Dual voice coil motor structure in a dual-optical module camera

• US 10,558,058 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2019
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bachar, Gil, Goldenberg, Ephraim, Avivi, Gal
• Primary Examiner(s): Selby, Gevell V
• Application Number:
  US16/368,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20190227338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/001 Miniaturised objectives for electronic devices, e.g. portable telephones, webcams, PDAs, small digital cameras G02B23/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/003 having two lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/009 having zoom function
• 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 7/06 Focusing binocular pairs
• 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: G03B 13/36 Autofocus systems
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/22 Double cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0015 by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/0069 using electromagnetic actuators, e.g. voice coils
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/10 Power-operated focusing
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 30/00 Camera modules comprising integrated lens units and imaging units, specially adapted for being embedded in other devices, e.g. mobile phones or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/02 Lateral adjustment of lens
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 5/04 Vertical adjustment of lens; Rising fronts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/215 Magnetic effect devices, e.g. Hall-effect or magneto-resistive elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/0356 moving along a straight path
• 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 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

Dual-optical module autofocus (AF) or AF plus optical image stabilization (OIS) cameras with reduced footprint and reduced mutual magnetic interference. Some AF+OIS cameras may include a single AF actuation assembly that moves two lens barrels in unison. Some AF cameras or AF+OIS cameras may have two AF actuation sub-assemblies and associated magnets for independent AF operation of each lens barrel, the magnets shared in a manner that cancels magnetic influences of one AF actuation sub-assembly on the other AF actuation sub-assembly, thereby allowing the two lens barrels to be positioned in close proximity, saving parts and fabrication costs.

Claims

1. An imaging device comprising:

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

b) a second lens module having a second optical axis parallel to the first optical axis;

c) a lens carrier housing the first and second lens modules, the lens carrier having an external carrier surface with a coil wound around at least part of the external carrier surface;

d) a plurality of magnets surrounding the coil; and

e) a housing frame for housing the plurality of magnets, the housing frame hung by springs above a board having attached thereto a plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) coils, each OIS coil associated with at least one of the magnets,

wherein the housing frame is movable relative to the board in a plane substantially perpendicular to both optical axes as a result of magnetic forces developing between at least some of the coils and their associated magnets when a current is passed in respective OIS coils, and wherein each lens module has a fixed focal length in the range of 4-8 mm.

2. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of magnets includes four to six magnets.

3. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein each lens module has a diameter in the range 6-7 mm.

4. The imaging device of claim 1, wherein each lens module has a height of about 4 mm.

5. A smartphone comprising the imaging device of claim 1.

6. An imaging device comprising:

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

b) a second lens module having a second optical axis parallel to the first optical axis;

c) a lens carrier housing the first and second lens modules, the lens carrier having an external carrier surface with a coil wound around at least part of the external carrier surface;

d) a plurality of magnets surrounding the coil;

e) a housing frame for housing the plurality of magnets, the housing frame hung by springs above a board having attached thereto a plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) coils, each OIS coil associated with at least one of the magnets; and

f) a position sensing mechanism for sensing motion in two directions in a plane perpendicular to the first and second optical axes, the position sensing in one direction being independent of the position sensing in the other direction;

wherein the housing frame is movable relative to the board in a plane substantially perpendicular to both optical axes as a result of magnetic forces developing between at least some of the coils and their associated magnets when a current is passed in respective OIS coils, and wherein the first and second lens modules are configured to undergo simultaneous auto-focusing operations.

7. The imaging device of claim 6, wherein the position sensing mechanism includes at least one Hall bar.

8. The imaging device of claim 7, further comprising a roll motion sensing mechanism for sensing a roll motion around an optical axis.

9. The imaging device of claim 8, wherein the roll motion sensing mechanism includes at least one Hall bar.

10. A method, comprising:

a) providing an imaging device comprising;

i. a first lens module having a first optical axis,

ii. a second lens module having a second optical axis parallel to the first optical axis,

iii. a lens carrier housing the first and second lens modules, the lens carrier having an external carrier surface with a coil wound around at least part of the external carrier surface,

iv. a plurality of magnets surrounding the coil, and

v. a housing frame for housing the plurality of magnets, the housing frame hung by springs above a board having attached thereto a plurality of optical image stabilization (OIS) coils, each OIS coil associated with at least one of the magnets;

b) moving the housing frame relative to the board for OIS in a plane substantially perpendicular to both optical axes; and

c) simultaneously moving the first and second lens modules for auto-focusing along their respective optical axes.