Contoured surface cover plate for image sensor array

• US 7,499,093 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2003
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Campbell, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US10/715,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,931 Days
• Field of Search: 348/340, 348/385
• US Class Current: 348/340
• 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. 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 mesa-like protrusion on a surface of said cover plate,

wherein said mounting structure is developed to hold a lens system including additional lensing structures and,

wherein said additional lensing structures include a multiple piece lensing structure which collectively with said integrated lensing structure collects and focuses radiation onto said image sensor array.

2. An assembly as in claim 1, wherein said multiple piece lensing structure includes three lens parts.

3. An assembly as in claim 2, wherein said multiple lens system includes a convex lens, a first plano-convex lens, and a second plano-convex lens.

4. 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 mesa-like protrusion on a surface of said cover plate,

wherein said mounting structure is developed to hold a lens system including additional lensing structures and, wherein said mounting structure includes screw threads.

5. An assembly as in claim 4, wherein said additional lensing structures include a threaded ring.

6. An image sensor device, comprising:

an image sensor;

image sensor electronics connected to the image sensor;

a cover part which covers the integrated circuit image sensor, wherein said cover part includes a plate having a plurality of surfaces, at least one of the plurality of surfaces being contoured into a lensing element; and

a mounting structure formed as a well-like depression in said plate and adapted to secure a prefabricated lens system to said cover part above said lensing element.

7. An image sensor device as in claim 6, wherein said lensing element includes at least one of a refractive lensing element and a diffractive lensing element.

8. An image sensor device as in claim 6, wherein said image sensor includes an active pixel array.