LENS DRIVING DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202011562736.X filed on Dec. 25, 2020; and the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a lens driving device, a camera device, and an electronic apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

Electronic apparatuses such as mobile telephones, smartphones and the like are installed with small camera devices. Such small cameras may, for example, include image stabilization functionality such as that described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2019-78850.

SUMMARY

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2019-78850 describes a guide mechanism provided that allows a lens support body to move. The guide mechanism is configured including a guide projection and a guide groove in which the guide projection slides. In an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system wherein a sliding direction is the X direction and a height direction is the Z direction, the guide projection includes a Z direction end face that slides against a bottom face of the guide groove. The cross-section profile of the Z direction end face in a YZ plane is formed in a curved shape convex on the guide groove bottom face side. Moreover, the guide projection includes a Y direction end face that slides against a side face of the guide groove, and a cross-section profile in an XY plane of the Y direction end face is formed with a curved shape convex on the guide groove side face side. The guide projection and the guide groove accordingly make line contact, friction is reduced, and smooth movement of the lens support body is secured.

However, even so there is still an issue of a possibility that the friction force in the guide mechanism might increase, and smooth movement of the lens support body might no longer be able to be secured.

An object of the present invention is to provide a lens driving device, a camera device, and an electronic apparatus capable of resolving the issues described above and securing smooth movement of the lens support body.

A lens driving device of an aspect of the present invention is a lens driving device including a guide mechanism configured to guide movement of a lens. The guide mechanism includes a guide groove and a guide projection for fitting into the guide groove so as to be able to slide. The guide groove includes a bottom face formed in a planar shape. In an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system wherein a sliding direction is an X direction and a height direction is a Z direction, the guide projection includes a Z direction end face opposing the guide groove bottom face. A cross-section profile of the Z direction end face sectioned along an XZ plane is formed with a curved shape convex on the guide groove bottom face side, and a cross-section profile of the Z direction end face sectioned along a YZ plane is formed with a curved shape convex on the guide groove bottom face side.

Preferably the guide projection contacts the guide groove bottom face at a center of the Z direction end face in both the Y direction and the X direction.

Preferably the guide groove includes aside face rising perpendicularly from the bottom face and extending along the X direction, the guide projection includes a Y direction end face configured to slide against the guide groove side face, and a cross-section profile of the Y direction end face sectioned along an XY plane is formed with a curved shape convex on the guide groove side face side.

Preferably the guide mechanism is formed outside the lens in four directions.

Preferably the guide projection has an X direction width that is approximately two times the Y direction width.

Moreover, preferably a curved line exhibited by the cross-section profile of the Z direction end face sectioned along the XZ plane is a circular arc having a radius that is from 1 to 10 times the Y direction width.

Furthermore, preferably a curved line exhibited by the cross-section profile of the Z direction end face sectioned along the YZ plane is a circular arc having a radius that is from 10 to 20 times the Y direction width.

A camera device of another aspect of the present invention is a camera device including the lens driving device and a lens supported by the lens support body.

An electronic apparatus of another aspect of the present invention is an electronic apparatus including the camera device.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, the guide projection includes the Z direction end face opposing the guide groove bottom face, the cross-section profile of the Z direction end face sectioned along the XZ plane is formed with a curved shape convex on the guide groove bottom face side, and the cross-section profile of the Z direction end face sectioned along a YZ plane is formed with a curved shape convex on the guide groove bottom face side. This means that the guide projection makes point contact with the guide groove bottom face, enabling smooth movement of the lens support body to be secured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a camera device 10 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from above;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a movable body 18 configuring the camera device 10 in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from above;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the movable body 18 in FIG. 2 as viewed obliquely from below;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating part of a fixed body 16 employed in the camera device 10 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from above;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a flexible printed substrate 78 to be attached to the fixed body 16 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the movable body 18 in FIG. 2 as viewed from above;

