TECHNICAL FIELD

The teachings in accordance with exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relate generally to a lens driving mechanism, a camera module, and an optical device.

BACKGROUND ART

This section provides background information related to the present invention, which is not necessarily prior art.

Concomitant with generalization of wide use of various mobile terminals, and commercialization of wireless internet services, demands by consumers related to mobile terminals are also diversified to allow various types of peripheral devices to be mounted on the mobile terminals.

Among the representative items thereof, a camera module photographing a subject in a picture or a video may be mentioned. Recently, even in mobile markets and small camera markets, needs to realize a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera) level iris are on the increase.

To this end, a method using a variable iris has been newly surfaced using an iris actuator on a camera module. Thus, a technology for connecting an iris actuator without an iris signal connecting line for driving an AF (Auto Focus) is required.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Technical Subject

In order to solve the aforementioned problem, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide a lens driving mechanism in which an iris is integrally formed with a bobbin while a lens driving mechanism is interposed between the iris and an auto focus driving part in order to evade a magnetic interference.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is to provide a lens driving mechanism including a structure in which an iris actuator can be connected to auto focus-driving iris signal connecting line without interference.

Furthermore, an exemplary embodiment is to provide a camera module including a lens driving mechanism and an optical device.

Technical Solution

A lens driving mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a housing; a bobbin coupled with a lens module and discretely disposed from the housing: a first driving part disposed at the bobbin; a second driving part disposed at the housing and facing the first driving part; and an iris unit coupled with the bobbin, wherein the bobbin includes an iris receptor accommodating at least a portion of the iris unit.

The iris receptor may be formed by a portion of an upper surface of the iris receptor being recessed downwardly.

The iris receptor may be formed by a portion of a lateral surface at one side of the bobbin being recessed to the other side.

The iris unit may integrally move with the bobbin.

The bobbin may include a lens receptor formed at an inside of the bobbin, wherein the lens receptor may include a first receptor accommodated by a first lens group of the lens module, and a second receptor accommodated by a second lens group of the lens module, and wherein the iris receptor may be interposed between the first receptor and the second receptor.

The iris unit may include a third driving part, a fourth driving part facing the third driving part, and first and second blades interacting with the third driving part, wherein the first and second blades can adjust an amount of light passing through the lens module in response to movement of the third driving part.

The lens driving mechanism may further comprise a support member coupled to the bobbin and the housing, wherein the support member may include a flexible first substrate.

The flexible first substrate may include a first coupling part coupled to an upper surface of a bottom plate of the housing, a second coupling part coupled to a lower surface of bobbin, and a connection part connecting the first coupling part and the second coupling part, wherein the connection part may be bent at least twice.

The second coupling part ma include a body part coupled with the bobbin, and a mounting part upwardly bent by being extended from the body part, wherein the mounting part may be disposed with a first sensor part detecting the third driving part.

The lens driving mechanism may further comprise a second substrate electrically connected to the second driving part and disposed at the housing, and the first substrate may be electrically connected to the fourth driving part and the second substrate may be spaced apart from the first substrate.

The lens driving mechanism may further comprise a second sensor part disposed at the second substrate to detect the first driving part.

The lens driving mechanism may further comprise the bobbin and a guide ball contacting the housing, The lens driving mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment may comprise: a housing; an iris unit discretely disposed from the housing; a first driving part disposed at the iris unit; a second driving part disposed at the housing to face the first driving part; and a support member coupled to the housing and the iris unit, wherein the iris unit may be accommodated by a lens module.

The iris unit may include a third driving part, a fourth driving part facing the third driving part, and first and second blades interacting with any one of the third driving part and the fourth driving part to adjust an amount of light having passed the lens module.

The iris unit may include a first receptor accommodated by a first lens group of the lens module and a second receptor accommodated by a second lens group of the lens module, wherein the first and second blades may be interposed between the first and second receptors.

The support member may include a flexible PCB (FPCB, Flexible Printed Circuit Board).

