Auto focusing lens module and calibrating method thereof

An auto focusing lens module is provided, which includes a casing, a photo interrupter and a lens holder. The casing has a containing space. The photo interrupter is fixedly disposed on the casing and has a light-emitting surface and a light-sensing surface opposite to the light-emitting surface. The lens holder is disposed in the containing space and has a first obstacle and a second obstacle. The space between the first obstacle and the second obstacle keeps a calibrating interval. The lens holder is capable of moving to-and-fro along an axial direction to bring the first obstacle, the calibrating interval or the second obstacle to the space between the light-emitting surface and the light-sensing surface. The invention also provides a calibrating method suitable for the above-mentioned auto focusing lens module.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 100106677, filed on Mar. 1, 2011. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to a lens module and a calibrating method thereof, and more particularly, to an auto focusing lens module and a calibrating method thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

In traditional auto focusing lens set driving manner for mini camera, if the coil of a voice coil motor is a moving part, the voice coil motor positioning device can include a device mantle, a moving base of installing lens set, a voice coil motor, a position feedback sensor and a positioning controller. The voice coil motor includes a moving coil fixed at a surface of the moving base of installing lens set and electrically connected to a plate-like whirl power cable formed by a flexible circuit board at another surface of the moving base of installing lens set. In addition, the voice coil motor also includes a magnetic path subassembly consisting of magnet and yoke which is fixed at an inner ring portion of the device mantle and makes the moving coil right placed in a magnetic path gap formed by the magnetic path subassembly. The position feedback sensor includes a photo interrupter fixed at a printed circuit board (PCB) and embedded at the bottom of the device mantle. A light source reflective plate is fixed at a surface of the moving base of installing lens set facing the photo interrupter. A bias circuit is disposed in a circuit module outside the device mantle. The positioning controller may be formed with discrete components or integrated circuit (IC), which is contained in the circuit module as well.

If the coil of a voice coil motor is a fixing part, the voice coil motor positioning device can include a device mantle, a moving base of installing lens set, a voice coil motor, a position feedback sensor and a positioning controller. In more details, the voice coil motor includes a fixing coil fixed at an inner ring portion of the device mantle and electrically connected to a fixed power cable. In addition, the voice coil motor can also include a magnetic path subassembly consisting of magnet and yoke which is fixed at a surface of the moving base of installing lens set and makes the fixing coil right placed in a magnetic path gap formed by the magnetic path subassembly. The position feedback sensor includes a photo interrupter fixed at a PCB and embedded at the bottom of the device mantle. A light source reflective plate is fixed on a surface of the moving base of installing lens set facing the photo interrupter. A bias circuit is disposed in a circuit module outside the device mantle. The positioning controller may be formed with discrete components or integrated circuit (IC), and is contained in the circuit module as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to an auto focusing lens module with better focusing capability.

The invention is also directed to a calibrating method suitable for the above-mentioned lens module.

Other objectives and advantages of the invention should be further indicated by the disclosures of the invention.

To achieve one of, a part of or all of the above-mentioned advantages, or to achieve other advantages, an embodiment of the invention provides an auto focusing lens module, which includes a casing, a photo interrupter and a lens holder. The casing has a containing space. The photo interrupter is fixedly disposed on the casing and has a light-emitting surface and a light-sensing surface opposite to the light-emitting surface. The lens holder is disposed in the containing space and has a first obstacle and a second obstacle. The space between the first obstacle and the second obstacle keeps a calibrating interval. The lens holder is capable of moving to-and-fro along an axial direction to bring the first obstacle, the calibrating interval or the second obstacle to the space between the light-emitting surface and the light-sensing surface.

An embodiment of the invention also provides a calibrating method suitable for the above-mentioned auto focusing lens module. The calibrating method includes at least following steps: first, moving the lens holder, in which when the first obstacle is moved to the space between the light-emitting surface and the light-sensing surface, a home position is defined; next, keeping moving the lens holder so that the calibrating interval and the second obstacle sequentially pass through the space between the light-emitting surface and the light-sensing surface, in which when the second obstacle is moved to the space between the light-emitting surface and the light-sensing surface, the calibrating interval has been counted so as to obtain a counting value; then, comparing the counting value with a predetermined value so as to calibrate and set a moving scale for moving the lens holder.

An embodiment of the invention further provides an auto focusing lens module, which includes a casing, a photo interrupter and a lens holder. The casing has a containing space. The photo interrupter is fixedly disposed on the casing and has a light-emitting surface and a light-sensing surface opposite to the light-emitting surface. The lens holder is disposed in the containing space and the photo interrupter is located on the substantially middle position of a moving range of the lens holder in the containing space. The lens holder has a calibrating obstacle, and a calibrating width of the calibrating obstacle is substantially greater than or equal to 2 mm. The lens holder is capable of moving to-and-fro along an axial direction to bring the calibrating obstacle to-and-fro passing through the space between the light-emitting surface and the light-sensing surface.

