Optics, Lens Shifting Patents (Class 348/208.11)
  • Patent number: 11966154
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body including an optical element, a support body swingably supporting the movable body, and a suction mechanism. The optical element reflects light traveling in a first direction to an intersecting second direction. The suction mechanism generates suction force in the movable body between the movable body and the support body, and includes a magnet and a magnetic member. One of the magnet and the magnetic member is in the movable body, while the other is in the support body. The magnet and the magnetic member overlap each other when viewed from a predetermined direction, which is one of the first direction, the second direction, and a third direction. The third direction intersects the first and second directions. When viewed from the predetermined direction, a center of the magnet and a center of the magnetic member are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayuki Iwase, Tomohiro Egawa, Genki Tanaka, Soichiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 11934034
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a movable portion, a fixed portion, a driving assembly, and an assist assembly. The movable portion is used for connecting to an optical element having a main axis. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The assist assembly limits the movement of the movable portion relative to the fixed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chen-Hsien Fan, Yueh-Lin Lee, Yu-Chiao Lo, Sung-Mao Tsai, Shang-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 11910091
    Abstract: Provided is a camera device, including: a camera lens having an optical axis; a lens driving mechanism configured to drive the camera lens to move along the optical axis; an image stabilization mechanism including a movable frame, and an image sensor chip and a first flexible substrate arranged at the movable frame. The image stabilization mechanism is movable in a plane of the image sensor chip, and the first flexible substrate is made of liquid crystal polymer. The use of the LCP substrate for the first flexible substrate can greatly reduce elasticity of existing flexible substrates due to polyimide, so it has frequency characteristics similar to other rigid bodies and system resonance is not easily generated during movement of the image stabilization mechanism. Therefore, more precise servo control of the movable frame can achieved, thereby enabling camera device to have higher-quality hand-shake correction control and image stabilization control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Changzhou AAC Raytech Optronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Shikama
  • Patent number: 11874594
    Abstract: A camera module includes a housing, a movable body configured to move in a direction of an optical axis of the housing; a reinforcing member formed integrally on one surface of the movable body, and configured to increase a rigidity of the movable body; and a first buffer member formed in the reinforcing member, and configured to reduce an impactive force between the housing and the movable body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hyuk Lee, Soo Cheol Lim, Byung Woo Kang, Young Bok Yoon, Jong Woo Hong, Jung Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 11846878
    Abstract: Disclose is a shielding element for bridge type contact power supply lens provided on a PCB of an electronic device and covering a camera of the electronic device, comprising: a mounting base, a light shielding piece, a driving assembly, a metal reinforcing plate and a contact conductive copper piece; the driving assembly comprising a swing arm rotatably connected with the mounting base, the swing arm being connected with the light shielding piece; the swing arm rotating to drive the light shielding piece to move back and forth between a first position and a second position; wherein when the light shielding piece is located in the first position, the light shielding piece covers on a side of the viewfinder hole away from the camera, and when the light shielding piece is located in the second position, the camera is exposed from the viewfinder hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SHEN ZHEN FUNDER ELECTRONICS LTD
    Inventor: Fei Fei
  • Patent number: 11846762
    Abstract: A camera module includes a housing, and a reflective module changing a direction of light incident on the housing. The reflective module includes a first reflective member having a reflective surface, a holder fixedly coupled to the first reflective member, a first magnetic member mounted on the holder, and a second magnetic member mounted in the housing, facing the first reflective member, and spaced apart from the first magnetic member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ah Hyeon Im, Ta Kyoung Lee, Jung Woo Kim, Do Seop Hwang, Kyeong Jun Kim, Jae Hyuk Kim
  • Patent number: 11822210
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing including an opening, and a camera module at least partially exposed to an exterior environment of the electronic device through the opening, wherein the camera module includes: a lens unit, an image sensor configured to convert light received through the lens unit into an electrical signal, a magnetic member, a coil unit disposed on a first surface of the magnetic member and oriented to face the magnetic member, a magnetic substance unit coupled to a second surface of the magnetic member, and a position sensor disposed adjacent to the magnetic member and oriented to face at least a portion of the magnetic substance unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youngjae Hwang
  • Patent number: 11825198
