Patent Description:
The subject matter disclosed herein relates in general to compact mobile cameras and in particular to mobile scanning telephoto ("Tele") cameras.

Mobile electronic handheld devices (or just "mobile devices" or "electronic devices") such as smartphones having two or more compact cameras (also referred to as "multi-cameras") are known. The two or more cameras have lenses with different focal lengths that capture images of a same scene with different fields of view (FOVs). For example, a multi-camera may include a Wide camera having a Wide camera FOV ("FOVw") of e.g. <NUM> degrees and a Tele (or "zoom") camera having a narrower FOV ("native FOVT" or ("n-FOVT") of e.g. <NUM> degrees and with higher spatial resolution (for example <NUM>-<NUM> times higher) than that of the Wide camera.

Tele cameras with scanning capability ("scanning Tele cameras" or "STCs") for expanding the native fields-of-view n-FOVT to an effective Tele FOV (also referred to as "scanning FOVT" or "s-FOVT") overcome some of the limitations that relate to narrow n-FOVTS. Compact STCs can be realized in a folded camera such as described for example in co-owned <CIT>, by having an optical path folding element (OPFE) rotated along one or two directions to direct (or "scan" or "steer") the n-FOVT towards arbitrary points of view (POVs) within s-FOVT.

STCs based on rotating a single OPFE along two directions for FOV scanning have drawbacks, such as e.g. a limited scanning range (since in general s-FOVT < FOVw), POV aberrations, and the rotation of the image on the image sensor (known as "Roll" effect). Solutions that correct for POV aberrations and the Roll effect are described in co-owned international patent application <CIT>.

There is need and it would be beneficial to have a compact scanning Tele camera for incorporation in a mobile device that supports all of the following conditions:.

Non-limiting examples of embodiments disclosed herein are described below with reference to figures attached hereto that are listed following this paragraph. The drawings and descriptions are meant to illuminate and clarify embodiments disclosed herein, and should not be considered limiting in any way. Like elements in different drawings may be indicated by like numerals. Elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

<FIG> shows a multi-camera numbered <NUM> that comprises a folded STC numbered <NUM> according to some embodiments disclosed herein. STC <NUM> includes an aperture <NUM> and an object-side OPFE (O-OPFE) <NUM> and is included in a STC camera module <NUM>. Multi-camera <NUM> further comprises a Wide camera <NUM> having a Wide aperture <NUM> and an Ultra-Wide camera <NUM> having an Ultra-Wide aperture <NUM>. An image sensor (not shown) of STC <NUM> is located in a plane substantially parallel to the x-y-plane. An image sensor (not shown) of Wide camera <NUM> is located in a plane substantially parallel to the x-z-plane.

<FIG> shows a mobile device (e.g. a smartphone) numbered <NUM> that includes multi-camera <NUM> in a perspective view. A rear surface <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> is visible. A front surface (not visible) may include a screen. Rear surface <NUM> is divided into two regions, a first regular region <NUM> where device <NUM> has a height H, and a second, "bump" region <NUM> where device <NUM> has a height H+HB (HB being the height of the bump). In some embodiments, multi-camera <NUM> may be entirely included in bump region <NUM>. In other embodiments and as for example shown in <FIG>, a first region of multi-camera <NUM> having a first height H<NUM> may be included in bump region <NUM>, whereas a second region of multi-camera <NUM> having a second height H<NUM> (H<NUM> < H<NUM>) may be included in regular region <NUM>. The latter is preferred from an industrial design point of view, as it allows minimizing the area size of bump region <NUM>. Mobile device <NUM> may additionally include an application processor (AP - not shown). In some examples, the AP may be configured to scan a scene with STC <NUM>'s n-FOVT according to a user input. In other examples, the AP may be configured to use image data from a Wide camera such as camera <NUM> to autonomously scan a scene with STC <NUM>'s n-FOVT.

