Optical image stabilization comprising shape memory alloy actuators
First Claim
1. A camera apparatus comprising:
- a support structure;
a camera unit comprising an image sensor and a lens system for focussing an image on the image sensor;
a suspension system comprising a plurality of flexure elements supporting the camera unit on the support structure in a manner allowing the camera unit to tilt around two notional axes that are perpendicular to each other and to the optical axis of the lens system on deflection of the flexure elements; and
a plurality of SMA actuator wires each connected between the camera unit and the support structure and arranged on contraction to drive tilting of the camera unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera apparatus capable of providing optical image stabilization comprises: a support structure; a camera unit comprising an image sensor and a lens system; a suspension system comprising a plurality of flexure elements supporting the camera unit on the support structure in a manner allowing the camera unit to tilt; and a plurality of SMA actuators each formed as SMA wire connected between the camera unit and the support structure and arranged on contraction to drive tilting of the camera unit. The SMA wire may be fixed to the camera unit at its ends and hooked over an element of the support structure. A vibration sensor, whose output is used as the basis for generating drive signals, may be mounted on the camera unit.
71 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A camera apparatus comprising:
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a support structure; a camera unit comprising an image sensor and a lens system for focussing an image on the image sensor; a suspension system comprising a plurality of flexure elements supporting the camera unit on the support structure in a manner allowing the camera unit to tilt around two notional axes that are perpendicular to each other and to the optical axis of the lens system on deflection of the flexure elements; and a plurality of SMA actuator wires each connected between the camera unit and the support structure and arranged on contraction to drive tilting of the camera unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification