IP Library Granted Patent US 10,126,521
Granted Patent B2
US 10,126,521 · App. 14/786,789 · Granted Nov 13, 2018

Leaf spring, camera module drive mechanism, electronic terminal, and method for producing leaf spring

Inventors: Yoshihiko Ogino (Tokyo-to, JP); Chikao Ikenaga (Tokyo-to, JP); Takahiro Sahara (Tokyo-to, JP); Masahiro Nagata (Tokyo-to, JP)
Assignees: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.; ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
G02B7/04F16F1/021F16F1/18G02B7/026G02B7/08G03B3/10G03B5/00G03B13/32F16F2224/0208G03B2205/0046G03B2205/0053
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,126,521
App. No.
14/786,789
Granted
Nov 13, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a leaf spring which can prevent a reduction in the spring strength and can also prevent a reduction in the electrical conductivity when the thickness of the leaf spring is decreased. The leaf spring includes an outer frame portion an inner frame portion 5 b, 11 b disposed inside the outer frame portion 5 a, 11 a , and spring portions provided between the inner frame portion and the outer frame portion The leaf spring is made of a Cu-based alloy, and has an electrical conductivity of not less than 8% IACS and a 0.2% proof stress of not less than 900 MPa.

Claims (45)

1. A leaf spring for use in a camera module drive mechanism, comprising:

an outer frame portion;

an inner frame portion disposed inside the outer frame portion; and

a spring portion connected between the inner frame portion and the outer frame portion, wherein the spring portion has a cross-sectional shape in a cross section perpendicular to an extending direction of the spring portion, wherein the cross-sectional shape has an upper side facing upwardly and a lower side facing downwardly which are of the same length and parallel to each other, and the other two sides being curved inward.

2. The leaf spring according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf spring is produced by using a copper alloy leaf-spring material, and the leaf-spring material has a stress at 0.2% strain of not less than 1150 MPa and a stress at 0.025% strain of not less than 1000 MPa.

3. A camera module drive mechanism comprising:

a chassis;

a lens unit that constitutes an optical system;

a holder disposed in the chassis and housing the lens unit and which is movable in the direction of the optical axis of the lens unit;

a coil provided on the holder;

a yoke and a magnet piece, which are provided on the chassis and which provide a magnetic field to the coil; and

the leaf spring according to claim 1 interposed between the chassis and the holder.

4. A leaf spring for use in a camera module drive mechanism, comprising:

an outer frame portion;

an inner frame portion disposed inside the outer frame portion; and

a spring portion connected between the inner frame portion and the outer frame portion, wherein the spring portion has a cross-sectional shape in a cross section perpendicular to an extending direction of the spring portion, wherein the cross-sectional shape has an upper side facing upwardly and a lower side facing downwardly which are of different lengths and parallel to each other, and the other two sides being curved inward.

5. A camera module drive mechanism comprising:

a chassis;

a lens unit that constitutes an optical system;

a holder disposed in the chassis and housing the lens unit and which is movable in the direction of the optical axis of the lens unit;

a coil provided on the holder;

a yoke and a magnet piece, which are provided on the chassis and which provide a magnetic field to the coil; and

the leaf spring according to claim 4 interposed between the chassis and the holder.

6. The leaf spring according to claim 4 , wherein the leaf spring is produced by using a copper alloy leaf-spring material, and the leaf-spring material has a stress at 0.2% strain of not less than 1150 MPa and a stress at 0.025% strain of not less than 1000 MPa.

7. A leaf spring for use in a camera module drive mechanism and which is produced by using a copper alloy leaf-spring material, comprising:

an outer frame portion;

an inner frame portion disposed inside the outer frame portion; and

a spring portion connected between the inner frame portion and the outer frame portion, wherein the spring portion has a cross-sectional shape in a cross section perpendicular to an extending direction of the spring portion, wherein the cross-sectional shape has an upper side facing upwardly and a lower side facing downwardly which are of the same length or different lengths and parallel to each other, and the other two sides being curved inward, and

wherein the leaf-spring material has an electrical conductivity of not less than 8% IACS and a 0.2% proof stress of not less than 900 MPa.

8. The leaf spring according to claim 7 , wherein the leaf-spring material has a Vickers hardness of not less than 290 HV.

9. The leaf spring according to claim 7 , wherein the leaf-spring material does not contain beryllium as a component thereof.

10. The leaf spring according to claim 7 , wherein the upper side and the lower side are of the same length.

11. The leaf spring according to claim 7 , wherein the upper side and the lower side are of different lengths.

12. A camera module drive mechanism comprising:

a chassis;

a lens unit that constitutes an optical system;

a holder disposed in the chassis and housing the lens unit and which is movable in the direction of the optical axis of the lens unit;

a coil provided on the holder;

a yoke and a magnet piece, which are provided on the chassis and which provide a magnetic field to the coil; and

the leaf spring according to claim 7 interposed between the chassis and the holder.

13. The camera module drive mechanism according to claim 12 , wherein the leaf-spring material has a Vickers hardness of not less than 290 HV.

14. The camera module drive mechanism according to claim 12 , wherein the leaf-spring material does not contain beryllium as a component thereof.

15. The camera module drive mechanism according to claim 12 , wherein the upper side and the lower side are of the same length.

16. The camera module drive mechanism according to claim 12 , wherein the upper side and the lower side are of different lengths.

17. The leaf spring according to claim 7 , wherein the leaf-spring material comprises titanium-copper.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 13, 2019
From: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
To: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048325/0805 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2016
From: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD
To: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 038589/0381 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 037204 FRAME: 0517. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 29, 2015
From: OGINO, YOSHIHIKO; IKENAGA, CHIKAO; SAHARA, TAKAHIRO; NAGATA, MASAHIRO
To: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037397/0168 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2015
From: OGINO, YOSHIHIKO; IKENAGA, CHIKAO; SAHARA, TAKAHIRO; NAGATA, MASAHIRO
To: DAI NIPPON PRINTING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037204/0517 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2013-090665 · Apr 23, 2013 · national
JP 2013-090725 · Apr 23, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160077303A1 · Mar 17, 2016