US 11,988,851 B2
Lens system with optical actuator
Paul Christian Thomas Fuller, Lyons (FR); Iain A. McAllister, Campbell, CA (US); and Yoshikazu Shinohara, Cupertino, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/515,090.
Application 17/515,090 is a continuation of application No. 16/323,769, granted, now 11,163,096, previously published as PCT/US2017/045978, filed on Aug. 8, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/372,690, filed on Aug. 9, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2022/0050230 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 3/14 (2006.01); G02B 7/08 (2021.01); G02B 7/09 (2021.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01); G02B 27/00 (2006.01); G02B 27/64 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 3/14 (2013.01) [G02B 7/08 (2013.01); G02B 7/09 (2013.01); G02B 26/0875 (2013.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01); G02B 27/005 (2013.01); G02B 27/646 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lens system, comprising:
a fixed lens comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along an optical axis of the lens system; and
an optical actuator located on the optical axis of the lens system on an object side of the fixed lens, the optical actuator comprising:
an aperture stop for the lens system;
a flexible optical element, wherein the flexible optical element includes a flexible lens comprising a flexible membrane and a fluid-filled cavity; and
one or more actuator components configured to change a shape of the flexible optical element to provide one or more optical functionalities without moving the fixed lens, wherein the optical functionalities include one or more of autofocus or optical image stabilization, and wherein the one or more actuator components add fluid to or remove fluid from the cavity to change the shape of the flexible lens.