JP2007292865A - Lens protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

A lens protection device using a shape memory member that does not consume electric power for driving.
When a camera-equipped mobile phone is set to a camera mode, heat is generated from electronic components related to a camera function mounted on a ceramic substrate. The shape memory member 57 that has received this heat contracts when the temperature of the abnormal transformation temperature is reached, and moves the lens barrier 54 to the open position. When the camera mode is turned off, no heat is generated from the electronic components. Therefore, the shape memory member 57 is naturally cooled and the lens barrier 54 is moved to the closed position by the spring 56.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens protection device, and more particularly to a lens protection device that moves a barrier that protects a lens by a deformation force of a shape memory member.

  In recent years, mobile phones with cameras in which camera modules are incorporated into mobile phones have become widespread. A camera module incorporated in a portable device such as a camera-equipped mobile phone is composed of an optical unit in which a photographing lens is incorporated and a printed wiring board module in which a solid-state imaging device (CCD) is mounted on a printed wiring board. . Some digital cameras and digital cameras built in cellular phones are covered with a lens barrier to prevent the photographing lens from being soiled when not in use. In recent years, with the miniaturization and thinning of mobile phones, cameras provided in mobile phones have been downsized. Accordingly, the lens barrier that protects the photographing lens is also required to be small and thin.

  For this reason, in order to reduce the size of the lens protection device, a lens protection device using a shape memory member as a drive mechanism is known (for example, Patent Document 1). In the lens protection device using this shape memory member, the shape memory member is contracted by energization to make the lens protection device open and close, so a large member for driving the lens protection device such as a motor is used. The lens protection device itself is downsized without need. However, even though the shape memory member is used for the driving mechanism of the lens protection device, it is necessary to contract the shape memory member by energizing heating, so that the power consumed by the lens protection device is not small.

  As a lens protection device using such a shape memory member, there is also known a lens protection device that controls the time for energizing the shape memory member used in the drive mechanism (for example, Patent Document 2). Although this lens protection device drives the lens protection device by contracting the shape memory member by energization heating, it suppresses power consumption by keeping the energization time short.

Similarly, as an example of using a shape memory member for a camera, an example using a shape memory member for a diaphragm mechanism is also known for the purpose of downsizing (for example, Patent Document 3). As described above, there are known lens protection devices and aperture mechanisms that automatically open and close without obstructing the miniaturization of the entire camera by using a shape memory member for each part constituting the camera.
JP2000-221563 JP-A-2005-128450 JP 2005-17632 A

  However, when a lens protection device or a driving mechanism for a diaphragm mechanism is configured using a shape memory member, it is possible to mount the lens protection device and the like in a compact manner. Therefore, there remains a problem that extra power consumption is required to drive the lens protection device and the diaphragm mechanism. In particular, in recent years, considering the widespread use of multifunctional mobile phones that have a web browsing function and music playback function in addition to a camera function, the power used by these functions is not limited, so lens protection The power consumed to drive the device is also a major problem. Therefore, it is desired to add a function expected by the user while minimizing the size and suppressing power consumption as much as possible because of the characteristics of the portable device in which power is supplied by the battery.

  Although the lens protection device can be reduced in size by using the shape memory member for the drive mechanism, it still uses power to open and close the barrier. In this respect, it is difficult to mount a lens protection device that is multifunctional like a mobile phone with a camera and that consumes power for these various functions and that consumes much power.

  The present invention is for solving the above-described problem, and in order to realize a reduction in size by using a shape memory member for the driving mechanism of the lens protection device, and to drive the lens protection device by contracting the shape memory member. An object of the present invention is to provide a lens protection device that automatically opens and closes without consuming electric power.

  The lens protection device of the present invention is a lens protection device that opens and closes the front surface of the photographing lens with a lens barrier, and is determined in advance when the temperature exceeds the transformation temperature by receiving heat from an electronic component mounted on a printed circuit board. A shape memory member that deforms into a memory shape is provided, and the lens barrier is moved in the opening direction by a deformation force when the shape memory member is deformed into the memory shape.

  In addition, a spring for urging the lens barrier in the closing direction is provided, and the lens barrier is moved in the closing direction by the urging of the spring when the shape memory member drops below the transformation temperature.

  The printed circuit board is formed of a ceramic substrate, and the electronic component includes an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a subject image formed by the photographing lens, and heat from the electronic component is stored in the shape memory via the ceramic substrate. It is transmitted to a member.