<FIG> shows a known dual-camera field-of-view <NUM> that includes a FOVw from a Wide camera, a known STC s-FOVT, and <NUM> n-FOVTS from the known STC, marked <NUM>-<NUM>. The center locations of FOVw and s-FOVT are identical. The <NUM> n-FOVTS represent the extreme scanning positions of the STC. For example, n-FOVT<NUM> corresponds to the maximum scanning position along the positive y direction, n-FOVT<NUM> corresponds to the maximum scanning position along both the positive y direction and the positive x direction, etc.. Each n-FOVT has a n-FOVT center. For example, the center n-FOVT <NUM> is indicated by "Center Native FOVT <NUM>". A horizontal distance ("LC-FOVT - RC-FOVT", measured along x) between the n-FOVT center of a maximum left scanning position ("LC-FOVT") and the n-FOVT center of a maximum right scanning position ("RC-FOVT") is also marked.

In the example related to <FIG>, FOVw is <NUM> degrees in a horizontal direction ("H-FOVw", along the x-axis) and <NUM> degrees in a vertical direction ("V-FOVw", along the y-axis). FOVT is <NUM> degrees in the horizontal direction ("H-FOVT") and <NUM> degrees in the vertical direction ("V-FOVT") Here, LC-FOVT - RC-FOVT = 27degrees. That is, FOVT < FOVw. In this example, H-FOVT ≈ <NUM> x H-FOVw. This means that the STC cannot capture objects located at the edges of FOVw. POV aberrations and a Roll effect are visible in n-FOVTS <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a dual-camera field-of-view <NUM> that includes a FOVw, a s-FOVT and <NUM> native n-FOVTS of a STC camera as disclosed herein. The center locations of FOVw and s-FOVT are identical. As in <FIG>, FOVw is H-FOVw= <NUM> degrees and V-FOVw= <NUM> degrees. Here, LC-FOVT - RC-FOVT = <NUM> degrees. In <FIG>, s-FOVT ≈ FOVw, H-FOVw ≈ H-FOVT and V-FOVW ≈ V-FOVT. This means that the STC can capture all objects located in FOVw. Significantly less pronounced POV aberrations and no Roll effects are visible in the n-FOVTS <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

In other embodiments, s-FOVT may cover a <NUM>:<NUM> image ratio of FOVw, i.e. H-FOVT may be equal to or even larger than H-FOVw, but V-FOVT may be smaller than V-FOVw e.g. according to a ratio of <NUM>:<NUM>.

<FIG> shows an embodiment of a folded STC numbered <NUM> disclosed herein in a perspective view. <FIG> shows folded STC <NUM> in another perspective view. With reference to the coordinate system of <FIG>, STC <NUM> comprises an O-OPFE <NUM> (e.g. a prism or mirror) for folding a first optical path ("OP1") which is substantially parallel to the y-axis to a second OP ("OP2") which is substantially parallel to the x-axis, an image-side OPFE ("I-OPFE") <NUM> (e.g. a prism or mirror, not visible in <FIG>) for folding OP2 to a third optical path ("OP3") which is substantially parallel to the z-axis. In addition, STC <NUM> comprises a lens barrel <NUM> including a lens <NUM> (only partially visible here), an optional optical window <NUM> (e.g. an IR filter), and an image sensor <NUM>. OP1, OP2 and OP3 are perpendicular to each other. O-OPFE <NUM> is carried by an O-OPFE holder <NUM> and I-OPFE <NUM> is carried by an I-OPFE holder <NUM>.

It is visible that the optically active areas of O-OPFE <NUM>, a top area <NUM> which (in zero scan position) is oriented parallel to the x-z-plane and a side area <NUM> which is oriented parallel to the y-z-plane, are larger in size than the optically active areas of I-OPFE <NUM>, a first side area <NUM> which (in zero scan position) is oriented parallel to the y-z-plane and a second side area <NUM> which is oriented parallel to the x-y-plane. The larger optical areas of O-OPFE <NUM> are required to provide light from all optical fields and for all scan positions of I-OPFE <NUM>.

In use, for scanning a scene with n-FOVT and/or optical image stabilization (OIS), an O-OPFE actuator <NUM> rotates O-OPFE <NUM> around a rotation axis <NUM> substantially parallel to OP3, and an I-OPFE actuator <NUM> rotates I-OPFE <NUM> around a rotation axis <NUM> substantially parallel to OP1. A barrel actuator <NUM> (e.g. a voice coil motor - VCM) moves lens barrel <NUM> substantially parallel to OP3 for autofocusing (AF). In other examples, a barrel actuator such as <NUM> may additionally move a lens barrel like <NUM> substantially parallel to OP1 and/or OP2 for OIS. STC <NUM> includes an O-OPFE drop prevention module <NUM> designed to prevent O-OPFE holder <NUM> from falling out of a camera module that includes STC <NUM> if a mobile device including the camera module is dropped. I-OPFE holder <NUM> includes an I-OPFE housing <NUM>. In some camera module embodiments (such as in an embodiment <NUM> below), I-OPFE housing <NUM> has a "C" shape, meaning that it surrounds I-OPFE <NUM> on three sides that are not optically active (top, bottom and back).

