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US 11,539,869 B2Granted
Camera with low-profile actuator arrangement
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorZachary W. Birnbaum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments include a camera having an actuator arrangement with a low-profile actuator arrangement. For example, the camera may include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera. According to some embodiments, the VCM actuator may include one or more magnet-coil groups located beside an image sensor package of the camera. In some embodiments, a magnet-coil group may be located between the image sensor package and a side wall of the camera. Additionally, or alternatively, the magnet-coil group may at least partially extend (e.g., in a direction parallel to an optical axis defined by the lens group) past an upper surface of the image sensor and a bottom of the camera in some embodiments.
Claims20
A camera, comprising:
- a lens group comprising one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;
- an image sensor package, comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- an image sensor attached to the substrate, the image sensor to capture image data based on light that passes through the lens group;
- a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move at least one of the lens group or the image sensor, the VCM actuator comprising:
- a magnet-coil group, comprising:
- a magnet;
- and
- a coil to electromagnetically interact with the magnet;
- wherein:
- the magnet-coil group is disposed within a cavity that is located, in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, between at least a portion of the image sensor package and a side wall of the camera;
- and
- each of the magnet and the coil at least partially extends, in a second direction parallel to the optical axis, past an upper surface of the image sensor toward a bottom of the camera;
- and
- a lens carrier coupled with the lens group such that the lens carrier and the lens group are moveable together via the VCM actuator, wherein the lens carrier comprises a protrusion that extends, in the second direction parallel to the optical axis, past at least a portion of the image sensor package;
- wherein:
- a first portion of the magnet-coil group is attached to the protrusion;
- and
- a second portion of the magnet-coil group is attached to one or more stationary structures of the camera.
17 more elements
A device, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operations of a camera;
- and
- the camera, comprising:
- a lens group comprising one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;
- an image sensor package, comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- an image sensor attached to the substrate, the image sensor to capture image data based on light that passes through the lens group;
- a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move at least one of the lens group or the image sensor, the VCM actuator comprising:
- a magnet-coil group, comprising:
- a magnet;
- and
- a coil to electromagnetically interact with the magnet;
- wherein:
- the magnet-coil group is disposed within a cavity that is located, in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, between at least a portion of the image sensor package and a side wall of the camera;
- and
- each of the magnet and the coil at least partially extends, in a second direction parallel to the optical axis, past an upper surface of the image sensor toward a bottom of the camera;
- and
- a lens carrier coupled with the lens group such that the lens carrier and the lens group are moveable together via the VCM actuator, wherein the lens carrier comprises a protrusion that extends, in the second direction parallel to the optical axis, past at least a portion of the image sensor package;
- wherein:
- a first portion of the magnet-coil group is attached to the protrusion;
- and
- a second portion of the magnet-coil group is attached to one or more stationary structures of the camera.
21 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a chassis for mounting multiple cameras;
- a first camera attached to the chassis, wherein a portion of the first camera extends through a first aperture defined by the chassis;
- a second camera attached to the chassis, wherein a portion of the second camera extends through a second aperture defined by the chassis, and wherein the second camera comprises:
- a lens group comprising one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;
- an image sensor package, comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- an image sensor attached to the substrate, the image sensor to capture image data based on light that passes through the lens group;
- a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move at least one of the lens group or the image sensor, the VCM actuator comprising:
- a magnet-coil group, comprising:
- a magnet;
- and
- a coil to electromagnetically interact with the magnet;
- wherein:
- the magnet-coil group is disposed within a cavity that is located, in a first direction orthogonal to the optical axis, between at least a portion of the image sensor package and a side wall of the second camera;
- and
- each of the magnet and the coil at least partially extends, in a second direction parallel to the optical axis, between past an upper surface of the image sensor toward a bottom of the second camera;
- a lens carrier coupled with the lens group such that the lens carrier and the lens group are moveable together via the VCM actuator, wherein the lens carrier comprises a protrusion that extends, in the second direction parallel to the optical axis, past at least a portion of the image sensor package;
- wherein:
- a first portion of the magnet-coil group is attached to the protrusion;
- and
- a second portion of the magnet-coil group is attached to one or more stationary structures of the camera.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.