JP2007052186A - Camera module and its manufacture method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a camera module equipped with a macro (close-up) function, achieving the reduction of cost and miniaturization as well; and also to provide its manufacture method. <P>SOLUTION: The camera module is equipped with: a lens holder 13 housing lenses 11 and 12; an imaging unit 16 at the surface part of which a supporting barrel body 14 supporting the lens holder 13 is protrusively provided and which holds an imaging device 15 astern of the lenses 11 and 12 in the optical axis direction thereof; and a macro operator 17 fixed on the outer periphery of the lens holder 13. The lens holder 13 and the supporting barrel body 14 have screw parts 22 and 23 screwed with each other, and a distance x between the lenses 11 and 12 and the imaging device 15 is adjusted by rotating the lens holder 13. The macro operator 17 is equipped with a stopper which abuts on locking projections 30 and 30 arranged on the outside part of the supporting barrel body 14 at a position where the distance between the lenses 11 and 12 and the imaging device 15 makes a regular focal distance or a position where it makes a focal distance at which macro-photography can be performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a camera module with a macro (close-up) function mounted on a mobile phone and a method for manufacturing the same.

  In recent years, mobile phones having a photographing function have become mainstream, and a camera module is mounted on the airframe.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the camera module includes a cylindrical lens holder 3 that accommodates the lenses 1 and 2, a macro ring 4 that supports the lens holder 3, and a support cylinder that supports the macro ring 4. 5 includes an image pickup unit 7 that protrudes from the surface portion and holds an image pickup element 6 such as a CCD or a CMOS, which is arranged behind the lens in the optical axis direction, and supports the lens holder 3, the macro ring 4, and the macro ring 4. The cylindrical body 5 has screw portions that are screwed with each other, and the lens holder 3 or the macro ring 4 can be rotated to adjust the distance between the lenses 1 and 2 and the image sensor 6. Are known.

  This camera module performs focus adjustment by screwing the lens holder 3 into the macro ring 4 with the macro ring 4 fixed at a predetermined position, and the macro ring with the lens holder 3 fixed in the focus adjusted state. 4 is rotated with respect to the support cylinder 5 so that the distance between the lenses 1 and 2 and the image sensor 6 is a normal focal length and a focal length at which macro (close-up) photography is possible. In other words, it is possible to switch between the normal shooting mode and the macro shooting mode.

  However, the conventional camera module with a macro function as described above has a structure in which a macro ring having screw portions on both the inside and outside of the lens holder is arranged on the outside of the lens holder, so that it is difficult to reduce the size and the number of parts. There is a problem that the cost increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-described problems of the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a camera module that has a macro (close-up) function and can be reduced in size and size, and a manufacturing method thereof.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems and achieve the intended object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a cylindrical lens holder in which a lens is housed, and a support cylinder that supports the lens holder. Projecting on the surface portion, and having an imaging unit holding an imaging device behind the lens in the optical axis direction, and a macro operator fixed to the outer periphery of the lens holder, the lens holder and the support cylinder Has screw parts that can be screwed together, and allows the distance between the lens and the image sensor to be adjusted by rotating the lens holder, and the macro operator is located between the lens and the image sensor. A stopper that abuts on a locking protrusion disposed on the outer side or upper surface of the support cylinder at a position where the distance of the lens forms a normal focal length or a position where the macro shooting is possible, and the lens holder has a front Characterized in that it is a camera module to be moved in the normal range between the focal length position and the macro focal length position.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the macro operator has a peripheral wall disposed outside the support cylinder, and is rotatably disposed on the support cylinder. And

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical lens holder that accommodates a lens therein and a support cylindrical body that supports the lens holder are projected from the surface portion, and an image sensor is disposed behind the lens in the optical axis direction. An image pickup unit that is held; and a macro operator fixed to an outer periphery of the lens holder. The lens holder and the support cylinder have screw portions that can be screwed together, and the lens holder is rotated. Thus, in the method of manufacturing a camera module in which the distance between the lens and the image sensor can be adjusted, the macro operator contacts a locking protrusion disposed on the outer side or upper surface of the support cylinder. The stopper is in contact with the support cylinder in a position where the stopper is in contact with the locking projection in a position where movement in the clockwise direction is restricted and in a position where movement in the counterclockwise direction is restricted. Contact The macro operator is moved to the one contact position, and the lens holder is screwed into the support cylinder in a state where the stopper is in contact with the locking projection, After adjusting the focal length, the macro operator is fixed to the lens holder, and the stopper is located at a position where the distance between the lens and the image sensor forms a normal focal length or a focal length that allows macro shooting. It is a method for manufacturing a camera module that is in contact with the locking protrusion.

  In the camera module according to the present invention, a cylindrical lens holder in which a lens is housed and a support cylinder that supports the lens holder protrude from the surface, and the imaging element is held behind the lens in the optical axis direction. An imaging unit and a macro operator fixed to the outer periphery of the lens holder, the lens holder and the support cylinder have screw parts that can be screwed together, and the lens holder is rotated. The distance between the lens and the image sensor can be adjusted by the macro operator, and the position between the lens and the image sensor forms a normal focal length or a position where a macro image can be taken. A stopper that abuts on a locking projection disposed on the outer side or upper surface of the support cylinder, and the lens holder has a range between the normal focal length position and the macro focal length position. Since the screw part can be used for focus adjustment and switching between normal shooting mode and macro shooting mode, the number of parts such as macro rings can be reduced and the number of parts can be reduced. It becomes possible.

  The macro operator has a peripheral wall arranged outside the support cylinder, and is arranged so as to be rotatable with respect to the support cylinder, so that the macro operator can be suitably attached to the support cylinder even before being fixed to the lens holder. It can be rotated and can be aligned with the focus adjustment.

  The method of the present invention is an imaging unit in which a cylindrical lens holder that accommodates a lens therein and a support cylinder that supports the lens holder protrude from the surface, and an imaging element is held behind the lens in the optical axis direction And a macro operation element fixed to the outer periphery of the lens holder, the lens holder and the support cylinder have screw parts that can be screwed together, and the lens holder is rotated by rotating the lens holder. In the method of manufacturing a camera module in which the distance between the image pickup device and the image pickup device can be adjusted, the macro operator has a stopper that comes into contact with a locking protrusion disposed on the outer side or the upper surface of the support cylinder. A position where the stopper contacts the locking projection in an arrangement in which the movement in the clockwise direction is restricted, and a position in which the stopper abuts in an arrangement in which the movement in the counterclockwise direction is restricted. The macro operation element is moved to the one contact position, and the lens holder is screwed into the support cylinder while the stopper is in contact with the locking projection, and the focal length is adjusted. After that, the macro operator is fixed to the lens holder, and the stopper is positioned at a position where the distance between the lens and the image sensor forms a normal focal length or a focal length that allows macro photography. By making contact with the lens, the focal length can be easily adjusted (focus adjustment), and a macro function can be easily added.

  Next, the camera module according to the present invention will be described.

  1 to 3 show an example of a camera module according to the present invention, and reference numeral 10 in the figure denotes a camera module.

  The camera module 10 includes an imaging unit in which a cylindrical lens holder 13 that accommodates lenses 11 and 12 and a support cylinder 14 that supports the lens holder 13 project from a surface portion, and an imaging element 15 is held therein. 16 and a macro operator 17 fixed to the outer periphery of the lens holder 13, and by operating the macro operator 17, it is possible to switch between a normal shooting mode and a macro (close-up) shooting mode. It has become.

  The lens holder 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape having one end closed with a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 18 and an end plate portion 20 having an incident opening 19 formed in the center. The lenses 11 and 12 are accommodated in the arrangement to be performed.

  The lens holder 13 includes a ring-shaped lens fixing ring 21, and the lenses 11 and 12 are fixed in the lens holder 13 by fixing the fixing ring 21 to the inner edge of the opening. .

  The lens holder 13 includes a male screw portion 23 that is threadedly engaged with a female screw portion 22 formed on the inner surface of the support cylinder body 14 on the outer periphery of the peripheral wall portion 18, and is rotated in the cylinder axis direction by rotating with respect to the support cylinder body 14. Can be moved to.

  Further, the lens holder 13 is integrally provided with a flange on the outer periphery of the end plate portion 20.

  The imaging unit 16 includes a circuit board 24 on which an imaging element 15 such as a CCD or CMOS is mounted, a box-shaped cover member 25 that covers the upper surface side of the circuit board 24, and a cylinder that protrudes from the surface of the cover member 25. And an optical filter 26 is fixed to the back side of the opening of the cover member 25.

