US 12,745,006 B2 · Ball bearing sensor shift arrangement for camera with fixed magnets

Abstract

A ball bearing sensor shift arrangement for a camera may include one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators that include the fixed magnets, optical image stabilization (OIS) coils, and/or one or more autofocus (AF) coils. The ball bearing sensor shift arrangement may be coupled with an image sensor of the camera, and may include carrier frames configured to move on ball bearings so as to enable motion of the image sensor in multiple degrees-of-freedom (DOF). An OIS carrier frame(s) may be coupled with the OIS coils, which may be positioned proximate the fixed magnets and used for moving the image sensor in directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera. An AF carrier frame may be coupled with the AF coil(s), which may be positioned proximate the fixed magnets and used for moving the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A camera, comprising:

a lens group;
an image sensor;
one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators;
and
a ball bearing sensor shift arrangement coupled with the image sensor, wherein the ball bearing sensor shift arrangement comprises:
one or more OIS carrier frames coupled with one or more of the one or more VCM actuators to move the image sensor in directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera;
and
an AF carrier frame coupled with at least one of the one or more VCM actuators to move the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis;
a first set of ball bearings disposed between the one or more OIS carrier frames and the AF carrier frame;
and
a second set of ball bearings disposed between the AF carrier frame and a fixed structure of the camera;
wherein the one or more OIS carrier frames and the AF carrier frame are configured to move on the first set and the second set of ball bearings so as to enable motion of the image sensor in three degrees-of-freedom (DOF).

9 more elements

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 lens group;
an image sensor;
one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators;
and
a ball bearing sensor shift arrangement coupled with the image sensor, wherein the ball bearing sensor shift arrangement comprises:
one or more OIS carrier frames coupled with one or more of the one or more VCM actuators to move the image sensor in directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera;
and
an AF carrier frame coupled with at least one of the one or more VCM actuators to move the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis;
a first set of ball bearings disposed between the one or more OIS carrier frames and the AF carrier frame;
and
a second set of ball bearings disposed between the AF carrier frame and a fixed structure of the camera;
wherein the one or more OIS carrier frames and the AF carrier frame are configured to move on the first set and the second set of ball bearings so as to enable motion of the image sensor in three degrees-of-freedom (DOF).

13 more elements

A system, comprising:

an image sensor;
and
a ball bearing sensor shift arrangement coupled with the image sensor, wherein the ball bearing sensor shift arrangement comprises:
one or more OIS carrier frames coupled with one or more of the one or more VCM actuators to move the image sensor in directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera;
and
an AF carrier frame coupled with at least one of the one or more VCM actuators to move the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis;
a first set of ball bearings disposed between the one or more OIS carrier frames and the AF carrier frame;
and
a second set of ball bearings disposed between the AF carrier frame and a fixed structure of the camera;
wherein the one or more OIS carrier frames and the AF carrier frame are configured to move on the first set and the second set of ball bearings so as to enable motion of the image sensor in three degrees-of-freedom (DOF).

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ball bearing sensor shift arrangement for camera with fixed magnets

Life of this patent

Ball bearing sensor shift arrangement for camera with fixed magnets

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20