    Abstract: A drive device that reduces a returning force to return to the center when moving a movable unit with respect to a fixed unit and suppresses a load of an actuator driving the movable unit is provided. The drive device includes a fixed unit, a movable unit that is disposed so as to be capable of relatively moving in a predetermined range within a plane with respect to the fixed unit, a plurality of rolling members that are disposed between the fixed unit and the movable unit, an actuator configured to drive the movable unit, and an urging unit configured to urge the movable unit to the fixed unit via the rolling members. The urging unit includes a magnet and a magnetic body. One of the magnet and the magnetic body is held by the movable unit, and another of the magnet and the magnetic body is held by the fixed unit. A range, in which the magnet can move when the actuator is driven to move the movable unit, does not protrude from an end of the magnetic body when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jumpei Ishibiki, Tatsuya Otoshi
  • Patent number: 11796893
    Abstract: This application provides a compact camera module, which includes a first actuator, an optical lens component, a ray adjustment component, and an image sensor. The ray adjustment component and the image sensor are sequentially disposed along a direction of a principal optical axis of the optical lens component. The optical lens component is configured to receive rays from a photographed object. The ray adjustment component is configured to fold an optical path of the rays propagated from the optical lens component. The first actuator is configured to drive the ray adjustment component to move, so that the rays whose optical path is folded are focused on the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Qingping Wang
  • Patent number: 11740394
    Abstract: An optical power prism that may be used in folded lens systems that consists of a glass prism and a glass lens attached to a surface of the prism using a thin layer of optical glue or by optical contact. The glass lens does not have a flange and thus the prism can be smaller than prisms used in conventional power prisms with the same lens effective area, thus reducing the Z-height of the power prism when compared to conventional power prisms. An optical glass may be used for the lens that has a higher refractive index than can be provided by optical plastic which allows the lens to be thinner than plastic lenses. The lenses may be formed by molding a glass wafer to form lens shapes on a first surface of the wafer; the molded wafer is then ground from a second surface to singulate the lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Norimichi Shigemitsu, Kazuya Fujita, Hideki Tanaka, Shuo Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 11703657
    Abstract: An electromagnetic driving mechanism is provided for driving two different optical lenses, including a base, a first holder, a frame, a resilient element, a first electromagnetic driving assembly, a second holder, and a second electromagnetic driving assembly. The first and second holders are provided for holding the optical lenses. The frame is affixed to the base, has magnetically permeable material, and surrounds the first holder. The resilient element connects the first holder with the frame. The first electromagnetic driving assembly is disposed between the first holder and the frame to drive the first holder moving relative to the base. The second electromagnetic driving assembly is disposed on an outer side of the second holder to drive the second holder moving relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chun Kao, Nai-Wen Hsu, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11696027
    Abstract: Images with an optical field of view are captured by an image capture device. An observed trajectory of the image capture device reflects the positions of the image capture device at different moments may be determined. A capture trajectory of the image capture device reflects virtual positions of the image capture device from which video content may be generated. The capture trajectory is determined based on a subsequent portion of the observed trajectory such that a portion of the capture trajectory corresponding to a portion of the observed trajectory is determined based on a subsequent portion of the observed trajectory. Orientations of punch-outs for the images are determined based on the capture trajectory. Video content is generated based on visual content of the images within the punch-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Derbanne, Cesar Douady, Maxim Karpushin
  • Patent number: 11689788
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided, including a movable portion, a fixed portion, a driving assembly, and a support element. The movable portion is used for connecting to an optical element having a main axis. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly is used for driving the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The movable portion moves relative to the fixed portion through the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Shu-Shan Chen, Chen-Hsien Fan, Yueh-Lin Lee, Yu-Chiao Lo, Sung-Mao Tsai, Shang-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 11662650
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism has an optical axis and includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, a driving portion, and an elastic element. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving portion drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The elastic element connects the fixed portion and the movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Liang-Ting Ho
  • Patent number: 11659274
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an optical member, a driving device configured to perform driving of the optical member, a detector configured to detect a state related to the driving, and a processor configured to generate a control signal for the driving device based on first information about the detected state, wherein the processor includes a machine learning model configured to generate an output related to the control signal based on the first information and second information about the lens apparatus, and is configured to output the first information and the second information to a generator configured to perform generation of the machine learning model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junji Shigeta
  • Patent number: 11609361
    Abstract: A lens assembly includes a lens including an optical portion refracting light and a flange portion extending along a portion of a circumference of the optical portion, a blocking member disposed in front of the lens and having an opening to allow light to be incident on the lens, and a lens barrel accommodating the lens. The optical portion is noncircular and a portion of the blocking member facing the optical portion in an optical axis direction is located to be higher than a portion of the blocking member facing the flange portion in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Shin Yang, Tae Su Choi, Sot Eum Seo, Ju Sung Park
  • Patent number: 11606486
    Abstract: An actuator is disclosed having a sensor substrate, a coil substrate and an FPC. The sensor substrate includes an image sensor on a front surface thereof. The coil substrate includes a coil for driving the image sensor and is provided with a first through hole. The FPC includes a main body portion and a coupling portion extending from a periphery of the main body portion and is coupled to an outside element. The main body portion is provided with a second through hole. The sensor substrate is fixed to the main body portion from a rear side, the coil substrate is fixed to the main body portion from a front side, and the image sensor is exposed to a front surface through the first through hole and the second through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: NEW SHICOH MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xuepeng Fu, Tatsuki Wade
  • Patent number: 11586095
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an imaging optical system, a movable member that holds at least one lens and is movable in a direction including component perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging optical system, a coil, a first magnet, and a shield member that covers at least a portion of the coil viewed in an optical axis direction from an image plane side, covers at least a portion of the coil viewed in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis from one side of the movable member, and covers at least a portion of the coil viewed in the first direction from the other side of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Noguchi, Toma Kitayama
  • Patent number: 11575815
    Abstract: A driving module includes a base, a first shiftable plate, a second shiftable plate and a carrier. A plurality of first rolling members are disposed between the first shiftable plate and the carrier, so that the first shiftable plate is movable relative to the base along a first direction. A plurality of second rolling members are disposed between the second shiftable plate and the first shiftable plate, so that the second shiftable plate is movable relative to the first shiftable plate along a second direction, and the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. A plurality of third rolling members are disposed between the carrier and the second shiftable plate, so that the carrier is movable relative to the second shiftable plate along a third direction, and the third direction is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: LARGAN DIGITAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lin-An Chang, Ming-Ta Chou, Chen-Yi Huang
  • Patent number: 11575831
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a first correction unit including a first movable unit and a first mechanism configured to lock a position of the first movable unit. An interchangeable lens including a second correction unit is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus, and the second correction unit includes a second movable unit and a second mechanism configured to lock a position of the second movable unit. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to, when the interchangeable lens is attached to the apparatus and one of the first and second movable units is fixed by the first or second mechanism, move the position of the other movable unit in a direction that cancels a shift of an optical axis caused by the fixation of the one of the first and second movable units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuaki Yamana
  • Patent number: 11575835
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Xu, Aurelien R. Hubert
  • Patent number: 11553119
    Abstract: A lens driving device is disclosed that includes two movers, a long quadrangular frame body, at least two coils and an FPC. The movers are arranged side by side and provided with a through hole for accommodating a lens body, respectively. The frame body surrounds an outer periphery of the two movers. The two coils face one mover of the two movers and are fixed to two long sides of the frame body. The FPC includes coil connecting terminals electrically connected to the two coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NEW SHICOH MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventor: Xuepeng Fu
  • Patent number: 11536936
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 11528416
    Abstract: A camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light output unit that outputs an output light signal to be irradiated to an object, a lens unit that condenses an input light signal reflected from the object, an image sensor that generates an electric signal from the input light signal condensed by the lens unit and an image processing unit that extracts a depth map of the object using at least one of a time difference and a phase difference between the output light signal and the input light signal received by the image sensor, the lens unit including IR (InfraRed) filter, a plurality of solid lenses disposed on the IR filter and a liquid lens disposed on the plurality of solid lenses, or disposed between the plurality of solid lenses, the camera device further including a first driving unit that controls shifting of the IR filter or the image sensor and a second driving unit that controls a curvature of the liquid lens, an optical path of the input light signal being repeatedl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seong Ha Jang, Ju Un Park, Yang Hyun Joo
  • Patent number: 11520159
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a dual lens drive device that comprises: a housing; a first bobbin which is disposed to move in a first direction inside the housing; a second bobbin which is disposed to move in the first direction inside housing and is spaced apart from the first bobbin; a first coil which is disposed on the first bobbin; a second coil which is disposed on the second bobbin; a magnet which is disposed in the housing and faces the first coil and the second coil; a base which is disposed below the housing; a substrate which comprises a circuit member having a third coil disposed to face the magnet between the housing and the base; and a support member which movably supports the housing with respect to the substrate, wherein the housing is integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kap Jin Lee, Yong Nam Choi, Do Yoon Kim, Min Soo Kim, Jung Hwan Kim, Tae Young Kim
  • Patent number: 11513308
    Abstract: A camera module includes: a magnet disposed on a lens module; a bearing member disposed in a ball guide portion formed between the lens module and a housing that accommodates the lens module; a coil disposed in the housing to face the magnet; and a yoke member disposed on the housing to interact with the magnet to generate a biased magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam Ki Park, Soo Cheol Lim, Byung Woo Kang, Sung Taek Oh, Young Bok Yoon, Bo Sung Seo, Oh Byoung Kwon, Jun Sup Shin
  • Patent number: 11506907
    Abstract: A mechanism to render a lens module immune to trembling and jarring includes a carrier, a support element movably mounted on the carrier, and a driving element. The driving element includes a conductive structure arranged on the carrier, a plurality of positive pads on the carrier, and a plurality of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires. The SMA wires are electrically connected to the positive pads and the conductive structure. When currents flow into the SMA wires via the positive pads, the SMA wires deform upon heating and pull on the conductive structure, thus the conductive structure drives the support element to rotate in a plane parallel to the carrier. A lens module and an electronic device including the mechanism are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Yu-Shuai Li, Shin-Wen Chen, Jing-Wei Li, Jian-Chao Song, Sheng-Jie Ding
  • Patent number: 11431905
    Abstract: An image capturing device includes an imaging lens, an image capturing device main body, a first detection unit that detects a shake amount of the imaging lens, a second detection unit that detects a shake amount of the image capturing device main body, a first driving unit that performs image shake correction by a correction lens based on a detection result of the first detection unit, a second driving unit that performs image shake correction by the image capturing device main body based on a detection result of the second detection unit, a finder that is used for observing an optical image transmitting through the imaging lens, a reception device that receives an image capturing instruction of the optical image, and a CPU and a CPU that perform, in an optical view mode in which the optical image is observed by the finder, a control of causing each of the first detection unit and the second detection unit to detect the shake amount and causing only the first driving unit to perform image shake correction ex
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11431904
    Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus comprises an obtainment unit configured to obtain shake information; a plurality of image blur correction amount calculation units including a first image blur correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate image blur correction amounts that respectively correspond to partial images included among a plurality of continuous images, and a second image blur correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate image blur correction amounts that respectively correspond to partial images included among the plurality of continuous images with use of a method different from a method used by the first correction amount calculation unit; and control unit configured to control the plurality of image blur correction amount calculation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomohiro Hirama
  • Patent number: 11418711
