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US 12,372,851 B2Granted
Aperture device, camera module with aperture device, and electronic apparatus
AssigneeBeijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
InventorMasaru Uno
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aperture device for setting an amount of light incident on a lens of a camera module is provided. The aperture device includes: a diaphragm plate exhibiting a plate shape and formed with an aperture opening penetrating the diaphragm plate in a plate surface direction; and a configuration-changing mechanism for changing a configuration of the diaphragm plate to an aperture position or a retracted position, where the aperture position is a position where the diaphragm plate is on the lens and a center of the aperture opening is configured in a position corresponding to an optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position is a position where the diaphragm plate is retracted from the lens.
Claims12
An aperture device, comprising:
- a diaphragm plate comprising a shielding region for shielding light incident on a lens of a camera module;
- and
- a configuration-changing mechanism for changing a configuration of the diaphragm plate to an aperture position or a retracted position, wherein the aperture position is a position where the diaphragm plate is on the lens and a center of an aperture opening is located in a position corresponding to an optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position is a position where the diaphragm plate is retracted from the lens,
- wherein the configuration-changing mechanism comprises:
- a rotor rotatable in an optical axis circumferential direction with an optical axis as a center;
- and
- a moving mechanism moving the diaphragm plate to the aperture position or the retracted position according to rotation of the rotor,
- wherein the moving mechanism comprises:
- a rod portion extending outwards from an outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm plate;
- a connection shaft shaped as a shaft with a shaft center in line with an optical axis direction along which the optical axis extends, wherein the connection shaft is configured in a fixed state and rotatably coupled to the rod portion;
- an operation portion mounted closer to a front end than a position in the rod portion where the connection shaft is coupled;
- a guide portion causing the operation portion to move towards one side or another side of an optical axis radial direction orthogonal to the optical axis circumferential direction and the optical axis direction according to a rotation action of the rotor in the optical axis circumferential direction,
- wherein the configuration-changing mechanism comprises a holding structure fixing a configuration position of the rotor in a position where a center of the rotor coincides with a center of the lens,
- wherein the holding structure comprises:
- opposite holding portions in positions parallel to a driving source of the configuration-changing mechanism in the optical axis radial direction;
- and
- lateral holding portions in positions offset from the driving source in the optical axis circumferential direction, and
- wherein each of the opposite holding portions comprises:
- a first ball abutting the rotor from an outer side of the optical axis radial direction;
- and
- a bearing portion bearing the first ball on the outer side of the optical axis radial direction.
18 more elements
A camera module, comprising:
- a lens unit comprising a lens;
- a housing accommodating the lens;
- a power-receiving portion mounted on the housing and receiving electric power supply from outside;
- and
- an aperture device for setting an amount of light incident on the lens,
- wherein the aperture device comprises:
- a diaphragm plate comprising a shielding region for shielding the light incident on the lens;
- and
- a configuration-changing mechanism for changing a configuration of the diaphragm plate to an aperture position or a retracted position, wherein the aperture position is a position where the diaphragm plate is on the lens and a center of an aperture opening is located in a position corresponding to an optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position being a position where the diaphragm plate is retracted from the lens,
- wherein the configuration-changing mechanism comprises:
- a rotor rotatable in an optical axis circumferential direction with an optical axis as a center;
- and
- a moving mechanism moving the diaphragm plate to the aperture position or the retracted position according to rotation of the rotor,
- wherein the moving mechanism comprises:
- a rod portion extending outwards from an outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm plate;
- a connection shaft shaped as a shaft with a shaft center in line with an optical axis direction along which the optical axis extends, wherein the connection shaft is configured in a fixed state and rotatably coupled to the rod portion;
- an operation portion mounted closer to a front end than a position in the rod portion where the connection shaft is coupled;
- and
- a guide portion causing the operation portion to move towards one side or another side of an optical axis radial direction orthogonal to the optical axis circumferential direction and the optical axis direction according to a rotation action of the rotor in the optical axis circumferential direction,
- wherein the configuration-changing mechanism comprises:
- a base fixed to the housing;
- a rotor on the base and rotatable in an optical axis circumferential direction;
- a driving source rotating the rotor in the optical axis circumferential direction;
- a holding structure fixing a configuration position of the rotor in a position where a center of the rotor coincides with a center of the lens;
- a moving mechanism linked to rotation of the rotor and moving the diaphragm plate towards the aperture position or the retracted position;
- and
- a cover covering the base, the rotor, the driving source, the holding structure and the moving mechanism;
- and
- wherein the rotor comprises an annular plate portion and a cylindrical portion;
- the cylindrical portion protrudes downwards from a lower surface of a central part of the annular plate portion;
- and a front end portion of the lens is inserted in and passes through the cylindrical portion.
28 more elements
An electronic apparatus, comprising:
- a lens;
- and
- an aperture device for setting an amount of light incident on the lens,
- wherein the aperture device comprises:
- a diaphragm plate comprising a shielding region for shielding the light incident on the lens;
- and
- a configuration-changing mechanism for changing a configuration of the diaphragm plate to an aperture position or a retracted position, wherein the aperture position is a position where the diaphragm plate is on the lens and a center of an aperture opening is located in a position corresponding to an optical axis of the lens, and the retracted position is a position where the diaphragm plate is retracted from the lens,
- wherein the configuration-changing mechanism comprises:
- a rotor rotatable in an optical axis circumferential direction with an optical axis as a center;
- and
- a moving mechanism moving the diaphragm plate to the aperture position or the retracted position according to rotation of the rotor,
- wherein the moving mechanism comprises:
- a rod portion extending outwards from an outer peripheral edge of the diaphragm plate;
- a connection shaft shaped as a shaft with a shaft center in line with an optical axis direction along which the optical axis extends, wherein the connection shaft is configured in a fixed state and rotatably coupled to the rod portion;
- an operation portion mounted closer to a front end than a position in the rod portion where the connection shaft is coupled;
- and
- a guide portion causing the operation portion to move towards one side or another side of an optical axis radial direction orthogonal to the optical axis circumferential direction and the optical axis direction according to a rotation action of the rotor in the optical axis circumferential direction,
- wherein the configuration-changing mechanism comprises a holding structure fixing a configuration position of the rotor in a position where a center of the rotor coincides with a center of the lens,
- wherein the holding structure comprises:
- opposite holding portions in positions parallel to a driving source of the configuration- changing mechanism in the optical axis radial direction;
- and
- lateral holding portions in positions offset from the driving source in the optical axis circumferential direction, and
- wherein each of the opposite holding portions comprises:
- a first ball abutting the rotor from an outer side of the optical axis radial direction;
- and
- a bearing portion bearing the first ball on the outer side of the optical axis radial direction.
23 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.