Auto focus and optical image stabilization in a compact folded camera

• US 10,571,666 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2019
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Goldenberg, Ephraim, Shabtay, Gal, Avivi, Gal, Dror, Michael, Bachar, Gil, Jerby, Itay, Yedid, Itay
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavarias, Arnel C
• Application Number:
  US16/289,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20190204564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 359554, 359557, 2502011, 2502012, 2502014, 34820899, 3482082, 34820812, 396 52, 396 55
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/16 for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers , or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• 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 7/08 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: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

Compact folded camera modules having auto-focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) capabilities and multi-aperture cameras including such modules. In an embodiment, a folded camera module 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, an image sensor and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis. The lens module can be actuated to move in first and second orthogonal directions in a plane perpendicular to the first optical axis, the movement in the first direction being for auto-focus and the movement in the second direction being for OIS. The OPFE can be actuated to tilt for OIS.

Claims

1. A lens actuation sub-assembly, comprising:

a) a plurality of flexible hanging members that hang a lens module over a base, the lens module carrying a lens with an optical axis along a first direction;

b) at least three actuators for actuating two linear motions of the lens module, a first linear motion along the first direction for autofocus (AF) and a second linear motion along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction for optical image stabilization (OIS), and for actively preventing a tilt motion of the lens module around a tilt axis, the tilt axis being along a third direction orthogonal to both the first and second directions;

c) at least three position sensors for sensing the two linear motions and the tilt motion; and

d) an actuation controller configured to receive data inputs from the position sensors, and, responsive to the data inputs, configured to generate instructions to the at least three actuators to actuate the two linear lens module motions and to actively prevent the tilt motion.

2. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least three position sensors include Hall-bar sensors.

3. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 2, wherein each actuator includes a magnet-coil pair and wherein each Hall-bar sensor is co-located with a respective coil on the base.

4. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible hanging members are parallel to each other.

5. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 1, included in a folded camera module.

6. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 2, included in a folded camera module.

7. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 3, included in a folded camera module.

8. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 4, included in a folded camera module.

9. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 1, included together with a folded camera module in a smart-phone.

10. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 2, included together with a folded camera module in a smart-phone.

11. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 3, included together with a folded camera module in a smart-phone.

12. The lens actuation sub-assembly of claim 4, included together with a folded camera module in a smart-phone.

13. A method, comprising:

a) providing a lens actuation sub-assembly that includes;

a plurality of flexible hanging members that hang a lens module over a base, the lens module carrying a lens with an optical axis along a first direction,

at least three actuators,

at least three position sensors for sensing two linear motions and a tilt motion, and

an actuation controller configured to receive data inputs from the position sensors;

b) configuring the actuation controller to, responsive to the data inputs, generate instructions to the at least three actuators to actuate the two linear lens module motions and to actively prevent the tilt motion; and

c) using the at least three actuators to actuate two linear motions of the lens module, a first linear motion along the first direction for autofocus (AF) and a second linear motion along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction for optical image stabilization (OIS), and to actively prevent a tilt motion of the lens module around a tilt axis, the tilt axis being along a third direction orthogonal to both the first and second directions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least three position sensors include Hall-bar sensors.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein each actuator includes a magnet-coil pair and wherein each Hall-bar sensor is co-located with a respective coil on the base.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the flexible hanging members are parallel to each other.