Patents by Inventor Aurelien R. Hubert
Aurelien R. Hubert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11956544Abstract: A camera includes a camera actuator having autofocus (AF) voice coil motor (VCM) with a lens carrier mounting attachment moveably mounted to a base, magnets mounted to the base, and an AF 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 a lens of the lens carrier. The magnets may include a pair of first magnets laterally spaced along a first side of the camera and a pair of second magnets laterally spaced along a second side of the camera opposite the first side. The optical image stabilization (OIS) VCM includes an image sensor carrier moveably mounted to the base, and OIS coils moveably mounted to the image sensor carrier within the magnetic fields of the magnets, for producing forces for moving the image sensor carrier in directions orthogonal to the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Seyed Mohammad Javid Mahmoudzadeh, Aurelien R Hubert, Phillip R Sommer
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Publication number: 20240107167Abstract: An actuator assembly for a camera module is provided. The actuator assembly includes a transversal actuator for motion of an image sensor of the camera module in one or more directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera module. The actuator assembly also includes an axial actuator for motion of the image sensor in one or more directions parallel to the optical axis of the camera module. The actuator assembly further includes a carrier retaining a portion of the transversal actuator and a portion of the axial actuator. The carrier moves with the image sensor in the one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis of the camera module and is static relative to motion of the image sensor in the one or more directions parallel to the optical axis of the camera module.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Seyed Mohammad Javid Mahmoudzadeh, Aurelien R Hubert
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Patent number: 11846825Abstract: Various embodiments include an interlock arrangement that may be used to attach a lens barrel to a lens carrier of a camera. In some embodiments, the interlock arrangement may restrict movement of the lens barrel relative to the lens carrier along at least an optical axis. In various examples, the interlock arrangement may include one or more grooves and one or more protrusions. For instance, a groove may be defined by the lens barrel or the lens carrier, and a protrusion may extend from the lens barrel or the lens carrier to at least partially into the groove. In some cases, the interlock arrangement may include an adhesive that at least partially fills gaps within the interlock arrangement between the lens barrel and the lens carrier. According to some embodiments, the interlock arrangement may include one or more recesses that provide inlets for the adhesive to be introduced to the gaps within the interlock arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aurelien R. Hubert, Qiang Yang, Yoshiyuki Takase
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Patent number: 11808950Abstract: A camera may include a multi-material base structure having at least a first portion and a second portion. The first and second portions of the base structure may include different materials. The base structure may be used with one or more actuators of the camera to implement various optical image stabilization (OIS) and/or autofocus (AF) functions.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2021Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bin Xu, Aurelien R. Hubert
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Publication number: 20230328373Abstract: Some embodiments include a camera voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that includes an additive coil structure for shifting a lens along one or multiple axes. The additive coil structure may include a base portion configured to couple with a lens carrier and at least partially surround a perimeter of the lens carrier. In various examples, the additive coil structure may include folded portions that individually include a respective coil that is located proximate a respective magnet. According to various embodiments, the additive coil structure may be formed using an additive process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Douglas S. Brodie, Aurelien R. Hubert, Scott W. Miller, Shashank Sharma
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Patent number: 11722774Abstract: A camera system includes a first camera unit and a second camera unit. The first camera unit may include a first actuator. The second camera unit may include a second actuator. The first actuator may move one or more components of the first camera unit to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization functionality to the first camera unit. The second actuator may move one or more components of the second camera unit to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization functionality to the second camera unit. The first camera unit may be configured to capture a first image of a first visual field. The second camera unit may be configured to capture, simultaneously with the first camera unit capturing the first image, a second image of a second visual field.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Shashank Sharma, Scott W. Miller, Aurelien R. Hubert
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Patent number: 11716534Abstract: Some embodiments include a camera voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that includes an additive coil structure for shifting a lens along one or multiple axes. The additive coil structure may include a base portion configured to couple with a lens carrier and at least partially surround a perimeter of the lens carrier. In various examples, the additive coil structure may include folded portions that individually include a respective coil that is located proximate a respective magnet. According to various embodiments, the additive coil structure may be formed using an additive process.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Douglas S. Brodie, Aurelien R. Hubert, Scott W. Miller, Shashank Sharma
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Publication number: 20230228965Abstract: Various embodiments include a welded bracket structure for camera modules and techniques for forming such a welded bracket structure. In some embodiments, the welded bracket structure may include a first bracket and a second bracket that are welded to each other. Some embodiments include a weld joint arrangement comprising one or more weld joints for attaching the first bracket to the second bracket. Furthermore, some embodiments include an epoxy arrangement for a multi-camera system that includes the welded bracket structure and multiple camera modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aurelien R. Hubert, Stoyan P. Hristov, Xiao Liao
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Publication number: 20230199313Abstract: 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 to 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aurelien R. Hubert, Qiang Yang, Douglas S. Brodie, Scott W. Miller, Shashank Sharma
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Publication number: 20230188852Abstract: A camera may use a multi-axis image sensor shifting system to implement both autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OSI) functions. The multi-axis image sensor shifting system may include a flexure suspension arrangement and an actuator. The flexure suspension arrangement may include an inner frame, an intermediate frame, and an outer frame. The actuator may include one or more magnets, and two sets of one or more coils attached respectively to some of the frames of the flexure suspension arrangement. Current flowing through the coils may be regulated to interact with the magnetic field of the magnets to generate motive force to move an image sensor of the camera relative to a lens group in multiple directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2023Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bin Xu, Aurelien R. Hubert