  The cover member 25 includes a flat top plate 28 having an incident opening 27 in the center and a peripheral wall 29 surrounding the top plate, and is formed in a box shape opened to the lower side. The image sensor 15 is held inside the cover member 25 by fixing the circuit board 24 to the cover member 25.

  Further, on the surface portion of the cover member 25, locking projections 30, 30 project from the outer side portion of the support cylinder 14 in a symmetrical arrangement.

  The macro operator 17 includes a disc-shaped fixing plate 32 having a holder insertion hole 31 formed in the center, a cylindrical peripheral wall 33 surrounding the fixing plate 32, and an operation lever 34 protruding outward. The peripheral wall 33 is disposed outside the support cylinder 14 so as to be rotatable with respect to the support cylinder 14.

  The holder insertion hole 31 is formed to have substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the lens holder 13, and the fixing plate 32 is fixed to the outer periphery of the lens holder 13 with an adhesive or the like while the lens holder 13 is passed through the holder insertion hole 31. ing.

  On the edge of the peripheral wall 33 opposite to the fixed plate 32, stoppers 35, 35 are integrally projected in a symmetrical arrangement so that the stoppers 35, 35 move between the circumferential locking protrusions 30, 30. It has become.

  That is, the stopper 35 abuts on the locking protrusion 30 at a position where the distance x between the lenses 11 and 12 and the image sensor 15 forms a focal length in normal imaging or a focal length in macro (close-up) shooting. Thus, it is possible to switch between the normal focal length position and the macro focal length position.

  The relative positional relationship between the stopper 35 and the locking projection 30 is determined based on various conditions such as the pitch of the threaded portion and the refractive index of the lens.

  In the camera module 10 thus configured, the lenses 11 and 12, the optical filter 26, and the imaging element 15 are arranged on the same optical axis by screwing the lens holder 13 into the support cylinder 14.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, the macro operation element 17 is moved to a position where the stopper 35 comes into contact with the locking projection 30 in an arrangement in which the movement in the clockwise direction is restricted, whereby the lenses 11, 12 and The distance x to the image sensor 15 is the focal length during normal shooting.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the macro operator 17 is moved to a position where the stopper 35 abuts the locking projection 30 in an arrangement in which the movement in the counterclockwise direction is restricted, so that the lens holder 13 is supported by the support tube. By rotating counterclockwise with respect to the body 14, the lens holder 13 is screwed with respect to the support cylinder 14, and the space between the lenses 11 and 12 accommodated in the lens holder 13 and the image sensor 15 is expanded. The distance x between the lenses 11 and 12 and the image sensor 15 forms a focal length that allows macro (close-up photography).

  Next, a method for manufacturing the camera module 10 will be described.

  In this method of manufacturing the camera module 10, the macro operator 17 and the lens holder 13 are assembled in the imaging unit 16, the lens holder 13 is screwed into the support cylinder 14, and the focus adjustment is performed. This is done by fixing the child 17.

  The lens holder 13 sequentially inserts the lenses 11 and 12 by aligning the optical axis from the opening, fits the fixing ring 21 into the opening edge, and fixes the fixing ring 21 to the inner edge of the opening to fix the lenses 11 and 12. Keep it fixed.

  On the other hand, the imaging unit 16 is mounted with an imaging element 15 such as a CCD or CMOS at the center on the circuit board 24 so that the circuit board 24 is closed at the lower edge of the cover member 25 and the lower opening of the cover member 25 is closed. It is formed by fixing to. The optical filter 26 is fixed in advance on the back side of the entrance opening of the cover member 25.

  The macro operator 17 is fitted on the outside of the support cylinder 14 of the imaging unit 16 assembled in this way, and the macro operator 17 is rotatably supported by the support cylinder 14. The macro operator 17 is supported by the support cylinder 14. On the other hand, the stopper 35 can be moved between a position where the stopper 35 abuts on the locking projection 30 in a position where movement in the clockwise direction is restricted and a position where the stopper 35 comes in contact with an arrangement where movement in the counterclockwise direction is restricted. .

  Then, the lens holder 13 is screwed into the support cylinder 14 through the holder insertion hole 31 of the macro operator 17, and the lens holder 13 is supported by the support cylinder 14.

