Auto focus and optical image stabilization with roll compensation in a compact folded camera

• US 10,498,961 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2019
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Goldenberg, Ephraim, Bachar, Gil, Jerby, Itay, Shabtay, Gal
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye, Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoder, III, Chriss S
• Application Number:
  US16/360,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20190222758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/64 Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
• 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: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0007 Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur imaging systems in general using optical elements for stabilisation of the position of the image G02B27/64
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0023 by tilting or inclining one or more optical elements with respect to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/10 Power-operated focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations

Abstract

Folded digital camera module comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis, an image sensor, and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis. The camera module is adapted to perform optical image stabilization (OIS) involving at least one tilt motion of the OPFE tilt around an axis such that the OPFE tilt creates an image Roll movement and a shift movement, the OPFE tilt-created image Roll movement compensating for a folded camera module-induced Roll movement and the shift movement cancelable by a movement of the lens module.

Claims

1. A folded camera module comprising:

a) an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis; and

b) a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis,

wherein the OPFE is designed to tilt and wherein the lens module is designed to move such that the OPFE tilt and the lens module movement cooperatively provide optical image stabilization (OIS) that compensates for roll of the folded camera module in addition to compensation for pitch and yaw movements of the folded camera module.

2. The folded camera module of claim 1, wherein the OPFE design to tilt includes a design to tilt around two, first and second tilt axes that are orthogonal to each other such that tilt of the OPFE around the first axis shifts an image obtained with the folded camera module in a first direction and tilt of the OPFE around the second axis shifts the image obtained with the folded camera module in a second direction opposite to the given direction as well as rolls the image, and wherein the lens module design to move includes a design to shift the image in the second direction.

3. The folded camera module of claim 2, wherein the lens module is further designed to move for auto-focus in a direction parallel to the second optical axis.

4. The folded camera module of claim 2, incorporated in a digital camera.

5. The folded camera module of claim 1, wherein the lens module is further designed to move for auto-focus in a direction parallel to the second optical axis.

6. The folded camera module of claim 1, wherein the OPFE is selected from the group consisting of a prism, a mirror and a prism covered with a metallic reflecting surface.

7. The folded camera module of claim 1, incorporated in a portable electronic device.

8. The folded camera module of claim 1, incorporated in a digital camera.

9. A multi aperture digital camera comprising a folded camera module according to claim 1 and at least one other camera module.

10. The multi aperture camera of claim 9, incorporated in a portable electronic device.

11. A method of providing optical image stabilization in a folded camera module that includes an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis, the method comprising:

tilting the OPFE and moving the lens module cooperatively to provide optical image stabilization (OIS) that compensates for roll of the folded camera module in addition to compensation for pitch and yaw movements of the folded camera module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein tilting the OPFE includes tilting the OPFE around two, first and second tilt axes that are orthogonal to each other such that tilt of the OPFE around the first axis shifts an image obtained with the folded camera module in a first direction and tilt of the OPFE around the second axis shifts the image obtained with the folded camera module in a second direction opposite to the given direction as well as rolls the image, and wherein moving the lens module includes moving the lens module such as to shift the image in the second direction.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the lens module for auto-focus in a direction parallel to the second optical axis.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising moving the lens module for auto-focus in a direction parallel to the second optical axis.