Electromagnetic Or Piezoelectric Drive Patents (Class 359/824)
  • Patent number: 12112888
    Abstract: A drive device includes a component carrier with a stack having at least one electrically conductive layer structure and/or at least one electrically insulating layer structure and a cavity formed in the stack. A driven body is arranged at least partially in the cavity and configured for being drivable to move relative to the component carrier. At least one drive coil for creating a magnetic drive field and at least one drive magnet interacts with the magnetic drive field created by the at least one drive coil to generate a force for moving the driven body relative to the component carrier. One of the at least one drive magnet and the at least one drive coil forms part of the component carrier and the other one of the at least one drive magnet and the at least one drive coil forms part of the driven body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerald Weis, Gerald Weidinger, Sebastian Sattler, Patrick Fleischhacker
  • Patent number: 12105400
    Abstract: Disclosed are an AF (autofocus) motor structure, a camera device, and an electronic product. The AF motor structure includes a base, a housing, a bracket, a main carrier, and a lens, the bracket is provided with a main coil for driving the main carrier to move, and the main carrier is provided with a magnet corresponding to the main coil; the main carrier is provided with a continuous zoom assembly that drives the lens to move, the continuous zoom assembly includes a sub-carrier movable relative to the main carrier in the sliding direction of the main carrier and a sub-coil disposed on the sub-carrier, the lens is connected to the sub-carrier, and the sub-coil corresponds to the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: New Shicoh Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Hua Wei
  • Patent number: 12101543
    Abstract: An optical component driving mechanism is provided. The optical component driving mechanism includes a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a driving assembly. The movable portion and the fixed portion are arranged along a main axis. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The fixed portion includes a first guide component for guiding the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Pai-Jui Cheng, Shu-Shan Chen
  • Patent number: 12066685
    Abstract: A motor for driving lenses is provided. The motor includes a case, a yoke fixed in the case, a magnet fixed in the yoke, a carrier equipped with lenses and installed in the magnet such that the carrier moves up and down within the magnet, a coil coupled with the carrier, in which the coil cooperates with the magnet to move up and down the carrier, a spring unit including first and second springs having arc shapes and being separated from each other while forming a ring shape as a whole, a spacer supporting the outer peripheral surface of the spring unit, and a terminal provided on the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Sang Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 12047666
    Abstract: A camera module includes a bracket, a rotatable module, a first magnetic member, and a second magnetic member; the bracket is provided with a rotating cavity, the rotatable module comprises a camera and a rotating body, the camera is fixedly connected to the rotating body, the rotating body is rotatably disposed in the rotating cavity, and a distance between a center of gravity of the rotatable module and a geometric center of the rotatable module is greater than 0; the first magnetic member is disposed on the bracket, the second magnetic member is disposed on the rotating body, at least one of the first magnetic member or the second magnetic member is an electromagnetic member, and the first magnetic member is disposed opposite to the second magnetic member; and in a case that the electromagnetic member is not energized, the camera can rotate under a force of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fuyin Zhang, Dongcun Cheng, Wei Wang, Zhengjun Luo, Zongwen He
  • Patent number: 12027938
    Abstract: A voice coil motor includes a base, a lens housing, a voice coil, a magnet, and a yoke member. The lens housing has a first margin wall, and a first protrusion and a second protrusion extend from the first margin wall. The height of the second protrusion is lower than the height of the first protrusion. The yoke member has a first wall, a connection wall, a second wall, and a side wall. The first wall, the connection wall, and the second wall together form a stepped structure. The first wall is disposed on the first protrusion, and the second wall is disposed on the second protrusion. The lens housing has a deflectable angle relative to a horizontal reference line. When the lens housing deflects to a maximum value of the deflectable angle, the second protrusion abuts against the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: LANTO ELECTRONIC LIMITED
    Inventors: Wen-Yen Huang, Meng-Ting Lin, Fu-Yuan Wu, Shang-Yu Hsu, Bing-Bing Ma, Jie Du
  • Patent number: 12025850
