Camera assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12596267-B2
Application number	US-202217984847-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2022
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Apr 7, 2026
Grant date	Apr 7, 2026

Abstract

A camera assembly comprises a lens assembly supported on a support structure, wherein the lens assembly includes an autofocus actuator arrangement and the camera assembly includes an optical image stabilization assembly arranged to move the lens assembly in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. A flexible printed circuit tape connected between the support structure and the lens assembly and providing an electrical connection to the auto-focus actuator arrangement is bent around a corner, thereby allowing the flexible printed circuit tape to accommodate the motion of the lens assembly perpendicular to the optical axis. A crimp plate connected to the lens assembly which crimps shape memory alloy wires has features extending out of the plane of the crimp plate for reducing flexibility. At least part of the optical image stabilization assembly overlaps the lens assembly in the direction along the optical axis, thereby reducing the height of the camera assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An assembly comprising:
a support structure defining a primary axis; a movable platform which is supported on the support structure in a manner allowing movement of the movable platform relative to the support structure in a plane perpendicular to the primary axis; an actuator assembly arranged to move the movable platform relative to the support structure in the plane perpendicular to the primary axis; and a flexible printed circuit tape that flexes predominantly in a direction perpendicular to its face, the flexible printed circuit tape being connected between the support structure and movable platform and configured to provide an electrical connection to the movable platform, the flexible printed circuit tape being bent around a corner extending along an axis parallel to the primary axis such that a first part of the flexible printed circuit tape is configured to flex in a first direction perpendicular to the primary axis, and a second part of the flexible printed circuit tape is configured to flex in a second direction perpendicular to the primary axis, the second direction different from the first direction.

2 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible printed circuit tape is bent around a corner of 90 degrees.

3 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a bend former connected to the flexible printed circuit tape on each side of the corner.

4 . The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the bend former is made of metal.

5 . The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the bend former comprises two mount portions connected to the flexible printed circuit tape at separated locations on each side of the corner and at least one bridge portion extending between the mount portions without being connected to the flexible printed circuit tape.

6 . The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one bridge portion extends between the mount portions outside the flexible printed circuit tape.

7 . The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one bridge portion comprises two bridge portions extending between the mount portions outside the flexible printed circuit tape on opposite sides of the flexible printed circuit tape.

8 . The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the bend former is formed from a sheet in which the bridge portion has been plastically deformed.

9 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises shape memory alloy wires.

10 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor mounted to the support structure.

11 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly is an optical image stabilisation assembly.

Assignees

• Cambridge Mechatronics Ltd
• Hutchinson Tech Incorporated

Inventors

• Lai Chee Keong
• Howarth James
• Ladwig Peter Francis
• Jenneke Richard Rodger
• Eddington Robin
• Bunting Stephen Matthew

Classifications

• G02B7/09

  adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification · CPC title

• F03G7/0636

  with several elements connected in parallel · CPC title

• F03G7/06143

  Wires · CPC title

• G02B7/02

  for lenses {(supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002)} · CPC title

• H04N23/687

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title