# US 12,111,452 B2 · Folded optics with tilt actuator and spring suspension

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- Number: US 12,111,452 B2
- Document ID: US12111452B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/408,310
- Filed: 2021-08-20
- Published: 2022-03-03
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-27
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Scott W. Miller; Alfred N. Mireault; Junwei Liu; Hao Zheng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111452B2

## CPC

- G02B 13/0065: {having a beam-folding prism or mirror}
- G02B 7/1805: {for prisms (G02B7/181 takes precedence)}
- G02B 27/646: {compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68)}
- G03B 3/10: Power-operated focusing
- G03B 5/00: Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
- G03B 13/36: Autofocus systems
- G03B 17/17: with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
- G03B 30/00: Camera modules comprising integrated lens units and imaging units, specially adapted for being embedded in other devices, e.g. mobile phones or vehicles
- H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- H04N 23/686: {with a variable apex prism}
- G03B 2205/0015: by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
- G03B 2205/0023: by tilting or inclining one or more optical elements with respect to the optical axis
- G03B 2205/0069: using electromagnetic actuators, e.g. voice coils
- 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)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Various embodiments include a tilt actuator and a spring suspension arrangement for use in a camera having a folded optics arrangement. In some embodiments, the folded optics arrangement may include a light path-folding element that is coupled with a carrier and that is tilted using the tilt actuator. The spring suspension arrangement may suspend the carrier and the light path-folding element from a base structure, and may allow motion of the light path-folding element enabled by the tilt actuator. The spring suspension arrangement may include one or more springs attached to the carrier and to the base structure. In some embodiments, the spring suspension arrangement may further include one or more suspension wires attached to the spring(s) and to a stationary structure of the camera.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A camera, comprising:
a light folding element to fold a path of light;
a carrier that is coupled with the light folding element, such that the carrier is moveable together with the light folding element;
a base structure that is stationary relative to motion of the carrier;
an image sensor to capture image data based on the light that has been folded by the light folding element;
an actuator comprising a stationary magnet to tilt, about a tilt axis, the light folding element relative to the image sensor, wherein the stationary magnet is stationary within the camera; and
a suspension arrangement to suspend the carrier from the base structure and to allow motion of the light folding element enabled by the actuator, the suspension arrangement comprising:
one or more springs, comprising:
a first spring portion attached to the carrier;
a second spring portion attached the base structure; and
a third spring portion that interconnects the first spring portion with the second spring portion, wherein the third spring portion extends, in a direction parallel to the tilt axis, from the first spring portion to the second spring portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein:
the direction parallel to the tilt axis is a first direction; and
the suspension arrangement further comprises: a wire that extends, in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, from the one or more springs to a stationary structure of the camera.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The camera of claim 2, further comprising:
a flex circuit;
wherein the actuator comprises a coil and the stationary magnet; and
wherein the camera is configured to convey electrical current from the flex circuit to the coil via the wire and at least a portion of the one or more springs, and wherein the electrical current is for driving the coil so that the coil electromagnetically interacts with the stationary magnet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The camera of claim 2, wherein:
the one or more springs comprise a first sheet spring attached to a first portion of the carrier;
the wire comprises a first wire attached to the first sheet spring; and
the suspension arrangement further comprises:
a second sheet spring attached to a second portion of the carrier, wherein the second portion is opposite the first portion relative to the light folding element and relative to a plane defined by the path of light that is folded by the light folding element; and
a second wire attached to the second sheet spring.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein:
the one or more springs comprise a flexure formed from a sheet; and
the flexure comprises the first spring portion, the second spring portion, and the third spring portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises:
a coil attached to the carrier such that the coil is moveable together with the carrier, wherein the coil is located proximate the stationary magnet such that the coil is capable of electromagnetically interacting with the stationary magnet to produce Lorentz forces that tilt the carrier and the light folding element about the tilt axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the light folding element comprises:
a prism; or
a mirror.

### Claim 8

A system, comprising:
a carrier to couple with a light folding element, such that the carrier is moveable together with the light folding element;
a base structure that is stationary relative to motion of the carrier;
an actuator comprising a stationary magnet to tilt, about a tilt axis, the light folding element relative to an image sensor of a camera, wherein the stationary magnet is stationary relative to motion of the carrier, wherein the light folding element is to fold a path of light before the light reaches the image sensor; and
a suspension arrangement to suspend the light folding element from the base structure and to allow motion of the light folding element enabled by the actuator, the suspension arrangement comprising:
one or more springs, comprising:
a first spring portion attached to the carrier;
a second spring portion attached the base structure; and
a third spring portion that interconnects the first spring portion with the second spring portion, wherein the third spring portion extends, in a direction parallel to the tilt axis, from the first spring portion to the second spring portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein:
the direction parallel to the tilt axis is a first direction; and
the suspension arrangement further comprises: a wire that extends, in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, from the one or more springs to a stationary structure of the camera.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, further comprising:
a flex circuit;
wherein the actuator comprises a coil and the stationary magnet; and
wherein the camera is configured to convey electrical current from the flex circuit to the coil via the wire and at least a portion of the one or more springs, and wherein the electrical current is for driving the coil so that the coil electromagnetically interacts with the stationary magnet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising:
a probe magnet attached to the carrier; and
a position sensor attached to the flex circuit and positioned proximate the probe magnet, such that the position sensor is capable of detecting changes in the magnetic fields of the probe magnet as the carrier moves.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein:
the one or more springs comprise a first sheet spring attached to a first portion of the carrier;
the wire comprises a first wire attached to the first sheet spring; and
the suspension arrangement further comprises:
a second sheet spring attached to a second portion of the carrier, wherein the second portion is opposite the first portion relative to the light folding element and relative to a plane defined by the path of light that is folded by the light folding element; and
a second wire attached to the second sheet spring.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises:
a coil attached to the carrier such that the coil is moveable together with the carrier, wherein the coil is located proximate the stationary magnet such that the coil is capable of electromagnetically interacting with the stationary magnet to produce Lorentz forces that tilt the carrier and the light folding element about the tilt axis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the light folding element comprises a prism.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising:
a damping pin attached to the base structure, wherein a portion of the damping pin is disposed in a viscoelastic material contained in a pocket defined by the carrier, and wherein the damping pin is to dampen motion of the carrier.

### Claim 16

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 light folding element that receives light along a first optical axis and folds a path of the light from the first optical axis to a second optical axis;
a carrier that is coupled with the light folding element, such that the carrier is moveable together with the light folding element;
a base structure that is stationary relative to motion of the carrier;
an image sensor to capture image data based on the light that has been folded by the light folding element;
an actuator comprising a stationary magnet to tilt, about a tilt axis, the light folding element relative to the image sensor, wherein the stationary magnet is stationary within the camera; and
a suspension arrangement to suspend the carrier from the base structure and to allow motion of the light folding element enabled by the actuator, the suspension arrangement comprising:
one or more springs, comprising:
a first spring portion attached to the carrier;
a second spring portion attached the base structure; and
a third spring portion that interconnects the first spring portion with the second spring portion, wherein the third spring portion extends, in a direction parallel to the tilt axis, from the first spring portion to the second spring portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein:
the direction parallel to the tilt axis is a first direction; and
the suspension arrangement further comprises:
a wire that extends, in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, from the one or more springs to a stationary structure of the camera.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein:
the light folding element comprises a prism; and
the third spring portion is a torsion member that twists in compliance to tilt of the carrier and the prism about the tilt axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The device of claim 18, wherein:
the wire is stiffer, in the second direction, than the second spring portion;
the first spring portion is configured to have flex to a greater degree than the second spring portion when the prism moves in the second direction; and
the second spring portion is configured to flex to a greater degree than the first spring portion when the prism moves in the first direction.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The device of claim 16, wherein the actuator comprises:
a coil attached to the carrier such that the coil is moveable together with the carrier, wherein the coil is located proximate the stationary magnet such that the coil is capable of electromagnetically interacting with the stationary magnet to produce Lorentz forces that tilt the carrier and the light folding element about the tilt axis.