US 11,700,441 B1Granted

Position sensor architecture for cameras

AssigneeApple Inc.

InventorsShahrooz Shahparnia, Anish Bhide

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A camera system may include circuitry for measuring the positions of an optics assembly (e.g., one or more lenses) and/or an image sensor of the camera system. The circuitry may include analog circuits comprising a first and a second position sensors to produce a first and a second sensor signals based on a first magnetic field and a second magnetic field respectively. The magnetic fields may have the same or different polarities detectable by the position sensors. The position sensors may be coupled in parallel in the same or reverse directions to produce a combined sensor output. The circuitry may determine position information for the optics assembly and/or the image sensor based on the combined sensor output. The camera system may use the position information as a feedback signal to control the position of the optics assembly (e.g., for autofocus) and/or the position of the image sensor (e.g., for optical image stabilization (OIS)).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A camera system, comprising:

an optics assembly comprising one or more lenses;
an image sensor;
a plurality of position sensors including a first position sensor and a second position sensor configured to produce a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal based at least in part on a first magnetic field of a first magnet and a second magnetic field of a second magnet respectively, wherein the first and second position sensors are coupled in parallel in a first configuration or a second configuration to produce a combined sensor output, wherein in the first configuration, (a) the first magnet and the second magnet are arranged proximate the first position sensor and the second position sensor with opposite polarities and (b) the first position sensor and the second position sensor are coupled in parallel with reverse polarities, and wherein in the second configuration, (c) the first magnet and the second magnet are arranged proximate the first position sensor and the second position sensor with same polarities and (d) the first and second position sensor are coupled in parallel with same polarities;
and
a signal processing circuit configured to determine, based at least in part on the combined sensor output, position information for the at least one of the optics assembly or the image sensor.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/237,896Filed 22 Apr 2021 · us provisional application
Priority: 23 Apr 2020
Granted: 11 Jul 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

G01R 33/091
Magnetoresistive devices: constructional adaptation of the sensor to specific applications
H04N 23/55
Constructional details: optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
G01R 33/07
Using galvano-magnetic devices: hall effect devices
G01R 33/072
Hall effect devices: constructional adaptation of the sensor to specific applications