Patent Description:
At present, camera modules assembled in electronic apparatuses (e.g. smartphones, tablet computers and etc.) are equipped with aperture devices, and the aperture devices adjust the amount of light incident on lenses (which allow light reaching camera elements to pass through) according to specified aperture values.

Such an aperture device is known for example from <CIT>, in which the device has two aperture blades and an actuator, the two aperture blades are slidable relative to each other in an overlapping state, and the actuator transmits power to one of the aperture blades.

The two aperture blades are each formed with a recess. In addition, the two aperture blades overlap and form an aperture opening (for the passage of light reaching lenses) by their recesses.

The actuator is configured to transmit power to one aperture blade on one side, and when the aperture blade on one side moves, another aperture blade on the other side also moves in association with the one aperture blade on one side.

In this aperture device, the amount of light incident on the lenses can be increased when the two aperture blades are slid relative to each other to enlarge a size of the aperture opening, and the amount of light incident on the lenses can be decreased when the two aperture blades are slid relative to each other to reduce the size of the aperture opening.

<CIT> provides a diaphragm apparatus equipped with a substrate having a lens aperture, small stop sectors and having small stop holes, and also, whose appearance is formed so as to shield the lens aperture while leaving a part of the lens aperture at a position of closing the lens aperture, and auxiliary shielding sectors for shielding the part of the lens aperture not shielded by the small stop sectors, the small stop sectors and the auxiliary shielding sectors are coaxially journaled by the same shafts so that they can freely undulate.

<CIT> discloses a stacked structure which includes at least one movable member which is movable, and a guide shaft which regulates a movement of the movable member, and which is manufactured by using a metal layer formation process and an etching process, is for manufacturing an ultra-small variable aperture apparatus as a stacked structure by using a plating process, other metal-layer formation process, and the etching process, and for making small a shaking of a diaphragm blade as a movable member, which is caused due to the clearance around the shaft. A groove portion having a first distance and a groove portion having a second distance are formed continuously in the movable member, and the second distance is smaller than the first distance. A guide shaft regulates a movement of the movable member along the groove portion having the second distance.

In <CIT>, a blade driving device includes: a board including an optical path opening; first and second blades moving toward and away from the optical path opening; first and second transmitting portions driving the first and second blades; and first and second drive sources respectively driving the first and second transmitting portions, wherein the first and second transmitting portions respectively include first and second drive pins, and the first blade includes an engagement slot engaging one of the first and second drive pins and is attached to the first and the second transmitting portions to be rotatable about the other of the first and second drive pins.

<CIT> discloses a multifunctional iris diaphragm device which comprises a shell assembly, a diaphragm assembly and a lens fixing assembly. The device can be used as a diaphragm and can also be used as a device of a lens fixing frame; when the device is used as a diaphragm, scales are observed, a rotary knob is rotated to drive a worm, a shifting piece disc is driven to rotate through meshing, and thus the size of an unthreaded hole between light shielding sliding pieces is controlled through a shifting piece disc guide rail groove. When the device is used as the lens fixing frame, the unthreaded hole is adjusted to the maximum, the adjusting knob slides along the <NUM>/<NUM> annular groove to drive the drive plate to rotate, and the bent guide groove of the drive plate controls the lens fixing device to be folded inwards or unfolded outwards.

In the existing aperture devices described above, errors sometimes occur in positions of the two blades even when a width of the aperture opening is set according to a specified aperture value. In this case, the width of the aperture opening mismatches the specified aperture value, and the amount of light incident on the lenses may be sometimes set inappropriately.

In view of the practical situations, the objective of the present invention is to provide an aperture device capable of appropriately setting the amount of light incident to lenses, a camera module including the aperture device, and an electronic device.

An aperture device of the present invention sets the amount of light incident on a lens of a camera module and includes: a diaphragm plate including a shielding region for shielding the light incident on the lens; and a configuration-changing mechanism for changing a configuration of the diaphragm plate to an aperture position or a retracted position, the aperture position being a position where the diaphragm plate is on the lens and a center of an aperture opening is in a position corresponding to an optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position being a position where the diaphragm plate is retracted from the lens.

In the aperture device of the present invention, the configuration-changing mechanism includes: a rotor rotatable in an optical axis circumferential direction with an optical axis as a center; and a moving mechanism moving the diaphragm plate to the aperture position or the retracted position according to rotation of the rotor. The moving mechanism includes: a rod portion extending outwards from an outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm plate; a connection shaft shaped as a shaft with a shaft center in line with an optical axis direction along which the optical axis extends, the connection shaft being in a fixed state and rotatably coupled to the rod portion; an operation portion mounted closer to a front end than a position in the rod portion where the connection shaft is coupled; and a guide portion causing the operation portion to move towards one side or another side of an optical axis radial direction orthogonal to the optical axis circumferential direction and the optical axis direction according to a rotation action of the rotor in the optical axis circumferential direction.

In the aperture device of the present invention, the guide portion is a guide groove formed in the rotor. The guide groove includes an inner guide formed on a side of a central part of the rotor; an outer guide formed on a side closer to an outer peripheral edge of the rotor than the inner guide; and an intermediate guide that is continuous with the inner guide and the outer guide.

The aperture device of the present invention is constituted in such a way that the configuration-changing mechanism includes a driving source driving the rotor to rotate in the optical axis circumferential direction.

The aperture device of the present invention is constituted in such a way that the configuration-changing mechanism includes a holding structure fixing a configuration position of the rotor in a position where a center of the rotor coincides with a center of the lens.

The aperture device of the present invention includes two aperture units, in each of which the diaphragm plate, the rod portion, the connection shaft, the operation portion, and the guide portion are formed as one group. The aperture device is constituted in such a way that in an open state where the diaphragm plate of one aperture unit on one side and the diaphragm plate of the other aperture unit on the other side are in the retracted position, the diaphragm plate of the one aperture unit on one side moves towards the aperture position in response to rotation of the rotor towards a first side of the optical axis circumferential direction, and the diaphragm plate of the other aperture unit on the other side moves towards the aperture position in response to rotation of the rotor towards a second side of the optical axis circumferential direction.

In the aperture device of the present invention, the one aperture unit on one side and the other aperture unit on the other side form a point-symmetrical configuration with the center of the rotor as a reference.

The aperture device of the present invention is constituted in such a way that a first aperture opening is formed in the diaphragm plate of one aperture unit on one side and penetrates the diaphragm plate in the optical axis direction; and a second aperture opening is formed in the diaphragm plate of the other aperture unit on the other side and has a diameter different from the first aperture opening, or the diaphragm plate of the other aperture unit on the other side is free of any aperture opening.

A camera module of the present invention includes the aperture device according to any one of the above embodiments.

An electronic apparatus of the present invention includes the aperture device according to any one of the above embodiments.

As described above, the aperture device, the camera module including the aperture device, and the electronic device according to the present invention can have an excellent effect of appropriately setting the amount of light incident on the lens.

An aperture device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, the aperture device is carried on a camera module <NUM> assembled in an electronic apparatus (e.g. a smartphone, a tablet computer and etc.).

The aperture device <NUM> is mounted on a lens unit <NUM> including a lens <NUM>, and the lens <NUM> allows light reaching a camera element to pass through. In such a way, the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM> (incident light) can be changed according to a set aperture value.

The structure of the lens unit <NUM> is described before the structure of the aperture device <NUM> is described.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the lens unit <NUM> includes: the lens <NUM>; a housing <NUM> for accommodating the lens <NUM>; and a power-receiving portion <NUM> mounted on the housing <NUM> and configured to receive electric power supply from the outside (see <FIG>).

For example, a focus control portion for adjusting a focus of the lens <NUM> is mounted in the housing <NUM>, and electric power can be supplied to the focus control portion through the power-receiving portion <NUM>.

