LENS FRAME AND OPTICAL FOCUS ASSEMBLY FOR IMAGER MODULE

• US 20090302205A9
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Protarius Filo AG LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Brady, Jeffrey, Tai, Han, Olsen, Richard, Gates, James, Sato, Darryl
• Granted Patent: US 7,795,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/226
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0035 having three lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0031 Replication or moulding, e.g. hot embossing, UV-casting, injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0043 Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0062 Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0075 characterized by non-optical structures, e.g. having integrated holding or alignment means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/04 with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 9/12 having three components only
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/18 Focusing aids
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48227 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14618 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14634 Assemblies, i.e. Hybrid structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14645 Colour imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1469 Assemblies, i.e. hybrid integration
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/15174 in different layers of the multilayer substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02325 the optical elements not being integrated nor being directly associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2209/049 having three pick-up sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 : for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/13 : with multiple sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/16 : Optical arrangements associated therewith, e.g. for beam-splitting or for colour correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 : Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 : Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 : by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/00 : Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 : based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 : Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/531 : by controlling rolling shutters in CMOS SSIS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 : Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors

Abstract

An imager apparatus and methods are described. An embodiment of an imager module includes a plurality of groups of optical lenses, a lens frame, and at least one associated lens barrel configured to position and hold the plurality of groups of optical lenses. At least one of the groups of optical lenses is movable with respect to at least one other group of optical lenses for achieving optical focus. The imager module includes an integrated circuit (IC) imager die in proximity to the plurality of lenses, the imager die containing at least one image capture microelectronic device. The imager module includes a modular frame assembly that contains a first portion that holds a plurality of lens barrels, each containing one or more focusing lenses, and a second portion that supports the first portion at a specific distance from the substrate being imaged. The lens barrels are each responsive to different wavelengths or bands of wavelengths. The first and second portions include minimal, partial, or full partition structures between the imaging areas defined by the lens barrels.

Claims

1. A lens frame apparatus, comprising:

a lower frame portion mounted on an integrated circuit (IC) imager die containing at least one image capture microelectronic device;

an upper frame structure detachably coupled to the lower frame portion, and comprising a plurality of circular cutout, each circular cutout containing a threaded inner surface for supporting a lens barrel that is adjustably mounted within a respective circular cutout, wherein a bottom surface of each adjustably mounted lens barrel has a bottom surface with a chamfered annular portion, and wherein the lower frame portion includes a plurality of void areas corresponding to the circular cutouts of the upper frame structure, each void area including a chamfered upper annular surface that is configured to match the chamfered annular portion of the bottom surface of a lens barrel mounted within a respective circular cutout.

2. The lens frame apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper frame structure comprises three circular cutouts, each disposed at the apex of a triangle, and wherein the lower frame portion includes three corresponding void areas.

3. The lens frame apparatus of claim 1, wherein each lens barrel comprises one or more optical lenses mounted within the barrel perpendicular to a plane defined by an imaging axis through the lens barrel.

4. The lens frame apparatus of claim 1, wherein each lens barrel is adjustably mounted within a respective circular cutout during a manufacturing process.

5. The lens frame apparatus of claim 4 wherein the lens barrel is permanently fixed within the respective circular cutout after the manufacturing process.

6. The lens frame apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more optical lenses of the lens barrel are positioned to receive light from an object and form an image of the object on one or more image regions located on the imager die.

7. The lens frame apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more optical lenses of each lens barrel image light of a different wavelength.

8. The lens frame apparatus of claim 4, wherein the chamfered upper annular surface of each circular area functions as a travel stop when a lens barrel is adjustably mounted in a lowest position within the upper frame portion.

9. The lens frame apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of groups of optical lenses comprises:

a first lens group located on an object side of the apparatus, the first lens group comprising at least one optical lens; and

a second lens group located between the first lens group and an image side of the apparatus, the second lens group comprising at least one optical lens, wherein the second lens group is separated from the first lens group by an adjustable gap.

10. The lens frame apparatus of claim 1, wherein the image capture microelectronic device is selected from the group consisting of a Charged Coupled Device (CCD) image capture device and a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image capture device.

11. The lens frame apparatus of claim 5, wherein the imager die is a CMOS integrated circuit.

12. An optical lens frame, comprising:

a substantially rectangular upper surface comprising a plurality of lens barrel holes;

a perimeter structure extending downwards from the upper surface along a periphery of the upper surface, the perimeter structure configured to rest on a portion of a top surface of an imager die; and

a central support structure extending downward from a central portion of the upper surface to the top surface of the imager die.

13. The optical lens frame of claim 12, wherein each lens barrel hole is configured to accommodate a respective lens barrel comprising one or more optical lenses mounted within the barrel perpendicular to a plane defined by an imaging axis through the lens barrel.

14. The optical lens frame of claim 13, wherein each lens barrel is adjustably mounted within a respective circular cutout during a manufacturing process.

15. The optical lens frame of claim 14 wherein the lens barrel is permanently fixed within the respective circular cutout after the manufacturing process.

16. The optical lens frame of claim 15 wherein the lens barrel has a threaded shaft portion that mates to a threaded inner surface of a corresponding mounting hole through the upper surface.

17. The optical lens frame of claim 15 wherein the lens barrel has a smooth shaft portion that friction fits to an inner surface of a corresponding mounting hole through the upper surface.

18. The lens frame apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more optical lenses of the lens barrel are positioned to receive light from an object and form an image of the object on one or more image regions located on the imager die.

19. The lens frame apparatus of claim 18, wherein the one or more optical lenses of each lens barrel image light of a different wavelength.

20. The lens frame apparatus of claim 19, wherein the central support structure comprises a post.

21. The lens frame apparatus of claim 20, wherein the post has a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of a circle, a rectangle, and a triangle.

22. The lens frame apparatus of claim 21, wherein the post includes one or more extensions that partially block light leakage between adjacent imaging areas defined by the one or more optical lenses of each lens barrel.

23. A lens barrel comprising:

a shaft portion for adjustably mounting within lens hole of a first frame portion coupled to an imaging die;

a barrel coupled to the shaft portion holding one or more lenses perpendicular to an imaging axis drawn through a longitudinal axis of the barrel portion; and

a chamfered annular region at a bottom surface of the barrel, configured to stop against a corresponding chamfered annular region on a second frame portion coupled between the first frame portion and the imaging die, when the shaft portion is adjusted at a lowest position within the first frame portion.

24. The lens barrel of claim 23, wherein the shaft portion is threaded to match corresponding threading in the lens barrel hole, and wherein the lens barrel is rotatably adjusted to a defined position in the first frame portion.

25. The lens barrel of claim 23, wherein the shaft portion is smooth and configured to be friction fit within the lens barrel hole, and wherein the lens barrel is slidably adjusted to a defined position in the first frame portion.

26. The lens barrel of claim 25, wherein the shaft portion and lens hole includes a slot and peg assembly to hold the lens barrel in a fixed rotational position within the lens hole.