Camera actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9917991-B2
Application number	US-201514723422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2015
Priority date	Oct 24, 2014
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

Some embodiments include an actuator assembly for mounting a moving component. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly includes a base substrate including a first portion for mounting comb drive actuators and a second portion for mounting the moving component. In some embodiments, the actuator assembly includes a plurality of comb drive actuators rigidly affixed to the first portion of the base substrate. In some embodiments, the plurality of comb drive actuators is flexibly affixed to the second portion of the base substrate by a plurality of respective mechanical flexures. In some embodiments, the respective mechanical flexures provide a flexible mechanical connection between the second portion and the first portion, and the plurality of comb drive actuators is arranged to control the motion of the second portion to adjust the position of the moving component in multiple degrees of freedom relative to first portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable multifunction computing device, comprising:
a camera, wherein the camera comprises:
a base substrate comprising a first portion and a second portion;
a lens rigidly coupled to the first portion of the base substrate;
an image sensor rigidly coupled to the second portion of the base substrate; and
a plurality of comb drive actuators rigidly affixed to the first portion of the base substrate, wherein
the plurality of comb drive actuators is flexibly affixed to the second portion of the base substrate by a plurality of respective mechanical flexures,
the respective mechanical flexures provide a flexible mechanical connection between the second portion and the first portion, and
the plurality of comb drive actuators is arranged to control the motion of the second portion to adjust the position of the image sensor in multiple degrees of freedom relative to the lens.

2. The portable multifunction computing device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of electrically conductive flexures, separate from the plurality of respective mechanical flexures, wherein
the electrically conductive flexures provide an electrical current conductive path between the image sensor and conductors mounted on the first portion.

3. The portable multifunction computing device of claim 1 , wherein the comb drive actuators operate in parallel, rather than in series.

4. The portable multifunction computing device of claim 1 , wherein
each of the comb drive actuators generates bi-directional motion with a center of travel in a neutral position.

5. The portable multifunction computing device of claim 1 , wherein
the conductors mounted on the first portion comprise flip-chip bonding pads.

6. The portable multifunction computing device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion comprises a ceramic substrate material.

7. The portable multifunction computing device of claim 1 , wherein the second portion is a ceramic substrate material.

8. An actuator assembly for mounting a moving component, comprising:
a base substrate comprising a first portion for mounting comb drive actuators and a second portion for mounting the moving component; and
a plurality of comb drive actuators rigidly affixed to the first portion of the base substrate, wherein
the plurality of comb drive actuators is flexibly affixed to the second portion of the base substrate by a plurality of respective mechanical flexures,
the respective mechanical flexures provide a flexible mechanical connection between the second portion and the first portion, and
the plurality of comb drive actuators is arranged to control the motion of the second portion to adjust the position of the moving component in multiple degrees of freedom relative to a lens rigidly coupled to the first portion.

9. The actuator assembly for mounting a moving component of claim 8 , further comprising:
a plurality of electrically conductive flexures, separate from the plurality of respective mechanical flexures, wherein
the electrically conductive flexures provide an electrical current conductive path between the moving component and conductors mounted on the first portion.

10. The actuator assembly for mounting a moving component of claim 8 , wherein
the comb drive actuators operate in parallel, rather than in series.

11. The actuator assembly for mounting a moving component of claim 8 , wherein
each of the comb drive actuators generates bi-directional motion with a center of travel in a neutral position.

12. The actuator assembly for mounting a moving component of claim 8 , wherein
the conductors mounted on the first portion comprise flip-chip bonding pads.

13. The actuator assembly for mounting a moving component of claim 8 , wherein
the first portion comprises a ceramic substrate material.

14. The actuator assembly for mounting a moving component of claim 8 , wherein
the second portion is a ceramic substrate material.

15. A camera module for a portable multifunction device, comprising:
a base substrate comprising a first portion and a second portion;
a lens rigidly coupled to the first portion of the base substrate;
an image sensor rigidly coupled to the second portion of the base substrate; and
a plurality of comb drive actuators rigidly affixed to the first portion of the base substrate, wherein
the plurality of comb drive actuators is flexibly affixed to the second portion of the base substrate by a plurality of respective mechanical flexures,
the respective mechanical flexures provide a flexible mechanical connection between the second portion and the first portion, and
the plurality of comb drive actuators is arranged to control the motion of the second portion to adjust the position of the image sensor in multiple degrees of freedom relative to the lens of the camera module.

16. The camera module of claim 15 , further comprising:
a plurality of electrically conductive flexures, separate from the plurality of respective mechanical flexures, wherein
the electrically conductive flexures provide an electrical current conductive path between the image sensor and conductors mounted on the first portion.

17. The camera module of claim 15 , wherein
the comb drive actuators operate in parallel, rather than in series.

18. The camera module of claim 15 , wherein
each of the comb drive actuators generates bi-directional motion with a center of travel in a neutral position.

19. The camera module of claim 15 , wherein the conductors mounted on the first portion comprise flip-chip bonding pads.

20. The camera module of claim 15 , wherein the first portion comprises a ceramic substrate material.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Topliss Richard J

Classifications

• 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

• H04N23/54 Primary

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

• H04N23/58

  Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors · CPC title

• H04N5/2253 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic