Compact folded camera

• US 10,884,321 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2017
• Issued: 01/05/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jerby, Itay, Yedid, Itay, Avivi, Gal, Goldenberg, Ephraim, Bachar, Gil, Shabtay, Gal
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US16/332,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20190361323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 13/0035 having three lenses
• 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 7/023 permitting adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0507 Pop-up mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/002 Details of arrangement of components in or on camera body
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/02 moving lens along baseboard
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details

Abstract

Folded cameras comprising a movable lens having a lens optical axis and positioned in an optical path between an optical path folding element (OPFE) and an image sensor, wherein the OPFE folds light from a first direction to a second direction, the second direction being substantially along the lens optical axis, and an actuator for controlled lens movement, the actuator including or being attached to a shield partially surrounding the lens, the shield having an opening positioned and dimensioned to enable installation of the lens into the shield from an insertion direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A folded camera disclosed herein may be included together with an upright camera in a dual-camera.

Claims

1. A folded camera, comprising:

a movable lens barrel comprising lens elements having a lens optical axis and positioned in an optical path between an optical path folding element (OPFE) and an image sensor, wherein the OPFE folds light from a first direction to a second direction, the second direction being substantially along the lens optical axis;

an actuator for controlled lens movement, the actuator including a shield partially surrounding the lens barrel and having an opening positioned and dimensioned to enable installation of the lens barrel into the shield from an insertion direction substantially parallel to the first direction, and

a lens carrier for holding the lens barrel, the lens carrier having a V-groove structure for mechanically positioning the lens barrel in a correct position during installation.

2. The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the folded camera has a height not exceeding the lens barrel height by more than 800 μ

m.

3. The folded camera of claim 2, wherein the folded camera has a height not exceeding the lens barrel height by more than 700 μ

m.

4. The folded camera of claim 2, wherein the folded camera has a height not exceeding the lens barrel height by more than 600 μ

m.

5. The folded camera of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is wire bonded to a printed circuit board with wire bonds located on sides of the image sensor that are substantially parallel to the first direction.

6. A dual-camera comprising the folded camera of claim 1 and a non-folded camera.

7. A folded camera, comprising:

a movable lens barrel comprising lens elements having a lens optical axis and positioned in an optical path between an optical path folding element (OPFE) and an image sensor, wherein the OPFE folds light from a first direction to a second direction, the second direction being substantially along the lens optical axis;

an actuator for controlled lens movement, the actuator including a shield partially surrounding the lens barrel and having an opening positioned and dimensioned to enable installation of the lens barrel into the shield from an insertion direction substantially parallel to the first direction;

a lens carrier for holding the lens barrel, the lens carrier having a V-groove structure for mechanically positioning the lens barrel in a correct position inside the shield; and

a lid having a first lid thickness and covering the shield, wherein the folded camera has a camera height substantially equal to a sum of the lens barrel height, the first lid thickness, the shield thickness, the size of a first air gap between a first point on a surface of the lens barrel facing the lid and the size of a second air gap being between a second point on a surface of the lens barrel diametrically opposed to the first point and facing the shield.

8. The folded camera of claim 7, wherein the other of the top or bottom parts of the shield includes a respective second opening covered by a lid with a respective second lid thickness, wherein the second air gap is between the second point and the second lid and wherein the second lid thickness replaces the shield thickness.

9. The folded camera of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second air gaps is in the range of 10-50 μ

m.

10. The folded camera of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second air gaps is in the range of 10-100 μ

m.

11. The folded camera of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second air gaps in the range of 10-150 μ

m.

12. The folded camera of claim 7, wherein the opening in the shield is dimensioned to enable insertion of the lens barrel into the shield in a direction parallel to the first direction and perpendicular to the lens optical axis.

13. The folded camera of claim 7, wherein the image sensor is wire bonded to a printed circuit board with wire bonds located on sides of the image sensor that are substantially perpendicular to the lid and to the surface of the lens barrel diametrically opposed to the first point and facing the shield.

14. The folded camera of claim 7, wherein the movable lens barrel is movable for focusing.

15. The folded camera of claim 7, wherein the movable lens barrel is movable for optical image stabilization.