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a camera module comprising a first lens driving device and a second lens driving device, wherein a first lateral surface of the first lens driving device faces a second lateral surface of the second lens driving device, a first housing comprises a first lateral part corresponding to the first lateral surface of the first lens driving device and a second lateral part disposed at the opposite side of the first lateral part, a first magnet comprises a first magnet unit disposed in the first lateral part and a second magnet unit disposed in the second lateral part, each of the first magnet unit and the second magnet unit comprises an inner surface facing a first coil, an outer surface disposed at an opposite side of the inner surface, and both lateral surfaces connecting the inner surface and the outer surface, and the distance between the both lateral surfaces of the first magnet unit is shorter than the distance between the both lateral surfaces of the second magnet unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Ok Park
  • Patent number: 12007679
    Abstract: A macro-to-micro two-stage camera lens focusing device based on a direct-drive air floatation platform includes: a two-stage motion device with macro-motion and micro-motion focusing systems. The focusing device includes: a z-direction macro-motion system, a z-direction micro-motion focusing system, and a y-direction micro-motion focusing system. The macro-motion system includes flat-plate linear motors, a tubular linear motor, a tubular elastic balancing device, and an aerostatic air flotation platform; and the micro-motion focusing system includes a micro-motion platform base, piezoceramic actuators, micro-motion flexure hinges, a micro-motion platform, and an industrial camera lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: GUANGDONG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ping Ma, Heng Ding, Hongda Zhao, Xinghua Wang
  • Patent number: 12001076
    Abstract: To provide, with an inexpensive construction, a lens module which does not require an individual adjustment of positions during mass production and which enables a degree of freedom of arrangement in a set to be improved. The lens module includes: a lens; a lens tube which has a central axis that is parallel to an optical axis of the lens and which is configured to hold the lens inside; a casing configured to house the lens tube inside; a first coil which is provided so as to circle around an outer circumferential surface of the lens tube; a magnet which is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the casing so as to oppose the first coil; and a second coil which is provided so as to circle around the inner circumferential surface of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori Hasebe, Tatsuo Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 11988893
    Abstract: A lens moving apparatus is disclosed. The lens moving apparatus includes a bobbin equipped with at least one lens, a coil and a driving magnet arranged opposite to each other for moving the bobbin in an optical axis direction of the lens through interaction therebetween, a first circuit board for supplying electric current required by the coil, and a cover can and a base coupled to, contacted to, supported at, fixed to, or temporarily fixed to each other for forming a space in which the bobbin, the driving magnet, and the first circuit board are received, wherein the cover can is connected to a second circuit board having an image sensor mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Seong Min Lee, Jun Taek Lee
  • Patent number: 11921301
    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: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    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: 11899272
    Abstract: A lens driving apparatus includes a holder, a cover, a carrier, a first magnet, a coil, a spring, two second magnets and a hall sensor. The holder includes an opening hole. The cover is made of metal material and coupled to the holder. The carrier is movably disposed in the cover, and for coupling to a lens. The first magnet is connected to an inner side of the cover. The coil is wound around an outer side of the carrier, and adjacent to the first magnet. The spring is coupled to the carrier. The second magnets are disposed on one end of the carrier which is toward the holder. The hall sensor is for detecting a magnetic field of any one of the second magnets, wherein the magnetic field is varied according to a relative displacement between the hall sensor and the second magnet which is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: LARGAN PRECISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Yi Lu, Te-Sheng Tseng, Wen-Hung Hsu
  • Patent number: 11892760
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a projection device, an actuator device thereof, and a projection method adapted for the actuator device. The projection method includes disposing an optical element in a frame body, and disposing a driving assembly between a base and the frame body; controlling the driving assembly to drive the frame body by a signal so that the optical element reciprocally swings relative to the base based on a first, a second, and a third moving shaft. The signal includes a first driving signal corresponding to the first moving shaft, a second driving signal corresponding to the second moving shaft, and a third driving signal corresponding to the third moving shaft. The first and the second driving signal have a first frequency; the third driving signal has a second frequency different from the first frequency. The phase difference between the first and the second driving signal is not equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Coretronic Corporation
