US 12,075,142 B2
Moveable flex circuit for cameras with moveable image sensors
Scott W. Miller, Santa Clara, CA (US); Zachary W. Birnbaum, Saratoga, CA (US); and Andrew S. Jozefov, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on May 11, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/741,925.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/241,163, filed on Sep. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0069902 A1, Mar. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/54 (2023.01) [H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera, comprising:
a lens;
an image sensor positioned to receive light through the lens;
an actuator assembly configured to move the image sensor along a first direction within the camera; and
a flex circuit, the flex circuit comprising:
a plurality of planar segments comprising a first segment connected to a second segment via a first bend, and a third segment connected to the second segment via a second bend;
a first end; and
a second end,
wherein the plurality of planar segments connect the first end to the second end;
wherein the first end is fixed relative to the image sensor and moveable relative to the second end when the image sensor moves along the first direction, and
wherein the flex circuit is positioned such that the first segment twists around a length of the first segment when the image sensor moves along the first direction.