Camera Module with Shared Gyro Sensor and Driver ICs
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and cost of camera modules with multiple lens barrels require separate actuators, gyro sensors, and memories for autofocusing and optical image stabilization, leading to higher manufacturing costs and size, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A camera module design where a single gyro sensor and shared memory are used to generate shaking data, with driver ICs communicating through SPI bus to drive multiple lens barrels, reducing the need for multiple gyro sensors and memories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate actuators, gyro sensors, and memories are provided for each lens barrel to improve autofocusing and OIS performance, then the reliability and performance of each lens barrel is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single gyro sensor is used to provide shaking data to multiple driver ICs, and a single memory is shared to store firmware for multiple driver ICs. This multi-functional approach allows one gyro sensor to serve multiple lens barrels and one memory to store firmware for multiple drivers, reducing the total component count while maintaining performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of multiple gyro sensors into a single gyro sensor that can be accessed by multiple driver ICs through address multiplexing. Similarly, multiple memories are merged into a single shared memory that stores firmware for all driver ICs, eliminating redundant components
2Reliability
If multiple gyro sensors and memories are provided for each lens barrel to ensure stable driving, then the reliability of actuator driving is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single gyro sensor is designed to provide shaking data universally to multiple driver ICs through address-based selection, and the single memory universally stores firmware for multiple driver ICs, reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating redundant components while maintaining driving stability
Solution Approach 2:
The first driver IC acts as an intermediary that receives shaking data from the gyro sensor and transfers it to the second driver IC when the second lens barrel needs OIS adjustment, enabling resource sharing while maintaining independent control of each lens barrel
3Measurement precision
If separate components are provided for each lens barrel to improve performance, then the measurement precision and control accuracy are improved, but the size of the camera module increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple gyro sensors are merged into a single gyro sensor, and multiple memories are merged into a single shared memory, significantly reducing the volume occupied by these components in the camera module while maintaining the ability to provide accurate shaking data to multiple lens barrels
Data Source
AI summary
A camera module includes a gyro sensor to generate shaking data; a first driver integrated circuit (IC) to generate a driving signal to move a first lens barrel in at least one direction perpendicular to an optical axis direction, according to the shaking data; and a second driver IC to generate a driving signal to move a second lens barrel in at least one direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, according to the shaking data. The first driver IC includes a register unit to store the shaking data transferred from the gyro sensor, and the shaking data stored in the register unit is transferred to the second driver IC.