Camera Actuator Coordination for Stronger OIS in Miniature Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited stroke of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators in miniature cameras restricts the effective movement for optical image stabilization (OIS), and the combination of OIS and super-resolution imaging has not been successfully realized.
Innovation Solution
An actuator arrangement comprising two or more actuators, each providing different types of movements, such as tilting or shifting, in combination with a controller to coordinate these movements, enhancing the overall OIS effect beyond what individual actuators can achieve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single SMA actuator is used for OIS, then the device complexity is low, but the OIS effect is insufficient due to limited stroke
Solution Approach 1:
The OIS function is segmented into multiple actuators, each responsible for different movement types (e.g., lens shifting, sensor shifting, mirror tilting). This segmentation allows each actuator to operate within its limited stroke while collectively achieving a larger effective OIS range through coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple actuators with different movement capabilities are merged into a unified OIS system. The controller integrates the actions of these actuators to produce a combined OIS effect that exceeds the capability of any single actuator, effectively resolving the stroke limitation.
2Reliability
If the actuator stroke is increased to improve OIS effect, then the OIS effect improves, but the camera size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using one long-stroke actuator, the system segments the displacement requirement across multiple actuators with shorter strokes. Each actuator handles a portion of the total movement needed, allowing the camera to maintain a compact size while achieving sufficient OIS effect through the combined action of multiple actuators.
3Reliability
If multiple actuators are used to increase OIS effect, then the OIS effect improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed with multi-functionality to manage different actuator types (SMA, voice coil, piezoelectric) and coordinate their actions. This universal control approach simplifies the overall system architecture by using a single control unit that can adapt to various actuator configurations, thereby managing complexity rather than allowing it to increase linearly with the number of actuators.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator arrangement for use in a camera is disclosed. The camera comprises two or more camera elements including an image sensor and one or more optical elements for forming, or aiding forming of, an image of an object on the image sensor. The actuator arrangement comprises: a first part defining a first axis; a first actuator for providing a first type of movement of one or more of the camera elements relative to the first part; a second actuator for providing a second, different type of movement of one or more of the camera elements relative to the first part; a controller configured to (a) cause the first actuator to move one or more of the camera elements so as to provide a first optical image stabilisation (OIS) effect, and (b) cause the second actuator to move one or more of the camera elements so as to provide a second OIS effect. The first and second OIS effects combine to provide an overall OIS effect that is greater than either of the first and second OIS effects.