Abstract:
A voice coil type lens drive assembly for adjusting the focus of a lens is provided which can prevent the occurrence of trouble in the event of exertion on an external force on the lens not only in a completed state of assembly but also during assembly or during disassembly for repair and is applicable also to a downsized lens drive assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a voice coil type lens drive assembly for adjusting the focus of a lens by utilizing a repulsive magnetic force which a magnetic field created upon energization of a coil induces between the coil and a fixed magnet opposed to the coil. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Heretofore, in connection with a voice coil type lens drive assembly for adjusting the focus of a lens by utilizing a repulsive magnetic force which a magnetic field created upon energization of a coil induces between the coil and a fixed magnet opposed to the coil, it is a usually way of doing that the lens is kept standstill at an initial position thereof with a spring having weak force when the coil is not energized. 
         [0005]    For example, in Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-128405, see FIG. 2 and paragraphs 0025, 0029) there is disclosed a construction to prevent deviation and movement in a rotational direction of a lens support in a completed state of assembly. 
         [0006]    According to this conventional construction, as shown partially in  FIG. 15  and as described concretely in paragraph 0025 of Patent Literature 1, an engaging projection  133  formed on an inner periphery surface of a frame  123  comes into engagement with an engaging recess  135  formed in an outer periphery surface of a cap  124  to inhibit the rotation of a lens support  107  in the circumferential direction. Consequently, deviation and movement in a rotational direction of the lens support  107  are prevented. 
         [0007]    In an assembling operation, as is described in paragraph 0029, an inner periphery surface  11   a  of a rear spring  111  is attached to the lens support  107 , then a magnet  113  and a coil  115  fixed to the lens support  107  are disposed in the interior of a yoke  103 , and mounted to a base portion  105   b  of a base  105  via a rear spacer  117 . Thereafter, an inner periphery-side end portion  109   a  of a front spring  109  is placed between a front spacer  121  and the yoke  103  and is fixed with the cap  124 . Further, the frame  123  is mounted to the base  105  and an outer periphery-side end portion  109   b  is fixed with the frame  123 . 
         [0008]    As is seen from the above description, deviation and movement in the rotational direction of the lens support  107  are prevented in only a state substantially close to a completely assembled state wherein the frame  123  and the cap  124  are coupled together. 
         [0009]    However, in the construction disclosed in Patent Literature 1, it is desired to remedy the following inconvenience although there is no special defect in function. 
         [0010]    Since deviation and movement in the rotational direction of the lens support  107  are prevented in only a state substantially close to a completely assembled state, such deviation and movement cannot be prevented during assembly or during disassembly for repair. 
         [0011]    Therefore, in the event an external force should act on the lens support  107  in such a process, the front spring  109  or the rear spring  11 , as a spring having weak force acting when the coil is not energized, will be damaged, which is not desirable. Moreover, in the case where a projection is formed in the outer periphery direction of the lens support  107 , it ends up with an increase in size of the outline of the lens drive assembly. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem and provide a voice coil type lens drive assembly for adjusting the focus of a lens, the lens drive assembly being capable of preventing the occurrence of a trouble in the event of exertion of an external force on the lens not only in a completed state of assembly but also during assembly or during disassembly for repair and being applicable also to a downsized lens drive assembly. 
         [0013]    According to the present invention, for solving the above-mentioned problem, there is provided a voice coil type lens drive assembly for adjusting the focus of a lens by utilizing a repulsive magnetic force which a magnetic field created upon energization of coils of a movable unit loaded with the lens induces between the coils and fixed magnets opposed to the coils, the lens drive assembly comprising a base, an electrically conductive spring disposed on the base, a metallic yoke disposed on the electrically conductive spring, magnets mounted within the yoke, a movable unit inserted into the yoke in opposition to the magnets, a leaf spring disposed on the yoke, and a cover frame coupled to the base while being superimposed on the leaf spring, the movable unit comprising a coil base and coils, the coil base comprising a cylindrical body centrally formed with lens mounting threads and having a quadrangular outline, a plurality of projecting pieces erected on the cylindrical body at equal intervals while partially extending continuously with the lens mounting threads, and projections formed respectively on four outer faces of the cylindrical body, the coils being wound round the projections respectively, the base comprising a plate-shaped body formed of a synthetic resin by molding, four support rods projecting upward from four corners of the body, a lens aperture formed centrally of the body, a cylindrical guide erected along a peripheral edge of the lens aperture, and a groove formed outside the cylindrical guide, the projecting pieces of the movable unit being fitted in the groove formed on the base side to inhibit rotation of the movable unit. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the base comprises a plate-shaped body formed of a synthetic resin by molding, four support rods projecting upward from four corners of the body, a lens aperture formed centrally of the body, a cylindrical guide erected along a peripheral edge of the lens aperture, a groove formed outside the cylindrical guide, projections formed on the inside base portions of the support rods, and recesses continuous on the upper side with the projections, the recesses biting into inner peripheries of the support rods and serving as mounting references. 
