Image capture unit and methods
AssigneeEther Precision, Inc.
InventorsChao-Chi CHANG, Yung-I Chen, Jean-Pierre Lusinchi, Raymond Chih-Chung Hsiao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lens array block comprises a plurality of lens barrels joined to one another form a three-dimensional unitary structure. Each lens barrel comprises a stepped cylindrical chamber having a through hole with an internal profile having first and second steps that are spaced apart through the height of the through hole, the second step being radially inward of the first step. An image capturing unit comprising the lens block array, and methods of fabrication and assembly are also described.
Claims50
A lens array block comprising a plurality of lens barrels joined to one another form a three-dimensional unitary structure, each lens barrel comprising a stepped cylindrical chamber having through hole with an internal profile having first and second steps that are spaced apart through the height of the through hole, the second step being radially inward of the first step.
An image capture module array comprising:
- (a) A lens array block comprising a plurality of lens barrels joined to one another form a three-dimensional unitary structure, each lens barrel comprising a stepped cylindrical chamber having a through hole with an internal profile having first and second steps that are spaced apart through the height of the through hole, the second step being radially inward of the first step;
- and
- (b) a plate having an array of image sensors which are aligned and joined to the lens array block such that each image sensor is directly below a through hole of a lens barrel.
A lens array block comprising:
- (a) a backing plate;
- and
- (b) a plurality of cylindrical lens barrels spaced apart from one another and mounted on the backing plate, each cylindrical lens barrel comprising a stepped cylindrical chamber having a through hole with an internal profile that steps progressively radially inward through the height of the lens barrel.
A method of forming a lens array block, the method comprising:
- (a) providing first and second plates;
- (b) forming a plurality of first through holes through the first plate, the first through holes having a first diameter;
- (c) forming plurality of second through holes through the second plates, the second through holes having second diameters that are different diameters than the first diameters;
- (d) aligning the first through holes to the second through holes to form pairs of first and second through holes that each have a central axis;
- and
- (e) joining the first and second plates to one another to form a lens array block.
A method of forming a lens array block, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a backing plate having a surface;
- (b) forming on the surface of the backing plate, a first mask pattern comprising an array of first solid circles that each have a first diameter;
- (c) depositing by electrolysis, lens barrel material around the first solid circles to form a first lens barrel level containing a plurality of first holes;
- (d) forming on the surface of the first lens barrel level, a second mask pattern comprising an array of second solid circles that each have a second diameter;
- and
- (e) depositing by electrolysis, lens barrel material around the second solid circles to form a second lens barrel level containing a plurality of second holes, each second hole having a common central axis with a first hole.
An array of image capturing units comprising:
- (a) an image sensor array comprising a plurality of image sensors spaced apart from one another, each image sensor comprising an image receiving surface;
- (b) a light permeable cover positioned over the image receiving surfaces of the image sensor array;
- and
- (c) a lens array block positioned over the light permeable cover, the lens array block comprising a plurality of lens barrels, wherein each lens barrel is aligned to an image receiving surface of an image sensor on the image sensor array.
A method of fabricating an array of image capturing units, the method comprising:
- (a) providing an image sensor array comprising a plurality of image sensors which are spaced apart from one another, each image sensor comprising an image receiving surface;
- (b) positioning a light permeable cover over the image receiving surfaces of the image sensor array;
- and
- (c) positioning a lens array block comprising a plurality of lens barrels over the light permeable cover such that each lens barrel is aligned to an image receiving surface of an image sensor of the image sensor array.
A method of fabricating an array of image capturing units, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a lens array block comprising a plurality of lens barrels, and top and bottom surfaces;
- (b) mounting at least one lens in each lens barrel of the lens array block, each lens barrel having a circumferential edge;
- (c) positioning a mask cover having a plurality of apertures over the top surface of the lens array block such that each aperture is aligned to a lens barrel to at least partially shield the circumferential edge of the lens in the lens barrel;
- and
- (d) attaching an image sensor array to the bottom surface of the lens array block such that an image receiving surface of each image sensor is aligned to a lens barrel.
A method of fabricating an array of image capturing units, the method comprising:
- (a) providing a wafer comprising an image sensor array having a plurality of spaced apart image sensors, each image sensor comprising an image receiving surface;
- (b) attaching a plurality of lens modules to the wafer such that each lens module is aligned to an image receiving surface of an image sensor;
- and
- (c) dividing the wafer to form a plurality of image capture units, each image capture unit comprising an image sensor and a lens module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.