G02B27/646

Electrical traces in suspension assemblies
11582389 · 2023-02-14 · ·

A camera may include at least one suspension assembly as part of optical image stabilization and/or autofocus systems of the camera. The suspension assembly may include an inner frame, an outer frame, and one or more flexure arms. Electrical traces may be deposited at both sides of the suspension assembly. A connection may be created, for electrical traces at the different sides of the suspension assembly, through the suspension assembly by removing (e.g., using an etching process) one or more parts in the body of the suspension assembly to create one or more cavities. A remaining part of the suspension assembly surrounded (and thus isolated) by the cavities may thus form at least a part of the connection for the electrical traces. The connection may further include one or more filled trenches connecting the electrical traces to the remaining part of the suspension assembly.

Driving unit, optical-element driving device, camera module, and camera-mounted device

The driving unit includes: a first contact portion and a second contact portion that move relatively to each other while making contact with each other during driving; in which the second contact portion includes a coating layer at a contact face with the first contact portion, and the first contact portion and the second contact portion generate heat along with relative movement to vaporize a worn-away part of the coating layer.

Optical member driving mechanism

An optical element driving mechanism is provided and includes a movable portion and a fixed portion. The movable portion includes a carrier for carrying an optical member with a first optical axis. The fixed portion has a top surface, a first side surface and a second side surface. The top surface extends in a direction that is parallel to the first optical axis. The first side surface and the second side surface extend in a direction that is not parallel to the first optical axis from the edge of the top surface and face different sides of the optical member. The shortest distance between the optical member and the first side surface is shorter than the shortest distance between the optical member and the second side surface.

Optical unit
11579464 · 2023-02-14 · ·

An optical unit is provided and includes: a movable body having an optical module; a fixed body; a rolling support mechanism which supports the movable body rotatably around the optical axis of the optical module with respect to the fixed body; and a rolling drive mechanism which turn the movable body around the optical axis. The rolling support mechanism includes: at least one pair of protruded parts which protrude from one of the movable body and the fixed body towards the other thereof and which are disposed at positions facing each other with the optical axis interposed therebetween in a direction intersecting the optical axis, and an elastic member whose one end part is attached to the protruded part and an other end part is attached to the other of the movable body and the fixed body, and which turnably support the movable body around the optical axis.

Optical image stabilization with voice coil motor for moving image sensor

In some embodiments, a camera actuator includes an actuator base, an autofocus voice coil motor, and an optical image stabilization voice coil motor. In some embodiments, the autofocus voice coil motor includes a lens carrier mounting attachment moveably mounted to the actuator base, a plurality of shared magnets mounted to the base, and an autofocus coil fixedly mounted to the lens carrier mounting attachment for producing forces for moving a lens carrier in a direction of an optical axis of one or more lenses of the lens carrier. In some embodiments, the optical image stabilization voice coil motor includes an image sensor carrier moveably mounted to the actuator base, and optical image stabilization coils moveably mounted to the image sensor carrier within the magnetic fields of the shared magnets, for producing forces for moving the image sensor carrier in a plurality of directions orthogonal to the optical axis.

Liquid lens, camera module, and optical device
11579342 · 2023-02-14 · ·

A liquid lens according to one embodiment includes a first plate including a cavity in which liquids are disposed, the cavity having an inclined surface, a first electrode disposed on the inclined surface, a second electrode disposed on the first plate, and an insulation layer disposed on the first electrode, wherein the liquids include a conductive liquid and a non-conductive liquid, wherein an interface is formed between the conductive liquid and the non-conductive liquid, wherein the insulation layer includes a base disposed on the first electrode and a plurality of protrusions disposed on the base, and wherein the plurality of protrusions contacts the interface.

Optical device, particularly camera, particularly comprising autofocus and optical image stabilization

The present invention relates to an optical device (1), comprising: a container (2) forming a fluidic lens, the container (2) comprising a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (10), a transparent optical element (20) facing the membrane (10), and a wall member (3), wherein the optical element (20) and the membrane (10) are connected to the wall member, and wherein said container encloses a volume (V) that is filled with a fluid (F), a lens shaping part (11) that is in contact with said membrane (10) for defining a curvature adjustable area (10c) of the membrane (10), which area (10c) faces said optical element (20), and a circumferential lens barrel (50) extending in an axial direction, which lens barrel (50) surrounds an opening (50c) in which at least one rigid lens (51) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel (50), and a voice coil motor (5) that is designed to move the lens shaping part (11) along an axial direction (z) with respect to said container (2), so as to adjust a curvature of said area (10c) and therewith a focal length of the fluidic lens, wherein the voice coil motor (5) comprises at least one coil (30, 31) arranged on a movable part (6) and a plurality of magnetic structures (40, 41) arranged on a motor holder (7), wherein said movable part (6) is movably mounted to the motor holder (7) via a spring structure (8) so that it can be moved along said axial direction (z), and wherein the lens shaping part (11) is mounted to said movable part (6).

Periscope optical module
11579397 · 2023-02-14 · ·

A periscope optical module is provided. The periscope optical module includes a first optical element, a second optical element, and a third optical element. The first optical element has a first optical axis. The second optical element corresponds to the first optical element and adjusts a forward direction of a light. The third optical element has a second optical axis. The third optical element corresponds to the second optical element. The light passes through the first optical element, the second optical element, and the third optical element consecutively. The first optical axis is not parallel to the second optical axis. A minimum size of the first optical element in a direction that is perpendicular to the first optical axis is larger than a maximum size of the third optical element in a direction of the first optical axis.

Hybrid sensor shift platform

A hybrid sensor shift platform for an optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator mechanism in compact camera modules includes two or more substrates. A top substrate is composed of an organic material (e.g., a resin) to reduce mass, reduce magnetic interaction with permanent magnets, and improve reliability. One or more lower substrates of the hybrid sensor shift platform are ceramic substrates that provide the benefits of ceramics for connection to the image sensor. The organic substrate is connected via a solder bond process to the lower ceramic substrate(s). The connection between the substrates is reinforced with an under-fill of epoxy that surrounds the solder bonds, thus creating a full interface between the substrates within the overlap.

OPTICAL PATH CHANGING UNIT AND LENS ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SAME
20230040027 · 2023-02-09 ·

Disclosed are an optical path changing unit and a lens assembly comprising same. The optical path changing unit comprises: a base; a prism unit a part of which is connected to the base and the other part of which is arranged to be movable within the base; and first to third optical image stabilizing (OIS) drive units which change the prism unit into a tiltable position.