In this embodiment, in the following description, an extension direction of an optical axis of the lens <NUM> is referred to as an optical axis direction; a circumferential direction with the optical axis of the lens <NUM> as a center is referred to as an optical axis circumferential direction; and a direction orthogonal to the optical axis direction and the optical axis circumferential direction is referred to as an optical axis radial direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the aperture device <NUM> in this embodiment includes: a diaphragm plate <NUM> that changes the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM>; and a configuration-changing mechanism <NUM> that changes a configuration of the diaphragm plate <NUM> to an aperture position or a retracted position, the aperture position being a position where the diaphragm plate is on the lens <NUM> and a center of an aperture opening is in line with the optical axis of the lens <NUM>, and the retracted position being a position where the diaphragm plate is retracted from the lens <NUM>.

Furthermore, the aperture position of the diaphragm plate <NUM> is, in a top view, a position where a center of the diaphragm plate <NUM> (the center of the aperture opening) coincides with a center of the optical axis of the lens <NUM> (see <FIG>). The retracted position of the diaphragm plate <NUM> is, in the top view, a position where the diaphragm plate <NUM> as a whole is in a state closer to an outer side of the optical axis radial direction than the lens <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the diaphragm plate <NUM> is formed as a flat plate (optionally, as a round plate in this embodiment). Additionally, the diaphragm plate <NUM> includes a shielding region <NUM>, and the shielding region <NUM> shields the light incident on the lens <NUM> when it is on the lens <NUM>.

Since the diaphragm plate <NUM> in this embodiment is formed with the aperture opening <NUM> in its central part, through which the light incident on the lens <NUM> passes, the shielding region <NUM> is shaped as a circular ring.

The aperture device <NUM> in this embodiment includes two diaphragm plates <NUM>. A diameter of an aperture opening <NUM> formed in one diaphragm plate <NUM> on one side is different from a diameter of an aperture opening <NUM> formed in the other diaphragm plate <NUM> on the other side. That is, the two diaphragm plates <NUM> are formed according to different aperture values.

As shown in <FIG>, the configuration-changing mechanism <NUM> includes: a base <NUM> fixed to the lens unit <NUM> (the housing <NUM>); a rotor <NUM> configured on the base <NUM> and rotatable in the optical axis circumferential direction; a driving source <NUM> used to rotate the rotor <NUM> in the optical axis circumferential direction; a holding structure <NUM> used to fix a configuration position of the rotor <NUM> in a predetermined position (a position where a center of the rotor <NUM> itself coincides with a center of the lens <NUM>); a moving mechanism <NUM> that is linked to the rotation of the rotor <NUM> to move the diaphragm plate <NUM> towards the aperture position or the retracted position; and a cover <NUM> covering the base <NUM>, the rotor <NUM>, the driving source <NUM>, the holding structure <NUM> and the moving mechanism <NUM>.

The base <NUM> is shaped as a circular ring. The base <NUM> is fixed to the housing <NUM> when it is carried on the housing <NUM>. Furthermore, a front end portion of the lens <NUM> is inserted in and passes through a central part of the base <NUM>.

The rotor <NUM> is shaped as a circular ring. A central axis of the rotor <NUM> is at a position corresponding to the optical axis. Thus, a center of rotation of the rotor <NUM> is at a position corresponding to the optical axis.

In addition, the rotor <NUM> in this embodiment has an annular plate portion <NUM> and a cylindrical portion <NUM>, and the cylindrical portion <NUM> protrudes downwards from a lower surface of a central part of the annular plate portion <NUM>.

A plate surface of one side of the annular plate portion <NUM> is configured to face upwards in the optical axis direction (an orientation corresponding to an upper part of <FIG>) and a plate surface of the other side of the annular plate portion <NUM> is configured to face downwards in the optical axis direction (an orientation corresponding to a lower part of <FIG>).

The front end portion of the lens <NUM> is inserted in and passes through the cylindrical portion <NUM>. In addition, the cylindrical portion <NUM> is formed to bear the driving source <NUM> and the holding structure <NUM> by using an outer circumferential surface.

As shown in <FIG>, the driving source <NUM> includes: a piezoelectric element <NUM> that is on a lower side of the annular plate portion <NUM> and is configured from an outer side towards an inner side (towards the cylindrical portion <NUM>) in the optical axis radial direction; an abutting portion <NUM> mounted on a front end of the piezoelectric element <NUM> and abutting the rotor <NUM>; a mounting portion <NUM> that mounts the piezoelectric element <NUM> to the base <NUM>; and a power supply portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) supplying electric power transmitted to the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the piezoelectric element <NUM> includes four regions arranged in two rows and two columns, in which one pair of opposite regions <NUM> are homogeneous regions and another pair of opposite regions <NUM> are homogeneous regions.

Electric power (pulses) is applied to the pair of opposite regions (hereinafter referred to as first regions) <NUM> and the other pair of opposite regions (hereinafter referred to as second regions) <NUM> at different points in time.

When pulses are applied to the first regions <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, a front end portion of the piezoelectric element <NUM> enters in a trajectory (an arc-shaped trajectory) bent to the front and to a first side of the width direction, since each first region <NUM> is elongated while each second region <NUM> maintains its original shape.

Furthermore, when the application of the pulses to the first regions <NUM> is stopped, as shown in <FIG>, the front end portion of the piezoelectric element <NUM> returns to its original position in a trajectory (an arc-shaped trajectory) bent to the rear and to a second side of the width direction.

Thus, when repeated pulses are applied to each of the first regions <NUM>, the abutting portion <NUM> mounted at the front end portion of the piezoelectric element <NUM> moves along an elliptical trajectory.

In addition, when pulses are applied to the second regions <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the front end portion of the piezoelectric element <NUM> enters in a trajectory (an arc-shaped trajectory) bent to the front and to the second side of the width direction, since each second region <NUM> is elongated while each first region <NUM> maintains its original shape.

Furthermore, when the application of the pulses to the second regions <NUM> is stopped, as shown in <FIG>, the front end portion of the piezoelectric element <NUM> returns to its original position in a trajectory (an arc-shaped trajectory) bent to the rear and to the first side of the width direction.

As a result, when repeated pulses are applied to each of the second regions <NUM>, the abutting portion <NUM> mounted at the front end portion of the piezoelectric element <NUM> also moves along an elliptical trajectory.

As shown in <FIG>, the mounting portion <NUM> is configured to apply a force to the piezoelectric element <NUM> towards an inner side of the optical axis radial direction, to maintain an abutment state of the abutting portion <NUM> and the rotor <NUM>.

The power supply portion <NUM> in this embodiment is coupled to the power-receiving portion <NUM> (see <FIG>). Thus, the electric power applied to the piezoelectric element <NUM> is supplied via the power-receiving portion <NUM> of the lens unit <NUM>.

The holding structure <NUM> includes: opposite holding portions <NUM> in positions parallel to the driving source <NUM> (the piezoelectric element <NUM>) in the optical axis radial direction; and lateral holding portions <NUM> in positions offset from the driving source <NUM> (the piezoelectric element <NUM>) in the optical axis circumferential direction.

Each of the opposite holding portions <NUM> includes: a first ball <NUM> abutting the rotor <NUM> from the outer side of the optical axis radial direction; and a bearing portion <NUM> bearing the first ball <NUM> on the outer side of the optical axis radial direction.

Each of the lateral holding portions <NUM> includes: a second ball <NUM> abutting the rotor <NUM> from the outer side of the optical axis radial direction; a tubular cylinder <NUM> on an outer side of the second ball <NUM> in the optical axis radial direction; and a force-applying unit <NUM> for abutment, which is within the cylinder <NUM> and applies force to the first and second balls <NUM>, <NUM> and thus to the rotor <NUM>.

Thus, the rotor <NUM> is allowed to move in the optical axis radial direction within a range in which the second ball <NUM> of the lateral holding portion <NUM> moves in the optical axis radial direction, and the rotor <NUM> returns to its original position using the force of the force-applying unit <NUM> after moving in the optical axis radial direction.

As shown in <FIG>, the moving mechanism <NUM> includes: a rod portion <NUM> extending outwards from an outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm plate <NUM>; a connection shaft <NUM> shaped as a shaft parallel to the optical axis direction, configured in a fixed position, and rotatably coupled to the rod portion <NUM>; an operation portion <NUM> mounted closer to a front end than a coupling position of the connection shaft <NUM> in the rod portion <NUM>; and a guide portion <NUM> causing the operation portion <NUM> to move towards one side or another side of the optical axis radial direction orthogonal to the optical axis circumferential direction and the optical axis direction according to a rotation action of the rotor <NUM> in the optical axis circumferential direction.

The rod portion <NUM> in this embodiment exhibits an elongated sheet shape, and an end of the rod portion <NUM> in its length direction is fixed to the diaphragm plate <NUM>.

The connection shaft <NUM> is formed in such a way that its configuration position does not change even if the rotor <NUM> rotates. In this embodiment, the connection shaft <NUM> is fixed to the cover <NUM> and extends downwards from a lower surface of the cover <NUM>.

In addition, the connection shaft <NUM> is coupled to a rotatable intermediate part between a first end and a second end of the rod portion <NUM> in its length direction. Thus, the rod portion <NUM> can rotate in a circumferential direction with the coupling position of the connection shaft <NUM> as a center (with the connection shaft <NUM> as a center).

The operation portion <NUM> is formed to extend from the rod portion <NUM> towards the rotor <NUM>. In addition, the operation portion <NUM> of this embodiment is formed in a shaft shape.

The guide portion <NUM> includes a guide groove, and the guide groove is formed with an opening on an upper surface relative to the rotor <NUM>. The guide portion <NUM> will be referred to as the guide groove and described below.

As shown in <FIG>, the guide groove <NUM> includes: an inner guide <NUM> formed on a side of a central part of the rotor <NUM> (the inner side of the optical axis radial direction); an outer guide <NUM> formed on a side closer to an outer peripheral edge of the rotor <NUM> (the outer side of the optical axis radial direction) than the inner guide <NUM>; and an intermediate guide <NUM> that is continuous with the inner guide <NUM> and the outer guide <NUM>.

The inner guide <NUM> and the outer guide <NUM> form an arc shape along the optical axis circumferential direction.

In addition, a position of the inner guide <NUM> does not overlap with a position of the outer guide <NUM> in the optical axis circumferential direction. That is, the inner guide <NUM> and the outer guide <NUM> are at a distance from each other both in the optical axis radial direction and in the optical axis circumferential direction, and the inner guide <NUM> and the outer guide <NUM> are coupled by the intermediate guide <NUM>.

The operation portion <NUM> is inserted in the guide groove <NUM>, and the rotor <NUM> is rotatable relative to the operation portion <NUM>. Thus, when a position of the guide groove <NUM> relative to the operation portion <NUM> changes during rotation of the rotor <NUM>, the operation portion <NUM> is pushed in the guide groove <NUM> by the rotor <NUM> and thus moves in a direction away from the center of the rotor <NUM> or in a direction close to the center of the rotor <NUM>.

That is, in this embodiment, the operation portion <NUM> is a snap portion on the rod portion <NUM>, and the guide groove <NUM> is a snapped portion on the rotor <NUM> and is snapped with the operation portion <NUM>. By the snap between the operation portion <NUM> and the guide groove <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM> is linked to the rotation of the rotor <NUM> and rotates with the connection shaft <NUM> as the center.

Specifically, when the rotor <NUM> is rotated in a state having the inner guide <NUM> in a position corresponding to the operation portion <NUM>, the intermediate guide <NUM> passes through the position corresponding to the operation portion <NUM> and the outer guide <NUM> reaches the position corresponding to the operation portion <NUM>.

In such a case, the operation portion <NUM> is guided by the intermediate guide <NUM> in a direction from the center of the rotor <NUM> to the outer peripheral edge of the rotor <NUM> (in the direction away from the center of the rotor <NUM>); the second end of the rod portion <NUM> moves together with the operation portion <NUM> in the direction from the center of the rotor <NUM> to the outer peripheral edge of the rotor <NUM> (in the direction away from the center of the rotor <NUM>); and the diaphragm plate <NUM> moves together with the first end of the rod portion <NUM> in a direction from the outer peripheral edge of the rotor <NUM> to the center of the rotor <NUM> (in the direction close to the center of the rotor <NUM>). Moreover, the diaphragm plate <NUM> is changed from the retracted position to the aperture position.