STC <NUM> may have an effective focal length (EFL) in the range of EFL= <NUM>-<NUM>.

O-OPFE actuator <NUM> includes an O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and an O-OPFE sensing module <NUM>. The two modules may be separate modules. O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> is located at both sides of O-OPFE holder <NUM>. O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> includes a coil <NUM> (not visible here, but shown in <FIG>), an actuation magnet <NUM> (not visible here, but shown in <FIG>) and an actuation yoke <NUM>. O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> includes a position sensor (e.g. a Hall sensor) <NUM> (see <FIG>) and a sensing magnet <NUM> (see <FIG>). An advantage of separating O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> is that position sensor <NUM> is decoupled from actuation coil <NUM>.

I-OPFE actuator <NUM> includes an I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and an I-OPFE sensing module <NUM>. The two modules may be separate modules. I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> includes an actuation coil <NUM> and an actuation magnet <NUM>. I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> includes a position sensor (e.g. a Hall sensor) <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) and a sensing magnet <NUM> (shown in <FIG>). An advantage of separating I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> is that position sensor <NUM> is decoupled from actuation coil <NUM>. The rotation axis <NUM> of I-OPFE <NUM> is at a relatively large distance from I-OPFE actuation module <NUM>, so there is a large lever for rotating I-OPFE <NUM>. The rotation axis <NUM> of I-OPFE <NUM> is at a relatively close distance from I-OPFE sensing module <NUM>, so that the rotation of I-OPFE <NUM> can be sensed with a small stroke, i.e. over a small distance.

<FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a camera module numbered <NUM> that includes an STC disclosed herein and numbered <NUM>. Camera module <NUM> is housed in (surrounded by) a camera module housing <NUM>. STC <NUM> comprises an O-OPFE <NUM> (e.g. a prism) carried by an O-OPFE holder <NUM> for folding a first OP1 to a second OP2, an I-OPFE <NUM> (e.g. a prism) carried by an I-OPFE holder <NUM> for folding OP2 to a third OP3, a lens barrel (not shown) including a lens (not shown), an optional optical element (not shown), and an image sensor (not shown). OP1 and OP2 and OP3 are not shown, but are perpendicular to each other and are oriented along identical axes as shown for STC <NUM>.

O-OPFE actuator <NUM> rotates O-OPFE <NUM> around axis <NUM> substantially parallel to OP3 and an I-OPFE actuator <NUM> (not visible here, see <FIG>, <FIG>) rotates I-OPFE <NUM> around axis <NUM> substantially parallel to OP1. A barrel actuator (not shown) linearly moves the lens barrel substantially parallel to OP3 for AF. In other examples, the barrel actuator may additionally linearly move the lens barrel substantially parallel to OP1 and/or OP2 for OIS. I-OPFE holder <NUM> includes an I-OPFE housing <NUM>. STC <NUM> may have an effective focal length (EFL) in the range of EFL= <NUM>-<NUM>.

O-OPFE actuator <NUM> includes an O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and an O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> (see <FIG>). O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> includes an actuation coil <NUM>, an actuation magnet <NUM> and an actuation yoke <NUM>. O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> includes a position sensor <NUM> (e.g. a Hall sensor, see <FIG>) and a sensing magnet <NUM> (see <FIG>). An advantage of separating O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> is that the position sensor <NUM> is decoupled from actuation coil <NUM>.

