# US 2014/0192251 A1 · Camera voice coil motor with resilient stop > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0192251 A1 - Document ID: US20140192251A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/836,088 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Alex Speltz; Douglas Stuart Brodie; Aurelien Hubert; Lee Hooton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140192251A1 ## CPC - H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof - G03B 3/10: Power-operated focusing - H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A camera module includes a body having recesses in a first datum surface. A filleted edge may join the recesses to the first datum surface. An image sensor is coupled to the body at a known distance from the first datum surface. A movable lens mechanism includes a fixed portion and a movable portion. The fixed portion is coupled to the body. The movable portion includes a lens assembly and protrusions arranged to fit within the recesses in the first datum surface and to define a second datum surface. A resilient stop plate covers the recesses in the first datum surface with an elastic sheet material. A spring may hold the protrusions in contact with the resilient stop plate when the movable lens mechanism is unpowered. The resilient stop plate may include a rigid support plate coupled to the body by heat staking. The elastic sheet material may be viscoelastic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera module comprising: a body having a first datum surface with a plurality of recesses in the first datum surface; an image sensor coupled to the body at a known distance from the first datum surface; a movable lens mechanism having a fixed portion and a movable portion, the fixed portion coupled to the body, the movable portion including a lens assembly and a plurality of protrusions arranged to fit within the like plurality of recesses in the first datum surface and to define a second datum surface; and a resilient stop plate that includes an elastic sheet material that covers the first datum surface and the plurality of recesses in the first datum surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1 wherein the resilient stop plate further includes a rigid support plate coupled to a first surface of the elastic sheet material opposite a second surface of the elastic sheet material, the second surface being in contact with the first datum surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1 wherein the resilient stop plate further includes a rigid support plate co-molded with the elastic sheet material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The camera module of claim 2 wherein the resilient stop plate is coupled to the body by heat staking. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1 wherein the elastic sheet material is a viscoelastic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of recesses in the first datum surface includes a filleted edge that joins the recess to the first datum surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The camera module of claim 1 wherein the movable lens mechanism further includes spring that holds the movable portion of the movable lens mechanism with the plurality of protrusions in contact with the resilient stop plate when the movable lens mechanism is unpowered. ### Claim 8 A resilient stop plate for a camera module, the resilient stop plate comprising: a rigid support plate having a central opening that provides an optical path between a camera lens on a first side of the support plate and an image sensor on an opposite side of the support plate and a plurality of peripheral openings arranged to receive a like plurality of protrusions on a lens assembly that define a datum surface for the lens assembly; and an elastic sheet material that covers the plurality of peripheral openings in the support plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The resilient stop plate of claim 8 wherein the elastic sheet material is co-molded with the rigid support plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The resilient stop plate of claim 8 wherein the resilient stop plate further includes staking openings in the support plate and the elastic sheet material that receive heat staking protrusions to couple the resilient stop plate to a body of the camera module. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The resilient stop plate of claim 8 wherein the elastic sheet material is a viscoelastic material. ### Claim 12 A method of assembling a camera module, the method comprising: joining an image sensor to a body at a known distance from a first datum surface on the body, the body including a plurality of recesses in the first datum surface; inserting a lens assembly into a lens moving mechanism, the lens assembly including a plurality of protrusions that define a second datum surface, the plurality of protrusions arranged to fit within the like plurality of recesses in the first datum surface; forming a stop plate assembly that covers the plurality of recesses in the first datum surface with an elastic sheet material; coupling the stop plate assembly to the body; coupling the lens moving mechanism to the body such that the second datum surface of the plurality of protrusions on the lens assembly are in contact with the elastic sheet material when the lens moving mechanism is unpowered. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein forming a stop plate assembly further comprises: forming a support plate from a rigid material, the support plate having a central opening that provides an optical path between the lens assembly on a first side of the support plate and the image sensor on an opposite side of the support plate and a plurality of peripheral openings arranged to expose the like plurality of recesses in the first datum surface; coupling an elastic sheet material to the support plate with a first surface of the elastic sheet material in contact with a first surface of the support plate; cutting away the elastic sheet material that covers the central opening of the support plate; and coupling the support plate and elastic sheet material to the body with a second surface of the elastic sheet material opposite the first surface in contact with the first datum surface on the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein forming a stop plate assembly further comprises co-molding a rigid support plate and the elastic sheet material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein coupling the stop plate assembly to the body further comprises heat staking the stop plate assembly to the body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein the elastic sheet material is a viscoelastic material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising filleting an edge of each of the plurality of recesses in the first datum surface that joins the recess to the first datum surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 further comprising holding the second datum surface of the plurality of protrusions on the lens assembly in contact with the elastic sheet material with a spring when the lens moving mechanism is unpowered.