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公开(公告)号：US11743586B2
公开(公告)日：2023-08-29
申请号：US17373595
申请日：2021-07-12
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth
CPC classification number: H04N23/687 , G02B27/646 , G03B5/00 , H04N23/57 , H04N23/683 , G03B2205/0069
Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having an actuator with one or more moving coils and a dynamic flex circuit. In some embodiments, the camera may include a movable frame that is fixedly coupled with a lens group or an image sensor. The actuator may be a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that moves the movable frame relative to one or more stationary structures of the camera. The VCM actuator may include a coil coupled with the movable frame, and a magnet coupled with the stationary structure(s). The dynamic flex circuit may be configured to provide an electrical connection between the coil and the stationary structure(s), and a portion of the dynamic flex circuit may provide service loop to allow motion of the movable frame enabled by the VCM actuator.
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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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公开(公告)号：US20230188853A1
公开(公告)日：2023-06-15
申请号：US18167788
申请日：2023-02-10
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth , Jian Ouyang , Scott W. Miller , Samuel M. Hyatt , Martin Auclair , Phillip R. Sommer
CPC classification number: H04N23/687 , H04N23/54 , H04N23/67
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.
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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：US20220321746A1
公开(公告)日：2022-10-06
申请号：US17808971
申请日：2022-06-24
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Alfred N. Mireault , Nicholas D. Smyth , Scott W. Miller
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.
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Patent Agency Ranking
公开(公告)号：US20220091398A1
公开(公告)日：2022-03-24
申请号：US17481210
申请日：2021-09-21
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth , Scott W. Miller , Douglas S. Brodie , Michael B. Wittenberg , James A. Bertin , David A. Pakula , Yoshikazu Shinohara
Abstract: A camera may include an image sensor and an optics assembly that may include a light folding element and a lens group having one or more lenses. The light folding element may be placed optically between the image sensor and the lens group, and may redirect light passing through the lens group to the image sensor. The optics assembly may be stationarily attached to a stationary base of the camera, which may be further attached to a stationary housing of the camera. The image sensor may be moved, e.g., using an actuator, in multiple axes relative to the optics assembly to implement autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functions.
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公开(公告)号：US20220014677A1
公开(公告)日：2022-01-13
申请号：US17373595
申请日：2021-07-12
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth
Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having an actuator with one or more moving coils and a dynamic flex circuit. In some embodiments, the camera may include a movable frame that is fixedly coupled with a lens group or an image sensor. The actuator may be a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that moves the movable frame relative to one or more stationary structures of the camera. The VCM actuator may include a coil coupled with the movable frame, and a magnet coupled with the stationary structure(s). The dynamic flex circuit may be configured to provide an electrical connection between the coil and the stationary structure(s), and a portion of the dynamic flex circuit may provide service loop to allow motion of the movable frame enabled by the VCM actuator.
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公开(公告)号：US11223765B2
公开(公告)日：2022-01-11
申请号：US17025957
申请日：2020-09-18
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth , Jian Ouyang , Scott W. Miller
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.
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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：US11140321B2
公开(公告)日：2021-10-05
申请号：US16583167
申请日：2019-09-25
Applicant: Apple Inc.
Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth , Scott Wallace Miller
Abstract: Increases to the sensitivity of a probe magnet sensor are implemented for a camera lens. Probe magnet sensors may be located on carrier of a surface of an actuator coil to reduce the distance between the probe magnet sensor and a probe magnet mounted on an optics component that includes the camera lens. A probe magnet may be located within the camera so that the flux region of the probe magnet does not overlap with a flux region of a drive magnet for an actuator of the camera.
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