I-OPFE actuator <NUM> includes an I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> (see <FIG>) and an I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG>). I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> includes a coil <NUM> and actuation magnet <NUM>. I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> includes a position sensor <NUM> and a sensing magnet <NUM>. An advantage of separating I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> is that position sensor <NUM> is decoupled from actuation coil <NUM>. As visible in <FIG>, rotation axis <NUM> of I-OPFE <NUM> is far from I-OPFE actuation module <NUM>, so there is a large lever for rotating I-OPFE <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, rotation axis <NUM> is relatively close to I-OPFE sensing module <NUM>, so that the rotation of I-OPFE <NUM> can be sensed with a small stroke. <FIG> also shows a rotation axis <NUM> of O-OPFE <NUM> and a thickness HI-H of the upper and lower edges (surfaces) of I-OPFE holder <NUM>. O-OPFE <NUM> is shown in a zero scan position.

Camera module <NUM> has a non-uniform (or non-planar) top surface <NUM>, so that camera module <NUM> is divided into two regions, an elevated region <NUM> where camera module <NUM> has a module height HM, and a "shoulder" region <NUM> where camera module <NUM> has a shoulder height Hs smaller than Hm. Camera module <NUM> has a uniform (or planar) bottom surface <NUM>. O-OPFE <NUM> is located in elevated region <NUM>. I-OPFE <NUM>, lens barrel <NUM>, optical element <NUM> and image sensor <NUM> are located in the shoulder region <NUM>.

An O-OPFE holder stopper <NUM> defines OPFE <NUM>'s rotation range by limiting the rotational movement of O-OPFE holder <NUM>.

<FIG> shows in a cross-sectional view an embodiment of another camera module numbered <NUM> and which includes the STC shown in <FIG>. <FIG> shows camera module <NUM> in another cross-sectional view. Lens <NUM>, rotation axis <NUM>, a thickness HI-H of the upper and lower edges of I-OPFE holder <NUM>, and an I-OPFE preload module <NUM> are visible in one or more of these figures. The height of lens <NUM> ("HA") is marked.

O-OPFE <NUM> is shown in a zero scan position. Camera module <NUM> is surrounded by a camera module housing <NUM>. Camera module <NUM> has a non-uniform (or non-planar) top surface <NUM>, so that camera module <NUM> is divided into two regions, an elevated region <NUM> where camera module <NUM> has a module height HM, and a shoulder region <NUM> where camera module <NUM> has a shoulder height Hs smaller than HM. Camera module <NUM> has a uniform (or planar) bottom surface <NUM>. O-OPFE <NUM> is located in elevated region <NUM>. I-OPFE <NUM>, lens barrel <NUM>, optical element <NUM> and image sensor <NUM> are located in the shoulder region <NUM>.

Rotation axes <NUM> and <NUM> in, respectively, camera modules <NUM> and <NUM> are located such that rotating respectively O-OPFEs <NUM> and <NUM> does not cause any height penalty in module height HM. This because rotating O-OPFEs <NUM> and <NUM> around rotation axes <NUM> and <NUM> respectively does not cause O-OPFE holders <NUM> and <NUM> to occupy y-values that are significantly smaller than the y-values that O-OPFE holders <NUM> and <NUM> occupy in the zero scan position.

O-OPFE holder stopper <NUM> defines OPFE <NUM>'s rotation range.

As known, a relatively low f number ("f/#") is desired for a compact camera, as a low f# increases the camera image's signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and thus the camera's image quality. A low f/# is, amongst others, achieved by maximizing the aperture area ("AA") of the camera lens. For obtaining a STC having low f/#, AA is to be maximized, given a certain Hs height constraint, which in turn is dictated by the height (or thickness) of a mobile device including the STC. For maximizing AA, one may maximize both HA (height of the lens aperture, measured along the y-axis, see <FIG>) and WA (width of the lens aperture, measured along the x-axis, i.e. perpendicular to the plane shown in <FIG>).

For maximizing HA, a height difference ("penalty" or "P") between the HA and Hs needs to be minimized. For minimizing P, Hi-o needs to be maximized, as explained next. For minimizing HI-H (which maximizes Hi-o for a given Hs), I-OPFE housing <NUM> may be made of metal. In an example, HI-H is about <NUM>. Housing <NUM> may be for example a metal frame that surrounds I-OPFE <NUM> in a "C"-shape both at its top, bottom and the one side that is not optically active. A small HI-H allows I-OPFE <NUM> to have a significantly larger height Hi-o than I-OPFE <NUM> for a same shoulder height Hs. Hi-o poses an upper limit for HA (see <FIG>), i.e. Hi-o > HA. This because a Hi-o smaller than HA will cause vignetting, i.e. light that could still reach the lens would be blocked by I-OPFE <NUM>, reducing the aperture of the optical system.

