Electronic device having a vision system assembly held by a self-aligning bracket assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11019239-B2
Application number	US-201916692873-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2019
Priority date	Aug 7, 2017
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

Abstract

An electronic device that includes a vision system carried by a bracket assembly is disclosed. The vision system may include a first camera module that captures an image of an object, a light emitting element that emits light rays toward the object, and a second camera module that receives light rays reflected from the object. The light rays may include infrared light rays. The bracket assembly is designed not only carry the aforementioned modules, but to also maintain a predetermined and fixed separation between the modules. The bracket assembly may form a rigid, multi-piece bracket assembly to prevent bending, thereby maintaining the predetermined separation. The electronic device may include a transparent cover designed to couple with a housing. The transparent cover includes an alignment module designed to engage a module and provide a moving force that aligns the bracket assembly and the modules to a desired location in the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure at least partially defining an internal volume;
a transparent cover secured to the enclosure and at least partially defining the internal volume;
a vision subsystem positioned in the internal volume, the vision subsystem comprising:
a first camera module;
a second camera module;
a light emitting module to project a desired pattern of light onto an object; and
a flood lighting module;

a bracket assembly positioned in the internal volume and carrying the vision subsystem, the bracket assembly maintaining a predetermined spatial separation between the first camera module, the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module; and
an alignment module connected to the bracket assembly, secured to the transparent cover, and overlying at least the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module, the alignment module defining a first opening aligned with the second camera module, a second opening aligned with the light emitting module, and a third opening aligned with the flood lighting module.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first camera module is positioned between the light emitting module and the flood lighting module.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
an audio module at least partially disposed in the internal volume;
wherein the second camera module is positioned on a first side of the audio module; and
wherein the first camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module are positioned on a second side of the audio module, opposite the first side.

4. The electronic device of claim 2 , further comprising an ambient light sensor carried by the bracket assembly.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting module and the flood lighting module emit a range of infrared frequencies of light.

6. The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first camera module or the second camera module comprises a light filter to block light outside the range of infrared frequencies of light.

7. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a proximity sensor disposed between two modules of the vision subsystem;
wherein the proximity sensor determines whether a user is within a predetermined distance from the proximity sensor, and provides an input to a processor of the electronic device based at least in part on the determination.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein;
the first camera module captures an image of an object; and
the second camera module receives light emitted by the light emitting module that is reflected off the object.

9. The electronic device of claim 7 , further comprising a processor;
wherein the light received by the second camera module corresponds to the desired pattern, and a signal generated by the second camera module based on the received light is used by the processor to create a three-dimensional image of the object.

10. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a material overlying the vision subsystem that permits passage of infrared light.

11. A vision system, comprising:
a first camera module;
a second camera module;
a light emitting module to project a desired pattern of light onto an object;
a flood lighting module; and
a bracket assembly carrying the first camera module, the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module, the bracket assembly comprising:
a first bracket overlying at least the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module;
a second bracket underlying and receiving the first camera module, the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module, the second bracket coupled to the first bracket; and

the bracket assembly maintaining a second camera center point of the second camera module a predetermined distance from a light emitting module center point of the light emitting module.

12. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined distance comprises a range from 120 micrometers to 200 micrometers.

13. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein the bracket assembly maintains the first camera module a predetermined distance from the second camera module.

14. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein the bracket assembly comprises a metal.

15. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein the second bracket comprises a continuous support layer underlying the first camera module, the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module.

16. The vision system of claim 11 , wherein the first camera module captures an image of the object, and the second camera module captures light emitted by the light emitting module corresponding to the desired pattern.

17. An electronic device, comprising:
an enclosure comprising sidewall components and at least partially defining an internal volume;
a transparent cover secured to the sidewall components and further defining the internal volume;
a vision subsystem disposed in the internal volume to recognize an object external to the internal volume, the vision subsystem comprising:
a first camera module;
a second camera module;
a light emitting module to project a desired pattern of light onto the object; and
a flood lighting module;

a bracket assembly carrying the vision subsystem and maintaining the first camera module, the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module of the vision subsystem in a desired range of spatial relationships, the bracket assembly disposed in the internal volume and secured against the transparent cover; and
an alignment module connected to the bracket assembly, secured to the transparent cover, and overlying at least the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module, the alignment module defining a first opening aligned with the second camera module, a second opening aligned with the light emitting module, and a third opening aligned with the flood lighting module.

18. The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the transparent cover defines a through hole disposed between the light emitting module and the first camera module;
the electronic device further comprising an audio module positioned at the through hole.

19. The electronic device of claim 17 , further comprising a display disposed below a portion of the transparent cover;
wherein the first camera module, the second camera module, the light emitting module, and the flood lighting module are positioned adjacent to a single side of the display.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Fletcher Ashley E
• Pakula David A
• Jarvis Daniel W
• Kole Jared M

Classifications

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• G01B11/2513 Primary

  with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns · CPC title

• H04N25/713

  Transfer or readout registers; Split readout registers or multiple readout registers · CPC title

• H04M1/0264

  for a camera module assembly · CPC title

• H04M1/026 Primary

  Details of the structure or mounting of specific components · CPC title