Integrated camera lens suspension

• US 10,067,357 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Ladwig, Peter F., Miller, Mark A., Jenneke, Richard R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavarias, Arnel C
• Application Number:
  US15/400,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20170160559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 359554, 359555, 359556, 359557, 396 52, 396 55, 34820899, 3482084
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/027 Planar, e.g. in sheet form; leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/005 using electro- or magnetostrictive actuation means generating of mechanical vibrations operating with electrostriction B06B1/06, with magnetostriction B06B1/08; vehicle suspension arrangements characterised by use of piezoelectric elements B60G17/01941; piezoelectric, electrostrictive and magnetostrictive devices per se H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• 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 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/028 Bending or folding regions of flexible printed circuits H05K1/0283 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1417 having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards H05K7/1461 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1422 Printed circuit boards receptacles, e.g. stacked structures, electronic circuit modules or box like frames

Abstract

A camera lens suspension assembly includes a support member including a support metal base layer, a moving member including a moving metal base layer, bearings and smart memory alloy wires. The support member includes a bearing plate portion, static wire attach structures, and mount regions. A printed circuit on the support metal base layer includes traces extending to each static wire attach structure. The moving member includes a moving plate portion, elongated flexure arms extending from a periphery of the moving plate portion and including mount regions on ends opposite the moving plate portion, and moving wire attach structures. The bearings are between and engage the bearing plate portion of the support member and the moving plate portion of the moving member. Each of the smart memory alloy wires is attached to and extends one of the static wire attach structures and one of the moving wire attach structures.

Claims

1. A suspension assembly, comprising:

a support member configured as a one-piece metal base;

a moving member configured as a one-piece metal base including a spring arm, wherein the spring arm is attached to the metal base of the support member; and

a shape memory alloy element extending between and attached to the metal base of the support member and the metal base of the moving member.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the support member further includes:

a trace on the metal base; and

dielectric polymer between the metal base and the trace.

3. The suspension assembly of claim 2 wherein the moving member further includes:

a trace on the spring arm; and

dielectric polymer between the metal base and the trace.

4. The suspension assembly of claim 3 wherein:

the metal base of the support member comprises an attach structure; and

the shape memory alloy element is attached to the support member attach structure.

5. The suspension assembly of claim 4 wherein the support member attach structure includes a crimp.

6. The suspension assembly of claim 4 wherein:

the metal base of the moving member comprises an attach structure; and

the shape memory alloy element is attached to the moving member attach structure.

7. The suspension assembly of claim 6 wherein the moving member attach structure includes a crimp.

8. The suspension assembly of claim 3 wherein:

the metal base of the moving member comprises an attach structure; and

the shape memory alloy element is attached to the moving member attach structure.

9. The suspension assembly of claim 8 wherein the moving member attach structure includes a crimp.

10. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the metal base of the support member comprises an attach structure; and

the shape memory alloy element is attached to the support member attach structure.

11. The suspension assembly of claim 10 wherein the support member attach structure includes a crimp.

12. The suspension assembly of claim 10 wherein:

the metal base of the moving member comprises an attach structure; and

the shape memory alloy element is attached to the moving member attach structure.

13. The suspension assembly of claim 12 wherein the moving member attach structure includes a crimp.

14. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

the metal base of the moving member comprises an attach structure; and

the shape memory alloy element is attached to the moving member attach structure.

15. The suspension assembly of claim 14 wherein the moving member attach structure includes a crimp.

16. The suspension assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a bearing to enable movement of the moving member with respect to the support member.

17. The suspension assembly of claim 16 wherein the bearing extends between and engages the metal base of the support member and the metal base of the moving member.

18. The suspension assembly of claim 17 wherein the bearing movably engages the metal base of the support member and the metal base of the moving member.

19. The suspension assembly of claim 17 wherein the bearing comprises a formed structure in the metal base of the support member.

20. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the metal base of the support member comprises a formed bearing that engages the moving member.

21. The suspension assembly of claim 1 and further including a ball bearing between the metal base of the support member and the metal base of the moving member.

22. The suspension assembly of claim 17 wherein:

the metal base of the support member comprises an attach structure; and

the metal base of the moving member comprises an attach structure.

23. The suspension assembly of claim 22 wherein:

the support member attach structure includes a crimp; and

the moving member attach structure includes a crimp.

24. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the metal base of the moving member is configured to receive an optical component.