FIG. 7A is a cross-section as sectioned along line VIIA-VIIA in FIG. 6;

FIG. 7B is a cross-section as sectioned along line VIIB-VIIB in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8A is an enlarged cross-section of the portion VIIIA in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8B is an enlarged cross-section of the portion VIIIB in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 9A is an enlarged cross-section of the portion IXA in FIG. 7B;

FIG. 9B is an enlarged cross-section of the portion IXB in FIG. 7B; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged plan view illustrating an optical axis direction guide mechanism 102 of the present exemplary embodiment as viewed from above.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a lower side guide projection of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12A is a plan view illustrating a lower side guide projection of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12B is a cross-section taken along line XIIB of FIG. 12A and illustrating a lower side guide projection of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12C is a cross-section taken along line XIIC of FIG. 12A and illustrating a lower side guide projection of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Explanation follows regarding an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. Note that although the following exemplary embodiment describes an example of a lens driving device, a camera device, and an electronic apparatus of the present invention, there is no intention that the present invention should be limited to the following exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 1 illustrates a camera device 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The camera device 10 is installed in an electronic apparatus such as a mobile telephone or a smartphone, and includes a lens driving device 12 and a lens 14 mounted to the lens driving device 12.

Note that in the following explanation, for ease of explanation an optical axis direction of the lens 14 is referred to as the Z direction, one direction orthogonal to the Z direction is referred to as the X direction, and a direction orthogonal to both the Z direction and the X direction is referred to as the Y direction. An imaging subject side on the optical axis (corresponding to the upper side in FIG. 1) is referred to as the upper side, and the opposite side thereto, this being the side on which a non-illustrated image sensor is disposed, is referred to as the lower side. Moreover, the XY plane, the XZ plane, and the YZ planes are planes having normal directions in the Z direction, the Y direction, and the X direction, respectively.

The lens driving device 12 includes a fixed body 16 and a movable body 18 supported by the fixed body 16 so as to be able to move in the optical axis direction. The movable body 18 is disposed within the fixed body 16.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the movable body 18 includes a lens support body 20 to support the lens 14, and a first frame 22 configuring a frame that surrounds the periphery of the lens support body 20. The lens support body 20 and the first frame 22 each have a substantially square external profile as viewed from above.

A lens attachment hole 24 with a circular shape when viewed along the Z direction is formed penetrating through the inside of the lens support body 20 from the upper side to the lower side. The lens 14 is attached in the lens attachment hole 24.

The first frame 22 includes the first movable body plate 26, the second movable body plate 28, and the first cover 30 each having a substantially square external profile as viewed from above. The first movable body plate 26 and the second movable body plate 28 are, for example, formed from an engineering plastic such as a liquid crystal polymer (LCP), a polyacetal, a polyamide, a polycarbonate, a modified polyphenylene ether, a polybutylene terephthalate, or the like. The first cover 30 is formed from a metal, for example. Openings 32, 34, 36 are respectively formed so as to penetrate through the first movable body plate 26, the second movable body plate 28, and the first cover 30 from the upper side to the lower side so as to allow light to pass through. The openings 32, 34, 36 are each a substantially circular shape.

The first frame 22 supports the lens support body 20 so as to allow the lens support body 20 to move in both the X direction, corresponding to a first direction, and the Y direction, corresponding to a second direction. Specifically, the lens support body 20 and the first frame 22 are provided with an orthogonal direction guide mechanism 38 configuring a guide mechanism, and support the lens support body 20 with respect to the second movable body plate 28, this being a specific member configuring a frame, such that the lens support body 20 is able to move in both the X direction and the Y direction. The orthogonal direction guide mechanism 38 is configured by a first guide mechanism 40 provided on one side (a lower side) in the Z direction, and a second guide mechanism 42 provided on the other side (an upper side) in the Z direction.

The first guide mechanism 40 is configured by lower side guide projections 44 formed projecting in a −Z direction from a lower face of the first movable body plate 26, and lower side guide grooves 46 formed recessed toward the −Z direction in an upper face of the second movable body plate 28 so as to allow the lower side guide projections to fit therein. The lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46 are each formed so as to extend along the X direction in the vicinities of the four corners of the first movable body plate 26 and the second movable body plate 28 that are disposed outside the lens 14 in four directions.

Since the lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46 each extend along the X direction, relative movement is possible in the X direction only, whereas movement in the Y direction is restricted. Accordingly, the first movable body plate 26 is able to move in the X direction only with respect to the second movable body plate 28, and is restricted from moving in the Y direction. Namely, the first guide mechanism 40 enables the lens support body 20 to move together with the first movable body plate 26 in the X direction with respect to the second movable body plate 28.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B and FIGS. 9A and 9B, the lower side guide grooves 46 are each configured from a bottom face formed in a planar shape, side faces of a planar shape rising perpendicularly from the bottom face in the Z direction and extending along the X direction, and side faces of a planar shape rising perpendicularly from the bottom face in the Z direction and extending along the Y direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 11 and FIGS. 12A to 12C, the lower side guide projections 44 are each configured from a Z direction end face 122 opposing the bottom face of the lower side guide groove 46, Y direction end faces 124, 124 opposing the X direction extending side faces of the lower side guide grooves 46, and X direction end faces 126, 126 opposing the Y direction extending side faces of the lower side guide grooves 46.

As illustrated most clearly in FIG. 12B, in a cross-section sectioned along an XZ plane, the Z direction end face 122 is curved so as to be convex on the lower side guide groove 46 bottom face side, and is formed so as to be a circular arc shape in this exemplary embodiment. Moreover, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 12C, in a cross-section sectioned along a YZ plane, the Z direction end face 122 is curved so as to be convex on the lower side guide groove 46 bottom face side, and is formed so as to be a circular arc shape in this exemplary embodiment. The circular arc of a cross-section sectioned along the XZ plane and the circular arc of a cross-section sectioned along the YZ plane intersect at a center O of the Z direction end face 122. Namely, the center O is the highest point of the Z direction end face 122 in the −Z direction, and the center O makes point contact with the bottom face of the lower side guide groove 46.

Moreover, cross-sections of the Y direction end faces 124, 124 of the lower side guide projection 44 sectioned along the XY plane are formed with curved face profiles convex on the side of the lower side guide groove 46 side faces extending along the X direction. The Y direction end faces 124, 124 make line contact with the lower side guide groove 46 side faces extending along the X direction. Moreover, the X direction position of the line contact of the Y direction end face is aligned with the X direction position of the center O of the lower side guide projection 44.

As illustrated in FIG. 12C, for a width Ly in the Y direction at a center of the lower side guide projection 44 and a radius Ry of a circular arc of the Z direction end face 122 in a cross-section sectioned along the YZ plane, the radius Ry is from 1 to 10 times the width Ly, and is preferably from 2 to 5 times the width Ly.

As illustrated in FIG. 12B, for a width Lx in the X direction at a center of the lower side guide projection 44 and a radius Rx of a circular arc of the Z direction end face 122 in a cross-section sectioned along the XZ plane, the radius Rx is from 10 to 20 times the width Lx, and is preferably from 12 to 15 times the width Lx.

The X direction end faces 126, 126 of the lower side guide projection 44 are not sliding portions that slide against the lower side guide groove 46, and so there is no need to have a curved face profile, and they may be planar shaped as illustrated in FIG. 12A. The X direction width Lx of the lower side guide projection 44 is approximately two times the Y direction width Ly.

The second guide mechanism 42 is configured from upper side guide projections 48 formed projecting in a +Z direction from an upper face of the first movable body plate 26, and upper side guide grooves 50 formed recessed toward the +Z direction in a lower face of the lens support body 20 so as to allow the upper side guide projections 48 to fit therein. The upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50 are formed so as to extend along the Y direction in the vicinities of the four corners of the first movable body plate 26 and the lens support body 20 that are disposed outside the lens 14 in four directions.

Since the upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50 extend along the Y direction, relative movement is permitted in the Y direction only, and movement in the X direction is restricted. Accordingly, the lens support body 20 is able to move in the Y direction only with respect to the first movable body plate 26, and is restricted from moving in the X direction. Namely, the second guide mechanism 42 enables the lens support body 20 to move in the Y direction with respect to the first movable body plate 26. The lens support body 20 is accordingly able to move in both the X direction and the Y direction with respect to the second movable body plate 28. Moreover, the first guide mechanism 40 and the second guide mechanism 42 configure independent guide mechanisms, and force is not applied in a rotation direction about the Z direction even if drive is performed simultaneously in the X and Y directions, thereby enabling the lens support body 20 to be prevented from oscillating in the rotation direction.

The upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50 of the second guide mechanism 42 have a similar configuration to the lower side guide projection 44 and the lower side guide groove 46 of the first guide mechanism 40. However, the X direction of the second guide mechanism 42 needs to be read as the Y direction thereof, and the Y direction needs to be read as the X direction thereof.

A plate shaped first magnet 52 and a plate shaped second magnet 54 are fixed to outer sides of the lens support body 20. The first magnet 52 is disposed with its plate faces facing along the Y direction on the one side in the Y direction, this being the side where the lower side guide projections 44A, 44A and the lower side guide grooves 46A, 46A make line contact with each other. The second magnet 54 is disposed with its plate faces facing along the direction on the one side in the X direction, this being the side where the upper side guide projections 48A, 48A and the upper side guide grooves 50A, 50A make line contact with each other. The S pole of the first magnet 52 is provided on one of the plate faces facing in the Y direction, and the N pole is provided on the other of these plate faces. The S pole of the second magnet 54 is provided on one of the plate faces facing in the X direction, and the N pole is provided on the other of these plate faces.

A first magnetic member 56 and a second magnetic member 58, each configured by a magnetic body, are disposed at a lower face of the second movable body plate 28. The first magnetic member 56 is disposed on the one side in the Y direction so as to run along the X direction parallel to the first magnet 52. The second magnetic member 58 is disposed on the one side in the X direction so as to run along the Y direction parallel to the second magnet 54. Accordingly, the first magnetic member 56 opposes the first magnet 52 in the Z direction across the second movable body plate 28, and similarly the second magnetic member 58 opposes the second magnet 54 in the Z direction across the second movable body plate 28.

Attachment portions 60 are provided extending downward in the Z direction at the four corners of the first cover 30. Each of the attachment portions 60 is formed with a square attachment hole 62. Counterpart attachment portions 64 are formed protruding sideways at the four corners of the second movable body plate 28. The counterpart attachment portions 64 fit into the respective attachment holes 62 so as to fix the first cover 30 to the second movable body plate 28. Note that as illustrated in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, a minimum required gap to allow for error arising due to tolerance or the like is present between a lower face of the first cover 30 and an upper face of the lens support body 20. The lens support body 20, the first movable body plate 26, and the second movable body plate 28 are thus restricted from moving excessively away from one another even when subjected to shock.

A plate shaped third magnet 66 is fixed to an outer face on the +Y side of the second movable body plate 28, this being the opposite side to the side where the first magnet 52 is provided. Plate faces of the third magnet 66 face in the Y direction. The third magnet 66 is divided into two parts, namely a Z direction upper side part and a Z direction lower side part. The S pole and the N pole are provided at the plate faces of the third magnet 66 and are disposed such that their polarities are opposite above and below.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the fixed body 16 includes a second frame 68 provided with a base 80 and a second cover 82, a third magnetic member 70 attached to the second frame 68, a first coil 72, a second coil 74, a third coil 76, and a flexible printed substrate 78. The base 80 and the second cover 82 are each configured from a resin or a non-magnetic metal, and each have a square profile as viewed along the Z direction from above. The second cover 82 is fitted over the outside of the base 80 in order to configure the second frame 68. The second frame 68 surrounds the periphery of the first frame 22 of the movable body 18. The base 80 and the second cover 82 are formed with respective through holes 84, 86 to allow light to pass or to allow insertion of the lens 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, openings 88 that are open toward the Z direction upper side are respectively formed in the four side faces of the base 80. The above-mentioned flexible printed substrate 78 is disposed so as to surround three of the side faces of the base 80. Namely, the flexible printed substrate 78 is folded in an angular C shape so as to enclose the two side faces of the base 80 that run orthogonally to the Y direction and one of the side faces (the side face on the −X side) of the base 80 that runs orthogonally to the X direction.

The first coil 72 and the third coil 76 are fixed at the inside of the flexible printed substrate 78 to the two faces that run orthogonally to the Y direction, and the second coil 74 is fixed to the one face that runs orthogonally to the X direction. A Z direction lower portion of the flexible printed substrate 78 is provided with terminals 90, and current supply, signal output, and the like are performed through the terminals 90.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a Y direction position detection element 92 is disposed at the inside of the flexible printed substrate 78 at a center side of the first coil 72, an X direction position detection element 94 is disposed at a center side of the second coil 74, and a Z direction position detection element 96 is disposed at a position adjacent to the third coil 76.

The first coil 72 and the Y direction position detection element 92 are disposed inside the corresponding opening 88 so as face toward the inside of the base 80 and oppose the first magnet 52. Similarly, the second coil 74 and the X direction position detection element 94 are disposed inside the corresponding opening 88 so as to oppose the second magnet 54. The third coil 76 and the Z direction position detection element 96 are disposed inside the corresponding opening 88 so as to oppose the third magnet 66.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the third magnetic member 70 that is configured by a magnetic body is disposed at the outer side of a portion of the flexible printed substrate 78 to which the third coil 76 is fixed so as to be parallel to the third coil 76. The third magnetic member 70 is fixed so as to be placed in close contact with a side face of the base 80 with the flexible printed substrate 78 interposed therebetween. The third magnetic member 70 thereby opposes the third magnet 66 across the flexible printed substrate 78 and the third coil 76.

Magnetic flux from the third magnet 66 flows in the third magnetic member 70, causing an attraction force to arise between the third magnet 66 and the third magnetic member 70. An attraction force accordingly acts on the movable body 18 in the Y direction with respect to the fixed body 16.

The third magnetic member 70 is formed with two divided openings 100, 100 that are divided into two parts in the X direction by a coupling portion 98 extending along the Z direction. The coupling portion 98 may extend along the X direction, in which case the divided openings 100, 100 would be divided into two parts in the Z direction. The third magnetic member 70 is formed from magnetic stainless steel or plated iron. By forming the third magnetic member 70 with the divided openings 100, 100, the attraction force between the third magnet 66 and the third magnetic member 70 can be adjusted to a desired strength. Namely, the attraction force between the third magnet 66 and the third magnetic member 70 can be set so as to be comparatively weak in comparison to a Z direction drive force between the third coil 76 and the third magnet 66. This enables the drive force required for Z direction movement to be made smaller, and also enables the damage imparted to an optical axis direction guide mechanism 102, described later, when subjected to external shock, to be reduced.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the movable body 18 is supported by the optical axis direction guide mechanism 102 so as to be able to move in the Z direction with respect to the fixed body 16. Namely, the optical axis direction guide mechanism 102 guides the first frame 22 so as to allow the first frame 22 to move along the Z axis direction with respect to the second frame 68. Namely, the lens support body 20 is thereby guided so as to be able to move along the optical axis direction together with the first frame 22. The optical axis direction guide mechanism 102 is configured by a third guide mechanism 104 and a fourth guide mechanism 106. The third guide mechanism 104 is configured from a +X side guide shaft 108 provided to the second frame 68 and a +X side guide hole 110 provided to the movable body 18 so as to house the +X side guide shaft 108. The fourth guide mechanism 106 is configured from a −X side guide shaft 112 provided to the second frame 68 and a −X side guide groove 114 provided to the movable body 18.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112 are each formed as circular columns extending along the Z direction, and are for example formed from a ceramic, a metal, or a resin. The +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112 are each disposed in the vicinity of an inside corner of the side face of the base 80 where the third coil 76 is disposed. Note that although the +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112 each have a circular profile in a cross-section sectioned along the X-Y direction plane, this circular profile may be provided locally, or an elliptical profile may be adopted. A polygonal profile such as a square profile may also be adopted.