         [0015]    Likewise, it is preferable for the coil base to comprise a cylindrical body having a quadrangular outline, a lens aperture formed centrally of the cylindrical body, lens mounting threads formed on the inner periphery of the lens aperture, two projections formed on each of outer periphery faces of the cylindrical body, and arcuate projecting pieces erected while partially extending continuously with the lens mounting threads. 
         [0016]    According to the invention described in claim  1  there is provided a voice coil type lens drive assembly for adjusting the focus of a lens by utilizing a repulsive magnetic force which a magnetic field created upon energization of coils of a movable unit loaded with the lens induces between the coils and fixed magnets opposed to the coils, the lens drive assembly comprising a base, a pair of electrically conductive springs disposed on the base, a metallic yoke disposed on the electrically conductive springs, magnets mounted within the yoke, a movable unit inserted into the yoke in opposition to the magnets, a leaf spring disposed on the yoke, and a cover frame coupled to the base while being superimposed on the leaf spring, the movable unit comprising a coil base and coils, the coil base comprising a cylindrical body centrally formed with lens mounting threads and having a quadrangular outline, a plurality of projecting pieces erected on the cylindrical body at equal intervals while partially extending continuously with the lens mounting threads, and projections formed respectively on four outer corners of the cylindrical body, the coils being wound round the projections respectively, the base comprising a plate-shaped body formed of a synthetic resin by molding, four support rods projecting upward from four corners of the body, a lens aperture formed centrally of the body, a cylindrical guide erected along a peripheral edge of the lens aperture, and a groove formed outside the cylindrical guide, the projecting pieces of the movable unit being fitted in the groove formed on the base side to inhibit rotation of the movable unit. According to this construction, by maintaining a relative position of the coil of the movable unit with respect to the fixed magnets in a normal state to stabilize a relative position of the movable unit with respect to the whole of the lens drive assembly, it is possible to effect a lens focus adjustment in a satisfactory manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a voice coil type lens drive assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view resulting from viewing the arrangement of  FIG. 1  in the opposite direction. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 3(A) ,  3 (B) and  3 (C) are a plan view, a right side view and a rear view, respectively, of the voice coil type lens assembly of the embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a plan view in cross section taken on line A-A in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side view in vertical section taken on line B-B in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken on line C-C in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7(A)  is a perspective view of a spring and  FIG. 7(B)  is a partial enlarged perspective view of the spring. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a partial enlarged sectional view of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 9(A)  is a plan view of a coil base and  FIG. 9(B)  is a right side view of the coil base. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the coil base with some coils attached thereto. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11(A)  is a perspective view of an electrically conductive spring and  FIG. 11(B)  is a partial enlarged perspective view thereof. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing a state of which a base and the coil base are about to be assembled together. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the coil base to the base. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a plan view in cross section of the base. 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional voice coil type lens drive assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a voice coil type lens drive assembly using a motor embodying the present invention is constituted by stacking within a cover frame  8  a leaf spring  7 , a yoke  6 , magnets  5 , a coil base  4 , a washer  3 , electrically conductive springs  2  and a base  1  in this order. In the exploded perspective view for assembly of  FIG. 1 , as is seen from  FIG. 2 , the cover frame  8  to be positioned on an upper side is placed below and the components which should underlie the cover frame  8  are assembled successively upwards. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the base  1  includes a body which is formed by molding in a quadrangular plate shape with use of a synthetic resin, and four support rods  1   a  projecting upwards are formed on the four corners of the body. A lens aperture  1   b  is formed centrally of the body and a cylindrical guide  1   c  is erected along a peripheral edge of the lens aperture. 
         [0034]    Cutout portions  1   g  are formed in one side of the body. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  13  and  14 , four arcuate and somewhat deep grooves id are formed at equal intervals outside a base portion of the cylindrical guide  1   c . Further, semicircular projections  1   e  are formed on inside base portions of the support rods  1   a  and semicircular recesses  1   f  are formed continuously on the upper side with the projections  1   e , the recesses  1   f  biting into inner peripheries of the support rods  1   a.    