The lens driving mechanism may further comprise: a substrate disposed at the housing to be electrically connected to the second driving part; a first sensor part disposed at the FPCB to detect any one or more of the third driving part and the fourth driving part; and a second sensor part disposed at the substrate to detect the first driving part.

The lens driving mechanism may further comprise: a guide ball contacting the iris unit and the housing.

A camera module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a housing; a bobbin coupled by a lens module and discretely disposed from the housing; a first driving part disposed at the bobbin; a second driving part disposed at the housing to face the first driving part; and an iris unit coupled with the bobbin, wherein the bobbin may include an iris receptor accommodating at least a portion of the iris unit.

An optical device according to an exemplary embodiment may comprise: a housing; a bobbin coupled by a lens module and discretely disposed from the housing; a first driving part disposed at the bobbin; a second driving part disposed at the housing to face the first driving part; and an iris unit coupled to the bobbin, wherein the bobbin may include an iris receptor accommodating at least a portion of the iris unit.

A lens driving mechanism according to an exemplary embodiment may comprise: a housing; a bobbin spaced apart from the housing; a first driving part disposed at the bobbin; a second driving part disposed at the housing to face the first driving part; an iris unit disposed at the bobbin, and a support member coupled to the housing, wherein the support member may be formed with a flexible circuit substrate.

The support member may include a first coupling part coupled with the housing, a second coupling part coupled with the bobbin, and a connection part connecting the first coupling part and the second coupling part.

The housing may include a first lateral surface part and a second lateral surface part to face the first lateral surface part, wherein the bobbin may include a first lateral part to face the first lateral surface part and a second lateral part to face the second lateral surface part, and wherein the first coupling part may be coupled with the first lateral surface part of housing and the second coupling part may be coupled with the second lateral part of bobbin.

The connection part may include a first extension part extended from the first coupling part to a second coupling part side, a second extension part extended to a first coupling part side by being bent from the first extension part, and a third extension part extended to the second coupling part by being bent from the extension part.

The first coupling part may include first and second coupling bodies, each body mutually spaced apart from the other body, wherein the connection part may include first and second connection bodies each body mutually spaced apart from the other body, and wherein the first connection body may connect the first coupling body and the second coupling part, and the second connection body may connect the second coupling body and the second coupling part.

The first coupling part may include a body part coupled to an upper surface of bottom plate of housing and a terminal part extended from the body part by being downwardly bent, wherein the second coupling part may include a body part coupled to a lower surface of bobbin and a mounting part extended from the body part by being upwardly bent.

The iris unit may include a third driving part, a fourth driving part facing the third driving part and first and second shutter parts interacting with the third driving part, wherein the first and second shutter parts may be moved to mutually opposite direction by movement of the third driving part.

The mounting part may be disposed with a sensor part detecting a position of the third driving part.

The lens driving mechanism may further comprise a substrate electrically connected with the second driving part and disposed at the housing, wherein the support member may be electrically connected with the fourth driving part and the substrate may be spaced apart from the support member.

The lens driving mechanism may further comprise a guide ball contacted with the bobbin and the housing.

A camera module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a housing; a bobbin so positioned as to be spaced apart from the housing; a first driving part disposed at the bobbin; a second driving part disposed at the housing to face the first driving part; an iris unit disposed at the bobbin, and a support member coupled with the bobbin and the housing, wherein the support member may be formed with a flexible circuit substrate.

An optical device according to an exemplary embodiment may comprise: a housing; a bobbin so positioned as to be spaced apart from the housing; a first driving part disposed at the bobbin; a second driving part disposed at the housing to face the first driving part; an iris unit disposed at the bobbin, and a support member coupled to the bobbin and the housing, wherein the support member may be formed with a flexible circuit substrate.

A camera module according to an exemplary embodiment may comprise: a housing; a bobbin disposed within the housing; a first magnet disposed at the bobbin; a first coil disposed at the housing to face the first magnet; a plurality of lenses coupled with the bobbin; and an iris unit coupled with the bobbin, wherein the plurality of lenses may include a first lens and a second lens, each lens spaced apart from the other lens, and wherein at least a portion of the iris unit may be interposed between the first lens and the second lens.

