Camera device methods, apparatus and components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10353195-B2
Application number	US-201715853927-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 25, 2017
Priority date	Apr 17, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for implementing optical chains, e.g., camera modules, which can be used in a camera device are described as well as camera devices including multiple camera modules. In various embodiments one or more camera modules include mirror assemblies which support a movable mirror. The mirror is driven in some embodiments by a linear actuator, e.g., piezo electric actuator with the linear motion of the actuator's push rod being converted into angular mirror rotation by use of hinge, e.g., pivot on which the mirror is mounted. A return spring provide a force contrary to that provided by the actuator. A recess is included in a mounting board to allow the bottom of the mirror or a portion of the mirror mounting hinge to be placed below the surface of the mounting board to which the camera module is secured.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera device, comprising:
a mounting board, said mounting board including a first opening through which light can pass and a second opening through which light can pass; and
a first optical chain, secured to said mounting board, said first optical chain including:
a first sensor;
a first moveable mirror assembly positioned beneath said first opening and including a first mirror to redirect light passing through said first opening towards said first sensor; and
an actuator for exerting a force on a first portion of said first moveable mirror assembly to control movement of said first moveable mirror assembly; and

a second optical chain secured to said mounting board, said second optical chain including a second sensor onto which light passing through said second opening is directed.

2. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the first optical chain is in the form of a first camera module, said first camera module being secured to said mounting board by screws extending through said mounting board into said first camera module.

3. The camera device of claim 2 ,
wherein said actuator is a first linear actuator; and
wherein the first optical chain further includes:
a first drive rod for transferring linear force generated by said first linear actuator onto said first portion of the first moveable mirror assembly; and

wherein the first drive rod makes contact with said first portion of said first moveable mirror assembly and presses against said first portion of said first moveable mirror assembly but is not attached to said first portion of said first moveable mirror assembly.

4. The camera device of claim 3 , wherein the first optical chain further includes:
a first return spring in contact with a second portion of said first moveable mirror assembly, said first return spring excerpting a force contrary to the force of said first linear actuator.

5. The camera device of claim 3 , wherein said first moveable mirror assembly includes a first mirror support cradle in which said first mirror is mounted, said first portion of said first moveable mirror assembly being a lower portion of said first moveable mirror assembly and the second portion of said first moveable mirror assembly being an upper portion of said first moveable mirror assembly.

6. The camera device of claim 5 , wherein said first return spring includes a flat piece of spring metal inserted into a first spring retaining slot in the second portion of said first moveable mirror assembly.

7. The camera device of claim 1 ,
wherein said mounting board includes a third opening through which light can pass; and
a third optical chain including a second mirror and a third sensor, said third optical chain being secured to said mounting board, said second mirror being positioned beneath the third opening to redirect light passing through said third opening towards said third sensor.

8. The camera device of claim 1 ,
wherein said actuator is a first linear actuator; and
wherein said mounting board includes a recess cut into said mounting board, said first mirror extending below a surface of said mounting board and into said recess when positioned at some angles to which said first moveable mirror assembly can be driven by said first linear actuator.

9. The camera device of claim 8 ,
wherein said first mirror is a plane mirror;
wherein said first optical chain further includes:
a first lens barrel assembly; and
a first sensor board; and
wherein said first sensor is mounted to said first sensor board.

10. The camera device of claim 9 , wherein said first lens barrel assembly includes one or more lenses for directly light reflected from said first mirror onto the first sensor.

11. The camera device of claim 10 ,
wherein said mounting board is a rigid mounting board; and
wherein components which form said first optical chain are secured together to form a first mountable camera module, at least some of said components which form said first optical chain include threaded screw holes for receiving mounting screws which can extend through said rigid mounting board and be inserted into said threaded screw holes to secure said first mountable camera module to said rigid mounting board.

12. The camera device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third optical chain which does not include a mirror, said third optical chain being secured to said mounting board, a third opening in said mounting board allowing light to pass through said mounting board to a third sensor included in said third optical chain.

13. A camera apparatus, comprising:
a mirror assembly including:
a linear actuator;
a mirror support mounted on a pivot; and
a drive rod connected to said linear actuator for driving said mirror support;

a lens barrel; and
a rigid mounting board to which said mirror assembly is mounted, said rigid mounting board including a recess allowing a portion of a mirror to extend below the surface of said mounting board, said recess corresponding to a thin area of said rigid mounting board adjacent a hole through which light can pass through said rigid mounting board and be reflected by the mirror into said lens barrel.

14. The camera apparatus of claim 13 ,
wherein said mirror support is a mirror support cradle; and
wherein the linear actuator is a piezo electric actuator.

15. The camera apparatus of claim 13 further including a hall sensor for detecting a mirror position.

16. The camera apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
a return spring exerting pressure on said mirror support in a direction contrary to the direction exerted by said linear actuator.

17. A camera device, comprising:
a mounting board, said mounting board including a first opening through which light can pass and a second opening through which light can pass; and
a first camera module, secured to said mounting board, said first camera module including:
a first sensor; and
a first mirror positioned beneath said first opening to redirect light passing through said first opening towards said first sensor, said first mirror being a moveable mirror; and

a second camera module, secured to said mounting board, said second camera module including:
a second sensor; and
a second mirror positioned beneath said second opening to redirect light passing through said second opening towards said second sensor.

18. The camera device of claim 17 ,
wherein the second mirror is a second moveable mirror.

19. The camera device of claim 17 , wherein the mounting board further includes a third opening, the camera device further comprising:
a third camera module, secured to said mounting board, said third camera module including:
a third sensor; and
a third mirror positioned beneath said second opening to redirect light passing through said second opening towards said third sensor; and

wherein said first, second and third camera modules extend within said camera device at different angles relative to a bottom of said camera device.

20. The camera device of claim 17 , wherein the mounting board further includes a third opening, the camera device further comprising:
a third camera module, secured to said mounting board, said third camera module including:
a third sensor, light passing through said third opening extending in a straight manner from the front of the camera device towards the back of the camera device onto said third sensor.

Assignees

• Light Labs Inc

Inventors

• Singh Harpuneet
• Schmieder James
• Shroff Sapna A

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/58

  Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N5/2254

  Electricity · mapped topic