CONTOURED SURFACE COVER PLATE FOR IMAGE SENSOR ARRAY

• US 20090141160A1
• Filed: 02/02/2009
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Inventors: Campbell, Scott Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,049,808 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A cover for an image sensor array is disclosed. The cover includes a plate formed of substantially transparent material and placed adjacent to the image sensor array. The plate has a plurality of surfaces and forms a lensing structure. At least one of the plurality of surfaces is contoured into a lensing surface capable of performing an imaging improvement or enhancement function.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An image sensor camera system for converting optical data into digital image data, the system comprising:

an image sensor array having a plurality of sensors, said sensors operating to receive the optical data and integrate the data into electrical charge proportional to the amount of optical data collected with a particular period of time;

a lens system operatively coupled to the image sensor array and configured to carry and focus the optical data onto the image sensor array, said lens system including a plurality of lenses and a cover plate, said cover plate contoured into a lensing structure that changes an imaging characteristic;

a mounting structure extending from an upper surface of said cover plate and adapted to secure said lens system to said cover plate above said lensing structure; and

sensor electronics coupled to the image sensor array, and configured to receive the electrical charge, the sensor electronics operating to convert the electrical charge received by the plurality of sensors into the digital image data.

32. The image sensor camera system of claim 26, wherein said cover plate is formed by injection-molding.

33. The image sensor camera system of claim 26, wherein said cover plate is formed to have a post having at least one lensing surface.

34. The image sensor camera system of claim 26, wherein said mounting structure secures said lens system to said cover plate using threads.

35. The image sensor camera system of claim 34, wherein said threads are on an inner surface of said mounting structure.

36. The image sensor camera system of claim 34, wherein said threads are on an outer surface of said mounting structure.

37. The image sensor camera system of claim 26, wherein said mounting structure is in a square pattern.

38. The image sensor camera system of claim 26, wherein said mounting structure is a well-like depression on said cover plate.

27. An active pixel sensor system having an active pixel array, the system comprising:

a lensing element configured to receive optical data and change an imaging characteristic, said lensing element providing cover for the active pixel array; and

a mounting structure extending from a plate surface, said mounting structure being adapted to removably connect a prefabricated lens system to said plate above said lensing element.

39. The active pixel sensor system of claim 27, wherein said mounting structure secures said prefabricated lens system to said cover plate using threads.

28-31. -31. (canceled)

40. An assembly for an image sensor device, comprising:

an image sensor array;

a cover plate operatively disposed over said image sensor array, said cover plate including an integrated lensing structure which is developed to change imaging characteristics of incoming radiation which impinge towards said image sensor array; and

a mounting structure formed as a protrusion on a surface of said cover plate.

41. An assembly as in claim 40, wherein said mounting structure is developed to hold a lens system including additional lensing structures.

42. An assembly as in claim 40, wherein said integrated lensing structure forms a concave lens part.

43. An assembly as in claim 40, wherein said integrated lensing structure forms a convex lens part.

44. A method of controlling Petzval field curvature in a camera system, comprising:

contouring a cover plate to form a lensing structure;

securing a mounting structure to an upper surface of said cover plate, said mounting structure being adapted to connect a lens system to said cover plate above said lensing structure; and

covering an imaging array with said cover plate, said cover plate being located adjacent said imaging array in an optical path of said camera system, whereby Petzval field curvature is controlled.

45. A method as in claim 44, wherein contouring the cover plate to form the lensing structure includes forming at least one of a refractive lens and a diffractive lens.

46. A method of forming a digital image comprising:

focusing incident light on an imaging array by passing the light through a lensing element formed in a cover plate, said cover plate being secured to a prefabricated lens system by a mounting structure formed as a protrusion on a surface of said cover plate;

receiving the light as optical data with said imaging array;

integrating the optical data into electrical charges using sensors in the imaging array; and

receiving the electrical charges with sensor electronics and converting the electrical charge into digital image data.

47. A method as in claim 46, wherein said lensing element is formed to include at least one of a refractive lens and a diffractive lens.

48. A method as in claim 46, wherein said lensing element is formed to include a concave lens.

49. A method as in claim 46, wherein said lensing element is formed to include a convex lens.