  Since the lens protection device of the present invention uses a shape memory member for the lens barrier drive mechanism, it can be made smaller than when a drive member such as a motor is used for the drive mechanism. Furthermore, one end of the shape memory member that drives the lens barrier is connected to the printed circuit board. For this reason, the shape memory member contracts by receiving heat generated by driving the electronic component mounted on the printed circuit board, and the lens barrier is driven to open the photographing lens. In addition, the generation of heat is eliminated by stopping the driving of the electronic components, and the shape memory member is easily cooled by being naturally cooled and loses the urging force to move the lens barrier. The barrier is driven and the taking lens is protected. For this reason, conventionally, the consumption of electric power by energization, which was necessary for contracting the shape memory member, is eliminated. Therefore, it is possible to provide a power-saving lens protection device that does not consume the power consumed by the lens protection device itself while achieving downsizing.

  FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of a camera-equipped mobile phone 5 embodying the present invention in a use state when using a telephone function, a camera function, or the like. FIG. 2 shows an external perspective view of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 embodying the present invention in a folded standby state when waiting for an incoming call or moving.

  The camera-equipped mobile phone 5 includes a receiver 11 and a transmitter 10. The receiving unit 11 and the transmitting unit 10 are connected to each other by a hinge unit 15 so as to be foldable. The hinge unit 15 is composed of a hinge unit 16 on the receiver side and a hinge unit 17 on the transmitter unit side, and constitutes the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 provided inside the transmitter unit 10 and the receiver unit 11 respectively. A printed circuit board (not shown) on which electronic components are mounted is electrically connected by a cable via a hinge portion 15.

  When making a call with the camera-equipped mobile phone 5, the receiving unit 11 is arranged such that the receiving speaker 20 of the receiving unit 11 is arranged in the user's ear and the transmitting microphone 21 of the transmitting unit 10 is arranged in the vicinity of the user's mouth. Then, the transmitter 10 is opened and the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is used (see FIG. 1). Further, when using the camera function of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5, the receiver unit 11 and the transmitter unit 10 are opened and used up to the same position as when talking.

  The transmitter 10 includes a transmitter cover 25, a transmitter cover 26, a battery cover 27, a transmitter microphone 21, an operation unit 30, a battery (not shown), an antenna 86 (see FIG. 5), and the like. . Between the transmitter cover 25 and the transmitter cover 26, a printed circuit board (not shown) on which various electronic components (for example, the antenna 86 and the transmitter microphone 21) constituting the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 are mounted is provided. It has been. This printed circuit board is fixed to the transmitter cover 25 with screws and screw holes (not shown).

  In addition, a battery is provided between the transmitter cover 26 and the battery cover 27, and the battery is connected to the printed circuit board through a through hole formed in the transmitter cover 26 and mounted on the printed circuit board. Supply power to electronic components. The operation unit 30 includes a power button for turning on / off the power of the mobile phone 5 with a camera, a dial button for performing a dial operation during a call, a menu button for switching a telephone mode and a camera mode, and cursor keys. Etc. In addition, a plurality of functions that are different depending on the mode of the camera-equipped cellular phone 5 are assigned to various buttons of the operation unit 30.

  Note that the operation mode of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 includes a telephone mode for using a telephone function, a camera mode for photographing using a built-in digital camera, a mail mode for creating and sending / receiving mail, and the Internet. Internet mode for connecting to the Internet, etc., and is normally set to be carried in the incoming call waiting state of the telephone mode.

  The receiving unit 11 includes a receiving unit cover 35, a receiving unit cover 36, an LCD panel 40, a receiving speaker 20, a camera module 45, a lens protection device 50, and the like. The LCD panel 40 displays information such as characters and images, and is also used as a viewfinder for confirming a photographed image when the camera function of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is used. In addition to the printed circuit board (not shown) on which various electronic components (for example, the reception speaker 20) constituting the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 are mounted between the reception unit cover 35 and the reception unit cover 36, a camera A module 45 is provided. The printed circuit board and the camera module 45 are fixed to the receiver cover 35 or the receiver cover 36 by screws or screw holes (not shown). The receiver cover 36 is provided with an opening 47 for exposing a photographing lens 64 of a lens unit 62 constituting a camera module 45 described later to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5. Further, a lens protection device 50 described later is provided behind the opening 47.

  FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the receiver unit 11. Behind the opening 47 provided in the receiver cover 36 is a guide opening 51 of the lens protection device 50, a photographing lens 64 of the lens unit 62, and a solid-state imaging device (hereinafter, CCD) mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63. (Image sensor) 71 is arranged on the same optical axis. The lens protection device 50 is fixed to the receiver cover 36 with screws and screw holes (not shown). Further, in a portion not shown, the camera module 45 is connected and fixed to a printed circuit board (not shown) on which various electronic components constituting the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 are mounted.

