IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND CAMERA

• US 20030137595A1
• Filed: 05/13/1998
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: TAKACHI, TAIZO
• Application Number:
  US09/078,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20030137595A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/340
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/001 Miniaturised objectives for electronic devices, e.g. portable telephones, webcams, PDAs, small digital cameras G02B23/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/021 for more than one lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14618 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/959 by adjusting depth of field during image capture, e.g. maximising or setting range based on scene characteristics

Abstract

Disclosed is an image pickup device which makes it possible to reduce the number of parts, to achieve a reduction in assembly man-hours, to meet the demand for a reduction in size, to facilitate the adjustment of the focal length, and to prevent the focal length from going out of adjustment after the adjustment of the focal length.

A package 3 accommodating an image sensing device 4 is integrally combined with an optical component holding member 8a holding an optical component for forming an image of an object on the surface of the image sensing device 4, with a certain positional relationship between the optical component and image sensing device in the X, Y and Z-directions being determined, by engaging an engagement step portion 15 with an engagement claw 16. Further, a focal length adjusting spacer 19 is arranged between the package 3 and the optical component holding member 8a, and a biasing member 18 for biasing the optical component 10 toward the package 3 is provided between the image sensing device accommodating package 3 and the optical component 10.

Claims

1. An image pickup device at least comprising:

an image sensing device accommodating package accommodating an image sensing device, and

an optical component holding member holding an optical component for forming an image of an object on a surface of the image sensing device,

wherein a part of the image sensing device accommodating package is engaged with a part of the optical component holding member, whereby an integral unit is obtained, with a certain positional relationship between the optical component and the image sensing device in the X and Y-directions in a plane parallel to the surface of the image sensing device and in the Z-direction perpendicular to the surface being determined.

2. An image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the image sensing device accommodating package has an engagement step portion.

3. An image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the optical component holding member has an engagement claw.

4. An image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein a spacer is provided between the package and the optical component holding member, the distance between the optical component and the image sensing device in the Z-direction being adjusted to a predetermined value by the spacer.

5. An image pickup device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising biasing means for biasing the optical component toward the package.

6. A camera equipped with an image pickup device, comprising:

an image pickup device including an image sensing device accommodating package accommodating an image sensing device, and an optical component holding member holding an optical component for forming an image of an object on a surface of the image sensing device, wherein a part of the image sensing device accommodating package is engaged with a part of the optical component holding member, whereby an integral unit is obtained, with a certain positional relationship between the optical component and the image sensing device in the X and Y-directions in a plane parallel to the surface of the image sensing device and in the Z-direction perpendicular to the surface being determined, and

an image signal processing circuit for performing signal processing on image data represented by an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion of the optical image of the object formed on the surface of the image sensing device.

7. A camera equipped with an image pickup device according to claim 6, wherein the image sensing device accommodating package has an engagement step portion.

8. A camera equipped with an image pickup device according to claim 6, wherein the optical component holding member has an engagement claw.

9. A camera equipped with an image pickup device according to claim 6, wherein a spacer is provided between the package and the optical component holding member, the distance between the optical component and the image sensing device in the Z-direction being adjusted to a predetermined value by the spacer.

10. A camera equipped with an image pickup device according to claim 6, further comprising biasing means for biasing the optical component toward the package.