PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-11579461-B1
Application Number: US-202017023991-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B1

Title: Perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for camera

Abstract:
Various embodiments include perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangements for cameras. A perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may be used to suspend a moveable platform of the camera from a base structure of the camera, and allow a lens group of the camera to move laterally. According to some embodiments, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may include one or more tabs that may be used as bumpers that cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform.

Claims:
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A camera, comprising:
 a lens group comprising one or more lens elements that define an optical axis; 
 an image sensor to capture light that has passed through the lens group; 
 a base structure coupled with the image sensor; 
 a moveable platform coupled with the lens group; 
 an actuator to move the lens group together with the moveable platform in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis; and 
 a suspension arrangement comprising a plurality of sheet springs formed from a sheet material that suspend the moveable platform from the base structure and allow the lens group to move in the one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis, wherein the plurality of sheet springs extend farther in a direction parallel to the optical axis than in a direction toward the optical axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The camera of  claim 1 , wherein individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs comprise:
 a respective first portion attached to the moveable platform; 
 a respective second portion attached to the base structure; and 
 a respective set of one or more flexure arms connecting the respective first portion to the respective second portion. 
 
     
     
       3. The camera of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the base structure defines a recess; 
 individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs further comprise:
 a bumper spring tab extending from the respective first portion to at least partially within the recess, wherein the bumper spring tab is configured to cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure of the camera. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The camera of  claim 3 , wherein the stationary structure comprises:
 a shield can that encases at least a portion of the camera. 
 
     
     
       5. The camera of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the moveable platform comprises a magnet holder; and 
 the actuator comprises one or more magnets attached to the magnet holder. 
 
     
     
       6. The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sheet springs comprises:
 a first sheet spring extending along a first plane, comprising:
 a first portion attached to a first side of the moveable platform; 
 a second portion attached to a first side of the base structure; and 
 a first set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the first sheet spring to the second portion of the first sheet spring; and 
 
 a second sheet spring extending along a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane, comprising:
 a first portion attached to a second side of the moveable platform; 
 a second portion attached to a second side of the base structure; and 
 a second set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the second sheet spring to the second portion of the second sheet spring. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The camera of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the suspension arrangement comprises an optical image stabilization (OIS) suspension arrangement; 
 individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs extend along a respective plane that is parallel to the optical axis; and 
 the camera further comprises:
 an autofocus (AF) suspension arrangement, comprising:
 a leaf spring coupling the lens group to the moveable platform and allowing the lens group to move, relative to the moveable platform, along the optical axis; 
 wherein the leaf spring extends along a plane that is orthogonal to the optical axis. 
 
 
 
     
     
       8. A device, comprising:
 one or more processors; 
 memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operation of a camera; and 
 the camera, comprising:
 a lens group comprising one or more lens elements that define an optical axis; 
 an image sensor to capture light that has passed through the lens group; 
 a base structure coupled with the image sensor; 
 a moveable platform coupled with the lens group; 
 an actuator to move lens group together with the moveable platform in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis; and 
 a suspension arrangement comprising a plurality of sheet springs formed from a sheet material that suspend the moveable platform from the base structure and allow the lens group to move in the one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis, wherein the plurality of sheet springs extend farther in a direction parallel to the optical axis than in a direction toward the optical axis. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs comprise:
 a respective first portion attached to the moveable platform; 
 a respective second portion attached to the base structure; and 
 a respective set of one or more flexure arms connecting the respective first portion to the respective second portion. 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein individual ones of the plurality of sheets springs further comprise:
 one or more bumper spring tabs extending from the respective first portion towards the second portion, wherein the one or more bumper spring tabs are configured to cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure of the camera. 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the moveable platform comprises a magnet holder; and 
 the actuator comprises a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that includes:
 one or more magnets attached to the magnet holder; and 
 one or more coils attached to the base structure. 
 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of sheet springs comprises:
 a first sheet spring, comprising:
 a first portion attached to a first side of the moveable platform; 
 a second portion attached to a first side of the base structure; and 
 a first set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the first sheet spring to the second portion of the first sheet spring; and 
 
 a second sheet spring, comprising:
 a first portion attached to a second side of the moveable platform that is opposite the first side of the moveable platform; 
 a second portion attached to a second side of the base structure that is opposite the first side of the base structure; and 
 a second set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the second sheet spring to the second portion of the second sheet spring. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first set of one or more flexure arms comprises:
 a first flexure arm proximate a first corner of the camera; and 
 a second flexure arm proximate a second corner of the camera; 
 
 the second set of one or more flexure arms comprises:
 a first flexure arm proximate a third corner of the camera; and 
 a second flexure arm proximate a fourth corner of the camera. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the suspension arrangement comprises a first suspension arrangement; 
 individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs extend along a respective plane that is parallel to the optical axis; 
 the camera further comprises:
 a second suspension arrangement, comprising:
 a leaf spring suspending the lens group from the moveable platform and allowing the lens group to move, relative to the moveable platform, along the optical axis, the leaf spring extending along a plane that is orthogonal to the optical axis; and 
 
 
 at least one of the sheet springs of the first suspension arrangement is electrically connected to the leaf spring of the second suspension arrangement, such that the camera is configured to convey electrical signals between the first suspension arrangement and the second suspension arrangement. 
 
     
     
       15. An optics system, comprising:
 a base structure; 
 a moveable platform coupled to a lens group of a camera such that the moveable platform and the lens group are moveable together, relative to the base structure, in one or more directions orthogonal to an optical axis defined by one or more lenses of the lens group, wherein an actuator of the camera is to move the lens group relative to an image sensor of the camera; and 
 a suspension arrangement comprising a plurality of sheet springs formed from a sheet material that suspend the moveable platform from the base structure and allow the lens group to move in the one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis, wherein the plurality of sheet springs extend farther in a direction parallel to the optical axis than in a direction toward the optical axis. 
 
     
     
       16. The optics system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the base structure defines a recess; 
 individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs further comprise:
 a bumper spring tab extending from the respective first portion to at least partially within the recess, wherein the bumper spring tab is configured to cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform as the moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure of the camera. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The optics system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the moveable platform comprises a magnet holder to which one or more magnets of the actuator are attached. 
 
     
     
       18. The optics system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sheet springs comprises a monolithic sheet spring. 
     
     
       19. The optics system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of sheet springs comprises:
 a first sheet spring, comprising:
 a first portion attached to a first side of the moveable platform; 
 a second portion attached to a first side of the base structure; and 
 a first set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the first sheet spring to the second portion of the first sheet spring; 
 
 a second sheet spring, comprising:
 a first portion attached to a second side of the moveable platform that is opposite the first side of the moveable platform; 
 a second portion attached to a second side of the base structure that is opposite the first side of the base structure; and 
 a second set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the second sheet spring to the second portion of the second sheet spring; 
 
 a third sheet spring, comprising:
 a first portion attached to a third side of the moveable platform; 
 a second portion attached to a third side of the base structure; and 
 a third set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the third sheet spring to the second portion of the third sheet spring; and 
 
 a fourth sheet spring, comprising:
 a first portion attached to a fourth side of the moveable platform that is opposite the third side of the moveable platform; 
 a second portion attached to a fourth side of the base structure that is opposite the third side of the base structure; and 
 a fourth set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the fourth sheet spring to the second portion of the fourth sheet spring. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The optics system of  claim 19 , wherein the first sheet spring is etched from a sheet of metal.

Description:
This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/906,037, filed Sep. 25, 2019, titled “Perimeter Sheet Spring Suspension Arrangement for Camera”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     This disclosure relates generally to a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The advent of small, mobile multipurpose devices such as smartphones and tablet or pad devices has resulted in a need for high-resolution, small form factor cameras for integration in the devices. Some cameras may incorporate optical image stabilization (OIS) mechanisms that may sense and react to external excitation/disturbance by adjusting location of the optical lens on the X and/or Y axis in an attempt to compensate for unwanted motion of the lens. Furthermore, some cameras may incorporate an autofocus (AF) mechanism whereby the object focal distance can be adjusted to focus an object plane in front of the camera at an image plane to be captured by the image sensor. In some such AF mechanisms, the optical lens is moved as a single rigid body along the optical axis of the camera to refocus the camera. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of an example camera that includes an example perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an example of a portion of a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement in a deflected state, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a front view of an example sheet spring that may be used in a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an example camera that includes a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a block diagram of a portable multifunction device that may include a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a portable multifunction device that may include a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an example computer system that may include a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera, in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     This specification includes references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment.” The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner consistent with this disclosure. 
     “Comprising.” This term is open-ended. As used in the appended claims, this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider a claim that recites: “An apparatus comprising one or more processor units . . . ” Such a claim does not foreclose the apparatus from including additional components (e.g., a network interface unit, graphics circuitry, etc.). 
     “Configured To.” Various units, circuits, or other components may be described or claimed as “configured to” perform a task or tasks. In such contexts, “configured to” is used to connote structure by indicating that the units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry) that performs those task or tasks during operation. As such, the unit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to perform the task even when the specified unit/circuit/component is not currently operational (e.g., is not on). The units/circuits/components used with the “configured to” language include hardware—for example, circuits, memory storing program instructions executable to implement the operation, etc. Reciting that a unit/circuit/component is “configured to” perform one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) for that unit/circuit/component. Additionally, “configured to” can include generic structure (e.g., generic circuitry) that is manipulated by software and/or firmware (e.g., an FPGA or a general-purpose processor executing software) to operate in manner that is capable of performing the task(s) at issue. “Configure to” may also include adapting a manufacturing process (e.g., a semiconductor fabrication facility) to fabricate devices (e.g., integrated circuits) that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks. 
     “First,” “Second,” etc. As used herein, these terms are used as labels for nouns that they precede, and do not imply any type of ordering (e.g., spatial, temporal, logical, etc.). For example, a buffer circuit may be described herein as performing write operations for “first” and “second” values. The terms “first” and “second” do not necessarily imply that the first value must be written before the second value. 
     “Based On.” As used herein, this term is used to describe one or more factors that affect a determination. This term does not foreclose additional factors that may affect a determination. That is, a determination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least in part, on those factors. Consider the phrase “determine A based on B.” While in this case, B is a factor that affects the determination of A, such a phrase does not foreclose the determination of A from also being based on C. In other instances, A may be determined based solely on B. 
     It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the intended scope. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact. 
     The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments described herein relate to a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera. The perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may be used to suspend a moveable platform of the camera from a base structure of the camera. In various embodiments, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may allow a lens group of the camera to move laterally (e.g., in one or more directions orthogonal to an optical axis defined by the lens group). In some examples, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may include one or more sheet springs attached to one or more sides of the camera. For example, a sheet spring may include a first portion (e.g., an upper portion) attached to a side of a moveable platform of the camera, a second portion (e.g., a lower portion) attached to a side of a base structure of the camera, and/or one or more flexure arms. Each of the flexure arm(s) may connect the first portion to the second portion. 
     According to some embodiments, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may include one or more bumper spring tabs that cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure of the camera. The bumper spring tab(s) may prevent an undesirable collision between the moveable platform and the stationary structure (e.g., as a result of a drop event) that may damage the camera, negatively impact camera performance, and/or negatively impact user experience. In some instances, an undesirable “clicking” sound may be produced if the moveable platform collides with the stationary structure. The bumper spring tab(s) may provide acoustic mitigation to prevent or lessen such unwanted acoustics. In some examples, the bumper spring tab(s) and/or other portion(s) of the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may be used to reduce or limit an amount of electrostatic charge accumulation on the moveable platform and/or the stationary structure. 
     Compared to some other camera systems that use different OIS suspension means (e.g., vertical suspension wires), some embodiments of the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement described herein may enabled a reduction in one or more dimensions of the system. For example, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may enable a height reduction by eliminating the need for solder points that are used in some other systems to attach suspension wires. Furthermore, compared to some other systems that use different OIS suspension means (e.g., vertical suspension wires), some embodiments of the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement described herein may enable improved modal performance (e.g., by driving up parasitic mode frequencies), more uniform and/or efficient stress distribution, and/or reduced stress, as discussed below. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. 
     As mentioned above, various embodiments include a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement having sheet springs attached to sides of a camera.  FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of an example camera  100  that includes an example of such a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102 . The example X-Y-Z coordinate system shown in  FIG.  1    is used to discuss aspects of systems and/or system components, and may apply to embodiments described throughout this disclosure. 
     According to various embodiments, the camera  100  may include a lens group  104 , an image sensor (e.g., image sensor  406  in  FIG.  4   ), a moveable platform  106  (e.g., magnet holder  410  in  FIG.  4   ), a base structure  108 , the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102 , and/or an actuator (e.g., actuator  408  in  FIG.  4   ). The lens group  104  may include one or more lens elements that define an optical axis  110 . In some embodiments, the lens group  104  may be coupled with the moveable platform  106 . The image sensor may be configured to capture light that has passed through the lens group  104 . In some embodiments, the image sensor may be coupled with the base structure  108 . 
     In some embodiments, the actuator may be configured to move the lens group  104  and/or the image sensor, e.g., causing relative movement between the lens group  104  and the image sensor to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. For example, the actuator may move the lens group  104  along the optical axis  110  to provide AF movement of an image on the image sensor. Additionally, or alternatively, the actuator may move the lens group  104  in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis  110  to provide OIS movement of an image on the image sensor. In some non-limiting examples, the actuator may comprise one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators, e.g., as further discussed herein with reference to  FIG.  4   . 
     According to various embodiments, the camera  100  may include one or more other suspension arrangements, e.g., in addition to the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102 . For example, the camera  100  may include one or more upper leaf spring(s) (e.g., upper leaf spring  112 ( a ), upper leaf spring  428  in  FIG.  4   , etc.) and/or lower leaf spring(s) (e.g., lower leaf spring  112 ( b )) that couple the lens group  104  to the moveable platform  106  (and/or that suspend the lens group  104  from the moveable platform  106 ). In some embodiments, the upper and/or lower leaf spring(s) may allow the lens group  104  to move, relative to the moveable platform  106 , along the optical axis  110 . For example, the upper and/or lower leaf spring(s) may provide sufficient compliance in the Z-axis direction to allow such movement along the optical axis  110 , and/or provide sufficient stiffness in the X-Y plane to resist or prevent movement of the lens group  104 , relative to the moveable platform  106 , in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis  110 . In some embodiments, the upper and/or lower leaf spring(s) may be considered AF springs (and/or an AF suspension arrangement) as the movement of the lens group  104  along the optical axis  110  that is allowed by the leaf spring(s) may enable controlled AF movement of an image on the image sensor. 
     In various embodiments, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  may include one or more sheet springs  114 . The sheet spring(s)  114  may be disposed at one or more sides of the camera  100 , e.g., along a perimeter of the moveable platform  106  and/or the base structure  108 . The perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  may be configured to suspend the moveable platform  106  from the base structure  108  and allow the lens group  104  to move (e.g., together with the moveable platform  106 ) in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis  110 . For example, the sheet spring(s)  114  may provide sufficient compliance in the X-Y plane to allow such movement in direction(s) orthogonal to the optical axis  110 , and/or provide sufficient stiffness in the Z-axis direction to resist or prevent movement of the lens group  104  along the optical axis  110  in some examples. According to some embodiments, the sheet spring(s)  114  may be considered OIS spring(s) (and/or the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  may be considered an OIS suspension arrangement) as the movement of the lens group  104  in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis  110  that is allowed by the sheet spring(s)  114  may enable controlled OIS movement of an image on the image sensor. 
     According to various embodiments, a sheet spring  114  may include a first portion  116  (e.g., an upper portion), a second portion  118  (e.g., a lower portion), and/or a set of one or more flexure arms  120 , e.g., as indicated in  FIG.  1   . The first portion  116  may be attached to a side of the moveable platform  106 . The second portion  118  may be attached to a side of the base structure  108 . In various examples, the side of the base structure  108  (to which the second portion  118  is attached) may correspond to the side of the moveable platform  106  (to which the first portion  116  is attached), e.g., in the sense that they correspond to a same side of the camera  100 . The flexure arm(s)  120  may connect the first portion  116  to the second portion  118 . 
     In some non-limiting examples, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  may include a first sheet spring  114 ( a ), a second sheet spring  114 ( b ), a third sheet spring  114 ( c ), and/or a fourth sheet spring  114 ( d ), e.g., as indicated in  FIG.  1   . The first sheet spring  114 ( a ) may include a first portion attached to a first side  122 ( a ) of the moveable platform  106 , a second portion attached to a first side of the base structure  108 , and a first set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the first sheet spring  114 ( a ) to the second portion of the first sheet spring  114 ( a ). The second sheet spring  114 ( b ) may include a first portion attached to a second side  122 ( b ) of the moveable platform  106 , a second portion attached to a second side of the base structure  108 , and a second set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the second sheet spring  114 ( b ) to the second portion of the second sheet spring  114 ( b ). The third sheet spring  114 ( c ) may include a first portion attached to a third side  122 ( c ) of the moveable platform  106 , a second portion attached to a third side of the base structure  108 , and a third set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the third sheet spring  114 ( c ) to the second portion of the third sheet spring  114 ( c ). The third side of the moveable platform  106  may be opposite the first side of the moveable platform  106 , and the third side of the base structure  108  may be opposite the first side of the base structure  108 . The fourth sheet spring  114 ( d ) may include a first portion attached to a fourth side  122 ( d ) of the moveable platform  106 , a second portion attached to a fourth side of the base structure  108 , and a fourth set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the fourth sheet spring  114 ( d ) to the second portion of the fourth sheet spring  114 ( d ). The fourth side of the moveable platform  106  may be opposite the second side of the moveable platform  106 , and the fourth side of the base structure  108  may be opposite the second side of the base structure  108 . The perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  may include fewer or more sheet spring(s)  114  than indicated in  FIG.  1    in some embodiments. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the sheet spring(s)  114  may be shaped and/or sized differently than indicated in  FIG.  1    in some embodiments. 
     As indicated in  FIG.  1   , in some embodiments, the first set of flexure arm(s) of the first sheet spring  114 ( a ) may include a first flexure arm proximate a first corner of the camera  100 , and a second flexure arm proximate a second corner of the camera  100 . The second set of flexure arm(s) of the second sheet spring  114 ( b ) may include a first flexure arm proximate the second corner of the camera  100  (and/or proximate the second flexure arm of the first sheet spring  114 ( a )), and a second flexure arm proximate a third corner of the camera  100 . The third set of flexure arm(s) of the third sheet spring  114 ( c ) may include a first flexure arm proximate the third corner of the camera  100  (and/or proximate the second flexure arm of the second sheet spring  114 ( b )), and a second flexure arm proximate a fourth corner of the camera  100 . The fourth set of flexure arm(s) of the fourth sheet spring  114 ( d ) may include a first flexure arm proximate the fourth corner of the camera  100  (and/or proximate the second flexure arm of the third sheet spring  114 ( c )), and a second flexure arm proximate the first corner of the camera  100  (and/or proximate the first flexure arm of the first sheet spring  114 ( a )). The perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  may include fewer or more flexure arms than indicated in  FIG.  1    in some embodiments. Additionally, or alternatively, a sheet spring  114  may have a different number of flexure arms than one or more other sheet springs  114  of the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  in some embodiments. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the flexure arms may be located, shaped, and/or sized differently than indicated in  FIG.  1    in some embodiments. 
     In various embodiments, a set of functional modes of the camera  100  may be characterized by patterns of motion exhibited by component(s) of the camera  100  (e.g., the lens group  104  and/or the moveable platform  106 ) at certain vibration frequencies (and/or frequency ranges). In some non-limiting examples, a first mode may be characterized by translation in the Z-axis direction at a first frequency range. A second mode may be characterized by translation in the X-axis direction at a second frequency range. A third mode may be characterized by translation in the Y-axis direction at a third frequency range. A fourth mode may be characterized by tilt about the Z-axis at a fourth frequency range. A fifth mode may be characterized by tilt about the X-axis at a fifth frequency range. A sixth mode may be characterized by tilt about the Y-axis at a sixth frequency range. As compared to some other systems that use different OIS suspension means (e.g., vertical suspension wires), some embodiments of the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  described herein may enable improved modal performance (e.g., by driving up parasitic mode frequencies), more uniform and/or efficient stress distribution, and/or reduced stress. 
     In some cases, the frequency range for a mode may be the same as (or similar to) the frequency range for one or more other modes. As a non-limiting example, the second frequency range associated with the second mode (translation in the X-axis direction) may be the same as (or similar to) the third frequency range associated with the third mode (translation in the Y-axis direction). As another non-limiting example, the fourth frequency range associated with the fourth mode (tilt about the Z-axis) may be the same as (or similar to) the fifth frequency range associated with the fifth mode (tilt about the X-axis). In some cases, the frequency range for a mode may partially overlap with the frequency range for one or more other modes. As a non-limiting example, the second frequency range associated with the second mode (translation in the X-axis direction) and/or the third frequency range associated with the third mode (translation in the Y-axis direction) may partially overlap with the first frequency range associated with the first mode. As another non-limiting example, the fourth frequency ranger associated with the fourth mode (tilt about the Z-axis), the fifth frequency associated with the fifth mode (tilt about the X-axis), and/or the sixth frequency associated with the sixth mode (tilt about the Y-axis) may partially overlap with one another. 
     According to various embodiments, both in-plane and out-of-plane stiffnesses of the sheet spring(s)  114  of the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  may be used (e.g., engaged so as to flex, deflect, and/or not be in a state of rest) in certain modes. For example, in side-to-side motion such as that exhibited in the second mode (translation in the X-axis direction) and the third mode (translation in the Y-axis direction), a first pair of opposing sheet springs  114  may be primarily engaged with respect to out-of-plane stiffness, while a second pair of opposing sheet springs  114  may be primarily engaged with respect to in-plane stiffness. 
     In a non-limiting example, the second mode (translation in the X-axis direction) may engage out-of-plane stiffness(es) of the flexure arms  120  of the first sheet spring  114 ( a ) and the third sheet spring  114 ( c ) (e.g., a first pair of opposing sheet springs), while engaging in-plane stiffness(es) of the flexure arms  120  of the second sheet spring  114 ( b ) and the fourth sheet spring  114 ( d ) (e.g., a second pair of opposing sheet springs). In this example, the in-plane stiffness may mitigate an extent to which the out-of-plane stiffness affects modal performance variability and/or stress variability, as dimensional variations in the sheet springs  114  may affect in-plane stiffness to a lesser extent than out-of-plane stiffness. For example, dimensional variations on flexure arms formed using an etching process may carry a linear effect on in-plane stiffness, whereas such dimensional variations may carry a cubic effect on out-plane-stiffness. While small variations in out-of-plane stiffness may correspond to large increases in modal performance variability and/or stress variability in some embodiments, engagement of the in-plane stiffness of one or more flexure arms (e.g., contemporaneously with engagement of the out-of-plane stiffness of one or more other flexure arms in certain modes) may mitigate such modal performance variability and/or stress variability. 
     According to some embodiments, one or more sheet springs  114  of the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  102  may include one or more tabs  124  (also referred to herein as bumper spring tab(s)  124 ) that may be used as bumpers that cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform  106  as the moveable platform  106  approaches a stationary structure (e.g., shield can  434  in  FIG.  4   ) of the camera  400 . In some examples, the bumper spring tab(s)  124  may cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform  106  before the moveable platform  106  reaches a lateral end stop defined by the stationary structure. The bumper spring tab(s)  124  may prevent an undesirable collision between the moveable platform  106  and the stationary structure (e.g., as a result of a drop event) that may damage the camera  100 , negatively impact camera performance, and/or negatively impact user experience. In some instances, an undesirable “clicking” sound may be produced if the moveable platform  106  collides with the stationary structure. The bumper spring tab(s)  124  may provide acoustic mitigation to prevent or lessen such unwanted acoustics. Furthermore, in some examples, the bumper spring tab(s) and/or the sheet spring(s)  114  may be used to reduce or limit an amount of electrostatic charge accumulation on the moveable platform  106  and/or the stationary structure. 