Lower side fixing portions 116, 116 are provided to a bottom face at the periphery of the through hole 84 in the base 80 at the vicinity of the corners of the side face where the third coil 76 is disposed. Each of the lower side fixing portions 116, 116 has a cylindrical shape and is formed with an insertion groove. Lower ends of the +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112 are inserted into the respective lower side fixing portions 116, 116 and fixed thereto. Both X direction ends of an upper end of the third magnetic member 70 described above are formed with upper side fixing portions 118, 118 that are folded in the Y direction. An insertion hole 120 is formed through each of the upper side fixing portions 118. Upper ends of the +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112 are inserted into the respective insertion holes 120, 120 and fixed thereto. The +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112 are thus fixed to the base 80. The third magnetic member 70 thereby performs an additional function of supporting the +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112, enabling the number of components to be reduced in comparison to cases in which this support function is performed by a separate component, and enabling the +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112 to be stably supported.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6, the +X side guide hole 110 is formed as a hollow through hole penetrating the second movable body plate 28 from a Z direction upper face to a Z direction lower face thereof. On the other hand, the −X side guide groove 114 extends so as to penetrate the second movable body plate 28 from the Z direction upper face to the Z direction lower face, and is formed as a groove opening toward the exterior in the −X direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 10, in cross-section viewed along an X-Y plane, the −Y side of the +X side guide hole 110 has a V-shaped profile opening toward the +Y side, this being the fixed body side, and the +Y side of the +X side guide hole 110 has a rectangular profile. Note that the +Y side may have a semicircular cross-section profile.

The attraction force between the third magnet 66 attached to the movable body 18 and the third magnetic member 70 draws the movable body 18 in the +Y direction. Accordingly, at least guide faces 110A, 110A forming the V-shaped profile on the −Y side of the +X side guide hole 110 make line contact with an outer surface of the +X side guide shaft 108 at two locations as viewed along the Z direction. This enables the movable body 18 to be positioned accurately with respect to the fixed body 16 in both the X direction and the Y direction. Note that although it is desirable for the rectangular portion of the +X side guide hole 110 to be provided with a minute gap to the outer surface of the +X side guide shaft 108 such that the two do not make line contact with each other, line contact is also acceptable therebetween.

In an X-Y plane cross-section, the −X side guide groove 114 is configured from two wall faces opposing each other in the Y direction. These two wall faces are respectively formed with protrusions 114A, 114A, each with a curved face profile protruding in the Y direction. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the center of at least the protrusion 114A on the −Y side contacts an outer surface of the −X side guide shaft 112. Namely, the −X side guide groove 114 and the −X side guide shaft 112 make point contact with each other at least at one point, such that frictional resistance therebetween is lower. Note that although it is desirable for the protrusion 114A on the +Y side to be provided with a minute gap to the outer surface of the −X side guide shaft 112 such that the two do not make point contact, line contact is also acceptable therebetween. In this manner, the movable body 18 is pressed by magnetic force against the +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112, and so the movable body 18 does not tilt with respect to the +X side guide shaft 108 and the −X side guide shaft 112. Note that an increase in the size of the lens 14 leads to an increase in the weight of the movable body 18 installed with the lens 14. In such cases, there has hitherto been a need to increase the required attraction force from this magnetic force, with the result that frictional force increases and drive force has had to be increased by at least an amount commensurate with the increase in the weight of the lens. However, in the present exemplary embodiment, employing the guide shaft structure obviates the need to increase the required attraction force using magnetic force, enabling the drive force to be kept small.

