Imaging device
A metal pin is inserted into a hole cylindrically formed in a camera casing so as to be in contact with a shape-memory actuator. The metal pin and the shape-memory actuator are fixed by pressurization. The metal pin is further bonded to a printed circuit board via a solder to electrically and thermally contact the shape-memory actuator and the printed circuit board so as to form the camera module by reducing the wiring size and improving the cooling efficiency.
1. A camera module comprising:
a camera casing;
a lens holder slidably attached to a shaft formed at the center of the casing;
a plate spring provided to constantly press the lens holder;
a support beam of the lens holder, which is formed on its circumference for supporting the lens holder;
operation means using an actuator of current application heat type with a V-like shape, which thermally expands and contracts having terminals provided at both ends of one side of the casing while applying a pressing force against a force of the plate spring applied to the lens holder; and
a conductive metal pin having one end surface conically chamfered, wherein the metal pin is inserted into a cylindrical hole formed in the camera casing to be in contact with the actuator, and further pressurizes to electrically contact the metal pin and the actuator, and to fix the actuator to the casing.
2. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein:
one end of the metal pin is electrically connected to an electric wiring pattern formed on a printed circuit board via an adhesive agent as a solder to apply a drive current passing through the camera casing from the printed circuit board to the actuator to reduce an additional wiring for size reduction; and
heat generated by the actuator is thermally conducted to the printed circuit board via the conductive metal pin and the solder.
3. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein the actuator is of a voltage drive type as an ion conductive polymer actuator.
4. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein the actuator is an ion conduction polymer actuator.
5. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein:
one end of the metal pin is thermally connected to the plate spring; and
a heat generated by the actuator is thermally conducted to the plate spring via the metal pin, and released.
6. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein:
the support beam for the lens holder is provided above an upper surface of the lens holder; and
the actuator is provided near the lens at a center.
7. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein the actuator and the metal pin are electrically connected via a conductive material as a conductive adhesive agent.
8. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein the actuator and the metal pin are electrically connected via a conductive adhesive agent.
9. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein the lens holder, or each of the lens holder and the lens casing is electrically insulated, and thermally conducts and releases a heat generated by the actuator.
10. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein a shape-memory-alloy is employed for forming the actuator.
11. The camera module according to claim 2 , wherein a polymer actuator of current application heat type is used as the actuator.
12. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is of a voltage drive type as an ion conductive polymer actuator.
13. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an ion conduction polymer actuator.
14. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein:
one end of the metal pin is thermally connected to the plate spring; and
a heat generated by the actuator is thermally conducted to the plate spring via the metal pin, and released.
15. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the support beam for the lens holder is provided above an upper surface of the lens holder; and
the actuator is provided near the lens at a center.
16. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator and the metal pin are electrically connected via a conductive material as a conductive adhesive agent.
17. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator and the metal pin are electrically connected via a conductive adhesive agent.
18. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein the lens holder, or each of the lens holder and the lens casing is electrically insulated, and thermally conducts and releases a heat generated by the actuator.
19. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein a shape-memory-alloy is employed for forming the actuator.
20. The camera module according to claim 1 , wherein a polymer actuator of current application heat type is used as the actuator.