    Abstract: The lens interchangeable digital camera includes a sensor movement type shake correction mechanism that performs a sensor movement operation of moving an image sensor in a direction to cancel a shake. A characteristic data acquisition unit acquires optical characteristic data corresponding to optical characteristics of an imaging optical system of a lens unit mounted on a body mount. A determination unit determines whether or not adaptive optical characteristic data that can be handled by an image correction unit that performs image correction based on the optical characteristic data can be acquired. An operation deciding unit prohibits a shift operation which is at least a part of a sensor movement operation in an uncorrectable state where the image correction based on the adaptive optical characteristic data is not possible since the adaptive optical characteristic data cannot be acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Tanaka, Akihiro Uchida, Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiichi Izawa, Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11418721
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an object image, a shutter unit configured to move a shutter blade in a first direction and to control an exposure time to the image sensor, and a shake sensor configured to detect a shake of the image pickup apparatus. When viewed from an image plane side, the shake sensor is disposed away from the shutter unit in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshifumi Urakami
  • Patent number: 11399122
    Abstract: An adjustable camera module and an assembly test method therefor. The assembly test method for the adjustable camera module comprises: measuring a static tilt amount between the optical lens sheet group and the photosensitive assembly by performing a defocus curve test on the adjustable camera module; analyzing a static adjusting electric quantity of each adjustment coil of an adjustment coil group according to the static tilt amount; and burning the static adjusting electric quantity required by each adjustment coil so as to reduce process requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhen Huang, Xiaodi Liu, Zhenyu Chen
  • Patent number: 11388322
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens module; a first frame accommodating the lens module; a second frame accommodating the first frame; a third frame accommodating the second frame; and a housing accommodating the third frame. The lens module and the first frame are configured to rotate with respect to the second frame around an optical axis. The lens module, the first frame and the second frame are configured to rotate with respect to the third frame around a first axis that is perpendicular to the optical axis. The lens module, the first frame, the second frame, and the third frame are configured to rotate with respect to the housing around a second axis that is perpendicular to both the optical axis and the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Hyun Jeong, Jong Ki Kim, Dong Yeon Shin, Gab Yong Kim, Oh Byoung Kwon, Jong In Lee, Kwang Chun Jung, Seung Hyeon Jeong
  • Patent number: 11378813
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a camera includes a lens assembly in a lens carrier, an image sensor for capturing a digital representation of light transiting the lens, and a voice coil motor. In some embodiments, the voice coil motor includes a spring suspension assembly for moveably mounting the lens carrier to an actuator base, a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to the actuator base through a magnet holder assembly and a focusing coil fixedly mounted to the lens carrier and mounted to the actuator base through the suspension assembly. In some embodiments, the permanent magnets each generate a magnetic field of a respective permanent magnet field strength, and the magnet holder assembly generates a holder magnetic field of a holder magnetic field strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Miller, Steven Webster, Shashank Sharma
  • Patent number: 11353885
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method of acquiring an image for recognizing a position and a robot implementing the same. In the method and robot, information value concerning movement of the robot is measured to efficiently acquire images including overlapped areas, and lenses of cameras on both sides of the robot are slided in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the robot based on the measured information value concerning movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Moonsik Nam, Jungsik Kim
  • Patent number: 11340388
    Abstract: An optical power prism that may be used in folded lens systems that consists of a glass prism and a glass lens attached to a surface of the prism using a thin layer of optical glue or by optical contact. The glass lens does not have a flange and thus the prism can be smaller than prisms used in conventional power prisms with the same lens effective area, thus reducing the Z-height of the power prism when compared to conventional power prisms. An optical glass may be used for the lens that has a higher refractive index than can be provided by optical plastic which allows the lens to be thinner than plastic lenses. The lenses may be formed by molding a glass wafer to form lens shapes on a first surface of the wafer; the molded wafer is then ground from a second surface to singulate the lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Norimichi Shigemitsu, Kazuya Fujita, Hideki Tanaka, Shuo Wei Huang
  • Patent number: 11336211
    Abstract: A vibration wave motor includes a vibrator; a first holding member configured to hold the vibrator; a second holding member; an elastic coupling member configured to couple the first holding member and the second holding member to each other; a friction member; and a pressurizing unit, wherein the vibrator and the friction member relatively move due to vibration of the vibrator, wherein the elastic coupling member includes a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion, and wherein one of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is arranged on a straight line that is parallel to a direction of the relative movement and passes through a pressurizing gravity center and another of the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion is arranged on a straight line that is orthogonal to the direction of the relative movement and passes through the pressurizing gravity center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mai Nakabayashi, Ryo Yamasaki, Yasufumi Yamamoto, Shunsuke Ninomiya
  • Patent number: 11314102
    Abstract: A lens driving device is provided, including a base, a holder, a first driving mechanism disposed on the first side of the base, a second driving mechanism disposed on the second side of the base opposite the first side, and a conductive member disposed on the base. The holder is configured to sustain a lens. The first driving mechanism is configured to force the holder to move along the optical axis of the lens. The second driving mechanism includes a circuit board assembly and a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire assembly configured to force the base to move in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The conductive member and the circuit board assembly are connected at an electrical connection point, and the SMA wire assembly is closer to the light-incident end of the lens with respect to the electrical connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TDK Taiwan Corp.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Chen-Chi Kuo
  • Patent number: 11256063
    Abstract: An optical component driving mechanism is provided and includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, a driving assembly and a circuit assembly. The movable assembly is movable relative to the fixed assembly, the movable assembly is configured to hold an optical component, and the optical component defines an optical axis. The driving assembly is for driving the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The circuit assembly is disposed on a first side and a second side of the optical component driving mechanism, and the first side is not parallel to the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Lun Huang, Shao-Chung Chang, Wei-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 11237352
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus including a bobbin including a first coil disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof, a housing provided with first and second magnets for moving the bobbin by interaction with the first coil, upper and lower elastic members each coupled to both the bobbin and the housing, and a first position sensor for detecting a sum of intensities of magnetic fields of the first and second magnets, wherein the first position sensor is disposed in a space between the first magnet and the second magnet when the bobbin is disposed at an initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Jun Taek Lee, Byung Wook Son, Sang Jun Min, Kyoung Ho Yoo
  • Patent number: 11226467
    Abstract: A focusing device for an optical system that has a carrier and an objective arranged thereat comprises a first guide section that is configured for fastening to the carrier or is designed in one piece therewith, a second guide section that forms a holder for the objective, at least one spring element that forms an elastic connection of the first guide section to the second guide section, and an actuator for adjusting the second guide section in and against an adjustment direction with respect to the first guide section, wherein the spring element is areal at least regionally. The spring element has at has one stiffening zone in which a first surface section of the spring element is bent over along a bending edge with respect to a second surface section of the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Georg Schäfer, Jonathan Pfeil
  • Patent number: 11223765
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a dynamic flex circuit that may be used in a camera with a moveable image sensor. The dynamic flex circuit may include one or more fixed end portions, a moveable end portion, and an intermediate portion. In some embodiments, the fixed end portion may be connected to another flex circuit of the camera. The moveable end portion may be coupled with the moveable image sensor. The intermediate portion may be configured to allow the moveable end portion to move with the moveable image sensor. Some embodiments include a reinforcement arrangement that reinforces one or more portions of the dynamic flex circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Smyth, Jian Ouyang, Scott W. Miller
  • Patent number: 11156212
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuating device and a method for controlling an SMA actuator wire. The actuating device includes: a first support structure and a second support structure that are spaced from each other to define a movement space; a movable element received in the movement space; an SMA actuator wire configured to drive the movable element to move in the movement space; a detection element configured to detect movement information; and a control element configured to adjust a power state of the SMA actuator wire based on the movement information in such a manner that the SMA actuator wire is in a loose state after the SMA actuator wire drives the movable element to be fixed to the second support structure. This can alleviate the technical problem in the related art that the SMA actuator wire is prone to failure when the lens is suffering collision or falling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: AAC Optics Solutions Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomi Lintulahti
  • Patent number: 11159729