The camera module may further comprise: a PCB disposed underneath the housing; and an image sensor coupled to the PCB and disposed underneath the plurality of lenses, wherein the first lens may be disposed at an upper side of the iris unit and the second lens may be interposed between the iris unit and the image sensor.

The plurality of lenses may further include a third lens interposed between the first lens and the iris unit and a fourth lens interposed between the second lens and the image sensor.

The bobbin may include an iris receptor accommodating at least a portion of the iris unit, and the iris unit accommodated into the iris receptor may integrally move with the bobbin.

The iris receptor may be formed by a portion of lateral surface at one side of bobbin being recessed to the other side.

The bobbin may further include a lens receptor formed at an inside of the bobbin, wherein the lens receptor may include a first receptor accommodating the first lens and a second receptor accommodating the second lens, and wherein the iris receptor may be interposed between the first receptor and the second receptor.

The iris unit may include a second magnet, a second coil facing the second magnet, and first and second blades interacting with the second magnet, wherein the first and second blades may adjust an amount of light having passed the iris unit in response to movement of second magnet.

The camera module may further include a support member coupled with the bobbin and the housing, wherein the support member may include a flexible first substrate, and wherein the first substrate may include a first coupling part coupled to an upper surface of a bottom plate of housing, a second coupling part coupled to a lower surface of bobbin and a connection part connecting the first coupling part and the second coupling part.

The second coupling part may include a body part coupled with the bobbin, and a mounting part extended upwardly from the body part, wherein the mounting part may be disposed with a first sensor detecting the second magnet.

The camera module may further comprise a second substrate electrically connected with the first coil and disposed at the housing, wherein the first substrate may be electrically connected with the second coil and the second substrate may be spaced apart from the first substrate.

The camera module may further comprise a second sensor disposed at the second substrate to detect the first magnet.

The connection part may include first to third extension parts arranged in parallel between the first coupling part and the second coupling part, and a round part roundly connecting the first to third extension parts.

The first coupling part may include a terminal, and the terminal of the first coupling part may be coupled with a PCB disposed underneath the housing by way of soldering.

The camera module may further comprise a guide ball interposed between the bobbin and the housing.

An optical device according to an exemplary embodiment may comprise: a body; a camera module disposed at the body; and a display part disposed at the body to output an image photographed by the camera module.

A camera module according to an exemplary embodiment may comprise: a housing; a bobbin disposed within the housing; a first magnet disposed at the bobbin; a first coil disposed at the bobbin; a first magnet disposed at the housing to face the first coil; a plurality of lenses coupled with the bobbin; and an iris unit coupled with the bobbin, wherein the plurality of lenses may include first and second lenses, each mutually spaced apart, and at least a portion of the iris unit may be interposed between the first and second lenses.

The iris unit may include a second coil, a second magnet facing the second coil, and first and second blades interacting with the second coil, wherein the first and second blades may adjust an amount of light having passed the iris unit in response to movement of the second coil.

A camera module according to an exemplary embodiment may comprise: a housing; a bobbin disposed within the housing; a magnet disposed at the bobbin; a coil disposed at the housing to face the magnet; a plurality of lenses accommodated into the bobbin; and an iris unit, at least a portion of which is accommodated into the bobbin, wherein the iris unit may integrally move with the bobbin, and the plurality of lenses may include a first lens disposed at one side of the iris unit, and a second lens disposed at the other side of the iris unit.

The camera module may further include a PCB disposed underneath the housing, and an image sensor coupled with the PCB and disposed underneath the plurality of lenses, wherein the first lens may be disposed at an upper side of the iris unit, and the second lens may be interposed between the iris unit and the image sensor.

The camera module may further include a flexible substrate coupled with the housing and the bobbin to be electrically connected to the coil.

Advantageous Effects

Through the exemplary embodiments, the present invention can realize a DSLR-level iris on a miniaturized lens driving mechanism.

In the present exemplary embodiments, the FPCB of iris actuator may be designed in a leaf spring to thereby minimize an FPCB interference influence of iris actuator.

