AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IMAGE SENSOR

• US 20070051885A1
• Filed: 08/25/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Inventors: Stam, Joseph, Bechtel, Jon, Otey, Stephen, Creswick, Steven, Reese, Spencer
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/239
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/146 Imager structures

Abstract

An image sensor has an imager die onto which is adhered an optical spacer. The imager die and optical spacer may be supported by a dam-and-fill construction which allows light to pass through the optical spacer and onto the imager die. The image sensor may generate control signals for use in a variety of automatic vehicle equipment controls and may be incorporated into an automotive vehicle such as by inclusion into a rearview mirror assembly.

Claims

1. A rearview mirror assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a printed circuit board disposed within the housing;

an image sensor affixed to the printed circuit board, the image sensor including

a substrate;

an imager die including a plurality of pixels operative to capture an image, the imager die affixed to the substrate;

at least one optical spacer directly adhered to the imager die above the plurality of pixels, the at least one optical spacer substantially transparent to light from the captured image, the at least one optical spacer having sides extending from the imager die, a bottom surface immediately across from the plurality of pixels, and a top surface opposite from the bottom surface;

a dam forming a wall substantially around the imager die, the dam forming a fill region within the dam; and

fill material disposed within the fill region, the fill material covering a portion of the imager die and at least a portion of the optical spacer sides but not covering the optical spacer top surface.

2. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one optical spacer is adhered to the imager die with an optically transparent adhesive.

3. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one optical spacer is a plurality of optical spacers.

4. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 3 wherein at least one of the plurality of optical spacers has an optical property different than at least one other of the plurality of optical spacers.

5. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one optical spacer comprises an optical spacer having a plurality of zones, at least one of the plurality of zones having an optical property different than at least one other of the plurality of zones.

6. The rearview mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one lense positioned above the at least one optical spacer top surface.

7. An image sensor for use in an automotive vehicle, the image sensor comprising:

a substrate;

an imager die having a top side and a bottom side, the top side including a plurality of pixels operative to capture an image, the imager die bottom side affixed to the substrate such that the plurality of pixels receives light from a direction opposite of the substrate;

an optically transparent adhesive on the imager die top side;

at least one optically transparent spacer directly adhered to the imager die by the optically transparent adhesive;

a dam forming a wall substantially around the imager die; and

fill material disposed within the dam wall, the fill material covering a portion of the imager die and at least a portion of the optically transparent spacer;

whereby the plurality of pixels captures the image by receiving light through the optically transparent adhesive and through the optically transparent spacer.

8. The image sensor of claim 7 wherein the at least one optically transparent spacer is a plurality of optical spacers.

9. The image sensor of claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of optical spacers has an optical property different than at least one other of the plurality of optical spacers.

10. The image sensor of claim 7 wherein the at least one optically transparent spacer comprises an optically transparent spacer having a plurality of zones, at least one of the plurality of zones having an optical property different than at least one other of the plurality of zones.

11. The image sensor of claim 7 further comprising at least one lense positioned above the at least one optically transparent spacer.

12. A method of making an image sensor for use in an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

adhering an imager die to a substrate, the imager die including a plurality of pixels;

adhering a bottom surface of at least one optically transparent optical spacer to the imager die above the plurality of pixels;

depositing a damning material substantially around the imager die so as to form a fill region;

depositing a fill material in the fill region, the fill material covering the imager die and a portion of the optical spacer not including a top surface of the optical spacer;

whereby light passes through the optical spacer top surface and the optical spacer bottom surface to reach the plurality of pixels.

13. The method of making the image sensor of claim 12 further comprising co-curing the damming material and the fill material.

14. The method of making the image sensor of claim 12 wherein adhering the at least one optically transparent optical spacer to the imager die comprises:

depositing an optically clear epoxy onto the imager die;

pressing the optical spacer onto the optically clear epoxy; and

curing the optically clear epoxy.

15. The method of making the image sensor of claim 12 wherein depositing a damming material substantially around the imager die comprises:

laying down a first ring of damming material; and

laying down a second ring of damming material on top of the first ring of damming material.

16. The method of making the image sensor of claim 12 further comprising dicing the at least one optical spacer from a sheet of glass.

17. The method of making the image sensor of claim 12 further comprising depositing at least one filter on a surface of the least one optically transparent optical spacer.

18. The method of making the image sensor of claim 17 wherein the at least one filter is deposited on a portion of the surface of the at least one optically transparent optical spacer, whereby the at least one optically transparent optical spacer has a plurality of zones, at least one of the plurality of zones having an optical property different than at least one other of the plurality of zones.

19. The method of making the image sensor of claim 12 further comprising wire bonding the imager die to the substrate.

20. An automatic vehicle equipment control, comprising:

an imager die carried on a substrate, the imager die generating an electrical signal based on light striking the imager die;

an optical spacer proximate the imager die, the optical spacer comprising a bottom surface, a top surface and sides extending from the bottom surface to the top surface;

a dam material carried on the substrate substantially surrounding the imager die; and

a fill material disposed between the dam material and the sides of the optical spacer, whereby at least one vehicle equipment control signal is provided by the imager die based on light traveling through the optical spacer.

21. The automatic vehicle equipment control of claim 20 further comprising an optically transparent adhesive affixing the optical spacer to the imager die.

22. The automatic vehicle equipment control of claim 20 wherein the electrical signal generated by the imager die is used to control at least one of an automatic exterior light control system, a moisture sensing system, a windshield wiper control, a defroster control, a defogger control, a lane departure detection system, a lane departure warning system, a security system, a vision system, a rear vision system, a mirror dimming system, an occupancy detection system, a monitoring system, a collision avoidance system, an accident recreation system, and an image acquisition system.

23. The automatic vehicle equipment control of claim 20 wherein the substrate is disposed within a rearview mirror assembly.