ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,298,588, issued on May 13, was assigned to Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.).
"Folded camera with actuator for moving optics" was invented by Nicholas D. Smyth (San Jose, Calif.), Alfred N. Mireault (Cambridge, Mass.), Scott W. Miller (Cupertino, Calif.) and Shashank Sharma (San Francisco).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Various embodiments include a camera with folded optics and lens shifting capabilities. In some examples, a folded optics arrangement of the camera may include one or more lens elements and light path folding elements (e.g., prisms). Some embodiments include voice coil motor (VCM) actuator arrangements, carrier arrangements, ...