JP7091834B2

JP7091834B2 - The camera module

Info

Publication number: JP7091834B2
Application number: JP2018100812A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 伸之真野; 宇征金
Original assignee: SMK Corp
Current assignee: SMK Corp
Priority date: 2018-05-25
Filing date: 2018-05-25
Publication date: 2022-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-25
Also published as: JP2019204056A

Description

本発明は、ハウジング本体の雌ねじに、雄ねじを螺合させたレンズホルダを回転して、ハウジング本体に取り付けられた撮像素子とレンズホルダに取り付けられたレンズとの距離を調整し、レンズの焦点距離を調整するカメラモジュールに関し、更に詳しくは、雄ねじと雌ねじが摺動接触することにより発生するダストを貯留するダストトラップを設けたカメラモジュールに関する。 In the present invention, the lens holder in which the male screw is screwed into the female screw of the housing body is rotated to adjust the distance between the image sensor attached to the housing body and the lens attached to the lens holder, and the focal length of the lens is adjusted. More specifically, the present invention relates to a camera module provided with a dust trap for storing dust generated by sliding contact between a male screw and a female screw.

カメラモジュールに備えられるレンズと撮像素子は、個別に組み付けられるので、その間をレンズの焦点距離に精度良く一致させて組み立てることができない。このため、レンズを筒体内に取り付けたレンズホルダの外周面に雄ねじを刻設するとともに、ハウジング本体のレンズホルダを収容する収容孔の内周面に雄ねじに螺合する雌ねじを刻設し、工場出荷時に撮像素子が取り付けられたハウジング本体に対してレンズホルダを回転させて、レンズと撮像素子間の距離を調整してレンズの焦点を調節していた。 Since the lens and the image sensor provided in the camera module are individually assembled, it is not possible to assemble them by accurately matching the focal length of the lens between them. For this reason, a male screw is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the lens holder in which the lens is mounted inside the cylinder, and a female screw to be screwed into the male screw is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole accommodating the lens holder of the housing body. At the time of shipment, the lens holder was rotated with respect to the housing body to which the image sensor was attached, and the distance between the lens and the image sensor was adjusted to adjust the focus of the lens.

撮像素子は、ハウジング本体のレンズホルダを収容する収容孔の下方に受光面を露出させて配置されているので、レンズホルダを組み付ける前の開口する収容孔からダストが落下して受光面に付着したり、上記レンズの焦点を調節する工程において、雄ねじと雌ねじが摺動接触し、その間に微小な粒子状のダストが発生して、その下方に配置された撮像素子の受光面上に落下することがあり、これらのダストで受光路の一部が遮断され撮像素子の取り込み画像の品質が著しく悪化するという問題が生じていた。 Since the image sensor is arranged with the light receiving surface exposed below the accommodating hole that accommodates the lens holder of the housing body, dust falls from the accommodating hole that opens before assembling the lens holder and adheres to the light receiving surface. Or, in the step of adjusting the focus of the lens, the male screw and the female screw slide into contact with each other, and minute particulate dust is generated between them and falls on the light receiving surface of the image sensor arranged below the male screw. However, there has been a problem that a part of the light receiving path is blocked by these dusts and the quality of the captured image of the image sensor is significantly deteriorated.

そこで、従来、レンズホルダがハウジング本体の収容孔内で回転することにより発生するダストが、その下方の撮像素子に落下しないように、ダストを貯留するダストトラップを設けたカメラモジュールが、特許文献１乃至特許文献３等で知られている。 Therefore, conventionally, a camera module provided with a dust trap for storing dust so that dust generated by the lens holder rotating in the accommodating hole of the housing body does not fall to the image sensor below the lens holder is described in Patent Document 1. Also known in Patent Document 3 and the like.

このうち、特許文献１に開示されたカメラモジュール１００は、図７に示すように、ハウジング本体１０１の雌ねじ１０５が刻設された収容孔１０２の下方に段部１０３を形成し、この段部１０３を内側から覆う円筒状のブーツ１０４を、レンズホルダ１０８と撮像素子１０９の周囲の収容孔１０２の底面との間に配置している。これにより、ブーツ１０４と段部１０３の間に、ダストトラップ１０７が形成され、レンズホルダ１０８を回転し、レンズホルダ１０８の雄ねじ１０６と雌ねじ１０５が摺動接触することにより発生するダストが、雄ねじ１０６と雌ねじ１０５の隙間から落下しても、ダストトラップ１０７で補足され、撮像素子１０９に達することがない。 Of these, in the camera module 100 disclosed in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 7, a step portion 103 is formed below the accommodating hole 102 in which the female screw 105 of the housing body 101 is engraved, and the step portion 103 is formed. A cylindrical boot 104 that covers the image sensor 109 from the inside is arranged between the lens holder 108 and the bottom surface of the accommodating hole 102 around the image sensor 109. As a result, a dust trap 107 is formed between the boot 104 and the step portion 103, the lens holder 108 is rotated, and the dust generated by the sliding contact between the male screw 106 and the female screw 105 of the lens holder 108 is generated by the male screw 106. Even if it falls from the gap between the female screw 105 and the female screw 105, it is captured by the dust trap 107 and does not reach the image sensor 109.

また、特許文献２に開示された図８に示すカメラモジュール１１０は、上方に開口する収容孔１１１の内底面に撮像素子１１４が配設されたハウジング本体１１２と、筒体１１３ａ内にレンズが取り付けられたレンズホルダ１１３とからなっている。レンズホルダ１１３は、筒体１１３ａの外面の上方に形成された螺旋状の傾斜路を、収容孔１１１の内面の上方に形成された螺旋状の傾斜路に係合させることにより、収容孔１１１内に回転自在に収容され、回転させることにより、レンズホルダ１１３のレンズが、撮像素子１１４に対して進退移動し、レンズの焦点が調整される。 Further, in the camera module 110 shown in FIG. 8 disclosed in Patent Document 2, a housing main body 112 in which an image pickup element 114 is arranged on the inner bottom surface of an accommodation hole 111 opened upward and a lens are attached in a tubular body 113a. It is composed of the lens holder 113. The lens holder 113 engages the spiral inclined path formed above the outer surface of the tubular body 113a with the spiral inclined path formed above the inner surface of the accommodating hole 111, thereby causing the inside of the accommodating hole 111. By rotating the lens holder 113, the lens of the lens holder 113 moves back and forth with respect to the image pickup element 114, and the focus of the lens is adjusted.