  Thereby, the lenses 11 and 12, the optical filter 26, and the image sensor 15 are arranged on the same optical axis.

  Next, the macro operator 17 is rotated to bring the stopper 35 into contact with the locking projection 30 in an arrangement in which the movement in the clockwise direction is restricted.

  In this state, the lens holder 13 is rotated to adjust the position so that the distance x between the lenses 11 and 12 and the image sensor 15 becomes the focal length at the time of normal photographing, and the lens holder is bonded with an adhesive at the adjusted position. The macro operator 17 is fixed to the outer periphery of 13 so that relative movement is impossible.

  As a result, it is possible to perform normal shooting at a position where the stopper 35 abuts against the locking projection 30, and by operating the macro operator 17 to rotate the lens holder 13, the lenses 11, 12 and the imaging element 15 are rotated. The stopper 35 is brought into contact with the locking projection 30 in an arrangement that restricts the movement in the counterclockwise direction at a position where the distance becomes a focal length at which the macro (close-up) shooting is possible. ) Shooting is possible.

  This completes the camera module with the macro function.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which a pair of locking protrusions and stoppers are arranged symmetrically has been described. However, one stopper protrusion is disposed on a pair of locking protrusions, Alternatively, a pair of stoppers may be provided.

  Moreover, although the above-mentioned Example demonstrated the example which has arrange | positioned the latching protrusion in the outer side part of a support cylinder, you may arrange a latching protrusion in the upper surface part of a support cylinder.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the lens holder and the macro operation element are fixed by the adhesive has been described. However, the lens holder and the macro operation element may be fixed by heat fusion or other fixing methods.

It is a perspective view which shows the camera module which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows a camera module same as the above. It is the sectional view on the AA line in FIG. (A) is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of the macro operator in the normal shooting mode, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship of the macro operator in the macro shooting mode. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the conventional camera module with a close-up photography function.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Camera module 11, 12 Lens 13 Lens holder 14 Supporting cylinder 15 Image pick-up element 16 Imaging unit 17 Macro operation element 18 Perimeter wall part 19 Incident opening 20 End plate part 21 Lens fixing ring 22 Female screw part 23 Male screw part 24 Circuit board 25 Cover Member 26 Optical filter 27 Incident opening 28 Top plate 29 Peripheral wall 30 Locking protrusion 31 Holder insertion hole 32 Fixing plate 33 Peripheral wall 34 Operation lever 35 Stopper

Claims (3)

A cylindrical lens holder that accommodates a lens therein, an imaging unit in which a support cylindrical body that supports the lens holder protrudes from the surface, and holds an imaging device behind the lens in the optical axis direction, and the lens holder A macro operator fixed to the outer periphery of the
The lens holder and the support cylinder have screw parts that can be screwed together, and the distance between the lens and the image sensor can be adjusted by rotating the lens holder,
The macro operator is disposed on the outer or upper surface of the support cylinder at a position where the distance between the lens and the image sensor forms a normal focal length or a focal length that allows macro photography. A camera module comprising a stopper abutting on a stop projection, wherein the lens holder is movable within a range between the normal focal length position and the macro focal length position.   The camera module according to claim 1, wherein the macro operator has a peripheral wall disposed outside the support cylinder, and is rotatably disposed on the support cylinder. A cylindrical lens holder that accommodates a lens therein, an imaging unit in which a support cylindrical body that supports the lens holder protrudes from the surface, and holds an imaging device behind the lens in the optical axis direction, and the lens holder The lens holder and the support cylinder have screw parts that can be screwed together, and the lens and the image pickup device can be rotated by rotating the lens holder. In the manufacturing method of the camera module that can adjust the distance between,
The macro operator has a stopper that is brought into contact with a locking projection disposed on an outer side or an upper surface of the support cylinder, and the stopper rotates clockwise with respect to the support projection with respect to the support cylinder. Allowing movement between a position where the movement in the direction is restricted and a position where the contact is made in a position where the movement in the counterclockwise direction is restricted;
The macro operator is moved to the one contact position, the lens holder is screwed into a support cylinder in a state where the stopper is in contact with the locking projection, and the focal length is adjusted. Is fixed to the lens holder, and the stopper is brought into contact with the locking projection at a position where the distance between the lens and the image sensor forms a normal focal length or a focal length capable of macro photography. A method of manufacturing a camera module characterized by the above.