In the lens driving device 12, the first magnet 52 and the first coil 72 configure a drive mechanism to move the lens support body 20 along the Y axis direction with respect to the second movable body plate 28. When the first coil 72 is supplied with an electricity, a current flows in the X direction in the first coil 72. Since the first magnet 52 opposing the first coil 72 generates magnetic flux with a Z direction component, a Lorentz force acts on the first coil 72 in the Y direction. Since the first coil 72 is fixed to the base 80, a reaction acting on the first magnet 52 acts as a drive force on the lens support body 20. The lens support body 20 accordingly moves in the Y direction, guided by the second guide mechanism 42.

In the second guide mechanism 42, the upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50 slide against each other. The Z direction end faces of the upper side guide projections 48 make point contact with the bottom faces of the upper side guide grooves 50, and the X direction end faces of the upper side guide projections 48 make line contact with the side faces of the upper side guide grooves 50. This reduces the friction against sliding between the upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50, enabling the lens support body 20 to be moved smoothly.

After the lens support body 20 has moved in the Y direction, a current supply to the first coil 72 is turned off. When this is performed, the lens support body 20 stops at its position of the current supply to the first coil 72 being tuned off due to the attraction force between the first magnet 52 and the first magnetic member 56, the attraction force between the second magnet 54 and the second magnetic member 58, friction between the lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46, and friction between the upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50.

Moreover, the second magnet 54 and the second coil 74 configure a drive mechanism to move the lens support body 20 together with the first movable body plate 26 along the X axis direction with respect to the second movable body plate 28. When the second coil 74 is supplied with an electricity, a current flows in the Y direction in the second coil 74. Since the second magnet 54 opposing the second coil 74 generates magnetic flux having a Z direction component, a Lorentz force acts on the second coil 74 in the X direction. Since the second coil 74 is fixed to the base 80, a repulsion effect acting on the second magnet 54 acts as a drive force on the lens support body 20 and the first movable body plate 26. The lens support body 20 and the first movable body plate 26 accordingly move in the X direction, guided by the first guide mechanism 40.

In the first guide mechanism 40, the lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46 slide against each other. The Z direction end faces of the lower side guide projections 44 make point contact with the bottom faces of the lower side guide grooves 46, and the Y direction end faces of the lower side guide projections 44 make line contact with the side faces of the lower side guide grooves 46. This reduces the friction against sliding between the lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46, enabling the lens support body 20 to be moved smoothly.

After the lens support body 20 and the first movable body plate 26 have moved in the X direction, a current supply to the second coil 74 is turned off. When this is performed, the lens support body 20 together with the first movable body plate 26 stop at their positions of the current supply to the second coil 74 being turned off due to the attraction force between the first magnet 52 and the first magnetic member 56, the attraction force between the second magnet 54 and the second magnetic member 58, friction between the lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46, and friction between the upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50.

The third magnet 66, the third coil 76, and the third magnetic member 70 configure a drive mechanism to move the movable body 18 in the optical axis direction with respect to the fixed body 16. When the third coil 76 is supplied with an electricity, a current flows in the X direction in the third coil 76. Since the third magnet 66 opposing the third coil 76 generates magnetic flux in the Y direction, a Lorentz force acts on the third coil 76 in the Z direction. Since the third coil 76 is fixed to the base 80, a repulsion effect acting on the third magnet 66 acts as a drive force on the movable body 18, such that the movable body 18 moves in the Z direction, guided by the optical axis direction guide mechanism 102. Namely, the lens support body 20 moves in the optical axis direction.