     In some examples, the bumper spring tab(s)  124  may extend from the first portion(s)  116  of the sheet spring(s)  114 , e.g., downwardly towards the second portion(s)  118  of the sheet spring(s)  114 . At least a portion of the bumper spring tab(s)  124  may be configured to make contact with the base structure  108  when a lateral movement stroke of the moveable platform  106  satisfies (e.g., meets or exceeds) a stroke threshold. For example, at least a portion of the bumper spring tab(s)  124  may come into contact with the base structure  108  when the lateral movement stroke of the moveable platform  106  meets the stroke threshold, and at least a portion of the tab(s)  124  may deflect (e.g., in a lateral direction opposite the lateral movement of the moveable platform  106 ) when the lateral movement stroke exceeds the stroke threshold. In some embodiments, the base structure  108  may define one or more recesses  126  configured to receive one or more bumper spring tabs  124 , e.g., as indicated in  FIG.  1   . For example, a bumper spring tab  124  may extend from a first portion  116  of a sheet spring  114  to at least partially within a corresponding recess  126 . In some embodiments, the recess  126  may be sized and/or shaped such that engagement of the bumper spring tab  124  occurs in accordance with a desired lateral movement stroke and/or stroke threshold. 
     In some embodiments, the sheet spring(s)  114  may be monolithic sheet spring(s). For example, a sheet spring  114  may be formed of a same piece of material. In a non-limiting example, a sheet spring  114  may be formed by etching a sheet of metal. In this manner, the first portion  124 , the second portion  126 , the flexure arm(s)  120 , and/or the bumper spring tab(s)  124  may be monolithic with respect to each other. 
     In some embodiments, the moveable platform  106  and/or the base structure  108  may define one or more features such as protrusions, tabs, ribs, recesses (e.g., recess  126 ), pockets, grooves, troughs, and the like, which may be designed to position the sheet spring(s)  114 , e.g., along the X-axis (for sheet spring(s)  114  orthogonal to the X-axis) and/or the Y-axis (for sheet spring(s)  114  orthogonal to the Y-axis). 
     In some non-limiting examples, the first sheet spring  114 ( a ) may define a first plane (e.g., parallel to the Y-Z plane). The second sheet spring  114 ( b ) may define a second plane (e.g., parallel to the X-Z plane). The third sheet spring  114 ( c ) may define a third plane (e.g., parallel to the Y-Z plane). The fourth sheet spring  114 ( d ) may define a fourth plane (e.g., parallel to the X-Z plane). Additionally, or alternatively, the upper leaf spring  112 ( a ) may define a fifth plane (e.g., parallel to the X-Y plane). Additionally, or alternatively, the lower leaf spring  112 ( b ) may define a sixth plane (e.g., parallel to the X-Y plane). In some embodiments, each of the first plane (defined by the first sheet spring  114 ( a )), the second plane (defined by the second sheet spring  114 ( b )), the third plane (defined by the third sheet spring  114 ( c )), and/or the fourth plane (defined by the fourth sheet spring  114 ( d )) may be oriented at a respective non-zero angle relative to the fifth plane (defined by the upper leaf spring  112 ( a )) and/or the sixth plane (defined by the lower leaf spring  112 ( b )). 
     According to various embodiments, the camera  100  may include a lens barrel arrangement. The lens barrel arrangement may include a lens barrel  128  and/or a lens carrier  130 . In some examples, the lens group  104  may be contained within the lens barrel  128 , and the lens barrel  128  may be fixedly attached to the lens carrier  130  such that the lens group  104  is moveable together (e.g., in lockstep) with the lens carrier  130 , e.g., via the actuator. As previously mentioned, the upper leaf spring(s)  112 ( a ) and/or the lower leaf spring(s)  112 ( b ) may suspend the lens group  104  from the moveable platform  106 . In some embodiments, the upper leaf spring(s)  112 ( a ) and/or the lower leaf spring(s)  112 ( b ) may connect to the lens barrel arrangement. For example, as indicated in  FIG.  1   , the upper leaf spring  130  may connect to the lens carrier  130  and to the moveable platform  106 . While the lens barrel  128  and the lens carrier  130  may be components that are individually formed and subsequently coupled to form the lens barrel arrangement, the lens barrel arrangement may be integrally formed (e.g., formed as a single component) in some embodiments. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that structural and/or functional aspects of the lens barrel  128  may additionally or alternatively be present in the lens carrier  130 , and vice-versa. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an example  200  of a portion of a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  202  in a deflected state, in accordance with some embodiments. In this example  200 , the position of the moveable platform  204  is shown as being shifted, relative to the base structure  206 . Furthermore, the flexure arms from different sheet springs are shown as being engaged and deflecting differently. 
     The perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  202  may include a first sheet spring  208 ( a ) and a second sheet spring  208 ( b ). The first sheet spring  208 ( a ) may include a first portion  210 ( a ), a second portion  212 ( a ), and a first set of one or more flexure arms (e.g., including flexure arm  214 ( a )). The first portion  210 ( a ) of the first sheet spring  208 ( a ) may be attached to a first side of the moveable platform  204 . The second portion  212 ( a ) of the first sheet spring  208 ( a ) may be attached to a first side of the base structure  206 . The first flexure arm  214 ( a ) may connect the first portion  210 ( a ) of the first sheet spring  208 ( a ) to the second portion  212 ( a ) of the first sheet spring  208 ( a ). The second sheet spring  208 ( b ) may include a first portion  210 ( b ), a second portion  212 ( b ), and a second set of one or more flexure arms (e.g., including  214 ( b )). The first portion  210 ( b ) of the second sheet spring  208 ( b ) may be attached to a second side of the moveable platform  204 . The second portion  212 ( b ) of the second sheet spring  208 ( b ) may be attached to a second side of the base structure  206 . The second flexure arm  214 ( b ) may connect the first portion  210 ( b ) of the second sheet spring  208 ( b ) to the second portion  212 ( b ) of the second sheet spring  208 ( b ). 
     According to some embodiments, the camera and/or the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  202  may include a damper that dampens movement of one or more of the flexure arms  214 . For instance, the first flexure arm  214 ( a ) and/or the second flexure arm  214 ( b ) may be at least partially disposed within a viscoelastic material  216  (e.g., a viscoelastic gel). In some examples, one or more structures (e.g., the moveable platform  204  and/or the base structure  206 ) may form one or more pockets within which the viscoelastic material  216  may be disposed. In some embodiments, the viscoelastic material  216  may be located along a central portion of the first flexure arm  214 ( a ) and/or the second flexure arm  214 ( b ). However, the viscoelastic material  216  may additionally, or alternatively, be located at any other suitable portion(s) of the first flexure arm  214 ( a ) and/or the second flexure arm  214 ( b ) in various embodiments. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a front view of an example sheet spring  300  that may be used in a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement. In some embodiments, the perimeter sheet spring arrangement may be the same as (or similar to) the perimeter sheet spring arrangement  102  described herein with reference to  FIG.  1   , the perimeter sheet spring arrangement  202  described herein with reference to  FIG.  2   , and/or the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  402  described with reference to  FIG.  4   . In some embodiments, the camera may be the same as (or similar to) the camera  100  described herein with reference to  FIG.  1    and/or the camera  400  described herein with reference to  FIG.  4   . 
     According to some embodiments, the sheet spring  300  may include a first portion  302 , a second portion  304 , and a set of one or more flexure arms  306 . For example, the set of flexure arms may include a first flexure arm  306 ( a ) and a second flexure arm  306 ( b ). However, the set of flexure arms  306  may include fewer or more flexure arms in various embodiments. 
     As indicated in  FIG.  3   , the set of flexure arms  306  may connect the first portion  302  to the second portion  304 . In some embodiments, the first portion  302  may be considered an upper portion, and the second portion  304  may be considered a lower portion. The first portion  302  may be attached to a moveable platform (e.g., moveable platform  106  in  FIG.  1   , moveable platform  204  in  FIG.  2   , magnet holder  410  in  FIG.  4   , etc.). The second portion  304  may be attached to a base structure (e.g., base structure  108  in  FIG.  1   , base structure  206  in  FIG.  2   , base structure  412  in  FIG.  4   , etc.). 
     In some embodiments, the first portion  302  and/or the second portion  304  may have a respective longest dimension that extends in the same direction (e.g., the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction). In a non-limiting example, the flexure arms  306 ( a ) and  306 ( b ) may be located at opposing end portions of the sheet spring  300  with respect to the longest dimension, e.g., as indicated in  FIG.  3   . 
     According to various embodiments, the flexure arm(s)  306  may comprise portion(s) of the sheet spring  300  that are thinner (e.g., along a plane defined by the sheet spring  300 ) than the first portion  302  and/or the second portion  304 . In some embodiments, the flexure arm(s)  306  may include one or more bend portions. For example, the flexure arm  306 ( a ) may include a first bend portion  308  and a second bend portion  310 , as indicated in  FIG.  3   . However, in various embodiments individual ones of the flexure arm(s)  306  may include fewer or more bend portions than indicated in  FIG.  3   . In some embodiments, the flexure arm(s)  306  may include one or more segments that extend between the bend portion(s). The segment(s) may be vertically-oriented, e.g., as indicated in  FIG.  3   . In some embodiments, however, the flexure arm(s)  306  may include horizontally-oriented segment(s). Furthermore, the segment(s) may be parallel with one another, e.g., as indicated in  FIG.  3   . In some embodiments, however, the flexure arm(s)  306  may include segment(s) that are not parallel with one another. 
     As similarly discussed herein with reference to  FIG.  1   , in some embodiments the sheet spring  300  may include one or more bumper spring tabs  312  that may be used to cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure (e.g., shield can  434  in  FIG.  4   ) of the camera. For example, the sheet spring  300  may include a first bumper spring tab  312 ( a ) and a second bumper spring tab  312 ( b ), as indicated in  FIG.  3   . The bumper spring tab(s)  312  may be located between the first flexure arm  306 ( a ) and the second flexure arm  306 ( b ) in some non-limiting embodiments. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an example camera  400  that includes a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  402 , in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the camera  400  may be the same as (or similar to) the camera  100  described herein with reference to  FIG.  1   . 
