Camera lens suspension with integrated electrical leads

• US 10,036,897 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2016
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Ladwig, Peter F., Miller, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapel, Derek S
• Application Number:
  US15/276,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20170131562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/0614 using shape memory elements
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/646 compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/023 permitting adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/09 adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a camera lens optical image stabilization suspension assembly having a support member, a moving member movably coupled to the support member, and smart metal alloy wires coupled between the support and moving members. The moving member includes flexure arms that have integrated conductive traces.

Claims

1. A suspension assembly, comprising:

a support member;

a moving member, including;

a plate;

flexure arms extending from the plate and coupled to the support member;

a metal base layer, wherein the plate and flexure arms include the metal base layer;

conductive traces on the base layer of the flexure arms; and

dielectric between the base layer and the traces; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy members, to provide movement of the moving member with respect to the support member in response to application of electrical drive signals to the shape memory alloy members.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the shape memory alloy members are attached to the moving member.

3. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the shape memory alloy members are attached to the support member.

4. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the support member includes:

a metal base layer;

conductive traces on the base layer electrically connected to the shape memory alloy members; and

dielectric between the support member base layer and the support member conductive traces.

5. The suspension assembly of claim 4 wherein:

the support member further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy member attach structures, wherein the support member attach structures are electrically connected to the conductive traces on the support member;

the moving member further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy member attach structures; and

each shape memory alloy member is attached to and extends between one of the plurality of support member attach structures and one of the plurality of moving member attach structures.

6. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the support member includes;

a metal base layer;

conductive traces on the base layer; and

dielectric between the base layer and the traces of the support member; and

the conductive traces on the flexure arms are electrically connected to the conductive traces on support member.

7. The suspension assembly of claim 6 wherein the shape memory alloy members are attached to the moving member.

8. The suspension assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the support member further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy member attach structures, and wherein the support member attach structures are electrically connected to traces on the support member;

the moving member further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy member attach structures; and

each shape memory alloy member is attached to and extends between one of the plurality of support member attach structures and one of the plurality of moving member attach structures.

9. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein each shape memory alloy member is attached to both the support member and the moving member.

10. A suspension assembly, comprising:

a support member;

a moving member, including;

a plate;

flexure arms extending from the plate and coupled to the support member;

a metal base layer, wherein the plate and flexure arms include the metal base layer; and

a plurality of conductive traces on the base layer of at least one of the flexure arms; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy members, to provide movement of the moving member with respect to the support member in response to application of electrical drive signals to the shape memory alloy members.

11. The suspension assembly of claim 10 wherein the support member includes:

a metal base layer;

conductive traces on the base layer electrically connected to the shape memory alloy members; and

dielectric between the support member base layer and the support member conductive traces.

12. The suspension assembly of claim 11 wherein:

the support member further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy member attach structures, wherein the support member attach structures are electrically connected to the conductive traces on the support member;

the moving member further includes a plurality of shape memory alloy member attach structures; and

each shape memory alloy member is attached to and extends between one of the plurality of support member attach structures and one of the plurality of moving member attach structures.