  The lens protection device 50 includes a lens barrier 54, a guide 52, a spring 56, a shape memory member 57, and a heat conduction member 58. The guide 52 includes a rectangular guide cover 53 a and a guide cover 53 b and includes a guide opening 51. A groove 55 is formed in the guide cover 53b.

  In the guide 52 in which the guide cover 53a and the guide cover 53b are fitted, the groove 55 formed in the guide cover 53b is hollow. The hollow space of the guide 52 is a space in which the lens barrier 54, the spring 56, and the shape memory member 57 are accommodated. The lens barrier 54 is movable along the shape of the groove 55, and moves between a closed position that closes the guide opening 51 and an open position that opens the guide opening 51. Since the lens barrier 54 itself has no power, the lens barrier 54 moves in the hollow space of the guide 52 by the force urged by the spring 56 and the shape memory member 57.

  FIG. 4 shows how the lens barrier 54 moves in the hollow space of the guide 52. FIG. 4A shows a state where the photographing lens 64 of the lens unit 62 is shielded from the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 by the lens barrier 54 being in the closed position. FIG. 4B shows a state in which the lens barrier 54 is moved to the open position and the photographing lens 64 of the lens unit 62 is exposed to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone.

  The shape memory member 57 is made of a shape memory alloy. This shape memory alloy is designed to shrink when the temperature of the shape memory alloy itself reaches a predetermined temperature called a transformation temperature. Further, when the temperature of the shape memory alloy itself is equal to or lower than the transformation temperature, it can be easily deformed. Therefore, when the temperature of the shape memory member 57 itself becomes equal to or higher than the transformation temperature, the shape memory member 57 made of this shape memory alloy contracts to generate a biasing force that displaces the lens barrier 54, and the temperature of the shape memory member 57 itself. When the temperature is equal to or lower than the transformation temperature, the lens barrier 54 is not deformed and thus has no force for urging the lens barrier 54. In other words, the shape memory member 57 engaged with the lens barrier 54 has the lens barrier 54 only when the temperature of the shape memory member 57 itself rises above a predetermined temperature and only in the direction of the open position of the lens barrier 54. Generates a force to energize.

  The shape memory alloy forming the shape memory member 57 is a shape memory alloy made of nickel and titanium. The shape memory alloy made of nickel and titanium can freely design the transformation temperature by changing the mixing ratio of nickel and titanium.

  The spring 56 generates an elastic force proportional to the extension of the spring 56 itself. The spring 56 biases the lens barrier 54 by this elastic force. The elastic force generated by the spring 56 is hardly affected by the temperature of the member itself or the surroundings like the shape memory member 57. Therefore, when the spring 56 is extended or contracted, the force that urges the lens barrier 54 is always applied. Can be generated. The spring 56 constituting the lens protection device 50 is designed to be in a state of being extended beyond the natural length of the spring 56 even when the lens barrier 54 is in the closed position. Therefore, the spring 56 always biases the lens barrier 54 toward the closed position.

  As described above, since the spring 56 and the shape memory member 57 are engaged with the lens barrier 54, the force that biases the spring 56 toward the closed position and the force that biases the shape memory member 57 toward the open position. The lens barrier 54 moves in the hollow space of the guide 52 along the groove 55 between the open position and the closed position. Further, when the shape memory member 57 is equal to or lower than the transformation temperature, the shape memory member 57 does not generate a force for urging the lens barrier 54 in the open position direction, so that the spring 56 urges the lens barrier 54 in the close position direction. The lens barrier 54 is moved to the open position or maintained in the open position by the force.

  When the lens barrier 54 is in the closed position, the guide opening 51 is closed. Therefore, light, dust and the like entering from the opening 47 provided in the receiver cover 36 are blocked from the photographing lens 64 of the lens unit 62 by the lens barrier 54. In other words, the lens barrier 54 in the closed position protects the photographic lens 64 from things that may contaminate or damage the photographic lens 64 such as dust.

  When the lens barrier 54 is in the open position, the guide opening 51 is opened. Accordingly, light, dust, or the like entering from the opening 47 provided in the receiver cover 36 can pass through the guide opening 51 and reach the photographing lens 64 of the lens unit 62. In other words, if the lens barrier 54 is in the open position, the photographing lens 64 is exposed to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 and can receive subject light when using the camera function of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5.

As described above, one end of the spring 56 is engaged with the lens barrier 54, but the other end of the spring 56 is fixed to a protrusion provided on the guide cover 53b. Similarly, one end of the shape memory member 57 is engaged with the lens barrier 54. The other end of the shape memory member 57 is fixed to the heat conducting member 58 by soldering. That is, one end of the shape memory member 57 is fixed so that the heat exchange efficiency with the heat conducting member 58 is good.

