Patents Assigned to DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
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Patent number: 8433187Abstract: An electronic device including a camera adapted to capture images is provided. The camera includes a lens having a first focusing state and a second focusing state; an image sensor adapted to capture a first image of an object in the first focusing state and a second image of the object in the second focusing state. The electronic device further includes a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory and the camera, wherein the processor is adapted to determine a distance to the object based on the first image and the second image. A lens system including an actuator to modify a configuration of the lens system is also provided, having a first and second focusing state; a memory; and a lookup table to estimate a distance from the lens system to an object.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Noy Cohen, Gal Shabtay
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Publication number: 20130094843Abstract: A device may comprise an upper module cover, a lower module cover, an outer frame, and an actuator having a movable frame. The movable frame may be at least partially disposed intermediate the upper module cover and the lower module cover. A hinge flexure may interconnect the outer frame and the movable frame such that the movable frame is rotatable with respect to the outer frame. The upper module cover and/or the lower module cover may be adapted to limit a movement of the movable frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventor: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
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Publication number: 20130077951Abstract: A cascaded electrostatic actuator can be formed from a substantially planar substrate. The cascaded electrostatic actuator can be formed in a plane of the substrate. Various embodiments are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20130077168Abstract: A multiple degree of freedom actuator can have at least one first MEMS actuator configured to move a platform in translation and at least one second MEMS actuator configured to move the platform in a different direction, e.g., tangentially. The first MEMS actuator(s) can facilitate autofocus and/or zoom, for example. The second MEMS actuator(s) can facilitate optical image stabilization (OIS), for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Robert J. Calvet, Ankur Jain
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Publication number: 20130077947Abstract: A method for making an actuator device includes forming a substantially planar structure, including an outer frame with a latch foot, a fixed frame coupled to the outer frame, a latch mass coupled to the fixed frame, a latch block coupled to the latch mass by a latch block flexure, a moveable frame coupled to the outer frame, and an actuator incorporating a plurality of interdigitated teeth alternately attached to the fixed and moving frames. For operation, the latch mass is rotated downward until an upper surface of the latch block is disposed below and held in latching contact with a lower surface of the latch foot by the latch block flexure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Robert J. Calvet, Roman C. Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20130077948Abstract: A silicon MEMS device can have at least one solder contact formed thereupon. The silicon MEMS device can be configured to be mounted to a circuit board via the solder contact(s). The silicon MEMS device can be configured to be electrically connected to the circuit board via the solder contact(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20130076273Abstract: In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes: a plurality of actuators arranged into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; a plurality of row conductors corresponding to the plurality of rows; a plurality of column conductors corresponding to the plurality of columns; and a controller configured to select at least one of the actuators in a row by raising a voltage on the corresponding row conductor to couple each selected actuator to its corresponding column conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20130076274Abstract: In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes: a cascaded electrostatic actuator defining a stack in a substrate having a plurality of gaps between parallel plate electrodes; and a controller configured to drive the cascaded electrostatic actuator to open and close selected ones of the gaps.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20130076919Abstract: In one example, an actuator device useful in, e.g., a camera for, e.g., optical image stabilization (OIS), includes a stage resiliently supported for movement within a plane, three or more actuators, each coupled to an outer periphery of the stage and operable to apply a force acting in the plane and tangentially to the stage when actuated, and an outer frame surrounding and supporting the stage and the actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Robert J. Calvet
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Publication number: 20130077945Abstract: In one example, a camera is provided that includes: a plurality of MEMS electrostatic comb actuators, each actuator operable to exert a force on at least one lens; and an optical image stabilization (OIS) algorithm module operable to command the plurality of actuators to actuate the at least one lens responsive to motion of the camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Xiaolei Liu, Roman C. Gutierrez, Pat K. Leang, Jose A. Mendez, Corneliu Zaharia, Alexandru F. Drimbarean, Petronel Gheorghe Bigioi
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Publication number: 20130075237Abstract: A device can have an electrostatic MEMS actuator and a capacitive sensor in electrical communication with the electrostatic MEMS actuator. The capacitive sensor can be configured to determine a capacitance of the electrostatic MEMS actuator while a force is being applied to the electrostatic MEMS actuator as the electrostatic MEMS actuator is being actuated. The device can be used to construct a keyboard having tactile feedback, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
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Patent number: 8391700Abstract: A method and system for facilitating focusing of a miniature camera are disclosed. One or more lenses can be attached to a MEMS stage. The MEMS stage can be moved by a Lorentz actuator. The MEMS stage can be configured to limit movement of the lens(es) to a single degree of freedom to inhibit misalignment thereof with respect to an imaging sensor. The stage can be biased to a predefined position thereof, e.g., for focus at infinity. A metal cover can inhibit electromagnetic interference and can limit movement of the lens(es).Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Digitaloptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Robert J. Calvet, Darrell Harrington, Guiqin Wang, Kumaraswamy Jayaraj
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Patent number: 8358925Abstract: A lens barrel for, e.g., a miniature camera or another device, includes an annular barrel, a plurality of first optical elements disposed coaxially within the barrel, an actuator device disposed coaxially within the barrel in front of the first optical elements, a front cover attached coaxially to a front surface of the actuator device, and a second optical element mounted coaxially in a central opening of a moving platform of the actuator device such that rotational movement of actuators in the actuator device causes the moving platform and second optical element to move conjointly with a purely translation movement along the optical axis of the second optical element and relative to the first optical elements.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Guiqin Wang
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Patent number: 8346074Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method for focusing a miniature camera includes applying a signal to an actuator in the camera, moving a MEMS stage movably supported by one or more flexures in response to the application of the signal, moving a lens in response to the moving of the MEMS stage, and limiting movement of the MEMS stage to substantially one degree of freedom corresponding to an optical axis of the lens.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Roman C. Gutierrez, Robert J. Calvet, Darrell Harrington, Guiqin Wang, Kumaraswamy Jayaraj
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Patent number: 8337103Abstract: A device may comprise an upper module cover, a lower module cover, an outer frame, and an actuator having a movable frame. The movable frame may be at least partially disposed intermediate the upper module cover and the lower module cover. A hinge flexure may interconnect the outer frame and the movable frame such that the movable frame is rotatable with respect to the outer frame. The upper module cover and/or the lower module cover may be adapted to limit a movement of the movable frame.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
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Patent number: 8289377Abstract: A method and system for hiding objectionable frames during autofocusing are disclosed. A personal electronic device such as a cameral telephone can have two cameras that have overlapping fields of view. One camera can provide imaging. The other camera can facilitate autofocusing in a manner wherein images produced thereby are not viewed by a user. Because the autofocus frames are hidden, the user is not distracted or annoying thereby.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Richard Tsai, Xiaolei Liu
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Patent number: 8289614Abstract: A flexure assembly can have a stage that is deployed to a desired position by attachment of the flexure assembly to a housing. For example, a frame can be configured to be held in position by one portion of the housing and a deployment pad can be configured to be held in position by another portion of the housing. A deployment flexure can be configured to facilitate positioning of the frame and the deployment pad out-of-plane with respect to one another. The deployment flexure and a motion control flexure can facilitate movement of the stage with respect to the housing. In this manner, the position of the stage and the preload of the stage are determined by the housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2008Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Robert J. Calvet, Roman C. Gutierrez, Xiaolei Liu, Ankur Jain
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Patent number: 8186895Abstract: An apparatus, useful in, for example, a miniature camera, includes an object, e.g., an optical element such as a shutter blade, an actuator operable to apply an impulse to the object such that the object moves from a first position to a second position, and at least one flexure coupled to the object and operable to confine movement of the object to movement along a predefined trajectory extending between the first and second positions.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2011Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Digitaloptics Corporation MemsInventor: Roman C. Gutierrez
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Patent number: 8184967Abstract: A lens barrel assembly for a camera is disclosed. The lens barrel assembly comprises a lens barrel, at least one optical element disposed within the lens barrel, and an actuator configured to move the optical element. The actuator can be disposed entirely or partially within the lens barrel. The actuator can be a MEMS actuator, such as a MEMS actuator that is formed at least partially of silicon. The optical element can be a lens.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Tony K. Tang, Jing Xu, Roman C. Gutierrez
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Publication number: 20120081598Abstract: A method for making an actuator device includes forming a substantially planar structure having a stage resiliently supported for movement within a plane of the structure, an actuator coupled to an outer periphery of the stage and operable to apply a force acting in the plane and tangentially to the stage when actuated, the actuator comprising a fixed frame and a moving frame resiliently supported for reciprocal movement relative to the fixed frame by a motion control flexure, and an outer frame surrounding and supporting the stage and the actuator. The moving frame is moved to a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to and spaced apart from the fixed frame at a selected distance, and the moving frame is then fixed at the deployed position for substantially rectilinear, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2011Publication date: April 5, 2012Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Robert J. Calvet, Xiaolei Liu, Ankur Jain, Lakshminarayan Hariharan, Roman C. Gutierrez