Imaging apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017230552-A1
Application number	US-201615041015-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Feb 10, 2016
Publication date	Aug 10, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active and inactive positions. An outermost lens group and a lens group actuator are movable along an optical axis. In the inactive position the lens group and the lens group actuator reside close to an image sensor. The lens group actuator is positioned to the same level as the image sensor. In the active position the outermost lens group and the lens group actuator are further from the image sensor along the optical axis. The retractable structure may protrude from the device, covering the imaging apparatus. In one example the structure is reversed, the image sensor protrudes from the device while the outermost lens group is fixed to the device body.

First claim

1 . An imaging apparatus, comprising:
a first lens group on an optical axis; at least one lens group actuator configured to move the first lens group; an image sensor group on the optical axis; and a second actuator configured to adjust the distance between the at least one lens group actuator and the image sensor group, the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator having an active position and an inactive position in relation to the image sensor group along the optical axis, wherein: in the inactive position a portion of the one lens group actuator is at the same level as the image sensor group, perpendicular to the optical axis.

2 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator or an optical image stabilizer.

3 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising two lens group actuators, wherein the first lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator and the second lens group actuator is an optical image stabilizer.

4 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein in the inactive position a portion of the autofocus actuator is at the same level as the image sensor group.

5 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein in the inactive position a portion of the autofocus actuator and a portion of the optical image stabilizer are at the same level as the image sensor group.

6 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a device body, wherein
the image sensor group is attached inside the device body; the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator are movable along the optical axis in relation to the image sensor group and the device body, wherein: in the active position the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator protrude from the device body along the optical axis; and in the inactive position the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator are inside the device body.

7 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising a device body having a transparent surface,
the first lens group being attached inside the device body facing the transparent surface and an optical field of vision passing through the transparent surface; and the image sensor group is movable in relation to the first lens and the device body, wherein: in the active position the image sensor group protrudes from the device body along the optical axis; and in the inactive position the image sensor group is inside the device body.

8 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens group actuator is a voice coil actuator, a piezo actuator or a shape memory alloy actuator.

9 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image sensor group comprises a field flattener lens.

10 . An imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image sensor group comprises a curved image sensor.

11 . A device, comprising:
a device body having a retractable element; a first lens group on an optical axis and at least one lens group actuator configured to move the first lens group; an image sensor group comprising an image sensor on the optical axis; the retractable element having an active position and an inactive position, wherein in the active position the retractable element protrudes from the device body causing a distance between the first lens group and the image sensor group; and in the inactive position a portion of the at least one lens group actuator is at the same level, perpendicular to the optical axis, with the image sensor group; and a lifting mechanism configured to move the retractable element between the active position and the inactive position.

12 . A device according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator or an optical image stabilizer.

13 . A device according to claim 11 , comprising two lens group actuators, wherein the first lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator and the second lens group actuator is an optical image stabilizer.

14 . A device according to claim 11 , wherein the device body comprises a transparent surface,
the first lens group is attached inside the device body facing the transparent surface and an optical field of vision passing through the transparent surface; and the image sensor group is attached to the retractable element, wherein the image sensor group is movable in relation to the first lens group and the device body, wherein: in the active position the image sensor group protrudes from the device body along the optical axis; and in the inactive position the image sensor group is inside the device body.

15 . A device according to claim 11 , wherein
the image sensor group is attached inside the device body; the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator are connected to the retractable element and the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator are movable along the optical axis in relation to the image sensor group and the device body.

16 . A system comprising:
a first lens group on an optical axis; an image sensor group on the optical axis; and at least one lens group actuator configured to move the first lens group; a second actuator configured to adjust the distance between the at least one lens group actuator and the image sensor group along the optical axis, the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator having an active position and an inactive position in relation to the image sensor group along the optical axis, wherein: in the inactive position a portion of the one lens group actuator is at the same level with the image sensor group, perpendicular to the optical axis.

17 . A system according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator or an optical image stabilizer.

18 . A system according to claim 16 , comprising two lens group actuators, wherein the first lens group actuator is an autofocus actuator and the second lens group actuator is an optical image stabilizer, wherein in the inactive position a portion of the autofocus actuator and a portion of the optical image stabilizer are at the same level with the image sensor group.

19 . A system according to claim 16 , comprising a device body, wherein
the image sensor group is attached inside the device body; the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator are movable along the optical axis in relation to the image sensor group and the device body, wherein: in the active position the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator protrude from the device body along the optical axis; and in the inactive position the first lens group and the at least one lens group actuator are inside the device body.

20 . A system according to claim 16 , comprising a device body having a transparent surface,
the first lens group being attached inside the device body facing the transparent surface and an optical field of vision passing through the transparent surface; and the image sensor group is movable in relation to the first lens and the device body, wherein: in the active position the image sensor group protrudes from the device body along the optical axis; and in the inactive position the image sensor group is inside the device body.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Eromäki Marko
• Juhola Mikko
• Salmelin Eero

Classifications

• H04N23/55 Primary

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

• H04N23/54

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

• H04N23/687

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• G02B7/04 Primary

  with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title