  The heat conducting member 58 conducts heat generated in the printed circuit board unit 63 of the camera module 63 to the shape memory member 57 via the ceramic substrate 70. Therefore, one end of the heat conducting member 58 is connected to the shape memory member 57 and the other end is connected to the ceramic substrate 70. In addition, since the heat conducting member 58 only needs to be in thermal contact with the shape memory member 57 and the ceramic substrate 70, no electrical connection is required between them.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the camera-equipped cellular phone 5 embodying the present invention. The camera module 45 is for incorporating a photographing function into a mobile phone, and includes a lens unit 62 and a printed circuit board unit 63. The lens unit 62 includes lenses 65, 66, and 67 that constitute the photographing lens 64, a lens driving mechanism 68, and a motor 69. The lens 65 and the lens 66 are slidably held in a lens barrel (not shown), and the lens 67 is fixed to a photographing opening (not shown) formed on the back surface of the lens barrel.

  The lens driving mechanism 68 includes, for example, a worm wheel, a low speed gear, and the like, and slides the lens 65 and the lens 66 in a direction parallel to the photographing optical axis. The motor 69 is a drive source that drives the lens drive mechanism 68, and is connected to the lens drive mechanism 68 via a motor gear (not shown). As the motor 69, for example, a pulse motor is used. When the motor 69 rotates forward and backward, the zoom magnification is set to the wide angle side and the telephoto side.

  The printed circuit board unit 63 includes a ceramic substrate (printed circuit board) 70, a solid-state imaging device (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 71 (image sensor) 71 mounted on the ceramic substrate 70, a CCD driver 72, a motor driver 73, a correlated double sampling circuit ( CDS) 74, amplifier (AMP) 75, A / D conversion circuit (A / D) 76, and the like. The ceramic substrate 70 (printed substrate) is formed by laminating and firing a plurality of ceramic green sheets made of glass ceramic or the like. This ceramic green sheet has good thermal conductivity to such an extent that heat generated from electronic components such as a CCD driver 72 (not shown) mounted on the ceramic substrate 70 is efficiently transmitted to the heat conducting member 58. The motor driver 73 controls the driving of the motor 69. The motor driver 73 outputs a pulse signal to the motor 69 to move the lens 65 and the lens 66 when the zoom button of the operation unit 30 is pressed during shooting.

  As is well known, the CCD 71 includes a photoelectric surface in which a large number of light receiving elements are arranged in a matrix, and photoelectrically converts subject light that has passed through lenses 65, 66, and 67 and formed an image on the photoelectric surface. The CCD 71 synchronizes with the vertical transfer clock and horizontal transfer clock output from the CCD driver 72 and outputs the charge accumulated for each pixel as an analog imaging signal line by line. The CCD driver 72 (electronic component) is one of electronic components that operate at a high clock and generate heat.

  The analog imaging signal output from the CCD 71 is input to a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) 74 to remove noise and is amplified by an amplifier (AMP) 75. Then, it is input to an A / D conversion circuit (A / D) 76 and converted into digital image data. The digital image data output from the A / D conversion circuit (A / D) 76 is input to the image processing circuit 78 and subjected to various image processing such as matrix calculation processing, white balance adjustment, gamma correction, and the like. Written. A RAM 82 is a working memory from which image data and a control program executed by the control unit 80 are read. The ROM 83 stores the control program and setting information.

  The LCD panel 40 displays the image data stored in the RAM 82 as a through image. When a shutter button (not shown) of the operation unit 30 is fully pressed, the image data stored in the RAM 82 is compressed and then stored in a storage medium such as a memory card (not shown).

  The control unit 80 supplies power from the battery to the telephone function unit 85 and the camera module 45 in accordance with input operations from various buttons of the operation unit 30, and controls each unit. For example, when the camera-equipped cellular phone 5 is switched to the camera mode, the control unit 80 reads out various programs stored in the ROM 83 and drives each unit of the camera module 45 as described above according to these programs. For example, when the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is switched to the telephone mode, the control unit 80 reads out various programs stored in the ROM 83 and drives the telephone function unit 85 according to these programs.

  The telephone function unit 85 is connected to the antenna 86, the reception speaker 20, the transmission microphone 21, and the like, and causes the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 to function as a telephone. A call is made through the reception speaker 20 and the transmission microphone 21, and the voice of the call is communicated with an external base station via the antenna 86.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. Since the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is in a standby state when it is waiting for an incoming call, when the transmitter 11 and the receiver 10 are rotated around the hinge 16 and put into use, the controller 80 will The set image or the like is displayed on the LCD panel 40 via the LCD driver 87.

