Mobile zoom using multiple optical image stabilization cameras
Some embodiments include a camera system having a first camera unit and a second camera unit. The first camera unit may include a first actuator. The second camera unit may include a second actuator. In some embodiments, the first actuator may move one or more components of the first camera unit to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization functionality to the first camera unit. In some embodiments, the second actuator may move one or more components of the second camera unit to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization functionality to the second camera unit. In some examples, the first camera unit may be configured to capture a first image of a first visual field. The second camera unit may be configured to capture, simultaneously with the first camera unit capturing the first image, a second image of a second visual field.
1. A camera system, comprising:
a first camera unit, comprising:
a first optical package;
a first image sensor; and
a first voice coil motor (VCM) actuator for moving the first optical package or the first image sensor; and
a second camera unit, comprising:
a second optical package;
a second image sensor;
a second VCM actuator for moving the second optical package or the second image sensor, the second VCM actuator comprising one or more magnets; and
a magnet holder to which the one or more magnets are attached, the magnet holder comprising:
a metal shield between at least one magnet of the one or more magnets and the first camera unit, the metal shield to reduce magnetic interference between the second VCM actuator and the first VCM actuator.
2. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the metal shield comprises a high permeability metal.
3. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first VCM actuator comprises one or more magnets;
the magnet holder is a second camera unit magnet holder;
the metal shield is a second camera unit metal shield; and
the first camera unit further comprises:
a first camera unit magnet holder to which the one or more magnets of the first VCM actuator are attached, the first camera unit magnet holder comprising:
a first camera unit metal shield between at least one magnet of the one or more magnets of the first VCM actuator and the second camera unit, the first camera unit metal shield to reduce magnetic interference between the first VCM actuator and the second VCM actuator.
4. The camera system of claim 3 , wherein:
the one or more magnets of the first VCM actuator comprise a first magnet located between the first optical package and the second camera unit;
the one or more magnets of the second VCM actuator comprise a second magnet located between the second optical package and the first camera unit; and
at least a portion of the first camera unit metal shield is disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet.
5. The camera system of claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the second camera unit metal shield is disposed between the second magnet and the first magnet.
6. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the metal shield comprises:
a first portion; and
a second portion opposite the first portion with respect to the second optical package.
7. The camera system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more magnets of the second VCM actuator comprise:
a first magnet between the second optical package and the first portion of the metal shield; and
a second magnet between the second optical package and the second portion of the metal shield.
8. A camera unit, comprising:
an optical package;
an image sensor;
a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator for moving the optical package or the image sensor, the VCM actuator comprising one or more magnets; and
a magnet holder to which the one or more magnets are attached, the magnet holder comprising:
a metal shield to reduce magnetic interference between the VCM actuator and magnetic materials external to the camera unit, wherein at least one magnet of the one or more magnets is located between the metal shield and the optical package.
9. The camera unit of claim 8 , wherein the metal shield comprises a high permeability metal.
10. The camera unit of claim 8 , wherein the metal shield comprises:
a first portion; and
a second portion opposite the first portion with respect to the optical package.
11. The camera unit of claim 10 , wherein the one or more magnets comprise:
a first magnet between the optical package and the first portion of the metal shield; and
a second magnet between the optical package and the second portion of the metal shield.
12. The camera unit of claim 11 , wherein:
the metal shield further comprises:
a third portion; and
a fourth portion opposite the third portion with respect to the optical package; and
the one or more magnets further comprise:
a third magnet between the optical package and the third portion of the metal shield; and
a fourth magnet between the optical package and the fourth portion of the metal shield.
13. The camera unit of claim 8 , wherein the VCM actuator further comprises:
a coil that radially surrounds the optical package, wherein the coil is located between the at least one magnet and at least a portion of the optical package.
14. A multifunction device, comprising:
a camera system, comprising:
a first camera unit, comprising:
a first optical package;
a first image sensor; and
a first voice coil motor (VCM) actuator for moving the first optical package or the first image sensor; and
a second camera unit, comprising:
a second optical package;
a second image sensor;
a second VCM actuator for moving the second optical package or the second image sensor, the second VCM actuator comprising one or more magnets; and
a magnet holder to which the one or more magnets are attached, the magnet holder comprising:
a metal shield between at least one magnet of the one or more magnets and the first camera unit, the metal shield to reduce magnetic interference between the second VCM actuator and the first VCM actuator;
one or more processors; and
memory storing program instructions that are executable by the one or more processors to control operation of the camera system and to perform one or more other functions of the multifunction device.
15. The multifunction device of claim 14 , wherein the metal shield comprises a high permeability metal.
16. The multifunction device of claim 14 , wherein:
the first VCM actuator comprises one or more magnets;
the magnet holder is a second camera unit magnet holder;
the metal shield is a second camera unit metal shield; and
the first camera unit further comprises:
a first camera unit magnet holder to which the one or more magnets of the first VCM actuator are attached, the first camera unit magnet holder comprising:
a first camera unit metal shield between at least one magnet of the one or more magnets of the first VCM actuator and the second camera unit, the first camera unit metal shield to reduce magnetic interference between the first VCM actuator and the second VCM actuator.
17. The multifunction device of claim 16 , wherein:
the one or more magnets of the first VCM actuator comprise a first magnet located between the first optical package and the second camera unit;
the one or more magnets of the second VCM actuator comprise a second magnet located between the second optical package and the first camera unit; and
at least a portion of the first camera unit metal shield is disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet.
18. The multifunction device of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the second camera unit metal shield is disposed between the second magnet and the first magnet.
19. The multifunction device of claim 14 , wherein the metal shield comprises:
a first portion; and
a second portion opposite the first portion with respect to the second optical package.
20. The multifunction device of claim 19 , wherein the one or more magnets of the second VCM actuator comprise:
a first magnet between the second optical package and the first portion of the metal shield; and
a second magnet between the second optical package and the second portion of the metal shield.