HA, HM and Hs, as well as respective heights Ho-o (or HO-OPFE - measured along y) of O-OPFE <NUM> and Hi-o (or HI-OPFE) of I-OPFE <NUM> are shown in <FIG>.

In an example, camera module <NUM> has following values:.

In other examples, Hs may have values in the range <NUM>-<NUM>, HA may have values in the range <NUM>-<NUM>, HM may have values in the range <NUM>-<NUM>, Hi-o may have values in the range <NUM>-<NUM> and HO-O may have values in the range <NUM>-<NUM>.

For maximizing WA, a lens such as <NUM> may be "cut" (or "D-cut") as known in the art. A cut lens includes one or more lens elements Li that have a height HLi which is smaller than their width Wu. In some examples, Wu may be greater than Hu by a percentage of about <NUM>% - <NUM>%. With respect to the example in camera module <NUM>, WA of a cut lens <NUM> having a height of HA = <NUM> may be in the range WA= <NUM> - <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a segment of a mobile device <NUM> that includes camera module <NUM> in a cross-sectional view. A rear (back) surface <NUM> of mobile device <NUM> is divided into two regions, a first regular region <NUM> where device <NUM> has a regular height H, and a second, "bump" region <NUM> where device <NUM> has an elevated height H+HB. I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> and position sensor <NUM> are visible.

To compactly integrate camera module <NUM> into mobile device <NUM>, elevated region <NUM> (having height HM) is integrated in elevated bump region <NUM> of mobile device <NUM>, and shoulder region <NUM> (having height Hs) is integrated in regular region <NUM> of mobile device <NUM>. In other embodiments, camera module <NUM> may be included in a mobile device such as mobile device <NUM> in the same way, i.e. its elevated region <NUM> may be integrated in an elevated bump region of the mobile device, and its shoulder region <NUM> may be integrated in a regular region of the mobile device.

<FIG> shows O-OPFE holder <NUM>, O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> in a side view. Rotation axis <NUM> and actuation yoke <NUM> are visible. The rotation is mediated by a pivot ball <NUM>. An O-OPFE holder stopper <NUM> limits O-OPFE holder <NUM>'s movement range as shown in <FIG>. O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> is located next to OPFE <NUM> and the magnetic sensing occurs in a plane parallel to the x-y-plane.

<FIG> shows O-OPFE holder <NUM> and O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> in a perspective view. Two O-OPFE holder stoppers <NUM>, rotation axis <NUM> and actuation yoke <NUM> are visible.

<FIG> shows O-OPFE holder <NUM> and O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> in another perspective view. O-OPFE actuation magnet <NUM> as well as some components shown in <FIG> are visible here as well.

<FIG> shows O-OPFE holder <NUM> in a perspective view. O-OPFE holder <NUM> includes two stray light masks <NUM> and <NUM> for stray light prevention. O-OPFE <NUM> and O-OPFE <NUM> may be prisms made of high refractive index ("n") material (e.g. n><NUM>) for compact beam guiding, allowing a compact camera module with < <NUM>% vignetting (light loss) even for maximal rotation angles and/or maximal optical fields.

<FIG> shows O-OPFE holder <NUM> in another perspective view. O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> including position sensor <NUM> and sensing magnet <NUM> are visible.

<FIG> shows O-OPFE holder <NUM> in yet another perspective view. O-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and O-OPFE sensing module <NUM> are visible. The magnetic sensing occurs in a plane perpendicular to the x-y-plane.

<FIG> shows a segment of camera module <NUM> in a cross-sectional view. O-OPFE <NUM> is shown in a maximum right scan position. "Right" scan position here refers to the fact that the n-FOVT of STC <NUM> is oriented towards the right by rotating O-OPFE <NUM> around rotation axis <NUM> in a clockwise rotation direction <NUM>. In this position, O-OPFE holder stopper <NUM> limits a further clockwise rotational movement of O-OPFE holder <NUM> by touching module housing <NUM>. This prevents O-OPFE holder <NUM> and I-OPFE holder <NUM> (not shown) from touching each other and it defines (or limits) the maximum rotation (or "scanning") range of O-OPFE <NUM> in clockwise direction. Consequently, O-OPFE holder stopper <NUM> allows a compact camera design (for example in a smartphone camera) by allowing O-OPFE <NUM> and O-OPFE <NUM> to be located close to each other.

<FIG> shows a segment of camera module <NUM> in a cross-sectional view. O-OPFE <NUM> is shown in a maximum right scan position. In this position, O-OPFE holder right stopper <NUM> limits a further clockwise rotational movement of O-OPFE holder <NUM> by touching module housing <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the segment of camera module <NUM> shown in <FIG> with O-OPFE <NUM> in a maximum left scan position. "Left" scan position here refers to the fact that the n-FOVT of STC <NUM> is oriented towards the left by rotating O-OPFE <NUM> around rotation axis <NUM> in a counter-clockwise rotation direction <NUM>. O-OPFE holder left stopper <NUM> limits a further counter-clockwise rotational movement of O-OPFE holder <NUM> by touching module housing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the scanning range of O-OPFE <NUM> may be symmetric, i.e. a scanning range towards a left side (lower x-values) and right side (higher x-values) with respect to a zero scan position are identical. A maximum rotation range of O-OPFE <NUM> may be about ±<NUM> degrees, wherein about ±<NUM> degrees may be used for scanning the n-FOVT, and about ±<NUM> degrees may be used for OIS. In other examples, the scanning range may be used in a different ratio for FOV scanning and OIS, e.g. about ±<NUM> degrees may be used for scanning the n-FOVT, and about ±<NUM> degrees may be used for OIS. In other examples, a maximum rotation range of O-OPFE <NUM> may be about ±5degrees - ±<NUM> degrees.

<FIG> shows I-OPFE holder <NUM> in a top view. Rotation axis <NUM> of I-OPFE holder <NUM> is shown. A pivot ball <NUM> is located in a pivot groove <NUM> (not visible here, but see <FIG>) at rotation center axis <NUM> to mediate the rotational movement. I-OPFE preload module <NUM> includes an I-OPFE preload magnet <NUM> (not visible here, but in <FIG>) and an I-OPFE preload yoke <NUM>. I-OPFE holder <NUM> has independent modules for actuation (module <NUM>), sensing (module <NUM>) and preload (module <NUM>). The rotation of I-OPFE <NUM> is mediated by two ball-groove mechanisms, a first one formed by ball <NUM> and groove <NUM>, a second one formed by ball <NUM> and groove <NUM>.

I-OPFE holder <NUM> includes an I-OPFE drop prevention and rotation stop module <NUM>. Module <NUM> includes a first groove <NUM> and a second groove <NUM>. A first pin <NUM> (not visible here, but in <FIG>) is inserted in groove <NUM>, and a second pin <NUM> (not visible here, but in <FIG>) is inserted in groove <NUM>.

<FIG> shows camera module <NUM> without housing module housing <NUM> in a cross-sectional view. Preload magnet <NUM> is visible.

<FIG> shows I-OPFE holder <NUM> in a perspective view. I-OPFE holder <NUM> is shown here including two stray light masks <NUM> and <NUM> for stray light prevention.

<FIG> shows camera module <NUM> without top surface <NUM> in a maximum right scan position in a cross-sectional view. "Right" scan position here refers to the fact that an object-facing side <NUM> of I-OPFE <NUM> is oriented towards the right by rotating it around rotation axis <NUM> in a clockwise rotation direction <NUM>. Camera module <NUM> includes two I-OPFE drop prevention modules <NUM> designed to prevent I-OPFE holder <NUM> to fall out of a camera module such as <NUM> or <NUM> in case that an including mobile device is dropped. Each of the I-OPFE drop prevention modules <NUM> includes a pin and groove assembly: pin <NUM> is inserted in groove <NUM>, and pin <NUM> is inserted in groove <NUM>.

I-OPFE drop prevention and rotation stop module <NUM> is visible. It prevents I-OPFE holder <NUM> to fall out of a camera module such as <NUM> or <NUM> in case that a mobile device including it is dropped. Module <NUM> additionally limits the rotational movement of I-OPFE <NUM>. In the maximum right scan position, pin <NUM> and pin <NUM> touch a top margin (the margin with the highest y-value) <NUM> and a right margin (the margin with the highest x-value) <NUM> of groove <NUM> and <NUM> respectively. This prevents I-OPFE <NUM> from further clockwise rotation.