When the rotor <NUM> is rotated in a state having the outer guide <NUM> in the position corresponding to the operation portion <NUM>, the intermediate guide <NUM> passes through the position corresponding to the operation portion <NUM> and the inner guide <NUM> reaches the position corresponding to the operation portion <NUM>.

In such a case, the operation portion <NUM> is guided by the intermediate guide <NUM> in the direction from the outer peripheral edge of the rotor <NUM> to the center of the rotor <NUM> (in the direction close to the center of the rotor <NUM>); the second end of the rod portion <NUM> moves together with the operation portion <NUM> in the direction from the outer peripheral edge of the rotor <NUM> to the center of the rotor <NUM> (in the direction close to the center of the rotor <NUM>); and the diaphragm plate <NUM> moves together with the first end of the rod portion <NUM> in the direction from the center of the rotor <NUM> to the outer peripheral edge of the rotor <NUM> (in the direction away from the center of the rotor <NUM>). Moreover, the diaphragm plate <NUM> is changed from the aperture position to the retracted position.

The rotor <NUM> in this embodiment is provided with two aperture units, in each of which the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM>, the operation portion <NUM>, and the guide portion <NUM> are combined as one group.

In addition, the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM> and the operation portion <NUM> of one aperture unit on one side, and the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM> and the operation portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on the other side form a point-symmetrical configuration with the center of the rotor <NUM> as a reference. In addition, the inner guide <NUM> of the guide portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on one side and the inner guide <NUM> of the guide portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on the other side are formed continuously. However, the inner guide <NUM> of the guide portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on one side and the inner guide <NUM> of the guide portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on the other side may also be formed non-continuously.

In this embodiment, an initial position of the diaphragm plate <NUM> of each aperture unit is the retracted position. When the rotor <NUM> is rotated towards a first side of the optical axis circumferential direction (a counterclockwise direction of the optical axis circumferential direction in <FIG>), a state is formed in which the diaphragm plate <NUM> of the aperture unit on one side is in the aperture position and the diaphragm plate <NUM> of the aperture unit on the other side is in the retracted position, as shown in <FIG>.

Moreover, when the rotor <NUM> is rotated towards a second side of the optical axis circumferential direction (a clockwise direction of the optical axis circumferential direction in <FIG>), a state is formed in which the diaphragm plate <NUM> of the aperture unit on one side is in the retracted position and the diaphragm plate <NUM> of the aperture unit on the other side is in the aperture position, as shown in <FIG>.

The structure of the aperture device <NUM> of this embodiment is as described above. The action of the aperture device <NUM> will be elaborated below.

In an initial state of the aperture device <NUM> (a state in which no action is taken to change the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM>), each diaphragm plate <NUM> is in the retracted position as shown in <FIG>. Furthermore, in the aperture device <NUM> of this embodiment, actions of the aperture unit on one side and the aperture unit on the other side, which form the point-symmetrical configuration with the center of the rotor <NUM> as the reference, varies according to a rotation direction of the rotor <NUM>.

Specifically, when the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM> is adjusted using the diaphragm plate <NUM> on one side, pulses are applied to the first regions <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

In such a way, the abutting portion <NUM> pushes the rotor <NUM> to rotate to the first side of the optical axis circumferential direction (a counterclockwise direction in <FIG>). As a result, since the operation portion <NUM> moves towards the first side of the optical axis circumferential direction, the rod portion <NUM> is rotated with the connection shaft <NUM> as the center and the diaphragm plate <NUM>, which is fixed to a front end of the rod portion <NUM>, moves towards the aperture position.

With the diaphragm plate <NUM> in the aperture position, only the light passing through the aperture opening <NUM> reaches the lens <NUM>, and other light is obscured by the shielding region <NUM>. The brightness of captured images and videos is suppressed.

Moreover, when the diaphragm plate <NUM> on one side returns to the retracted position, pulses are applied to the second regions <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

In this way, the abutting portion <NUM> pushes the rotor <NUM> to rotate to the second side of the optical axis circumferential direction (a clockwise direction in <FIG>). As a result, since the operation portion <NUM> moves towards the second side of the optical axis circumferential direction, the rod portion <NUM> is rotated with the connection shaft <NUM> as the center and the diaphragm plate <NUM>, which is fixed to the front end of the rod portion <NUM>, moves from the aperture position to the retracted position.