    Inventor: Wei-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 11892656
    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: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Cheng-Kai Yu
  • Patent number: 11841546
    Abstract: A lens moving apparatus includes a base comprising a body and a post extending upward from an upper surface of the body; a bobbin disposed on the body; a magnet disposed on the bobbin; and a coil disposed to correspond to the magnet and configured to move the bobbin in a direction parallel to an optical axis by an interaction with the magnet; and a rolling member disposed between the bobbin and the post of the base. The post includes a groove having an opening spaced from opposite ends of the groove, and the rolling member is disposed in the groove of the post, and the opening is configured to expose a portion of the rolling member. The bobbin includes a support extending into the opening so as to be in contact with the rolling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Guk Lee, Sang Jun Min, Tae Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 11835787
    Abstract: One embodiment comprises: a housing; a bobbin, which is arranged inside the housing and is for mounting a lens; first coils arranged around the outer peripheral surface of the bobbin; a first magnet arranged in the housing; a second magnet arranged at the bobbin and spaced from the first coils; and a first position sensor arranged in the housing and sensing the intensity of a magnetic field of the second magnet, wherein the length of the second magnet in the direction of an optical axis is shorter than the length of thereof in the direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Wook Son, Sang Ok Park
  • Patent number: 11828932
    Abstract: A lens assembly includes a lens, a lens barrel, and a heater element. The lens has an inner surface and an outer surface. The lens barrel supports the lens and defines an optical axis, the lens arranged along the optical axis such that the inner surface of the lens is within the lens barrel and the outer surface of the lens is outside the lens barrel. The heater element is in intimate mechanical communication with the inner surface of the lens and has a heater element electrical lead extending radially therefrom to provide power to the heater element. Lens heating methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Anthony Rivas, Thomas E. Blake, III, Jeffrey Dudek, Robert Newton
  • Patent number: 11822101
    Abstract: A liquid lens module includes a liquid lens comprising “M” individual electrode sectors (where “M” is a positive integer of 2 or greater) and “N” common electrode sectors (where “N” is a positive integer of 1 or greater); an upper cover comprising first to Mth individual terminals electrically connected to the first to Mth individual electrode sectors, respectively, and exposed in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis of an image sensor; and a lower cover configured to surround the liquid upper cover, the lower cover comprising first to nth common terminals (where 1?n?N) electrically connected to the first to Nth common electrode sectors, respectively, and exposed in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Bok Choi
  • Patent number: 11822227
    Abstract: A VCM is disclosed, the VCM including a rotor having a first driving unit and arranged therein with a lens, a stator having a second driving unit wrapping the first driving unit and being opposite to the first driving unit, a base supporting the stator and having an opening formed at a position corresponding to that of the lens, a connection terminal including a pair of first and second connection terminals arranged at an upper surface of the base, and an elastic member including a first elastic member coupled to the rotor and electrically connected the first connection terminal and a second elastic member coupled to the rotor and electrically connected the second connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seong Min Lee, Sang Ok Park, Jun Taek Lee
  • Patent number: 11778301
    Abstract: A voice coil motor strongly attached to the base of a camera module comprises the base and a casing. The casing and the base are interlocked with each other. The casing is a hollow structure. The casing comprises a top surface and a side wall surrounding the top surface. The side wall and the base are engaged with each other. The side wall is extended in parts to form at least one extending leg. The extending leg extends to a side of the base away from the top surface and is bent toward the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Xiao-Mei Ma, Shin-Wen Chen, Long-Fei Zhang, Kun Li
  • Patent number: 11768346
    Abstract: An optical mechanism is provided, including a housing, a holder, a lens received in the holder, a driving assembly, and a base connected to the housing. The holder is movably disposed in the housing, and the lens has a first surface exposed to a first side of the holder and facing a first inner sidewall surface of the housing. The driving assembly is disposed in the housing for driving the holder and the lens to move relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Weng, Shao-Kuang Huang, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11768422
