the bottom. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the shape of a cam surface formed on a rotating member 8. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the shape of a cam surface formed on a rotating member 8. (A) is the top view which looked at the adjustment member 7 from the top, (B) is the bottom view which looked at the adjustment member 7 from the bottom. It is the side view which looked at the adjustment member 7 from the side. It is the front view which looked at the lens holder 5 from the front. It is the side view which looked at the lens holder 5 and the adjustment member 7 from the side surface. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the conventional camera module.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera module 2 Board | substrate 3 Image pick-up element 4 Holder 5 Lens holder 6 Lens 7 Adjustment member 8 Rotating member 9 Energizing member 10 Filter 401 Bottom surface part 402 Opening part 403 Inner cylindrical part 403a Inner peripheral surface 404 Column part 405 Cover part 406 Claw Portion 407 Base member 408 Opening 409 Surrounding member 501 Circumferential groove 501a Outer peripheral surface 502 Screw portion 503 First surface 504 Second surface 505 Concavity and convexity 506 Taper 701 Screw portion 702 Anti-rotation 703 First protrusion 704 Second protrusion 705 Groove 706 Non-slip member 707 Taper 801 Ring-shaped member 802 Lever member 803 First surface 804 Second surface 805 Third surface

Claims (2)

A lens holder holding the lens;
A holder for holding the lens holder movably in the optical axis direction;
A camera module having an adjustment member fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the lens holder by an adhesive;
2. A camera module according to claim 1, wherein a taper that decreases in diameter toward the subject side is provided on an outer periphery of the lens holder. The object-side surface of the lens holder has a first surface and a second surface that is located around the first surface and is lower than the first surface;
The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral surface serving as a stepped portion between the first surface and the second surface has a plurality of grooves formed in a circumferential direction thereof to be an uneven surface. .

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