Capacitive position sensing for camera focus management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11680786-B2
Application number	US-202117453748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2021
Priority date	Nov 5, 2021
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

Abstract

An apparatus includes a lens assembly that includes at least one lens that defines an optical axis. The apparatus also includes a substrate, an image sensor disposed on the substrate, and an actuator coupled to the substrate and configured to adjust a position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly to move the image sensor along the optical axis. The apparatus additionally includes a capacitive position sensor that includes a first capacitive plate coupled to the substrate and a second capacitive plate coupled to the lens assembly. The capacitive position sensor may be configured to generate a capacitance measurement indicative of the position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly. The apparatus further includes circuitry configured to control the actuator based on (i) the capacitance measurement and (ii) a target position of the image sensor relative to the lens assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a lens assembly comprising at least one lens that defines an optical axis;
a substrate;
an image sensor disposed on the substrate;
an actuator coupled to the substrate and configured to adjust a position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly to move the image sensor along the optical axis;
a capacitive position sensor comprising (i) a first capacitor comprising a first capacitive plate and a second capacitive plate and (ii) a second capacitor comprising a third capacitive plate and a fourth capacitive plate, wherein:
the first capacitive plate is coupled to a first side of the substrate and the second capacitive plate is coupled to a first portion of the lens assembly that faces and is parallel to the first side of the substrate,
the third capacitive plate is coupled to a second side of the substrate and the fourth capacitive plate is coupled to a second portion of the lens assembly that faces and is parallel to the second side of the substrate,
the first side of the substrate is opposite to the second side of the substrate, and
the capacitive position sensor is configured to generate a capacitance measurement indicative of the position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly; and

circuitry configured to control the actuator based on (i) the capacitance measurement and (ii) a target position of the image sensor relative to the lens assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second capacitive plate is formed at least in part by the first portion of the lens assembly, and wherein the fourth capacitive plate is formed at least in part by the second portion of the lens assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lens assembly comprises (i) a lens holder fixedly connected to the at least one lens and (ii) an actuator frame fixedly connected to the lens holder and configured to position the actuator in a fixed position relative to the lens holder, wherein the first portion of the lens assembly comprises the lens holder, and wherein the second portion of the lens assembly comprises the actuator frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to control the actuator by:
determining a difference signal based on a first capacitance measurement of the first capacitor and a second capacitance measurement of the second capacitor; and
determining a position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly based on the difference signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lens assembly comprises (i) a lens holder fixedly connected to the at least one lens and (ii) an actuator frame fixedly connected to the lens holder and configured to position the actuator in a fixed position relative to the lens holder, wherein the capacitive position sensor further comprises a third capacitor comprising a fifth capacitive plate, a dielectric, and a sixth capacitive plate, wherein the second capacitive plate is disposed on a first portion of the lens holder that faces and is parallel to the first side of the substrate, wherein the fifth capacitive plate comprises a second portion of the lens holder, wherein the sixth capacitive plate comprises a portion of the actuator frame, and wherein the dielectric comprises an adhesive configured to bond the second portion of the lens holder to the portion of the actuator frame and disposed therebetween.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitive plate comprises a groove defined by a conductive material coupled to a first side of the substrate, wherein the second capacitive plate comprises a tongue defined by the first portion of the lens assembly, and wherein the tongue is configured to fit in and move relative to the groove.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitive plate comprises a sensor electrode and one or more shield electrodes adjacent to the sensor electrode.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the capacitive position sensor is configured to apply, to the sensor electrode and the one or more shield electrodes, a common signal to define a sensing zone of the sensor electrode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first width of the first capacitive plate exceeds a second width of the second capacitive plate and a first length of the first capacitive plate exceeds a second length of the second capacitive plate such that the capacitance measurement (i) is configured to change in response to motion of the substrate along the optical axis and (ii) exhibits no more than a threshold extent of sensitivity to motion of the substrate perpendicular to the optical axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first capacitive plate comprises:
a first sensor electrode disposed on a first side of the substrate and extending along a first portion of a periphery of the substrate, wherein the first portion of the periphery comprises a first end of the substrate; and
a second sensor electrode disposed on the first side of the substrate and extending along a second portion of the periphery of the substrate, wherein the second portion of the periphery comprises a second end of the substrate, wherein the first end is opposite to the second end.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second capacitive plate coupled to the first portion of the lens assembly comprises a conductive portion of the lens assembly, wherein the conductive portion of the lens assembly is electrically connected to the substrate.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the target position is within a depth of focus of the at least one lens.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
obtain, from the image sensor, image data representing an object in an environment;
determine, based on the image data, a focus score indicative of an extent of focus associated with the object in the environment; and
determine the target position based on the focus score.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a housing containing the lens assembly and the substrate; and
a temperature sensor located within the housing, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
obtain, from the temperature sensor, temperature data; and
determine the target position based on the temperature data.

15. A method comprising:
receiving, from a capacitive position sensor, a capacitance measurement indicative of a position of a substrate relative to a lens assembly, wherein the lens assembly comprises at least one lens that defines an optical axis, wherein an image sensor is disposed on the substrate, and wherein the capacitive position sensor comprises (i) a first capacitor comprising a first capacitive plate and a second capacitive plate and (ii) a second capacitor comprising a third capacitive plate and a fourth capacitive plate, wherein:
the first capacitive plate is coupled to a first side of the substrate and the second capacitive plate is coupled to a first portion of the lens assembly that faces and is parallel to the first side of the substrate,
the third capacitive plate is coupled to a second side of the substrate and the fourth capacitive plate is coupled to a second portion of the lens assembly that faces and is parallel to the second side of the substrate, and
the first side of the substrate is opposite to the second side of the substrate;

determining, based on the capacitance measurement and a target position of the image sensor relative to the lens assembly, a control signal for an actuator that is coupled to the substrate and configured to adjust the position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly to move the image sensor along the optic

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Sharma Shashank
• Last Matthew
• Kalkura Prasanna
• Schaefer Paul

Classifications

• H04N23/55

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

• H04N23/67

  Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• G02B7/102

  controlled by a microcomputer (cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14) · CPC title

• G01B7/003 Primary

  for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination (coordinate measuring G01B7/004) · CPC title

• H04N23/54

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