Systems and methods for actuating lens assemblies
AssigneeCoVi Technologies, Inc.
InventorThao D. Hovanky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for actuating lens assemblies (e.g., for purposes of zoom and/or focus lens operations) that may be implemented, for example, in any camera lens or other lens application that employs one or more actuatable lenses.
Claims63
A lens assembly, comprising:
- a moving magnet component;
- a stationary coil component;
- and
- a moving lens component coupled to said moving magnet component, said moving magnet component configured to move said moving lens component relative to said stationary coil component.
An actuatable lens assembly, comprising:
- a voice coil motor assembly, said voice coil motor assembly comprising at least one stationary coil component and at least one moving magnet component;
- and
- a moving lens coupled to said at least one moving magnet component so that said moving lens moves with said moving magnet component relative to said stationary coil component.
An actuatable lens assembly, comprising:
- a voice coil motor assembly, said voice coil motor assembly comprising at least one stationary coil component and at least one moving magnet component;
- and
- a moving lens coupled to said at least one moving magnet component so that said moving lens moves with said moving magnet component relative to said stationary coil component;
- and
- a lens assembly housing, said stationary coil component being fixedly coupled to said lens assembly housing, said moving lens being movably disposed within said lens assembly housing so that said moving lens moves with said moving magnet component relative to said lens assembly housing;
- a lens guidance mechanism coupled between said lens assembly housing and said moving lens, said lens guidance mechanism being configured to guide said moving lens in a reciprocal linear path along the longitudinal axis of said lens assembly;
- and
- a damping mechanism configured to dampen movement of said moving lens component relative to said lens assembly housing.
An optical block assembly, comprising one or more actuatable lens assemblies operatively disposed in a linear light path of said optical block, each of said one or more actuatable lens assemblies comprising:
- a moving magnet component;
- a stationary coil component;
- and
- a moving lens component coupled to said moving magnet component.
A method of moving a lens disposed within a lens assembly, comprising:
- providing a lens assembly, said lens assembly comprising:
- a moving magnet component,
- a stationary coil component, and
- a moving lens component coupled to said moving magnet component, said moving magnet component configured to move said moving lens component relative to said stationary coil component, and
- moving said moving lens component by generating current within said stationary coil component.
A lens assembly, comprising:
- a stationary lens assembly housing;
- a moving lens component coupled to said stationary lens assembly housing;
- a lens actuator coupled to said moving lens component and configured to move said moving lens component relative to said stationary lens assembly housing;
- and
- a lens guidance mechanism coupled to said moving lens component, said lens guidance mechanism comprising one or more ferromagnetic fluid bearings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.