Camera actuator assembly with sensor shift flexure arrangement
Various embodiments include a camera with image sensor shifting capabilities and a flexure arrangement. In various embodiments, the flexure arrangement may include an upper flexure and a lower flexure. The upper flexure may include a suspension wire that extends between two sheets. The lower flexure may include one or more flexure arms that connect a moveable platform to a stationary platform.
1. A camera, comprising:
one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;
an image sensor configured to capture light that has passed through the one or more lens elements;
a moveable platform fixedly coupled to the image sensor such that the image sensor moves together with the moveable platform;
an actuator module configured to move the image sensor in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis; and
a flexure arrangement configured to guide the movement of the moveable platform in a controlled manner, the flexure arrangement comprising:
an upper flexure coupled to the moveable platform and attached to one or more fixed components of the camera at a location above the movable platform; and
a lower flexure that connects the moveable platform to one or more fixed components of the camera.
2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the upper flexure comprises:
a top sheet component, attached to one or more fixed components of the camera, that defines a first plane that is parallel to the image sensor;
a bottom sheet component that defines a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and is fixedly coupled to the moveable platform; and
one or more suspension wires.
3. The camera of claim 2 , wherein the one or more suspension wires each comprise:
a top end portion attached to the top sheet component; and
a bottom end portion coupled to the moveable platform.
4. The camera of claim 3 , wherein the one or more suspension wires of the upper flexure extend from the top sheet component to the bottom sheet component in a direction that is orthogonal to a length of the image sensor.
5. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the actuator module comprises a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly.
6. The camera of claim 5 , wherein:
the VCM actuator assembly comprises an optical image stabilization (OIS) VCM actuator to move the image sensor in directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
the OIS VCM actuator comprises:
a magnet attached to a magnet holder; and
an OIS coil coupled to the moveable platform; and
the upper flexure comprises a top sheet that is attached to the magnet holder.
7. The camera of claim 6 , wherein:
the VCM actuator assembly further comprises an autofocus (AF) VCM actuator to move the one or more lens elements along the optical axis; and
the AF VCM actuator comprises:
the magnet attached to the magnet holder; and
an AF coil coupled to a lens carrier that holds the one or more lens elements.
8. A device, comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more cameras; and
a memory comprising program instructions executable by at least one of the one or more processors to control operations of the one or more cameras;
wherein at least one of the one or more cameras is a camera comprising:
one or more lens elements that define an optical axis;
an image sensor configured to capture light that has passed through the one or more lens elements;
a moveable platform fixedly coupled to the image sensor such that the image sensor moves together with the moveable platform;
an actuator module configured to move the image sensor in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis; and
a flexure arrangement configured to guide the movement of the moveable platform in a controlled manner, the flexure arrangement comprising:
an upper flexure coupled to the moveable platform and attached to one or more fixed components of the camera at a location above the movable platform; and
a lower flexure that connects the moveable platform to one or more fixed components of the camera.
9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the upper flexure comprises:
a top sheet component, attached to one or more fixed components of the camera, that defines a first plane that is parallel to the image sensor;
a bottom sheet component that defines a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and is fixedly coupled to the moveable platform; and
one or more suspension wires.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the one or more suspension wires each comprise:
a top end portion attached to the top sheet component; and
a bottom end portion coupled to the moveable platform.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more suspension wires of the upper flexure extend from the top sheet component to the bottom sheet component in a direction that is orthogonal to a length of the image sensor.
12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the actuator module comprises a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein:
the VCM actuator assembly comprises an optical image stabilization (OIS) VCM actuator to move the image sensor in directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
the OIS VCM actuator comprises:
a magnet attached to a magnet holder; and
an OIS coil coupled to the moveable platform; and
the upper flexure comprises a top sheet that is attached to the magnet holder.
14. The device of claim 13 , wherein:
the VCM actuator assembly further comprises an autofocus (AF) VCM actuator to move the one or more lens elements along the optical axis; and
the AF VCM actuator comprises:
the magnet attached to the magnet holder; and
an AF coil coupled to a lens carrier that holds the one or more lens elements.
15. A voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly for a camera, the VCM actuator assembly comprising:
a moveable platform configured to fixedly couple to an image sensor such that the image sensor moves together with the moveable platform;
an actuator module configured to move the moveable platform in one or more directions orthogonal to an optical axis defined by one or more lenses; and
a flexure arrangement configured to guide the movement of the moveable platform in a controlled manner, the flexure arrangement comprising:
an upper flexure configured to couple to the moveable platform and attach to one or more fixed components of the camera at a location above the movable platform; and
a lower flexure configured to connect the moveable platform to one or more fixed components of the camera.
16. The VCM actuator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the upper flexure comprises:
a top sheet component, attached to one or more fixed components of the camera, that defines a first plane that is parallel to the image sensor;
a bottom sheet component that defines a second plane that is parallel to the first plane and is fixedly coupled to the moveable platform; and
one or more suspension wires.
17. The VCM actuator assembly of claim 16 , wherein the one or more suspension wires each comprise:
a top end portion attached to the top sheet component; and
a bottom end portion coupled to the moveable platform.
18. The VCM actuator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the actuator module comprises a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly.
19. The VCM actuator assembly of claim 18 , wherein:
the VCM actuator assembly comprises an optical image stabilization (OIS) VCM actuator to move the moveable platform in directions orthogonal to the optical axis;
the OIS VCM actuator comprises:
a magnet attached to a magnet holder; and
an OIS coil coupled to the moveable platform; and
the upper flexure comprises a top sheet that is attached to the magnet holder.
20. The VCM actuator assembly of claim 19 , wherein:
the VCM actuator assembly further comprises an autofocus (AF) VCM actuator configured to move the one or more lenses along the optical axis.