Steven E Webster

US Patent:

8605211, Dec 10, 2013

Filed:

Apr 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/096659

Inventors:

Steven Webster - Palo Alto CA, US
Thomas B. Templeton - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/225

US Classification:

348374, 348342

Abstract:

A printed circuit carrier has an opening therein against which a back plate is attached to thereby form a cavity. An image sensor device is attached to the back plate inside the cavity. The height of the image sensor device is about equal to or less than the height of the cavity. Electrical signal connections are formed between the image sensor device and the printed circuit carrier. A cap is attached directly to the carrier by a flowable adhesive layer, to seal off the cavity. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

US Patent:

20130063629, Mar 14, 2013

Filed:

Sep 9, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/229363

Inventors:

Steven Webster - Palo Alto CA, US
Ning Y. Chan - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04N 9/097

US Classification:

348265

Abstract:

A digital camera component is described that has a light splitter cube having an entrance face to receive incident light from a camera scene. The cube splits the incident light into first, second, and third color components that emerge from the cube through a first face, a second face, and a third face of the cube, respectively. First, second, and third image sensors are provided, each being positioned to receive a respective one of the color components that emerge from the first, second, and third faces of the cube. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

US Patent:

20130307818, Nov 21, 2013

Filed:

Mar 15, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/842920

Inventors:

Shawn Arnold - Cupertino CA, US
Barry J. Corlett - Brisbane CA, US
Terry L. Gilton - Boise ID, US
Syed Husaini - Cupertino CA, US
Steven Webster - Cupertino CA, US
Scott A. Myers - Palo Alto CA, US
Matthew D. Hill - Mountain View CA, US
Benjamin B. Lyon - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

APPLE INC. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G06F 3/044

US Classification:

345174

Abstract:

An apparatus comprises a fingerprint sensor having a set of capacitive elements configured for capacitively coupling to a user fingerprint. The fingerprint sensor may be disposed under a control button or display element of an electronic device, for example one or more of a control button and a display component. A responsive element is responsive to proximity of the user fingerprint, for example one or both of a first circuit responsive to motion of the control button, and a second circuit responsive to a coupling between the fingerprint and a surface of the display element. The fingerprint sensor is disposed closer to the fingerprint than the responsive element. The control button or display component may include an anisotropic dielectric material, for example sapphire.

US Patent:

20130329126, Dec 12, 2013

Filed:

Sep 28, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/631642

Inventors:

Douglas Stuart Brodie - Los Gatos CA, US
Steven Webster - Palo Alto CA, US
Terence N. Tam - San Francisco CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/225
B23P 17/04

US Classification:

348360, 29428, 348E05024

Abstract:

A camera module has an image sensor and a lens assembly that includes a lens barrel having a first cylindrical portion that includes an externally threaded portion and a second cylindrical portion that has a larger diameter than the externally threaded portion. A lens moving mechanism includes a movable sleeve having internal threads that receive the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly. The lens moving mechanism is coupled to the image sensor such that the second cylindrical portion of the lens assembly is closest to the image sensor. The camera module is assembled by inserting the lens assembly into the lens moving mechanism from the side closest to the image sensor. An installation tool may engage the second cylindrical portion to rotate the lens assembly and engage the threaded portions. Features may be provided to retain the lens assembly in the lens moving mechanism before joining the threaded portions.

US Patent:

20140063302, Mar 6, 2014

Filed:

Sep 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/605000

Inventors:

Ashutosh Y. Shukla - Santa Clara CA, US
Kenta K. Williams - Sunnyvale CA, US
Steven Webster - Palo Alto CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/225
H04N 5/232
H04N 5/335

US Classification:

348294, 348345, 348E05091, 348E05045, 348E05025

Abstract:

A compact electronic device may include a camera module having an image sensor. The image sensor may be controlled by storage and processing circuitry to capture image data from received light. The camera module may include a substrate having front and rear surfaces. The image sensor may be mounted to the rear surface of the substrate. The substrate may include optical focusing structures on the front surface of the substrate that focus light through an opening in the substrate to the image sensor. A flex circuit may be used to convey signals between the camera module and other electronic device components. The flex circuit may be mounted to the front surface of the camera module substrate to help reduce total height of the camera module. The flex circuit may be mounted to an extended portion of the substrate or may be mounted to surround the periphery of the image sensor.

US Patent:

20220291518, Sep 15, 2022

Filed:

May 31, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/804787

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Steven Webster - Palo Alto CA, US
Shashank Sharma - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G02B 27/64
G02B 7/09
H02K 41/035

Abstract:

In some embodiments, a camera includes a lens assembly in a lens carrier, an image sensor for capturing a digital representation of light transiting the lens, and a voice coil motor. In some embodiments, the voice coil motor includes a spring suspension assembly for moveably mounting the lens carrier to an actuator base, a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to the actuator base through a magnet holder assembly and a focusing coil fixedly mounted to the lens carrier and mounted to the actuator base through the suspension assembly. In some embodiments, the permanent magnets each generate a magnetic field of a respective permanent magnet field strength, and the magnet holder assembly generates a holder magnetic field of a holder magnetic field strength.

US Patent:

20200341290, Oct 29, 2020

Filed:

Jul 10, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/926541

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Richard J. Topliss - Campbell CA, US
Steven Webster - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G02B 27/64
G03B 5/00
G03B 17/17
H04N 5/232
G02B 7/10
G02B 7/182
G02B 26/08
H04N 5/225
G02B 13/00
H02K 33/12

Abstract:

Some embodiments include an image sensor and a zoom lens assembly including a plurality of movable lens elements arranged to be moved independent of one another. In some embodiments, the plurality of movable lens elements share an optical axis. Some embodiments include a lens and mirror assembly for admitting light to the miniature camera. The lens and mirror assembly includes a folded optics arrangement such that light enters the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens with an optical axis of the first lens orthogonal to the plurality of moveable lens elements. The lens and mirror assembly includes a mirror for folding the path of light from the optical axis of the first lens to the optical axis of the plurality of movable lens elements, and the lens and mirror assembly further includes an actuator for tilting the mirror.

US Patent:

20200026095, Jan 23, 2020

Filed:

Sep 27, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/586800

Inventors:

- Cupertino CA, US
Steven Webster - Palo Alto CA, US
Shashank Sharma - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Apple Inc. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G02B 27/64
H02K 41/035
G02B 7/09

Abstract:

In some embodiments, a camera includes a lens assembly in a lens carrier, an image sensor for capturing a digital representation of light transiting the lens, and a voice coil motor. In some embodiments, the voice coil motor includes a spring suspension assembly for moveably mounting the lens carrier to an actuator base, a plurality of permanent magnets mounted to the actuator base through a magnet holder assembly and a focusing coil fixedly mounted to the lens carrier and mounted to the actuator base through the suspension assembly. In some embodiments, the permanent magnets each generate a magnetic field of a respective permanent magnet field strength, and the magnet holder assembly generates a holder magnetic field of a holder magnetic field strength.