    Abstract: A VCM is disclosed, the motor including a stator including a first driving unit, a rotor arranged inside the stator, including a second driving unit responding to the first driving unit and mounted therein with a lens, a base fixing the stator, and an elastic member coupled to the rotor to float the rotor from the base in a case a driving signal for driving the first and second driving units is not applied to the first and second driving units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Seong Min Lee
  • Patent number: 11762215
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a lens driving apparatus, a camera module comprising the lens driving apparatus, and an optical device comprising the camera module. The lens driving apparatus comprises: a base; a first substrate placed on the base; a housing placed on the first substrate; a bobbin placed inside the housing; a lower resilient member for coupling the bobbin and the housing; a first coil placed on the bobbin; a magnet placed on the housing and facing the first coil; and a second substrate placed on the first substrate and comprising a second coil which faces the magnet, wherein the lower resilient member is connected to the first substrate or the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Ok Park
  • Patent number: 11750075
    Abstract: A voice coil motor includes a base, a lens housing, a voice coil, a magnet, a first elastic sheet, and a yoke member. The lens housing has a first margin wall, and a first protrusion and a second protrusion extend from the first margin wall. The height of the second protrusion is lower than the height of the first protrusion. The yoke member has a first wall, a connection wall, a second wall, and a side wall. The first wall, the connection wall, and the second wall together form a stepped structure. The first wall is disposed on the first protrusion, and the second wall is disposed on the second protrusion. The lens housing has a deflectable angle relative to a horizontal reference line. When the lens housing deflects to a maximum value of the deflectable angle, the second protrusion abuts against the second wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Lanto Electronic Limited
    Inventors: Wen-Yen Huang, Meng-Ting Lin, Fu-Yuan Wu, Shang-Yu Hsu, Bing-Bing Ma, Jie Du
  • Patent number: 11733587
    Abstract: A voice coil motor includes a housing, a first lens holder, a second lens holder, a first electromagnetic drive assembly, and a second electromagnetic drive assembly. The first electromagnetic drive assembly generates a first electromagnetic force to drive the second lens holder to move in a moving direction. The second electromagnetic drive assembly is adapted to drive the first lens holder to move along the moving direction. The first magnetic steel portion includes a first magnet and a second magnet. The first coil includes a first wire portion and a second wire portion. When the first coil is conducted, a direction of current in the first wire portion and a direction of current in the second wire portion have at least components in opposite directions. The present disclosure can solve the jam problem when zooming, and also increase the zoom stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: LANTO ELECTRONIC LIMITED
    Inventors: Fuyuan Wu, Shangyu Hsu, Yucheng Lin, Mengting Lin, Hsiaokang Li
  • Patent number: 11719996
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a movable portion, a fixed portion, a driving assembly, and a support assembly. The movable portion is used for connecting to an optical element. The movable portion may move 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 is movable relative to the fixed portion through the support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Chen-Hsien Fan, Chih-Wen Chiang, Chia-Che Wu, Yu-Chiao Lo
  • Patent number: 11689793
    Abstract: A camera module according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include: a Printed Circuit Board (PCB), a first image sensor and a second image sensor disposed on the PCB, a lens holder having an upper plate facing and spaced apart from the PCB and a sidewall extending from an edge of the upper plate toward the PCB, wherein the upper plate includes a first through-hole and a second through-hole aligned to the first image sensor and the second image sensor, respectively, a first lens assembly including a first lens system and a first barrel accommodating the first lens system, and assembled to the first through-hole to be aligned with the first image sensor, and a second lens assembly including a second lens system and a second barrel accommodating the second lens system, and assembled to the second through-hole to be aligned with the second image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyeongeun Lee, Yongwook Jang, Wonchul Cho
  • Patent number: 11686459
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for lighting. The apparatus may include an LED light source. The light source may be disposed in housing. The apparatus may include a circuit. The circuit may be configured to cause the LED light source to emit light at: a first intensity; and a second intensity that is different from the first intensity. The apparatus may include a mechanical power state selector. A user may use the power state selector to select between LED light sources that are arranged to illuminate in different directions. The apparatus may include a CCT state selector. A user may use the CCT state selector to select a CCT for one or more LED light sources. The CCT may be produced by combining light from one or more LEDs of different CCTs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Wangs Alliance Corporation