    Abstract: An image sensor driving mechanism includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, and a driving assembly. The movable assembly includes a circuit component. The circuit component includes a circuit main body and a movable suspension arm. The circuit main body is configured to hold an image sensor. The movable suspension arm is elastically connected to the circuit main body and the fixed assembly. The image sensor is electrically connected to the fixed assembly via the circuit component. The image sensor extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis. The drive assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The movable suspension arm includes a section that extends in a different direction than the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chen-Chi Kuo, Yi-Ho Chen, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11128801
    Abstract: The image blur correction device includes an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and a system control unit. The system control unit selects one of rotation axes based on a usage state of a digital camera, and calculates a shift blur amount generated in a direction by rotation of the digital camera around a second axis and a shift blur amount generated in a direction by rotation of the digital camera around a first axis based on distances from the selected rotation axis to the acceleration sensor, angular velocities, and accelerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Tanaka, Fuminori Irie, Junya Kitagawa, Kouhei Awazu
  • Patent number: 11115593
    Abstract: The lens interchangeable digital camera includes a sensor movement type shake correction mechanism that performs a sensor movement operation of moving an image sensor in a direction to cancel a shake. A characteristic data acquisition unit acquires optical characteristic data corresponding to optical characteristics of an imaging optical system of a lens unit mounted on a body mount. A determination unit determines whether or not adaptive optical characteristic data that can be handled by an image correction unit that performs image correction based on the optical characteristic data can be acquired. An operation deciding unit prohibits a shift operation which is at least a part of a sensor movement operation in an uncorrectable state where the image correction based on the adaptive optical characteristic data is not possible since the adaptive optical characteristic data cannot be acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Tanaka, Akihiro Uchida, Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiichi Izawa, Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11106022
    Abstract: The zoom lens consists of, in order from an object side, a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a negative third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the second lens group moves to an image side, and the third lens group moves to the image side after moving to the object side. The fourth lens group consists of, in order from the object side, a positive fourth A lens group, a negative fourth B lens group moving during image blur correction, a positive fourth C lens group, a fourth D lens group moving during focusing, and a fourth E lens group having a refractive power with a sign different from that of a refractive power of the fourth D lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Ukyo Tomioka
  • Patent number: 11102403
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging optical system configured to capture a plurality of images of an object; a sensor configured to detect a tilt of the imaging device with respect to a reference direction; and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to set a fixed amount of correction to be commonly applied to the plurality of images, based on the detected tilt; and correct the tilt of each of the plurality of images using the fixed amount of correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Gaku Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11032461
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a dual camera module comprising a first camera module and a second camera module, wherein: a first magnet unit of the first camera module includes a first magnet and a second magnet, both disposed opposite to each other on a side surface of a first housing; a second magnet unit of the second camera module includes a third to a sixth magnet arranged on four respective corners of a second housing; a third magnet unit is disposed on a side surface of the first housing facing the second housing; the third magnet unit is disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet; and the third magnet unit is smaller than the first magnet and is disposed on a virtual line connecting an optical axis of the first camera module and an optical axis of the second camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Taek Lee, Sang Jun Min, Tae Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 10996484
    Abstract: An optical system is provided and includes a fixed module, a movable module, a driving coil, a sensing unit and a driving assembly. The fixed module includes an outer frame, and the movable module includes an optical member holder, configured to hold an optical member. The sensing unit is configured to obtain information related to a first rotation angle of the optical member holder when rotating around a first axis relative to the outer frame and a second rotation angle of the optical member holder when rotating around a second axis relative to the outer frame. The driving assembly is for driving the optical member holder to rotate around the first axis or the second axis according to the information related to the first rotation angle and the second rotation angle. The first axis or the second axis is perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Cheng-Kai Yu