         [0036]    The electrically conductive springs  2  are each formed by a thin plate of a material having electrical conductivity and superior in resilience, e.g., phosphor bronze. As the electrically conductive springs  2  there are used a pair of leaf springs disposed symmetrically right and left and in opposition to each other. As shown in  FIGS. 11(A) and 11(B) , the electrically conductive springs  2  are each formed by an outer laterally-facing U-shaped spring body  2   b  and a semicircular thin spring piece  2   a  formed inside the spring body  2   b . At one end of the outer spring body  2   b  is formed an L-bent support piece  2   c  and 45° chamfered and bent recesses  2   d  are formed in two outer corners of the spring body  2   b.    
         [0037]    The inner spring piece  2   a  and the outer spring body  2   b  are connected together through thin resilient wires. The resilient wires are each made up of a horizontal curvilinear portion  2   e  connected at one end thereof to the inner spring piece  2   a  and repeating U-turn and a vertical curvilinear portion  2   f  connected at an opposite end thereof to the outer spring body  2   b  and repeating U-turn. The curvilinear portion  2   e  connected at one end thereof to the inner spring piece  2   a  and repeating U-turn and the curvilinear portion  2   f  connected at the opposite end to the outer spring body and repeating U-turn cross each other at an angle of 90° for example. That is, with respect to one horizontal curvilinear portion  2   e  the other vertical curvilinear portion  2   f  is displaced 90° and is connected in this state to the curvilinear portion  2   e.    
         [0038]    Further, both end portions  2   g  of each of the inner semicircular spring pieces  2   a  are formed in a grooved hook shape for mounting thereto of terminals of coils C to be described later. Likewise, grooved guide portions  2   h  for mounting to the coil base  4  are formed in two upper and lower positions of the inner periphery of each spring piece  2   a.    
         [0039]    The washer  3  is constituted by a thin film formed of an electrically insulating material. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the washer  3  is formed in the shape of a quadrangular frame  3   a  and small arcuate recesses  3   b  are formed in four outer corner portions of the frame  3   a.    
         [0040]    Although in this embodiment the electrically conductive springs  2  are formed in a bisected manner, they may be formed as an integral construction. In this case, one conductive terminal is drawn out from the leaf spring  7 . 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the coil base  4  includes a cylindrical body having a quadrangular outline and a lens aperture  4   a  formed centrally of the cylindrical body. Lens mounting threads  4   b  are formed on the inner periphery of the lens aperture  4   a . The whole of the coil base  4  is formed by molding with use of a synthetic resin. Two projections  4   d  are formed on each of outer faces  4   c  of the cylindrical body having a quadrangular outline. The projections  4   d  are each formed so as to be thin at a base portion thereof and thick on an outer side thereof. For example, an outer surface of each projection  4   d  is tapered with a rising gradient to enlarge the outside diameter. 
         [0042]    Coils C are wound round the outer peripheries of the projections  4   d  in such a manner that each coil C is wound round two projections  4   d  formed on each outer face  4   c  of the cylindrical body. 
         [0043]    In this case, when a predetermined number of turns have been wound in one place, the cylindrical body is rotated 90° and another coil C is wound on the next outer face  4   c.    
         [0044]    In this way coils are wound successively on the projections  4   d  formed on the four outer faces  4   c  and, in a mounting process to be described later, terminals of the coils are mounted for example by soldering to the end portions  2   g  of the inner spring pieces  2   a  of the electrically conductive springs  2 . 
         [0045]    The portion of the mounting threads  4   b  of the coil base  4  includes an upright cylinder  4   f  and four small cylinders  4   g  formed at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the cylinder  4   f . Further, in the four corners of the cylindrical body of the coil base  4 , deep, elongated, rectangular holes  4   h  are formed in parallel with an optical axis direction so as to contact the outer periphery side of the upright cylinder  4   f.    
         [0046]    On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 12 , on an upper surface of the cylindrical body on the side opposite to the aforesaid side in the optical axis direction of the coil base  4 , in other words, on a lower surface side of the coil base  4  shown in  FIG. 2 , four arcuate upright projecting pieces  4   i  partially extending contiguously to the lens mounting threads  4   b  are formed at equal intervals. Flat faces  4   j  are formed outside the projecting pieces  4   i . Small guide pins  4   k  are erected outside the flat faces  4   i  and on the four corners of the cylindrical body. Upon assembly, the arcuate projecting pieces  4   i  are fitted in the arcuate grooves id of the base  1 . 