With the diaphragm plate <NUM> on one side in the retracted position, space above the lens <NUM> is open.

Similarly, when the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM> is adjusted using the diaphragm plate <NUM> on the other side, pulses are applied to the second regions <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

In this way, the abutting portion <NUM> pushes the rotor <NUM> to rotate to the second side of the optical axis circumferential direction (a clockwise direction in <FIG>). As a result, since the operation portion <NUM> moves to the second side of the optical axis circumferential direction, the rod portion <NUM> is rotated with the connection shaft <NUM> as the center and the diaphragm plate <NUM>, which is fixed to the front end of the rod portion <NUM>, moves towards the aperture position.

With the diaphragm plate <NUM> on the other side in the aperture position, only the light passing through the aperture opening <NUM> reaches the lens <NUM>, and other light is obscured by the shielding region <NUM>. The brightness of captured images and videos is suppressed.

When the diaphragm plate <NUM> on the other side returns to the retracted position, pulses are applied to the first regions <NUM> of the piezoelectric element <NUM>.

In this way, the abutting portion <NUM> pushes the rotor <NUM> to rotate to the first side of the optical axis circumferential direction (a counterclockwise direction in <FIG>). As a result, since the operation portion <NUM> moves towards the first side of the optical axis circumferential direction, the rod portion <NUM> is rotated with the connection shaft <NUM> as the center and the diaphragm plate <NUM>, which is fixed to the front end of the rod portion <NUM>, moves from the aperture position to the retracted position.

With the diaphragm plate <NUM> on the other side in the retracted position, space above the lens <NUM> is open.

In this way, the aperture device <NUM> of this embodiment can change the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM> using two kinds of diaphragm plates <NUM>.

As described above, the aperture device <NUM> according to this embodiment is constituted in such a way that the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM> can be set by configuring the diaphragm plate <NUM> with a predetermined area of the aperture opening <NUM> in the aperture position (on the lens <NUM>). Thus, when the diaphragm plate <NUM> is configured in the aperture position, a region through which the light incident on the lens <NUM> passes can always be set with a constant width, and the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM> can be set appropriately.

Thus, the aperture device <NUM> of this embodiment has an excellent effect of appropriately setting the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM>.

Additionally, in the aperture device <NUM> of this embodiment, since the diameter of the aperture opening <NUM> formed in the diaphragm plate <NUM> on one side is different from the diameter of the aperture opening <NUM> formed in the diaphragm plate <NUM> on the other side, an aperture value (the amount of light incident on the lens <NUM>) can be set appropriately stepwise.

In addition, the configuration-changing mechanism <NUM> is constituted to implement pushing and pressing operations on the cylindrical portion <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> by using the mounting portion <NUM>, and the mounting portion <NUM> is constituted to trace an elliptical trajectory using the piezoelectric element <NUM> and to move. The opposite holding portions <NUM> for restricting the movement of the rotor <NUM> are in front of the mounting portion <NUM> (a direction in which the strongest force is applied to the cylindrical portion <NUM> of the rotor <NUM> from the mounting portion <NUM>). The lateral holding portions <NUM> are in front of the mounting portion <NUM>, and the lateral holding portions <NUM> apply force to the center of the rotor <NUM> while allowing the movement of the rotor <NUM>, so that the movement of the rotor <NUM> is smoothed and the positional displacement is limited.

Furthermore, in the aperture device <NUM> of this embodiment, since the rotor <NUM> is provided with the diaphragm plate <NUM> and the moving mechanism for moving the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the balance is difficult to disturb, and changes in postures of the aperture device with respect to the lens <NUM> can be limited.

Moreover, since the guide groove <NUM> on the rotor <NUM> functions to move the operation portion <NUM> mounted on the rod portion <NUM>, the thickness of the aperture device as a whole can be limited.

The aperture device <NUM> of this embodiment includes two aperture units that are linked to the action of the same rotor <NUM>. In other words, since one of the two aperture units is constituted in such a way that its motion is independent from that of the other aperture unit, it is possible to appropriately operate the two aperture units with high precision in accordance with the rotation of the rotor <NUM>.

Moreover, since the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM> and the operation portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on one side, and the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM> and the operation portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on the other side form the point-symmetrical configuration with the center of the rotor <NUM> as the reference, the amount of rotation of the rotor <NUM> for moving the diaphragm plate <NUM> can be suppressed, enabling the diaphragm plate <NUM> to be moved efficiently.

Furthermore, the aperture device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention.

In the above embodiments, the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM> and the operation portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on one side, and the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM> and the operation portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on the other side form the point-symmetrical configuration with the center of the rotor <NUM> as the reference, but the structure is not limited thereto. For example, the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM> and the operation portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on one side, and the diaphragm plate <NUM>, the rod portion <NUM>, the connection shaft <NUM> and the operation portion <NUM> of the aperture unit on the other side may also form a line-symmetrical relationship with respect to an imaginary line that passes through the driving source (the piezoelectric element <NUM>) and the optical axis of the lens <NUM> and that extends in the optical axis radial direction.

In the above embodiments, each of the two diaphragm plates <NUM> has the aperture opening <NUM>, but the structure is not limited thereto. For example, one of the two diaphragm plates <NUM> has no aperture opening <NUM>.

Since the diaphragm plate <NUM> with no aperture opening <NUM> is a shielding region <NUM> as a whole, the diaphragm plate covers the entire lens <NUM> when configured in the aperture position. In this way, the diaphragm plate <NUM> with no aperture opening <NUM> is used to completely cut off a path of the light incident on the lens <NUM>.

In the above embodiments, the connection shaft <NUM> is fixed to the cover <NUM>, but the structure is not limited thereto. For example, the connection shaft <NUM> is fixed to the base <NUM>, as long as the set position keeps unchanged during rotation of the rotor <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An aperture device (<NUM>) for setting the amount of light incident on a lens (<NUM>) of a camera module (<NUM>), the aperture device (<NUM>) comprising:
a diaphragm plate (<NUM>) comprising a shielding region (<NUM>) for shielding the light incident on the lens (<NUM>); and
a configuration-changing mechanism (<NUM>) for changing a configuration of the diaphragm plate (<NUM>) to an aperture position or a retracted position, the aperture position being a position where the diaphragm plate (<NUM>) is on the lens (<NUM>) and a center of an aperture opening (<NUM>) is configured in a position corresponding to an optical axis of the lens (<NUM>), and the retracted position being a position where the diaphragm plate (<NUM>) is retracted from the lens (<NUM>),
wherein the configuration-changing mechanism (<NUM>) is characterized by:
a rotor (<NUM>) rotatable in an optical axis circumferential direction with an optical axis as a center; and
a moving mechanism (<NUM>) moving the diaphragm plate (<NUM>) to the aperture position or the retracted position according to rotation of the rotor (<NUM>),
wherein the moving mechanism (<NUM>) comprises:
a rod portion (<NUM>) extending outwards from an outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm plate (<NUM>);
a connection shaft (<NUM>) shaped as a shaft with a shaft center in line with an optical axis direction along which the optical axis extends, the connection shaft (<NUM>) being configured in a fixed state and rotatably coupled to the rod portion (<NUM>);
an operation portion (<NUM>) mounted closer to a front end than a position in the rod portion (<NUM>) where the connection shaft (<NUM>) is coupled; and
a guide portion (<NUM>) causing the operation portion (<NUM>) to move towards one side or another side of an optical axis radial direction orthogonal to the optical axis circumferential direction and the optical axis direction according to a rotation action of the rotor (<NUM>) in the optical axis circumferential direction,
wherein the guide portion (<NUM>) is a guide groove formed in the rotor (<NUM>), and the guide groove comprises an inner guide (<NUM>) formed on a side of a central part of the rotor (<NUM>); an outer guide (<NUM>) formed on a side closer to an outer peripheral edge of the rotor (<NUM>) than the inner guide (<NUM>); and an intermediate guide (<NUM>) that is continuous with the inner guide (<NUM>) and the outer guide (<NUM>).