Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/64—Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/64—Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image
  • G02B27/646—Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B5/00—Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
  • H04N23/50—Constructional details
  • H04N23/55—Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
  • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
  • H04N23/68—Control of cameras or camera modules for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
  • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
  • H04N23/68—Control of cameras or camera modules for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
  • H04N23/681—Motion detection
  • H04N23/6812—Motion detection based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
  • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
  • H04N23/68—Control of cameras or camera modules for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
  • H04N23/682—Vibration or motion blur correction
  • H04N23/685—Vibration or motion blur correction performed by mechanical compensation
  • H04N23/687—Vibration or motion blur correction performed by mechanical compensation by shifting the lens or sensor position
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B2205/00—Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
  • G03B2205/0007—Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur
  • G03B2205/0015—Movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur by displacing one or more optical elements normal to the optical axis
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
  • G03B2205/00—Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
  • G03B2205/0053—Driving means for the movement of one or more optical element
  • G03B2205/0084—Driving means for the movement of one or more optical element using other types of actuators

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to a camera and, more particularly, to the stabilization of an image during the exposure time of the camera.
• Optical image stabilization generally involves laterally shifting the image projected on the image sensor in compensation for the camera motion. Shifting of the image can be achieved by one of the following four general techniques: Lens shift - this optical image stabilization method involves moving one or more lens elements of the optical system in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the system;
• Image sensor shift - this optical image stabilization method involves moving the image sensor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical system;
• Liquid prism - this method involves changing a layer of liquid sealed between two parallel plates into a wedge in order to change the optical axis of the system by refraction;
• Camera module tilt - this method keeps all the components in the optical system unchanged while tilting the entire module so as to shift the optical axis in relation to a scene.
• an actuator mechanism is required to effect the change in the optical axis or the shift of the image sensor.
• Actuator mechanisms are generally complex, which means that they are expensive and large in size.
• the present invention provides a new method and device for shifting one or more lens elements or the image sensor in an XY-plane, wherein the actuators are arranged differently from the above-described method.
• the present invention uses an optical image stabilizer to compensate for an unwanted movement of an imaging system, such as a camera.
• Two separate bending actuators are used to shift a lens element or the image sensor in different directions in a plane so as to shift a projected image on the image sensor based on the movement of the imaging system.
• the plane is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging system, and longitudinal axis of each bending actuator is substantially parallel to the plane.
• one end of each bending actuator is fixedly disposed on the image system and the other end is used to shift the lens element or the image sensor
• both ends of each bending actuator are fixed, while the middle section is allowed to move for shifting the lens element or the image sensor.
• the present invention provides a method and system for optical image stabilization for use in an imaging system having a plurality of imaging components arranged in relationship to an optical axis, the imaging components comprising an image sensor and at least a lens element for projecting an image on the image sensor, wherein the projected image can be shifted relative to the image sensor in a direction substantially perpendicular to the optical axis.
• the imaging system comprises: a first bending actuator operatively connected to at least one of the imaging components for moving the imaging component in a first direction, the first bending actuator having a length defining a first actuator axis; a second bending actuator operatively connecting said at least one imaging component for moving the imaging component in a second direction, the second bending actuator having a length defining a second actuator axis, wherein the image plane and each of-the-first-and-second-aGtuator-axes-form-an-angle-smaller-than ⁇ S-degrees ⁇ a driving system, in response to the movement of the imaging system, for causing at least part of the first actuator to move in a direction different from the first actuator axis so as to shift said at least one imaging component in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical axis, and for causing at least part of the second actuator to move in a direction different from the second actuator axis so as to shift said at least one imaging component in a plane substantially perpendicular to the optical
• the imaging component can be a lens component or the image sensor.
• Each of the bending actuator can be mounted on the imaging system in a number of ways.
• the actuator can be fixedly mounted on one of its ends so as to allow the other end to bend.
• the actuator can be fixedly mounted on both ends so as to allow the middle section to move.
• the actuator can be fixedly mounted on a middle section so that one or both ends can be used to move an imaging component.
• Figure 1 shows the relationship between the XY-plane and the optical axis of an imaging system.
• Figure 2 shows an on-axis actuator disposed parallel to the Y-axis.
• Figure 3 shows a bending or off-axis actuator.
• Figure 4a shows a bending actuator for shifting a carrier along the X-axis, according to the present invention.
• Figure 4b shows a bending actuator for shifting a carrier along the Y-axis, according to the present invention.
