JP2009186699A - Lens unit and method of manufacturing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lens unit capable of reliably emitting laser beams to a joint part while downsizing a lens, and to provide a method of manufacturing the same. <P>SOLUTION: The lens unit is composed of: the lens 1 made of a transparent resin member; and a lens barrel 2 which stores the lens 1. The lens 1 includes: a lens surface 10 which optically functions; and a flange part 11 which is formed in the surrounding part of the lens surface 10 and is held in an inner circumferential surface 20a of the lens barrel 2. The flange part 11 includes: an outer circumferential surface part 13a abutting on the innner circumferential surface 20a of the lens barrel 2; and an inner circumferential surface part 13b opposite to the outer circumferential surface part 13a and facing the side of the lens surface 10. The inner circumferential surface part 13b is formed like an inclined surface in a direction that diameter of its inner circumference becomes large from an edge of the side of the lens surface 10 toward the tip side edge of the flange part 11, and the outer circumferential surface part 13a of the flange part 11 is laser-joined with the inner circumferential surface 20a of the lens barrel 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lens unit in which a resin lens is accommodated in a lens barrel and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to a lens unit in which a lens and a lens barrel are fixed by laser bonding and a manufacturing method thereof.

Conventionally, as a lens incorporated in a camera module or the like, a lens formed of a resin material such as COP resin has been used. In order to position and fix the lens in the device, the lens is held by a lens barrel to constitute a lens unit. For this reason, the lens is formed with a flange around the optically functioning lens surface, and the collar and the lens are integrated by abutting and fixing the collar to the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. Has been. In general, the lens barrel and the lens are integrated and fixed by an adhesive, but a method using a laser is also known. As such a lens unit, for example, there is a lens unit described in Patent Document 1.
JP 2006-11234 A

  In a conventional lens unit that integrates a lens barrel and a lens by laser bonding, the upper and lower surfaces of the collar portion formed on the lens are in contact with the protruding portion formed so as to protrude in the inner peripheral direction from the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. It was made to contact, and it joined by irradiating a laser from the optical axis direction of a lens. In this case, it is necessary for the flange portion of the lens to have a certain size in order to ensure the bonding width. This has a problem that the lens unit becomes large.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lens unit that can reliably irradiate a joining portion with a laser while reducing the size of the lens, and a method for manufacturing the lens unit.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a lens unit according to the present invention is a lens unit including a lens made of a transparent resin material and a lens barrel for housing the lens.
The lens includes a lens surface that functions optically, and a flange formed on a peripheral portion of the lens surface and held on an inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. An outer peripheral surface portion that contacts the peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface portion facing the outer peripheral surface portion and facing the lens surface side, the inner peripheral surface portion extending from the lens surface side end portion to the distal end side end portion of the flange portion. The outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel are laser-bonded, and the outer peripheral surface portion is formed in an inclined surface shape in the direction in which the inner peripheral diameter increases.

  In the lens unit according to the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel and the outer peripheral surface of the flange contacting the inner peripheral surface are formed in an inclined surface substantially parallel to the inner peripheral surface of the flange. It is configured as a feature.

  Furthermore, in the lens unit according to the present invention, the inner peripheral surface portion of the flange portion is a normal line of the inner peripheral surface portion and passes through a position where the outer peripheral surface portion of the flange portion and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel are laser-bonded. The line has an inclination angle that does not intersect the lens surface.

Furthermore, the manufacturing method of the lens unit according to the present invention is a method of manufacturing a lens unit including a lens made of a transparent resin material and a lens barrel that houses the lens.
The lens has an optically functioning lens surface and a flange provided around the lens surface and held on the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. Forming an outer peripheral surface portion contacting the peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface portion facing the outer peripheral surface portion and facing the lens surface side, and extending the inner peripheral surface portion from the lens surface side end portion to the distal end side end of the flange portion Forming an inclined surface in the direction of increasing the inner diameter toward the part,
The lens is housed in the lens barrel, laser light is irradiated from a substantially perpendicular direction to the inner peripheral surface portion of the collar portion, and the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel are laser-joined. It is structured as a feature.

  And the manufacturing method of the lens unit which concerns on this invention makes the outer peripheral surface part of the said collar part contact | abutted to the inner peripheral surface of the said lens-barrel, and this inner peripheral surface in the inclined surface shape substantially parallel to the inner peripheral surface part of the said collar part. It is configured to form.

  According to the lens unit of the present invention, the lens has a lens surface and a flange, and the flange has an outer peripheral surface that contacts the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel, and an inner surface that faces the outer peripheral surface and faces the lens surface. A peripheral surface portion, and the inner peripheral surface portion is formed in an inclined surface shape in which the inner peripheral diameter increases from the lens surface side end portion toward the distal end side end portion of the collar portion, and the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion and the mirror The inner peripheral surface of the tube is laser-bonded, so that the lens and the lens barrel can be bonded by the peripheral surface, and the laser beam can be reduced in size in the radial direction while laser-welding. Can be irradiated from an inclination direction perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface portion, so that a sufficient heating width by the laser can be taken without enlarging the lens in the optical axis direction, and miniaturization in the optical axis direction can also be achieved. it can.

  Further, according to the lens unit of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel and the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion are formed in an inclined surface shape substantially parallel to the inner peripheral surface portion of the collar portion, so that the joint portion is laser light. It can be directed in the direction of, and heating can be performed more efficiently.

  Furthermore, according to the lens unit according to the present invention, the inner peripheral surface portion of the collar portion is a normal line passing through the normal line of the inner peripheral surface portion and the position where the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel are laser-bonded. However, by having an inclination angle that does not intersect the lens surface, it is possible to reliably irradiate the joint portion with laser light without interfering with the lens surface.

  Furthermore, according to the method for manufacturing a lens unit according to the present invention, the lens is formed with a lens surface and a flange portion, the flange portion is formed with an outer peripheral surface portion and an inner peripheral surface portion, and the inner peripheral surface portion is formed on the lens. It is formed in the shape of an inclined surface in the direction in which the inner peripheral diameter increases from the end on the surface side toward the end on the front end side of the collar, and the lens is accommodated in the lens barrel, and substantially perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface of the collar By irradiating a laser beam from the laser beam, the lens and the lens barrel can be joined at the peripheral surface by laser joining the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. The size of the direction can be reduced, and the laser beam can be irradiated from an inclination direction perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface portion of the collar portion, so that a sufficient heating width by the laser can be obtained without enlarging the lens in the optical axis direction. The lens unit can be downsized in the optical axis direction It can be also achieved.

  According to the lens unit manufacturing method of the present invention, the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel and the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion that contacts the inner peripheral surface are formed in an inclined surface shape substantially parallel to the inner peripheral surface portion of the collar portion. By doing so, the joint portion can be directed in the direction of the laser beam, and heating can be performed more efficiently.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of the lens unit in the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows only the right half of the cross-sectional view of the lens unit. As shown in this figure, the lens unit in the present embodiment is configured such that the lens 1 is held by a lens barrel 2 and integrated.

  The lens 1 is formed of a transparent resin material, and a central portion is configured as a lens surface 10 that functions optically. A peripheral portion 11 is a flange portion 11 that is in contact with and held by the lens barrel 2. Is formed. The lens barrel 2 is formed of a non-transparent resin material, and includes a peripheral surface portion 20 that holds the peripheral surface of the flange portion 11 and a flat surface portion that extends from one end of the peripheral surface portion 20 toward the inner peripheral side. 21.

  The flange portion 11 of the lens 1 has a peripheral surface holding portion 13 that is in contact with and held by the peripheral surface portion 20 of the lens barrel 2, and a protruding portion 14 that is in contact with and held by the flat surface portion 21 of the lens barrel 2. . The outer peripheral surface 13 a of the peripheral surface holding portion 13 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface 20 a of the peripheral surface portion 20 of the lens barrel 2. On the other hand, the inner peripheral surface 13b of the peripheral surface holding portion 13 faces the outer peripheral surface 13a and faces the lens surface 10 side.

