Image stabilizer for a microcamera module of a handheld device, and method for stabilizing a microcamera module of a handheld device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A handheld device comprising:
- a module comprising an optical lens assembly having an optical lens, the optical lens configured to provide an image of an object, the module further comprising an image sensor positioned to receive the image of the object from the optical lens, the image sensor configured to generate an electronic signal corresponding to the received image;
a motion sensor comprising one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope configured to sense movement of at least the lens assembly and the image sensor and to generate a movement signal indicative of the movement of at least the lens assembly and the image sensor;
an actuator comprising first and second actuator assemblies configured to provide respective movements of the module in two substantially perpendicular directions; and
a controller operatively connected to the motion sensor and the actuator so as to receive from the motion sensor the movement signal and in response thereto to transmit a signal to the actuator to cause the module to move so as to substantially stabilize the image of the object formed on the image sensor by substantially correcting for the sensed movement of the lens assembly and the image sensor.
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Abstract
A method and a handheld device for stabilizing an image captured by an optical lens of a micro camera integral with the handheld device, which may, for example, be a mobile phone. Motion sensors sense motion of the device and are used to cause movement of the micro camera to substantially compensate for the sensed movement so as to maintain a steady, focussed image to be displayed by a display on the handheld device or elsewhere, such as a remote display. The micro camera is moved by one or more motion actuators which move the camera in a horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the lens of the camera and/or move the camera so as to pivot the lens axis.
185 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A handheld device comprising:
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a module comprising an optical lens assembly having an optical lens, the optical lens configured to provide an image of an object, the module further comprising an image sensor positioned to receive the image of the object from the optical lens, the image sensor configured to generate an electronic signal corresponding to the received image; a motion sensor comprising one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope configured to sense movement of at least the lens assembly and the image sensor and to generate a movement signal indicative of the movement of at least the lens assembly and the image sensor; an actuator comprising first and second actuator assemblies configured to provide respective movements of the module in two substantially perpendicular directions; and a controller operatively connected to the motion sensor and the actuator so as to receive from the motion sensor the movement signal and in response thereto to transmit a signal to the actuator to cause the module to move so as to substantially stabilize the image of the object formed on the image sensor by substantially correcting for the sensed movement of the lens assembly and the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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when forming an image of an object on an image sensor with at least one lens, wherein the at least one lens and image sensor are incorporated in a camera module of a handheld device, sensing movement of the at least one lens and the image sensor with a motion sensor comprising one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope; generating a movement signal indicative of the sensed movement of the at least one lens and the image sensor with the motion sensor; and moving, by an actuator comprising first and second actuator assemblies configured to provide respective movements of the camera module in two substantially perpendicular directions, the camera module in response to the movement signal so as to substantially stabilize the image of the object formed on the image sensor by substantially correcting for the sensed movement of the at least one lens and the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification