Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110317013 | AUTOFOCUS CAMERA SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In an example embodiment, a method for focusing a miniature camera includes applying a signal to an actuator in the camera, moving a MEMS stage movably supported by one or more flexures in response to the application of the signal, moving a lens in response to the moving of the MEMS stage, and limiting movement of the MEMS stage to substantially one degree of freedom corresponding to an optical axis of the lens. | 12-29-2011 |
20120119612 | MOTION CONTROLLED ACTUATOR - A device can have an outer frame and an actuator. The actuator can have a movable frame and a fixed frame. At least one torsional flexure and at least one hinge flexure can cooperate to provide comparatively high lateral stiffness between the outer frame and the movable frame and can cooperate to provide comparatively low rotational stiffness between the outer frame and the movable frame. | 05-17-2012 |
20120120262 | ROTATIONALLY DEPLOYED ACTUATORS - A method for making an actuator includes forming, e.g., using photolithography techniques, a substantially planar actuator device of an electrically conductive material, e.g., a semiconductor, to include an outer frame, a fixed frame coupled to the outer frame for rotational movement relative thereto, a moveable frame coupled to the outer frame for rotational movement relative thereto, and an actuator incorporating a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moveable frame. The fixed frame is then rotated to a deployed position relative to the outer frame such that the fixed portion of the actuator teeth is disposed at a selected angle relative to the moving portion of the actuator teeth, and the position of the fixed frame relative to the outer frame is then fixed at the deployed position. | 05-17-2012 |
20120121242 | LENS BARREL WITH MEMS ACTUATORS - A lens barrel for, e.g., a miniature camera or another device, includes an annular barrel, a plurality of first optical elements disposed coaxially within the barrel, an actuator device disposed coaxially within the barrel in front of the first optical elements, a front cover attached coaxially to a front surface of the actuator device, and a second optical element mounted coaxially in a central opening of a moving platform of the actuator device such that rotational movement of actuators in the actuator device causes the moving platform and second optical element to move conjointly with a purely translation movement along the optical axis of the second optical element and relative to the first optical elements. | 05-17-2012 |
20120121243 | MEMS ACTUATOR ALIGNMENT - A method for aligning an actuator device relative to an adjacent component, such as a rear cover of an actuator module or a stationary lens, includes disposing a plurality of radially extending tabs around an outer periphery of the actuator device, disposing a corresponding plurality of pairs of raised mounting features on a front surface of the adjacent component, each pair defining a slot having sidewalls that are complementary in configuration to respective sidewalls of corresponding ones of the tabs, and inserting respective ones of the tabs into corresponding ones of the slots. | 05-17-2012 |
20130128099 | AUTOFOCUS CAMERA SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for focusing a miniature camera includes providing a current through a coil, moving a lens of a camera based on the current to adjust a focus of the camera, and limiting movement of the lens along an optical path of the camera. | 05-23-2013 |
20130215325 | ARCUATE MOTION CONTROL IN ELECTROSTATIC ACTUATORS - In one embodiment, an actuator includes a moving frame coupled to a fixed frame by a plurality of elongated parallel motion flexures for generally parallel motion relative to the fixed frame and between an as-fabricated position and a deployed position. The flexures are disposed at a first angle relative to a line extending perpendicularly to both the moving frame and the fixed frame when the moving frame is disposed in the as-fabricated position, and at a second angle relative to that same line when the moving frame is disposed in the deployed position, Arcuate movement of the first frame relative to the second frame is controlled by constraining the first angle to a value of less than about half of the sum of the first and second angles. | 08-22-2013 |
20130215525 | MEMS SNUBBER SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide concomitant mechanical motion inhibition and electrical distribution for actuator modules, such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based optical actuators adapted to move and/or orient one or more lenses and/or optical devices of a camera module. A mechanical motion inhibition and electrical distribution system may include one or more flexible snubber structures disposed substantially adjacent a MEMS structure and between the MEMS structure and another component of a camera module. Each flexible snubber structure may be implemented with one or more electrical traces, flexible films, snubber films, and/or mechanical stabilizers adapted to route electrical signals to or from the MEMS structure and/or to inhibit mechanical motion of at least a portion of the MEMS structure. | 08-22-2013 |
20130279030 | MINIATURE MEMS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES - In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator includes a generally planar fixed frame, a generally planar moving frame coupled to the fixed frame by a flexure for substantially coplanar, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame, a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moving frame, and an elongated output shaft having opposite input and output ends, the input end being coupled to the moving frame. | 10-24-2013 |
20130343740 | MEMS Actuator Alignment - A method for aligning an actuator device relative to an adjacent component, such as a rear cover of an actuator module or a stationary lens, includes disposing a plurality of radially extending tabs around an outer periphery of the actuator device, disposing a corresponding plurality of pairs of raised mounting features on a front surface of the adjacent component, each pair defining a slot having sidewalls that are complementary in configuration to respective sidewalls of corresponding ones of the tabs, and inserting respective ones of the tabs into corresponding ones of the slots. | 12-26-2013 |
20140116163 | MOTION CONTROLLED ACTUATOR - A device can have an outer frame and an actuator. The actuator can have a movable frame and a fixed frame. At least one torsional flexure and at least one hinge flexure can cooperate to provide comparatively high lateral stiffness between the outer frame and the movable frame and can cooperate to provide comparatively low rotational stiffness between the outer frame and the movable frame. | 05-01-2014 |
20140184892 | AUTOFOCUS CAMERA SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for focusing a miniature camera includes providing a current through a coil, moving a lens of a camera based on the current to adjust a focus of the camera, and limiting movement of the lens along an optical path of the camera. | 07-03-2014 |
20150070793 | MINIATURE MEMS ACTUATOR ASSEMBLIES - In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator includes a generally planar fixed frame, a generally planar moving frame coupled to the fixed frame by a flexure for substantially coplanar, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame, a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moving frame, and an elongated output shaft having opposite input and output ends, the input end being coupled to the moving frame. | 03-12-2015 |