Camera focus and stabilization system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11835845-B2
Application number	US-202217933063-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2022
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

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;
an actuator assembly comprising:
a carrier frame to move in at least a first direction;
a substrate carrier, at least partially surrounded by the carrier frame, to support the image sensor and to move in at least a second direction orthogonal to the movement of the carrier frame; and
a plurality of actuator magnets and coils to generate forces to move the image sensor in at least the first and second directions, wherein a first one of the actuator magnets is coupled to and moves with the carrier frame;

a first position sensor, mounted to a static member in the camera, to measure changes in a magnetic field of the first actuator magnet mounted to the carrier frame as the first actuator magnet moves with the carrier frame in the first direction; and
a second position sensor coupled to the substrate carrier in the camera such that the second position sensor moves with the first actuator magnet in the first direction, and measures changes in the magnetic field of the first actuator magnet as the second position sensor moves in the second direction.

2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein:
the actuator assembly comprises:
an optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator assembly comprising OIS coils to perform optical image stabilization, and
an autofocus (AF) actuator assembly comprising AF coils to perform autofocus functionality; and

the first actuator magnet is part of the OIS actuator assembly.

3. The camera of claim 2 , wherein the first position sensor and one or more of the OIS coils are mounted on opposite sides of a component of the camera.

4. The camera of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least a first direction comprises OIS directions and the second direction comprises an AF direction; and
the first actuator magnet is coupled to and moves with the carrier frame in OIS directions and not in an AF direction.

5. The camera of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least a first direction comprises OIS directions and the second direction comprises an AF direction; and
the second position sensor is coupled to the substrate carrier in the camera such that the second position sensor moves with the first actuator magnet in the OIS directions.

6. The camera of claim 1 ,
wherein the actuator magnets comprise second and third actuator magnets coupled to respective second and third sides of the carrier frame, opposite one another and orthogonal to a first side of the carrier frame two which the first actuator magnet is coupled; and
wherein no magnets are mounted on a fourth side of the carrier frame that remains open, such that a portion of an optical assembly of a folded optics arrangement can pass through the open side of the carrier frame.

7. The camera of claim 6 , further comprising:
respective coils associated with each of the first, second and third actuator magnets of the actuator assembly;
wherein the first, second and third magnets of the actuator assembly move with the carrier frame and the respective coils associated with the magnets remain stationary.

8. A mobile multifunction device, comprising:
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;
an actuator assembly comprising:
a carrier frame to move in at least a first direction;
a substrate carrier, at least partially surrounded by the carrier frame, to support the image sensor and to move in at least a second direction orthogonal to the movement of the carrier frame; and
a plurality of actuator magnets and coils to generate forces to move the image sensor in at least the first and second directions, wherein a first of the actuator magnets is mounted to and moves with the carrier frame;

a first position sensor, mounted to a static member in the camera, to measure changes in a magnetic field of the first actuator magnet mounted to the carrier frame as the first actuator magnet moves with the carrier frame in the first direction; and
a second position sensor coupled to the substrate carrier in the camera such that the second position sensor moves with the first actuator magnet in the first direction, and measures changes in the magnetic field of the first actuator magnet as the second position sensor moves in the second direction;

a display; and
one or more processors configured to:
cause the actuator assembly to move the image sensor in the second direction; and
cause the actuator assembly to move the image sensor in the at least the first direction orthogonal to the second direction.

9. The mobile multifunction device of claim 8 , wherein:
the actuator assembly comprises:
an optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator assembly comprising OIS coils, and
an autofocus (AF) actuator assembly comprising one or more AF coils; and

the first actuator magnet is part of the OIS actuator assembly.

10. The mobile multifunction device of claim 9 , wherein the first position sensor and one or more of the OIS coils are mounted on opposite sides of a component of the camera.

11. The mobile multifunction device of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least a first direction comprises OIS directions and the second direction comprises an AF direction; and
the first actuator magnet is coupled to and moves with the carrier frame in the OIS directions and not in the AF direction.

12. The mobile multifunction device of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least a first direction comprises OIS directions and the second direction comprises an AF direction; and
the second position sensor is coupled to the substrate carrier in the camera such that the second position sensor moves with the first actuator magnet in the OIS directions.

13. The mobile multifunction device of claim 8 ,
wherein the actuator magnets comprise second and third actuator magnets coupled to respective second and third sides of the carrier frame, opposite one another and orthogonal to a first side of the carrier frame two which the first actuator magnet is coupled; and
wherein no magnets are mounted on a fourth side of the carrier frame that remains open, such that a portion of an optical assembly of a folded optics arrangement camera can pass through the open side of the carrier frame.

14. The mobile multifunction device of claim 13 , further comprising:
respective coils associated with each of the first, second and third actuator magnets of the actuator assembly;
wherein the first, second and third magnets of the actuator assembly move with the carrier frame and the respective coils associated with the magnets remain stationary.

15. A voice coil motor actuator assembly, comprising:
a carrier frame to move in at least a first direction;
a substrate carrier, at least partially surrounded by the carrier frame, configured to support an image sensor and to move in at least a second direction orthogonal to the movement of the carrier frame; and
a plurality of actuator magnets and coils to generate forces to move the substrate carrier in at least the first and second directions, wherein a first one of the actuator magnets is coupled to and moves with the carrier frame;
a first statically-mounted position sensor to measure changes in a magnetic field of the first actuator magnet mounted to the carrier frame as the first actuator magnet moves with the carrier frame in the first direction; and
a second position sensor co

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Sharma Shashank

Classifications

• G03B2205/0069

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

• G03B2205/0038

  by displacing the image plane with respect to the optical axis · CPC title

• G03B2205/003

  by a prism with variable angle or the like · CPC title

• G03B2205/0007

  Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur · CPC title

• H02K41/0356

  moving along a straight path · CPC title