    Inventors: Basar Erdener, Voravit Puvanakijjakorn, Rong Feng Yu
  • Patent number: 11675158
    Abstract: A lens driving device is provided, the lens driving device includes: a housing; a bobbin disposed inside of the housing; a support member coupled to the bobbin and the housing; and a sensor sensing a position of at least one of the bobbin and the housing, wherein the support member may include a first support unit, and a second support unit disposed not parallel to the first support unit, wherein the sensor may be disposed more adjacent to the first support unit than to the second support unit, and wherein an elastic modulus of the first support unit may be lower than an elastic modulus of the second support unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Sang Jun Min, Jun Taek Lee
  • Patent number: 11604328
    Abstract: Provided is a lens driving device. The lens driving device includes a housing, a base assembly, and a lens holder. The base assembly forms an accommodation space with the housing, the lens holder is suspended in the accommodation space, and the electromagnetic driving assembly is located at a side of the lens holder and is configured to drive the lens holder to move along a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The electromagnetic driving assembly includes a magnetic steel structure and a coil structure vertically opposite to the magnetic steel structure, one of the magnetic steel structure and the coil structure is disposed on the housing or the base assembly, and the other one of the magnetic steel structure and the coil structure is disposed on the lens holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: LANTO ELECTRONIC LIMITED
    Inventors: Fuyuan Wu, Yaobang Guo, Shengwen Sun, Bingbing Ma
  • Patent number: 11606045
    Abstract: Disclosed is a piezoelectric inertial drive stage including a piezoelectric inertial driver, a slider and a holder. The driver includes a mounting portion for the mounting on the holder, a friction portion coupling to the slider, a flexure portion between the mounting portion and friction portion, a piezoelectric element with a first end bonded to the mounting portion and a second end bonded to a movement portion, the movement portion transferring the motion of the piezoelectric element to the friction portion to drive the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Renlong Gao, Guocheng Xu, Guobiao Wu
  • Patent number: 11570345
    Abstract: A camera module includes a housing having a first ball support surface disposed on an inner surface thereof, a driving body movably disposed in the housing and having a second ball support surface disposed on an outer surface thereof, and a plurality of ball bearings disposed between the first ball support surface of the housing and the second ball support surface of the driving body. A distance between the first ball support surface and the second ball support surface along a direction perpendicular to an optical axis direction is different at respective first end portions of the first ball support surface and the second ball support surface in the optical axis direction than at respective second end portions of the first ball support surface and the second ball support surface in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Man Park, Byung Woo Kang, Soo Cheol Lim, Jung Seok Lee, Jae Hyuk Lee, Byung Gi An, Yoo Chang Kim, Sung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11555976
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a movable portion, a fixed portion, and a driving assembly. The movable portion connects to an optical element having a main axis. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly is used to drive the movable portion so that it moves relative to the fixed portion, wherein the movable portion comprises a first connecting portion that is movably connected to the fixed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Fu-Yuan Wu, Guan-Bo Wang, Yi-Liang Chan
  • Patent number: 11550202
    Abstract: An optical unit includes a movable body, a fixed body, and a first swing mechanism. The fixed body supports the movable body so as to be swingable in a first swing direction about a first swing axis. One of the movable body and the fixed body has a first magnet. The other of the movable body and the fixed body has a first magnetic body. The first magnetic body has a first magnetic body portion, a second magnetic body portion, and a third magnetic body portion. The first magnetic body portion passes through an axis perpendicular to each of the first swing axis and the optical axis of an optical element. The second magnetic body portion is disposed on one side in the first swing direction of the first magnetic body portion. The third magnetic body portion is disposed on the other side in the first swing direction of the first magnetic body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sazai, Tomohiro Egawa, Keishi Otsubo, Genki Tanaka, Takayuki Iwase
  • Patent number: 11536930
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises two actuators, such as an autofocus actuator and optical image stabilizer. The actuators are nested, wherein the outer actuator is suspended from the device body and the inner actuator is suspended from the outer actuator. A suspension element may be a flexure bearing, allowing a flat actuator design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Licensing Technology, LLC.
