Welded bracket structure for a multi-camera system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12153278-B2
Application number	US-202318189167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2023
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

Various embodiments include a welded bracket structure for camera modules and techniques for forming such a welded bracket structure. In some embodiments, the welded bracket structure may include a first bracket and a second bracket that are welded to each other. Some embodiments include a weld joint arrangement comprising one or more weld joints for attaching the first bracket to the second bracket. Furthermore, some embodiments include an epoxy arrangement for a multi-camera system that includes the welded bracket structure and multiple camera modules.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bracket structure for camera modules, the bracket structure comprising:
a first deep drawn bracket, comprising:
a first top wall defining a first set of one or more apertures to receive at least a portion of a first set of one or more camera modules, and
a first side wall adjacent the first top wall;

a second deep drawn bracket, comprising:
a second top wall defining a second set of one or more apertures to receive at least a portion of a second set of one or more camera modules, and
a second side wall adjacent the second top wall; and

a weld joint arrangement including two or more different types of weld joints, wherein each of the two or more different types of weld joints joins the first side wall to the second side wall to fixedly attach the second deep drawn bracket to the first deep drawn bracket such that the second side wall abuts the first side wall, wherein the two or more different types of weld joints are configured to counter both pull and torque forces between the first deep drawn bracket and the second deep drawn bracket.

2. The bracket structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the first deep drawn bracket is formed by deep drawing a first sheet of metal; and
the second deep drawn bracket is formed by deep drawing a second sheet of metal.

3. The bracket structure of claim 1 , wherein the two or more different types of weld joints comprise at least two of:
a spot weld between the first side wall of the first deep drawn bracket and the second side wall of the second deep drawn bracket;
a seam weld between a first interior edge of the first side wall and a second interior edge of the second side wall;
a first butt weld between the first side wall and a corner portion of the second deep drawn bracket, wherein the corner portion comprises a portion of the second side wall and a portion of a third side wall that is orthogonal to the second side wall and the second top wall of the second deep drawn bracket; or
a second butt weld between a first exterior edge of the first side wall and a second exterior edge of the second side wall.

4. The bracket structure of claim 3 , wherein:
the two or more different types of weld joints comprise at least two of:
the spot weld;
the seam weld;
the first butt weld; and
the second butt weld;

the first exterior edge is opposite the first interior edge with respect to the first side wall; and
the second exterior edge is opposite the second interior edge with respect to the second side wall.

5. The bracket structure of claim 1 , wherein:
the first side wall of the first deep drawn bracket is orthogonal to the first top wall of the first deep drawn bracket and parallel to the second side wall of the second deep drawn bracket; and
the second side wall is orthogonal to the second top wall.

6. A device, comprising:
one or more processors;
memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operation of one or more cameras of a multi-camera system;
the multi-camera system, comprising:
a plurality of camera modules, comprising:
a first set of at least one camera module; and
a second set of one or more camera modules; and

a bracket structure for the plurality of camera modules, the bracket structure comprising:
a first deep drawn bracket, comprising:
a first top wall defining a first set of at least one aperture to receive at least a portion of a first set of one or more camera modules, and
a first side wall adjacent the first top wall;

a second deep drawn bracket, comprising:
a second top wall defining a second set of one or more apertures to receive at least a portion of the second set of one or more camera modules, and
a second side wall adjacent the second top wall; and

a weld joint arrangement including two or more different types of weld joints, wherein each of the two or more different types of weld joints joins the first side wall to the second side wall to fixedly attach the second deep drawn bracket to the first deep drawn bracket such that the second side wall abuts the first side wall, wherein the two or more different types of weld joints are configured to counter both pull and torque forces between the first deep drawn bracket and the second deep drawn bracket.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein:
the first deep drawn bracket is formed by deep drawing a first sheet of metal; and
the second deep drawn bracket is formed by deep drawing a second sheet of metal.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the two or more different types of weld joints comprise at least two of:
a spot weld;
a seam weld; or
a butt weld.

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the two or more different types of weld joints comprise a spot weld between the first side wall of the first deep drawn bracket and the second side wall of the second deep drawn bracket.

10. The device of claim 6 , wherein the two or more different types of weld joints comprise a seam weld between a first edge of the first side wall and a second edge of the second side wall.

11. The device of claim 6 , wherein the two or more different types of weld joints comprise:
a first butt weld between the first side wall and a corner portion of the second deep drawn bracket, wherein the corner portion comprises a portion of the second side wall and a portion of a third side wall that is orthogonal to the second side wall and the second top wall of the second deep drawn bracket; and
a second butt weld between a first exterior edge of the first side wall and a second exterior edge of the second side wall.

12. The device of claim 6 , wherein:
the first set of at least two camera modules comprises:
a first camera module, comprising:
a first lens group comprising one or more lens elements; and
a first lens barrel to hold the first lens group; and

a second camera module, comprising:
a second lens group comprising one or more lens elements; and
a second lens barrel to hold the second lens group; and

the first set of at least two apertures comprises:
a first aperture for receiving at least a portion of the first lens barrel; and
a second aperture for receiving at least a portion of the second lens barrel.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein:
the second set of one or more camera modules comprises:
a third camera module, comprising:
a third lens group comprising one or more lens elements; and
a third lens barrel to hold the third lens group; and

the second set of one or more apertures comprises:
a third aperture for receiving at least a portion of the third lens barrel.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the two or more different types of weld joints fixedly attach the second deep drawn bracket to the first deep drawn bracket such that a plane intersecting a central axis of the third aperture is located between the first aperture and the second aperture.

15. The device of claim 13 , further comprising an epoxy that electrically grounds the bracket structure to the first camera module, the second camera module, and the third camera module.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein:
the epoxy comprises a silver epoxy;
the device further comprises a thermal epoxy; and
the first side wall and the second side wall define a cutout portion configured to allow at least one of the silver epoxy or the thermal epoxy to flow from the first deep drawn bracket to the second deep drawn bracket or from the second deep drawn bracket to the first deep drawn bracket.

17. A multi-camera system comprising:
a bracket structure comprising a first bracket welded to a second

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Hubert Aurelien R
• Hristov Stoyan P
• Liao Xiao

Classifications

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• G03B17/02 Primary

  Bodies · CPC title

• H04M1/0264

  for a camera module assembly · CPC title

• G03B35/08

  by simultaneous recording · CPC title