Camera focus and stabilization system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11048147-B2
Application number	US-201916571659-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2019
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

Various embodiments include a camera with a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. The VCM actuator assembly is configured to move an image sensor of the camera in three dimensions (e.g. X, Y, and Z) to provide the AF and/or OIS movements. The VCM actuator assembly is asymmetrical and includes an at least partially open side that allows an optical assembly of the camera to pass through the open side of the VCM actuator. In some embodiments, the optical assembly is part of a folded optics arrangement of the camera that includes one or more prisms/and or lenses.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera comprising:
an aperture configured to enable light to enter the camera;
an image sensor configured to capture the light that has entered the camera and convert the light into image signals;
a substrate carrier, wherein the image sensor is mounted on a substrate supported by the substrate carrier;
a carrier frame at least partially surrounding the substrate carrier;
a spring plate that mechanically couples the substrate carrier to the carrier frame, wherein the spring plate permits motion of the substrate carrier relative to the carrier frame in an autofocus (AF) direction and restricts motion of the substrate carrier relative to the carrier frame in a plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus (AF) direction;
a set of suspension elements mechanically connected to a static member of the camera and coupled to the carrier frame, wherein the suspension elements permit motion of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier in the plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions and restrict motion of the carrier frame in the autofocus (AF) direction; and
one or more voice coil motor actuators configured to move the image sensor in the autofocus (AF) direction and move the image sensor in the plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus direction.

2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the camera is a folded optics camera comprising:
a prism configured to redirect the light that enters the camera via the aperture; and
an additional prism configured to redirect the light redirected by the prism such that the light is directed into the autofocus direction, wherein the image sensor is positioned in the camera such that the light directed in the autofocus direction is directed toward the image sensor.

3. The camera of claim 2 , wherein the carrier frame and the substrate carrier are at least partially open on at least one side of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier, and
wherein at least a portion of the additional prism extends through an open side of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier.

4. The camera of claim 1 , further comprising:
a lower flexure comprising one or more flexure arms that connect the substrate of the image sensor that is configured to move in the autofocus direction and the plurality of optical image stabilization directions to a static portion of the lower flexure, wherein the one or more flexure arms provide paths for traces between the image sensor and the static portion of the lower flexure.

5. The camera of claim 1 , further comprising:
a dual pole magnet coupled to a first side of the carrier frame;
a second dual pole magnet coupled to a second side of the carrier frame; and
a single pole magnet coupled to a third side of the carrier frame,
wherein the first side and the second side of the carrier frame are opposite parallel sides of the carrier frame, such that the dual pole magnet and the second dual pole magnet are oriented parallel to one another, and
wherein the third side of the carrier frame is orthogonal to the first and second side of the carrier frame, such that the single pole magnet is oriented perpendicular to the dual pole magnet and the second dual pole magnet.

6. The camera of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first coil coupled to the substrate carrier on a side of the substrate carrier adjacent to the first side of the carrier frame; and
a second coil coupled to the substrate carrier on another side of the substrate carrier that is adjacent to the second side of the carrier frame,
wherein the first coil and the second coil interact with the dual pole magnet and the second dual pole magnet to cause the substrate carrier to move relative to the carrier frame in the autofocus (AF) direction.

7. The camera of claim 6 , further comprising:
a third coil coupled to a static flexure on a portion of the static flexure positioned adjacent to the dual pole magnet; and
a fourth coil coupled to a static flexure on a portion of the static flexure adjacent to the second dual pole magnet,
wherein the third coil and the fourth coil interact with the dual pole magnet and the second dual pole magnet to cause the carrier frame and the substrate carrier to move in a first optical image stabilization (OIS) direction); and

a fifth coil coupled to the static flexure on a portion of the static flexure adjacent to the single pole magnet,
wherein the fifth coil interacts with the single pole magnet to cause the carrier frame and the substrate carrier to move in a second optical image stabilization (OIS) direction) orthogonal to the first optical image stabilization (OIS) direction.

8. The camera of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first hall sensor mounted on the static flexure on a portion of the static flexure adjacent to the dual pole magnet mounted on the first side of the carrier frame or on a portion of the static flexure adjacent to the second dual pole magnet mounted on the second side of the carrier frame,
wherein the first hall sensor measures a magnetic field that is proportional to a displacement of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier in the first optical image stabilization (OIS) direction;

a second hall sensor mounted on the static flexure on a portion of the static flexure adjacent to the single pole magnet mounted on the third side of the carrier frame,
wherein the second hall sensor measures a magnetic field that is proportional to a displacement of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier in the second optical image stabilization (OIS) direction; and

a third hall sensor mounted on a vertical flexure coupled to the substrate carrier and positioned adjacent to the single pole magnet, wherein the third hall sensor is oriented orthogonal to the second hall sensor,
wherein the third hall sensor moves with the substrate carrier and measures a magnetic field that is proportional to a displacement of the substrate carrier relative to the carrier frame in the autofocus (AF) direction.

9. A voice coil motor actuator assembly comprising:
a plurality of magnets;
a plurality of coils;
a substrate carrier configured to support a substrate of an image sensor;
a carrier frame at least partially surrounding the substrate carrier; and
a flexure assembly comprising:
a spring plate that mechanically couples the substrate carrier to the carrier frame, wherein the spring plate permits motion of the substrate carrier relative to the carrier frame in an autofocus (AF) direction, and wherein the spring plate restricts motion of the substrate carrier relative to the carrier frame in a plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus (AF) direction; and
a set of suspension elements configured to couple the carrier frame to a static member, wherein the suspension elements permit motion of the carrier frame and the substrate carrier in the plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus (AF) direction and restrict motion of the carrier frame in the autofocus (AF) direction,

wherein the voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly is configured to:
move the image sensor in the autofocus (AF) direction; and
move the image sensor in the plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) directions orthogonal to the autofocus direction.

10. The voice coil motor actuator assembly of claim 9 , wherein one side of the carrier frame is at least partially open, and wherein the magnets are mounted on three remaining sides of the carrier frame that are not open.

11. The voice coil motor actuator assembly of claim 9 , wherein the magnets move wi

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Sharma Shashank

Classifications

• H04N23/683

  performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory · CPC title

• H04N23/687 Primary

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• H04N23/54

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

• H04N23/55

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

• G03B2205/0069

  using electromagnetic actuators, e.g. voice coils · CPC title