         [0047]    The magnets  5 , which are four magnets as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , are magnetized as permanent magnets and are attached and fixed to four-side inner walls, respectively, of the yoke  6  to be described later formed by a thin metallic plate of a magnetic material. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the yoke  6  is made up of a bottomed quadrangular prism-like box having one lower surface (the lower surface in  FIG. 2 ) and a bottom (the upper surface in  FIG. 2 ) in the optical axis direction, the lower surface being open and a lens aperture  6   a  being formed centrally of the bottom, bent portions  6   b  bent straight downward from four corners of the bottom, and cut-in portions  6   d  formed in lower ends (upper ends in  FIG. 1 ) of the four corners of the box on the side opposite to the bent portions  6   b.    
         [0049]    The fixed magnets  5  are attached to inside portions of the four sides of the box and the movable unit is disposed within the box in such a manner that the coils C are opposed to the magnets  5 . 
         [0050]    The corners of the box in the yoke  6  have faces  6   c  chamfered at an angle of 45° relative to the four side walls. Along the insides of the faces  6   c  the bent portions  6   b  are erected from the bottom. Likewise, square cut-in portions  6   d  are formed in the open-side ends of the faces  6   c . The square cut-in portions  6   d , which are formed precisely, are fitted on the semicircular projections  1   e  formed on the base  1  and serve as a mounting position reference for allowing the entire assembly to exhibit its performance. 
         [0051]    The leaf spring  7 , like the electrically conductive springs  2 , is formed by a thin plate of a material having electrical conductivity and superior in resilience, e.g., phosphor bronze. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the leaf spring  7  is formed by a single part and is made up of a thin spring frame  7   a  which is quadrangular on its outer edge side, a thin spring ring  7   b  which is circular on its inner edge side, and resilient wires for connection between the spring frame  7   a  and the spring ring  7   b.    
         [0052]    The four corners of the quadrangular outer spring frame  7   a  are formed by slant faces  7   c  which are chamfered at an angle of 45° so as to serve as a mounting guide and four semicircular recesses  7   d  also serving as a mounting guide are formed at equal intervals in the outer periphery of the inner spring ring  6   b.    
         [0053]    Like the electrically conductive springs  2 , the aforesaid connecting wires are each made up of a horizontal curvilinear portion  7   e  connected at one end thereof to the inner spring ring  7   b  and repeating U-turn and a vertical curvilinear portion  6   f  connected at an opposite end thereof to the outer spring frame  7   a  and repeating U-turn. Also in this case as is the case with the electrically conductive springs  2 , the curvilinear portions  6   e  and  6   f  are displaced at a crossing angle of 90°. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cover frame  8  is made up of a plate-like body  8   d  formed in a quadrangular shape by molding with use of a synthetic resin, four support rods  8   a  erected downward in  FIG. 2  on the four corners of the body  8   d , and a lens aperture  8   b  formed centrally of the body  8   d . The support rods  8   a  are each formed as a rectangular equilateral triangular prism having an internal angle of inclination of 45°. Semicircular projections  8   c  serving as connections are formed on lower ends (upper ends in  FIG. 1 ) of the four support rods  8   a.    
         [0055]    A detailed description will now be given about in what order these components are assembled. Basically, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the leaf spring  7 , yoke  6 , magnets  5 , coil base  4 , washer  3 , electrically conductive springs  2  and base  1  stacked in this order within the cover frame  8 . 
         [0056]    First, the spring  7  is mounted so that the slant faces  7   c  at the corners match respectively and contact the slant faces of the support rods  8   a  of the cover frame  8 , then the yoke  6  is inserted within the cover frame  8  so that the lens aperture  6   a  faces down while matching the corner slant faces  6   c  with the slant faces of the support rods  8   a . Thus, the leaf spring  7  is held in a sandwiched fashion in between the cover frame  8  and the yoke  6 . 
         [0057]    Next, the four magnets  5  are attached and fixed to the inner peripheries of the side walls of the yoke  6 . In this case, since the magnets  5  are magnetized as permanent magnets and the yoke  6  is also formed of a magnetic material, it suffices to keep both stuck together. 
         [0058]    Then, the movable unit M 1  is inserted into the yoke  6 . More specifically, the movable unit M 1  is constituted beforehand by the coil base  4  and the coils C wound on the four outer periphery faces of the cylindrical body having a quadrangular outline of the coil base  4 . The movable unit M 1  thus constituted is inserted through the inside space of the magnets  5  into the yoke  6  and is mounted so that the four coils C are opposed to the fixed magnets  5  respectively. In this case, the rectangular holes  4   h  formed in the four corners of the coil base  4  are fitted on the inside bent portions  6   b  of the yoke  6 . That is, the movable unit M 1  is mounted with the inside bent portions  6   b  of the yoke  6  as guide and, in operation, it moves along the bent portions  6   b.    
