Camera and terminal including the same capable of changing focus using micro mirror array

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12130496-B2
Application number	US-201917056915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2019
Priority date	May 21, 2018
Publication date	Oct 29, 2024
Grant date	Oct 29, 2024

Abstract

The present invention relates to a camera and a terminal comprising same. A camera and a terminal comprising same according to an embodiment of the present invention comprise: a lens device including a micromirror array; and a processor for outputting, to the micromirror array in the lens device, a curvature control signal for curvature change, wherein the micromirror array includes a plurality of micromirrors including a first micromirror and a second micromirror, and the second micromirror is closer to the outer periphery thereof than the first micromirror and has a larger tilting angle according to the control signal than the first micromirror. Accordingly, focus can be changed using the micromirror array.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera comprising:
a lens structure including a micro mirror array;
a processor configured to output a curvature control signal for a curvature variation to the micro mirror array in the lens structure;
a first prism for reflecting incident light in a first reflection direction;
a first actuator for changing the first reflection direction by changing an angle of the first prism around a first rotation axis based on a first control signal which is input;
a first prism holder for fixing the first prism;
a plurality of protrusions protruded toward the first prism holder, wherein each of the protrusions includes an opening portion, and wherein the opening portion includes a first coil holder for limiting the first rotation axis; and
a first yoke coupled to a rear side of the first prism holder,
wherein the first actuator comprises:
a first driving magnet coupled to a rear side of the first yoke; and
a first driving coil disposed between the first coil holder and the first yoke,
wherein the first prism holder includes a plurality of bosses coupled with an opening of the plurality of protrusions to rotate the first prism around the first rotation axis,
wherein the micro mirror array includes a plurality of micro mirrors,
wherein a first tilting angle of a first micro mirror and a second tilting angle of a second micro mirror among the plurality of micro mirrors are changed based on the curvature control signal, and
wherein the second micro mirror is closer to an outside than the first micro mirror, and the second tilting angle is greater than the first tilting angle.

2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of micro mirrors is arranged in a plurality of concentric circles.

3. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
output a first curvature control signal to the micro mirror array at a first time to form a first focus, and
output a second curvature control signal to the micro mirror array at a second time after the first time to form a second focus.

4. The camera of claim 3 , wherein, when the tilting angle of the micro mirror array is greater at the second time than the tilting angle of the micro mirror array at the first time, the second focus is formed closer than the first focus.

5. The camera of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second prism for reflecting the light reflected from the first prism in a second reflection direction; and
a second actuator for changing the second reflection direction by changing an angle of the second prism around a second rotation axis based on a second control signal which is input.

6. The camera of claim 5 , wherein a first output prism surface of the first prism faces a second incident prism surface of the second prism.

7. The camera of claim 5 , wherein the first rotation axis of the first prism is orthogonal to the second rotation axis of the second prism.

8. The camera of claim 5 , wherein, in response to a movement causing rotation of the first prism around the first rotation axis by a first angle and rotation of the second prism around the second rotation axis by a second angle,
the first actuator is configured to rotate the first prism in a third direction opposite to the first direction by a third angle in response to the first control signal,
the second actuator is configured to rotate the second prism in a fourth direction opposite to the second direction by a fourth angle in response to the second control signal,
wherein the third angle is a half of the first angle, and
wherein the fourth angle is a half of the second angle.

9. The camera of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first Hall sensor for detecting an angle change of the first prism based on first magnetic field, and
a second Hall sensor for detecting an angle change of the first second prism based on second magnetic field.

10. The camera of claim 5 , wherein the second actuator includes a second driving magnet and a second driving coil.

11. The camera of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second prism holder for fixing the second prism;
a second yoke coupled to a rear side of the second prism holder;
a second driving magnet coupled to a rear side of the second yoke; and
a plurality of protrusions protruded toward the second prism holder, wherein each of the protrusions protruded toward the second prism holder includes an opening portion, and wherein the opening portion includes a second coil holder for limiting the second rotation axis,
wherein a second driving coil is disposed between the second coil holder and the second yoke, and
wherein the second prism holder includes a plurality of bosses coupled with an opening of the plurality of protrusions protruded toward the second prism holder to rotate the second prism around the second rotation axis.

12. The camera of claim 5 , further comprising an image sensor for generating an image signal based on the light output from the lens structure.

13. The camera of claim 12 , further comprising:
a gyro sensor for detecting a movement of the camera, and
wherein the processor controls the first reflection direction by changing an angle of the first prism around the first rotation axis and controls the second reflection direction by changing an angle of the second prism around the second rotation axis, based on movement information.

14. A terminal, comprising:
a camera; and
a controller configured to control the camera,
wherein the camera comprises:
a lens structure including a micro mirror array;
a processor configured to output a curvature control signal for a curvature variation to the micro mirror array in the lens structure;
a first prism for reflecting incident light in a first reflection direction;
a first actuator for changing the first reflection direction by changing an angle of the first prism around a first rotation axis based on a first control signal which is input;
a first prism holder for fixing the first prism;
a plurality of protrusions protruded toward the first prism holder, wherein each of the protrusions includes an opening portion, and wherein the opening portion includes a first coil holder for limiting the first rotation axis; and
a first yoke coupled to a rear side of the first prism holder,
wherein the first actuator comprises:
a first driving magnet coupled to a rear side of the first yoke; and
a first driving coil disposed between the first coil holder and the first yoke,
wherein the first prism holder includes a plurality of bosses coupled with an opening of the plurality of protrusions to rotate the first prism around the first rotation axis,
wherein the micro mirror array includes a plurality of micro mirrors,
wherein a first tilting angle of a first micro mirror and a second tilting angle of a second micro mirror among the plurality of micro mirrors are changed based on the curvature control signal, and
wherein the second micro mirror is closer to an outside than the first micro mirror, and the second tilting angle is greater than the first tilting angle.

15. The terminal of claim 14 , wherein the processor is controlled to output a third image that synthesizes a first image based on a first focus obtained from the camera at a first time and a second image based on a second focus obtained from the camera at a second time.

16. The terminal of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to:
output a first curvature control signal to the micro mirror array at a first time to form a first focus, and
output a second curvature control signal to the micro mirror array at a second time after the first t

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Cho Sunho
• Kim Kwanhyung
• Lee Dongryeol
• Kang Hyungjoo
• Ji Salkmann
• Hong Samnyol

Classifications

• G02B27/646

  compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68) · CPC title

• G03B2205/0007

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

• H04M1/0264

  for a camera module assembly · CPC title

• G03B17/17

  with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera · CPC title

• G03B13/36

  Autofocus systems · CPC title