     According to various embodiments, the camera  400  may include a lens group  404 , an image sensor  406 , an actuator  408 , a moveable platform (e.g., magnet holder  410 ), and/or a base structure  412 . The lens group  404  may include one or more lens elements  414  that define an optical axis  416 . The image sensor  406  may be configured to capture light that passes through the lens group  404 . 
     In some embodiments, the actuator  408  may be configured to move the lens group  404  and/or the image sensor  406 , e.g., causing relative movement between the lens group  404  and the image sensor  406  to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. For example, the actuator  408  may move the lens group  404  along the optical axis  416  to provide AF of an image on the image sensor  406 . Additionally, or alternatively, the actuator  408  may move the lens group  404  in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis  416  to provide OIS of an image on the image sensor  406 . 
     In some embodiments, the actuator  408  may comprise one or more voice coil motor (VCM) actuators. For example, the actuator  408  may include one or more magnets  418  and one or more coils (e.g., AF coil(s)  420  and/or OIS coil(s)  422 ). In some embodiments, the magnet(s)  418  may be attached to the magnet holder  410 . 
     According to some non-limiting embodiments, the AF coil(s)  420  may be attached to a lens carrier  424  and/or a lens barrel  426 . The lens carrier  424  may be coupled with the lens barrel  426  in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the lens barrel  426  may hold the lens element(s)  414  of the lens group  404 . The AF coil(s)  420  may be disposed proximate the magnet(s)  418  such that the AF coil(s)  420  and the magnet(s)  418  magnetically interact when a current is provided to the AF coil(s)  420 . In various embodiments, the magnetic interaction produces a Lorentz force that causes the lens group  404  (e.g., via the lens carrier  424  and/or the lens barrel  426 ) to move along the optical axis  416  to provide AF functionality. 
     According to some embodiments, the OIS coil(s)  422  may be coupled with the base structure  412 . The OIS coil(s)  422  may be disposed proximate the magnet(s)  418  such that the OIS coil(s) and the magnet(s)  418  magnetically interact when a current is provided to the OIS coil(s)  422 . In various embodiments, the magnetic interaction produces a Lorentz force that causes the lens group  404  (e.g., via the magnet holder  410 , the lens carrier  424 , and/or the lens barrel  426 ) to move in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis  416  to provide OIS functionality. 
     In various examples, the camera  400  may include one or more suspension arrangements like those described herein with reference to  FIG.  1   . For example, the camera  400  may include the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  402  and/or one or more leaf springs  428  in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the leaf spring  428  may be the same as (or similar to) the upper leaf spring  112 ( a ) described herein with reference to  FIG.  1   . In some embodiments, one or more sheet springs of the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  402  may be electrically connected (e.g., via electrical connection  430 ) to one or more of the leaf springs  428 . In this manner, electrical signals (e.g., power and/or control signals) may be conveyed between the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  402  and the leaf spring(s)  428 . 
     In some embodiments, the image sensor  406  may be coupled to the base structure  412 . As a non-limiting example, the image sensor  406  may be attached to a substrate  432 , and the substrate  432  may be attached to the base structure  412 . In various embodiments, the image sensor  406 , the substrate  432 , and/or the base structure  412  may be stationary relative to movement of the lens group  404 , the lens barrel  426 , the lens carrier  424 , and/or the magnet holder  410 . Additionally, or alternatively, a stationary structure such as a shield can  434  may encase at least a portion of the camera  400 . As similarly discussed herein with reference to  FIGS.  1  and  3   , in some embodiments the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement  412  may include one or more bumper spring tabs that cushion lateral movement of the magnet holder  410  before the magnet holder  410  reaches a lateral end stop defined by the shield can  434 . 
     Multifunction Device Examples 
     Embodiments of electronic devices, user interfaces for such devices, and associated processes for using such devices are described. In some embodiments, the device is a portable communications device, such as a mobile telephone, that also contains other functions, such as PDA and/or music player functions. Example embodiments of portable multifunction devices include, without limitation, the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® devices from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. Other portable electronic devices, such as laptops, cameras, cell phones, or tablet computers, may also be used. It should also be understood that, in some embodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but is a desktop computer with a camera. In some embodiments, the device is a gaming computer with orientation sensors (e.g., orientation sensors in a gaming controller). In other embodiments, the device is not a portable communications device, but is a camera. 
     In the discussion that follows, an electronic device that includes a display and a touch-sensitive surface is described. It should be understood, however, that the electronic device may include one or more other physical user-interface devices, such as a physical keyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick. 
     The device typically supports a variety of applications, such as one or more of the following: a drawing application, a presentation application, a word processing application, a website creation application, a disk authoring application, a spreadsheet application, a gaming application, a telephone application, a video conferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, a workout support application, a photo management application, a digital camera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsing application, a digital music player application, and/or a digital video player application. 
     The various applications that may be executed on the device may use at least one common physical user-interface device, such as the touch-sensitive surface. One or more functions of the touch-sensitive surface as well as corresponding information displayed on the device may be adjusted and/or varied from one application to the next and/or within a respective application. In this way, a common physical architecture (such as the touch-sensitive surface) of the device may support the variety of applications with user interfaces that are intuitive and transparent to the user. 
     Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices with cameras.  FIG.  5    illustrates a block diagram of an example portable multifunction device  500  that may include a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera (e.g., the camera(s) and/or the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement(s) described above with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 4   ), according to some embodiments. Cameras  564  are sometimes called “optical sensors” for convenience, and may also be known as or called an optical sensor system. Device  500  may include memory  502  (which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), memory controller  522 , one or more processing units (CPUs)  520 , peripherals interface  518 , RF circuitry  508 , audio circuitry  510 , speaker  511 , touch-sensitive display system  512 , microphone  513 , input/output (I/O) subsystem  506 , other input or control devices  516 , and external port  524 . Device  500  may include multiple optical sensors  564 . These components may communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines  503 . 
     It should be appreciated that device  500  is only one example of a portable multifunction device, and that device  500  may have more or fewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or may have a different configuration or arrangement of the components. The various components shown in  FIG.  5    may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software, including one or more signal processing and/or application specific integrated circuits. 
     Memory  502  may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory  502  by other components of device  500 , such as CPU  520  and the peripherals interface  518 , may be controlled by memory controller  522 . 
     Peripherals interface  518  can be used to couple input and output peripherals of the device to CPU  520  and memory  502 . The one or more processors  520  run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in memory  502  to perform various functions for device  500  and to process data. 
     In some embodiments, peripherals interface  518 , CPU  520 , and memory controller  522  may be implemented on a single chip, such as chip  504 . In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips. 
     RF (radio frequency) circuitry  508  receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry  508  converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry  508  may include well-known circuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited to an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. RF circuitry  508  may communicate with networks, such as the Internet, also referred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by wireless communication. The wireless communication may use any of a variety of communications standards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for e-mail (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), Instant Messaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS), or any other suitable communication protocol, including communication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of this document. 
     Audio circuitry  510 , speaker  511 , and microphone  513  provide an audio interface between a user and device  500 . Audio circuitry  510  receives audio data from peripherals interface  518 , converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker  511 . Speaker  511  converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. Audio circuitry  510  also receives electrical signals converted by microphone  513  from sound waves. Audio circuitry  510  converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to peripherals interface  518  for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory  502  and/or RF circuitry  508  by peripherals interface  518 . In some embodiments, audio circuitry  510  also includes a headset jack (e.g.,  612 ,  FIG.  6   ). The headset jack provides an interface between audio circuitry  510  and removable audio input/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., a microphone). 
