Folded optics camera with tilt actuator
Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and a tilt actuator. In some embodiments, the camera may include a folded optics arrangement that may include a prism and a lens group. In some embodiments, an actuator arrangement of the camera may include one or more actuators for tilting the prism about multiple axes. Furthermore, the actuator arrangement may include one or more actuators for translating the lens group along an axis. In some embodiments, the camera may include a bearing suspension arrangement that may allow for controlled movement of the prism and/or the lens group according to the motion enabled by the actuator arrangement.
1 . A camera, comprising:
a folded optics arrangement to fold a path of light, the folded optics arrangement comprising a prism;
an image sensor to capture light that has passed through the prism;
an actuator arrangement to tilt the prism about a plurality of axes to provide optical image stabilization (OIS) motion of an image on the image sensor; and
a bearing suspension arrangement comprising stages configured to move on ball bearings,
such that the stages suspend the prism from a base structure and allow motion of the prism enabled by the actuator arrangement, wherein the stages comprise:
a lower stage configured to tilt about a first axis using a first set of ball bearings between the lower stage and the base structure and beneath the lower stage in a direction parallel to the first axis; and
an upper stage above the lower stage and configured to tilt about the first axis and a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the upper stage includes a first magnet for the actuator arrangement configured to tilt the upper stage and the lower stage about the first axis and a second magnet for the actuator arrangement configured to tilt the upper stage about the second axis; and
a flex circuit, comprising:
a plurality of bend portions at which the flex circuit is folded to wrap around at least a portion of the base structure; and
a plurality of straight portions, comprising:
a first straight portion comprising a first inner surface located beside the upper stage to provide a first coil for the actuator arrangement to interact with the first magnet to tilt the upper stage and the lower stage about the first axis; and
a second straight portion comprising a second inner surface located beneath the lower stage to provide a second coil for the actuator arrangement to interact with the second magnet to tilt the upper stage about the second axis.
2 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded optics arrangement further comprises a lens group comprising one or more lens elements, and
wherein the actuator arrangement is further configured to:
translate the lens group along an axis to provide autofocus (AF) motion of the image on the image sensor, wherein the axis is orthogonal to the plurality of axes about which actuator arrangement tilts the prism.
3 . The camera of claim 2 , wherein the bearing suspension arrangement further comprises: a stage configured to move on ball bearings, wherein the stage suspends the lens group from the base structure and allows motion of the lens group enabled by the actuator arrangement.
4 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein the ball bearings comprise:
the first set of ball bearings used for tilting the lower stage, together with the upper stage, about the first axis; and
a second set of ball bearings used for tilting the upper stage, relative to the lower stage, about the second axis.
5 . The camera of claim 1 , further comprising:
a shield can that at least partially encases a top side of the camera, wherein, at the top side,
the shield can defines a cutout; and
a cover, wherein the cutout is sized to accommodate the cover above a lens group, and
wherein the cover comprises a lip that partially extends downward between the prism and the lens group.
6 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein an underside of the upper stage at least partially defines a track for a set of ball bearings disposed between the underside of the upper stage and an upper portion of the lower stage.
7 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein the upper stage is configured to tilt about the second axis using a second set of ball bearings between the upper stage and the lower stage.
8 . The camera of claim 7 , further comprising a preload plate located beneath the lower stage and configured to magnetically interact with the second magnet to secure both the first set of ball bearings in one or more first tracks and the second set of ball bearings in one or more second tracks.