• Figure 5 is a schematic representation of an imaging system, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 6 shows a carrier having two bending actuators for shifting the lens element in an image system.
• Figures 7a to 7c show the carrier being shifted to the upper left, center and lower right position.
• Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of an imaging system, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 9 shows another carrier for mounting the image sensor, accoi-ding to the present invention. —
• Figures 10a and 1 Ob show a carrier with a different amount arrangement.
• Figure 11 shows a different bending actuator.
• Figure 12 shows a lens earner having two bending actuators, according to a different embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 13 shows a different lens carrier design, according to the present invention.
• Figure 14 shows a typical driving system for driving a bending actuator.
• Figure 15 shows a variation in the placement of a bending actuator in reference to the optical axis of imaging system.
• Figure 16 shows a typical image stabilizer system.
• the present invention uses one or more bending actuators to shift the image projected on the image sensor for image stabilization purposes.
• the actuators can be used to shift the lens or the image sensor or both in one or more directions substantially parallel to the image plane.
• the actuators are mechanically engaged with a carrier carrying the imaging component to be shifted.
• an on-axis actuator When an on-axis actuator is activated, it contracts or expands in a direction that shortens or lengthens the thickness or the length of the actuator.
• the actuator is a long piece of piezoelectric material having a longitudinal axis along its length
• the displacement of the actuator when activated is also along the longitudinal axis, as shown in Figure 2.
• the displacement of the actuator is not along its length or longitudinal axis. Instead, the displacement is off- axis and approximately equal to the length times the bending angle.
• a bending actuator When it is used to move a lens element or the image sensor in a camera, a bending actuator can be disposed such that the longitudinal axis of the actuator is perpendicular to the shifting direction of an imaging component of the imaging system but substantially parallel to the plane in which the imaging component is shifted.
• Figures 4a and 4b show the principle of using a bending actuator to move a carrier in the X-direction and in the Y- direction, with the optical axis being parallel to the Z-axis.
• the lens is fixedly mounted on the earner to be moved by a pair of bending actuators, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
• the lens 60 is fixedly mounted on a carrier 30.
• the carrier can be moved in the X-direction by a first bending actuator 42 and in the Y-direction by a second bending actuator 52.
• the first bending actuator 42 is mounted on an outer support frame 40 of a lens plate 20, and the second bending actuator 52 is mounted on an inner support frame 50.
• the inner support frame 50 has two pairs of brackets 46 and each pair is mounted on a guide pin 44 so as to allow the inner support frame to move along the X-direction by a sliding motion.
• the carrier 30 has two pairs of brackets 56 and each pair is mounted on a guide pin 54 so as to allow the carrier 30 to move along the Y-direction by a sliding motion.
• one end of the first bending actuator 42 is fixedly mounted on the outer support frame 40, and the other end is allowed to move sidewise when activated.
• the movable end of the first bending actuator 42 is urged by a spring 48 to move inward.
• the first bending actuator 42 moves sidewise, it pushes the inner support frame 50 in the X-direction.
• one end of the second bending actuator 52 is fixedly mounted on the inner support frame 50, and the other end is allowed to move sidewise when activated.
• the movable end of the second bending actuator 52 is urged by a spring 58 to move inward. When the second bending actuator 52 moves sidewise, it pushes the carrier 30 in the Y-direction.
• Figure 7a shows the lens 60 being shifted to the upper left corner of the lens plate 20.
• Figure 7b shows the lens 60 being positioned in the center, and
• Figure 7c shows the lens 60 being shifted to the lower right corner of the lens plate 20.
• the imaging system 1 can also be used to shift the image sensor 80.
• the imaging system 1 comprises a sensor plate 22 for mounting the image sensor 80.
• the image sensor 80 and its circuit board 82 are fixedly mounted on a carrier 32.
• the earner 32 can be moved in the X direction by a first bending actuator 42 and in the Y direction by a second bending actuator 52.
• the mechanical structure of the sensor plate 22 is basically the same as that of the lens plate 20.
• the first bending actuator 42 moves sidewise, it pushes the inner support frame 50 along with the image sensor 80 in the X-direction.
• the lens plate 28 is constructed as having two layers stacked within an outer frame 72, for example.
• Figure 10a shows one side of the frame 72.
• the first bending actuator 42 and the spring 48 are mounted on the outer frame 72
• the second bending actuator 52 and the spring 58 are mounted on an inner frame 74.
• the lens 60 is fixedly mounted on the lens carrier 30.
• Figure 10b shows the other side of the outer frame 72.
