Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) is the must have feature for the next generation of smart phones. It provides anti-shake technology for video as well enabling digital stills camera-like image quality, which remains the ambitious target of cell phone photography.
Cambridge Mechatronics has harnessed its existing expertise in the control of SMA wire to produce a complete OIS solution small enough for smart phone camera modules.
The lens and sensor are tilted together with SMA wire on all 4 sides of the camera. Both pitch & yaw tilt are measured by a gyroscope and compensated by the OIS actuator.
With OIS enabled, the lens and sensor tilt together inside the camera but remain still relative to the image subject – providing a sharp image even if the handset is not held steadily.
Writing an OIS specification that is not over specified, but does guarantee good user experience is very difficult. To assist handset companies specifying OIS performance and comparing different OIS technologies, CML has written this white paper.