収容孔１１１の内面は、上方から下方に向かって内径が小さくなる第１内壁面１１１ａ、第２内壁面１１１ｂ、第３内壁面１１１ｃ及び第４内壁面１１１ｄの４つの面に分かれ、これにより隣り合う内壁面間に第２段部１１５ｂ、第３段部１１５ｃ及び第４段部１１５ｄの３つの段部が形成される。一方、レンズホルダ１１３の筒体１１３ａの各段部１１５ｂ、１１５ｃ、１１５ｄの内方の外面は、それぞれ、その下方の第２内壁面１１１ｂ乃至第４内壁面１１１ｄの内径よりわずかに短い外径の第２外壁面１１６ｂ、第３外壁面１１６ｃ及び第４外壁面１１６ｄとなっていて、これにより、収容孔１１１の内面とレンズホルダ１１３の隙間を通して落下するダストは、各段部１１５ｂ、１１５ｃ、１１５ｄに形成されるダストトラップ１１７で補足され、撮像素子１１４に達することがない。 The inner surface of the accommodating hole 111 is divided into four surfaces, that is, the first inner wall surface 111a, the second inner wall surface 111b, the third inner wall surface 111c, and the fourth inner wall surface 111d, whose inner diameters decrease from the upper side to the lower side. Three step portions, a second step portion 115b, a third step portion 115c, and a fourth step portion 115d, are formed between the matching inner wall surfaces. On the other hand, the inner outer surface of each step portion 115b, 115c, 115d of the tubular body 113a of the lens holder 113 has an outer diameter slightly shorter than the inner diameter of the second inner wall surface 111b to the fourth inner wall surface 111d below the inner surface, respectively. The second outer wall surface 116b, the third outer wall surface 116c, and the fourth outer wall surface 116d allow dust to fall through the gap between the inner surface of the accommodating hole 111 and the lens holder 113 in each step portion 115b, 115c, 115d. It is captured by the dust trap 117 formed in the lens and does not reach the image pickup element 114.

特許５１１８１４７号公報Japanese Patent No. 5118147 特表２０１０－５０９６２０号公報Special Table 2010-509620 Gazette 特開２００６－１６６３９８号公報Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-166398

ここで上述のカメラモジュール１００は、外周面が２段に分かれた円筒形のブーツ１０４を用いるので、部品点数が増加して構造も複雑になるので製造コストが上昇する。また、レンズホルダ１０８と収容孔１０２の内底面との間に、撮像素子１０９を囲うようにブーツ１０４を組み付ける必要があり、ブーツ１０４を介在させることによって、カメラモジュール１００の全高が高くなり、低背化の障害となる。 Here, since the above-mentioned camera module 100 uses a cylindrical boot 104 whose outer peripheral surface is divided into two stages, the number of parts increases and the structure becomes complicated, so that the manufacturing cost increases. Further, it is necessary to assemble the boot 104 so as to surround the image sensor 109 between the lens holder 108 and the inner bottom surface of the accommodating hole 102, and by interposing the boot 104, the total height of the camera module 100 becomes high and low. It becomes an obstacle to the backlash.

また、従来のカメラモジュール１１０は、ダストトラップ１１７を形成するために、ハウジング本体１１２側の収容孔１１１の内面に内径が異なる複数の内壁面１１１ａ、１１１ｂ、１１１ｃ、１１１ｄを形成するとともに、レンズホルダ１１３の外面にも複数の内壁面１１１ｂ、１１１ｃ、１１１ｄの内径に外径を合わせた複数の外壁面１１６ｂ、１１６ｃ、１１６ｄを形成する必要があり、ハウジング本体１１２とレンズホルダ１１３の形状が複雑で、高精度に成形する必要があった。 Further, in the conventional camera module 110, in order to form the dust trap 117, a plurality of inner wall surfaces 111a, 111b, 111c, 111d having different inner diameters are formed on the inner surface of the accommodating hole 111 on the housing body 112 side, and the lens holder is formed. It is necessary to form a plurality of outer wall surfaces 116b, 116c, 116d whose outer diameters match the inner diameters of the plurality of inner wall surfaces 111b, 111c, 111d on the outer surface of the 113, and the shapes of the housing body 112 and the lens holder 113 are complicated. , It was necessary to mold with high precision.

更に、レンズホルダ１１３が収容孔１１１の開口の付近で、相互の傾斜路を係合させながら回転させる工程では、各段部１１５ｂ、１１５ｃ、１１５ｄの内側がレンズホルダ１１３の各外壁面１１６ｂ、１１６ｃ、１１６ｄで覆われていない場合があり、その隙間からダストが落下する恐れがあり、撮像素子１１４へダストが落下することを完全に防止することはできい。 Further, in the step of rotating the lens holder 113 in the vicinity of the opening of the accommodating hole 111 while engaging the inclined paths with each other, the inside of each step portion 115b, 115c, 115d is the outer wall surface 116b, 116c of the lens holder 113. , 116d may not be covered, and dust may fall from the gap, and it is not possible to completely prevent the dust from falling to the image sensor 114.

本発明は、このような従来の問題点を考慮してなされたものであり、従来のカメラモジュールに対して簡単な加工を施すだけでダストトラップを形成するカメラモジュールを提供する。 The present invention has been made in consideration of such conventional problems, and provides a camera module that forms a dust trap by simply processing a conventional camera module.

上述の目的を達成するため、請求項１に記載のカメラモジュールは、レンズが筒体内に取り付けられ、レンズの光軸周りの筒体の外周面に雄ねじが刻設されたレンズホルダと、該レンズホルダを上方の開口から収容する収容孔が形成され、収容孔の内周面に雄ねじに螺合する雌ねじが刻設されたハウジング本体と、ハウジング本体のレンズの光軸方向の下方に配置された撮像素子と、を備え、雌ねじに雄ねじを螺合させたレンズホルダを光軸周りに回転して、レンズと撮像素子間の距離を調整し、レンズの焦点距離を調整するカメラモジュールにおいて、
雄ねじと雌ねじの少なくともいずれか一方を、同一ピッチで連続する上方の螺合部と下方の遊嵌部とに分け、
前記遊嵌部のねじ山の山頂を削って湾曲面とし、湾曲面に対向する他方の雌ねじ若しくは雄ねじとの間にダストトラップを形成するとともに、遊嵌部のねじ山の湾曲面から谷底に連続する上面及び下面を対向する他方の雌ねじ若しくは雄ねじに当接させることを特徴とする。 In order to achieve the above object, the camera module according to claim 1 has a lens holder in which a lens is mounted inside a cylinder and a male screw is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder around the optical axis of the lens, and the lens. An accommodation hole was formed to accommodate the holder from the upper opening, and the housing body was engraved with a female screw to be screwed into a male screw on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodation hole, and the housing body was arranged below the lens of the housing body in the optical axis direction. In a camera module equipped with an image pickup element, a lens holder in which a male thread is screwed into a female thread is rotated around the optical axis to adjust the distance between the lens and the image pickup element, and the focal distance of the lens is adjusted.
At least one of the male and female threads is divided into a continuous upper threaded portion and a lower loose fitting portion at the same pitch.
The peak of the thread of the loose fitting portion is shaved to form a curved surface, a dust trap is formed between the other female screw or male screw facing the curved surface, and the thread of the loose fitting portion is continuously connected to the valley bottom from the curved surface. It is characterized in that the upper surface and the lower surface are brought into contact with the other female or male screw facing each other .

遊嵌部のねじが噛み合う相手側のねじは、同一ピッチでねじ山が形成されているので、相手側ねじと干渉することなく、その上方の螺合部が相手側のねじと螺合するまで、レンズホルダを回転させることができる。 Since the threads on the mating side where the screws of the free-fitting portion mesh with each other are formed with threads at the same pitch, the threads above the screw threads on the mating side do not interfere with the screws on the mating side until the screw on the mating side is screwed with the screw on the mating side. , The lens holder can be rotated.

螺合部が相手側のねじに螺合することによって、遊嵌部での相手側のねじのねじ山との間隔は、螺合部での間隔と同一の間隔に保持され、ねじ山の山頂を削った湾曲面がそのまま対向する相手側のねじとの隙間となって、雄ねじと雌ねじが螺合することにより生じるダストを貯留するダストトラップが形成される。 By screwing the threaded portion to the thread on the mating side, the distance between the thread of the thread on the mating side at the free fitting portion and the thread is maintained at the same distance as the spacing at the threaded portion, and the crest of the thread is maintained. The curved surface that has been shaved becomes a gap between the screw on the opposite side as it is, and a dust trap that stores the dust generated by the screwing of the male screw and the female screw is formed.

ダストトラップは、遊嵌部のねじ山の湾曲面から谷底に連続する上面及び下面が対向する他方の雌ねじ若しくは雄ねじに当接するので、レンズの光軸周りに螺旋状に連続する。The dust trap is spirally continuous around the optical axis of the lens because the upper surface and the lower surface continuous from the curved surface of the thread of the free-fitting portion to the valley bottom abut on the other female or male screw facing each other.

請求項２に記載のカメラモジュールは、レンズが筒体内に取り付けられ、レンズの光軸周りの筒体の外周面に雄ねじが刻設されたレンズホルダと、該レンズホルダを上方の開口から収容する収容孔が形成され、収容孔の内周面に雄ねじに螺合する雌ねじが刻設されたハウジング本体と、ハウジング本体のレンズの光軸方向の下方に配置された撮像素子と、を備え、雌ねじに雄ねじを螺合させたレンズホルダを光軸周りに回転して、レンズと撮像素子間の距離を調整し、レンズの焦点距離を調整するカメラモジュールにおいて、
雄ねじと雌ねじの少なくともいずれか一方を、同一ピッチで連続する上方の螺合部と下方の遊嵌部とに分け、
遊嵌部とした雄ねじのねじ山の上面若しくは雌ねじのねじ山の下面を削り、対向する他方の雌ねじ若しくは雄ねじとの間にダストトラップを形成するとともに、上面を削った雄ねじのねじ山の下面若しくは下面を削った雌ねじのねじ山の上面を対向する他方の雌ねじ若しくは雄ねじに当接させることを特徴とする。 The camera module according to claim 2 accommodates a lens holder in which a lens is mounted inside a cylinder and a male screw is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder around the optical axis of the lens, and the lens holder is accommodated from an upper opening. It is provided with a housing body in which a housing hole is formed and a female screw to be screwed into a male screw is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the housing hole, and an image pickup element arranged below the lens of the housing body in the optical axis direction. In a camera module that adjusts the distance between the lens and the image pickup element by rotating the lens holder with a male screw screwed around the optical axis to adjust the focal distance of the lens.
At least one of the male and female threads is divided into a continuous upper threaded portion and a lower loose fitting portion at the same pitch.
The upper surface of the thread of the male thread or the lower surface of the thread of the female thread used as the loose fitting portion is shaved to form a dust trap between the other female thread or the male thread facing each other, and the lower surface or the lower surface of the thread of the male thread whose upper surface is shaved. It is characterized in that the upper surface of the thread of the female thread that has been shaved is brought into contact with the other female or male thread that faces the thread .

螺合部が相手側のねじに螺合することによって、遊嵌部での相手側のねじのねじ山との間隔は、螺合部での間隔と同一の間隔に保持され、雄ねじのねじ山の上面若しくは雌ねじのねじ山の下面を削った凹部がそのまま対向する相手側のねじとの隙間となって、雄ねじと雌ねじが螺合することにより生じるダストを貯留するダストトラップが形成される。 By screwing the threaded portion to the thread on the mating side, the space between the thread of the thread on the other side at the free fitting part is maintained at the same distance as the space at the threaded part, and the space above the thread of the male screw is maintained. A recess formed on the surface or the lower surface of the thread of the female thread becomes a gap between the thread on the opposite side and the thread on the opposite side as it is, and a dust trap for storing the dust generated by the screwing of the male thread and the female thread is formed.

ダストトラップは、遊嵌部の上面を削った雄ねじのねじ山の下面若しくは下面を削った雌ねじのねじ山の上面が対向する他方の雌ねじ若しくは雄ねじに当接するので、レンズの光軸周りに螺旋状に連続する。The dust trap spirals around the optical axis of the lens because the lower surface of the thread of the male thread with the upper surface of the free-fitting portion cut or the upper surface of the thread of the female thread with the lower surface abuts on the other female thread or the male thread facing each other. Continuous.

レンズホルダの雄ねじを収容孔の開口に形成された雌ねじに螺合させる際には、雄ねじのねじ山の上面若しくは雌ねじのねじ山の下面が削られた遊嵌部が相手側のねじ山に螺合するので、遊びを有する遊嵌部のねじを相手側のねじに呼び込みやすい。 When screwing the male screw of the lens holder into the female screw formed in the opening of the accommodating hole, the free-fitting portion where the upper surface of the thread of the male screw or the lower surface of the thread of the female screw is cut is screwed into the thread on the opposite side. Therefore, it is easy to attract the screw of the loose fitting portion having play to the screw on the other side.

請求項３に記載のカメラモジュールは、遊嵌部とした雄ねじのねじ山の上面を削って、谷底に向かって下方に傾斜する傾斜面としたことを特徴とする。 The camera module according to claim 3 is characterized in that the upper surface of the thread of the male screw as the free fitting portion is shaved to form an inclined surface that inclines downward toward the valley bottom .

