IP Library Granted Patent US 11,277,566
Granted Patent B2
US 11,277,566 · App. 16/915,730 · Granted Mar 15, 2022

Optical devices for independent movement control of lenses and image sensors in camera systems

Inventors: Quang Le (San Jose, CA); Zhigang Bai (Fremont, CA); Xiaoyong Liu (San Jose, CA); Zhanjie Li (Pleasanton, CA); Kuok San Ho (Emerald Hills, CA); Rajeev Nagabhirava (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
H04N5/23287G03B3/10G03B13/36H04N5/2254H04N5/2257G03B2205/0069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,277,566
App. No.
16/915,730
Granted
Mar 15, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to optical devices and related methods that facilitate independent control of movement of lenses and image sensors in camera systems. In one example, an image sensor is movable independently of and relative to a lens, and the lens is movable independently of the image sensor. In one example, an optical device includes a lens, and an image sensor disposed below the lens. The image sensor is movable relative to the lens. The optical device includes a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens, a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes, and one or more horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes. The plurality of vertical coil structures are configured to, when powered, move the image sensor relative to the lens. The one or more horizontal coil structures are configured to, when powered, move the lens.

Claims (46)

1. An optical device, comprising:

a lens;

an image sensor disposed below the lens, wherein the image sensor is movable relative to the lens;

a first plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and magnetized horizontally toward the lens to generate magnetic fields horizontally in horizontal directions toward the lens;

a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes;

one or more horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes; and

a second plurality of magnets disposed above or below the first plurality of magnets, wherein the second plurality of magnets are magnetized vertically to generate magnetic fields vertically in vertical directions toward the one or more horizontal coil structures.

2. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein a north pole of each magnet of the first plurality of magnets faces inwardly toward the lens, and a south pole of each magnet of the first plurality of magnets faces outwardly away from the lens.

3. The optical device of claim 2 , wherein a north pole of each magnet of the second plurality of magnets faces downwardly and parallel to a direction from the lens and toward the image sensor, and a south pole of each magnet of the second plurality of magnets faces upwardly and parallel to a direction from the image sensor and toward the lens.

4. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein each magnet of the second plurality of magnets is coupled to a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets.

5. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of magnets are disposed at corners of a pattern or at sides of the pattern, wherein the pattern is a square pattern or a triangular pattern.

6. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein a surface of each magnet of the first plurality of magnets faces a respective horizontal coil structure of the one or more horizontal coil structures, the surface of each magnet includes a first surface area, and the respective horizontal coil structure includes a second surface area facing the surface of the magnet, wherein the second surface area is a ratio of the first surface area, and the ratio is within a range of 0.8 to 1.2.

7. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein each vertical coil structure of the plurality of vertical coil structures is disposed inwardly of an inner surface of a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets, or disposed outwardly of an outer surface of the respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets.

8. The optical device of claim 1 , wherein each horizontal coil structure of the one or more horizontal coil structures is disposed at least partially above an upper surface of a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets, or at least partially below a lower surface of the respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets.

9. A camera system comprising the optical device of claim 1 .

10. The optical device of claim 1 , further comprising a base defining an X-Y plane extending parallel to the base and a Z-axis extending perpendicularly to the X-Y plane, wherein the image sensor is disposed below the lens along the Z-axis, the one or more vertical planes extend parallel to the Z-axis, and the one or more horizontal planes are oriented perpendicularly to the one or more vertical planes and the Z-axis.

11. An optical device, comprising:

a lens;

an image sensor disposed below the lens, wherein the image sensor is movable relative to the lens;

a first plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and at corners of a square pattern;

a second plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and at sides of the square pattern;

a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes that, when powered, horizontally move the image sensor or the lens, each vertical coil structure of the plurality of vertical coil structures disposed inwardly of an inner surface of a respective magnet of the second plurality of magnets;

a plurality of horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes that, when powered, move the lens or the image sensor, and each horizontal coil structure of the plurality of horizontal coil structures includes a center aligned above or below a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets.

