Camera Lens Suspensions

• US 20170336646A1
• Filed: 05/18/2017
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Mark A., Anderson, Donald M., Ruzicka, Ryan N., Ladwig, Peter F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,670,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03G 7/065 using a shape memory element
• 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 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• 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 2205/0076 using shape memory alloys
• 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 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

An assembly includes a support structure including attach structures. The suspension assembly includes a moving structure including attach structures and flexure arms configured to couple the moving structure to the support structure, the flexure arms are configured to enable movement of the moving structure with respect to the support structure. The suspension assembly includes optical-image stabilizer shape memory alloy wires, each coupled with and extending between one of the attach structures and one of the moving wire attach structures. The suspension assembly includes a lens holder mounted to the moving structure and a first pair of attach structures; and auto focus shape memory alloy wires, each wire coupled to the lens holder and coupled to and extending between attach structures of the first pair of attach structures configured to actuate the lens holder with respect to the moving structure.

Claims

1. A suspension assembly comprising:

a support structure including one or more support wire attach structures;

a moving structure including one or more moving wire attach structures;

one or more flexure arms configured to couple the moving structure to the support structure, wherein the flexure arms are configured to enable movement of the moving structure with respect to the support structure;

one or more optical-image stabilizer shape memory alloy wires, each of the one or more optical-image stabilizer shape memory wires coupled with and extending between one of the support wire attach structures and one of the moving wire attach structures;

a lens holder movably mounted to the moving structure;

at least a first pair of auto focus shape memory alloy wire attach structures; and

one or more auto focus shape memory alloy wires, each auto focus shape memory alloy wire coupled to the lens holder and coupled to and extending between the auto focus wire attach structures of one of the at least first pair of auto focus wire attach structures configured to actuate the lens holder with respect to the moving structure.

2. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein each auto focus wire attach structure of the at least first pair is on either the support structure or the moving structure.

3. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein:

lens holder has side portions and an intermediate portion between the side portions; and

one or more of the focus wires extends along and optionally across both side portions of the lens holder and extends along and optionally across the intermediate portion of the lens holder.

4. The suspension assembly of claim 3 wherein one or more of the focus wires includes a portion having a length extending along the intermediate portion of the lens holder and a portion having a length extending along a side portion of the lens holder, and wherein the length of the focus wire portion extending along the intermediate portion of the lens holder is longer than the length of the focus wire portion extending along the side portion of the lens holder.

5. The suspension assembly of claim 4 wherein angles between the portions of the focus wire extending along the side portions of the lens holder and the portion of the focus wire extending along the intermediate portion of the lens holder are about 90°

or greater.

6. The suspension assembly of claim 3 and further including one or more hook structures to guide one or more of the SMA wires.

7. The suspension assembly of claim 6 wherein one or more of the hook structures is on the lens holder adjacent an intersection of one of the side portions and the intermediate portion.

8. The suspension assembly of claim 1 and further including one or more hook structures on the lens holder to guide movement of each focus wire.

9. The suspension assembly of claim 1 and further including:

a housing mounted to the moving structure and configured to hold the lens holder for image focusing;

a spring to bias the lens holder in the housing; and

wherein each focus wire is engaged with the lens holder.

10. The suspension assembly of claim 9 wherein:

the spring biases the lens holder in a direction away from the moving member; and

each focus wire is configured to move the lens holder toward the moving member against the bias of the spring when electrical power is applied to the focus wire.

11. The suspension assembly of claim 1 and further including:

a plurality of terminal pads; and

an electrical lead coupling each support wire attach structure, each moving wire attach structure and each focus wire attach structure to one of the terminal pads.

12. The suspension assembly of claim 1 wherein one or more of the at least one focus wire has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of one or more of the at least one image stabilization wire.

13. The suspension assembly of claim 1 and further including one or more channels in the lens holder, each channel guiding one of the one or more focus wires.