Combined actuator for camera shutter and focus functions
AssigneeNokia Corporation
InventorsMikko A. Ollila, Olli-Pekka Haila
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The combined actuator described can be incorporated into a miniaturized camera product. In the camera product, the shutter driver uses the focus or zoom actuator's power amplifiers to control the current flow in shutter actuators. As such, the space needed for the camera's electronics is smaller and it is less expensive to manufacture the camera product.
Claims22
A driver configured to provide electric current to a zoom/auto focus driver and a light control driver, the driver comprising:
- first switches configured to couple to a first actuator;
- second switches configured to couple to a second actuator, wherein the first and second switches are coupled to the light control driver;
- and multiplexer selecting inputs to the first and second switches.
A combination system that drives a camera shutter and camera filter as well as a camera autofocus and zoom control, the system comprising:
- a filter coupled to a first plurality of MOSFETs;
- a shutter coupled to a second plurality of MOSFETs;
- and
- actuators coupled to a third plurality of MOSFETs, wherein the first plurality of MOSFETS includes first, second, third and fourth MOSFETs, the second plurality of MOSFETs includes first, second, fifth and sixth MOSFETs, and the third plurality of MOSFETs includes third, fourth, fifth and sixth MOSFETs.
A method of driving a camera shutter, a camera filter, a camera zoom lens, and a camera autofocus lens, the method comprising:
- opening a camera shutter by closing a first switch, opening a second switch, opening a fifth switch, and closing a sixth switch;
- driving a camera zoom lens by opening the first and second switches and selectively manipulating actuators using third, fourth, fifth and sixth switches;
- and
- opening a camera filter by opening a first switch, closing a second switch, opening a third switch, and closing a fourth switch.
A camera driver providing electric current to a plurality of actuators using fewer output terminals than actuators, the camera driver comprising:
- first switches configured to couple to a first actuator using a first output;
- second switches configured to couple to a second actuator using a second output, wherein the first and second switches are coupled to a light control driver, wherein the light control driver comprises the second actuator and a third actuator;
- multiplexer selecting inputs to the first and second switches;
- and
- third switches configured to couple to a fourth actuator using a third output.
An integrated circuit, comprising:
- first switches configured to couple to a first actuator;
- and
- second switches configured to couple to a second actuator, wherein the first and second switches are coupled to the light control driver;
- and multiplexer selecting inputs to the first and second switches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.