Camera Module Sharing Gyro Sensor and Memory for Lens Drivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of camera modules in portable devices, requiring multiple lens barrels for improved autofocusing and optical image stabilization, leads to higher manufacturing costs and size due to the need for multiple gyro sensors and memories for each actuator.
Innovation Solution
A camera module design where a single gyro sensor generates shaking data, and two driver ICs, operating in normal and low power modes, share communication paths and memory for firmware data, allowing efficient communication and power management between the lens barrels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple lens barrels are provided with different actuators for improved autofocusing and image stabilization, then the camera performance is improved, but the number of gyro sensors and memories increases leading to higher manufacturing costs and device size
Solution Approach 1:
A single gyro sensor serves multiple lens barrels by sharing the shaking data through communication paths. The first driver IC receives shaking data from the gyro sensor and can transmit it to the second driver IC, allowing one gyro sensor to support multiple actuators for different lens barrels, thereby reducing the total number of gyro sensors needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple driver ICs share a common memory resource for storing firmware data. The first driver IC and second driver IC both access the same memory through communication paths, eliminating the need for separate memories for each actuator, thus reducing device size and manufacturing costs.
2Reliability
If multiple gyro sensors and memories are provided for each actuator, then stable driving of different actuators is achieved, but manufacturing costs and device size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gyro sensor and memory are designed as shared resources that can serve multiple driver ICs simultaneously. The communication protocol allows the gyro sensor data to be distributed to multiple driver ICs, and the memory can be accessed by multiple drivers, maintaining actuator stability while reducing component count and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The first driver IC acts as an intermediary that receives shaking data from the gyro sensor and can forward it to the second driver IC. This mediator approach allows efficient data distribution without requiring direct connections from the gyro sensor to each driver IC, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Reliability
If multiple memories are provided for firmware data of each actuator, then reliable actuator operation is ensured, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple driver ICs share a common memory resource for storing firmware data. The memory is accessible by both the first driver IC and second driver IC through defined communication paths, eliminating redundant memory copies and significantly reducing the overall device size while ensuring reliable firmware availability for all actuators.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera module includes a gyro sensor generating shaking data, a first driver integrated circuit (IC) generating a driving signal to move a first lens barrel in one or more directions perpendicular to an optical axis direction, in response to the shaking data provided by the gyro sensor, and a second driver IC generating a driving signal to move a second lens barrel in one or more directions perpendicular to the optical axis direction, in response to the shaking data provided by the gyro sensor. Each of the first driver IC and the second driver IC operates in a normal mode and a low power mode, and when the first driver IC operates in the low power mode, whether to activate a communication path of the shaking data in the first driver IC is determined in response to a mode of the second driver IC.