遊嵌部の雄ねじのねじ山の上面は、ねじ山の山頂から谷底に向かって下方に傾斜する傾斜面となっているので、ダストは、ねじ山の基端である谷底側に移動し、相手側の雌ねじねじとの隙間があるねじ山の先端から落下しにくい。 Since the upper surface of the thread of the male thread of the free-fitting portion is an inclined surface that inclines downward from the thread peak to the valley bottom, the dust moves to the valley bottom side, which is the base end of the thread, and is on the mating side. There is a gap between the female screw and the screw thread. It is difficult to drop from the tip of the thread.

請求項４に記載のカメラモジュールは、遊嵌部のねじ山は、螺合部のねじ山の一部を１０μｍ未満の深さで削った形状であることを特徴とする。 The camera module according to claim 4 is characterized in that the thread of the free fitting portion has a shape in which a part of the thread of the threaded portion is cut to a depth of less than 10 μm.

遊嵌部で噛み合う雄ねじと雌ねじの隙間は、１０μｍ未満となるので、１０μｍ以上の大きさのダストを通過させないフィルターとして作用する。 Since the gap between the male and female threads that mesh with the loose fitting portion is less than 10 μm, it acts as a filter that does not allow dust having a size of 10 μm or more to pass through.

請求項１の発明によれば、従来のカメラモジュールに対して、雄ねじ若しくは雌ねじのねじ山の山頂を削って湾曲面とする簡単な加工で、撮像素子へのダストの落下を防止するダストトラップを形成できる。 According to the first aspect of the present invention, a dust trap that prevents dust from falling onto the image sensor can be obtained by simply processing a conventional camera module by cutting the peak of a male or female thread to make it a curved surface . Can be formed.

上方の螺合部の雄ねじと雌ねじが螺合することにより生じるダストは、螺旋状に連続するダストトラップを通して徐々に落下するので、下方に配置された撮像素子まで到達しにくい。The dust generated by the male and female threads of the upper screwed portion gradually falls through the spirally continuous dust trap, so that it is difficult to reach the image sensor arranged below.

請求項２の発明によれば、従来のカメラモジュールに対して、雄ねじのねじ山の上面若しくは雌ねじのねじ山の下面を削る簡単な加工で、撮像素子へのダストの落下を防止するダストトラップを形成できる。 According to the second aspect of the present invention, a dust trap that prevents dust from falling onto the image sensor is formed by a simple process of scraping the upper surface of the male thread thread or the lower surface of the female thread thread with respect to the conventional camera module. can.

請求項３の発明によれば遊嵌部の雄ねじのねじ山の上面に貯留されたダストは、上面が谷底に向かって下方に傾斜する傾斜面となっているので、ダストは、相手側の雌ねじのねじとの間に隙間が生じているねじ山の先端側の山頂から基端側の谷底へ移動するように誘導され、相手側のねじとの隙間から落下しにくい。 According to the invention of claim 3 , the dust stored on the upper surface of the thread of the male screw of the free fitting portion has an inclined surface whose upper surface inclines downward toward the valley bottom, so that the dust is the female screw of the mating side. There is a gap between the screw and the thread. It is guided to move from the top of the thread on the tip side to the valley bottom on the base end side, and it is difficult to fall from the gap with the screw on the other side.

請求項４の発明によれば、１０μｍ未満のダストのみが遊嵌部のねじ山に沿って移動するので、撮像素子に落下することがあっても、撮像素子の取り込み画像の品質に影響しない。 According to the invention of claim 4 , since only the dust of less than 10 μm moves along the thread of the free fitting portion, even if it may fall on the image pickup device, it does not affect the quality of the captured image of the image pickup device.

本願発明の一実施の形態に係るカメラモジュール１のハウジング本体２を示す断面図である。It is sectional drawing which shows the housing body 2 of the camera module 1 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. レンズユニット３の断面図である。It is sectional drawing of the lens unit 3. 収容孔４の内周面の雌ねじ５とレンズユニット３の外周面の雄ねじ６の遊嵌部６Ｂが螺合する状態を示す断面図である。It is sectional drawing which shows the state which the free-fitting portion 6B of the female screw 5 on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole 4 and the male screw 6 on the outer peripheral surface of a lens unit 3 are screwed together. 収容孔４の内周面の雌ねじ５とレンズユニット３の外周面の雄ねじ６の螺合部６Ａが螺合する状態を示す断面図である。FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a female screw 5 on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole 4 and a screwed portion 6A of a male screw 6 on the outer peripheral surface of the lens unit 3 are screwed together. 図４の（ａ）は、雌ねじ５と雄ねじ６の螺合部６Ａと遊嵌部６Ｂとが噛み合う部分を示す、（ｂ）は、（ａ）の雄ねじ６の螺合部６Ａと遊嵌部６Ｂのみを示す、要部拡大端面図である。FIG. 4A shows a portion where the female screw 5 and the male screw 6 screwed portion 6A and the loose fitting portion 6B mesh with each other, and FIG. 4B shows the male screw 6 screwed portion 6A and the loose fitting portion 6B in FIG. 4A. It is a main part enlarged end view which shows only 6B. 他の実施の形態に係るカメラモジュール２０の（ａ）は、雌ねじ５と雄ねじ６の螺合部６Ａと遊嵌部２０Ｂとが噛み合う部分を、（ｂ）は、（ａ）の雄ねじ６の螺合部６Ａと遊嵌部２０Ｂのみを、それぞれ示す要部拡大端面図である。(A) of the camera module 20 according to another embodiment is a portion where the screwed portion 6A of the female screw 5 and the male screw 6 and the loose fitting portion 20B mesh with each other, and (b) is the screw of the male screw 6 of (a). It is an enlarged end view of the main part which shows only the joint part 6A and the loose fitting part 20B, respectively. 従来のカメラモジュール１００を示す断面図である。It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional camera module 100. 従来のカメラモジュール１１０を示す断面図である。It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional camera module 110.

本発明の一実施の形態に係るカメラモジュールは１、レンズ７を筒体内に取り付けたレンズホルダ３と、レンズホルダ３を収容する収容孔４が形成されたハウジング本体２と、レンズ３の光軸ＯＡ上の下方に受光面８ａを配置した撮像素子８とから構成され、以下、その各部を、図１乃至図５を用いて、各図で図示する上下方向を上下方向として説明する。 The camera module according to the embodiment of the present invention is 1, a lens holder 3 in which a lens 7 is mounted inside a cylinder, a housing body 2 in which a housing body 4 for accommodating the lens holder 3 is formed, and an optical axis of the lens 3. It is composed of an image pickup element 8 in which a light receiving surface 8a is arranged below the OA, and each portion thereof will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 with the vertical direction shown in each drawing as the vertical direction.

