Autofocus camera for adjusting tilt in the optical axis of a lens, and camera-equipped electronic device

摘要

An autofocus camera is provided which restrains and corrects any tilt that may occur in the optical axis direction without the need of providing any additional new sensors for that purpose. The autofocus camera includes an image sensor for receiving light from an object and converting the light into corresponding electrical signals, a lens driving device having a lens for focusing the light from the object upon said image sensor, and a control portion for causing said lens driving device to adjust any tilt that may occur in the optical axis in response to the electrical signals received from said image sensor. The control portion is operated to cause the lens driving device to adjust any tilts of the optical axis with respect to the image sensor in the orthogonal directions with each other, so that the resolution signals at the predetermined positions of said image sensor can be maximized.

主权项

1. An autofocus camera comprising:
an image sensor configured to receive light from an object and convert the light into corresponding electrical signals; a lens driving device having a lens configured to focus the light from the object upon said image sensor; and a control portion configured to cause said lens driving device to adjust tilt that may occur in the optical axis of the lens in response to the electrical signals received from said image sensor, wherein said control portion is operated to cause said lens driving device to adjust tilts of the optical axis with respect to the image sensor in the orthogonal directions with each other, so that resolution signals at predetermined areas of said image sensor are maximized, wherein said lens driving device includes a driving motor configured to drive said lens, wherein said driving motor includes a lens support to which said lens is fixed, coils provided on an outer circumference of said lens support and magnets facing opposite an outer circumference of said coils, wherein said coils include a first coil which includes at least a front side portion being configured to receive a current when moving said lens support along the optical axis or a rear side portion being configured to receive a current when moving said lens support along the optical axis, wherein said coils include at least four second coils disposed on the outer circumference of said lens support at equal intervals in a circumferential direction, each of the at least four second coils having an annular shape as viewed from a lateral side of the lens support, wherein said tilts of the optical axis are corrected by supplying currents to the second coils, wherein two of the second coils are arranged diametrically symmetrically, connected to each other, and wound in respective directions opposite to each other as viewed from the outer circumferential direction, wherein said tilts of the optical axis are corrected by supplying currents to the two of the second coils such that the currents supplied to the two of the second coils flow in the respective opposite directions of winding of the two of the second coils, and wherein another two of the second coils are arranged diametrically symmetrically, connected to each other, and wound in respective directions opposite to each other as viewed from the outer circumferential direction, wherein said tilts of the optical axis are corrected by supplying currents to the other two of the second coils such that the currents supplied to the other two of the second coils flow in the respective opposite directions of winding of the other two of the second coils.