Gimbal and shape memory alloy actuator for camera

1 . A camera, comprising:

a lens group;

an image sensor;

a voice coil motor (VCM) optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator configured to tilt the lens group, together with the image sensor, about multiple axes orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera; and

a shape memory alloy (SMA) autofocus (AF) actuator, comprising:

a plurality of SMA wires configured to move the lens group, relative to the image sensor, in directions parallel to the optical axis.

2 . The camera of claim 1 , further comprising:

a lens carrier with which the lens group is coupled;

a magnet holder;

a coil holder;

a substrate with which the image sensor is coupled, wherein the substrate is coupled with the coil holder;

wherein the VCM OIS actuator comprises:

drive magnets coupled with the magnet holder; and

drive coils coupled with the coil holder, wherein a respective drive coil of the drive coils is positioned proximate a respective drive magnet of the drive magnets such that, when driven with electric current, the respective drive coil is capable of electromagnetically interacting with the respective drive magnet to tilt the coil holder, together with the lens carrier, about the multiple axes orthogonal to the optical axis.

3 . The camera of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of SMA wires are coupled with the lens carrier and the coil holder.

4 . The camera of claim 2 , further comprising a suspension arrangement configured to:

suspend the lens carrier from the coil holder;

suspend the coil holder from the magnet holder;

suspend the substrate from a base structure of the camera; and

allow motion of the lens group and the image sensor enabled by the VCM OIS actuator and the SMA AF actuator.

5 . The camera of claim 4 , wherein the suspension arrangement comprises:

an upper spring coupled with the lens carrier and the coil holder, so as to suspend the lens carrier from the coil holder;

a lower spring coupled with the coil holder and magnet holder, so as to suspend the coil holder from the magnet holder; and

a flexure coupled with the substrate and the base structure, so as to suspend the substrate from the base structure.

6 . The camera of claim 4 , wherein the suspension arrangement comprises a ball bearing suspension arrangement.

7 . The camera of claim 1 , wherein the OIS actuator comprises an SMA OIS actuator that includes another plurality of SMA wires.

8 . A device, comprising:

one or more processors;

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

the camera, comprising:

a lens group;

an image sensor;

a voice coil motor (VCM) optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator configured to tilt the lens group, together with the image sensor, about multiple axes orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera; and

a shape memory alloy (SMA) autofocus (AF) actuator, comprising:

a plurality of SMA wires configured to move the lens group, relative to the image sensor, in directions parallel to the optical axis.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the camera further comprises:

a lens carrier with which the lens group is coupled;

a magnet holder;

a coil holder;

a substrate with which the image sensor is coupled, wherein the substrate is coupled with the coil holder;

wherein the VCM OIS actuator comprises:

drive magnets coupled with the magnet holder; and

drive coils coupled with the coil holder, wherein a respective drive coil of the drive coils is positioned proximate a respective drive magnet of the drive magnets such that, when driven with electric current, the respective drive coil is capable of electromagnetically interacting with the respective drive magnet to tilt the coil holder, together with the lens carrier, about the multiple axes orthogonal to the optical axis.

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of SMA wires are coupled with the lens carrier and the coil holder.

11 . The device of claim 9 , further comprising a suspension arrangement configured to:

suspend the lens carrier from the coil holder;

suspend the coil holder from the magnet holder;

suspend the substrate from a base structure of the camera; and

allow motion of the lens group and the image sensor enabled by the VCM OIS actuator and the SMA AF actuator.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the suspension arrangement comprises:

an upper spring coupled with the lens carrier and the coil holder, so as to suspend the lens carrier from the coil holder;

a lower spring coupled with the coil holder and magnet holder, so as to suspend the coil holder from the magnet holder; and

a flexure coupled with the substrate and the base structure, so as to suspend the substrate from the base structure.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the suspension arrangement further comprises a ball bearing suspension arrangement.

14 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the OIS actuator comprises an SMA OIS actuator that includes another plurality of SMA wires.

15 . A system, comprising:

a voice coil motor (VCM) optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator configured to tilt a lens group of a camera, together with an image sensor of the camera, about multiple axes orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera; and

a shape memory alloy (SMA) autofocus (AF) actuator, comprising:

a plurality of SMA wires configured to move the lens group, relative to the image sensor, in directions parallel to the optical axis.

16 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a lens carrier with which the lens group is coupled;

a magnet holder;

a coil holder;

a substrate with which the image sensor is coupled, wherein the substrate is coupled with the coil holder;

wherein the VCM OIS actuator comprises:

drive magnets coupled with the magnet holder; and

drive coils coupled with the coil holder, wherein a respective drive coil of the drive coils is positioned proximate a respective drive magnet of the drive magnets such that, when driven with electric current, the respective drive coil is capable of electromagnetically interacting with the respective drive magnet to tilt the coil holder, together with the lens carrier, about the multiple axes orthogonal to the optical axis.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of SMA wires are coupled with the lens carrier and the coil holder.