IP Library Granted Patent US 9,939,037
Granted Patent B2
US 9,939,037 · App. 14/898,359 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Leaf spring frame member

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,939,037
App. No.
14/898,359
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A leaf spring frame member ( 50 ) comprises: a plurality of leaf spring product parts ( 11 A) each of which includes an outer frame part ( 11 a ), an inner frame part ( 11 b ) and spring parts ( 11 c ); and a support frame ( 51 ) which is arranged around the leaf spring product parts ( 11 A) and supports the leaf spring product parts ( 11 A). Each of the leaf spring product parts ( 11 A) and the support frame ( 51 ) are connected to each other by connection parts ( 52 ). A breaking region ( 53 ), which is breakable, is formed in the connection part ( 52 ). An outer edge ( 53 a ) of the breaking region ( 53 ) is situated on the inside of an outer edge ( 11 h ) of the leaf spring product part ( 11 A).

Claims (20)

1. A leaf spring frame member for the manufacture of leaf springs used for drive mechanisms of camera modules, comprising:

a plurality of leaf spring product parts each of which includes an outer frame part, an inner frame part arranged on the inside of the outer frame part, and a spring part arranged between the inner frame part and the outer frame part; and

a support frame which is arranged around the leaf spring product parts and supports the leaf spring product parts,

wherein each of the leaf spring product parts is connected at its corresponding outer frame part to the support frame by connection parts, and for each of the leaf spring product parts:

notches are formed in parts of each of the outer frame parts situated on both sides of each of the connection parts, and

a breaking region, which is breakable, is formed in each of the connection parts such that an outer edge of each breaking region is situated on the inside of an outer edge of each of the leaf spring product parts and extends past the notches toward the inside of the outer edge of each leaf spring product part.

2. The leaf spring frame member according to claim 1 , wherein each of the breaking regions includes a half etching part.

3. The leaf spring frame member according to claim 2 , wherein a bank part, which has not undergone half etching, is formed on each side of each of the half etching parts.

4. The leaf spring frame member according to claim 3 , wherein the width of each of the bank parts is over 0 mm and not more than 0.12 mm.

5. The leaf spring frame member according to claim 1 , wherein the width of a connection portion of each of the connection parts that connects the connection part to the corresponding leaf spring product part is not less than 0.20 mm and not more than 0.40 mm.

6. A leaf spring frame member for the manufacture of leaf springs used for drive mechanisms of camera modules, comprising:

a plurality of leaf spring product parts each of which includes an outer frame part, an inner frame part arranged on the inside of the outer frame part, and a spring part arranged between the inner frame part and the outer frame part; and

a support frame which is arranged around the leaf spring product parts and supports the leaf spring product parts,

wherein each of the leaf spring product parts is connected at its corresponding outer frame part to the support frame by connection parts, and for each of the leaf spring product parts:

notches are formed in parts of each of the outer frame parts situated on both sides of each of the connection parts, and

a breaking region, which is breakable, is formed in each of the connection parts such that a part, where a width of each breaking region in the width direction of each connection part reaches a maximum, is situated on the inside of an outer edge of each leaf spring product part, each breaking region extending past the notches toward the inside of the outer edge of each leaf spring product part.

7. The leaf spring frame member according to claim 6 , wherein each of the breaking regions includes a half etching part.

8. The leaf spring frame member according to claim 7 , wherein a bank part, which has not undergone half etching, is formed on each side of each of the half etching parts.

9. The leaf spring frame member according to claim 8 , wherein the width of each of the bank parts is over 0 mm and not more than 0.12 mm.

10. The leaf spring frame member according to claim 6 , wherein the width of a connection portion of each of the connection parts that connects the connection part to the corresponding leaf spring product part is not less than 0.20 mm and not more than 0.40 mm.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048260/0950 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2016
From: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 038198/0958 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2016
From: OGINO, YOSHIHIKO; SAHARA, TAKAHIRO; YAMAMOTO, KYOJI; TOMITA, KOJI
To: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037818/0474 →