Camera modules with inertial sensors
AssigneeDigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
InventorRoman C. Gutierrez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A camera module includes an actuator that is coupled to one or more lenses of an optical train configured to move relative to an image sensor to provide alignment, zoom and/or autofocus control. The actuator is configured to position one or more, e.g., three, lenses of the optical train by applying one or more bias voltages respectively between one or more pairs of actuator components. A processor uses measured capacitances of the pairs of actuator components and/or the bias voltages thereof to calculate an acceleration or force acting on the camera module and to provide information for the actuator to align the optical train along the optical path in accordance with the information.
Claims26
A camera module, comprising:
- an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration acting on the camera module and to provide information for aligning an optical component of an optical train of the camera module with respect to an optical path of the camera module in accordance with the information;
- and
- a generally planar actuator coupled to a stage mounting one or more lenses of the optical train, the actuator being configured to move the one or more lenses in accordance with the information and to provide zoom, autofocus or both zoom and autofocus functions of the camera module,
- wherein the actuator comprises an out-of-plane portion operable to apply a force acting perpendicular to a plane of the actuator and the stage when actuated, the out-of-plane portion including an out-of-plane fixed frame and an out-of-plane moving frame coupled to the stage and resiliently supported for rotational movement relative to the out-of-plane fixed frame.
The camera module of claim L wherein the actuator comprises an in-plane portion operable to apply a force acting in the plane of the device and tangentially to the stage when actuated, the in-plane portion including an in-plane fixed frame and an in-plane moving frame coupled to the out-of-plane fixed frame and resiliently supported for translational movement relative to the in-plane fixed frame.
A camera module, comprising:
- a camera module housing defining an aperture and an internal cavity to accommodate camera module components;
- a processor;
- an image sensor coupled to or within the housing;
- a lens barrel disposed within the housing, the lens barrel containing an optical train disposed relative to the aperture and image sensor to focus images of scenes onto the image sensor along an optical path;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one or more lenses of the optical train and configured to move the one or more lenses relative to the image sensor to provide zoom, autofocus or both zoom and autofocus functions, wherein
- the actuator comprises an outer frame, a fixed frame attached to the outer frame, and a moveable frame configured to be disposed at a deployed position approximately parallel to the fixed frame and spaced apart from the fixed frame at a selected distance and for approximately rectilinear, perpendicular movement relative thereto,
- the actuator is configured to position one or more lenses of the optical train by applying one or more bias voltages respectively between one or more pairs of actuator components, and
- the processor is configured to measure one or more capacitances of the one or more pairs of actuator components and to calculate an acceleration or inertial force acting on the camera module based on the one or more bias voltages and the one or more measured capacitances and to provide information for the actuator to align the optical train along the optical path in accordance with the information.
A camera module, comprising:
- a camera module housing defining an aperture and an internal cavity to accommodate camera module components;
- a processor;
- an image sensor coupled to or disposed within the housing;
- a lens barrel disposed within the housing and containing an optical train that is disposed relative to the aperture and image sensor to focus images of scenes onto the image sensor along an optical path;
- and
- an actuator coupled to one or more lenses of the optical train and configured to move the one or more lenses relative to the image sensor to provide zoom, autofocus or both zoom and autofocus functions, wherein
- the actuator comprises an outer frame, a fixed frame attached to the outer frame, and a moveable frame configured to be disposed at a deployed position approximately parallel to the fixed frame and spaced apart from the fixed frame at a selected distance and for approximately rectilinear, perpendicular movement relative thereto, and
- the actuator is configured to bias one or more pairs of actuator components, to measure one or more capacitances of the one or more pairs of actuator components, to calculate an acceleration or force acting on the camera module based on the one or more measured capacitances, and to provide information for the actuator to align the optical train along the optical path in accordance with the information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.