  At this time, since the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is not in the camera mode, the camera module 45 is not supplied with power, and the shape memory member 57 is not supplied with heat from anywhere, so that the shape memory member 57 is below the transformation temperature. Temperature. Accordingly, the shape memory member 57 does not substantially generate a force for urging the lens barrier 54 in the opening position direction, and is easily expanded by a small force. In the closed position. That is, the photographing lens 64 is protected from the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 by the lens protection device 40.

  When the user operates the menu button of the operation unit 30 to change the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 to the camera mode, the control unit 80 starts supplying power from the battery to the camera module 45, and the camera module 45 is read from the ROM 83. Read various programs necessary for operation. In accordance with these read programs, the control unit 80 starts controlling the CCD 71 via the CCD driver 72 mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 of the camera module 45. At the same time, the control unit 80 starts controlling the motor 69 via the motor driver 73. At this time, some of the electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 of the camera module 45 generate heat. For example, the CCD driver 72 generates heat because it operates at a high clock.

  Heat generated from electronic components such as the CCD driver 72 mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 is conducted through the ceramic substrate 70 to the heat conduction member 58 that is fixed to the ceramic substrate 70 by soldering. Since the other end of the heat conducting member 58 is fixed to the shape memory member 57 of the lens protection device 40 by soldering, the heat of the heat conducting member 58 is conducted to the shape memory member 57.

  Before the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is changed from the standby state of the telephone mode to the camera mode, the shape memory in which the spring 56 is extended by the force that biases the lens barrier 54 toward the closed position via the lens barrier 54. The temperature of the member 57 rises due to the heat transferred from the heat conducting member 58. When the temperature of the shape memory member 57 reaches the transformation temperature, the shape memory member 57 undergoes phase transformation and contracts to the length stored in the shape memory member 57.

  Since the force that biases the lens barrier 54 toward the open position when the shape memory member 57 contracts is designed to exceed the force that the spring 56 biases the lens barrier 54 toward the closed position, the lens barrier 54 is designed. Is moved to the open position as the shape memory member 57 contracts. As described above, the guide opening 51 of the lens protection device 40 is opened, and the photographing lens 64 is exposed to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5.

  When the photographing lens 64 is exposed to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5, the camera module 45 starts acquiring a through image. Then, framing is performed while confirming a through image displayed on the LCD panel 40, and an image is acquired on a storage medium such as a memory card (not shown) by pressing a shutter button (not shown) of the operation unit 30. .

  Next, when the operation unit 30 is operated to change to the telephone mode or the like and the camera mode of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is terminated, the control unit 80 stops the camera module 45 according to the program read from the ROM 83. For example, the control unit 80 stops supplying power from the battery to the electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 of the camera module 45. When the CCD driver 72 mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 is stopped, the heat generated when the CCD driver 72 is operating is not generated, and the CCD driver 72 itself is naturally cooled. The Similarly, when the electronic component mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 is stopped, heat generation stops and the electronic component is naturally cooled. Further, when the camera module 45 is stopped and heat is no longer generated from the electronic components mounted on the ceramic substrate 70, heat conducted to the ceramic substrate 70 and the heat conductive member 58 thermally connected to the ceramic substrate 70. These are also naturally cooled in the same way.

  Similarly, the shape memory member 57 thermally connected to the heat conducting member 58 loses its heat supply source when the operation of the camera module 45 is stopped, and is naturally cooled. Thereafter, when the temperature of the shape memory member 57 that has been equal to or higher than the transformation temperature falls to the transformation temperature or lower, the contraction of the shape memory member 57 is stopped, and the shape memory member 57 can be easily deformed. Therefore, since the shape memory member 57 loses the force for urging the lens barrier 54 toward the open position, the lens barrier 54 is moved again to the closed position by the force for urging the spring 56 toward the closed position.

  As described above, when the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is set to the camera mode, the lens barrier 54 is automatically moved to the open position, and the photographing lens 64 is exposed to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5. Further, when the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is changed from the camera mode to the phone mode, for example, the lens barrier 54 is automatically moved to the closed position, and the photographing lens 64 is shielded and protected from the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5. In addition, the lens barrier 54 of the lens protection device 40 is automatically moved to the closed position and the open position by the spring 56 and the shape memory member 57 using only the heat generated by using the camera module 45. No power is consumed for the protection and opening switching of the photographing lens 64 by the lens protection device 40.

