Position detection apparatus, position detection method, testing apparatus, and camera module manufacturing apparatus

A position detection method for detecting position of an image pickup device that outputs an output signal corresponding to intensity of detected light, comprising:

• a light generating step of generating light;
• an illumination step of illuminating the light generated by said light source onto said image pickup device by means of an illumination lens;
• and
• a position detecting step of detecting relative position of said image pickup device with respect to said illumination lens based on the output signal outputted out of said image pickup device corresponding to the light received via said illumination lens.

A testing apparatus for testing an image pickup device that outputs an output signal corresponding to intensity of detected light;

• comprising:
• a light source for generating light;
• an illumination lens for illuminating the light generated by said light source on said image pickup device;
• a position detecting section for detecting relative position of said image pickup device with respect to said illumination lens based on the output signal outputted out of said image pickup device corresponding to the light received via said illumination lens;
• a moving section for changing said relative position of said image pickup device to position set in advance by moving at least one of said image pickup device and said illumination lens based on said relative position detected by said position detecting section;
• and
• a judging section for judging whether or not said image pickup device is defect-free based on said output signal outputted out of said image pickup device held at said position set in advance in testing said image pickup device.

A camera module manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a camera module having an image pickup device that outputs an output signal corresponding to intensity of detected light, an illumination lens for illuminating light onto said image pickup device and a holding member for holding said illumination lens;

• comprising:
• a light source for generating light;
• a position detecting section for detecting relative position of said image pickup device with respect to said illumination lens based on the output signal outputted out of said image pickup device corresponding to the light received from said light source via said illumination lens;
• a moving section for changing said relative position of said image pickup device to position set in advance by moving at least one of said image pickup device and said holding member holding said illumination lens based on said relative position detected by said position detecting section;
• and
• an attaching section for attaching said image pickup device to said holding member while retaining said relative position of said image pickup device at said position set in advance.

A testing apparatus for testing optical characteristics of an image pickup device in which a plurality of photo-detecting elements is disposed on its photo-detecting plane, comprising:

• a short focal distance lens that has optical characteristics of short focal distance corresponding to micro-lenses for illuminating light respectively to said plurality of photo-detecting elements, whose optical axis is disposed in a direction of a vertical axis that crosses at right angles with the photo-detecting plane of said image pickup device and that inputs received and refracted parallel rays to the photo-detecting plane of said image pickup device;
• a stage movable in three axial directions while retaining said short focal distance lens;
• and
• a position detection apparatus for detecting relative position that presents relative misalignment of center position of said plurality of photo-detecting elements and the optical axis of said short focal distance lens from levels of output signals of said plurality of photo-detecting elements by receiving the output signals outputted out of said image pickup device by the rays inputted from said short focal distance lens to the photo-detecting plane of said image pickup device;
• wherein
• said short focal distance lens is moved in a direction in which the relative misalignment of the center of said plurality of photo-detecting elements and the optical axis of said short focal distance lens is eliminated based on the relative position detected by said position detection apparatus.