Optical devices for tilt in camera systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11212447-B1
Application number	US-202016915742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2020
Priority date	Jun 29, 2020
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to optical devices and related methods that facilitate tilt in camera systems, such as tilt of a lens. In one example, an optical device includes a lens, an image sensor disposed below the lens, a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens, and a plurality of: (1) vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes and (2) horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes. When power is applied, the coil structures can generate magnetic fields that, in the presence of the magnets, cause relative movement of the coil structures and associated structures. The plurality of vertical coil structures are configured to horizontally move the lens. The plurality of horizontal coil structures are configured to tilt the lens when differing electrical power is applied to at least two of the plurality of horizontal coil structures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical device, comprising:
a base defining an X-Y plane extending parallel to the base and a Z-axis extending perpendicularly to the X-Y plane;
a lens;
an image sensor disposed below the lens along the Z-axis;
a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and magnetized horizontally toward the lens to generate magnetic fields horizontally in horizontal directions toward the lens;
a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes extending parallel to the Z-axis; and
a plurality of horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes to tilt the lens when differing electrical power is applied to at least two of the plurality of horizontal coil structures, each of the horizontal planes oriented perpendicularly to the one or more vertical planes, and each horizontal coil structure of the plurality of horizontal coil structures having:
a first end disposed vertically above or below a respective magnet of the plurality of magnets along the Z-axis, and
a second end disposed inwardly or outwardly of the respective magnet of the plurality of magnets along the X-Y plane.

2. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein a north pole of each magnet of the plurality of magnets faces inwardly toward the lens, and a south pole of each magnet of the plurality of magnets faces outwardly away from the lens.

3. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising a second plurality of magnets disposed above or below the plurality of magnets, wherein the second plurality of magnets are magnetized vertically to generate magnetic fields vertically in vertical directions toward the plurality of horizontal coil structures.

4. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein a center of each horizontal coil structure of the plurality of horizontal coil structures is disposed vertically above or below the respective magnet of the plurality of magnets along the Z-axis.

5. The optical device of claim 4 , further comprising a second plurality of horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more second horizontal planes, wherein each second horizontal coil structure of the second plurality of horizontal coil structures is disposed at least partially above or below the respective magnet of the plurality of magnets, a center of each second horizontal coil structure of the second plurality of horizontal coil structures is disposed vertically above or below the respective magnet of the plurality of magnets, and the plurality of magnets are disposed between the plurality of horizontal coil structures and the second plurality of horizontal coil structures.

6. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein each vertical coil structure of the plurality of vertical coil structures is disposed inwardly of an inner surface of a respective magnet of the plurality of magnets, or disposed outwardly of an outer surface of the respective magnet of the plurality of magnets.

7. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of magnets are disposed at corners of a pattern or at sides of the pattern, wherein the pattern is a square pattern or a triangular pattern.

8. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein a surface of each magnet of the plurality of magnets faces a respective horizontal coil structure of the plurality of horizontal coil structures, the surface of each magnet includes a first surface area, and the respective horizontal coil structure includes a second surface area facing the surface of the magnet, wherein the second surface area is a ratio of the first surface area, and the ratio is within a range of 0.8 to 1.2.

9. A camera system comprising the optical device of claim 1 .

10. An optical device, comprising:
a base defining an X-Y plane extending parallel to the base and a Z-axis extending perpendicularly to the X-Y plane;
a lens;
an image sensor disposed below the lens along the Z-axis;
a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes extending parallel to the Z-axis;
a plurality of horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes to tilt the lens when differing electrical power is applied to at least two of the plurality of horizontal coil structures, each of the horizontal planes oriented perpendicularly to the one or more vertical planes; and
a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and magnetized at an oblique angle to generate magnetic fields at the oblique angle, wherein the oblique angle is oblique relative to the one or more horizontal planes of the plurality of horizontal coil structures.

11. The optical device of claim 10 , wherein the oblique angle is 45 degrees.

12. The optical device of claim 10 , wherein each horizontal coil structure of the plurality of horizontal coil structures is disposed at least partially above or below a respective magnet of the plurality of magnets along the Z-axis, and a center of each horizontal coil structure of the plurality of horizontal coil structures is aligned vertically above or below the respective magnet of the plurality of magnets along the Z-axis.

13. The optical device of claim 12 , wherein each vertical coil structure of the plurality of vertical coil structures is disposed inwardly of an inner surface of a respective magnet of the plurality of magnets along the X-Y plane.

14. The optical device of claim 13 , wherein each magnet of the plurality of magnets magnetized at the oblique angle is magnetized inwardly toward the respective vertical coil structure and downwardly toward the respective horizontal coil structure.

15. A camera system comprising the optical device of claim 10 .

16. An optical device, comprising:
a base defining an X-Y plane extending parallel to the base and a Z-axis extending perpendicularly to the X-Y plane;
a lens;
an image sensor disposed below the lens along the Z-axis;
a first plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and magnetized horizontally toward the lens to generate magnetic fields horizontally in horizontal directions toward the lens;
a second plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and magnetized perpendicularly to the first plurality of magnets to generate magnetic fields perpendicularly to the magnetic fields of the first plurality of magnets, wherein each magnet of the second plurality of magnets is disposed above or below a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets along the Z-axis; and
a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes extending parallel to the Z-axis.

17. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein each vertical coil structure of the plurality of vertical coil structures is disposed inwardly of an inner surface of a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets and inwardly of an inner surface of a respective magnet of the second plurality of magnets.

18. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein each vertical coil structure of the plurality of vertical coil structures is disposed outwardly of an outer surface of a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets and outwardly of an outer surface of a respective magnet of the second plurality of magnets.

19. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein each magnet of the second plurality of magnets is coupled to a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets.

20. A camera system comprising the optical device of claim 16 .

Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc

Inventors

• Le Quang
• Nagabhirava Rajeev
• Ho Kuok San
• Bai Zhigang
• Li Zhanjie
• Liu Xiaoyong
• Mauri Daniele

Classifications

• H04N23/55

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

• H04N23/687 Primary

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• G03B3/10 Primary

  Power-operated focusing · CPC title

• H04N23/57

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

• H04N23/65

  Control of camera operation in relation to power supply · CPC title