A lens barrel actuation ball guide module <NUM> includes two groove-rail modules <NUM> and <NUM> that mediate the movement of lens barrel <NUM>.

<FIG> shows camera module <NUM> without top surface <NUM> in a maximum left scan position in a cross-sectional view. Object-facing side <NUM> of I-OPFE <NUM> is oriented towards the left by rotating it around rotation axis <NUM> in a counter-clockwise rotation direction <NUM>. In maximum left scan position, pin <NUM> and pin <NUM> touch a bottom margin <NUM> (the margin with the lowest y-value) and a left margin <NUM> (the margin with the lowest x-value) of groove <NUM> and <NUM> respectively.

As seen in <FIG>, the scanning range of I-OPFE <NUM> may be symmetric, i.e. a scanning range towards a left side (lower x-values) and right side (higher x-values) with respect to a zero scan position are identical. A maximum rotation range of I-OPFE <NUM> may be about ±<NUM> degrees, wherein about ±<NUM> degrees may be used for scanning the n-FOVT, and about ±<NUM> degrees may be used for OIS. In other examples, the scanning range may be used in a different ratio for FOV scanning and OIS. In other examples, a maximum rotation range of I-OPFE <NUM> may be about ±5degrees - ±<NUM> degrees.

<FIG> show I-OPFE <NUM> as well as I-OPFE actuator <NUM> which rotates I-OPFE <NUM> around rotation axis <NUM>. I-OPFE actuator <NUM> includes I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> and I-OPFE sensing module <NUM>.

<FIG> shows I-OPFE <NUM> and I-OPFE actuator <NUM> in a bottom view. I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> includes an actuation coil <NUM> and an actuation magnet <NUM>. I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> includes position sensor <NUM> and a sensing magnet <NUM>. A pivot ball <NUM> is located at rotation axis <NUM>. Pivot ball <NUM> and support balls <NUM> and <NUM> mediate the rotation of <NUM>-OPFE <NUM>.

<FIG> shows I-OPFE actuator <NUM> without I-OPFE <NUM> in a perspective view. <FIG> shows I-OPFE <NUM> and I-OPFE actuation module <NUM> in a perspective view. Sensing yoke <NUM> which is included in I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> is visible. The axis of rotation <NUM> is marked. A sensing yoke <NUM> which is included in I-OPFE sensing module <NUM> is visible in both <FIG>.

The use of two separate magnets (<NUM> and <NUM>) provides separation of sensing and actuation. Position sensor <NUM> is decoupled from the magnetic field of coil <NUM>. Rotation axis <NUM> is at a relatively large distance from I-OPFE actuation module <NUM>, providing a large lever for rotational actuation. Rotation axis <NUM> is at relatively short distance from position sensor <NUM>, so that sensing of large rotational actuation I-OPFE <NUM> can be performed within a small stroke.

The disclosure is to be understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A camera module (<NUM>) comprising a scanning Tele camera (STC) (<NUM>), the STC (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
an object side optical path folding element O-OPFE (<NUM>, <NUM>) for folding a first optical path OP1 to a second optical path OP2;
an image side optical path folding element I-OPFE (<NUM>, <NUM>) for folding OP2 to a third optical path OP3;
an I-OPFEactuator (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a lens (<NUM>);
a lens actuator; and
an image sensor (<NUM>);
characterized by further comprising:
an O-OPFE actuator (<NUM>, <NUM>);
wherein STC (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) has a STC native field-of-view n-FOVT, wherein the O-OPFE actuator (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to rotate the O-OPFE (<NUM>, <NUM>) around a first axis and the I-OPFE actuator (<NUM>, <NUM>) is configured to rotate the I-OPFE (<NUM>, <NUM>) around a second axis for scanning a scene with the n-FOVT, wherein the lens actuator is configured to move the lens for focusing along a third axis, and
wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis and parallel to the third axis, and wherein the camera module (<NUM>) is divided into a first region having a module region height HM and a second region having a shoulder region height HS < HM, the lens having a maximum aperture height HA, all heights being measured along OP1, wherein HS < HA + <NUM>.