レンズホルダ３は、図２に示すように、合成樹脂などで鉛直方向に貫通孔２ａが貫通する円筒形に成形され、貫通孔２ａの上方の開口近傍に、光軸ＯＡが貫通孔２ａの中心軸に一致するようにレンズ７が取り付けられている。 As shown in FIG. 2, the lens holder 3 is formed of a synthetic resin or the like into a cylindrical shape through which the through hole 2a penetrates in the vertical direction, and the optical axis OA is the center of the through hole 2a in the vicinity of the opening above the through hole 2a. The lens 7 is attached so as to match the axis.

また、合成樹脂などで成形されるハウジング本体２には、円筒形のレンズホルダ３を、上記光軸ＯＡに沿って上方から収容する円筒形の収容孔４が穿設され、収容孔４の下方に撮像素子８を位置決め収容する位置決め室９が連通して形成されている。位置決め室９は、プリント配線基板１０上に実装される撮像素子８の受光面８ａが光軸ＯＡに直交して収容孔４の底面に臨むように撮像素子８を位置決めする。ハウジング本体２は、その内方に位置決めする撮像素子８とともにプリント配線基板１０上に実装することにより、カメラモジュール１の撮像素子８が、プリント配線基板１０の導電パターンを介してカメラホスト装置に接続する。 Further, the housing body 2 molded of synthetic resin or the like is provided with a cylindrical accommodating hole 4 for accommodating the cylindrical lens holder 3 from above along the optical axis OA, and is below the accommodating hole 4. A positioning chamber 9 for positioning and accommodating the image pickup element 8 is formed so as to communicate with each other. The positioning chamber 9 positions the image pickup element 8 so that the light receiving surface 8a of the image pickup element 8 mounted on the printed wiring board 10 faces the bottom surface of the accommodation hole 4 orthogonal to the optical axis OA. By mounting the housing body 2 on the printed wiring board 10 together with the image sensor 8 positioned inward, the image sensor 8 of the camera module 1 is connected to the camera host device via the conductive pattern of the printed wiring board 10. do.

本実施の形態に係るカメラモジュール１は、ドライブレコーダー等の一部として車両の周囲を撮像する目的で、車両に設置される車載用のカメラモジュールであり、工場出荷時に、パンフォーカスで車両周囲の画像を撮像する所定の過焦点距離とするように、レンズ７を収容孔４内で光軸ＯＡに沿って撮像素子８に向けて進退移動し、レンズ７と撮像素子８間の焦点距離を調整する。この焦点距離の調整工程では、光軸ＯＡに沿ったレンズ７と撮像素子８間の距離を微調整する必要があるので、レンズホルダ３の円筒の外周面に光軸ＯＡ周りに雄ねじ６が刻設されるとともに、円筒形の収容孔４の内周面に光軸ＯＡ周りに雄ねじ６に螺合する雌ねじ５が刻設されている。 The camera module 1 according to the present embodiment is an in-vehicle camera module installed in a vehicle for the purpose of imaging the surroundings of the vehicle as a part of a drive recorder or the like, and is pan-focused around the vehicle at the time of shipment from the factory. The lens 7 is moved back and forth toward the image pickup element 8 along the optical axis OA in the accommodation hole 4 so as to have a predetermined hyperfocal length for capturing an image, and the focal length between the lens 7 and the image pickup element 8 is adjusted. do. In this focal length adjustment step, it is necessary to finely adjust the distance between the lens 7 and the image pickup element 8 along the optical axis OA, so a male screw 6 is engraved around the optical axis OA on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder of the lens holder 3. At the same time, a female screw 5 to be screwed into the male screw 6 is engraved around the optical axis OA on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical accommodating hole 4.

このうちレンズホルダ３に刻設される雄ねじ６は、図４で破線で囲う部分を図５（ａ）（ｂ）に拡大して示すように、上方の螺合部６Ａと下方の遊嵌部６Ｂに分けられ、雄ねじ６の螺合部６Ａと雌ねじ５のねじ山は、それぞれ、ねじ山の角度が６０度のメートル並み目ねじの標準山形の互いに相補する形状に形成され、ねじ山のピッチは、レンズホルダ３や収容孔４の大きさにかかわらず、光軸ＯＡに沿って等しく０．５ｍｍピッチとなっている。 Of these, the male screw 6 engraved on the lens holder 3 has an upper screwed portion 6A and a lower free-fitting portion as shown by enlarging the portion surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 4 in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). Divided into 6B, the thread 6A of the male thread 6 and the thread of the female thread 5 are each formed into a shape complementary to the standard thread shape of a metric thread with a thread angle of 60 degrees, and the pitch of the thread is Has an equal pitch of 0.5 mm along the optical axis OA regardless of the size of the lens holder 3 and the accommodating hole 4.

一方、雄ねじ６の遊嵌部６Ｂは、図５（ｂ）に示すように、螺合部６Ａの破線で示すねじ山の山頂を削り、湾曲面６Ｂ１とした形状となっていて、これによって、遊嵌部６Ｂの各ねじ山と対向する雌ねじ５の谷底との間に、螺合部６Ａと雌ねじ５が摺動することによって発生するダストを貯留するダストトラップ１１が形成される。この雄ねじ６の遊嵌部６Ｂは、例えば、螺合部６Ａを形成する刃を備えたねじ切りダイスを用いてレンズホルダ３の外周面全体に螺合部６Ａを形成しておき、その下方から、ねじ山の山頂を削って湾曲面６Ｂ１とする刃を備えたねじ切りダイスでねじ山の山頂を切削し、螺合部６Ａの下方に遊嵌部６Ｂを形成する。 On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5B, the free fitting portion 6B of the male screw 6 has a shape in which the peak of the thread indicated by the broken line of the screwed portion 6A is cut to form a curved surface 6B1. A dust trap 11 for storing dust generated by sliding the screwed portion 6A and the female screw 5 is formed between each thread of the free fitting portion 6B and the valley bottom of the female screw 5 facing the thread. In the loose fitting portion 6B of the male screw 6, for example, a screwing portion 6A is formed on the entire outer peripheral surface of the lens holder 3 by using a thread cutting die provided with a blade for forming the screwing portion 6A, and the screwing portion 6A is formed from below. The thread crest is cut with a thread cutting die equipped with a blade for cutting the thread crest to form a curved surface 6B1, and a free fitting portion 6B is formed below the threaded portion 6A.

