公开(公告)号：US20240397177A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-28

申请号：US18622161

申请日：2024-03-29

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Jason T. Weaver ,  Ross A. Williams ,  Zirui Zhai

IPC: H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/57

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include bearing actuator arrangements, as well as cameras and devices that incorporate these bearing actuator arrangements. The bearing actuator arrangements described herein include a preloading arrangement configured to provide a magnetic preloading force between two components of the bearing actuator arrangement. The preloading assembly includes a magnet and a set of preloading plates positioned within a magnetic field of the magnet.

公开(公告)号：US20240323506A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-26

申请号：US18124983

申请日：2023-03-22

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nitin Kumar Chennupati ,  Hiran R. Rathnasinghe ,  Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Kevin Garrison ,  Jeffrey P. Bosco ,  Julien C. Vittu

IPC: H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/51

CPC classification number: H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/51 ,  H04M1/0264

Abstract: A camera module may have an optical assembly, an image sensor, and a frame, where the frame includes a reinforcement member and a base member that collectively form a sidewall of the frame. The reinforcement member defines a portion of the sidewall of the frame, a peripheral edge, and an opening. The base member may define another portion of the sidewall and extend through the opening and surround the peripheral edge of the reinforcement member. The optical assembly may be coupled to the sidewall of the frame.

公开(公告)号：US20240176209A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-30

申请号：US18433303

申请日：2024-02-05

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Scott W. Miller ,  Alfred N. Mireault ,  Brad V. Johnson ,  Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Rummel R. Adriano ,  Shashank Sharma ,  Steven Webster

IPC: G03B5/04 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G03B17/17 ,  H02K41/035 ,  H04M1/02 ,  H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/57 ,  H04N23/67 ,  H04N23/68

CPC classification number: G03B5/04 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G03B17/17 ,  H02K41/0356 ,  H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/57 ,  H04N23/67 ,  H04N23/687 ,  G03B2205/0015 ,  G03B2205/0069 ,  H02K2201/18 ,  H04M1/0264

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Some embodiments include suspension arrangements. The suspension arrangements may include leaf springs attached to a carrier structure for the lens.

公开(公告)号：US11910088B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-20

申请号：US17492449

申请日：2021-10-01

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Scott Wallace Miller

IPC: H04N23/68 ,  G02B27/64 ,  G03B5/02 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G02B7/09 ,  H04N23/55

CPC classification number: H04N23/6812 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G02B27/646 ,  G03B5/02 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H04N23/55 ,  H04N23/687 ,  G03B2205/0015 ,  G03B2205/0069

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.

公开(公告)号：US11895386B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-06

申请号：US17808971

申请日：2022-06-24

Applicant: Apple Inc.

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

IPC: H04N23/55 ,  G02B5/04 ,  H04N23/51 ,  H04N23/54

CPC classification number: H04N23/55 ,  G02B5/045 ,  H04N23/51 ,  H04N23/54

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：US20230362490A1

公开(公告)日：2023-11-09

申请号：US18353827

申请日：2023-07-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Nicholas D. Smyth

IPC: H04N23/68 ,  G02B27/64 ,  G03B5/00 ,  H04N23/57

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.

公开(公告)号：US11647264B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-09

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 ,  H04N5/228 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G02B27/64 ,  G03B5/02 ,  G03B13/36

CPC classification number: H04N5/2251 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G02B27/646 ,  G03B5/02 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H04N5/23212 ,  H04N5/23287 ,  G03B2205/0007 ,  G03B2205/0084

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：US20220091397A1

公开(公告)日：2022-03-24

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 ,  G02B5/00 ,  G03B13/36 ,  H04N5/232

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：US11272082B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-08

申请号：US17023938

申请日：2020-09-17

Applicant: Apple Inc.

Inventor： Scott W. Miller ,  Brian A. Argyres ,  Lindsay M. Alanen ,  Matthew D. Hill ,  Nicholas D. Smyth ,  Shujun Tang

IPC: H04N5/225 ,  G03B13/36

Abstract: Various embodiments include a chassis for a multi-camera system and techniques for forming such a chassis. The chassis may comprise multiple chassis portions that define cavities for mounting cameras. Some embodiments include a chassis portion comprising an integrated shield can-chassis that may be formed as a single component. According to some embodiments, subtractive manufacturing may be used to form one or more features of the chassis.

公开(公告)号：US20210373279A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-02

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 ,  H04N5/225 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G02B27/09 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G06F9/30 ,  H04N5/232

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.