  The inner peripheral surface 13b of the peripheral surface holding portion 13 is formed so as to be inclined from the end portion on the lens surface 10 side to the distal end portion of the flange portion 11. Specifically, it is formed in an inclined surface shape in a direction in which the inner peripheral diameter of the inner peripheral surface 13b increases from the end portion on the lens surface 10 side toward the front end side end portion of the flange portion 11. Thereby, the inner peripheral surface 13b faces the lens surface 10 side and slightly obliquely upward in the figure.

  The peripheral surface holding portion 13 of the lens 1 and the peripheral surface portion 20 of the lens barrel 2 are bonded and fixed by a bonding portion 30. The joining portion 30 is in a state in which the inner peripheral surface 20a of the peripheral surface portion 20 of the lens barrel 2 is joined to the peripheral surface holding portion 13 side of the lens 1 by laser bonding, thereby the lens 1 and the lens barrel 2 are connected to each other. Is fixed.

  Laser light for forming the joint portion 30 is irradiated along the virtual line 3 in FIG. The imaginary line 3 is a normal line of the inner peripheral surface 13 b that is perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface 13 b of the peripheral surface holding portion 13 of the lens 1, and is a line that passes through the position of the joint portion 30. Since the imaginary line 3 is a normal line of the inner peripheral surface 13 b, the angle is determined by the inclination angle, and the inclination angle of the inner peripheral surface 13 b is set so that the imaginary line 3 does not intersect the lens surface 10. As a result, the laser light can be applied to the inner peripheral surface 20 a of the lens barrel 2 serving as the joint portion 30 through the peripheral surface holding portion 13 of the transparent lens 1 without interfering with the lens surface 10.

  Since the laser light is applied to the lens unit in an inclined manner so as to be incident substantially perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface 13b of the peripheral surface holding portion 13 of the lens 1 formed in an inclined shape, the laser light is emitted. Loss caused by entering and reflecting the peripheral surface holding portion 13 of the lens 1 can be minimized, and the inner peripheral surface 20a of the lens barrel 2 can be reliably heated and melted. For example, the lens barrel 2 is made of polycarbonate, and the lens 1 is made of acrylic resin, so that these can be welded and bonded together by irradiation with laser light.

  In order to manufacture such a lens unit, the lens 1 having the lens surface 10 and the flange portion 11 is formed in advance by resin molding, and the lens barrel 2 is formed so that the lens 1 can be accommodated. Is placed in the lens barrel 2 and irradiated with laser light along an imaginary line 3 that is substantially perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface 13b of the collar portion 11, so that the outer peripheral surface 13a of the collar portion 11 and the inner circumference of the lens barrel 2 are irradiated. The joint portion 30 is formed by laser joining the surface 20a. As a result, the lens 1 and the lens barrel 2 are integrated to complete the lens unit of this embodiment.

  Thus, since the lens 1 and the lens barrel 2 are laser-bonded on the peripheral surface, the lens 1 can be reliably bonded to the lens barrel 2 without enlarging in the radial direction, and the lens unit in the radial direction of the lens unit. Miniaturization can be achieved.

  FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the lens unit when the inner peripheral surface 13b of the flange 11 is not inclined. As shown in this figure, when the inner peripheral surface 13b of the flange 11 is not inclined, the laser beam is irradiated in a direction perpendicular to the inner peripheral surface 13b, that is, in a direction parallel to the radial direction of the lens 1. Will be. In this case, in order to sufficiently take the heating width by the laser light, it is necessary to form the flange portion 11 and the lens barrel 2 that holds the flange portion 11 in the optical axis direction, which hinders the thinning of the lens unit. Become. In the lens unit of the present invention, since the inner peripheral surface 13b of the flange portion 11 is formed in an inclined shape, it is possible to irradiate laser light from a direction inclined with respect to the lens unit. In addition, a sufficient heating width can be obtained without lengthening the lens barrel 2 in the optical axis direction, so that the lens unit can be reduced in size in the optical axis direction, that is, thinner.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the lens unit in the present embodiment. Since the configuration of the lens unit of the present embodiment is generally the same as that of the lens unit of the first embodiment, description of the common points is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the outer peripheral surface 13 a of the peripheral surface holding portion 13 of the lens 1 is formed in an inclined surface shape that is parallel to the inner peripheral surface 13 b of the peripheral surface holding portion 13. Further, the inner peripheral surface 20 a of the lens barrel 2 in contact with the outer peripheral surface 13 a of the peripheral surface holding portion 13 is also formed in an inclined surface shape that is parallel to the inner peripheral surface 13 b of the peripheral surface holding portion 13. The virtual line 3 indicating the direction in which the laser beam is irradiated is the same as in the first embodiment.

  Since the lens unit of the present embodiment has a configuration as shown in FIG. 3, the joining portion 30 is substantially perpendicular to the laser light, so that reflection of the laser light at the joining portion 30 is reduced. It is possible to perform bonding by heating with laser light more efficiently.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, application of this invention is not restricted to these embodiment, It can apply variously within the range of the technical idea. For example, in these embodiments, one lens 1 is stored in the lens barrel 2, but the present invention can also be applied to a lens in which a plurality of lenses 1 are stored in the lens barrel 2. .

It is sectional drawing of the lens unit in 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of a lens unit in case the inner peripheral surface of a collar part is not inclined. It is sectional drawing of the lens unit in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lens 2 Lens tube 10 Lens surface 11 Grow part 13 Peripheral surface holding | maintenance part 13a Outer peripheral surface 13b Inner peripheral surface 14 Projection part 20 Peripheral surface part 20a Inner peripheral surface 21 Planar part 30 Joint part

Claims (5)

In a lens unit composed of a lens made of a transparent resin material and a lens barrel for housing the lens,
The lens includes a lens surface that functions optically, and a flange formed on a peripheral portion of the lens surface and held on an inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. An outer peripheral surface portion that contacts the peripheral surface, and an inner peripheral surface portion facing the outer peripheral surface portion and facing the lens surface side, the inner peripheral surface portion extending from the lens surface side end portion to the distal end side end portion of the flange portion. The lens unit is characterized by being formed in an inclined surface shape in which the inner peripheral diameter increases toward the inner side, and the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel are laser-bonded.   2. The inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel and the outer peripheral surface portion of the flange portion contacting the inner peripheral surface are formed in an inclined surface shape substantially parallel to the inner peripheral surface portion of the flange portion. Lens unit.   The inner peripheral surface portion of the collar portion is such that a virtual line passing through a position where the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel are laser-bonded is not intersected with the lens surface. The lens unit according to claim 1, wherein the lens unit has an inclined angle. In a method of manufacturing a lens unit comprising a lens made of a transparent resin material and a lens barrel for housing the lens,
The lens has an optically functioning lens surface and a flange provided around the lens surface and held on the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel. Forming an outer peripheral surface portion contacting the peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface portion facing the outer peripheral surface portion and facing the lens surface side, and extending the inner peripheral surface portion from the lens surface side end portion to the distal end side end of the flange portion Forming an inclined surface in the direction of increasing the inner diameter toward the part,
The lens is housed in the lens barrel, laser light is irradiated from a substantially perpendicular direction to the inner peripheral surface portion of the collar portion, and the outer peripheral surface portion of the collar portion and the inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel are laser-joined. A method for manufacturing a lens unit.   The lens according to claim 4, wherein an inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel and an outer peripheral surface portion of the flange portion contacting the inner peripheral surface are formed in an inclined surface shape substantially parallel to the inner peripheral surface portion of the flange portion. Unit manufacturing method.

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