12. The optical device of claim 11 , wherein the first plurality of magnets are magnetized vertically to generate magnetic fields vertically in vertical directions, and the second plurality of magnets are magnetized horizontally toward the lens to generate magnetic fields horizontally in horizontal directions toward the lens.

13. The optical device of claim 11 , wherein each horizontal coil structure of the plurality of horizontal coil structures is aligned between an inner surface and an outer surface of a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets.

14. A camera system comprising the optical device of claim 11 .

15. The optical device of claim 11 , further comprising a base defining an X-Y plane extending parallel to the base and a Z-axis extending perpendicularly to the X-Y plane, wherein the image sensor is disposed below the lens along the Z-axis, the one or more vertical planes extend parallel to the Z-axis, and the one or more horizontal planes are oriented perpendicularly to the one or more vertical planes and the Z-axis.

16. An optical device, comprising:

a lens;

an image sensor disposed below the lens, wherein the image sensor is movable relative to the lens;

a first plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and magnetized horizontally toward the lens to generate magnetic fields horizontally in horizontal directions toward the lens;

a second plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and magnetized horizontally away from the lens to generate magnetic fields horizontally in horizontal directions away from the lens, wherein each magnet of the second plurality of magnets is disposed above or below a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets; and

one or more horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes that, when powered, horizontally move the lens or the image sensor.

17. The optical device of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes that, when powered, vertically move the lens or the image sensor, wherein each vertical coil structure of the plurality of vertical coil structures is disposed inwardly of an inner surface of a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets and inwardly of an inner surface of a respective magnet of the second plurality of magnets.

18. The optical device of claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes that, when powered, vertically move the lens or the image sensor, wherein each vertical coil structure of the plurality of vertical coil structures is disposed outwardly of an outer surface of a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets and outwardly of an outer surface of a respective magnet of the second plurality of magnets.

19. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein each magnet of the second plurality of magnets is coupled to a respective magnet of the first plurality of magnets.

20. The optical device of claim 16 , wherein a magnetization of each magnet of the first plurality of magnets is antiparallel to a magnetization of a respective magnet of the second plurality of magnets.

21. A camera system comprising the optical device of claim 16 .

22. The optical device of claim 16 , further comprising a base defining an X-Y plane extending parallel to the base and a Z-axis extending perpendicularly to the X-Y plane, wherein the image sensor is disposed below the lens along the Z-axis, and the one or more horizontal planes are oriented perpendicularly to the Z-axis.

23. An optical device, comprising:

a lens;

an image sensor disposed below the lens, wherein the image sensor is movable relative to the lens;

a plurality of magnets disposed about the lens and magnetized horizontally toward the lens to generate magnetic fields horizontally in horizontal directions toward the lens;

a plurality of vertical coil structures coiled in one or more vertical planes; and

one or more horizontal coil structures coiled in one or more horizontal planes, wherein a surface of each magnet of the plurality of magnets faces a respective horizontal coil structure of the one or more horizontal coil structures, the surface of each magnet includes a first surface area, and the respective horizontal coil structure includes a second surface area facing the surface of the magnet, wherein the second surface area is a ratio of the first surface area, and the ratio is within a range of 0.8 to 1.2.

24. The optical device of claim 23 , further comprising a base defining an X-Y plane extending parallel to the base and a Z-axis extending perpendicularly to the X-Y plane, wherein the image sensor is disposed below the lens along the Z-axis, the one or more vertical planes extend parallel to the Z-axis, and the one or more horizontal planes are oriented perpendicularly to the one or more vertical planes and the Z-axis.

Assignments (5)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 053926 FRAME 0446 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058966/0321 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 29, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 053926/0446 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 17, 2020
From: LE, QUANG; BAI, ZHIGANG; LIU, XIAOYONG; LI, ZHANJIE; HO, KUOK SAN; NAGABHIRAVA, RAJEEV
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 053513/0699 →
Continuity (1)
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