Apple Inc.

Misha Scepanovic

Jeffrey Nathan Gleason

Norimichi Shigemitsu

Steven Webster

A lens assembly includes a stack of thermoplastic lenses that are aligned along a common optical axis and that are interleaved with metallic disks having an open central portion. Peripheral portions of each of the thermoplastic lenses adhere to the interleaved metallic disks to form a fused stack of lenses. A method of making the fused stack of lenses is disclosed and includes subjecting a set of interleaved lenses and metallic disks to an alternating current electromagnetic field that induces eddy currents in the metallic disks, causing heating that melts the adjacent lenses. The melted thermoplastic lens material adheres to adjacent metallic disks. The metallic disks reduce stray light from entering the lens stack, while permitting light to enter central portions of the lenses.

Induction heating assembled lens unit

A camera system includes a housing with an aperture and an alignment feature surrounding the aperture to define an optical axis extending through the aperture. A camera module is mounted inside the housing and engages the alignment feature to align the camera module with the optical axis. A lens assembly that may have a moveable element is included in the camera module. A voice coil motor may support the moveable element of the lens assembly. A plurality of magnets are arranged on the camera module adjacent to the alignment feature to retain a detachable lens on the housing and engage the alignment feature to align the detachable lens with the optical axis. The plurality of magnets may be further arranged to minimize interference with the voice coil motor and movement of the moveable element of the lens assembly.

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Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Misha Scepanovic