雌ねじ５と雄ねじ６の光軸ＯＡに沿った長さは、ほぼ等しく、雄ねじ６の上端が雌ねじ５の上端まで螺合する位置、すなわち螺合部６Ａの全体が雌ねじ５に螺合する位置でレンズホルダ３の底面が撮像素子８の受光面８ａに近接して対向するように、雌ねじ５と雄ねじ６の各長さが設定されている。また、雄ねじ６の全体に対して、ここでは、螺合部６Ａと遊嵌部６Ｂの長さをほぼ等しくし、螺合部の６Ａの中間位置まで雌ねじ５にねじ込んだ位置でのレンズ７と撮像素子８間の距離が、設計上、所定距離に設定する過焦点距離にレンズ７と撮像素子８間の焦点距離に一致するように、レンズホルダ３の外周面に刻設する螺合部６Ａの長さを設定する。 The lengths of the female screw 5 and the male screw 6 along the optical axis OA are almost equal, and at the position where the upper end of the male screw 6 is screwed to the upper end of the female screw 5, that is, the position where the entire screwed portion 6A is screwed into the female screw 5. The lengths of the female screw 5 and the male screw 6 are set so that the bottom surface of the lens holder 3 faces the light receiving surface 8a of the image sensor 8 in close proximity to each other. Further, with respect to the entire male screw 6, here, the lengths of the screwed portion 6A and the loose fitting portion 6B are made substantially equal to each other, and the lens 7 is screwed into the female screw 5 to the intermediate position of the screwed portion 6A. A screw portion 6A engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the lens holder 3 so that the distance between the image pickup elements 8 matches the focal length between the lens 7 and the image pickup element 8 with the hyperfocal length set to a predetermined distance by design. Set the length of.

このように構成されたレンズホルダ３を、ハウジング本体３の収納孔４へ収納する際には、初めに図３に示すように、ハウジング本体３の収納孔４の上端開口部に光軸ＯＡを一致させてレンズホルダ３を配置し、レンズホルダ３を上方からみて時計回りに回転させる。この際に、遊嵌部６Ｂのねじ山は、山頂を削った湾曲面６Ｂ１となっていて、雌ねじ５との間に隙間が生じているので、遊嵌部６Ｂは、雌ねじ５のねじ山と干渉することなく、スムーズに雌ねじ５のねじ山の間に呼び込まれて噛み合う。 When the lens holder 3 configured in this way is stored in the storage hole 4 of the housing body 3, the optical axis OA is first inserted into the upper end opening of the storage hole 4 of the housing body 3 as shown in FIG. The lens holder 3 is arranged so as to match, and the lens holder 3 is rotated clockwise when viewed from above. At this time, the thread of the free fitting portion 6B is a curved surface 6B1 with the peak cut off, and a gap is formed between the thread of the loose fitting portion 6B and the female screw 5. It is smoothly drawn in and meshed between the threads of the female screw 5 without interfering with each other.

レンズホルダ３を更に時計回りに回転させる際にも、螺合部６Ａのねじ山の山頂を削って形成した遊嵌部６Ｂのねじ山は、螺合部６Ａが螺合する雌ねじ５と同一の０．５ｍｍピッチであるので、遊嵌部６Ｂは、雌ねじ５のねじ山に案内されながら、雌ねじ５に沿ってスライドし、レンズホルダ３は、収納孔４内に徐々に下降する。ここで遊嵌部６Ｂは、雌ねじ５との間に隙間が形成され、また、雌ねじ５に対向する遊嵌部６Ｂのねじ山は、エッジを削った湾曲面６Ｂ１となっているので、スライド中のダストは発生しにくい。 When the lens holder 3 is further rotated clockwise, the thread of the loose fitting portion 6B formed by cutting the thread peak of the screw portion 6A is the same as the female screw 5 to which the screw portion 6A is screwed. Since the pitch is 0.5 mm, the loose fitting portion 6B slides along the female screw 5 while being guided by the thread of the female screw 5, and the lens holder 3 gradually descends into the storage hole 4. Here, the free fitting portion 6B has a gap formed between it and the female screw 5, and the thread of the free fitting portion 6B facing the female screw 5 is a curved surface 6B1 with a cut edge. Dust is unlikely to be generated.

更に、レンズホルダ３を時計回りに回転させると、遊嵌部６Ｂの上方で同一ピッチで連続する螺合部６Ａが雌ねじ５に螺合し、螺合部６Ａと雌ねじ５を螺合させながら、レンズホルダ３を時計回りに回転させると、レンズホルダ３が光軸ＯＡに沿って収納孔４内を下降してレンズ７と撮像素子８間の距離が接近し、逆にレンズホルダ３の半時計回りに回転させると、レンズホルダ３が収納孔４内を上昇し、レンズ７と撮像素子８間の距離が長くなる。これにより、螺合部６Ａと雌ねじ５が螺合する状態で、レンズホルダ３を時計方向若しくは半時計方向に回転させて、レンズ７と撮像素子８間の距離を、過焦点距離となる焦点距離に調整できる。この焦点距離を調整する工程において、雄ねじ６の螺合部６Ａと雌ねじ５は、相応の接触圧で摺動接触するので、その間にダストが発生することがある。しかしながら、発生したダストは、レンズホルダ３を繰り返して回転操作する間に、螺合部６Ａと雌ねじ５の隙間に沿って螺旋状に下降し、雄ねじ６の遊嵌部６Ｂまで達すると、遊嵌部６Ｂと雌ねじ５との隙間に形成されたダストトラップ１１に貯留されるので、ダストは更にその下方まで落下しにくく、撮像素子８の受光面８ａ上に付着して、撮像素子８の画像品質を劣化させるようなことがない。 Further, when the lens holder 3 is rotated clockwise, a continuous screw portion 6A above the free fitting portion 6B at the same pitch is screwed into the female screw 5, and the screw portion 6A and the female screw 5 are screwed while being screwed. When the lens holder 3 is rotated clockwise, the lens holder 3 descends in the storage hole 4 along the optical axis OA, and the distance between the lens 7 and the image pickup element 8 approaches, and conversely, the counterclockwise of the lens holder 3. When rotated around, the lens holder 3 rises in the storage hole 4, and the distance between the lens 7 and the image pickup element 8 becomes long. As a result, with the screwed portion 6A and the female screw 5 screwed together, the lens holder 3 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and the distance between the lens 7 and the image pickup element 8 becomes the focal length that becomes the hyperfocal length. Can be adjusted to. In the step of adjusting the focal length, the screwed portion 6A of the male screw 6 and the female screw 5 are in sliding contact with each other at an appropriate contact pressure, so that dust may be generated between them. However, the generated dust spirally descends along the gap between the screw portion 6A and the female screw 5 while the lens holder 3 is repeatedly rotated, and when it reaches the free fitting portion 6B of the male screw 6, it is loosely fitted. Since the dust is stored in the dust trap 11 formed in the gap between the portion 6B and the female screw 5, the dust is less likely to fall further below the dust trap 11 and adheres to the light receiving surface 8a of the image pickup element 8 to obtain the image quality of the image pickup element 8. Does not deteriorate.

