Self-adjusting lens mount for automated assembly of vehicle sensors
First Claim
1. A lens mount system adapted for use with a lens, comprising:
- a lens mount base having a back side and a front side; and
a lens holder having a first end adapted to couple to the front side of the lens mount base and a second end having an opening for receiving a lens, the lens holder having an inner bore with a central axis extending from said opening, said inner bore having a first threaded portion and a second unthreaded portion, and axial alignment means configured in said second portion of the inner bore for maintaining the lens aligned with said central axis during focusing adjustment along the axial direction.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A two piece lens mount system for mounting a lens in correct focus and alignment relative to a CMOS imaging device such that the optical axis of the lens is coincident with and perpendicular to the center of the active area of the imager array. The lens is secured by the axial pressure of flexible ribs that are symmetrically spaced around the internal bore of a lens holder and act on a smooth surface on the outside of the lens. This arrangement eliminates translation of the lens across the imager array. Another portion of the body of the lens is threaded such that the lens, when rotated about its optical axis may be focused or axially aligned. When a focus or axial alignment point is reached, a staking fluid may be added to the lens thread, through a hole in the lens holder to prevent de-focusing. The second component of the lens mount system, the lens mount base, is fixedly secured to an imager board on which is mounted a CMOS imager. The upper wall of the lens mount base is in close, parallel proximity to the optical flat of the imager and has a rectangular opening which restricts light from the lens to the active area of the imager, and more specifically prevents light from falling on the column amplifiers of the imaging device. The design of both components is such that they may be moved relative to each other with external fixturing, in front of a known target, until it is decided that the lens is directly over the center of the imager array. The lens holder and the lens mount base are then fixed together permanently using a laser weld process or any other plastic bonding technique.
75 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A lens mount system adapted for use with a lens, comprising:
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a lens mount base having a back side and a front side; and
a lens holder having a first end adapted to couple to the front side of the lens mount base and a second end having an opening for receiving a lens, the lens holder having an inner bore with a central axis extending from said opening, said inner bore having a first threaded portion and a second unthreaded portion, and axial alignment means configured in said second portion of the inner bore for maintaining the lens aligned with said central axis during focusing adjustment along the axial direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A lens assembly, comprising:
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a lens having an optical axis and a cylindrical barrel, the barrel including a threaded surface and an unthreaded surface;
a lens mount base having a back side and a front side with a flat surface; and
a lens holder coupled to the lens mount base and engaging the flat surface of the front side thereof, the lens holder having a body portion with an inner bore receiving the barrel of the lens, the bore having a surface threaded on a portion thereof engaging the threaded surface of the barrel of the lens, and axial alignment means configured within the bore engaging the unthreaded surface of the lens barrel for aligning the optical axis of the lens to be perpendicular to the flat surface of the lens mount base. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An imager and lens assembly adapted for mounting in a vehicle, comprising:
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an imager configured on an imager board and having an active area defining an optical flat surface;
a lens mount base mounted to said imager board and having a wall portion, said wall portion having a flat surface parallel to said optical flat surface of said imager on a side opposite to the imager board;
a lens holder having a first end having a portion with a shape adapted to engage the flat surface of the lens mount base and maintain a parallel relative orientation with said flat surface of the lens mount base and a second end having an opening for receiving a lens; and
a lens mounted within the opening in said lens holder, the lens having an optical axis aligned perpendicularly to said optical flat surface of said imager and at the center of the active area of said imager. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification