Auto focus and optical image stabilization in a compact folded camera
Compact folded camera modules having auto-focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) capabilities and multi-aperture cameras including such modules. In an embodiment, a folded camera module includes an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis, an image sensor and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis. The lens module can be actuated to move in first and second orthogonal directions in a plane perpendicular to the first optical axis, the movement in the first direction being for auto-focus and the movement in the second direction being for OIS. The OPFE can be actuated to tilt for OIS.
1. A folded camera module, comprising:
a) a lens module having a lens optical axis; and
b) an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path to a second optical path towards an image sensor, the second optical path being along the lens optical axis,
wherein the lens module is designed to be moved for auto-focus (AF) along a first direction substantially parallel to the lens optical axis,
wherein the OPFE is designed to be tilted for optical image stabilization (OIS) around a single OPFE tilt axis that is parallel to a second direction to compensate for tilt of the folded camera module around the second direction, and
wherein the second direction is substantially orthogonal to both the first and second optical paths.
2. The folded camera module of claim 1 , further comprising:
c) a lens actuation sub-assembly configured to actuate the lens module movement in the first direction; and
d) an OPFE actuation sub-assembly configured to tilt the OPFE around the a single OPFE tilt axis.
3. The folded camera module of claim 2 , further comprising one or more position sensors that enable measurement of a position of the lens module and measurement of OPFE tilt.
4. The folded camera module of claim 3 , further comprising an actuation controller configured to receive a data input indicative of the folded camera tilt and a data input from the one or more position sensors and to generate, in response to the data inputs, movement instructions and tilt instructions to, respectively, the lens and OPFE actuation sub-assemblies.
5. The folded camera module of claim 2 , wherein each of the lens actuation sub-assembly and the OPFE actuation sub-assembly includes a plurality of flexible hanging members.
6. The folded camera module of claim 5 , wherein the flexible hanging members of the lens actuation sub-assembly are parallel to each other.
7. The folded camera module of claim 5 , wherein the flexible hanging members of the OPFE actuation sub-assembly are tilted.
8. The folded camera module of claim 1 , wherein the OPFE tilt axis is a virtual axis.
9. The folded camera module of claim 2 , wherein the OPFE actuation sub-assembly includes at least one coil-magnet pair for actuating the OPFE tilt.
10. The folded camera module of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the coil-magnet pair is positioned below the OPFE.
11. The folded camera module of claim 1 , wherein the OPFE includes a prism or a mirror.
12. The folded camera module of claim 2 , wherein the lens actuation sub-assembly includes a plurality of coil-magnet pairs for actuating the lens module movement.
13. The folded camera module of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of coil-magnet pairs includes two coil-magnet pairs.
14. The folded camera module of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of coil-magnet pairs is positioned between the lens module and the image sensor.
15. A method of providing optical image stabilization (OIS) and auto-focus (AF) in a folded camera module, the folded camera module comprising a lens module having a lens optical axis and an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path to a second optical path towards an image sensor, the second optical path being along the lens optical axis, the method comprising:
a) moving the lens module for AF along a first direction substantially parallel to the lens optical axis; and
b) tilting the OPFE for OIS around a single OPFE tilt axis parallel to a second direction to compensate for tilt of the folded camera module around the second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially orthogonal to both the first and second optical paths.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
c) operating a lens actuation sub-assembly configured to actuate the lens module movement along the first direction; and
d) operating an OPFE actuation sub-assembly configured to actuate the tilt of the OPFE around the a single OPFE tilt axis.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein each of the lens actuation and OPFE actuation sub-assemblies includes a plurality of flexible hanging members, the method further comprising tilting the flexible hanging members of the OPFE actuation sub-assembly.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tilting of the OPFE is around a virtual axis.