US 12,143,726 B2
Multi-axis image sensor shifting system
Bin Xu, Sunnyvale, CA (US); and Aurelien R. Hubert, Saratoga, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/164,475.
Application 18/164,475 is a continuation of application No. 17/481,202, filed on Sep. 21, 2021, granted, now 11,575,835.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/082,989, filed on Sep. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0188852 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04N 23/68 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/687 (2023.01) [H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/55 (2023.01); H04N 23/683 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera, comprising:
a lens group comprising one or more lens elements;
an image sensor;
a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator, comprising:
at least one magnet; and
a plurality of coils configured to electromagnetically interact with the at least one magnet to produce forces that move the image sensor relative to the lens group in a plurality of directions; and
a flexure suspension arrangement, comprising:
an inner frame configured to move together with the image sensor;
an intermediate frame at least partially surrounding the inner frame and coupled to the inner frame via a first set of one or more flexure arms to allow the inner frame to move, together with the image sensor, relative to the lens group in at least a first one of the directions; and
an outer frame at least partially surrounding the intermediate frame and the inner frame and coupled to the intermediate frame via a second set of one or more flexure arms to allow the intermediate frame to move, together with the inner frame and the image sensor, relative to the lens group in at least a second one of the directions orthogonal to the first direction.