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US 11,122,205 B1Granted
Camera actuator assembly with sensor shift flexure arrangement
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorShashank Sharma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments include a camera with image sensor shifting capabilities and a flexure arrangement. In various embodiments, the flexure arrangement may include an upper flexure and a lower flexure. The upper flexure may include a suspension wire that extends between two sheets. The lower flexure may include one or more flexure arms that connect a moveable platform to a stationary platform.
Claims20
A camera, comprising:
- one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;
- an image sensor configured to capture light that has passed through the one or more lens elements;
- a moveable platform fixedly coupled to the image sensor such that the image sensor moves together with the moveable platform;
- an actuator module configured to move the image sensor in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
- and
- a flexure arrangement configured to guide the movement of the moveable platform in a controlled manner, the flexure arrangement comprising:
- an upper flexure that couples one or more fixed components of the camera to the moveable platform;
- and
- a lower flexure that connects the moveable platform to one or more fixed components of the camera;
- wherein the upper flexure supports the moveable platform with a greater stiffness in a direction parallel to the optical axis than the lower flexure.
7 more elements
A device, comprising:
- a camera, comprising:
- one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;
- an image sensor configured to capture light that has passed through the one or more lens elements;
- and
- a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move the image sensor, relative to the one or more lens elements, in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis, the VCM actuator comprising:
- a moveable platform coupled to the image sensor such that the image sensor moves together with the moveable platform;
- a stationary platform configured to be stationary relative to the moveable platform;
- and
- a flexure arrangement to guide motion of the moveable platform in a controlled manner, the flexure arrangement comprising:
- an upper flexure, comprising a suspension wire coupled to the moveable platform;
- and
- a lower flexure comprising one or more flexure arms that connect the moveable platform to the stationary platform.
9 more elements
A voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly for a camera, the VCM actuator assembly comprising:
- one or more magnets;
- one or more coils;
- a moveable platform configured to be coupled to an image sensor of the camera, such that the image sensor moves together with the moveable platform;
- a stationary platform configured to be stationary relative to the moveable platform;
- and
- a flexure arrangement to guide motion of the moveable platform in a controlled manner, the flexure arrangement comprising:
- an upper flexure, comprising:
- a top sheet;
- a bottom sheet coupled to the moveable platform;
- and
- a suspension wire extending from the top sheet to the bottom sheet;
- and
- a lower flexure comprising one or more flexure arms that connect the moveable platform to the stationary platform.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.