    Inventor: Marko Eromäki
  • Patent number: 11539864
    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: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank Sharma, Brad V. Johnson, Alfred N. Mireault
  • Patent number: 11520118
    Abstract: This lens drive device 1 comprises: an autofocus drive unit for performing autofocus using a driving force of a voice coil motor configured from a first coil part 112 and a magnet part 122; and a shake correction drive unit for performing shake correction using a driving force of a voice coil motor configured from a second coil part 231 and the magnet part 122. The magnet part 122 includes first magnets 122A, 122C disposed at two mutually facing sides among the four sides of a substantially rectangular-shaped lens drive device in a plan view, and a second magnet 122B disposed at another side. The side the second magnet 122B faces is designated a no-magnet disposed section R where no magnet is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUMI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Konuma, Tomoyuki Murakami, Shota Kudo, Yohei Enta
  • Patent number: 11506876
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a surgical microscope. Moveable optics of the surgical microscope are controlled using two sets of control parameters, to reduce jitter and image instability. Shifts in the image due to changes in temperature or due to the use of optical filter can also be compensated. Misalignment between the mechanical axis and the optical axis of the surgical microscope can also be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Synaptive Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Tammy Kee-Wai Lee, William La, Paul Quevedo, Aryeh Benjamin Taub, Yusuf Bismilla, Sam Anthony Leitch, Yuri Alexander Kuzyk, Ze Shan Yao, Michael Frank Gunter Wood
  • Patent number: 11502626
    Abstract: A piezoelectric motor includes a piezoelectric actuator, a holding member that holds the piezoelectric actuator, a housing in which the piezoelectric actuator and the holding member are placed, a first positioning pin that positions the holding member and the housing, and a first fixing part that fixes the first positioning pin. In the piezoelectric motor, the first positioning pin is fixed to one of the holding member and the housing, and a first hole portion in which the first positioning pin is placed is provided in the other of the holding member and the housing. The first fixing part fixes relative positions of the first hole portion and the first positioning pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yudai Okamae, Tomohisa Iwazaki, Yutaka Arakawa
  • Patent number: 11493725
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a dual camera module, in which a first lens driving device is spaced apart from and arranged in parallel with a second lens driving device, a first Hall sensor of the first lens driving device is disposed is disposed at a corner portion which is spaced most apart from a second sensing magnet of the second lens driving device, among a plurality of corner portions of a first housing; and a second Hall sensor of the second lens driving device is disposed at a corner portion which is spaced most apart from the first Hall sensor, among a plurality of corner portions of a second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Sang Jun Min, Seong Min Lee
  • Patent number: 11474369
    Abstract: A lens moving device is provided. The lens moving device includes: a bobbin; a first driving unit coupled to the bobbin; a second driving unit configured to move the first driving unit through an electromagnetic interaction with the first driving unit; a sensing magnet disposed on one side of the bobbin; a location detection sensor configured to sense a location of the sensing magnet; and a correction magnet disposed on an opposite side of the bobbin. According to the present disclosure, static tilt and dynamic tilt of the bobbin, to which a lens module is to be coupled, may be enhanced by a sensing magnet and a correction magnet which establish magnetic force equilibrium with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Suk Han, In Jae Yeo, Jae Hong Cho
  • Patent number: 11467368
    Abstract: An embodiment comprises: a base which comprises a body and a first column part, a second column part, a third column part, and a fourth column part arranged at corner parts of the body, respectively; a bobbin disposed on the body; a first roller part disposed in a first groove provided on the first column part; a second roller part disposed in a second groove provided on the second column part adjacent to the first column part; a magnet disposed on the bobbin; and a coil corresponding to the magnet and disposed between the first and the second column part, wherein the first roller part contacts at least two areas of the first groove, the second roller part contacts at least two areas of the second groove, the first groove comprises a first opening through which a part of the first roller part is exposed, the second groove comprises a second opening through which a part of the second roller part is exposed, and the bobbin comprises a first support part disposed in the first opening and contacting the first rol
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Guk Lee, Sang Jun Min, Tae Jin Jung
  • Patent number: 11435549
    Abstract: A driving apparatus performs driving of an object. The apparatus includes a driving device for the driving; a position detector, and a controller. The position detector is configured to detect the position of the object. The controller is configured to generate a first signal for open-loop control of the driving device based on a target velocity of the object, generate a second signal for closed-loop control of the driving device based on the detected position and a target position of the object, and generate a driving signal for the driving device based on at least one of the first signal and the second signal. The controller is further configured to perform weighted summing of the first signal and the second signal to generate the driving signal based on inversion between positive and negative of load for the driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuzo Taketomi
  • Patent number: 11428950
