IP Library Granted Patent US 12,449,667
Granted Patent B2
US 12,449,667 · App. 18/468,177 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Optical element driving mechanism

Inventors: Tso-Hsiang Wu (Taoyuan, TW); Chao-Chang Hu (Taoyuan, TW); Yung-Yun Chen (Taoyuan, TW); Ya-Hsiu Wu (Taoyuan, TW)
Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
G02B27/0176G02B6/0006G02B6/0028G02B7/08G02B7/36G02B27/0172G02B27/0179G02B27/646G03B5/00G06F3/013G09G3/001H01F7/081H04N23/54H04N23/55H04N23/6812G02B2027/0112G02B2027/015G02B2027/0159G02B2027/0178G02B2027/0187G02B2207/101G03B2205/0076G09G2354/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,449,667
App. No.
18/468,177
Granted
Oct 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An optical element driving mechanism is provided and includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly and a first driving assembly. The movable assembly is movable relative to the fixed assembly. The first driving assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The optical element driving mechanism further includes a first opening, and an external light beam travels along a first axis to pass through the first opening.

Claims (136)

1. An optical element driving mechanism, comprising:

a fixed assembly, including a side wall;

a movable assembly, including a first movable part and a second movable part, configured to be connected to an optical element, wherein the movable assembly is movable relative to the fixed assembly; and

a first driving assembly, configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly;

wherein the optical element driving mechanism further comprises a first opening, and an external light beam travels along a first axis to pass through the first opening;

the first movable part has a first ring structure, forming a second opening;

the first ring structure surrounds the side wall;

the second movable part has a second ring structure, forming a third opening;

the second movable part further has a first protruding portion extending from the second ring structure toward the side wall; and

when viewed along the first axis, a portion of the first protruding portion does not overlap the first movable part.

2. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 1 , wherein

the side wall extends along the first axis;

the side wall is adjacent to the first opening;

the first movable part is adjacent to the side wall; and

the second movable part is adjacent to the side wall.

3. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 2 , wherein

the first movable part is movable relative to the fixed assembly;

the second movable part is movable relative to the first movable part;

the second movable part is movable relative to the fixed assembly;

when viewed along the first axis, the first movable part overlaps at least a portion of the second movable part; and

when viewed along the first axis, the side wall surrounds the first opening.

4. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 3 , wherein

the light beam passes through the second opening;

when viewed along the first axis, the second opening and an opening center of the first opening define a first shortest distance;

the light beam passes through the third opening;

when viewed along the first axis, the third opening and the opening center define a second shortest distance;

the first shortest distance is different from the second shortest distance; and

the first shortest distance is greater than the second shortest distance.

5. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 4 , wherein

the first driving assembly includes a first circuit member which is disposed at the fixed assembly;

the first driving assembly further includes a first driving element and a grounding member;

a first end of the first driving element is affixed to a first connecting end of the first circuit member;

the first connecting end is located at the fixed assembly;

a second end of the first driving element is affixed to a second connecting end of the grounding member; and

the second connecting end is located at the first movable part.

6. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 5 , wherein

the first driving assembly further includes a second circuit member and a second driving element;

the second circuit member is disposed at the second movable part;

a third end of the second driving element is affixed to a third connecting end of the grounding member;

the third connecting end is located at the first movable part;

a fourth end of the second driving element is affixed to a fourth connecting end of the second circuit member; and

the fourth connecting end is located at the second movable part.

7. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 6 , wherein

when viewed along the first axis, a distance between the first connecting end and the fourth connecting end is greater than a distance between the second connecting end and the third connecting end;

when viewed along the first axis, a distance between the first connecting end and the third connecting end is greater than the distance between the second connecting end and the third connecting end; and

when viewed along the first axis, a distance between the second connecting end and the fourth connecting end is greater than the distance between the second connecting end and the third connecting end.

8. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 7 , wherein

the first driving assembly further includes a third circuit member which is disposed at the fixed assembly;

the first driving assembly further includes a third driving element;

a fifth end of the third driving element is affixed to a fifth connecting end of the third circuit member;

the fifth connecting end is located at the fixed assembly;

a sixth end of the third driving element is affixed to a sixth connecting end of the grounding member; and

the sixth connecting end is located at the first movable part.

9. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 8 , wherein

the first driving assembly further includes a fourth circuit member and a fourth driving element;

the fourth circuit member is disposed at the second movable part;

a seventh end of the fourth driving element is affixed to a seventh connecting end of the grounding member;

the seventh connecting end is located at the first movable part;

an eighth end of the fourth driving element is affixed to an eighth connecting end of the fourth circuit member; and

the eighth connecting end is located at the second movable part.

10. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 9 , wherein

when viewed along the first axis, a distance between the fifth connecting end and the eighth connecting end is greater than a distance between the sixth connecting end and the seventh connecting end;

when viewed along the first axis, a distance between the fifth connecting end and the seventh connecting end is greater than the distance between the sixth connecting end and the seventh connecting end; and

when viewed along the first axis, a distance between the sixth connecting end and the eighth connecting end is greater than the distance between the sixth connecting end and the seventh connecting end.

11. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 10 , wherein

the optical element driving mechanism further includes a circuit assembly which is electrically connected to the first driving assembly;

the first circuit member further has a first electrical connection terminal which is electrically connected to the circuit assembly;

the second circuit member further has a second electrical connection terminal which is electrically connected to the circuit assembly;

when the circuit assembly provides power to the first circuit member and the first driving element through the first electrical connection terminal, the first driving element drives the first movable part to rotate in a first rotating direction relative to the fixed assembly; and

when the circuit assembly provides power to the second circuit member and the second driving element through the second electrical connection terminal, the second driving element drives the second movable part to rotate in the first rotating direction relative to the first movable part.

12. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 11 , wherein

the third circuit member further has a third electrical connection terminal which is electrically connected to the circuit assembly;

the fourth circuit member further has a fourth electrical connection terminal which is electrically connected to the circuit assembly;

when the circuit assembly provides power to the third circuit member and the third driving element through the third electrical connection terminal, the third driving element drives the first movable part to rotate in a second rotating direction relative to the fixed assembly;

the second rotating direction is opposite to the first rotating direction; and

when the circuit assembly provides power to the fourth circuit member and the fourth driving element through the fourth electrical connection terminal, the fourth driving element drives the second movable part to rotate in the second rotating direction relative to the first movable part.

13. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 12 , wherein

the optical element driving mechanism further includes a preload assembly, and the preload assembly includes a first preload member configured to generate a first preload force to the second movable part;

when the first driving assembly does not drive the second movable part to move, the first preload force causes the second movable part to be located in a second initial position;

one end portion of the first preload member is connected to the first electrical connection terminal;

the other end portion of the first preload member is connected to the second electrical connection terminal;

the preload assembly further includes a second preload member configured to generate a second preload force to the second movable part;

when the first driving assembly does not drive the second movable part to move, the second preload force causes the second movable part to be located in the second initial position;

one end portion of the second preload member is connected to the third electrical connection terminal;

the other end portion of the second preload member is connected to the fourth electrical connection terminal;

the preload assembly further includes a third preload member configured to generate a third preload force to the first movable part;

when the first driving assembly does not drive the first movable part to move, the third preload force causes the first movable part to be located in a first initial position;

the fixed assembly further includes a first base and a fixed member;

the fixed member is located at the first base;

one end portion of the third preload member is connected to a first elastic connecting end of the ground member;

the other end portion of the third preload member is connected to a second elastic connecting end of the fixed member;

the first preload member, the second preload member and the third preload member each have a plate-shaped structure; and

each of the first preload member, the second preload member and the third preload member is an elastic spring sheet.

14. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 13 , wherein

the first connecting end, the first driving element and the second connecting end form a first circuit loop;

the fourth connecting end, the second driving element and the third connecting end form a second circuit loop;

the first preload member is made of metal material;

the first electrical connection terminal of the first circuit member is electrically connected to the second electrical connection terminal of the second circuit member through the first preload member;

the fifth connecting end, the third driving element and the sixth connecting end form a third circuit loop;

the eighth connecting end, the fourth driving element and the seventh connecting end form a fourth circuit loop;

the second preload member is made of metal material;

the third electrical connection terminal of the third circuit member is electrically connected to the fourth electrical connection terminal of the fourth circuit member through the second preload member;

the third preload member is made of metal material; and

the third preload member is electrically independent of the first preload member and the second preload member.

15. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 13 , wherein

the optical element driving mechanism further includes a guiding assembly configured to guide the second movable part to move relative to the first base;

the first base has a first groove;

the second movable part has a second groove;

the guiding assembly has a first guiding member which is disposed between the first groove and the second groove; and

the first guiding member has a spherical structure.

16. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 15 , wherein

the first guiding member is configured to contact a first inner wall of the first groove and a second inner wall, a third inner wall and a fourth inner wall of the second groove;

a size of the first groove is different from a size of the second groove when viewed along the first axis;

when viewed along the first axis, the size of the first groove is larger than the size of the second groove;

when viewed along the first axis, a portion of the second groove is located within the first groove;

the optical element driving mechanism further includes a covering plate which is fixedly disposed on the first base; and

when viewed along the first axis, the covering plate overlaps at least a portion of the first guiding member.

17. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 16 , wherein

the preload assembly further includes a fourth preload member;

the fourth preload member has a spiral structure;

the fourth preload member is disposed in the first groove and adjacent to the first guiding member;

the second movable part has two first protruding portions extending toward the first base;

the second groove is formed by the two first protruding portions;

one end portion of the fourth preload member is in contact with the first base, and the other end portion of the fourth preload member is in contact with one of the two first protruding portions;

when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the first axis, the fourth preload member overlaps at least a portion of the guiding assembly; and

when viewed a direction perpendicular to the first axis, the fourth preload member overlaps at least a portion of the first guiding member.

18. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 13 , wherein

the optical element driving mechanism further includes a sensing assembly configured to sense movement of the movable assembly relative to the fixed assembly;

the sensing assembly includes a first sensing element and a second sensing element;

the first sensing element is fixedly disposed on the circuit assembly;

the circuit assembly is fixedly disposed on the first base;

the second sensing element is fixedly disposed on the second movable part; and

the first sensing element is configured to sense changes of the second sensing element.

19. The optical element driving mechanism as claimed in claim 18 , wherein

when viewed along a radial direction, the first movable part forms a first receiving groove configured to accommodate the second sensing element; and

when viewed along the radial direction, a size of the first receiving groove is larger than a size of the second sensing element.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
To: ACTUTEK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 074858/0498 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2024
From: WU, TSO-HSIANG; HU, CHAO-CHANG; CHEN, YUNG-YUN; WU, YA-HSIU
To: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
Reel/Frame 066914/0601 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63406916 · Sep 15, 2022
Related Publication 20240094600A1 · Mar 21, 2024
References Cited (1)
US 20110217029A1 · Wu · 2011 [cited by examiner]