US 11,863,903 B2
Camera with flexure focus mechanism
Richard S. Salisbury, Cambridge (GB); and Alex Buckingham, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to Thermoteknix Systems Ltd., Waterbeach (GB)
Filed by Thermoteknix Systems Limited, Cambridge (GB)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/579,908.
Claims priority of application No. 2100808 (GB), filed on Jan. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0232174 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. H04N 5/33 (2023.01); H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 5/33 (2013.01) [H04N 23/51 (2023.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera, comprising:
a detector operable to output a signal indicative of light incident upon the detector;
a lensing assembly operable to direct incident light onto the detector, the lensing assembly having an optical axis aligned with the detector; and
a flexure assembly operable to control variation of and the lensing arrangement along the said optical axis so as to vary camera focus, the flexure assembly including:
a fixed portion;
a moving portion spaced apart from the fixed portion;
at least a pair of flexure elements spaced apart from one another and fitted between the first portion and the moving portion, the at least a pair of flexure elements adapted to permit movement of the moving portion relative to the fixed portion along a movement axis and to resist movement of the moving portion relative to the fixed portion along axes other than the movement axis;
wherein the detector is located between the fixed portion and the moving portion and between the pair of flexure elements.