Folded camera structure with an extended light-folding-element scanning range
Voice coil motor (VCM) actuators for rotating an optical path folding element (OPFE) over an extended scanning range relative to a scanning/rotation range needed for optical image stabilization (OIS).
1. An actuator for rotating an optical path folding element (OPFE) over a scanning range in which an OPFE position is controlled by a position sensing mechanism with a resolution that exceeds an allowable jitter limit, the actuator comprising:
a) an actuated sub-assembly rigidly coupled to the OPFE and having two hinges that define a rotation axis; and
b) a stationary sub-assembly having two housings, wherein each hinge is nested in a respective housing of the stationary sub-assembly to form a housing-hinge pair,
wherein a center-of-mass of the actuated sub-assembly is positioned to coincide with the rotation axis and wherein each housing-hinge pair has a degree of friction designed such that a passive friction torque is greater than gravity or handshake torques to limit jitter arising from the OPFE being rotated to and stopped at a given OPFE position to be no larger than the allowable jitter limit,
and wherein the actuator enables rotation of the OPFE around a single axis.
2. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the stationary sub-assembly includes a position sensor for sensing the given OPFE position.
3. The actuator of claim 2 , wherein the position sensor includes a Hall bar sensing element.
4. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the scanning range is larger than ±1.5 degrees around a rest position of the OPFE.
5. The actuator of claim 4 , wherein the scanning range is at least ±5 degrees around the rest position of the OPFE.
6. The actuator of claim 4 , wherein the scanning range is up to ±20 degrees around the rest position of the OPFE.