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US 11,539,864 B1Granted
Folded optics camera and actuator assembly
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsShashank Sharma, Brad V. Johnson, Alfred N. Mireault
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments include a camera with a folded optics arrangement and include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. The camera with folded optics and the associated VCM actuator assembly have a first rotational normal mode of free vibration such that lenses of the camera rotate about an optical axis of the camera such that the rotational motion in the first rotational mode of free vibration is invisible from a perspective of an image sensor of the camera.
Claims20
A camera, comprising:
- an aperture configured to enable light to enter the camera in a first direction via the aperture;
- a prism configured to redirect the light such that the light is directed in a second direction;
- a lens carrier comprising one or more lens, wherein the lens carrier is oriented in the camera such that the light directed in the second direction passes through the one or more lens of the lens carrier, wherein the one or more lens of the lens carrier define an optical axis of the camera;
- an image sensor configured to capture the light which has passed through the one or more lens and convert the light into image signals;
- a carrier frame at least partially surrounding the lens carrier and at least partially surrounding the prism on at least two sides of the prism;
- a first set of suspension elements configured to mechanically connect the lens carrier to the carrier frame, wherein the suspension elements permit motion of the lens carrier relative to the carrier frame along the optical axis and restrict motion of the lens carrier relative to the carrier frame in directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
- a second set of suspension elements configured to mechanically connect the carrier frame to a static member of the camera, configured to be static relative to the carrier frame, wherein the second set of suspension elements are arranged in an opposing arrangement in an optical axis direction that restricts motion of the carrier frame along the optical axis and permits motion of the carrier frame in directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
- and
- one or more VCM actuators configured to:
- move the lens carrier, relative to the image sensor, along the optical axis in the carrier frame;
- and
- move the carrier frame and lens carrier, relative to the image sensor, in a plurality of directions orthogonal to the optical axis.
9 more elements
A voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly for a folded optics camera, the VCM actuator assembly comprising:
- a plurality of magnets;
- a plurality of coils;
- a carrier frame configured to at least partially surround a lens carrier and at least partially surrounding a prism on at least two sides of the prism, wherein an optical axis of one or more lens of the lens carrier is oriented perpendicular to a light direction of light entering the folded optics camera;
- a first set of suspension elements configured to mechanically connect the lens carrier to the carrier frame, wherein the suspension elements permit motion of the lens carrier relative to the carrier frame along the optical axis and restrict motion of the lens carrier relative to the carrier frame in directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
- a second set of suspension elements configured to mechanically connect the carrier frame to a static member of the folded optics camera, wherein the second set of suspension elements are arranged in an opposing arrangement in an optical axis direction that restricts motion of the carrier frame along the optical axis and permits motion of the carrier frame in directions orthogonal to the optical axis,
- wherein the VCM actuator assembly is configured to:
- move the lens carrier in the carrier frame along the optical axis, relative to an image sensor of the folded optics camera;
- and
- move the carrier frame and lens carrier in a plurality of directions orthogonal to the optical axis relative to the image sensor.
6 more elements
A mobile multifunction device, comprising:
- a camera module comprising:
- an aperture configured to enable light to enter the camera module in a first direction via the aperture;
- a prism configured to redirect the light such that the light is directed in a second direction;
- a lens carrier comprising one or more lens, wherein the lens carrier is oriented in the camera module such that the light directed in the second direction passes through the one or more lens, wherein the one or more lens of the lens carrier define an optical axis of the camera module;
- an image sensor configured to capture light which has passed through the one or more lens of the lens carrier and convert the light into image signals;
- and
- a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly comprising:
- a plurality of magnets;
- a plurality of coils;
- a carrier frame at least partially surrounding the lens carrier and at least partially surrounding the prism on at least two sides of the prism;
- a first set of suspension elements configured to mechanically connect the lens carrier to the carrier frame, wherein the suspension elements permit motion of the lens carrier relative to the carrier frame along the optical axis and restrict motion of the lens carrier relative to the carrier frame in directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
- a second set of suspension elements configured to mechanically connect the carrier frame to a static member of the camera module configured to be static relative to the carrier frame, wherein the second set of suspension elements are arranged in an opposing arrangement in an optical axis direction that restricts motion of the carrier frame along the optical axis and permits motion of the carrier frame in directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
- a display;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- cause the VCM actuator assembly to move the lens carrier in the carrier frame, relative to the image sensor, along the optical axis;
- and
- cause the VCM actuator assembly to move the carrier frame and lens carrier, relative to the image sensor, in a plurality of directions orthogonal to the optical axis.
15 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.