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公开(公告)号：US11019266B1
公开(公告)日：2021-05-25
申请号：US16549682
申请日：2019-08-23
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum , Scott Wallace Miller
Abstract: A suspension spring may suspend an optical component for a camera or other device that implements the optical component to focus light being captured by an image sensor. The suspension spring may move along with the optical component that it suspends as a result of manual or automated focus changes that change the position of the optical component along an optical axis. The suspension spring may make contact with surfaces of other components or materials in the cameras or other systems. Those surfaces of the suspension spring that can make contact may be blunted to prevent the generation of loose particles that can interfere with the image sensor.
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公开(公告)号：US20250106491A1
公开(公告)日：2025-03-27
申请号：US18373824
申请日：2023-09-27
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum
Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a camera module having a lens holder with a lens module, a sensor carrier with an image sensor positioned to receive light from the lens module, and an electrostatic brake assembly. The sensor carrier is moveable relative to the lens holder along a first direction. The electrostatic brake assembly is configured to lock a relative position between the sensor carrier and the lens holder in the first direction. The electrostatic brake assembly includes a first plate attached to the lens holder, a second plate attached to the sensor carrier, a first driver for charging the first plate to a first voltage, and a second driver for charging the second plate to a second voltage. A voltage differential between the first plate and the second plate locks the relative position between the sensor carrier and the lens holder.
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公开(公告)号：US20250076742A1
公开(公告)日：2025-03-06
申请号：US18240648
申请日：2023-08-31
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum , Haitao Xu
Abstract: A camera system for an electronic device is described herein. The camera system may include a chassis configured to receive at least two cameras. The chassis may include a top wall having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may define a first region of an exterior surface of the top wall having a first surface height and a first opening. The second portion may define a second region of the exterior surface having a second surface height recessed with respect to the first surface height, and further defines a second opening. The second opening may be substantially surrounded by the first region. A first camera may be mounted to the chassis and at least partially extends through the first opening and a second camera may be mounted to the chassis and at least partially extend through the second opening.
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14.发明申请公开(公告)号：US20250039530A1
公开(公告)日：2025-01-30
申请号：US18227496
申请日：2023-07-28
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum
Abstract: A camera module for an electronic device includes an actuator structure for positioning an element of the camera module, such as an image sensor or a lens element. The actuator structure includes an insulating material that physically and conductively separates the image sensor from a discharge electrode configured to be driven to high voltage so as to ionize gasses within a module housing of the camera module without risking arcing to the image sensor. Operation of the discharge electrode may neutralize charged surfaces and/or charged particles in the camera module, which may facilitate operation of the camera module.
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公开(公告)号：US11681158B2
公开(公告)日：2023-06-20
申请号：US17472437
申请日：2021-09-10
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Scott W. Miller , Nicholas D. Smyth , Hao Zheng , Shujun Tang , Zachary W. Birnbaum
CPC classification number: G02B27/646 , H04N23/51 , H04N23/54 , H04N23/55 , 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.
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Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US11573393B2
公开(公告)日：2023-02-07
申请号：US17244761
申请日：2021-04-29
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum , Nicholas D. Smyth
Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having one or more base cutouts for a position sensing arrangement. For example, the position sensing arrangement may be used to determine a position of a moveable lens group and/or a moveable image sensor. According to some embodiments, a base structure of the camera may include a cutout that allows for a protrusion of a lens carrier to extend (e.g., in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the camera) past at least a portion of the base structure. A probe magnet may be attached to the protrusion of the lens carrier, and a position sensor for sensing magnetic fields of the probe magnet may be attached to the substrate.
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公开(公告)号：US11539869B2
公开(公告)日：2022-12-27
申请号：US17326226
申请日：2021-05-20
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum
Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having an actuator arrangement with a low-profile actuator arrangement. For example, the camera may include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera. According to some embodiments, the VCM actuator may include one or more magnet-coil groups located beside an image sensor package of the camera. In some embodiments, a magnet-coil group may be located between the image sensor package and a side wall of the camera. Additionally, or alternatively, the magnet-coil group may at least partially extend (e.g., in a direction parallel to an optical axis defined by the lens group) past an upper surface of the image sensor and a bottom of the camera in some embodiments.
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公开(公告)号：US20210341705A1
公开(公告)日：2021-11-04
申请号：US17244761
申请日：2021-04-29
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum , Nicholas D. Smyth
Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having one or more base cutouts for a position sensing arrangement. For example, the position sensing arrangement may be used to determine a position of a moveable lens group and/or a moveable image sensor. According to some embodiments, a base structure of the camera may include a cutout that allows for a protrusion of a lens carrier to extend (e.g., in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the camera) past at least a portion of the base structure. A probe magnet may be attached to the protrusion of the lens carrier, and a position sensor for sensing magnetic fields of the probe magnet may be attached to the substrate.
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公开(公告)号：US20250097556A1
公开(公告)日：2025-03-20
申请号：US18369319
申请日：2023-09-18
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum , Andrew S. Jozefov
Abstract: A camera module may include a housing, a first optical assembly, a second optical assembly, a carrier, and an actuator. The first and second optical assemblies may be positioned within the camera module to receive light in opposite directions. The carrier may be positioned within the housing and include a first portion coupled to a first component of the first optical assembly and a second portion coupled to a second component of the second optical assembly. An actuator may be configured to simultaneously generate relative movement (i) between the first lens module and the first image sensor; and (ii) between the second lens module and the second image sensor.
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公开(公告)号：US20240040218A1
公开(公告)日：2024-02-01
申请号：US18361351
申请日：2023-07-28
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum , Andrew S. Jozefov , Scott W. Miller
IPC: H04N23/54 , H02K49/04 , H02K41/035 , H04N23/68
CPC classification number: H04N23/54 , H02K49/046 , H02K41/0354 , H04N23/687
Abstract: Various magnetic camera brake embodiments are disclosed. According to some embodiments, the magnetic camera brakes leverage a magnetic attraction (or repulsion) force between an iron and magnetic body to hold the moving camera components at a desired focus position—even under high amplitude acceleration loads. When high disturbance rejection is desired, the magnet attracts the camera to the desired focus position (e.g., an infinity focus position) with enough force to overcome approximately 10 g's of external acceleration. In some embodiments, ball bearings may be used to provide constraints in up to 5 degrees of freedom (e.g., all but z-axial translation along the optical axis), so there is no rocking of the image sensor (or lens barrel). When “macro” photos are desired of subjects closer than the hyperfocal distance, an actuator mechanism may be configured to pull the image sensor out of the desired focus position and into the macro focus region.
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