Camera lens suspension with limiter

• US 10,139,647 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chapel, Derek S
• Application Number:
  US15/156,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 suspension assembly for a camera lens element includes a support member with a wire attach structure and a moving member coupled to the support member. The moving member includes a plate, flexure arms extending from the plate and coupled to the support member, and a wire attach structure. A bearing supports the plate of the moving member for movement with respect to the support member. A shape memory alloy wire is coupled to and extends between the wire attach structures of the support member and the moving member. The limiter limits a range of movement of the moving member with respect to the support member, and in embodiments includes an opening in one of the moving member plate and the support member, and a stop that includes an engagement portion extending into the opening in the other of the moving member plate and the support member. The opening has a first diameter, and the engagement portion has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.

Claims

1. A suspension assembly, comprising:

a support member including a wire attach structure;

a moving member coupled to the support member, including;

a plate;

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

a wire attach structure;

a bearing supporting the plate of the moving member for movement with respect to the support member;

a shape memory alloy wire coupled to and extending between the wire attach structures of the support member and the moving member; and

a limiter to limit a range of movement of the moving member with respect to the support member, the limiter is separate from the bearing, the limiter including;

an opening in one of the moving member plate and the support member, wherein the opening has a first diameter; and

a stop on the other of the moving member plate and the support member, the stop including an engagement portion extending into the opening, wherein the engagement portion has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the bearing includes:

a spacer portion extending from one of the support member and the plate of the moving member; and

a polymer interface surface portion slidably engaged with the other of the support member and the plate of the moving member.

3. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the stop further includes a spacer portion, and wherein the engagement portion is on an end of the spacer portion.

4. The suspension assembly of claim 3 wherein the spacer portion is formed from the support member.

5. The suspension assembly of claim 4 wherein the bearing includes:

a spacer portion extending from one of the support member and the plate of the moving member; and

a polymer interface surface portion slidably engaged with the other of the support member and the plate of the moving member.

6. The suspension assembly of claim 3 wherein the spacer portion is formed as a member separate from the support member, and is mounted to the support member.

7. The suspension assembly of claim 6 wherein the bearing includes:

a spacer portion extending from one of the support member and the plate of the moving member; and

a polymer interface surface portion slidably engaged with the other of the support member and the plate of the moving member.

8. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein the opening is a through hole in the plate of the moving member.

9. The suspension assembly of claim 8 wherein the bearing includes:

a spacer portion extending from one of the support member and the plate of the moving member; and

a polymer interface surface portion slidably engaged with the other of the support member and the plate of the moving member.