  In the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 of the present embodiment, the rectangular lens protection device 40 is used, but the shape of the lens protection device is not limited to this. For example, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of the receiver 11, and shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a lens protection device having a circular shape and two lens barriers. In addition, about the member which is common in the rectangular lens protection apparatus 40, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 7 shows a top view of the circular lens protection device 90.

  Behind the opening 47 provided in the receiver cover 36, the opening 96 of the lens protection device 50, the photographing lens 64 of the lens unit 62, and the CCD 71 mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 are arranged on the same optical axis. (See FIG. 6). Although details will be described later, both ends of the shape memory member 95 constituting the circular lens protection device 90 are fixed to the printed circuit board unit 63 and thermally connected.

  The circular lens protection device 90 includes a circular aperture plate 91, a pair of lens barriers 92, a support shaft 93, a spring (lens protection device driving mechanism) 94, and a shape memory member (lens protection device driving mechanism) 95. An opening 96 is provided in the circular opening plate 91. The circular lens protection device 90 is fixed to the receiver cover 36 and the printed circuit board unit 63 by a fixing member (not shown). The spring 94 of the circular lens protection device 90 is the same as the spring 56 of the rectangular lens protection device 40, and the shape memory member 95 of the circular lens protection device 90 is the same as the shape memory member 57 of the rectangular lens protection device 40. It is a material. Also in the circular lens protection device 90, similarly to the rectangular lens protection device 40, the position where the lens barrier 92 closes the opening 96 is closed, and the position where the lens barrier 92 opens the opening 96 is open. I will call it.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of lens barriers 92 is attached to the circular aperture plate 91 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 93 as a center of rotation. However, a stopper 99a and a stopper 99b for preventing the lens barrier 92 from rotating more than necessary are provided on the circular aperture plate 91. The stopper 99a is a stopper for correctly stopping the rotation of the lens barrier 92 at the closed position, and the stopper 99b is a stopper for correctly stopping the rotation of the lens barrier 92 at the open position.

  The pair of lens barriers 92 is provided with a protrusion 97 at one end, and one end of a spring 94 and a shape memory member 95 are engaged with the protrusion 97. A groove (not shown) is provided in the protrusion 97, and one end of the spring 94 and the shape memory member 95 slide smoothly in the plane direction of the circular opening plate 91, and do not shift in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the circular opening plate 91. Stopped. The other end of the spring 94 is locked in a groove (not shown) of a locking portion 98 provided in the circular opening plate 91. Similarly to the projection 97 of the lens barrier 92, the groove provided in the locking portion 98 also slides smoothly at one end of the spring 94 in the plane direction of the circular aperture plate 91 and is perpendicular to the plane of the circular aperture plate 91. It is locked without shifting in any direction. In addition, both ends of the shape memory member 95 are fixed by direct soldering to the ceramic substrate 70 constituting the printed circuit board unit 63 of the camera module 45 through the through hole 100 provided in the circular opening plate 91.

  FIG. 8 shows how the lens barrier 92 moves between the open position and the closed position. FIG. 8A shows a state where the photographing lens 64 of the lens unit 62 is shielded from the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 by the lens barrier 54 being in the closed position. FIG. 8B shows a state where the lens barrier 54 is moved to the open position and the photographing lens 64 of the lens unit 62 is exposed to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone.

  As described above, since the spring 94 and the shape memory member 95 are locked to the protrusion 97 provided on the lens barrier 92, the shape memory member 95 is below the transformation temperature, and the lens barrier 92 is moved in the opening position direction. When there is no biasing force, the lens barrier 92 biases the protruding portion 97 toward the locking portion 98 by the spring 94. The lens barrier 92 is rotated about the support shaft 93 until it abuts against the stopper 99a. When the rotation of the lens barrier 92 is stopped by the stopper 99a, the opening 96 is closed by the pair of lens barriers 92 (see FIG. 8A).

  Further, when the shape memory member 95 reaches a temperature equal to or higher than the transformation temperature, the shape memory member 95 contracts to generate a force that biases the lens barrier 92 in the open position direction. The force that biases the lens barrier 92 to the open position when the shape memory member 95 contracts is designed to be greater than the force that the spring 94 biases the lens barrier 92 toward the closed position. Therefore, when the shape memory member 95 reaches or exceeds the transformation temperature, the lens barrier 92 is urged toward the through hole 100 by the shape memory member 95 and rotates. At this time, the lens barrier 92 is rotated about the support shaft 93 until it abuts against the stopper 99b. When the rotation of the lens barrier 92 is stopped by the stopper 99b, the opening 96 is opened from the pair of lens barriers 92 (see FIG. 8B).