         [0059]    By adopting such a mounting method, the movable unit M 1  with coils C wound on the coil base  4  as above is relatively improved in dimensional accuracy as noted above, so that it is possible to ensure a stable distance between the coils C and the magnets  5  while maintaining a small gap between the two. Consequently, it is possible to develop a magnetic field by energization of the coils C and obtain a stable and strong repulsive force between the coils C and the magnets  5 . 
         [0060]    In this case, if the movable unit M 1  is mounted with the bent portions  6   b  as guide, the cylindrical portion  4   f  formed on the lower side (the upper side in  FIG. 2 ) of the coil base  4  comes to be fitted in the inside spring ring  6   b  of the leaf spring  7  in opposition to the same spring ring and at the same time the small cylinders  4   g  are fitted in the recesses  7   d  of the leaf spring  7 . 
         [0061]    Next, the washer  3  and the two electrically conductive springs  2  are put in this order onto the flat faces  4   j  of the coil base  4 . The washer  3  is disposed in such a manner that the recesses  3   b  formed in the four corners become opposed to the insides of the support rods  8   a  of the cover frame  8 . The two electrically conductive springs  2  are disposed in such a manner that the inside guide portions  2   h  are fitted on the four arcuate guide pins  4   k  of the coil base  4 . 
         [0062]    Then, the terminals of the coils C are soldered respectively to the inner end portions  2   g  of the two electrically conductive springs  2 . The washer  3  is formed of an insulating material and thus electrical insulation is ensured lest the coils C and the electrically conductive springs  2  should come into accidental contact with each other and cause electric conduction. The above mounting process may be completed beforehand in the state of the movable unit M 1 . 
         [0063]    Lastly, the base  1  is mounted, whereby the entire unit is completed. In this mounting process, the support rods  1   a  of the base  1  and the support rods  8   a  of the cover frame  8  are abutted against each other. Then, the semicircular projections  8   c  formed on the support rod tips of the cover frame  8  are fitted in the recesses if formed in the support rods  1   a  of the base  1 . 
         [0064]    At this time, the semicircular projections  1   e  formed inside the support rods  1   a  of the base  1  are fitted in the square cut-in portions  6   d  formed in the corner slant faces of the yoke  6  and are also fitted in the recesses  3   b  of the washer  3  and the recesses  2   d  of the electrically conductive springs  2 . Further, the faces  6   c  chamfered in the corners of the yoke  6  are fitted inside the support rods  8   a  of the cover frame  8  and are thereby restricted positionally, thus effecting alignment with the base  1 . 
         [0065]    Therefore, the movable unit M 1  is controlled to maintain its positional accuracy with respect to the cover frame  8  and the base  1  along the yoke  6  and it becomes possible to ensure a highly accurate and smooth operation of the same unit. That is, the semicircular projections  1   e  formed inside the support rods  1   a  of the base  1  are fitted in the square cut-in portions  6   d  formed in the corner slant faces of the yoke  6  and are also fitted inside the support rods  8   a  of the cover frame  8  and are thereby restricted positionally, thus effecting alignment with the base  1 . When a check of the final assembled state is over, an adhesive is applied to the connection between the cover frame  8  and the base  1  or an adhesive tape is affixed to the outer periphery portion of the connection. Now, the coupling of the two is completed and hence the lens drive assembly is completed. 
         [0066]    Thus, since the parts requiring positional accuracy are directly joined together and mounted, it is possible to diminish an allowance based on respective parts&#39; errors, thereby maintain a relative position of the movable unit with respect to the whole of the lens drive assembly at the reference position and implement a highly accurate construction. 
         [0067]    In such a coupled state, the L-shaped support pieces  2   c  of the electrically conductive springs  2  project from the cutout portions  1   g  of the base  1 . 
         [0068]    A detailed description will now be given about a method for operating the lens drive assembly of this embodiment constructed as above. An output signal from a lens control circuit (a known circuit, not shown) is inputted to the L-shaped support pieces  2   c  of the electrically conductive springs  2 , whereby an electric current is supplied to the coils C and a magnetic field based on Fleming&#39;s left-hand rule is created in the coils C. 
         [0069]    With the magnetic field thus created in the coils C, a repulsive force acts between the said magnetic field and the magnetic field of the magnets  5  which are attached to the yoke  6  in opposition to the coils C, so that the movable unit M 1  moves by the distance corresponding to the output signal provided from the lens control circuit. In this way it is possible to effect a predetermined lens focus position control. That is, a subject image ray incident from the cover frame  8  side can properly form an image on a light receiving element disposed behind the base  1 . 
         [0070]    The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but changes may be made as necessary within the technical scope of the present invention.