公开(公告)号：US12219255B1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-04

申请号：US17932254

申请日：2022-09-14

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Bin Xu ,  Xu Wang ,  Aurelien R Hubert

IPC: H02K41/035 ,  H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/68

Abstract: A ball bearing sensor shift arrangement for a camera may include one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators that include the fixed magnets, optical image stabilization (OIS) coils, and/or one or more autofocus (AF) coils. The ball bearing sensor shift arrangement may be coupled with an image sensor of the camera, and may include carrier frames configured to move on ball bearings so as to enable motion of the image sensor in multiple degrees-of-freedom (DOF). An OIS carrier frame(s) may be coupled with the OIS coils, which may be positioned proximate the fixed magnets and used for moving the image sensor in directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera. An AF carrier frame may be coupled with the AF coil(s), which may be positioned proximate the fixed magnets and used for moving the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis.

公开(公告)号：US12078914B1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-03

申请号：US17815932

申请日：2022-07-28

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Bin Xu ,  Aurelien R Hubert ,  Xu Wang

IPC: G03B17/12 ,  G03B13/34 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/667

CPC classification number: G03B17/12 ,  G03B13/34 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/667

Abstract: Various embodiments include a locking mechanism for a camera. The locking mechanism may be used to provide a clamping force that prevents one or more components of the camera from moving along one or more axes in some examples. According to various embodiments, the locking mechanism may include a ferromagnetic plate fixedly attached to a carrier (e.g., a lens carrier, an image sensor carrier, etc.), an electromagnet for electromagnetically interacting with the ferromagnetic plate, and a flexure to which the electromagnet may be attached. The flexure may further be attached to a stationary structure of the camera. In some embodiments, the camera may be operable such that, in a lock mode of the camera, the electromagnet is electrically driven to generate a magnetic field that attracts the ferromagnetic plate, thereby providing a clamping force that prevents the carrier from moving along an optical axis of the camera.

公开(公告)号：US20250126359A1

公开(公告)日：2025-04-17

申请号：US18991034

申请日：2024-12-20

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Bin Xu ,  Xu Wang ,  Aurelien R. Hubert

IPC: H04N23/68 ,  H02K41/035 ,  H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55

Abstract: A ball bearing sensor shift arrangement for a camera may include one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators that include the fixed magnets, optical image stabilization (OIS) coils, and/or one or more autofocus (AF) coils. The ball bearing sensor shift arrangement may be coupled with an image sensor of the camera, and may include carrier frames configured to move on ball bearings so as to enable motion of the image sensor in multiple degrees-of-freedom (DOF). An OIS carrier frame(s) may be coupled with the OIS coils, which may be positioned proximate the fixed magnets and used for moving the image sensor in directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera. An AF carrier frame may be coupled with the AF coil(s), which may be positioned proximate the fixed magnets and used for moving the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis.