IP Library Granted Patent US 8,520,122
Granted Patent B2
US 8,520,122 · App. 12/855,297 · Granted Aug 27, 2013

Lens driving device, autofocus camera, and camera-equipped mobile terminal

Inventors: Manabu Shiraki (Kanagawa, JP); Satoshi Asakawa (Kanagawa, JP); Koji Toyama (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: New Shicoh Technology Co., Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,520,122
App. No.
12/855,297
Granted
Aug 27, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lens driving device, an autofocus camera and a camera-equipped mobile terminal are provided that can correct movement of a lens in an optical axis direction and tilt of an optical axis, and reduce the dimension thereof in the optical axis direction. The device includes: a lens support 5 for supporting a lens at an inner circumference; a plurality of coils 19 a to 19 d disposed at regular intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of the lens support 5 ; a base 8 that supports the lens support 5 so as to move freely in an optical axis direction of the lens; and a magnet portion 17 provided on the base 8 and facing each of the coils 19 a to 19 d , in which an electric current of equal current value is applied to each of the coils 19 a to 19 d when moving the lens support 5 in the optical axis direction, and current values of the electric current applied to predetermined coils 19 a to 19 d are varied when correcting tilt of the optical axis of the lens.

Claims (32)

1. A lens driving device, comprising:

a lens support for supporting a lens in an inner circumference;

a plurality of coils disposed at regular intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of the lens support and having a degree of curvature corresponding to the outer periphery;

a fixed member that is in the shape of a polygonal barrel and disposes the lens support in the inner circumference, and supports the lens support so as to move freely in an optical axis direction of the lens; and

magnet portions that are provided at corners of the fixed member, and face the coils, respectively,

wherein an electric current of equal current value is applied to each of the coils when moving the lens support in the optical axis direction,

current values of the electric current applied to predetermined coils are varied when correcting tilt of the optical axis of the lens,

each of the coils is a loop when viewed laterally, and includes a first side portion, a second side portion in the optical axis direction, a right side portion and a left side portion which continue to the first side portion and the second side portion of each of the coils and face a center portion between neighboring corners of the fixed member,

the magnet portions include a first side magnet that faces a first side portion of each of the coils, and a second side magnet that faces a second side portion of each of the coils, and

magnetic poles of the first side magnet and the second side magnet are different from each other.

2. An autofocus camera, comprising:

the lens driving device according to claim 1 ; and

an image sensor that is provided to an image formation side of the lens of the lens support.

3. A camera-equipped mobile terminal, comprising the autofocus camera according to claim 2 .

4. A lens driving device, comprising:

a lens support for supporting a lens in an inner circumference;

a plurality of magnet portions disposed at regular intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of the lens support;

a fixed member that is in the shape of a polygonal barrel and disposes the lens support in the inner circumference, and supports the lens support so as to move freely in an optical axis direction; and

coils that are provided to the fixed member, and face the magnet portions of the lens support, respectively, and having a degree of curvature corresponding to an outer periphery of the lens support,

wherein the magnet portions are provided at corners of the fixed member,

an electric current of equal current value is applied to each of the coils when moving the lens support in the optical axis direction,

current values of the electric current applied to predetermined coils are varied when correcting tilt of the optical axis of the lens,

each of the coils is a loop when viewed laterally, and includes a first side portion, a second side portion in the optical axis direction, a right side portion and a left side portion which continue to the first side portion and the second side portion of each of the coils and face a center portion between neighboring corners of the fixed member,

the magnet portions include a first side magnet that faces a first side portion of each of the coils, and a second side magnet that faces a second side portion of each of the coils, and

magnetic poles of the first side magnet and the second side magnet are different from each other.

5. An autofocus camera, comprising:

the lens driving device according to claim 4 ; and

an image sensor that is provided to an image formation side of the lens of the lens support.

6. A camera-equipped mobile terminal, comprising the autofocus camera according to claim 5 .

7. The lens driving device according to claim 1 ,

wherein an outer circumferential side of each magnet portion is wrapped by respective corners of the fixed member and an inner circumferential side of each magnet portion is a circular arc and faces the respective coil in parallel.

8. The lens driving device according to claim 4 , wherein the magnet portions extend across respective corners, of the fixed member.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2021
From: NEW SHICOH TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
To: NEW SHICOH MOTOR CO.,LTD.
Reel/Frame 056847/0414 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2013
From: SHICOH CO., LTD.
To: NEW SHICOH TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 030237/0034 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 12, 2010
From: SHIRAKI, MANABU; ASAKAWA, SATOSHI; TOYAMA, KOJI
To: SHICOH CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 024868/0426 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2009-188630 · Aug 17, 2009 · national
JP 2009-221768 · Sep 28, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110039599A1 · Feb 17, 2011