Back to results
US 12,523,866 B1Granted
Piezoelectric actuator for deformable lens
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsRichard J. Topliss, James E. Pedder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments include a piezoelectric actuator for driving motion of a deformable lens. The piezoelectric actuator may include a frame coupled with piezoelectric elements. According to some embodiments, the piezoelectric elements may be activated to produce relative elliptical motion between portions of the frame. The relative elliptical motion may modulate friction between surfaces of the frame, so as to drive motion of at least a portion of the deformable lens.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a deformable lens defining an optical axis;
- a base structure;
- and
- a piezoelectric actuator, comprising:
- piezoelectric elements;
- and
- a frame coupled with the piezoelectric elements, the frame comprising:
- a first portion coupled with the base structure, the first portion comprising a rail surface for guiding motion in a direction parallel to the optical axis;
- and
- a second portion coupled with the deformable lens, the second portion comprising a contact surface, wherein the piezoelectric elements can be activated to produce relative elliptical motion, between the second portion and the first portion, that causes the contact surface to engage with the rail surface so as to drive motion of at least a portion of the deformable lens, in the direction parallel to the optical axis, relative to the base structure.
7 more elements
A piezoelectric actuator, comprising:
- piezoelectric elements;
- and
- a frame coupled with the piezoelectric elements, the frame comprising:
- a first portion to couple with a base structure of an optics system, the first portion comprising a rail surface for guiding motion in a direction parallel to the optical axis;
- and
- a second portion to couple with a deformable lens of the optics system, the second portion comprising a contact surface, wherein the piezoelectric elements can be activated to produce relative elliptical motion, between the second portion and the first portion, that causes the contact surface to engage with the rail surface so as to drive motion of at least a portion of the deformable lens, in the direction parallel to the optical axis, relative to the base structure.
3 more elements
A device, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operations of an optics system;
- the optics system, comprising:
- a deformable lens defining an optical axis;
- a base structure;
- and
- a piezoelectric actuator, comprising:
- piezoelectric elements;
- and
- a frame coupled with the piezoelectric elements, the frame comprising:
- a first portion coupled with the base structure, the first portion comprising a rail surface for guiding motion in a direction parallel to the optical axis;
- and
- a second portion coupled with the deformable lens, the second portion comprising a contact surface, wherein the piezoelectric elements can be activated to produce relative elliptical motion, between the second portion and the first portion, that causes the contact surface to engage with the rail surface so as to drive motion of at least a portion of the deformable lens, in the direction parallel to the optical axis, relative to the base structure.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.