Patents by Inventor Alfred N. Mireault

Alfred N. Mireault 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).

  • Patent number: 12353119
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Some embodiments include suspension arrangements. The suspension arrangements may include leaf springs attached to a carrier structure for the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Alfred N. Mireault, Brad V. Johnson, Nicholas D. Smyth, Rummel R. Adriano, Shashank Sharma, Steven Webster
  • Patent number: 12298588
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and light path folding elements (e.g., prisms). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, and/or suspension arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Furthermore, some embodiments include position sensor arrangements for position sensing with respect to AF and/or OIS movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Smyth, Alfred N. Mireault, Scott W. Miller, Shashank Sharma
  • Publication number: 20250071423
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera system having an actuator arrangement for rotating a lens group together with an image sensor to provide optical image stabilization (OIS). For example, the actuator arrangement may be used to rotate the lens group and the image sensor, as a pair, about multiple axes orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera system, to implement OIS. According to various embodiments, the actuator arrangement may also be configured to move the lens group or the image sensor to provide autofocus (AF). For example, the actuator arrangement may be used to move the lens group or the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis, to implement AF. Furthermore, the camera system may include a suspension arrangement configured to suspend the lens group and the image sensor and to allow motion enabled by the actuator arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N Mireault, Nicholas D Smyth, Zachary W Birnbaum, Scott W Miller
  • Patent number: 12200331
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with a folded optics arrangement and include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. The camera with folded optics and the associated VCM actuator assembly have a first rotational normal mode of free vibration such that lenses of the camera rotate about an optical axis of the camera such that the rotational motion in the first rotational mode of free vibration is invisible from a perspective of an image sensor of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank Sharma, Brad V. Johnson, Alfred N. Mireault
  • Publication number: 20240427122
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a tilt actuator and a spring suspension arrangement for use in a camera having a folded optics arrangement. In some embodiments, the folded optics arrangement may include a light path-folding element that is coupled with a carrier and that is tilted using the tilt actuator. The spring suspension arrangement may suspend the carrier and the light path-folding element from a base structure, and may allow motion of the light path-folding element enabled by the tilt actuator. The spring suspension arrangement may include one or more springs attached to the carrier and to the base structure. In some embodiments, the spring suspension arrangement may further include one or more suspension wires attached to the spring(s) and to a stationary structure of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Alfred N. Mireault, Junwei Liu, Hao Zheng
  • Patent number: 12124152
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and one or more light path folding elements (e.g., a prism). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, and/or suspension arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Furthermore, some embodiments include position sensor arrangements for position sensing with respect to AF and/or OIS movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N. Mireault, Scott W. Miller
  • Patent number: 12111452
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a tilt actuator and a spring suspension arrangement for use in a camera having a folded optics arrangement. In some embodiments, the folded optics arrangement may include a light path-folding element that is coupled with a carrier and that is tilted using the tilt actuator. The spring suspension arrangement may suspend the carrier and the light path-folding element from a base structure, and may allow motion of the light path-folding element enabled by the tilt actuator. The spring suspension arrangement may include one or more springs attached to the carrier and to the base structure. In some embodiments, the spring suspension arrangement may further include one or more suspension wires attached to the spring(s) and to a stationary structure of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Apple, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Alfred N. Mireault, Junwei Liu, Hao Zheng
  • Patent number: 12078819
    Abstract: Various embodiments include perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangements for cameras. A perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may be used to suspend a moveable platform of the camera from a base structure of the camera, and allow a lens group of the camera to move laterally. According to some embodiments, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may include one or more tabs that may be used as bumpers that cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N. Mireault, Scott W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20240231186
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics. Some embodiments include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator module to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Some embodiments include suspension arrangements. Some embodiments include flexure arrangements. In some embodiments the VCM actuator module includes an OIS actuator that tilts a prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank Sharma, Alfred N. Mireault
  • Publication number: 20240176209
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Some embodiments include suspension arrangements. The suspension arrangements may include leaf springs attached to a carrier structure for the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Alfred N. Mireault, Brad V. Johnson, Nicholas D. Smyth, Rummel R. Adriano, Shashank Sharma, Steven Webster
  • Patent number: 11971651
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics. Some embodiments include a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator module to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Some embodiments include suspension arrangements. Some embodiments include flexure arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank Sharma, Alfred N. Mireault
  • Publication number: 20240121495
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and a bearing suspension arrangement. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and light path folding elements (e.g., prisms). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements to move at least a portion of the optics arrangement along multiple axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N. Mireault, Nicholas D. Smyth, Scott W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20240107144
    Abstract: An actuator assembly for a camera module includes a transversal actuator for motion of an image sensor 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 shared magnet for operation of the transversal actuator for motion of the image sensor in the one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis and for operation of the axial actuator for motion of the image sensor in one or more directions parallel to the optical axis. A portion of the transversal actuator and a portion of the axial actuator are configured to move with the image sensor. The shared magnet is static relative to motion of the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Alfred N. Mireault, Vito Lisma, Hao Zheng
  • Patent number: 11934090
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Some embodiments include suspension arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Alfred N. Mireault, Brad V. Johnson, Nicholas D. Smyth, Rummel R. Adriano, Shashank Sharma, Steven Webster
  • Patent number: 11895386
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and a bearing suspension arrangement. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and light path folding elements (e.g., prisms). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N. Mireault, Nicholas D. Smyth, Scott W. Miller
  • Patent number: 11831969
    Abstract: Small form factor cameras that may include one or more voice coil motor actuators, one or more springs and/or one or more motion damping mechanisms. Multiple cameras or camera modules may be positioned close together within a device. Multiple camera modules may be placed closely adjacent to one another by utilizing a recessed portion of the respective perimeters, such as by having one corner removed from rectangular perimeters. By aligning two such recessed portions two camera modules may be more placed more closely together, thereby reducing the distance between the apertures of the respective camera modules. Within asymmetric camera modules, individual components, such as magnets, coils, damping pins, gel pockets, etc., may be asymmetrically placed to correspond with, or in response to the reduced space resulting from the asymmetry of the camera module outline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N. Mireault, Andrew S. Jozefov, Zachary W. Birnbaum, Scott W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20230341652
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and light path folding elements (e.g., prisms). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, and/or suspension arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Furthermore, some embodiments include position sensor arrangements for position sensing with respect to AF and/or OIS movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Smyth, Alfred N. Mireault, Scott W. Miller, Shashank Sharma
  • Patent number: 11726295
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and light path folding elements (e.g., prisms). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, and/or suspension arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Furthermore, some embodiments include position sensor arrangements for position sensing with respect to AF and/or OIS movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Smyth, Alfred N. Mireault, Scott W. Miller, Shashank Sharma
  • Patent number: 11726343
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a folded optics camera actuator and suspension arrangement. For example, the folded optics camera may include one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators for moving a lens group, relative to an image sensor, in multiple directions. The folded optics camera may include a suspension arrangement that suspends a lens barrel arrangement from a base structure of the camera, and that allows motion of the lens group enabled by the VCM actuator(s). In some embodiments, the folded optics camera may include an actuator for moving a light folding element relative to the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N. Mireault, Jason T. Weaver, Scott W. Miller
  • Publication number: 20230229062
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and one or more light path folding elements (e.g., a prism). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, and/or suspension arrangements to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. Furthermore, some embodiments include position sensor arrangements for position sensing with respect to AF and/or OIS movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N. Mireault, Scott W. Miller