Camera with folded optics having moveable lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12353119-B2
Application number	US-202418433303-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2024
Priority date	Jan 10, 2018
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Some embodiments include suspension arrangements. The suspension arrangements may include leaf springs attached to a carrier structure for the lens.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera, comprising:
a folded optics arrangement to fold a path of light, the folded optics arrangement comprising:
a first prism;
a second prism; and
a lens group disposed between the first prism and the second prism, wherein the lens group includes one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;

an image sensor to capture light that has passed through the first prism, the lens group, and the second prism;
a carrier structure that at least partially encircles the folded optics arrangement, wherein the carrier structure is coupled with the lens group such that the carrier structure and the lens group are moveable together relative to the image sensor;
an actuator to move the lens group along multiple axes; and
a suspension arrangement to suspend the carrier structure and allow movement of the lens group along the multiple axes, the suspension arrangement comprising one or more leaf springs attached to the carrier structure and extending along a plane that is parallel to a light receiving side of the image sensor and parallel to the optical axis.

2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the carrier structure comprises a top surface and a bottom surface that is distinct from the top surface, and wherein the one or more leaf springs comprises an upper leaf spring extending along a first plane that is parallel to the light receiving side of the image sensor and parallel to the optical axis, wherein the upper leaf spring is attached to the top surface of the carrier structure.

3. The camera of claim 2 , wherein the one or more leaf springs further comprises a lower leaf spring that extends along a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and is closer to the image sensor than the first plane, wherein the lower leaf spring is attached to the bottom surface of the carrier structure.

4. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the suspension arrangement includes a damping arrangement configured to damp movement of one or more parts of the suspension arrangement.

5. The camera of claim 4 , wherein the damping arrangement comprises a viscoelastic material.

6. The camera of claim 5 , wherein the viscoelastic material is disposed within one or more protrusions of the carrier structure, and wherein the one or more parts of the suspension arrangement whose movement is to be damped are configured to be in contact with the viscoelastic material.

7. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the suspension arrangement further comprises one or more flexure arms coupled to the carrier structure and to a fixed base structure that surrounds the carrier structure.

8. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the carrier structure comprises:
an inner frame to which at least one coil of the actuator is attached; and
an outer frame to which at least one magnet of the actuator is attached, wherein the outer frame at least partially encircles the inner frame.

9. The camera of claim 8 , wherein the suspension arrangement further comprises flexure arms to mechanically connect the inner frame to the outer frame.

10. A device, comprising:
one or more processors;
memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operation of a camera; and
the camera, comprising:
a folded optics arrangement to fold a path of light, the folded optics arrangement comprising:
a first prism;
a second prism; and

a lens group disposed between the first prism and the second prism, wherein the lens group includes one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;
an image sensor to capture light that has passed through the first prism, the lens group, and the second prism;
a carrier structure that at least partially encircles the folded optics arrangement, wherein the carrier structure is coupled with the lens group such that the carrier structure and the lens group are moveable together relative to the image sensor;
an actuator to move the lens group along multiple axes; and
a suspension arrangement to suspend the carrier structure and allow movement of the lens group along the multiple axes, the suspension arrangement comprising one or more leaf springs attached to the carrier structure and extending along a plane that is parallel to a light receiving side of the image sensor and parallel to the optical axis.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the carrier structure comprises a top surface and a bottom surface that is distinct from the top surface, and wherein the one or more the leaf springs includes an upper leaf spring extending along a first plane that is parallel to the light receiving side of the image sensor and parallel to the optical axis, wherein the upper leaf spring is attached to the top surface of the carrier structure.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more the leaf springs includes a lower leaf spring that extends along a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and is closer to the image sensor than the first plane, wherein the lower leaf spring is attached to the bottom surface of the carrier structure.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the suspension arrangement includes a damping arrangement configured to damp movement of one or more parts of the suspension arrangement.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the damping arrangement comprises a viscoelastic material.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the viscoelastic material is disposed within one or more protrusions of the carrier structure, and wherein the one or more parts of the suspension arrangement are configured to be in contact with the viscoelastic material within the one or more protrusions.

16. The device of claim 10 , wherein the actuator is configured to:
move the carrier structure, in at least a first direction parallel to the optical axis defined by the lens group, to provide autofocus (AF) movement of an image captured via the image sensor;
move the carrier structure, in at least a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction, to provide optical image stabilization movement of the image; or
move the carrier structure, in at least a third direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.

17. A folded optics system, comprising:
a folded optics arrangement comprising:
a first prism to redirect light to a lens group;
a second prism to receive the light from the lens group and redirect the light to an image sensor; and
the lens group disposed between the first prism and the second prism, wherein the lens group includes one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;

a carrier structure that at least partially encircles the folded optics arrangement, wherein the carrier structure is coupled with the lens group such that the carrier structure and the lens group are moveable together relative to the image sensor; and
a suspension arrangement to suspend the carrier structure and allow movement of the lens group along multiple axes, the suspension arrangement comprising one or more leaf springs attached to the carrier structure and extending along a plane that is parallel to a light receiving side of the image sensor and parallel to the optical axis.

18. The folded optics system of claim 17 , wherein the suspension arrangement further comprises one or more flexure arms coupled to the carrier structure and to a fixed base structure that surrounds the carrier structure.

19. The folded optics system of claim 17 , wherein the carrier structure comprises:
an inner frame to which at least one coil of an actuator is attached, the actuator configured to move the le

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Miller Scott W
• Mireault Alfred N
• Johnson Brad V
• Smyth Nicholas D
• Adriano Rummel R
• Sharma Shashank
• Webster Steven

Classifications

• H04N23/687

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• H04N23/67

  Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• H04N23/57

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

• H04N23/55

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

• H04N23/54 Primary

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