     I/O subsystem  506  couples input/output peripherals on device  500 , such as touch screen  512  and other input control devices  516 , to peripherals interface  518 . I/O subsystem  506  may include display controller  556  and one or more input controllers  560  for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers  560  receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices  516 . The other input control devices  516  may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternate embodiments, input controller(s)  560  may be coupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g.,  608 ,  FIG.  6   ) may include an up/down button for volume control of speaker  511  and/or microphone  513 . The one or more buttons may include a push button (e.g.,  606 ,  FIG.  6   ). 
     Touch-sensitive display  512  provides an input interface and an output interface between the device and a user. Display controller  556  receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen  512 . Touch screen  512  displays visual output to the user. The visual output may include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects. 
     Touch screen  512  has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. Touch screen  512  and display controller  556  (along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory  502 ) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen  512  and converts the detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed on touch screen  512 . In an example embodiment, a point of contact between touch screen  512  and the user corresponds to a finger of the user. 
     Touch screen  512  may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, LPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, or LED (light emitting diode) technology, although other display technologies may be used in other embodiments. Touch screen  512  and display controller  556  may detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of a variety of touch sensing technologies now known or later developed, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as other proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or more points of contact with touch screen  512 . In an example embodiment, projected mutual capacitance sensing technology is used, such as that found in the iPhone®, iPod Touch®, and iPad® from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. 
     Touch screen  512  may have a video resolution in excess of 800 dpi. In some embodiments, the touch screen has a video resolution of approximately 860 dpi. The user may make contact with touch screen  512  using any suitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth. In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarily with finger-based contacts and gestures, which can be less precise than stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger on the touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the rough finger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command for performing the actions desired by the user. 
     In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, device  500  may include a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visual output. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separate from touch screen  512  or an extension of the touch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen. 
     Device  500  also includes power system  562  for powering the various components. Power system  562  may include a power management system, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation, management and distribution of power in portable devices. 
     Device  500  may also include one or more optical sensors or cameras  564 .  FIG.  5    shows an optical sensor  564  coupled to optical sensor controller  558  in I/O subsystem  506 . Optical sensor  564  may include charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor  564  receives light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module  543  (also called a camera module), optical sensor  564  may capture still images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor  564  is located on the back of device  500 , opposite touch screen display  512  on the front of the device, so that the touch screen display  512  may be used as a viewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In some embodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user&#39;s image may be obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other video conference participants on the touch screen display. 
     Device  500  may also include one or more proximity sensors  566 .  FIG.  5    shows proximity sensor  566  coupled to peripherals interface  518 . Alternately, proximity sensor  566  may be coupled to input controller  560  in I/O subsystem  506 . In some embodiments, the proximity sensor  566  turns off and disables touch screen  512  when the multifunction device  500  is placed near the user&#39;s ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call). 
     Device  500  includes one or more orientation sensors  568 . In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors  568  include one or more accelerometers (e.g., one or more linear accelerometers and/or one or more rotational accelerometers). In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors  568  include one or more gyroscopes. In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors  568  include one or more magnetometers. In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors  568  include one or more of global positioning system (GPS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), and/or other global navigation system receivers. The GPS, GLONASS, and/or other global navigation system receivers may be used for obtaining information concerning the location and orientation (e.g., portrait or landscape) of device  500 . In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors  568  include any combination of orientation/rotation sensors.  FIG.  5    shows the one or more orientation sensors  568  coupled to peripherals interface  518 . Alternately, the one or more orientation sensors  568  may be coupled to an input controller  560  in I/O subsystem  506 . In some embodiments, information is displayed on the touch screen display  512  in a portrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data received from the one or more orientation sensors  568 . 
     In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory  502  include operating system  526 , communication module (or set of instructions)  528 , contact/motion module (or set of instructions)  530 , graphics module (or set of instructions)  532 , text input module (or set of instructions)  534 , Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set of instructions)  535 , arbiter module  558  and applications (or sets of instructions)  536 . Furthermore, in some embodiments memory  502  stores device/global internal state  557 . Device/global internal state  557  includes one or more of: active application state, indicating which applications, if any, are currently active; display state, indicating what applications, views or other information occupy various regions of touch screen display  512 ; sensor state, including information obtained from the device&#39;s various sensors and input control devices  516 ; and location information concerning the device&#39;s location and/or attitude. 
     Operating system  526  (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various software components and/or drivers for controlling and managing general system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardware and software components. 
     Communication module  528  facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports  524  and also includes various software components for handling data received by RF circuitry  508  and/or external port  524 . External port  524  (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin) connector. 
     Contact/motion module  530  may detect contact with touch screen  512  (in conjunction with display controller  556 ) and other touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motion module  530  includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact, such as determining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module  530  receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series of contact data, may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations may be applied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g., “multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments, contact/motion module  530  and display controller  556  detect contact on a touchpad. 
     Contact/motion module  530  may detect a gesture input by a user. Different gestures on the touch-sensitive surface have different contact patterns. Thus, a gesture may be detected by detecting a particular contact pattern. For example, detecting a finger tap gesture includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event at the same position (or substantially the same position) as the finger-down event (e.g., at the position of an icon). As another example, detecting a finger swipe gesture on the touch-sensitive surface includes detecting a finger-down event followed by detecting one or more finger-dragging events, and subsequently followed by detecting a finger-up (lift off) event. 
     Graphics module  532  includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on touch screen  512  or other display, including components for changing the intensity of graphics that are displayed. As used herein, the term “graphics” includes any object that can be displayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons (such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images, videos, animations and the like. 
     In some embodiments, graphics module  532  stores data representing graphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code. Graphics module  532  receives, from applications etc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and then generates screen image data to output to display controller  556 . 
     Text input module  534 , which may be a component of graphics module  532 , provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications (e.g., contacts  537 , e-mail  540 , IM  541 , browser  547 , and any other application that needs text input). 
     GPS module  535  determines the location of the device and provides this information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone  538  for use in location-based dialing, to camera  543  as picture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-based services such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets). 
     Applications  536  may include the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof:
         contacts module  537  (sometimes called an address book or contact list);   telephone module  538 ;   video conferencing module  539 ;   e-mail client module  540 ;   instant messaging (IM) module  541 ;   workout support module  542 ;   camera module  543  for still and/or video images;   image management module  544 ;   browser module  547 ;   calendar module  548 ;   widget modules  549 , which may include one or more of: weather widget  549 - 1 , stocks widget  549 - 2 , calculator widget  549 - 3 , alarm clock widget  549 - 4 , dictionary widget  549 - 5 , and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets  549 - 6 ;   widget creator module  550  for making user-created widgets  549 - 6 ;   search module  551 ;   video and music player module  552 , which may be made up of a video player module and a music player module;   notes module  553 ;   map module  554 ; and/or   online video module  555 .       