過焦点距離となる焦点距離となるように、レンズ７と撮像素子８間の距離を調整した回転位置で、レンズホルダ３を接着剤、熱溶着などでハウジング本体２に固着し、レンズホルダ３の回転を固定する。 At the rotational position where the distance between the lens 7 and the image sensor 8 is adjusted so that the focal length becomes the hyperfocal length, the lens holder 3 is fixed to the housing body 2 with adhesive, heat welding, etc., and the lens holder 3 Fix the rotation.

しかしながら、パンフォーカスとせずに、被写体との距離に合わせて、その都度レンズ７と撮像素子８間の距離を調整する車載用以外の他の用途で用いられるカメラモジュールであっても本発明を適用できるので、そのようなカメラモジュールでは、レンズホルダ３の回転を固定しない。 However, the present invention is applied even to a camera module used for other purposes other than in-vehicle use, in which the distance between the lens 7 and the image sensor 8 is adjusted each time according to the distance to the subject without pan focus. Therefore, in such a camera module, the rotation of the lens holder 3 is not fixed.

また、雄ねじ６の遊嵌部のねじ山の形状は、螺合部６Ａのねじ山の一部を削って形成するものであれば、どのような形状でもよい。以下、雄ねじ６の遊嵌部２０Ｂのねじ山の形状を遊嵌部６Ｂと異なる形状とした本発明の第２実施の形態のカメラモジュール２０を、図６（ａ）、（ｂ）を用いて説明する。第２実施の形態のカメラモジュール２０は、遊嵌部２０Ｂのねじ山の形状のみが第１実施の形態と異なるので、第１実施の形態と同一若しくは同様に作用する各部の構成については、同一の番号を付してその説明を省略する。 Further, the shape of the thread of the free-fitting portion of the male screw 6 may be any shape as long as it is formed by cutting a part of the thread of the screw portion 6A. Hereinafter, the camera module 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which the shape of the thread of the loose fitting portion 20B of the male screw 6 is different from that of the loose fitting portion 6B, is obtained by using FIGS. 6A and 6B. explain. Since the camera module 20 of the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the shape of the thread of the free fitting portion 20B, the configuration of each portion that operates in the same manner as or in the same manner as that of the first embodiment is the same. The explanation is omitted by adding the number of.

雄ねじ６の遊嵌部２０Ｂは、図６（ｂ）に示すように、破線で示す螺合部６Ａのねじ山の上方を１０μｍ未満の深さで削り、上面を図中右方の谷底に向かって下方に傾斜する傾斜面２０Ｂ１としている。遊嵌部２０Ｂと雌ねじ５との上下方向の相対位置は、雄ねじ６の螺合部６Ａと雌ねじ５が螺合することにより、一定で変化しないので、図６（ａ）に示すように、遊嵌部２０Ｂの傾斜面２０Ｂ１と雌ねじ５のねじ山との間にダストを貯留するダストトラップ２１が形成される。 As shown in FIG. 6B, the free fitting portion 20B of the male screw 6 is cut above the thread of the screwed portion 6A shown by the broken line to a depth of less than 10 μm, and the upper surface is cut toward the valley bottom on the right side in the figure. The inclined surface 20B1 is inclined downward. As shown in FIG. 6A, the relative positions of the free fitting portion 20B and the female screw 5 in the vertical direction are constant and do not change due to the screwing portion 6A of the male screw 6 and the female screw 5. A dust trap 21 for storing dust is formed between the inclined surface 20B1 of the fitting portion 20B and the thread of the female screw 5.

このダストトラップ２１の隙間は、１０μｍ未満であるので、ダストトラップ２１は、１０μｍ以上の大きさのダストが通過しないフィルターとして作用し、撮像素子８で認識されるような大きさのダストが受光面８ａに付着することがない。 Since the gap of the dust trap 21 is less than 10 μm, the dust trap 21 acts as a filter through which dust having a size of 10 μm or more does not pass, and dust having a size recognized by the image sensor 8 acts as a light receiving surface. Does not adhere to 8a.

また、ダストトラップ２１の底面となる傾斜面２０Ｂ１は、ねじ山の谷底に向かって下方に傾斜しているので、ダストトラップ２１に進入したダストは、谷底寄りに移動し遊嵌部２０Ｂのねじ山の山頂と対向する雌ねじ５の谷底との間の隙間から下方に落下しにくい。 Further, since the inclined surface 20B1 which is the bottom surface of the dust trap 21 is inclined downward toward the valley bottom of the thread, the dust that has entered the dust trap 21 moves toward the valley bottom and the thread of the thread fitting portion 20B. It is difficult to fall downward from the gap between the mountaintop and the valley bottom of the female screw 5 facing the mountain.

上述の各実施の形態では、レンズホルダ３に刻設された雄ねじ６を上方の螺合部６Ａと下方の遊嵌部６Ｂ、２０Ｂとに分けたが、収容孔４の内周面に刻設する雌ねじ５を同一ピッチで上下に連続する上方の螺合部と下方の遊嵌部とに分け、遊嵌部のねじ山を、雌ねじ５の螺合部のねじ山の一部を削った形状とするものであってもよい。 In each of the above-described embodiments, the male screw 6 engraved on the lens holder 3 is divided into an upper screwed portion 6A and a lower loose fitting portion 6B and 20B, but the male screw 6 is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole 4. The female screw 5 to be screwed is divided into an upper threaded portion and a lower free-fitting portion that are continuous up and down at the same pitch, and the thread of the loose-fitting portion is formed by cutting a part of the thread of the threaded portion of the female screw 5. It may be.

また、撮像素子８は、レンズホルダ３に固定されたレンズ７の光軸ＯＡ上に配置されるものであれば、ハウジング本体２やハウジング本体２と一体の他の部品上に取り付けられるものであってもよい。 Further, if the image sensor 8 is arranged on the optical axis OA of the lens 7 fixed to the lens holder 3, it can be mounted on the housing body 2 or another component integrated with the housing body 2. You may.

また、雄ねじ６若しくは雌ねじ５に形成される遊嵌部の長さは、少なくともその上方の螺合部が相手側のねじに螺合し、レンズホルダ３ががたつきなくハウジング本体２に固定されれば、任意の長さとすることができる。 Further, the length of the loose fitting portion formed in the male screw 6 or the female screw 5 is such that at least the screwed portion above the screwed portion is screwed into the thread on the other side, and the lens holder 3 is fixed to the housing body 2 without rattling. If so, it can be any length.

更に、上述の第２実施の形態では、ダストトラップ２１の隙間を１０μｍ未満としているが、ダストトラップ１１、２１は、遊嵌部６Ｂ、２０Ｂがダストが落下しない十分な長さであれば、必ずしもで１０μｍ未満の隙間とする必要はない。 Further, in the second embodiment described above, the gap between the dust traps 21 is set to less than 10 μm, but the dust traps 11 and 21 are not necessarily long enough so that the loose fitting portions 6B and 20B do not drop dust. It is not necessary to make the gap less than 10 μm.

本発明は、レンズホルダを手動若しくは自動で回転し、最適な焦点距離に調整するカメラモジュールに適用できる。 The present invention can be applied to a camera module that manually or automatically rotates a lens holder to adjust the focal length to an optimum value.

１、２０カメラモジュール
２ハウジング本体
３レンズホルダ（筒体）
４収容孔
５雌ねじ
６雄ねじ
６Ａ螺合部
６Ｂ遊嵌部
６Ｂ１湾曲面
７レンズ
８撮像素子
８ａ受光面
１１、２１ダストトラップ
２０Ｂ遊嵌部
２０Ｂ１傾斜面
ＯＡレンズの光軸 1, 20 Camera module 2 Housing body 3 Lens holder (cylinder body)
4 Accommodating hole 5 Female thread 6 Male thread 6A Screwing part 6B Free fitting part 6B1 Curved surface 7 Lens 8 Image sensor 8a Light receiving surface 11, 21 Dust trap 20B Free fitting part 20B1 Inclined surface OA Optical axis of lens

Claims

レンズが筒体内に取り付けられ、前記レンズの光軸周りの前記筒体の外周面に雄ねじが刻設されたレンズホルダと、
該レンズホルダを上方の開口から収容する収容孔が形成され、前記収容孔の内周面に前記雄ねじに螺合する雌ねじが刻設されたハウジング本体と、
前記ハウジング本体の前記レンズの光軸方向の下方に配置された撮像素子と、を備え、
前記雌ねじに前記雄ねじを螺合させた前記レンズホルダを前記光軸周りに回転して、前記レンズと前記撮像素子間の距離を調整し、前記レンズの焦点距離を調整するカメラモジュールにおいて、
前記雄ねじと前記雌ねじの少なくともいずれか一方を、同一ピッチで連続する上方の螺合部と下方の遊嵌部とに分け、
前記遊嵌部のねじ山の山頂を削って湾曲面とし、前記湾曲面に対向する他方の前記雌ねじ若しくは前記雄ねじとの間にダストトラップを形成するとともに、前記遊嵌部のねじ山の前記湾曲面から谷底に連続する上面及び下面を対向する他方の前記雌ねじ若しくは前記雄ねじに当接させることを特徴とするカメラモジュール。 A lens holder in which a lens is mounted inside a cylinder and a male screw is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder around the optical axis of the lens.
A housing body in which an accommodating hole for accommodating the lens holder is formed from an upper opening and a female screw to be screwed into the male screw is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole.
An image sensor arranged below the lens of the housing body in the optical axis direction is provided.
In a camera module in which the lens holder in which the male screw is screwed into the female screw is rotated around the optical axis to adjust the distance between the lens and the image sensor, and the focal length of the lens is adjusted.
At least one of the male screw and the female screw is divided into a continuous upper screw portion and a lower loose fitting portion at the same pitch.
The peak of the thread of the loose fitting portion is shaved to form a curved surface, a dust trap is formed between the other female screw or the male screw facing the curved surface, and the curved surface of the thread of the loose fitting portion is formed. A camera module characterized in that the upper surface and the lower surface continuous from the surface to the valley bottom are brought into contact with the other female screw or the male screw facing each other .

レンズが筒体内に取り付けられ、前記レンズの光軸周りの前記筒体の外周面に雄ねじが刻設されたレンズホルダと、
該レンズホルダを上方の開口から収容する収容孔が形成され、前記収容孔の内周面に前記雄ねじに螺合する雌ねじが刻設されたハウジング本体と、
前記ハウジング本体の前記レンズの光軸方向の下方に配置された撮像素子と、を備え、
前記雌ねじに前記雄ねじを螺合させた前記レンズホルダを前記光軸周りに回転して、前記レンズと前記撮像素子間の距離を調整し、前記レンズの焦点距離を調整するカメラモジュールにおいて、
前記雄ねじと前記雌ねじの少なくともいずれか一方を、同一ピッチで連続する上方の螺合部と下方の遊嵌部とに分け、
前記遊嵌部とした前記雄ねじのねじ山の上面若しくは前記雌ねじのねじ山の下面を削り、対向する他方の前記雌ねじ若しくは前記雄ねじとの間にダストトラップを形成するとともに、上面を削った前記雄ねじのねじ山の下面若しくは下面を削った前記雌ねじのねじ山の上面を対向する他方の前記雌ねじ若しくは前記雄ねじに当接させることを特徴とするカメラモジュール。 A lens holder in which a lens is mounted inside a cylinder and a male screw is engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder around the optical axis of the lens.
A housing body in which an accommodating hole for accommodating the lens holder is formed from an upper opening and a female screw to be screwed into the male screw is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole.
An image sensor arranged below the lens of the housing body in the optical axis direction is provided.
In a camera module in which the lens holder in which the male screw is screwed into the female screw is rotated around the optical axis to adjust the distance between the lens and the image sensor, and the focal length of the lens is adjusted.
At least one of the male screw and the female screw is divided into a continuous upper screw portion and a lower loose fitting portion at the same pitch.
The upper surface of the thread of the male thread or the lower surface of the thread of the female thread used as the loose fitting portion is shaved to form a dust trap between the thread of the male thread and the other female thread or the male thread facing each other, and the upper surface of the male thread is shaved. A camera module characterized in that the lower surface or the lower surface of the thread is shaved so that the upper surface of the thread of the female thread is brought into contact with the other female thread or the male thread facing the thread .

遊嵌部とした前記雄ねじのねじ山の上面を削って、谷底に向かって下方に傾斜する傾斜面としたことを特徴とする請求項２に記載のカメラモジュール。 The camera module according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the thread of the male screw as the free fitting portion is shaved to form an inclined surface that inclines downward toward the valley bottom .

遊嵌部のねじ山は、ねじ山の一部を１０μｍ未満の深さで削った形状であることを特徴とする請求項１乃至請求項３のいずれか１項に記載のカメラモジュール。 The camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thread of the free fitting portion has a shape in which a part of the thread is cut to a depth of less than 10 μm.