US 12,231,769 B2
Additive coil structure for voice coil motor actuator
Douglas S. Brodie, Los Gatos, CA (US); Aurelien R. Hubert, Saratoga, CA (US); Scott W. Miller, Los Gatos, CA (US); and Shashank Sharma, San Francisco, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/331,037.
Application 18/331,037 is a continuation of application No. 17/390,662, filed on Jul. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,716,534.
Application 17/390,662 is a continuation of application No. 16/858,365, filed on Apr. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,082,602, issued on Aug. 3, 2021.
Application 16/858,365 is a continuation of application No. 15/940,688, filed on Mar. 29, 2018, granted, now 10,638,031, issued on Apr. 28, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/478,486, filed on Mar. 29, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0328373 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 23/67 (2023.01); G02B 7/09 (2021.01); G03B 13/36 (2021.01); H02K 15/04 (2006.01); H02K 33/02 (2006.01); H02K 41/035 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 23/67 (2023.01) [G02B 7/09 (2013.01); G03B 13/36 (2013.01); H02K 15/0407 (2013.01); H02K 33/02 (2013.01); H02K 41/0356 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera, comprising:
a lens that defines an optical axis;
an image sensor;
a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, including:
a lens carrier configured to hold the lens;
a magnet;
a coil structure, including:
a base portion attached to the lens carrier; and
at least one folded portion that includes at least one coil formed of additive layers, wherein a folded portion of the at least one folded portion is additively formed together with the base portion and configured to extend from the base portion in a folded arrangement, wherein the additive layers include a conductive material layer and an insulating material layer;
wherein the VCM actuator is configured to shift the lens, relative to the image sensor, based at least in part on magnetic interaction between the at least one coil and the magnet.