# US 12,007,672 B2 · Compact folded camera structure

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- Number: US 12,007,672 B2
- Document ID: US12007672B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/479,081
- Filed: 2023-10-01
- Published: 2024-01-25
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-23
- Assignees: Corephotonics Ltd.
- Applicants: Corephotonics Ltd.
- Inventors: Gal Shabtay; Ephraim Goldenberg; Itay Yedid; Gil Bachar; Noy Cohen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007672B2

## CPC

- G02B 13/0065: {having a beam-folding prism or mirror}
- G03B 17/17: with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
- G02B 7/021: {for more than one lens}
- G02B 27/0018: {with means for preventing ghost images (anti-reflection coatings G02B1/11)}
- G03B 15/03: Combinations of cameras with lighting apparatus; Flash units
- H04M 1/0264: {for a camera module assembly}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

Folded cameras and dual folded-upright cameras that reduce a mobile electronic device and specifically a smartphone bump footprint and height. In some examples, the bump footprint is reduced by reducing the height of a back focal plane section of the folded camera. In some examples, the bump footprint is reduced by reducing the height of a back focal plane section and a lens subsection of the folded camera.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A folded camera, comprising:
an optical path folding element (OPFE) section including an OPFE for folding an optical path from a first direction to a second direction, the OPFE section having an OPFE height HP in the first direction;
a lens section positioned between the OPFE and an image sensor;
a back focal length (BFL) section extending between the lens section and the image sensor; and
a flash element positioned on the BFL section or the lens section, wherein the BFL section has a BFL section height HBFL in the first direction, wherein the lens section has at least one adjacent lens section height HL in the first direction and wherein HBFL<HL.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the flash element is positioned on a lens subsection closer to the BFL section.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the lens section has at least one lens section height HL in the first direction and wherein HL≤HP.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the lens section includes two subsections, wherein a lens subsection closer to the BFL section has a height HL2, and wherein HL2<HL.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The folded camera of claim 4, wherein HBFL≤HL2 and HBFL<HL.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the BFL section has a top side and a bottom side, wherein the lens section has an optical axis parallel to the second direction and wherein the optical axis in the BFL section is closer to the top side of the BFL section than to the bottom side of the BFL section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The folded camera of claim 6, wherein the top side has an internal surface structured to prevent stray light from being directed toward the image sensor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the flash element has a height HFLASH≤HP.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the lens section has a width WL and wherein WL>HL>HBFL.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the folded camera is included in a mobile device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The folded camera of claim 10, wherein the mobile device comprises a bump on a surface thereof, wherein the bump surrounds an area including the folded camera and wherein at least one bump dimension is defined by a folded camera dimension.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the folded camera is included together with an upright camera in a dual-aperture camera.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The folded camera of claim 12, wherein the upright camera has an upright camera optical axis parallel to the first direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The folded camera of claim 12, wherein the dual-aperture camera is included in a mobile device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The folded camera of claim 14, wherein the mobile device comprises a bump on a surface thereof, wherein the bump surrounds an area including the dual-aperture camera and wherein at least one bump dimension is defined by a folded camera dimension.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The folded camera of claim 15, wherein the bump has a length LB defined along the second direction, wherein the dual-aperture camera has a length LDC defined along the second direction, and wherein LB<LDC.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A method for reducing a bump footprint of a smartphone, comprising:
providing a smartphone; and
attaching the folded camera of claim 1 to an exterior surface of the smartphone, wherein the folded camera reduces the bump footprint of the smartphone.

### Claim 18

A method of manufacturing a folded camera, comprising:
providing an optical path folding element (OPFE) section including an OPFE for folding an optical path from a first direction to a second direction, the OPFE section having an OPFE height HP in the first direction;
providing a lens section positioned between the OPFE and an image sensor;
providing a back focal length (BFL) section extending between the lens section and the image; and
providing a flash element positioned on the BFL section or the lens section, wherein the BFL section has a BFL section height HBFL in the first direction, wherein the lens section has at least one adjacent lens section height HL in the first direction and wherein HBFL<HL.