Based on the description above, by means of counting the counting value of the calibrating interval and dividing the real physical amount of a given calibrating interval by the counted counting value so as to correct the present moving physical amount of the lens holder corresponding to per unit value. Accordingly, the invention can make the auto focusing lens module under long term operation or gradually miniaturizing the whole dimension thereof still have better image focusing capability. In addition, the invention also provides a calibrating method suitable for the above-mentioned lens module so as to advance the focusing capability of the lens module.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1is a localized diagram of an auto focusing lens module according to an embodiment of the invention,FIG. 2is a diagram of the casing inFIG. 1andFIG. 3is a diagram showing the photo interrupter, the lens holder and the transmission device inFIG. 1. Referring toFIGS. 1,2and3, an auto focusing lens module100of the embodiment includes a casing110, a photo interrupter120and a lens holder130. The casing110has a containing space112. In the embodiment, the casing110is used mainly for installing the lens set, the photo interrupter120, the lens holder130and a later mentioned transmission device150in the lens module100, in which the lens set, the photo interrupter120, the lens holder130and at least a portion of the transmission device150are located in the containing space112of the casing110.

The photo interrupter120is fixedly disposed on the casing110and has a light-emitting surface S1and a light-sensing surface S2opposite to the light-emitting surface S1. In the embodiment, the photo interrupter120consists of a light emitter (not shown) and a light receiver (not shown), in which the light emitter may be implemented by an infra-red light emitting diode with wavelength over 800 nm, while the light receiver may be implemented by a phototransistor. The light-emitting surface S1of the light emitter and the light-sensing surface S2of the light receiver are usually face-to-face installed together. To specific, there is a gap between the light-emitting surface S1of the light emitter and the light-sensing surface S2of the light receiver, so that when there is no interrupter between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2(i.e., there is no obstacle between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2), the light emitted from the infra-red light emitting diode will be directly transmitted to the phototransistor so that the phototransistor can sense the light signal to output an electric signal; on the contrary, when the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2has an obstacle, the light intensity received by the phototransistor would be changed and, accordingly, another electric signal is output.

Continuing toFIGS. 1,2and3, the lens holder130is disposed in the containing space112and has a first obstacle132and a second obstacle134, in which the space between the first obstacle132and the second obstacle134keeps a calibrating interval136. In the auto focusing lens module100, in order to perform auto focusing on an object (not shown) of an object side, the lens holder130is capable of moving to-and-fro along an axial direction A1so that at least a lens140located thereon may be effectively imaged at an image side (not shown), in which at least a lens140is disposed on a lens base131of the lens holder130, as shown byFIG. 1. The mechanism for the auto focusing lens module100of the embodiment to perform auto focusing and calibrate the moving scale is described in details as follows.

First, after turning on the power of the auto focusing lens module100, the lens holder130moves along the axial direction A1so as to bring the first obstacle132to the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2for defining a home position. In the embodiment, the method for judging the home position is usually to judge whether or not the voltage value sensed by the photo interrupter120is different from a predetermined voltage. When, for example, the voltage value sensed by the photo interrupter120is less or greater than the predetermined voltage, it may be defined that the lens holder130has moved to the home position. Taking that as an example the voltage value sensed by the photo interrupter120is less than the predetermined voltage, since while the first obstacle132is gradually approaching towards between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2and interrupting the light-emitting surface S1, the light intensity received by the light-sensing surface S2would be gradually reduced. That is to say, the voltage value (or photovoltaic) sensed by the photo interrupter120is gradually reduced. At the time, by using the predetermined voltage defined by the user, the event for the lens holder130to have moved to the home position designed by the user may be defined.

Next, after the lens holder130moves and arrives at the home position, the user can use a counter170to count the moving distance along the axial direction A1of the lens holder130from the counting or the home position up so as to smoothly move the lens holder130onto an appreciate focusing position. Thereby, the auto focusing lens module100can perform focusing at the object side, in which the counter170may be a program able to record the number of the pulses emitted from a hardware to the step motor, as shown byFIG. 1. In the embodiment, a transmission device150is used to drive the lens holder130moving along the axial direction A1, in which the transmission device150is fixedly disposed on the casing110and is connected to the lens holder130through at least a transmission part160. In this way, the transmission device150is able to drive the lens holder130moving along the axial direction A1. In the embodiment, the transmission device150is, for example, a step motor and the transmission part160is, for example, a plurality of gears162meshed with each other, as shown byFIGS. 1 and 3.