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Patent number: 11640039Abstract: Various embodiments include a welded bracket structure for camera modules and techniques for forming such a welded bracket structure. In some embodiments, the welded bracket structure may include a first bracket and a second bracket that are welded to each other. Some embodiments include a weld joint arrangement comprising one or more weld joints for attaching the first bracket to the second bracket. Furthermore, some embodiments include an epoxy arrangement for a multi-camera system that includes the welded bracket structure and multiple camera modules.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aurelien R. Hubert, Stoyan P. Hristov, Xiao Liao
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Patent number: 11581351Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aurelien R. Hubert, Jee Tung Tan, Steven Webster, Douglas S. Brodie, Qiang Yang, Masahito Morita
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Patent number: 11582388Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Aurelien R. Hubert, Qiang Yang, Douglas S. Brodie, Scott W. Miller, Shashank Sharma
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Patent number: 11575835Abstract: A camera may use a multi-axis image sensor shifting system to implement both autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OSI) functions. The multi-axis image sensor shifting system may include a flexure suspension arrangement and an actuator. The flexure suspension arrangement may include an inner frame, an intermediate frame, and an outer frame. The actuator may include one or more magnets, and two sets of one or more coils attached respectively to some of the frames of the flexure suspension arrangement. Current flowing through the coils may be regulated to interact with the magnetic field of the magnets to generate motive force to move an image sensor of the camera relative to a lens group in multiple directions.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bin Xu, Aurelien R. Hubert
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Patent number: 11563877Abstract: In some embodiments, a camera includes an optical package, a camera actuator for moving the optical package, a camera cover, and an impact absorption member to prevent contact between the camera cover and the lens carrier. In some embodiments, the camera actuator includes a lens carrier moveably mounted to a camera cover.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bin Xu, Qiang Yang, Aurelien R. Hubert
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Publication number: 20230004017Abstract: A camera may include a tilt actuator having one or more tilt magnets and one or more tilt coils. The tilt actuator may detect unexpected tilt between one or more lenses and an image sensor of the camera. The tilt actuator may control current of the tilt coils to interact with magnetic fields of the tilt magnets to generate motive force to rotate the lenses relative to the image sensor around one or more axes to compensate for the detected tilt. In addition, the tilt coils and tilt magnets may interact to move the lenses relative to the image sensor along an optical axis of the lenses to adjust a focus of the camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Qiang Yang, Aurelien R Hubert
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Publication number: 20220264011Abstract: Various embodiments include a damper arrangement that may be used to dampen motions of a dynamic component. In some embodiments, the damper arrangement may be used in a camera module that includes a stationary component and a dynamic component. For instance, the dynamic component may hold a lens such that the lens moves together with the dynamic component. In various examples, the damper arrangement may include an interface member that extends from the stationary component or the dynamic component to at least partially into a viscoelastic material within a pocket configured in the stationary component, the dynamic component, or both. The interface member may be configured to traverse within the viscoelastic material to dampen motion of the dynamic component, for example, during operation of a lens actuator to move the dynamic component along an optical axis of the lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bin Xu, Qiang Yang, Yoshiyuki Takase, Aurelien R. Hubert
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Publication number: 20220247931Abstract: A camera includes a camera actuator having autofocus (AF) voice coil motor (VCM) with a lens carrier mounting attachment moveably mounted to a base, magnets mounted to the base, and an AF 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 a lens of the lens carrier. The magnets may include a pair of first magnets laterally spaced along a first side of the camera and a pair of second magnets laterally spaced along a second side of the camera opposite the first side. The optical image stabilization (OIS) VCM includes an image sensor carrier moveably mounted to the base, and OIS coils moveably mounted to the image sensor carrier within the magnetic fields of the magnets, for producing forces for moving the image sensor carrier in directions orthogonal to the optical axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Seyed Mohammad Javid Mahmoudzadeh, Aurelien R Hubert, Phillip R Sommer
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Patent number: 11330182Abstract: Various embodiments include a damper arrangement that may be used to dampen motions of a dynamic component. In some embodiments, the damper arrangement may be used in a camera module that includes a stationary component and a dynamic component. For instance, the dynamic component may hold a lens such that the lens moves together with the dynamic component. In various examples, the damper arrangement may include an interface member that extends from the stationary component or the dynamic component to at least partially into a viscoelastic material within a pocket configured in the stationary component, the dynamic component, or both. The interface member may be configured to traverse within the viscoelastic material to dampen motion of the dynamic component, for example, during operation of a lens actuator to move the dynamic component along an optical axis of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bin Xu, Qiang Yang, Yoshiyuki Takase, Aurelien R. Hubert
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Publication number: 20220094853Abstract: A camera may use a multi-axis image sensor shifting system to implement both autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OSI) functions. The multi-axis image sensor shifting system may include a flexure suspension arrangement and an actuator. The flexure suspension arrangement may include an inner frame, an intermediate frame, and an outer frame. The actuator may include one or more magnets, and two sets of one or more coils attached respectively to some of the frames of the flexure suspension arrangement. Current flowing through the coils may be regulated to interact with the magnetic field of the magnets to generate motive force to move an image sensor of the camera relative to a lens group in multiple directions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Bin Xu, Aurelien R. Hubert