Optical system

An optical system is provided, including a housing, an optical element, a first movable part, a driving assembly, and a temperature adjusting module. The optical element is disposed on the housing. The first movable part is movably connected to the housing. The driving assembly is configured to drive the first movable part to move relative to the housing. The temperature adjusting module is disposed in the housing for adjusting the temperature of the optical system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical system, and, in particular, to an optical system that has a temperature adjusting module.

Description of the Related Art

As technology has advanced, a lot of electronic devices (for example, laptop computers and smartphones) have incorporated the functionality of taking photographs and recording video. These electronic devices have become more commonplace, and have been developed to be more convenient and thin. More and more options are provided for users to choose from.

In some electronic devices, to reduce the size of the shutter or aperture mechanism in a camera module can be difficult. Moreover, the shutter or aperture mechanism may freeze when in the extreme low temperature environment. Therefore, addressing the aforementioned problems has become a challenge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides an optical system that includes a housing, an optical element, a first movable part, a driving assembly, and a temperature adjusting module. The optical element is disposed on the housing. The first movable part is movably connected to the housing. The driving assembly is configured to drive the first movable part to move relative to the housing. Moreover, the temperature adjusting module is disposed in the housing for adjusting the temperature of the optical system.

In some embodiments, the housing has an opening, and light propagates through the opening along an optical axis of the optical element.

In some embodiments, the first movable part has a blade for partially or completely blocking the opening.

In some embodiments, the optical system further includes a second movable part movably connected to the housing, wherein the driving assembly forces the first and second movable parts to partially or completely block the opening.

In some embodiments, the optical system further includes a first thermal conductive element and a second thermal conductive element, wherein the first thermal conductive element is embedded in the housing, and the second thermal conductive element is embedded in the optical element.

In some embodiments, the first thermal conductive element has an L-shaped cross-section, and the second thermal conductive element has a longitudinal cross-section.

In some embodiments, the optical element is disposed in the opening.

In some embodiments, the first thermal conductive element has a Z-shaped cross-section, and the second thermal conductive element has an L-shaped cross-section.

In some embodiments, the optical element is disposed on a bottom side of the housing and located outside the opening.

In some embodiments, the diameter of the optical element is greater than the diameter of the opening.

In some embodiments, the optical system further includes a temperature sensor disposed in the housing, wherein the first and second thermal conductive elements are spaced apart from the temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, the optical system further includes a temperature sensor disposed in the housing, wherein the temperature adjusting module has a heating circuit, and the temperature sensor and the heating circuit do not overlap when viewed along an optical axis of the optical element.

In some embodiments, the temperature sensor and the heating circuit do not overlap when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

In some embodiments, the driving assembly has a coil and a rotor adjacent to the coil, the rotor is pivotally connected to the housing and has magnetic material, and the first movable part is movably connected to the rotor, wherein when a current signal is applied to the coil, the rotor rotates relative to the housing and impels the first movable part to move relative to the housing.

In some embodiments, the first movable part has a slot, and the rotor has a protrusion extending through the slot.

In some embodiments, the driving assembly further has a U-shaped yoke extending through the coil.

In some embodiments, the temperature adjusting module has a C-shaped structure.

In some embodiments, the temperature adjusting module has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a heating circuit connected to the first and second terminals, wherein the first and second terminals extend through the housing.

In some embodiments, the optical system further includes a temperature sensor, wherein the housing has a through hole receiving the temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, the optical system further includes a circuit board electrically connected to the temperature sensor, wherein the temperature sensor is covered by the circuit board.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and in which specific embodiments of which the invention may be practiced are shown by way of illustration. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the figures being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for the purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting.

FIG.1is an exploded diagram of a driving mechanism100, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.FIG.2is a perspective diagram of the driving mechanism100inFIG.1after assembly.FIG.3is a perspective diagram of the driving mechanism100inFIG.2when the cover plate20is omitted.FIG.4is a perspective diagram of the driving mechanism100inFIG.2when the cover plate20and the second diaphragm50are omitted.FIG.5is a perspective diagram showing the temperature adjusting module H, the rotor R, the coil C, and the yoke U received in the housing10of the driving mechanism100.FIG.6is a front view of the temperature adjusting module H, the rotor R, the coil C, and the yoke U received in the housing10of the driving mechanism100.

Referring toFIGS.1-6, the driving mechanism100may be disposed in a cell phone, laptop computer, or other electronic devices. In this embodiment, the driving mechanism100primarily comprises a housing10, a cover plate20, a first diaphragm30, a first movable part40, a second diaphragm50, a second movable part60, a temperature adjusting module H, a coil C, a yoke U, a rotor R, a temperature sensor S, and a circuit board F. The first and second diaphragms30and50are affixed in the housing10. The first and second movable parts40and60are pivotally connected to the housing10.

It should be noted that the driving mechanism100can be used as a shutter or aperture of a camera unit that is disposed in an electronic device. The first diaphragm30, the first movable part40, the second diaphragm50, and the second movable part60are stacked in the housing10, and the cover plate20is mounted to a side of the housing10for covering and protecting the components in the housing10.

In some embodiments, the driving mechanism100may comprise only the first movable part40, and the second movable part60is omitted from driving mechanism100.

An optical element (e.g. optical lens) may be affixed in the opening101at the center of the housing10. The driving mechanism100and the optical element can constitute an optical system, and light can propagate through the optical element in the opening101to an image sensor (not shown) along the optical axis O of the optical element, whereby a digital image can be generated. The first and second movable parts40and60may be blades of a shutter or aperture in a camera unit that can partially or completely block the opening101for controlling the quantity of light through the optical element.

It can be seen inFIGS.1,5, and6that the temperature adjusting module H, the rotor R, the coil C, and the yoke U are disposed in the housing10. The rotor R, the coil C, and the yoke U are received in a through hole11of the housing10, and the temperature sensor S is received in another through hole12of the housing10and electrically connected to the circuit board F on the outer side of the housing10.

In some embodiments, the circuit board F may comprise a Flexible Printed Circuits (FPC), and the temperature sensor S may comprise a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the driving mechanism100. When the driving mechanism100is in a low temperature state (e.g. under 0° C.), the temperature adjusting module H can be used to deice by heating the driving mechanism100, thus preventing the components inside the housing10(e.g. the first and second movable parts40and60) from sticking each other.

The yoke U has a U-shaped structure and extends through the coil C, and the rotor R comprises magnetic material (e.g. permanent magnet). In this embodiment, the housing10forms a first hinge P1extending through a hole R′ of the rotor R, whereby the rotor R is pivotally connected to the housing10.

Still referringFIG.1, the first hinge P1sequentially extends through the hole31of the first diaphragm30, the hole41of the first movable part40, the hole51of the second diaphragm50, and the hole21of the cover plate20, whereby the first movable part40can rotate relative to the housing10around the first hinge P1.

Moreover, a second hinge P2of the housing10sequentially extends through the hole32of the first diaphragm30, the hole52of the second diaphragm50, the hole61of the second movable part60, and the hole22of the cover plate20, whereby the second movable part60can rotate relative to the housing10around the second hinge P2.

Specifically, the rotor R forms a protrusion R1that sequentially extends through the slot33of the first diaphragm30, the slot42of the first movable part40, the slot53of the second diaphragm50, the slot62of the second movable part60, and the slot23of the cover plate20. When the rotor R rotates around the first hinge P1, the protrusion R1can move within the slot42and62, and the first and second movable parts40and60can be forced by the rotor R to respectively rotate around the first and second hinges P1and P2.

