Mirror tilt actuation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9285566-B2
Application number	US-201314043655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2013
Priority date	Aug 8, 2013
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

Some embodiments include an image sensor and a zoom lens assembly including a plurality of movable lens elements arranged to be moved independent of one another. In some embodiments, the plurality of movable lens elements share an optical axis. Some embodiments include a lens and mirror assembly for admitting light to the miniature camera. The lens and mirror assembly includes a folded optics arrangement such that light enters the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens with an optical axis of the first lens orthogonal to the plurality of moveable lens elements. The lens and mirror assembly includes a mirror for folding the path of light from the optical axis of the first lens to the optical axis of the plurality of movable lens elements, and the lens and mirror assembly further includes an actuator for tilting the mirror.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera, the camera comprising:
an image sensor;
a zoom lens assembly comprising a plurality of movable lens elements arranged to be moved independent of one another, wherein
the plurality of movable lens elements share an optical axis, and
the moveable lens elements are moveable along the optical axis with respect to both one another and the image sensor; and

a lens and mirror assembly for admitting light to the camera, wherein
the lens and mirror assembly includes a folded optics arrangement such that light enters the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens with an optical axis of the first lens orthogonal to the plurality of moveable lens elements,
the lens and mirror assembly comprises a mirror for folding a path of light from the optical axis of the first lens to the optical axis of the plurality of movable lens elements,
the lens and mirror assembly further comprises an actuator configured to tilt the mirror to stabilize an image captured by the image sensor.

2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is attached to a driver circuit for tilting the mirror to compensate for user hand motion.

3. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is attached to a driver circuit for tilting the mirror to stabilize an image captured by the image sensor.

4. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a magnet, and
non-moving coils disposed around sides of the magnet, wherein
when driven with electric signals, the non-moving coils generate Lorentz forces that tend to tilt the magnet.

5. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a moving magnet, and
four non-moving coils disposed around four sides of the magnet, wherein
when driven with electric signals, the four non-moving coils generate Lorentz forces that tend to tilt the magnet and the mirror.

6. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a moving magnet, and
non-moving coils disposed around sides of the magnet, wherein
when driven with electric signals, the non-moving coils generate Lorentz forces that tend to tilt the magnet and the mirror about a pivot.

7. The camera of claim 6 , wherein a fringing field of the moving magnet includes components of magnetic field in the appropriate directions to deliver the Lorentz forces, when the coils are electrically driven.

8. A system, comprising:
a plurality of moveable lens elements, wherein
the plurality of movable lens elements share an optical axis, and
the moveable lens elements are moveable along the optical axis with respect to one another;

a mirror situated in an optical path of light passing through the lens elements; and
an actuator configured to tilt the mirror to stabilize an image generated from the light, wherein
the actuator comprises:
a moving magnet, and
four non-moving coils disposed around four sides of the magnet, wherein
when driven with electric signals, the four non-moving coils generate Lorentz forces that tend to tilt the magnet and the mirror about a pivot.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the four coils are fabricated in a single component layer-by-layer in sheet form using various process including plating.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator for tilting the mirror further comprises at least two hall sensors for monitoring the motion of the magnet in two orthogonal directions.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator for tilting the mirror further comprises a resilient spring that acts to return the magnet assembly including mirror to its center position, and hence acts to convert the Lorentz forces from the coils to steady state positions.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator for tilting the mirror comprises an actuator synchronized to compensate for user hand motion to stabilize an image generated from the light and improve quality of the image.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator for tilting the mirror comprises an actuator synchronized to compensate for user hand motion.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator comprises
a moveable magnet, and
a plurality of stationary coils disposed around sides of the magnet.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is configured to receive electrical signals causing generation of Lorentz forces that tend to tilt the magnet and mirror.

16. The system of claim 8 , wherein the actuator is configured to be receive electrical signals causing generation of Lorentz forces that tend to tilt the magnet and mirror about a pivot in two substantially orthogonal tilt degrees of freedom.

17. The system of claim 8 , wherein a fringing field of the magnet includes components of magnetic field in the appropriate directions to deliver Lorentz forces, such that when the coils are electrically driven, said fringing field interacts with the coils at levels on average in different directions for each coil.

18. A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, storing program instructions executable on a computer to implement:
receiving input representing motion of an image capture device comprising plurality of lens elements moveable with respect to one another and with respect to an image sensor along an optical axis shared by the lens elements and the image sensor; and
control tilting of a mirror relative to an optical path of light passing through the lens elements of the image capture device to compensate for the motion.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein tilting the mirror for adjusting the optical path of the light comprises adjusting the optical path of the light to compensate for user hand motion to stabilize an image generated from the light and improve quality of the image.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein tilting the mirror for adjusting the optical path of the light comprises creating electrical signals for generation of Lorentz forces that tend to tilt the magnet and mirror.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Chan Ning Y
• Topliss Richard J
• Webster Steven

Classifications

• H04N23/687

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title

• H04N23/54

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

• H04N23/685

  performed by mechanical compensation · 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