# US 11,078,996 B2 · Drive device and electronic device

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- Number: US 11,078,996 B2
- Document ID: US11078996B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/647,015
- Filed: 2018-09-14
- Published: 2020-08-27
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-14
- Assignees: Nidec Copal Corporation
- Applicants: Nidec Copal Corporation
- Inventors: Yosuke Momose
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078996B2

## CPC

- F16H 25/2015: {Means specially adapted for stopping actuators in the end position; Position sensing means}
- F16H 25/2025: {with means to disengage the nut or screw from their counterpart; Means for connecting screw and nut for stopping reciprocating movement (F16H25/2015 takes precedence)}
- F16H 25/2021: {with means for avoiding overloading}
- F16H 2025/2081: {Parallel arrangement of drive motor to screw axis}
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A driver can axially rotate and axially extend and retract a driving target. A driver includes a body, a shaft including a threaded portion, a motor that rotates the shaft, and a hollow cylinder through which the shaft extends, movable in Z-direction, and restricted from rotating relative to the body, a camera module rotatably supported on the hollow cylinder and movable in Z-direction with the hollow cylinder, a coil spring that urges the hollow cylinder in the positive Z-direction, a nut screwed with the threaded portion of the shaft and movable in Z-direction while restricting movement of the hollow cylinder in Z-direction, and a clutch engageable with the nut to restrict movement of the nut in Z-direction and rotatable with the camera module.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A driver, comprising:
a body;
a shaft extending axially and including a threaded portion;
a motor configured to rotate the shaft;
a hollow cylinder through which the shaft extends, the hollow cylinder being axially movable between a first axial position and a second axial position and being restricted from rotating relative to the body;
a driving target rotatably supported on the hollow cylinder and axially movable with the hollow cylinder;
a first urging member configured to urge the hollow cylinder axially toward the second axial position;
a nut screwed with the threaded portion of the shaft and movable axially while restricting axial movement of the hollow cylinder between the first axial position and the second axial position; and
a clutch engageable with the nut at a position opposite to the first urging member from the nut to restrict axial movement of the nut, the clutch being rotatable with the driving target.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The driver according to claim 1, wherein
the nut moves toward the clutch on the shaft with the hollow cylinder being at the second axial position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The driver according to claim 1, wherein
one of the driving target or the hollow cylinder has a first guide groove extending circumferentially, and
another of the driving target or the hollow cylinder includes a first engagement portion engaged with the first guide groove.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The driver according to claim 1, wherein
one of the body or the hollow cylinder has a second guide groove extending axially, and
another of the body or the hollow cylinder includes a second engagement portion engaged with the second guide groove.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The driver according to claim 1, wherein
one of the clutch or the driving target has a third guide groove extending axially, and
another of the clutch or the driving target includes a third engagement portion engaged with the third guide groove.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The driver according to claim 1, wherein
the nut includes a plurality of spring pieces elastically in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The driver according to claim 1, wherein
the hollow cylinder includes a fourth engagement portion protruding toward the nut, and
the nut includes a fifth engagement portion engageable with the fourth engagement portion on the hollow cylinder.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The driver according to claim 7, wherein
each of the fourth engagement portion on the hollow cylinder and the fifth engagement portion on the nut has a slope to allow smooth engagement and disengagement of the nut with and from the hollow cylinder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The driver according to claim 1, wherein
the clutch includes a sixth engagement portion protruding toward the nut, and
the nut includes a seventh engagement portion engageable with the sixth engagement portion on the clutch.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The driver according to claim 9, wherein
each of the sixth engagement portion on the clutch and the seventh engagement portion on the nut has a slope to allow smooth engagement and disengagement of the nut with and from the clutch.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The driver according to claim 9, further comprising:
a second urging member configured to urge the clutch in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first urging member urges the hollow cylinder,
wherein the clutch is movable axially relative to the driving target.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The driver according to claim 11, wherein
the second urging member is located between an end of the shaft and the clutch.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The driver according to claim 1, wherein
the first urging member is configured to absorb a force axially applied on the driving target.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

An electronic device, comprising:
the driver according to claim 1.