Camera module with extended ball bearings raceways for lens autofocus

A device, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operation of a camera;
• and
• the camera comprising:
• an optical assembly having one or more lenses defining an optical axis;
• and
• an actuator assembly, wherein the actuator assembly comprises:
• a substrate for attaching one or more electronic components, wherein the substrate comprises one or more notches extending into a surface of the substrate that is orthogonal to the optical axis;
• an autofocus (AF) carrier, wherein the autofocus carrier is configured to allow movement of the optical assembly along the optical axis;
• an AF actuator configured to move the optical assembly, via the AF carrier, along the optical axis in response to receiving electric current;
• and
• a plurality of AF ball bearings residing in one or more AF ball bearing tracks that are at least partially formed by the AF carrier, wherein the plurality of AF ball bearings and the one or more AF ball bearing tracks are for allowing movement along the optical axis, and wherein a respective AF ball bearing track of the one or more AF ball bearing tracks is aligned with and extends into a respective notch of the one or more notches.

An actuator assembly, comprising:

• a substrate for attaching one or more electronic components, wherein the substrate comprises one or more notches extending into a surface of the substrate that is orthogonal to an optical axis;
• an autofocus (AF) carrier, wherein the autofocus carrier is configured to allow movement of the optical assembly along the optical axis;
• an AF actuator configured to move the optical assembly, via the AF carrier, along the optical axis in response to receiving electric current;
• and
• a plurality of AF ball bearings residing in one or more AF ball bearing tracks that are at least partially formed by the AF carrier, wherein the plurality of AF ball bearings and the one or more AF ball bearing tracks are for allowing movement along the optical axis, and wherein a respective AF ball bearing track of the one or more AF ball bearing tracks is aligned with and extends into a respective notch of the one or more notches.