Method and apparatus providing combined spacer and optical lens element
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorsRick Lake, Jacques Duparre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus used for forming a lens and spacer combination, and imager module employing the spacer and lens combination. The apparatus includes a mold having a base, spacer section, and mold feature. The method includes using the mold with a blank to create a spacer that includes an integral lens. The spacer and lens combination and imager modules can be formed on a wafer level.
Claims44
A mold for forming a combination spacer lens wafer, the mold comprising:
- a base;
- a mold feature;
- and
- a spacer section connecting the base to the mold feature.
An imager module comprising:
- an imager die;
- an imager pixel array mounted on the imager die;
- and
- a first combination spacer lens affixed to the imager die such that a combination lens portion is optically aligned with the imager pixel array, and a combination spacer lens cavity is provided between the imager die and the lens portion of the first combination spacer lens.
A method of forming a combination spacer lens wafer, the method comprising:
- joining a wafer blank with a form mold, the form mold comprising a base, a mold feature, and a spacer section connecting the base and the mold feature, such that the base, mold feature, and spacer section are received by the wafer blank;
- curing the wafer blank sufficiently such that the wafer blank maintains the form of the base, mold feature, and spacer section upon removal of the form mold;
- and
- removing the form mold from the wafer blank.
A method of forming an imager module, the method comprising:
- affixing an imager wafer comprising a die containing a pixel array to a first combination spacer lens wafer, the first combination spacer lens wafer comprising;
- a combination lens portion, and
- a combination spacer portion sized to place the combination lens portion an appropriate distance from the pixel array, the combination spacer portion being affixed to the die.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.