After the movable body 18 has moved in the Z direction, a current supply to the third coil 76 is tuned off, and the lens support body 20 contained in the movable body 18 stops at its position of the current supply to the third coil 76 being turned off due to the attraction force between the third magnet 66 and the third magnetic member 70, friction between the +X side guide shaft 108 and the +X side guide hole 110, and friction between the −X side guide shaft 112 and the −X side guide groove 114.

Consider a situation in which the camera device 10 is subjected to shock in the Y direction. Even were the +X side guide shaft 108 and the +X side guide hole 110, and the −X side guide shaft 112 and the −X side guide groove 114 to move away from one another, such movement away would be over a minute distance and the respective components would promptly return to their original positions, such that any damage sustained would be negligible. There is substantially no damage due to the lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46, as well as the upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50, being respectively retained in a state of contact.

Consider a situation in which the camera device 10 is subjected to shock in the X direction. There is substantially no damage due to the +X side guide shaft 108 and the +X side guide hole 110, the −X side guide shaft 112 and the −X side guide groove 114, the lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46, and the upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50 being respectively retained in a state of contact.

Consider a situation in which the camera device 10 is subjected to shock in the Z direction. There is substantially no damage due to the +X side guide shaft 108 and the +X side guide hole 110, and the −X side guide shaft 112 and the −X side guide groove 114, being retained in a state of contact. Even were the lower side guide projections 44 and the lower side guide grooves 46, and the upper side guide projections 48 and the upper side guide grooves 50, to move away from one another, such movement away would be over a minute distance and the respective components would promptly return to their original positions, and there would be substantially no damage due to these respective components being in line contact or face-to-face contact states. Moreover, although the lower side guide projections 44 and the upper side guide projections 48 make point contact with the lower side guide grooves 46 and the upper side guide grooves 50, resilient deformation would occur at the portions where there is point contact at the apexes and their surroundings in cases in which a shock was received. Due to there being a large radius of curvature at the vicinity of the apexes so as to configure gentle apexes, the contact surface area would become a large face-to-face contact, absorbing shock and leaving no residual deformation.

Thus, regardless of the direction in which the camera device 10 is subjected to shock, any damage sustained by the lens driving device 12 of the present exemplary embodiment is negligible, or substantially no damage is sustained. This enables smooth movement of the lens support body 20 in each of the X, Y, and Z directions to be secured.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, explanation has been given regarding an example in which the lower side guide projections 44 and the upper side guide projections 48 are provided to the first movable body plate 26, the opposing lower side guide grooves 46 are provided to the second movable body plate 28, and the opposing upper side guide grooves 50 are formed on the lens support body 20. However, the arrangement of projections and grooves may be switched around, such that guide grooves are formed in upper and lower faces of the first movable body plate 26, and guide projections are formed on the second movable body plate 28 and the lens support body 20 so as to oppose these. Alternatively, the arrangement may be switched around on the upper side alone or on the lower side alone.

Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment described above, explanation has been given regarding an example in which the first coil 72, the second coil 74, the third coil 76, and the third magnetic member 70 are attached to the fixed body 16, and the first magnet 52, the second magnet 54, and the third magnet 66 are attached to the movable body 18. However, the first coil 72, the second coil 74, the third coil 76, and the third magnetic member 70 may be attached to the movable body 18, while the first magnet 52, the second magnet 54, and the third magnet 66 may be attached to the fixed body 16.

Moreover, although in the exemplary embodiment described above the guide projections were formed with a curved face profile so as to be able to slide against the guide grooves having a planar shape, a configuration may be adopted in which the guide grooves are formed with a curved face profile so as to enable the guide projections having a planar shape to slide thereagainst.

In the exemplary embodiment described above, explanation has been given regarding the lens driving device 12 employed in the camera device 10. However, the present invention may also be applied in other devices.

LENS DRIVING DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

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