Camera focus and stabilization system
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorShashank Sharma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments include a camera with a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. The VCM actuator assembly is configured to move an image sensor of the camera in three dimensions (e.g. X, Y, and Z) to provide the AF and/or OIS movements. The VCM actuator assembly is asymmetrical and includes an at least partially open side that allows an optical assembly of the camera to pass through the open side of the VCM actuator. In some embodiments, the optical assembly is part of a folded optics arrangement of the camera that includes one or more prisms/and or lenses.
Claims20
A voice coil motor assembly, comprising:
- a substrate carrier configured to support an image sensor;
- a suspension configured to allow for translation of the image sensor in an autofocus direction and one or more optical image stabilization directions;
- one or more voice coil motors, comprising magnets and coils, configured to translate the image sensor in the autofocus direction and the one or more optical image stabilization directions;
- a flexure assembly, comprising:
- a static portion, coupled to a static member;
- a moveable portion coupled to the substrate carrier;
- and
- flexure arms that connect the substrate carrier to the static portion of the flexure assembly, wherein the one or more flexure arms comprise traces configured to transmit electrical signals between the image sensor and the static portion while the moveable portion moves in an autofocus or optical image stabilization direction.
A camera, comprising:
- an aperture configured to enable light to enter the camera;
- an image sensor configured to capture the light that has entered the camera and convert the light into image signals;
- a substrate carrier configured to support the image sensor;
- a suspension configured to allow for translation of the image sensor in an autofocus direction and one or more optical image stabilization directions;
- one or more voice coil motors, comprising magnets and coils, configured to translate the image sensor in the autofocus direction and the one or more optical image stabilization directions;
- a flexure assembly, comprising:
- a static portion, coupled to a static member;
- a moveable portion coupled to the substrate carrier;
- and
- flexure arms that connect the substrate carrier to the static portion of the flexure assembly, wherein the one or more flexure arms comprise traces configured to transmit electrical signals between the image sensor and the static portion while the moveable portion moves in an autofocus or optical image stabilization direction.
A mobile multifunction device comprising:
- a camera comprising:
- an aperture configured to enable light to enter the camera;
- an image sensor configured to capture the light that has entered the camera and convert the light into image signals;
- a substrate carrier configured to support the image sensor;
- a suspension configured to allow for translation of the image sensor in an autofocus direction and one or more optical image stabilization directions;
- one or more voice coil motors, comprising magnets and coils, configured to translate the image sensor in the autofocus direction and the one or more optical image stabilization directions;
- a flexure assembly, comprising:
- a static portion, coupled to a static member;
- a moveable portion coupled to the substrate carrier;
- and
- flexure arms that connect the substrate carrier to the static portion of the flexure assembly, wherein the one or more flexure arms comprise traces configured to transmit electrical signals between the image sensor and the static portion while the moveable portion moves in an autofocus or optical image stabilization direction;
- a display;
- and
- one or more processors configured to cause the one or more voice coil motors to move the image sensor in the autofocus direction and the one or more optical image stabilization directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.