Camera modules with mechanical iris assemblies
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsBin Xu, Wei Li, Zhuzhen Ji, Xiao Liao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments disclosed herein include mechanical iris assemblies, as well as camera modules and devices that incorporate these mechanical iris assemblies. The mechanical iris assemblies described herein include a stator piece, a rotor piece, a set of blade elements, and an actuator arrangement. The actuator arrangement may include a voice coil actuator having at least one magnet carried by the stator piece and at least one coil carried by the rotor piece. The mechanical iris assembly includes a set of springs configured to carry current between the stator piece and the rotor piece to power the coil or coils carried by the rotor piece.
Claims16
A camera comprising:
- an optical assembly having an optical axis and comprising:
- a lens module;
- and
- a mechanical iris assembly comprising:
- a set of blade elements;
- a stator piece;
- a rotor piece;
- a set of springs connecting the rotor piece to the stator piece;
- an actuator arrangement comprising a magnet that is fixed relative to the stator piece and a coil that is fixed relative to the rotor piece;
- and
- a controller, wherein:
- the coil is positioned in a magnetic field of the magnet and is electrically connected to the set of springs;
- the controller is configured to drive current through the coil via the set of springs to rotate the rotor piece relative to the stator piece;
- the mechanical iris assembly is configured such that rotation of the rotor piece relative to the stator piece rotates the set of blade elements relative to the stator piece;
- the rotor piece defines a first post;
- the stator piece defines a second post;
- a first blade element of the set of blade elements is moveably connected to the first post and the second post;
- and
- a first spring of the set of springs is electrically connected to the first post and the second post.
A camera comprising:
- an optical assembly having an optical axis and comprising:
- a lens module;
- and
- a mechanical iris assembly comprising:
- a set of blade elements;
- a rotor piece;
- a stator piece comprising a base portion, a top portion, and a sidewall extending between the top portion and the base portion;
- a flex circuit that is connected to a top surface of the base portion;
- a set of springs electrically connected to the flex circuit and connecting the rotor piece and the stator piece;
- and
- a set of voice coil actuators configured to rotate the rotor piece relative to the stator piece, wherein each voice coil actuator comprises:
- at least one magnet connected to the stator piece;
- and
- at least one coil connected to the rotor piece, wherein:
- the mechanical iris assembly is configured to route current between the rotor piece and the stator piece via the set of springs to power the set of voice coil actuators;
- the mechanical iris assembly is configured such that rotation of the rotor piece relative to the stator piece rotates the set of blade elements relative to the stator piece;
- a first spring of the set of springs is mounted directly to the flex circuit.
A mechanical iris assembly having an optical axis comprising:
- a set of blade elements;
- a rotor piece;
- a stator piece;
- a set of springs connecting the rotor piece to the stator piece;
- and
- an actuator arrangement configured to rotate the rotor piece relative to the stator piece, the actuator comprising:
- at least one magnet that is fixed relative to the stator piece;
- and
- at least one coil that is fixed relative to the rotor piece and positioned in a magnetic field of the at least one magnet, wherein:
- the mechanical iris assembly is configured to route current between the rotor piece and the stator piece via the set of springs to power the actuator arrangement;
- the mechanical iris assembly is configured such that rotation of the rotor piece relative to the stator piece rotates the set of blade elements relative to the stator piece;
- and
- a spring of the set of springs is horizontally oriented such that the rotation of the rotor piece relative to the stator piece causes the spring to deflect in a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.