    Abstract: A lens moving apparatus includes a bobbin on which a first coil is disposed, a first magnet disposed around the bobbin to face the first coil, and a housing, which is disposed to surround at least a portion of the bobbin and has a first magnet mounting seat, which receives the first magnet, wherein the housing is provided with an adhesive inlet, which allows a side portion of the first magnet mounting seat to communicate with an outside surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hong Cho, Seung Taek Shin, In Jae Yeo, Sang Hee Lee, Jin Suk Han, Jung Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 11402604
    Abstract: A camera device actuator includes: a magnet disposed on a side surface of a lens carrier disposed to be movable in an optical axis direction in an internal space of a fixed housing; a member to be detected disposed on the side surface of the lens carrier, connected to the magnet, and having a width in the optical axis direction that is less than a width of the magnet in the optical axis direction; a driving coil disposed opposite to and spaced apart from the magnet, on a panel disposed on the housing; and a sensing coil including a first sensing coil and a second sensing coil disposed on the panel, spaced apart from and opposite to the member to be detected, and arranged in-line with each other in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Joo Lee, Jung Woo Kim, Suk Young Oh, Young Bok Yoon, Dong Yeon Shin
  • Patent number: 11397332
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided. The optical element driving mechanism includes a movable part, a fixed part, a driving assembly, and a position sensing assembly. The movable part is used for connecting to an optical element. The movable part is movable relative to the fixed part. The driving assembly is used for driving the movable part to move relative to the fixed part in a first direction. The position sensing assembly is used for detecting movement of the moved part relative to the fixed part in the first direction. The position sensing assembly includes a reference element and a position sensor corresponding to the reference element. When viewed in any direction perpendicular to the first direction, the reference element does not overlap the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Ichitai Moto, Yi-Liang Chan
  • Patent number: 11378767
    Abstract: A lens adjusting mechanism includes a light-valve case, a lens case, one fastener, and a leaf spring assembly. The light-valve case has an emitting opening and a first opening edge, disposed on the peripheral portion of the emitting opening. The lens case has a light-path entrance and a light-path exit. The lens case also has a second opening edge. The second opening edge is disposed on the peripheral portion of the light-path entrance. The fastener is connected between the first opening edge and the second opening edge. The leaf spring assembly has at least one leaf contact. The leaf spring assembly is disposed between the first opening edge and the second opening edge. The leaf contact contacts the first opening edge or the second opening edge. The fastener is used to adjust the distance between the first opening edge and the second opening edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Chen Chang, Chia-Chang Lee
  • Patent number: 11378769
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a camera module comprising a first lens driving device and a second lens driving device, wherein a first lateral surface of the first lens driving device faces a second lateral surface of the second lens driving device, a first housing comprises a first lateral part corresponding to the first lateral surface of the first lens driving device and a second lateral part disposed at the opposite side of the first lateral part, a first magnet comprises a first magnet unit disposed in the first lateral part and a second magnet unit disposed in the second lateral part, each of the first magnet unit and the second magnet unit comprises an inner surface facing a first coil, an outer surface disposed at an opposite side of the inner surface, and both lateral surfaces connecting the inner surface and the outer surface, and the distance or the length between the both lateral surfaces of the first magnet unit is shorter than the distance or the length between the both lateral surfaces of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Ok Park
  • Patent number: 11372190
    Abstract: A camera device includes a first lens driving module including a first lens unit, a first carrier, a first fixing element, a plurality of clamping portions and a driver. The first lens unit includes at least one lens, and the lens constitutes a first optical axis. The first carrier is configured to carry the first lens unit and includes a plurality of first carrier bodies and a first carrier base. The first fixing element includes a plurality of first fixing bodies and a first fixing base. The clamping portions extend from the first fixing bodies and are connected to the first carrier. The driver is disposed between the first carrier and the first fixing element and is configured to drive the first carrier carrying the first lens unit to move with respect to the first fixing element in a first direction and a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: SINTAI OPTICAL (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., ASIA OPTICAL CO., INC.
    Inventor: Guo-Quan Lin
  • Patent number: 11353679
    Abstract: A lens driving device according to an embodiment comprises: a movable unit on which at least one lens is mounted; a first coil and a driving magnet which face and interact with each other such that the movable unit is moved in the optical axis direction of the lens; a position sensor for sensing the position of the movable unit in the optical axis direction or a driver comprising the position sensor; and a positively magnetized magnet arranged to face the position sensor or the driver, wherein the positively magnetized magnet comprises a first side surface, which faces the position sensor and has a first polarity, and a second side surface, which faces the position sensor, which is arranged to be spaced from the first side surface in a direction parallel with the optical axis direction or arranged to abut the first side surface, and which has a second polarity that is the opposite of the first polarity of the first side surface, and the length of the first side surface in the optical axis direction may be equ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Byung Wook Son, Seong Min Lee, Jun Taek Lee