公开(公告)号：US11982867B2

公开(公告)日：2024-05-14

申请号：US18189973

申请日：2023-03-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shashank Sharma ,  Douglas S. Brodie ,  Scott W. Miller

IPC: G02B7/09 ,  H02P25/034 ,  H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/67

CPC classification number: G02B7/09 ,  H02P25/034 ,  H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/67

Abstract: Some embodiments include a camera voice coil motor (VCM) actuator configured to shift a lens and/or an image sensor along multiple axes. The VCM actuator may include a bottom flexure and a top flexure that connect one or more dynamic members to one or more static members. The VCM actuator may include stationary magnets and coils held by dynamic members. In some cases, the VCM actuator may be configured to move the image sensor along an optical axis, to move the image sensor in directions orthogonal to the optical axis, and/or to tilt the image sensor relative to the orthogonal axis. In some examples, the VCM actuator may be configured to move the image sensor in directions orthogonal to the optical axis, to move the lens along the optical axis, and/or to tilt the lens relative to the optical axis.

公开(公告)号：US11726295B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-15

申请号：US17403118

申请日：2021-08-16

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Alfred N. Mireault ,  Scott W. Miller ,  Shashank Sharma

IPC: G02B7/09 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G02B13/00 ,  G03B17/17 ,  G02B27/64 ,  G03B5/00 ,  H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/57 ,  H04N23/68 ,  G02B27/09 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G06F9/30

CPC classification number: G02B7/09 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G02B13/0065 ,  G02B27/0972 ,  G02B27/0977 ,  G02B27/646 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G03B17/17 ,  G06F9/3004 ,  H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/57 ,  H04N23/685 ,  G03B2205/0015 ,  G03B2205/0053 ,  G03B2205/0069

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and light path folding elements (e.g., prisms). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, and/or suspension arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Furthermore, some embodiments include position sensor arrangements for position sensing with respect to AF and/or OIS movement.

公开(公告)号：US11709347B2

公开(公告)日：2023-07-25

申请号：US17480048

申请日：2021-09-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Douglas S. Brodie ,  Scott W. Miller ,  Nicholas D. Smyth

IPC: G02B13/00 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G02B5/00 ,  H04N23/68

CPC classification number: G02B13/0065 ,  G02B5/00 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H04N23/687 ,  G03B2205/0007

Abstract: A folded camera may include folded optics arrangement positioned optically in front of an image sensor. The folded optics arrangement may include one or more light-folding elements and a lens group having one or more lens elements. Light may pass through the folded optics arrangement, within which the light be folded or redirected by the light-folding element, to focus on an image plane on the image sensor. The folded camera may include a shape-memory actuator having one or more shape-memory elements, whose lengths and/or shapes may be controlled by regulating individual temperatures of the shape-memory elements. The shape-memory actuator may move the lens group relative to the image sensor to implement various autofocus (AF) functions. The folded camera may include a voice coil motor (VCM) which may be controlled to move the image sensor relative to the lens group to perform various optical image stabilization (OIS) functions.

公开(公告)号：US20230199313A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-22

申请号：US18167800

申请日：2023-02-10

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Aurelien R. Hubert ,  Qiang Yang ,  Douglas S. Brodie ,  Scott W. Miller ,  Shashank Sharma

IPC: H04N23/68 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G02B27/64 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H02K41/035

CPC classification number: H04N23/687 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G02B27/646 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H02K41/0356 ,  G03B2205/0007 ,  G03B2205/0069 ,  H04N23/63

Abstract: In some embodiments, a camera actuator includes an actuator base, an autofocus voice coil motor, and an optical image stabilization voice coil motor. In some embodiments, the autofocus voice coil motor includes a lens carrier mounting attachment moveably mounted to the actuator base, a plurality of shared magnets mounted to the base, and an autofocus coil fixedly mounted to the lens carrier mounting attachment for producing forces for moving a lens carrier in a direction of an optical axis of one or more lenses of the lens carrier. In some embodiments, the optical image stabilization voice coil motor includes an image sensor carrier moveably mounted to the actuator to base, and optical image stabilization coils moveably mounted to the image sensor carrier within the magnetic fields of the shared magnets, for producing forces for moving the image sensor carrier in a plurality of directions orthogonal to the optical axis.

