公开(公告)号：US11831969B1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-28

申请号：US17586631

申请日：2022-01-27

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Alfred N. Mireault ,  Andrew S. Jozefov ,  Zachary W. Birnbaum ,  Scott W. Miller

IPC: H04N23/54 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H02K41/035

CPC classification number: H04N23/54 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H02K41/0354 ,  H04N23/55

Abstract: Small form factor cameras that may include one or more voice coil motor actuators, one or more springs and/or one or more motion damping mechanisms. Multiple cameras or camera modules may be positioned close together within a device. Multiple camera modules may be placed closely adjacent to one another by utilizing a recessed portion of the respective perimeters, such as by having one corner removed from rectangular perimeters. By aligning two such recessed portions two camera modules may be more placed more closely together, thereby reducing the distance between the apertures of the respective camera modules. Within asymmetric camera modules, individual components, such as magnets, coils, damping pins, gel pockets, etc., may be asymmetrically placed to correspond with, or in response to the reduced space resulting from the asymmetry of the camera module outline.

公开(公告)号：US20230069902A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-09

申请号：US17741925

申请日：2022-05-11

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Scott W. Miller ,  Zachary W. Birnbaum ,  Andrew S. Jozefov

IPC: H04N5/225

Abstract: A flex circuit that may accommodate movement of an image sensor within a camera. The flex circuit generally includes a plurality of planar segments between a first end that is fixed relative to the image sensor and a second end that is fixed relative to one or more camera components. One or more of the planar segments twists when the image sensor is moved within the camera.

公开(公告)号：US20220286584A1

公开(公告)日：2022-09-08

申请号：US17664543

申请日：2022-05-23

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shashank Sharma ,  Alfred N. Mireault ,  Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Zachary W. Birnbaum

IPC: H04N5/225 ,  H04N5/232 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G02B27/64 ,  G03B5/02 ,  G03B13/36

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having one or more bumper arrangements to cushion lateral movement of one or more camera components. In some embodiments, the bumper arrangement(s) may cushion lateral movement of a moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure. According to some embodiments, the bumper arrangement(s) may include one or more bumper features attached to (and/or defined by) the moveable platform and/or the stationary structure.

公开(公告)号：US20220035122A1

公开(公告)日：2022-02-03

申请号：US17391892

申请日：2021-08-02

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Zachary W. Birnbaum

IPC: G02B7/09 ,  G02B27/64 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G02B7/02

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having an actuator arrangement that may enable a camera size reduction. For example, the camera may include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator to move a lens group relative to an image sensor. According to some embodiments, the VCM actuator may include one or more magnets and one or more coils positioned near an underside of a flange defined by a lens barrel arrangement. In some embodiments, the camera may include a suspension arrangement comprising one or more springs for suspending a lens barrel arrangement from one or more stationary structures of the camera. The magnet(s) and the coil(s) of the actuator arrangement may be positioned above the spring(s) of the suspension arrangement in some embodiments.

公开(公告)号：US20210405387A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-30

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

IPC: G02B27/64 ,  H04N5/225

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：US20210044727A1

公开(公告)日：2021-02-11

申请号：US16984334

申请日：2020-08-04

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Shashank Sharma ,  Alfred N. Mireault ,  Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Zachary W. Birnbaum

IPC: H04N5/225 ,  H04N5/232 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G02B27/64 ,  G03B5/02

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having one or more bumper arrangements to cushion lateral movement of one or more camera components. In some embodiments, the bumper arrangement(s) may cushion lateral movement of a moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure. According to some embodiments, the bumper arrangement(s) may include one or more bumper features attached to (and/or defined by) the moveable platform and/or the stationary structure.