Camera Shock Limiters Absorb Impact Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Miniature cameras in portable devices face reliability issues due to unintended movements during drops or shocks, which can cause collisions between brittle image sensor components and fixed optical components, leading to damage and reduced functionality.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating shock or displacement limiters and dampers into the camera's voice coil motor actuator to prevent collisions and absorb inertial loads, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the image sensor and optics components. These limiters and dampers include protrusions, tabs, and resilient materials that absorb or deflect impact forces, ensuring the camera's components do not collide during unintended movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the camera is made with a small form factor for integration in portable devices, then the portability and compactness are improved, but the risk of component collision and damage during drops or shocks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating shock limiters and dampers into the camera assembly prior to any shock event. These components are pre-positioned to absorb and mitigate impact forces during drops or shocks, protecting the image sensor and other fragile components from collision damage while maintaining the compact form factor required for portable device integration.
2Reliability
If shock limiters and dampers are added to the camera assembly, then the reliability and protection of components are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges shock limiters and dampers with existing camera components such as the voice coil motor actuator, carrier, and support structures. By integrating protective functions into components that already exist in the camera assembly, the design adds reliability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality by designing components like the carrier and support structures to serve dual purposes: their primary structural/functional roles plus shock absorption and impact mitigation. This allows the same components to provide both operational functionality and protective functions, reducing the need for separate dedicated protective elements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the image sensor assembly is made movable for autofocus and optical image stabilization, then the functionality is improved, but the risk of collision with fixed optical components during unintended movements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary protective elements such as shock limiters and dampers positioned between the movable image sensor assembly and fixed optical components. These intermediaries absorb and mitigate impact forces during unintended movements or drops, preventing direct collision between the sensor assembly and optical components while allowing the sensor to remain movable for autofocus and optical image stabilization functions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively minimizes the risk of damage to camera components by preventing collisions and reducing accelerations, thereby enhancing the reliability and durability of miniature cameras in portable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a voice coil motor having a base coupled to the optomechanical assembly and a carrier coupled to the sensor assembly that is operable to cause a displacement of the sensor assembly relative to the optomechanical assembly
Implementation Method 2
a displacement limiter coupled to the base or the carrier to limit an unintended displacement of the sensor assembly
Implementation Method 3
the displacement limiter includes a resilient material coupled to the substrate and surrounding the electronic component
Data Source
AI summary
A camera including a camera enclosure; a fixed optics portion having a prism fixedly coupled to the camera enclosure by a voice coil motor base; a moving sensor portion having an image sensor package coupled to the camera enclosure by a voice coil motor carrier that extends around the image sensor package and is operable to cause a displacement of the image sensor package relative to the fixed optics portion; and a damper coupled to the fixed optics portion or the moving sensor portion to absorb an impact between the fixed optics portion and the moving sensor portion.