公开(公告)号：US11614674B2

公开(公告)日：2023-03-28

申请号：US17665295

申请日：2022-02-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alfred N. Mireault ,  Scott W. Miller

IPC: H04N5/232 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G02B13/00

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and one or more light path folding elements (e.g., a prism). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, and/or suspension arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Furthermore, some embodiments include position sensor arrangements for position sensing with respect to AF and/or OIS movement.

公开(公告)号：US11595582B2

公开(公告)日：2023-02-28

申请号：US17202252

申请日：2021-03-15

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Jian Ouyang ,  Scott W. Miller ,  Samuel M. Hyatt ,  Martin Auclair ,  Phillip R. Sommer

IPC: H04N5/232 ,  H04N5/225

Abstract: Various embodiments include a dynamic flex circuit that may be used in a camera with a moveable image sensor. The dynamic flex circuit may include one or more fixed end portions, a moveable end portion, and an intermediate portion. In some embodiments, the fixed end portion may be connected to another flex circuit of the camera. The moveable end portion may be coupled with the moveable image sensor. The intermediate portion may be configured to allow the moveable end portion to move with the moveable image sensor. Some embodiments include a reinforcement arrangement that reinforces one or more portions of the dynamic flex circuit.

公开(公告)号：US11375091B1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-28

申请号：US16858425

申请日：2020-04-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alfred N. Mireault ,  Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Scott W. Miller

IPC: H04N5/225 ,  G02B5/04

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and a bearing suspension arrangement. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and light path folding elements (e.g., prisms). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements.

公开(公告)号：US20220155655A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-19

申请号：US17665295

申请日：2022-02-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alfred N. Mireault ,  Scott W. Miller

IPC: G03B13/36 ,  H04N5/232 ,  G02B13/00

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and one or more light path folding elements (e.g., a prism). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, and/or suspension arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Furthermore, some embodiments include position sensor arrangements for position sensing with respect to AF and/or OIS movement.

公开(公告)号：US11119333B2

公开(公告)日：2021-09-14

申请号：US16560871

申请日：2019-09-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Scott W. Miller ,  Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Hao Zheng ,  Shujun Tang ,  Zachary W. Birnbaum

IPC: G02B27/64 ,  H04N5/225 ,  G02B7/09

Abstract: A damper arrangement may be used in a camera module that includes a first (e.g., stationary) and a second (e.g., dynamic) component. The second component may hold a lens such that the lens moves together with the second component. The damper arrangement may include an interface member that extends from the first or the second component to at least partially into a viscoelastic material within a volumetric space configured in the first component, the second component, or both. The interface member may include a mounting portion having a thickness and a viscoelastic material section, having a different thickness, that interacts with viscoelastic material to dampen motion of the second component, for example, during operation of a lens actuator to move the second component along an optical axis of the lens. The interface member may be a two-piece interface member, such as a pin soldered into a hole in a plate, for example.

公开(公告)号：US11082602B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-03

申请号：US16858365

申请日：2020-04-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Douglas S. Brodie ,  Aurelien R. Hubert ,  Scott W. Miller ,  Shashank Sharma

IPC: H04N5/232 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H02K15/04 ,  H02K41/035 ,  H02K33/02 ,  G02B7/09

Abstract: Some embodiments include a camera voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that includes an additive coil structure for shifting a lens along one or multiple axes. The additive coil structure may include a base portion configured to couple with a lens carrier and at least partially surround a perimeter of the lens carrier. In various examples, the additive coil structure may include folded portions that individually include a respective coil that is located proximate a respective magnet. According to various embodiments, the additive coil structure may be formed using an additive process.