  Next, an operation when the circular lens protection device 90 is used will be described. Since the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is in a standby state that is folded when waiting for an incoming call, when the transmitter 11 and the receiver 10 are rotated around the hinge 16 and put into use, the control unit 80 can The set image is displayed on the LCD panel 40.

  At this time, since the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is not in the camera mode, the camera module 45 is not supplied with power, and the shape memory member 95 is not supplied with heat from anywhere. The temperature is as follows. Therefore, since the shape memory member 95 does not generate a force for urging the lens barrier 92 in the opening position direction and is easily deformed, the lens barrier 92 is closed by the force urged by the spring 94. In position. That is, the photographing lens 64 is protected from the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 by the lens protection device 90.

  When the user operates the menu button of the operation unit 30 to change the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 to the camera mode, the control unit 80 starts supplying power from the battery to the camera module 45, and the camera module 45 is read from the ROM 83. Read various programs necessary for operation. In accordance with these read programs, the control unit 80 starts controlling the CCD 71 via the CCD driver 72 mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 of the camera module 45. At this time, some of the electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 generate heat. For example, the CCD driver 72 generates heat because it operates at a high clock.

  Heat generated from electronic components such as the CCD driver 72 mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 is conducted through the ceramic substrate 70 to the shape memory member 95 that is fixed to the ceramic substrate 70 by soldering.

  Before the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is changed from the standby state in the telephone mode to the camera mode, the spring 94 is extended by the force that biases the lens barrier 92 toward the closed position via the protrusion 97 of the lens barrier 92. The temperature of the shape memory member 95 that has been raised rises due to the heat received from the ceramic substrate 70. When the temperature of the shape memory member 95 reaches the transformation temperature, the shape memory member 95 undergoes a phase transformation and contracts to the length stored in the shape memory member 95.

  The force that biases the lens barrier 92 in the open position direction when the shape memory member 95 contracts is designed to exceed the force that the spring 94 biases the lens barrier 92 in the close position direction. 92 is rotated to the open position as the shape memory member 95 contracts. As described above, the opening 96 of the lens protection device 90 is opened, and the photographing lens 64 is exposed to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5.

  When the photographing lens 64 is exposed to the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5, the camera module 45 starts acquiring a through image. Then, framing is performed while confirming the through image displayed on the LCD panel 40, and an image is acquired on a storage medium such as a memory card by pressing the shutter button of the operation unit 30.

  When the operation unit 30 is operated to change to the telephone mode or the like and the camera mode of the camera-equipped cellular phone 5 is terminated, the control unit 80 performs a stop process of the camera module 45 according to the program read from the ROM 83. For example, the control unit 80 stops supplying power from the battery to the electronic components mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 of the camera module 45. Then, when the CCD driver 72 mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 is stopped, the heat generated when the CCD driver 72 is operating disappears, and the CCD driver 72 itself is naturally cooled. The Similarly, when the electronic component mounted on the printed circuit board unit 63 is stopped, heat generation stops and the electronic component is naturally cooled. Further, when the camera module 45 is stopped and heat is not generated from the electronic components mounted on the ceramic substrate 70, the heat is conducted to the ceramic substrate 70 and the shape memory member 95 thermally connected to the ceramic substrate 70. Since there is no heat, they are naturally cooled in the same way.

  Then, when the temperature of the shape memory member 95 that is equal to or higher than the transformation temperature is lowered to the transformation temperature or lower, the contraction of the shape memory member 95 is stopped and the shape memory member 95 can be easily deformed. Therefore, since the shape memory member 95 loses the force for urging the lens barrier 92 toward the open position, the lens barrier 92 is rotated again to the closed position by the force for urging the spring 94 toward the closed position.

  As described above, even when the circular lens protection device 90 is used, when the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is set to the camera mode, the lens barrier 92 is automatically moved to the open position, and the photographing lens 64 is the camera. It is exposed to the outside of the attached mobile phone 5. When the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 is changed from the camera mode to, for example, the telephone mode, the lens barrier 92 is automatically moved to the closed position, and the photographing lens 64 is shielded and protected from the outside of the camera-equipped mobile phone 5. In addition, the lens barrier 92 of the lens protection device 90 is automatically moved to the closed position and the open position by the spring 94 and the shape memory member 95 using only the heat generated by using the camera module 45. No power is consumed for the protection and opening switching of the photographing lens 64 by the lens protection device 90.

