Auto focus and optical image stabilization in a compact folded camera

• US 10,613,303 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2018
• Issued: 04/07/2020
• 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:
  US15/917,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20180196238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 758 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 folded camera module, comprising:

a) a lens module having a lens optical axis; and

b) an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path to a second optical path towards an image sensor, the second optical path being along the lens optical axis,

wherein the lens module is designed to be moved for auto-focus (AF) along a first direction substantially parallel to the lens optical axis and to be moved for optical image stabilization (OIS) along a second direction substantially orthogonal to both the first and second optical paths to compensate for tilt of the folded camera module around the first direction, and

wherein the OPFE is designed to be tilted for OIS around an OPFE tilt axis which is parallel to the second direction to compensate for tilt of the folded camera module around the second direction.

2. The folded camera module of claim 1, further comprising:

c) a lens actuation sub-assembly configured to actuate the lens module movement in the first and second directions; and

d) an OPFE actuation sub-assembly configured to tilt the OPFE around the OPFE tilt axis.

3. The folded camera module of claim 2, further comprising one or more position sensors that enable measurement of a position of the lens module along the first and second directions and measurement of OPFE tilt.

4. The folded camera module of claim 3, wherein the one or more position sensors further enable measurement of lens module tilt around an axis perpendicular to the first and second directions.

5. The folded camera module of claim 3, further comprising an actuation controller configured to receive data input indicative of folded camera tilt in at least one direction and data input from the position sensors and to generate, in response to the data inputs, movement instructions and tilt instructions to, respectively, the lens and OPFE actuation sub-assemblies.

6. The folded camera module of claim 2, wherein each of the lens actuation sub-assembly and the OPFE actuation sub-assembly includes a plurality of flexible hanging members.

7. The folded camera module of claim 6, wherein the flexible hanging members of the lens actuation sub-assembly are parallel to each other.

8. The folded camera module of claim 6, wherein the flexible hanging members of the OPFE actuation sub-assembly are tilted.

9. The folded camera module of claim 1, wherein the OPFE tilt axis is a virtual axis.

10. The folded camera module of claim 2, wherein the OPFE actuation sub-assembly includes at least one coil-magnet pair for actuating the OPFE tilt.

11. The folded camera module of claim 10, wherein at least one of the coil-magnet pair is positioned below the OPFE.

12. The folded camera module of claim 1, wherein the OPFE includes a prism or a mirror.

13. The folded camera module of claim 2, wherein the lens actuation sub-assembly includes a plurality of coil-magnet pairs for actuating the lens module movement.

14. The folded camera module of claim 13, wherein the plurality of coil-magnet pairs includes two coil-magnet pairs.

15. The folded camera module of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of coil-magnet pairs is positioned between the lens module and the image sensor.

16. A method of providing optical image stabilization (OIS) and auto-focus (AF) in a folded camera module, the folded camera module comprising a lens module having a lens optical axis and an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path to a second optical path towards an image sensor, the second optical path being along the lens optical axis, the method comprising:

a) moving the lens module for AF along a first direction substantially parallel to the lens optical axis;

b) moving the lens module for OIS along a second direction substantially orthogonal to both the first and second optical paths to compensate for tilt of the folded camera module around the first direction; and

c) tilting the OPFE for OIS around an OPFE tilt axis which is parallel to the second direction, to compensate for tilt of the folded camera module around the second direction.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

d) operating a lens actuation sub-assembly configured to actuate the lens module movement in the first and second directions; and

e) operating an OPFE actuation sub-assembly configured to actuate the tilt of the OPFE around the OPFE tilt axis.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the lens actuation and OPFE actuation sub-assemblies includes a plurality of flexible hanging members, the method further comprising tilting the flexible hanging members of the OPFE, actuation sub-assembly.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the tilting the OPFE is around a virtual axis.

20. An actuation structure for a folded camera module, comprising:

a) a lens actuation sub-assembly configured to actuate a lens module movement along a first direction and along second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and

b) an optical path folding element (OPFE) actuation sub-assembly configured to tilt an OPFE around an OPFE tilt axis, the OPFE tilt axis being parallel to the second direction,

wherein the lens actuation sub-assembly actuation along the first direction is designed to move the lens for auto-focus (AF),

wherein the lens actuator sub-assembly actuation along the second direction is designed to move the lens for optical image stabilization (OIS) which compensates for tilt of the folded camera module around the first direction, and

wherein the OPFE actuation sub-assembly configuration to tilt is designed to tilt the OPFE for OIS which compensates for tilt of the folded camera module around the second direction.

21. The actuation structure of claim 20, further comprising one or more position sensors that enable measurement of a position of the lens module along the first and second directions and measurement of OPFE tilt.

22. The actuation structure of claim 21, wherein the one or more position sensors further enable measurement of lens module tilt around an axis perpendicular to the first and second directions.

23. The actuation structure of claim 21, further comprising an actuation controller configured to receive data inputs indicative of folded camera tilt in at least one direction and data input from the position sensors and to generate, in response to the data inputs, movement instructions and tilt instructions to, respectively, the lens and OPFE actuation sub-assemblies.

24. The actuation structure of claim 20, wherein each of the lens actuation sub-assembly and the OPFE actuation sub-assembly includes a plurality of flexible hanging members.

25. The actuation structure of claim 24, wherein the flexible hanging members of the lens actuation sub-assembly are parallel to each other.

26. The actuation structure of claim 24, wherein the flexible hanging members of the OPFE actuation sub-assembly are tilted.

27. The actuation structure of claim 20, wherein the OPFE tilt axis is a virtual axis.

28. The actuation structure of claim 20, wherein the OPFE actuation sub-assembly includes at least one coil-magnet pair for actuating the OPFE tilt.

29. The actuation structure of claim 28, wherein at least one of the coil-magnet pair is positioned below the OPFE.

30. The actuation structure of claim 20, wherein the lens actuation sub-assembly includes a plurality of coil-magnet pairs for actuating the lens module movement.

31. The actuation structure of claim 30, wherein the plurality of coil-magnet pairs includes two coil-magnet pairs.

32. The actuation structure of claim 30, wherein at least one of the plurality of coil-magnet pairs is positioned between the lens module and the image sensor.