9 . A device, comprising:
one or more processors;
memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operations of a camera;
the camera, comprising:
a folded optics arrangement to fold a path of light, the folded optics arrangement comprising a prism;
an image sensor to capture light that has passed through the prism;
an actuator arrangement to tilt the prism about a plurality of axes to provide optical image stabilization (OIS) motion of an image on the image sensor; and
a bearing suspension arrangement comprising stages configured to move on ball bearings, such that the stages suspend the prism from a base structure and allow motion of the prism enabled by the actuator arrangement, wherein the stages comprise:
a lower stage configured to tilt about a first axis using a first set of ball bearings between the lower stage and the base structure and beneath the lower stage in a direction parallel to the first axis; and
an upper stage above the lower stage and configured to tilt about the first axis and a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the upper stage includes a first magnet for the actuator arrangement configured to tilt the upper stage and the lower stage about the first axis and a second magnet for the actuator arrangement configured to tilt the upper stage about the second axis; and
a flex circuit, comprising:
a plurality of bend portions at which the flex circuit is folded to wrap around at least a portion of the base structure; and
a plurality of straight portions, comprising:
a first straight portion comprising a first inner surface located beside the upper stage to provide a first coil for the actuator arrangement to interact with the first magnet to tilt the upper stage and the lower stage about the first axis; and
a second straight portion comprising a second inner surface located beneath the lower stage to provide a second coil for the actuator arrangement to interact with the second magnet to tilt the upper stage about the second axis.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the folded optics arrangement further comprises a lens group comprising one or more lens elements, and
wherein the actuator arrangement is further configured to:
translate the lens group along an axis to provide autofocus (AF) motion of the image on the image sensor, wherein the axis is orthogonal to the plurality of axes about which actuator arrangement tilts the prism.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the bearing suspension arrangement further comprises: a stage configured to move on ball bearings, wherein the stage suspends the lens group from the base structure and allows motion of the lens group enabled by the actuator arrangement.
12 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the ball bearings comprise:
the first set of ball bearings used for tilting the lower stage, together with the upper stage, about the first axis; and
a second set of ball bearings used for tilting the upper stage, relative to the lower stage, about the second axis.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein:
the lower stage is configured to rest on the first set of ball bearings; and
the upper stage is configured to rest on the second set of ball bearings.
14 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the camera further comprises:
a shield can that at least partially encases a top side of the camera, wherein, at the top side,
the shield can defines a cutout; and
a cover, wherein the cutout is sized to accommodate the cover above a lens group, and
wherein the cover comprises a lip that partially extends downward between the prism and the lens group.
15 . The device of claim 9 , wherein an underside of the upper stage at least partially defines a track for a set of ball bearings disposed between the underside of the upper stage and an upper portion of the lower stage.
16 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the upper stage is configured to tilt about the second axis using a second set of ball bearings between the upper stage and the lower stage.
17 . The device of claim 16 , further comprising a preload plate located beneath the lower stage and configured to magnetically interact with the second magnet to secure both the first set of ball bearings in one or more first tracks and the second set of ball bearings in one or more second tracks.
18 . An optics system, comprising:
a folded optics arrangement to fold a path of light, the folded optics arrangement comprising a prism;
an actuator arrangement to tilt the prism about a plurality of axes to provide optical image stabilization (OIS) motion of an image on an image sensor; and
a bearing suspension arrangement comprising stages configured to move on ball bearings,
such that the stages suspend the prism from a base structure and allow motion of the prism enabled by the actuator arrangement, wherein the stages comprise:
a lower stage configured to tilt about a first axis using a first set of ball bearings between the lower stage and the base structure and beneath the lower stage in a direction parallel to the first axis; and
an upper stage above the lower stage and configured to tilt about the first axis and a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis, wherein the upper stage includes a first magnet for the actuator arrangement configured to tilt the upper stage and the lower stage about the first axis and a second magnet for the actuator arrangement configured to tilt the upper stage about the second axis; and
a flex circuit, comprising:
a plurality of bend portions at which the flex circuit is folded to wrap around at least a portion of the base structure; and
a plurality of straight portions, comprising:
a first straight portion comprising a first inner surface located beside the upper stage to provide a first coil for the actuator arrangement to interact with the first magnet to tilt the upper stage and the lower stage about the first axis; and
a second straight portion comprising a second inner surface located beneath the lower stage to provide a second coil for the actuator arrangement to interact with the second magnet to tilt the upper stage about the second axis.
19 . The optics system of claim 18 , wherein the folded optics arrangement further comprises a lens group comprising one or more lens elements, and
wherein the actuator arrangement is further configured to:
translate the lens group in at least a direction parallel to an optical axis of the lens group,
wherein the optical axis is orthogonal to the plurality of axes about which actuator arrangement tilts the prism.
20 . The optics system of claim 19 , wherein the bearing suspension arrangement further comprises: a stage configured to move on ball bearings, wherein the stage suspends the lens group from the base structure and allows motion of the lens group enabled by the actuator arrangement.