Back to results
US 11,448,941 B2Granted
Camera focus and stabilization system
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorShashank Sharma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments include a camera with a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. The VCM actuator assembly is configured to move an image sensor of the camera in three dimensions (e.g. X, Y, and Z) to provide the AF and/or OIS movements. The VCM actuator assembly is asymmetrical and includes an at least partially open side that allows an optical assembly of the camera to pass through the open side of the VCM actuator. In some embodiments, the optical assembly is part of a folded optics arrangement of the camera that includes one or more prisms/and or lenses.
Claims20
A camera, comprising:
- an aperture configured to enable light to enter the camera;
- an image sensor configured to capture the light that has entered the camera and convert the light into image signals;
- a substrate carrier, configured to support the image sensor;
- a carrier frame at least partially surrounding the substrate carrier and configured to support a plurality of magnets;
- and
- an assembly that mechanically couples the substrate carrier to the carrier frame, and permits motion of the substrate carrier relative to the carrier frame in an autofocus (AF) direction, and permits motion of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier in a plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus (AF) direction;
- the plurality of magnets comprising:
- a first magnet coupled to a first side of the carrier frame;
- a second magnet coupled to a second side of the carrier frame opposite the first side;
- and
- a third magnet coupled to a third side of the carrier frame orthogonal to the first and second side of the carrier frame;
- wherein magnetic fields from the first magnet and second magnet are used in a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to move the image sensor in the autofocus (AF) direction and move the image sensor in one of the optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus direction;
- and
- wherein a magnetic field from the third magnet is used in the voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to move the image sensor in a different one of the optical image stabilization directions orthogonal to the autofocus direction.
11 more elements
A voice coil motor actuator assembly, comprising:
- a substrate carrier configured to support an image sensor;
- a carrier frame at least partially surrounding the substrate carrier and configured to support a plurality of magnets;
- and
- an assembly that mechanically couples the substrate carrier to the carrier frame and permits motion of the substrate carrier relative to the carrier frame in an autofocus (AF) direction, and permits motion of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier in a plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus (AF) direction;
- the plurality of magnets comprising:
- a first magnet coupled to a first side of the carrier frame;
- a second magnet coupled to a second side of the carrier frame opposite the first side;
- and
- a third magnet coupled to a third side of the carrier frame orthogonal to the first and second side of the carrier frame;
- wherein magnetic fields from the first magnet and second magnet are used in the voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly move the image sensor in the autofocus (AF) direction and move the image sensor in one of the optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus direction;
- and
- wherein a magnetic field from the third magnet is used in the voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to move the image sensor in a different one of the optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus direction.
9 more elements
A mobile multifunction device, comprising:
- a camera comprising:
- an aperture configured to enable light to enter the camera;
- an image sensor configured to capture the light that has entered the camera and convert the light into image signals;
- and
- a voice coil motor actuator assembly comprising:
- a substrate carrier configured to support the image sensor;
- a carrier frame at least partially surrounding the substrate carrier and configured to support a plurality of magnets;
- and
- an assembly that mechanically couples the substrate carrier to the carrier frame, and permits motion of the substrate carrier relative to the carrier frame in an autofocus (AF) direction, and permits motion of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier in a plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus (AF) direction;
- the plurality of magnets comprising:
- a first magnet coupled to a first side of the carrier frame;
- a second magnet coupled to a second side of the carrier frame opposite the first side;
- and
- a third magnet coupled to a third side of the carrier frame orthogonal to the first and second side of the carrier frame;
- wherein magnetic fields from the first magnet and second magnet are used in the voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to move the image sensor in the autofocus (AF) direction and move the image sensor in one of the optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus direction;
- and
- wherein a magnetic field from the third magnet is used in the voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to move the image sensor in a different one of the optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus direction.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.