Auto focus and optical image stabilization in a compact folded camera

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12422651-B2
Application number	US-202419004358-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2024
Priority date	Apr 16, 2015
Publication date	Sep 23, 2025
Grant date	Sep 23, 2025

Abstract

Compact folded camera modules having auto-focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) capabilities and multi-aperture cameras including such modules. In an embodiment, a folded camera module includes an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis, an image sensor and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis. The lens module can be actuated to move in first and second orthogonal directions in a plane perpendicular to the first optical axis, the movement in the first direction being for auto-focus and the movement in the second direction being for OIS. The OPFE can be actuated to tilt for OIS.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A folded camera module, comprising:
a lens having a lens optical axis; and
an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path to a second optical path towards an image sensor, the second optical path being along the lens optical axis,
a lens actuator; and
an OPFE actuator,
wherein the lens actuator is operational to move the lens for auto-focus (AF) along a first direction substantially parallel to the lens optical axis,
wherein the OPFE actuator is operational to tilt the OPFE for optical image stabilization (OIS) around an OPFE tilt axis that is parallel to a second direction, the second direction being orthogonal to both the first and second optical paths, and
wherein the OPFE actuator includes two or more springs.

2. The folded camera module of claim 1 , further comprising one or more position sensors that enable measurement of a position of the lens and measurement of the OPFE tilt.

3. The folded camera module of claim 2 , further comprising an actuation controller configured to receive data inputs indicative of the position of the lens and of the OPFE tilt and a data input from the one or more position sensors and to generate, in response to the data inputs, movement instructions and tilt instructions to the OPFE actuator.

4. The folded camera module of claim 2 , wherein each of the lens actuator and the OPFE actuator includes a plurality of flexible hanging members.

5. The folded camera module of claim 4 , wherein the flexible hanging members of the lens actuator are parallel to each other.

6. The folded camera module of claim 4 , wherein the flexible hanging members of the OPFE actuator are tilted.

7. The folded camera module of claim 1 , wherein the OPFE tilt axis is a virtual axis.

8. The folded camera module of claim 2 , wherein the OPFE actuator includes at least one coil-magnet pair for actuating the OPFE tilt, and wherein at least one of the coil-magnet pair is positioned below the OPFE.

9. The folded camera module of claim 1 , wherein the OPFE actuator includes two leaf springs.

10. The folded camera module of claim 9 , wherein a first spring of the two leaf springs is positioned at a first side of the OPFE along the first direction and wherein a second spring of the two leaf springs is positioned at a second, opposite side of the OPFE along the first direction.

11. The folded camera module of claim 10 , wherein each of the two leaf springs includes two spring members.

12. The folded camera module of claim 1 , wherein the OPFE includes a prism or a mirror.

13. The folded camera module of claim 1 , wherein the lens actuator includes a plurality of coil-magnet pairs for actuating the lens movement.

14. The folded camera module of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of coil-magnet pairs includes two coil-magnet pairs.

15. The folded camera module of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of coil-magnet pairs is positioned between the lens and the image sensor.

16. The folded camera module of claim 1 , wherein the OPFE actuator includes a four wire-springs mechanical structure.

17. The folded camera module of claim 16 , wherein a wire diameter of the wire springs is in the range of 50-100 μm.

18. The folded camera module of claim 1 , wherein the camera module is included in a mobile device.

19. The folded camera module of claim 18 , wherein the camera module is included in a main rear-facing camera of the mobile device.

20. The folded camera module of claim 18 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

Assignees

• Corephotonics Ltd

Inventors

• Goldenberg Ephraim
• Shabtay Gal
• Avivi Gal
• Dror Michael
• Bachar Gil
• Jerby Itay
• Yedid Itay

Classifications

• G02B13/16

  for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers {, or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV} · CPC title

• G02B7/09

  adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification · CPC title

• H04N23/6812

  based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/687

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• H04N23/57

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