  Note that the shape memory member used in the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 of the present embodiment is manufactured so as to shrink when it reaches the transformation temperature from room temperature, but conversely, it has reached the transformation temperature from room temperature. A shape memory member that sometimes expands may be used. Further, the arrangement of the shape memory member and the spring and the direction of the force urging the lens barrier may be changed in accordance with the design of the product using the lens protection device of the present invention. Further, instead of the spring 56 and the spring 94, a shape memory member that expands when the transformation temperature is reached may be used, and the ceramic substrate may be operated as a heat source similarly to the shape memory member of the present embodiment.

  In the camera-equipped mobile phone 5 according to the present embodiment, the shape memory member 57 is soldered to the heat conducting member 58 in order to drive the rectangular lens protection device 40, and the ceramic substrate 70 is connected via the heat conducting member 58. Although the heat generated by the electronic component indirectly mounted on the ceramic substrate 70 by utilizing the thermal contact is utilized, the heat conduction member 85 is not necessarily required. For example, one end of the shape memory member using the shape memory member may be brought into direct contact with a heat source such as the ceramic substrate 70 by soldering or the like. In addition, it is not always necessary to make thermal contact by soldering. For example, a receiving port for sandwiching one end of the shape memory member may be prepared on the ceramic substrate, and one end of the shape memory member may be sandwiched therein to fix and thermally contact.

  Similarly, in order to drive the circular lens protection device 90, both ends of the shape memory member 95 are fixed by soldering directly to the ceramic substrate 70 and brought into thermal contact. Since heat generated from the electronic component mounted on the ceramic substrate 70 only needs to be transmitted, a heat conduction member that can efficiently conduct heat may be provided between the shape memory member 95 and the ceramic substrate 70. Further, the end of the shape memory member 95 does not necessarily need to be in thermal contact by being fixed to the ceramic substrate 70 or the above-described heat conducting member by soldering. In carrying out the present invention, it is sufficient that heat is sufficiently transmitted to the shape memory member. For example, a receptacle for sandwiching the end of the shape memory member is prepared on the ceramic substrate, and one end of the shape memory member is sandwiched there. , Fixed and in thermal contact.

  In the camera-equipped mobile phone according to the present embodiment, the spiral and linear shape memory members are used. However, the shape of the shape memory member is not limited to this. For example, it is known that a knitted linear shape memory alloy is larger than a simple linear shape memory alloy, and generates a large stress at a stretch rate comparable to that of a human muscle. . This mesh-shaped shape memory member is sometimes called artificial muscle and is expected to be applied to auxiliary equipment for rehabilitation. The present invention can also be implemented using such an applied material using a shape memory alloy.

  Although the present embodiment has been described using a mobile phone with a camera, the application of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the lens protection device of the present invention can also be used for photographing devices such as digital cameras and digital video cameras, photographing functions incorporated in portable devices such as PDAs or small devices, and projection devices such as projectors.

It is an external appearance perspective view of the mobile phone with a camera in use state. It is an external appearance perspective view of the mobile phone with a camera in a standby state. It is a disassembled perspective view of the principal part of a receiving part at the time of using a rectangular lens protection apparatus. It is a perspective view showing the rectangular lens protection device in which a lens barrier is in a closed position and an open position. It is a block diagram showing the electric constitution of the mobile phone with a camera. It is a disassembled perspective view of the principal part of a receiving part at the time of using a circular lens protection apparatus. It is a perspective view of a circular lens protection device. It is a perspective view showing the circular lens protection device which has a lens barrier in a closed position and an open position.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Mobile phone with a camera 10 Transmission part 11 Reception part 40 LCD panel 45 Camera module 50, 90 Lens protection device 54, 92 Lens barrier 56, 94 Spring 57, 95 Shape memory member 58 Thermal conduction member 62 Lens unit 63 Printed circuit board unit 64 Shooting lens (lens)
70 Ceramic substrate (printed circuit board)
71 CCD (electronic parts, image sensor)
72 CCD driver (electronic parts)

Claims (3)

In the lens protection device that opens and closes the front of the photographic lens with a lens barrier,
A shape memory member that is deformed into a predetermined memory shape when the temperature exceeds the transformation temperature by receiving heat from an electronic component mounted on the printed circuit board, and when the shape memory member is deformed into the memory shape A lens protection device, wherein the lens barrier is moved in an opening direction by a deformation force.   2. A spring for urging the lens barrier in a closing direction is provided, and the lens barrier is moved in the closing direction by urging the spring when the shape memory member drops below a transformation temperature. Lens protector.   The printed circuit board is formed of a ceramic substrate, and the electronic component includes an image sensor that photoelectrically converts a subject image formed by the photographing lens, and heat from the electronic component is transferred to the shape memory member via the ceramic substrate. The lens protection device according to claim 1, wherein the lens protection device is transmitted.

Images