Shock limiters and dampers for improved camera reliability
A camera including a camera enclosure; an optomechanical assembly fixedly coupled to the camera enclosure; a sensor assembly having an image sensor and an electronic component mounted to a substrate that is movably coupled to the camera enclosure; a voice coil motor having a base coupled to the optomechanical assembly and a carrier coupled to the sensor assembly that is operable to cause a displacement of the sensor assembly relative to the optomechanical assembly; and a displacement limiter coupled to the base or the carrier to limit an unintended displacement of the sensor assembly.
1. A camera comprising:
a camera enclosure;
an optomechanical assembly fixedly coupled to the camera enclosure;
a sensor assembly having an image sensor and an electronic component mounted to a substrate that is movably coupled to the camera enclosure;
a voice coil motor having a base coupled to the optomechanical assembly and a carrier coupled to the sensor assembly that is operable to cause a displacement of the sensor assembly relative to the optomechanical assembly; and
a displacement limiter coupled to the base or the carrier to limit an unintended displacement of the sensor assembly.
2. The camera of claim 1 wherein the displacement limiter comprises a tab coupled to the carrier.
3. The camera of claim 2 wherein the tab comprises a height dimension that is greater than that of the electronic component mounted to the substrate.
4. The camera of claim 3 wherein the electronic component is a capacitor and the height dimension is at least 1.5 times that of the capacitor.
5. The camera of claim 2 wherein the tab comprises a length dimension that extends between the electronic component and another electronic component mounted to the substrate.
6. The camera of claim 2 wherein the tab is a first tab coupled to a first side of the carrier, and the displacement limiter comprises a second tab coupled to a second side of the carrier and a third tab coupled to a third side of the carrier.
7. The camera of claim 1 wherein the displacement limiter comprises a cantilever having a first end attached to the carrier and a second end that hovers over the substrate.
8. The camera of claim 1 wherein the displacement limiter comprises a resilient material coupled to the substrate and surrounding the electronic component.
9. The camera of claim 8 wherein the resilient material comprises a foam or an epoxy.
10. The camera of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a lead frame having a first portion coupled to the base and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion and coupled to a prism, and the displacement limiter comprises an end of the second portion and the base extending beyond the prism.
11. The camera of claim 10 wherein the end extends along at least three sides of the base such that the displacement limiter limits the displacement of the sensor assembly along at least three sides.
12. A device comprising:
a camera enclosure;
a fixed portion having a lens and a prism fixedly coupled to the camera enclosure;
a movable portion having an image sensor and a capacitor mounted to a substrate that is movably coupled to the camera enclosure;
an actuator having a base coupled to the fixed portion and a carrier coupled to the movable portion that is operable to cause a displacement of the movable portion relative to the fixed portion; and
a displacement limiter coupled to the base or the carrier to limit an unintended displacement of the movable portion during a shock event.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein the actuator comprises a voice coil motor actuator.
14. The device of claim 12 wherein the displacement limiter comprises a protrusion coupled to a surface of the carrier facing the fixed portion.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the protrusion comprises a height dimension that is greater than that of the capacitor mounted to the substrate.
16. The device of claim 15 wherein the height dimension is at least 1.5 times that of the capacitor.
17. The device of claim 14 wherein the protrusion comprises a length dimension that extends between the capacitor and another capacitor mounted to the substrate.
18. The device of claim 12 wherein the displacement limiter comprises a cantilever having a first end attached to the carrier and a second end that hovers over the substrate.
19. The device of claim 12 wherein the displacement limiter comprises a resilient material coupled to the substrate and surrounding the capacitor.
20. The device of claim 12 wherein the base comprises a lead frame having a first portion coupled to the base and a second portion perpendicular to the first portion and coupled to the prism, and the displacement limiter comprises an end of the second portion and the base extending beyond the prism.