In more details, when the lens holder130located at the home position is to be moved to an appropriate focusing position, the counter170would firstly calculate out a moving value, and the transmission device150would drive the lens holder130located at the home position moving to the correct focusing position according to the moving value. For example, when the lens holder130located at the home position is to be moved to a first focusing position for focusing, the counter170would calculate out a first moving value, for example, a value of 300. After that, the transmission device150would drive the lens holder130located at the home position moving onto the first focusing position according to the first moving value. In the embodiment, the moving value counted by the counter170is substantially a moving/rotating graduation of the transmission device150. That is to say, the moving value counted by the counter170may be transferred into the real physical amount corresponding to per unit moving value of the lens holder130along the axial direction A1. For example, the moving value of one can represent 0.01 mm moving of the lens holder130.

However, along with the smaller and smaller volume of a lens module100today, due to the moving tolerances of the transmission part160and the transmission device150or due to various sources causing the transmission part160and the transmission device150degraded and wornout after repetitious usage, the transferring relationship between the moving value and the moving real physical amount of the lens holder130along the axial direction A1corresponding to per unit value would be affected. For example, the original moving value of one represents 0.01 mm moving of the lens holder130, but due to the above-mentioned reasons, the affected moving value of one may represent 0.012 mm or 0.008 mm moving of the lens holder130. In other words, there is an error of the transferring relationship between the moving value counted by the counter170and the real moving physical amount corresponding to per unit value. As a result, the transmission device150is unable to precisely move the lens holder130onto the first focusing position and out-of-focus is produced, which causes bad imaging quality of the lens module100.

To solve the above-mentioned problem, in the lens module100, when the first obstacle132moves to the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2and after the event is defined that the lens holder130is located at the home position, the lens holder130continuously moves to bring the calibrating interval136and the second obstacle134sequentially moving towards the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, in which when the second obstacle134is brought to the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, the above-mentioned counter170is used to count the calibrating interval136to obtain a counting value. In more details, while the calibrating interval136is passing through the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, since the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2is not yet obstacle by the obstacles of the lens holder130, so that the voltage value sensed by the photo interrupter120would be greater than the predetermined voltage value. In other words, after the first obstacle132is brought to the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2but prior to that the second obstacle134is brought to the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, the above-mentioned counter170is used to count the calibrating interval136to obtain the above-mentioned counting value. Then, the real physical amount of the calibrating interval136is divided by the counting value to obtain a new moving value.

For example, if the real physical amount of the given calibrating interval136is 2 mm and the corresponding counting value counted by the counter170is 200, then, a counting value of one represents the transferred moving physical amount corresponding to per unit value is 0.01 mm. In this way, even the moving physical amount corresponding to per unit value obtained by transferring of the counting value is changed due to the above-mentioned reasons, the moving physical amount corresponding to per unit value obtained by transferring of the counting value may be momentarily corrected to the most correct value through the above-mentioned correction mechanism. For example, if the counting value of the calibrating interval136counted by the counter170, due to the above-mentioned reasons, is 190, then, a counting value of one represents the transferred moving physical amount corresponding to per unit value is 2 mm÷190≈0.0105 mm. In this way, since the physical amount corresponding to per unit value is changed, which correspondingly alters the focusing counting value thereafter to ensure the lens holder130can move to the correct focusing position.

It should be noted that in the embodiment, the photo interrupter120is disposed on the substantially middle position P101of the moving range of the lens holder130in the containing space112as shown inFIG. 1, which the invention is not limited to. In other embodiments, the photo interrupter120is mainly used to allow the first obstacle132, the calibrating interval136and the second obstacle134sequentially pass through the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, therefore, the position where the photo interrupter120is fixed onto the casing110is required not on the edge of the moving range of the lens holder130. If so, the designed position where the photo interrupter120is fixed onto the casing110would fall in the claim scope of the invention.

Based on the depiction above, the auto focusing lens module100of the embodiment can correct the present moving physical amount of the lens holder130corresponding to per unit value through momentarily counting the counting value of the calibrating interval136and dividing the real moving physical amount corresponding to the given calibrating interval136by the counted counting value, which can make the auto focusing lens module100under long term usage or gradually miniaturizing the whole dimension thereof have better image focusing capability.

According to the depiction above, the invention provides a method for calibrating the moving scale of the auto focusing lens module100, as shown byFIG. 4.FIG. 4is a schematic flow chart showing calibrating the moving scale of an auto focusing lens module according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 4, the method for calibrating the moving scale of the embodiment at least includes following steps. First, the above-mentioned lens holder130is moved, in which when the first obstacle132is brought to the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2and the voltage (photovoltaic) sensed by the photo interrupter120is less than the predetermined voltage, the above-mentioned home position may be judged and defined, as shown by steps S101, S102and S103inFIG. 4.