     Examples of other applications  536  that may be stored in memory  502  include other word processing applications, other image editing applications, drawing applications, presentation applications, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voice replication. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , and text input module  534 , contacts module  537  may be used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g., stored in application internal state  557 ), including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone  538 , video conference  539 , e-mail  540 , or IM  541 ; and so forth. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , audio circuitry  510 , speaker  511 , microphone  513 , touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , and text input module  534 , telephone module  538  may be used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in address book  537 , modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wireless communication may use any of a variety of communications standards, protocols and technologies. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , audio circuitry  510 , speaker  511 , microphone  513 , touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , optical sensor  564 , optical sensor controller  558 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , text input module  534 , contact list  537 , and telephone module  538 , videoconferencing module  539  includes executable instructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other participants in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , and text input module  534 , e-mail client module  540  includes executable instructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to user instructions. In conjunction with image management module  544 , e-mail client module  540  makes it very easy to create and send e-mails with still or video images taken with camera module  543 . 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , and text input module  534 , the instant messaging module  541  includes executable instructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit a respective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receive instant messages and to view received instant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages may include graphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , text input module  534 , GPS module  535 , map module  554 , and music player module  546 , workout support module  542  includes executable instructions to create workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select and play music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , optical sensor(s)  564 , optical sensor controller  558 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , and image management module  544 , camera module  543  includes executable instructions to capture still images or video (including a video stream) and store them into memory  502 , modify characteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory  502 . 
     In conjunction with touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , text input module  534 , and camera module  543 , image management module  544  includes executable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , touch screen  512 , display system controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , and text input module  534 , browser module  547  includes executable instructions to browse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , touch screen  512 , display system controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , text input module  534 , e-mail client module  540 , and browser module  547 , calendar module  548  includes executable instructions to create, display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , touch screen  512 , display system controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , text input module  534 , and browser module  547 , widget modules  549  are mini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user (e.g., weather widget  549 - 1 , stocks widget  549 - 2 , calculator widget  549 - 3 , alarm clock widget  549 - 4 , and dictionary widget  549 - 5 ) or created by the user (e.g., user-created widget  549 - 6 ). In some embodiments, a widget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , touch screen  512 , display system controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , text input module  534 , and browser module  547 , the widget creator module  550  may be used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portion of a web page into a widget). 
     In conjunction with touch screen  512 , display system controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , and text input module  534 , search module  551  includes executable instructions to search for text, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory  502  that match one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified search terms) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  512 , display system controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , audio circuitry  510 , speaker  511 , RF circuitry  508 , and browser module  547 , video and music player module  552  includes executable instructions that allow the user to download and play back recorded music and other sound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executable instructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., on touch screen  512  or on an external, connected display via external port  524 ). In some embodiments, device  500  may include the functionality of an MP3 player. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  512 , display controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , and text input module  534 , notes module  553  includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to do lists, and the like in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  508 , touch screen  512 , display system controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , text input module  534 , GPS module  535 , and browser module  547 , map module  554  may be used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and data associated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and other points of interest at or near a particular location; and other location-based data) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  512 , display system controller  556 , contact module  530 , graphics module  532 , audio circuitry  510 , speaker  511 , RF circuitry  508 , text input module  534 , e-mail client module  540 , and browser module  547 , online video module  555  includes instructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display via external port  524 ), send an e-mail with a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging module  541 , rather than e-mail client module  540 , is used to send a link to a particular online video. 
     Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to a set of executable instructions for performing one or more functions described above and the methods described in this application (e.g., the computer-implemented methods and other information processing methods described herein). These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need not be implemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, and thus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwise re-arranged in various embodiments. In some embodiments, memory  502  may store a subset of the modules and data structures identified above. Furthermore, memory  502  may store additional modules and data structures not described above. 
     In some embodiments, device  500  is a device where operation of a predefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screen and/or a touchpad as the primary input control device for operation of device  500 , the number of physical input control devices (such as push buttons, dials, and the like) on device  500  may be reduced. 
     The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusively through a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between user interfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user, navigates device  500  to a main, home, or root menu from any user interface that may be displayed on device  500 . In such embodiments, the touchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some other embodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or other physical input control device instead of a touchpad. 
       FIG.  6    depicts illustrates an example portable multifunction device  500  that may include a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera (e.g., the camera(s) and/or the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement(s) described above with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 4   ), according to some embodiments. The device  500  may have a touch screen  512 . The touch screen  512  may display one or more graphics within user interface (UI)  600 . In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user may select one or more of the graphics by making a gesture on the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers  602  (not drawn to scale in the figure) or one or more styluses  603  (not drawn to scale in the figure). 
     Device  500  may also include one or more physical buttons, such as “home” or menu button  604 . As described previously, menu button  604  may be used to navigate to any application  536  in a set of applications that may be executed on device  500 . Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button  604  is implemented as a soft key in a GUI displayed on touch screen  512 . 
     In one embodiment, device  500  includes touch screen  512 , menu button  604 , push button  606  for powering the device on/off and locking the device, volume adjustment button(s)  608 , Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card slot  610 , head set jack  612 , and docking/charging external port  624 . Push button  606  may be used to turn the power on/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefined time interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device  500  also may accept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone  513 . 
     It should be noted that, although many of the examples herein are given with reference to optical sensor(s)/camera(s)  564  (on the front of a device), one or more rear-facing cameras or optical sensors that are pointed opposite from the display may be used instead of, or in addition to, an optical sensor(s)/camera(s)  564  on the front of a device. 
     Example Computer System 
       FIG.  7    illustrates an example computer system  700  that may include a perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement for a camera (e.g., the camera(s) and/or the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement(s) described above with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 4   ), according to some embodiments. The computer system  700  may be configured to execute any or all of the embodiments described above. In different embodiments, computer system  700  may be any of various types of devices, including, but not limited to, a personal computer system, desktop computer, laptop, notebook, tablet, slate, pad, or netbook computer, mainframe computer system, handheld computer, workstation, network computer, a camera, a set top box, a mobile device, a consumer device, video game console, handheld video game device, application server, storage device, a television, a video recording device, a peripheral device such as a switch, modem, router, or in general any type of computing or electronic device. 
     Various embodiments of a camera motion control system as described herein, including embodiments of magnetic position sensing, as described herein may be executed in one or more computer systems  700 , which may interact with various other devices. Note that any component, action, or functionality described above with respect to  FIGS.  1 - 6    may be implemented on one or more computers configured as computer system  700  of  FIG.  7   , according to various embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, computer system  700  includes one or more processors  710  coupled to a system memory  720  via an input/output (I/O) interface  730 . Computer system  700  further includes a network interface  740  coupled to I/O interface  730 , and one or more input/output devices  750 , such as cursor control device  760 , keyboard  770 , and display(s)  780 . In some cases, it is contemplated that embodiments may be implemented using a single instance of computer system  700 , while in other embodiments multiple such systems, or multiple nodes making up computer system  700 , may be configured to host different portions or instances of embodiments. For example, in one embodiment some elements may be implemented via one or more nodes of computer system  700  that are distinct from those nodes implementing other elements. 
     In various embodiments, computer system  700  may be a uniprocessor system including one processor  710 , or a multiprocessor system including several processors  710  (e.g., two, four, eight, or another suitable number). Processors  710  may be any suitable processor capable of executing instructions. For example, in various embodiments processors  710  may be general-purpose or embedded processors implementing any of a variety of instruction set architectures (ISAs), such as the x86, PowerPC, SPARC, or MIPS ISAs, or any other suitable ISA. In multiprocessor systems, each of processors  710  may commonly, but not necessarily, implement the same ISA. 
     System memory  720  may be configured to store camera control program instructions  722  and/or camera control data accessible by processor  710 . In various embodiments, system memory  720  may be implemented using any suitable memory technology, such as static random access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), nonvolatile/Flash-type memory, or any other type of memory. In the illustrated embodiment, program instructions  722  may be configured to implement a lens control application  724  incorporating any of the functionality described above. Additionally, existing camera control data  732  of memory  720  may include any of the information or data structures described above. In some embodiments, program instructions and/or data may be received, sent or stored upon different types of computer-accessible media or on similar media separate from system memory  720  or computer system  700 . While computer system  700  is described as implementing the functionality of functional blocks of previous Figures, any of the functionality described herein may be implemented via such a computer system. 
     In one embodiment, I/O interface  730  may be configured to coordinate I/O traffic between processor  710 , system memory  720 , and any peripheral devices in the device, including network interface  740  or other peripheral interfaces, such as input/output devices  750 . In some embodiments, I/O interface  730  may perform any necessary protocol, timing or other data transformations to convert data signals from one component (e.g., system memory  720 ) into a format suitable for use by another component (e.g., processor  710 ). In some embodiments, I/O interface  730  may include support for devices attached through various types of peripheral buses, such as a variant of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus standard or the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard, for example. In some embodiments, the function of I/O interface  730  may be split into two or more separate components, such as a north bridge and a south bridge, for example. Also, in some embodiments some or all of the functionality of I/O interface  730 , such as an interface to system memory  720 , may be incorporated directly into processor  710 . 
