Miniature Wafer-Level Camera Modules
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- providing a lens substrate having an array of lenses, the lens substrate including an overflow region next to each lens of the array, each overflow region including an overflow lens material; and
separating the lens substrate into a plurality of smaller lens substrates, each of the smaller lens substrates having one of a single lens and a plurality of stacked lenses, wherein separating the lens substrate into the plurality of smaller lens substrates includes substantially removing the overflow regions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, a method includes providing a lens substrate having an array of lenses. The lens substrate includes an overflow region next to each lens of the array. Each overflow region includes an overflow lens material. The method also includes separating the lens substrate into a plurality of smaller lens substrates. Each of the smaller lens substrates has one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses. Separating the lens substrate into the smaller lens substrates may include removing or substantially removing the overflow regions. In one aspect, the method may be performed as a method of making a miniature camera module. Other methods are also described, as are miniature camera modules.
33 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a lens substrate having an array of lenses, the lens substrate including an overflow region next to each lens of the array, each overflow region including an overflow lens material; and separating the lens substrate into a plurality of smaller lens substrates, each of the smaller lens substrates having one of a single lens and a plurality of stacked lenses, wherein separating the lens substrate into the plurality of smaller lens substrates includes substantially removing the overflow regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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providing a lens substrate having an array of lenses, the lens substrate including an overflow region next to each lens of the array, each overflow region including an overflow lens material; providing an image sensor array substrate having an array of image sensor arrays; bonding the lenses with the image sensor array substrate; and performing one or more sets of dicing operations to dice the lens substrate and the image sensor array substrate into individual modules each having an image sensor array and one of a single lens and a plurality of stacked lenses, wherein performing the one or more sets of dicing operations includes substantially removing the overflow regions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A miniature camera module, the miniature camera module comprising:
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an aperture operable to receive light from an external environment; one of a single lens and a plurality of stacked lenses optically coupled to receive the light from the aperture, the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses operable to optically focus the light; an image sensor array optically coupled to receive the focused light from the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses, the image sensor array having a lateral area that is less than 0.6 millimeters by 0.6 millimeters, and the miniature camera module having a lateral area that is less than 1.2 millimeters by 1.2 millimeters; and interconnects electrically coupled with the image sensor array and accessible from an outside of the miniature camera module to allow electrical connection to be made to an external signaling medium, wherein the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses is operable to optically focus the light on the active area of the image sensor array to provide a working distance that is less than 50 millimeters and a field of view that is greater than 70°
. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A miniature camera module, the miniature camera module comprising:
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an aperture operable to receive light from an external environment; one of a single lens and a plurality of stacked lenses optically coupled to receive the light from the aperture, the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses operable to optically focus the light, the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses having a lateral area that is less than 1.2 millimeters by 1.2 millimeters, the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses including one or more molded lens, and the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses having a surface where an overflow lens material has been cut away; an image sensor array optically coupled to receive the focused light from the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses, the image sensor array having a lateral area that is less than 0.6 millimeters by 0.6 millimeters; and interconnects electrically coupled with the image sensor array and accessible from an outside of the miniature camera module to allow electrical connection to be made to an external signaling medium. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. An endoscope comprising:
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a hermetically sealed housing, the housing having a transparent portion; a light source enclosed within the hermetically sealed housing, the light source positioned to transmit light through the transparent portion of the housing; a miniature wafer-level camera module enclosed within the hermetically sealed housing, the miniature camera module positioned to receive light through the transparent portion of the hermetically sealed housing, the miniature camera module including; an aperture operable to receive the light received through the transparent portion; one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses optically coupled to receive the light from the aperture, the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses operable to optically focus the light; an image sensor array optically coupled to receive the focused light from the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses, the image sensor array having a lateral area that is less than 0.6 millimeters by 0.6 millimeters, and the miniature camera module having a lateral area that is less than 1.2 millimeters by 1.2 millimeters; and interconnects electrically coupled with the image sensor array and accessible from an outside of the miniature camera module to allow electrical connection to be made to an external signaling medium, wherein the one of the single lens and the plurality of stacked lenses is operable to optically focus the light on the active area of the image sensor array to provide a working distance that is less than 50 millimeters and a field of view that is greater than 75° - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification