Dual camera magnet arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018027185-A1
Application number	US-201715722848-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 2, 2017
Priority date	Feb 13, 2015
Publication date	Jan 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments include a camera system having a first camera unit and a second camera unit. The first camera unit includes an autofocus actuator. The autofocus actuator includes a first plurality of magnets for autofocus motion control of components of a first optical package. The first plurality of magnets is positioned to generate magnetic fields aligned in parallel with a first magnetic axis at a right angle to the optical axis of the first optical package. The second camera unit includes an optical image stabilization and autofocus actuator. The optical image stabilization and autofocus actuator includes a second plurality of magnets positioned to generate magnetic fields aligned along a second magnet axis at 45-degrees to the first magnetic axis. The second camera unit includes a third plurality of magnets positioned to generate magnetic fields aligned along a third magnetic axis at 135-degrees to the first magnetic axis.

First claim

1 .- 20 . (canceled)

21 . A mobile device, comprising:
a first camera unit comprising:
a first optical package; and
a first actuator to move the first optical package, wherein the first actuator comprises:
a first set of one or more magnets extending parallel to a side of the first camera unit; and
a second set of one or more magnets extending parallel to the side of the first camera unit, wherein the second set of one or more magnets is opposite the first set of one or more magnets with respect to the first optical package; and

a second camera unit comprising:
a second optical package; and
a second actuator to move the second optical package, wherein:
the second actuator comprises a plurality of corner magnets; and
each corner magnet of the plurality of corner magnets is located in a respective corner of the second camera unit.

22 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the first actuator comprises an autofocus actuator to move, relative to an image sensor, the first optical package along an optical axis of the first camera unit.

23 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein the second actuator comprises at least one of:
an optical image stabilization actuator to move, relative to an image sensor, the second optical package along an optical axis of the second camera unit; or an autofocus actuator to move, relative to the image sensor, the second optical package in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis of the second camera unit.

24 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein:
the first set of one or more magnets comprises a first pair of magnets located proximate a first side of the first camera unit; and the second set of one or more magnets comprises a second pair of magnets located proximate a second side of the first camera unit that is opposite the first side.

25 . The mobile device of claim 24 , wherein:
the first set of one or more magnets comprises:
a first upper magnet; and
a first lower magnet below the first upper magnet; and
the second set of one or more magnets comprises:
a second upper magnet; and
a second lower magnet below the second upper magnet.

26 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein each corner magnet of the plurality of corner magnets is oriented at a non-zero angle to at least one side of the second camera unit.

27 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein:
the first optical package of the first camera unit has a first focal length; and the second optical package of the second camera unit has a second focal length that is different than the first focal length.

28 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein:
the first actuator further comprises a first set of coils; each magnet of the first set of one or more magnets and the second set of one or more magnets is configured to magnetically interact with at least one coil of the first set of coils; the second actuator further comprises a second set of coils; and each corner magnet of the plurality of corner magnets is configured to magnetically interact with at least one coil of the second set of coils.

29 . The mobile device of claim 21 , wherein:
the first camera unit is installed in a first camera package; and the second camera unit is installed in a second camera package located physically adjacent to the first camera package.

30 . A camera system, comprising:
a first camera unit comprising:
a first optical package; and
a first actuator to move the first optical package, wherein the first actuator comprises:
a first set of one or more magnets extending parallel to a side of the first camera unit; and
a second set of one or more magnets extending parallel to the side of the first camera unit, wherein the second set of one or more magnets is opposite the first set of one or more magnets with respect to the first optical package; and

a second camera unit comprising:
a second optical package; and
a second actuator to move the second optical package, wherein:
the second actuator comprises a plurality of corner magnets; and
each corner magnet of the plurality of corner magnets is located in a respective corner of the second camera unit.

31 . The camera system of claim 30 , wherein the first actuator comprises an autofocus actuator to move, relative to an image sensor, the first optical package along an optical axis of the first camera unit.

32 . The camera system of claim 30 , wherein the second actuator comprises at least one of:
an optical image stabilization actuator to move, relative to an image sensor, the second optical package along an optical axis of the second camera unit; or an autofocus actuator to move, relative to the image sensor, the second optical package in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis of the second camera unit.

33 . The camera system of claim 30 , wherein:
the first set of one or more magnets comprises a first pair of magnets located proximate a first side of the first camera unit; and the second set of one or more magnets comprises a second pair of magnets located proximate a second side of the first camera unit that is opposite the first side.

34 . The mobile device of claim 30 , wherein each corner magnet of the plurality of corner magnets is oriented at a non-zero angle to at least one side of the second camera unit.

35 . The mobile device of claim 30 , wherein:
the first actuator further comprises a first set of coils; each magnet of the first set of one or more magnets and the second set of one or more magnets is configured to magnetically interact with at least one coil of the first set of coils; the second actuator further comprises a second set of coils; and each corner magnet of the plurality of corner magnets is configured to magnetically interact with at least one coil of the second set of coils.

36 . A system, comprising:
a first voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move a first optical package at least along a first optical axis of the first optical package, wherein the first VCM actuator comprises a first magnet arrangement that includes opposing side magnets that are opposite one another with respect to the first optical axis; and a second VCM actuator to move a second optical package along a second optical axis of the second optical package and in one or more directions orthogonal to the second optical axis, wherein:
the second VCM actuator comprises a second magnet arrangement that includes corner magnets each located in a respective corner of an enclosure that at least partially encloses the second VCM actuator.

37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the system comprises:
the first VCM actuator and the first optical package are part of a first camera unit; the first VCM actuator is configured to move the first optical package relative to a first image sensor of the first camera unit; the second VCM actuator and the second optical package are part of a second camera unit; and the second VCM actuator is configured to move the second optical package relative to a second image sensor of the second camera unit.

38 . The system of claim 37 , wherein:
the opposing side magnets of the first magnet arrangement comprise:
a first upper magnet; and
a first lower magnet below the first upper magnet;
a second upper magnet opposite the first upper magnet with respect to the first optical package; and
a second lower magnet below the second upper magnet; and
the corner magnets of the second magnet arrangement comprise:
a first corner magnet in a first corner of the second camera u

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Miller Scott W
• Mireault Alfred N
• Lee Simon S

Classifications

• G02B7/08 Primary

  adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism · CPC title

• G02B27/646

  compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68) · CPC title

• H04N23/687 Primary

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · 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

• H04N23/54

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