     Network interface  740  may be configured to allow data to be exchanged between computer system  700  and other devices attached to a network  785  (e.g., carrier or agent devices) or between nodes of computer system  700 . Network  785  may in various embodiments include one or more networks including but not limited to Local Area Networks (LANs) (e.g., an Ethernet or corporate network), Wide Area Networks (WANs) (e.g., the Internet), wireless data networks, some other electronic data network, or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, network interface  740  may support communication via wired or wireless general data networks, such as any suitable type of Ethernet network, for example; via telecommunications/telephony networks such as analog voice networks or digital fiber communications networks; via storage area networks such as Fibre Channel SANs, or via any other suitable type of network and/or protocol. 
     Input/output devices  750  may, in some embodiments, include one or more display terminals, keyboards, keypads, touchpads, scanning devices, voice or optical recognition devices, or any other devices suitable for entering or accessing data by one or more computer systems  700 . Multiple input/output devices  750  may be present in computer system  700  or may be distributed on various nodes of computer system  700 . In some embodiments, similar input/output devices may be separate from computer system  700  and may interact with one or more nodes of computer system  700  through a wired or wireless connection, such as over network interface  740 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , memory  720  may include program instructions  722 , which may be processor-executable to implement any element or action described above. In one embodiment, the program instructions may implement the methods described above. In other embodiments, different elements and data may be included. Note that data may include any data or information described above. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that computer system  700  is merely illustrative and is not intended to limit the scope of embodiments. In particular, the computer system and devices may include any combination of hardware or software that can perform the indicated functions, including computers, network devices, Internet appliances, PDAs, wireless phones, pagers, etc. Computer system  700  may also be connected to other devices that are not illustrated, or instead may operate as a stand-alone system. In addition, the functionality provided by the illustrated components may in some embodiments be combined in fewer components or distributed in additional components. Similarly, in some embodiments, the functionality of some of the illustrated components may not be provided and/or other additional functionality may be available. 
     Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that, while various items are illustrated as being stored in memory or on storage while being used, these items or portions of them may be transferred between memory and other storage devices for purposes of memory management and data integrity. Alternatively, in other embodiments some or all of the software components may execute in memory on another device and communicate with the illustrated computer system via inter-computer communication. Some or all of the system components or data structures may also be stored (e.g., as instructions or structured data) on a computer-accessible medium or a portable article to be read by an appropriate drive, various examples of which are described above. In some embodiments, instructions stored on a computer-accessible medium separate from computer system  700  may be transmitted to computer system  700  via transmission media or signals such as electrical, electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication medium such as a network and/or a wireless link. Various embodiments may further include receiving, sending or storing instructions and/or data implemented in accordance with the foregoing description upon a computer-accessible medium. Generally speaking, a computer-accessible medium may include a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium or memory medium such as magnetic or optical media, e.g., disk or DVD/CD-ROM, volatile or non-volatile media such as RAM (e.g. SDRAM, DDR, RDRAM, SRAM, etc.), ROM, etc. In some embodiments, a computer-accessible medium may include transmission media or signals such as electrical, electromagnetic, or digital signals, conveyed via a communication medium such as network and/or a wireless link. 
     The methods described herein may be implemented in software, hardware, or a combination thereof, in different embodiments. In addition, the order of the blocks of the methods may be changed, and various elements may be added, reordered, combined, omitted, modified, etc. Various modifications and changes may be made as would be obvious to a person skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The various embodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Boundaries between various components, operations and data stores are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specific illustrative configurations. 
     Additional descriptions of embodiments (example clauses): 
     Clause 1: A camera, comprising: a lens group comprising one or more lens elements that define an optical axis; an image sensor to capture light that has passed through the lens group; a base structure coupled with the image sensor; a moveable platform coupled with the lens group; an actuator to move lens group together with the moveable platform in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis; and a suspension arrangement comprising a plurality of sheet springs that suspend the moveable platform from the base structure and allow the lens group to move in the one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis. 
     Clause 2: The camera of Clause 1, wherein individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs comprise: a respective first portion attached to the moveable platform; a respective second portion attached to the base structure; and a respective set of one or more flexure arms connecting the respective first portion to the respective second portion. 
     Clause 3: The camera of Clause 2, wherein: the base structure defines a recess; individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs further comprise: a bumper spring tab extending from the respective first portion to at least partially within the recess, wherein the bumper spring tab is configured to cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure of the camera. 
     Clause 4: The camera of Clause 3, wherein the stationary structure comprises: a shield can that encases at least a portion of the camera. 
     Clause 5: The camera of any of Clauses 1-3, wherein: the moveable platform comprises a magnet holder; and the actuator comprises one or more magnets attached to the magnet holder. 
     Clause 6: The camera of any of Clauses 1-5, wherein the plurality of sheet springs comprises: a first sheet spring extending along a first plane, comprising: a first portion attached to a first side of the moveable platform; a second portion attached to a first side of the base structure; and a first set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the first sheet spring to the second portion of the first sheet spring; and a second sheet spring extending along a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane, comprising: a first portion attached to a second side of the moveable platform; a second portion attached to a second side of the base structure; and a second set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the second sheet spring to the second portion of the second sheet spring. 
     Clause 7: The camera of any of Clauses 1-6, wherein: the suspension arrangement comprises an optical image stabilization (OIS) suspension arrangement; individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs extend along a respective plane that is parallel to the optical axis; and the camera further comprises: an autofocus (AF) suspension arrangement, comprising: a leaf spring coupling the lens group to the moveable platform and allowing the lens group to move, relative to the moveable platform, along the optical axis; wherein the leaf spring extends along a plane that is orthogonal to the optical axis. 
     Clause 8: A device, comprising: one or more processors; memory storing program instructions executable by the one or more processors to control operation of a camera; and the camera, comprising: a lens group comprising one or more lens elements that define an optical axis; an image sensor to capture light that has passed through the lens group; a base structure coupled with the image sensor; a moveable platform coupled with the lens group; an actuator to move lens group together with the moveable platform in one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis; and a suspension arrangement comprising a plurality of sheet springs that suspend the moveable platform from the base structure and allow the lens group to move in the one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis. 
     Clause 9: The device of Clause 8, wherein individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs comprise: a respective first portion attached to the moveable platform; a respective second portion attached to the base structure; and a respective set of one or more flexure arms connecting the respective first portion to the respective second portion. 
     Clause 10: The device of Clause 9, wherein individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs further comprise: one or more bumper spring tabs extending from the respective first portion towards the second portion, wherein the one ore more bumper spring tabs are configured to cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure of the camera. 
     Clause 11: The device of any of Clauses 8-10, wherein: the moveable platform comprises a magnet holder; and the actuator comprises a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator that includes: one or more magnets attached to the magnet holder; and one or more coils attached to the base structure. 
     Clause 12: The device of any of Clauses 8-11, wherein the plurality of sheet springs comprises: a first sheet spring, comprising: a first portion attached to a first side of the moveable platform; a second portion attached to a first side of the base structure; and a first set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the first sheet spring to the second portion of the first sheet spring; and a second sheet spring, comprising: a first portion attached to a second side of the moveable platform that is opposite the first side of the moveable platform; a second portion attached to a second side of the base structure that is opposite the first side of the base structure; and a second set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the second sheet spring to the second portion of the second sheet spring. 
     Clause 13: The device of Clause 12, wherein: the first set of one or more flexure arms comprises: a first flexure arm proximate a first corner of the camera; and a second flexure arm proximate a second corner of the camera; the second set of one or more flexure arms comprises: a first flexure arm proximate a third corner of the camera; and a second flexure arm proximate a fourth corner of the camera. 
     Clause 14: The device of any of Clauses 8-14, wherein: the suspension arrangement comprises a first suspension arrangement; individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs extend along a respective plane that is parallel to the optical axis; the camera further comprises: a second suspension arrangement, comprising: a leaf spring suspending the lens group from the moveable platform and allowing the lens group to move, relative to the moveable platform, along the optical axis, the leaf spring extending along a plane that is orthogonal to the optical axis; and at least one of the sheet springs of the first suspension arrangement is electrically connected to the leaf spring of the second suspension arrangement, such that the camera is configured to convey electrical signals between the first suspension arrangement and the second suspension arrangement. 
     Clause 15: An optics system, comprising: a base structure; a moveable platform coupled to a lens group of a camera such that the moveable platform and the lens group are moveable together, relative to the base structure, in one or more directions orthogonal to an optical axis defined by one or more lenses of the lens group, wherein an actuator of the camera is to move the lens group relative to an image sensor of the camera; and a suspension arrangement comprising a plurality of sheet springs that suspend the moveable platform from the base structure and allow the lens group to move in the one or more directions orthogonal to the optical axis. 
     Clause 16: The optics system of Clause 15, wherein: the base structure defines a recess; individual ones of the plurality of sheet springs further comprise: a bumper spring tab extending from the respective first portion to at least partially within the recess, wherein the bumper spring tab is configured to cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform as the moveable platform as the moveable platform approaches a stationary structure of the camera. 
     Clause 17: The optics system of any of Clauses 15 or 16, wherein the moveable platform comprises a magnet holder too which one or more magnets of the actuator are attached. 
     Clause 18: The optics system of any of Clauses 15-17, wherein at least one of the plurality of sheet springs comprises a monolithic sheet spring. 
     Clause 19: The optics system of any of Clauses 15-18, wherein the plurality of sheet springs comprises: a first sheet spring, comprising: a first portion attached to a first side of the moveable platform; a second portion attached to a first side of the base structure; and a first set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the first sheet spring to the second portion of the first sheet spring; a second sheet spring, comprising: a first portion attached to a second side of the moveable platform that is opposite the first side of the moveable platform; a second portion attached to a second side of the base structure that is opposite the first side of the base structure; and a second set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the second sheet spring to the second portion of the second sheet spring; a third sheet spring, comprising: a first portion attached to a third side of the moveable platform; a second portion attached to a third side of the base structure; and a third set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the third sheet spring to the second portion of the third sheet spring; and a fourth sheet spring, comprising: a first portion attached to a fourth side of the moveable platform that is opposite the third side of the moveable platform; a second portion attached to a fourth side of the base structure that is opposite the third side of the base structure; and a fourth set of one or more flexure arms connecting the first portion of the fourth sheet spring to the second portion of the fourth sheet spring. 
     Clause 20: The optics system of Clause 19, wherein the first sheet spring is etched from a sheet of metal. 
     Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of claims that follow. Finally, structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of embodiments as defined in the claims that follow.

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20200917
Publication Date: 20230214
Grant Date: 20230214
Priority Date: 20190925
Inventors: MIREAULT, ALFRED N.
MILLER, SCOTT W.
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "G02B27/646", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/08", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/026", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/021", "inventive": false, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N23/57", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N23/687", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/102", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/023", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/646", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B13/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N23/685", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B27/646", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B13/001", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/023", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "G02B7/102", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04N5/2328", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 85198585