• the outer frame 72 has a first guiding pin 44 and a second guiding pin 45 for movably mounting the inner frame 74 via a pair of brackets 46 and a single bracket 47.
• the inner frame 74 has a first guiding pin 54 and a second guiding pin 55 for moving mounting the lens earner 30.
• Such construction can reduce the footprint of the imaging system.
• both ends of the actuator are fixedly mounted to the stationary part of the imaging system.
• the middle section of the actuator undergoes a bending motion to move a carrier.
• both ends of an actuator 33 are fixedly mounted to the outer frame 40, and both ends of another actuator 36 are fixedly mounted to the inner frame 50, as shown in Figure 12.
• the actuator 33 is activated, it is able to move to inner frame 50 along with the lens 60 in the X-direction.
• the actuator 36 is activated, it is able to move the lens earner 30 along with the lens 60 in the Y-direction for image stabilization purposes.
• a spring 34 is used to urge the actuator 33 to move inward along the X- direction
• a spring 37 is used to urge the actuator 36 to move inward along the Y- direction.
• one or more sections between the ends are fixedly mounted so as to allow both ends to bend and to use one or both of the ends for moving the lens plate or the carrier.
• the lens carrier 150 can be designed differently as shown in Figure 13.
• the lens carrier 150 comprises a correction framework 158 for mounting an actuator 152 for the X-direction movement via a bracket 153, and for mounting another actuator 155 for the Y-direction movement via a bracket 156.
• a U- shaped hook 157 is fixedly attached to the bracket 156 and another U-shaped hook 154 is fixedly attached to the bracket 153 to move the lens element 51.
• the position of the lens element 51 is determined substantially by the parallel sections of each of the hooks 154, 157. For example, when the actuator 155 moves in the Y-direction in response to activation, the lens element is guided by the U-shaped hook 157 to move along the Y- direction.
• the bending actuator can be a piezoelectric monomorph actuator, a piezoelectric bimorph actuator, a piezoelectric multi-layer actuator, an ion conductive polymer actuator or the like.
• an actuator needs a driving system for activating the actuator.
• Figure 14 is a typical driving system. As shown, one end of the actuator is operatively connected to a driving electronic module, which is connected to a camera movement sensor / signal processor so that the actuator moves the imaging component in response to the camera movement.
• the fixed end is operatively connected to the driving electronic module.
• both ends of the bending actuator are fixedly mounted to a carrier or a frame, as shown in Figure 12, either end of the bending actuator can be connected to the driving electronic module.
• one or more of the imaging components are shifted for image stabilization purposes, other components are also needed.
• the image stabilizer for the imaging system also has a movement detector to determine the movement to be compensated for, at least one position sensors to determine the current position of the imaging components, a signal processor to compute the shifting amount in different directions for compensating for the camera movement based on the positions of the components and the camera movement, and an actuator control to activate the actuators in order to shift the image components by a desired amount.
• the movement detector may include a gyroscope, accelerometer or other known movement detector, for example.
• the lens of the imaging system may comprise two or more lens elements and the actuators may be used to move one or more lens elements.
• the bending actuator is depicted as being placed in a carrier that is substantially parallel to the XY plane.
• the bending actuator 42 is placed off the XY-plane with the fixed end spaced from the carrier.
• the off-plane angle between the actuator 42 and the XY-plane is, in practice, should not be greater than 45 degrees.
• the lens plate 20 as depicted in Figure 6, the carrier plate 22 as depicted in Figure 9, and the lens plate 28 as depicted in Figure 1 Oa are for illustration purposes only.
• the present invention in which ⁇ two-bending-actuators-are-used-to-shift-an-imaging-eomponenVsuch-as-a-lens-element-and an image sensor, can also be achieved with a different plate design or arrangement.
• any of the lens plates 20, 28 and the carrier plate 22 can be used to shift other imaging components for optical image stabilization purposes.
• one of the plates can be used to shift two optical wedges or thin prisms separately in the X- direction and the Y-direction.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Multimedia (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Studio Devices (AREA)
• Adjustment Of Camera Lenses (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-01-27 WO PCT/IB2006/000153 patent/WO2007063359A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2006-01-27 JP JP2008542848A patent/JP2009517707A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-01-27 US US12/085,817 patent/US20090309982A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-01-27 KR KR1020087015845A patent/KR20080081008A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2006-01-27 CN CNA2006800447324A patent/CN101317118A/zh active Pending
  • 2006-01-27 EP EP06710279A patent/EP1960822A1/en not_active Withdrawn

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