Flex circuit enabling high speed data transfer for camera with moveable image sensor

1 . A camera, comprising:

one or more optical elements;

an image sensor;

an actuator to move the image sensor relative to the one or more optical elements;

a flex circuit configured to convey electrical signals between the image sensor and a stationary structure of the camera, wherein the flex circuit comprises:

a first flex region,

a second flex region,

a bent region extending from the first flex region to the second flex region, wherein the flex circuit is configured such that motion of the image sensor enabled by the actuator causes the first flex region to move relative to the second flex region,

wherein at least one of the first flex region, the second flex region, or the bent region comprise a plurality of layers including:

a first conductive layer for routing the electrical signals,

a second conductive layer,

an insulation layer positioned between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and

a base substrate positioned adjacent the second conductive layer and opposite the insulating layer, and

wherein at least one of the first flex region or the second flex region comprises two or more flexure arms extending along the respective flex region for enabling movement of the first flex region relative to the second flex region in accordance with a stiffness; and

wherein at least a portion of the base substrate is removed at the bent region to accommodate a turn of the flex circuit at the bent region.

2 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein the two or more flexure arms comprises at least three flexure arms to enable the movement of the first flex region relative to the second flex region in accordance with the stiffness.

3 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein the base substrate comprises at least one of a plastic material or metal alloy material.

4 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein the flex circuit further comprises:

a reinforcement material positioned at the bent region to maintain an angle of the bent region.

5 . The camera of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first flex region or the second flex region comprises a lesser stiffness than the bent region.

6 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein the flex circuit further comprises:

a fixed end portion fixedly attached to the stationary structure;

a moveable end portion coupled with the image sensor such that the moveable end portion moves with the image sensor relative to the fixed end portion; and

an intermediate portion that allows the moveable end portion to move with the image sensor and that conveys electrical signals between the fixed end portion and the moveable end portion, wherein the intermediate portion comprises:

the first flex region;

the second flex region; and

the bent region.

7 . The camera of claim 6 , wherein:

the bent region is a first bent region;

the first flex region is a first contiguous leg of the flex circuit that extends, in a first direction parallel to an image plane defined by the image sensor, from the moveable end portion to the first bent region;

the second flex region is a second contiguous leg of the flex circuit that extends, in a second direction different than the first direction, from a second bent region of the flex circuit to a third bent region of the flex circuit; and

the first bent region and the first flex region are centered, in the second direction, between the second bent region and the third bent region.

8 . A device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operation of a camera; and

the camera, comprising:

one or more optical elements,

an image sensor,

an actuator to move the image sensor relative to the one or more optical elements,

a flex circuit configured to convey electrical signals between the image sensor and a stationary structure of the camera, wherein the flex circuit comprises:

a first flex region,

a second flex region,

a bent region extending from the first flex region to the second flex region, wherein the bent region remains bent during operation of the camera, wherein the flex circuit is configured such that motion of the image sensor enabled by the actuator causes the first flex region to move relative to the second flex region,

wherein at least the bent region of the flex circuit comprises a plurality of layers including:

a first conductive layer for routing the electrical signals,

a second conductive layer,

an insulation layer positioned between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and

a base substrate positioned adjacent the second conductive layer and opposite the insulating layer, wherein the base substrate comprises a metal alloy material, and

wherein the first flex region or the second flex region comprises two or more flexure arms extending along the respective flex regions and the second flex region for enabling movement of the first flex region relative to the second flex region in accordance with a stiffness.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the base substrate is etched at the bent region to accommodate a turn of the flex circuit at the bent region.

10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the flex circuit further comprises:

a reinforcement material positioned at the bent region to maintain an angle of the bent region.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first flex region or the second flex region comprises a lesser stiffness than the bent region.

12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the flex circuit further comprises:

a fixed end portion fixedly attached to the stationary structure;

a moveable end portion coupled with the image sensor such that the moveable end portion moves with the image sensor relative to the fixed end portion; and

an intermediate portion that allows the moveable end portion to move with the image sensor and that conveys electrical signals between the fixed end portion and the moveable end portion, wherein the intermediate portion comprises:

the first flex region,

the second flex region, and

the bent region.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein:

the bent region is a first bent region;

the first flex region is a first contiguous leg of the flex circuit that extends, in a first direction parallel to an image plane defined by the image sensor, from the moveable end portion to the first bent region;

the second flex region is a second contiguous leg of the flex circuit that extends, in a second direction different than the first direction, from a second bent region of the flex circuit to a third bent region of the flex circuit; and

the first bent region and the first flex region are centered, in the second direction, between the second bent region and the third bent region.

14 . A method, comprising:

forming a plurality of layers that includes a flex circuit to convey electrical signals between an image sensor and a stationary structure of a camera, wherein the flex circuit comprises:

a first flex region,

a second flex region, and

a bent region extending from the first flex region to the second flex region, wherein the flex circuit is configured such that motion of the image sensor causes the first flex region to move relative to the second flex region,

the plurality of layers including:

a first conductive layer for routing the electrical signals,

a second conductive layer, and

an insulation layer positioned between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, and

a base substrate positioned adjacent the second conductive layer and opposite the insulating layer; and

removing, using one or more subtractive manufacturing processes,

one or more portions of at least one of the first flex region or the second flex region to form two or more flexure arms extending along the respective flex region for enabling movement of the first flex region relative to the second flex region in accordance with a stiffness, and

at least a portion of the base substrate at the bent region to accommodate a turn of the flex circuit at the bent region.