It should be noted that the rotor R, the coil C, and the yoke U constitute a driving assembly of the driving mechanism100. The coil C can be electrically connected to the circuit board F on the outer side of the housing10via conductive wires (not shown). When a current signal is applied to the coil C, the rotor R rotates around the first hinge P1, whereby the first movable part40is forced to rotate around the first hinge P1via the protrusion R1of the rotor R. Additionally, the rotor R can also impel the second movable part60to rotate around the second hinge P2via the protrusion R1of the rotor R. Therefore, the first and second movable parts40and60can be used as rotatable blades of a shutter or aperture in a camera unit.

As shown inFIGS.1and5, the temperature adjusting module H in this embodiment may be a C-shaped circuit board that is perpendicular to the optical axis O. The temperature adjusting module H has a first terminal H1, a second terminal H2, and a heating circuit H3connected to the first and second terminals H1and H2.

FIG.7is a perspective diagram showing the yoke U, the temperature sensor S, and the first and second terminals H1and H2of the temperature adjusting module H that are exposed to a rear side of the housing10.FIG.8is a perspective diagram showing the circuit board F received in a recess13of the housing10.

Referring toFIGS.6-8, the first and second terminals H1and H2extend through the housing10and are exposed to the rear side of the housing10. The yoke U and the temperature sensor S are also exposed to the rear side of the housing10via the through holes11and12.

A recess13is formed on the rear side of the housing10for receiving the circuit board F. After assembly of the driving mechanism100, the circuit board F covers the temperature sensor S, and the first and second terminals H1and H2of the temperature adjusting module H extend through the circuit board F so that they are electrically connected to each other.

It should be noted that the temperature sensor S and the heating circuit H3do not overlap when viewed along the optical axis O (Z axis). Additionally, the temperature sensor S and the heating circuit H3do not overlap when viewed in a direction (X or Y direction) that is perpendicular to the optical axis O.

FIG.9is a cross-sectional view of a first thermal conductive element T1embedded in the housing10and a second thermal conductive element T2embedded in the optical element L, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.FIG.10is an enlarged view of the portion A1inFIG.9.

Referring toFIGS.9and10, in another embodiment, an optical element L (e.g. optical lens) is secured in the opening101of the housing10, wherein the optical element L and the driving mechanism100can constitute an optical system.

Specifically, a first thermal conductive element T1is embedded in the housing10, and a second thermal conductive element T2is embedded in the optical element L. The first and second thermal conductive elements T1and T2may comprise metal and are spaced apart from the temperature sensor S.

In this embodiment, the first thermal conductive element T1has an L-shaped cross-section, and it may be located close to or contact the temperature adjusting module H. The second thermal conductive element T2has a longitudinal cross-section, and it may be located close to or contact the first thermal conductive element T1.

Heat generated by the heating circuit H3can transfer through the first and second thermal conductive elements T1and T2to the optical element L. Thus, the optical element L can be heated to ensure the temperature in the range from 10° C. to 85° C.

FIG.11is a cross-sectional view of a first thermal conductive element T1embedded in the housing10and a second thermal conductive element T2embedded in the optical element L, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.FIG.12is an enlarged view of the portion A2inFIG.11.

Referring toFIGS.11and12, in another embodiment, an optical element L (e.g. optical lens) is affixed to the bottom side of the housing10, wherein the optical element L and the driving mechanism100can constitute an optical system, and the optical element L is located outside the opening101.

Specifically, the diameter of the optical element L is greater than the diameter of the opening101. The first thermal conductive element T1is embedded in the housing10, and the second thermal conductive element T2is embedded in the optical element L. The first and second thermal conductive elements T1and T2may comprise metal and are spaced apart from the temperature sensor S.

In this embodiment, the first thermal conductive element T1has a Z-shaped cross-section, and it may be located close to or contact the temperature adjusting module H. The second thermal conductive element T2has an L-shaped cross-section, and it may be located close to or contact the first thermal conductive element T1.

It should be noted that heat generated by the heating circuit H3can transfer through the first and second thermal conductive elements T1and T2to the optical element L. Therefore, the optical element L can be heated to ensure the temperature in the range from 10° C. to 85° C.