Next, after the first obstacle132is moved to the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, the lens holder130continuously moves so that the calibrating interval136and the second obstacle134sequentially pass through the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, in which when the second obstacle134is brought to the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2and the voltage (photovoltaic) sensed by the photo interrupter120is less than the predetermined voltage, the calibrating interval136has been counted to obtain the above-mentioned counting value, as shown by steps S105, S107, S104and S109inFIG. 4. In addition, while the calibrating interval136is moving between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, since there is no obstacle between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, so that the voltage (photovoltaic) sensed by the photo interrupter120would be greater than the predetermined voltage.

Then, the counting value is compared with the above-mentioned predetermined value so as to calibrate and set a moving scale for moving the lens holder, as shown by steps S201and S202inFIG. 4. To specific, since the counting value is the counted distance of the calibrating interval136, in which the real physical distance of the calibrating interval136is given, so that the real physical distance for moving the lens holder130corresponding to per unit value may be more precisely obtained through dividing the distance of the calibrating interval136by the counting value. In other words, the method of the embodiment can simultaneously correct the moving scale for moving the lens holder130by comparing the counting value with the original predetermined value so as to have a better focusing capability.

It should be noted that in the embodiment, the time point to define the above-mentioned home position and to count the calibrating interval is, for example, in response to that the voltage (photovoltaic) sensed by the photo interrupter120is less than the predetermined voltage. In other embodiments however, the time point to define the above-mentioned home position and to count the calibrating interval is, for example, in response to that the voltage (photovoltaic) sensed by the photo interrupter120is greater than the above-mentioned predetermined voltage as well. As the depiction above, the judgment criteria to conduct the above-mentioned operations depends on the user requirement and the design and the situation ofFIG. 4is an exemplary case, which the invention is not limited to.

FIG. 5is a localized diagram of an auto focusing lens module according to another embodiment of the invention,FIG. 6is a diagram of the casing inFIG. 5andFIG. 7is a diagram showing the photo interrupter, the lens holder and the transmission device inFIG. 5. Referring toFIGS. 1-6, the auto focusing lens module300of the embodiment adopts the similar concept and principle to that of the above-mentioned auto focusing lens module100except that the lens holder330in the auto focusing lens module300of the embodiment has a calibrating obstacle332, and a calibrating width W of the calibrating obstacle332is substantially greater than or equal to 2 mm. Similarly, the lens holder330is capable of moving to-and-fro along an axial direction to bring the calibrating obstacle332to-and-fro passing through the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2of the photo interrupter320.

In the embodiment, while the calibrating obstacle332is gradually approaching towards between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2and interrupting the light-emitting surface S1, the light intensity received by the light-sensing surface S2would be gradually reduced. That is to say, the voltage value (or photovoltaic) sensed by the photo interrupter120is gradually reduced. At the time, by using the predetermined voltage defined by the user, the event for the lens holder330to have moved to the home position designed by the user may be defined. Then, after the lens holder330continuously moves and departs from the home position, the user can use a counter370to count the moving distance along the axial direction A1of the lens holder330from the home position up so as to smoothly move the lens holder330onto an appreciate focusing position. Thereby, the auto focusing lens module300can perform focusing at the object side.

In more details, while the calibrating obstacle332is passing through the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2, since the space between the light-emitting surface S1and the light-sensing surface S2is interrupted by the calibrating obstacle332of the lens holder330, so that the voltage value sensed by the photo interrupter320would be durably less that the predetermined voltage value. In other words, after the voltage value sensed by the photo interrupter320begins to be less than the predetermined voltage value but before the voltage value sensed by the photo interrupter320begins to be greater that the predetermined voltage value, the above-mentioned counter370is used to count the calibrating obstacle332so as to obtain the above-mentioned counting value. After that, the real physical amount of the calibrating obstacle332is divided by the counting value to obtain a new moving value.

Based on the depiction above, the auto focusing lens module300of the embodiment can momentarily count the counting value of the calibrating obstacle332and makes the given real physical amount of the calibrating obstacle332divided by the counted counting value so as to correct the present moving physical amount of the lens holder330corresponding to per unit value, which can make the auto focusing lens module300under long term usage or gradually miniaturizing the whole dimension thereof have better image focusing capability.

In summary, the auto focusing lens module and the calibrating method thereof of the invention has following features. First, the auto focusing lens module can momentarily count the counting value of the calibrating interval and makes the real physical amount of the given calibrating interval divided by the counted counting value so as to correct the present moving physical amount of the lens holder corresponding to per unit value, which can make the auto focusing lens module under long term usage or gradually miniaturizing the whole dimension thereof have better image focusing capability. In addition, the auto focusing lens module can also momentarily count the counting value of the calibrating obstacle and makes the given real physical width amount of the calibrating obstacle divided by the counted counting value so as to reach the above-mentioned advantage. The invention also provides a calibrating method suitable for the above-mentioned lens module to advance the focusing capability of the lens module.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the descriptions above are several preferred embodiments of the invention only, which does not limit the implementing range of the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. The claim scope of the invention is defined by the claims hereinafter.