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US 11,536,930 B2Granted
Suspended actuator
AssigneeMicrosoft Licensing Technology, LLC
InventorMarko Eromäki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imaging apparatus comprises two actuators, such as an autofocus actuator and optical image stabilizer. The actuators are nested, wherein the outer actuator is suspended from the device body and the inner actuator is suspended from the outer actuator. A suspension element may be a flexure bearing, allowing a flat actuator design.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- a body;
- a first lens group on an optical axis;
- a first lens group actuator comprising a first ferromagnetic element and a first electromagnetic element configured to cause the first lens group to move along the optical axis;
- a second lens group actuator comprising a second ferromagnetic element and a second electromagnetic element configured to cause the first lens group to move transversely to the optical axis, wherein the second lens group actuator is at a same level as the first lens group actuator along the optical axis;
- a suspension element, an entirety of the suspension element extending within a first plane, the suspension element comprising a first suspension element and a second suspension element;
- the first suspension element configured to suspend the first lens group actuator from the second lens group actuator, an entirety of the first suspension element extending within the first plane;
- the second suspension element configured to suspend the second lens group actuator from the body, an entirety of the second suspension element extending within the first plane;
- and
- wherein the first suspension element is configured to transfer an electric signal between the first lens group actuator and the second lens group actuator and the second suspension element is configured to transfer an electric signal between the body and the second lens group actuator;
- and
- wherein at least a first portion of the first suspension element and at least a second portion of the second suspension element are made of a single piece of material.
8 more elements
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a body;
- a first lens group on an optical axis;
- an autofocus actuator comprising a first ferromagnetic element and a first electromagnetic element configured to cause the first lens group to move along the optical axis;
- an optical image stabilizer comprising a second ferromagnetic element and a second electromagnetic element configured to cause the first lens group to move transversely to the optical axis, wherein the optical image stabilizer is at a same level as the autofocus actuator along the optical axis;
- a suspension element, an entirety of the suspension element extending within a first plane, the suspension element comprising a first suspension element and a second suspension element;
- the first suspension element configured to suspend the autofocus actuator from the optical image stabilizer, an entirety of the first suspension element extending within the first plane;
- the second suspension element configured to suspend the optical image stabilizer from the body, an entirety of the second suspension element extending within the first plane;
- and
- wherein the first suspension element is configured to transfer an electric signal between the autofocus actuator and the optical image stabilizer and the second suspension element is configured to transfer an electric signal between the body and the optical image stabilizer;
- and
- wherein at least a first portion of the first suspension element and at least a second portion of the second suspension element are made of a single piece of material.
8 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a body;
- a first lens group on an optical axis;
- an autofocus actuator comprising a first ferromagnetic element and a first electromagnetic element configured to cause the first lens group to move along the optical axis;
- an optical image stabilizer comprising a second ferromagnetic element and a second electromagnetic element configured to cause the first lens group to move transversely to the optical axis, wherein the optical image stabilizer is at a same level as the autofocus actuator along the optical axis;
- a suspension element extending within a first plane, the suspension element comprising a first suspension element and a second suspension element;
- the first suspension element configured to suspend the autofocus actuator from the optical image stabilizer, the first suspension element extending within the first plane;
- the second suspension element configured to suspend the optical image stabilizer from the body, the second suspension element extending within the first plane;
- and
- wherein the first suspension element is configured to transfer an electric signal between the autofocus actuator and the optical image stabilizer and the second suspension element is configured to transfer an electric signal between the body and the optical image stabilizer;
- and
- wherein at least a first portion of the first suspension element and at least a second portion of the second suspension element are made of a single piece of material.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.