Apple patents camera sensor that moves on ball bearings for better focus
Apple has been granted a patent for a camera system that uses ball bearings to allow the image sensor to move in three different directions. It combines voice coil motors to handle both image stabilization (shaking) and autofocus (distance) using a shared set of magnets.
In the filing’s own words
A ball bearing sensor shift arrangement for a camera may include one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators that include the fixed magnets, optical image stabilization (OIS) coils, and/or one or more autofocus (AF) coils. The ball bearing sensor shift arrangement may be coupled with an image sensor of the camera, and may include carrier frames configured to move on ball bearings so as to enable motion of the image sensor in multiple degrees-of-freedom (DOF). An OIS carrier frame(s) may be coupled with the OIS coils, which may be positioned proximate the fixed magnets and used for moving the image sensor in directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera. An AF carrier frame may be coupled with the AF coil(s), which may be positioned proximate the fixed magnets and used for moving the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A camera, comprising: a lens group; an image sensor; one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators; and a ball bearing sensor shift arrangement coupled with the image sensor, wherein the ball bearing sensor shift arrangement comprises: one or more OIS carrier frames coupled with one or more of the one or more VCM actuators to move the image sensor in directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the camera; and an AF carrier frame coupled with at least one of the one or more VCM actuators to move the image sensor in at least one direction parallel to the optical axis; a first set of ball bearings disposed between the one or more OIS carrier frames and the AF carrier frame; and a second set of ball bearings disposed between the AF carrier frame and a fixed structure of the camera; wherein the one or more OIS carrier frames and the AF carrier frame are configured to move on the first set and the second set of ball bearings so as to enable motion of the image sensor in three degrees-of-freedom (DOF).
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Ball bearing sensor shift arrangement for camera with fixed magnets
- Patent number
- US12745006B2
- Application number
- 18991034
- Filed
- Dec 20, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04N 23/687 Electricity & electronicsH02K 41/0354 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/54 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/55 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Cameras & imaging
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.