# US 9,001,269 B2 · Actuator with position sensor and camera module using same

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- Number: US 9,001,269 B2
- Document ID: US9001269B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/693,049
- Filed: 2012-12-04
- Published: 2014-01-09
- Granted: 2015-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2012-07-05
- Assignees: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Chi-Wei Chiu
- Inventors: Chi-Wei Chiu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9001269B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
- G02B 7/08: adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
- G03B 3/00: Focusing arrangements of general interest for cameras, projectors or printers
- G03B 3/10: Power-operated focusing
- G03B 2205/0076: using shape memory alloys
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)

## Abstract

An actuator includes a base, a stationary frame fixed on the base, a movable frame received in the stationary frame, a SMA line, a guide pole, a position sensor, and a controller. The movable frame includes a resisting surface adjacent to the base, and defines a hole. The SMA line resists on the resisting surface. Two ends of the SMA line are fixed on the stationary frame. The guide pole is fixed on the base and extends through the hole. The position sensor detects the position of the movable frame. The controller supplies current to heat the SMA line to change the length of the SMA line, the SMA line drives the movable frame to move along the guide pole accordingly. The controller adjusts the current according to the position of the movable frame detected by the position sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An actuator comprising:
a base comprising a step and a positioning rod extending from the step;
a stationary frame fixed on the base;
a movable frame received in the stationary frame, the movable frame comprising a resisting surface adjacent to the base, the movable frame defining a through hole;
a shape memory alloy (SMA) line, the SMA line resisting on the resisting surface, two ends of the SMA line fixed on the stationary frame;
a guide pole, one end of the guide pole fixed on the base, and the other end of the guide pole extending through the through hole;
an elastic element being ring shaped and comprising two opposite lugs, each lug defining a positioning hole, the positioning rod extending through the positioning hole of one of the lugs, the guide pole passing through the positioning hole of the other lug;
a position sensor configured for detecting the position of the movable frame; and
a controller in communication with the position sensor, wherein the controller is configured for supplying current to heat the SMA line to change a length of the SMA line, the SMA line drives the movable frame to move along the guide pole accordingly, the controller is further configured for adjusting the current according to the position of the movable frame detected by the position sensor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The actuator of claim 1, wherein the stationary frame is adhered to the base.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The actuator of claim 1, wherein the stationary frame defines a guiding hole, the other end of the guide pole far away from the base extends through the guiding hole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The actuator of claim 3, further comprising a spring sleeved over the guide pole and positioned between the stationary frame and the movable frame.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The actuator of claim 1, wherein the position sensor is a hall sensor fixed on the stationary frame, the actuator comprises a magnet fixed on the movable frame and aligned with the hall sensor.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The actuator of claim 1, further comprising two metal clips fixed on the stationary frame, the two ends of the SMA line are clipped by the two metal clips respectively.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The actuator of claim 6, further comprising laser direct structuring (LDS) lines, the LDS lines connecting the metal clips to the controller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The actuator of claim 1, wherein the resisting surface faces the base.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The actuator of claim 1, wherein the movable frame comprises two opposite sliding blocks; the stationary frame defines two opposite sliding grooves; each of the sliding grooves receives a respective one of the sliding blocks.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The actuator of claim 1, wherein the movable frame comprises an arc-shaped lug, and the arc-shaped lug defines the through hole; the stationary frame defines a cutout, and the cutout receives the arc-shaped lug.

### Claim 11

A camera module comprising:
a base comprising a step and a positioning rod extending from the step;
a stationary frame fixed on the base;
a movable frame received in the stationary frame, the movable frame comprising a resisting surface adjacent to the base, the movable frame defining a through hole;
a shape memory alloy (SMA) line, the SMA line resisting on the resisting surface, two ends of the SMA line fixed on the stationary frame;
a guide pole, one end of the guide pole fixed on the base, and the other end of the guide pole extending through the through hole;
an elastic element being ring shaped and comprising two opposite lugs, each lug defining a positioning hole, the positioning rod extending through the positioning hole of one of the lugs, the guide pole passing through the positioning hole of the other lug;
a position sensor configured for detecting the position of the movable frame; and
a controller in communication with the position sensor, wherein the controller is configured for supplying current to heat the SMA line to change a length of the SMA line, the SMA line drives the movable frame to move along the guide pole accordingly, the controller is further configured for adjusting the current according to the position of the movable frame detected by the position sensor; and
a lens unit received in the movable frame.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The camera module of claim 11, wherein the lens unit comprises a lens barrel and a lens received in the lens barrel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The camera module of claim 11, wherein the stationary frame is adhered to the base.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The camera module of claim 11, wherein the stationary frame defines a guiding hole, the other end of the guide pole far away from the base extends through the guiding hole.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The camera module of claim 14, wherein the actuator further comprises a spring sleeved over the guide pole and positioned between the stationary frame and the movable frame.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The camera module of claim 11, wherein the position sensor is a hall sensor fixed on the stationary frame, the actuator comprises a magnet fixed on the movable frame and aligned with the hall sensor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The camera module of claim 11, wherein the actuator further comprises two metal clips fixed on the stationary frame, the two ends of the SMA line are clipped by the two metal clips respectively.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The camera module of claim 17, wherein the actuator further comprises LDS lines, and the LDS lines connect the metal clips to the controller.