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US 7,215,479 B1Granted
Integrated lens system for image sensor and method for manufacturing the same
AssigneeMicron Technology, Inc.
InventorDmitry Bakin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lens system including a first substantially hemispherical lens, a second spherical lens and a third substantially hemispherical lens. The lenses are held together by a bonding material such as epoxy, which may also include a light absorbing dye. The invention also relates to a low-cost method of manufacturing the lens system out of glass, using low cost glass ball lenses to create the hemispherical lenses.
Claims63
A lens system comprising:
- a first lens comprising a convex surface and a substantially planar surface;
- a second lens, which is substantially spherical in shape;
- a third lens comprising a convex surface and a substantially planar surface;
- and
- a first support structure which supports one portion of the second lens to the convex surface of the first lens and another portion of the second lens to the planar surface of the third lens.
2 more elements
An imager system comprising:
- a first lens comprising a convex surface and a substantially planar surface coupled to a cover glass of a digital imager device, the first lens having a first refractive index;
- a second lens, substantially spherical in shape, a portion of which is coupled to the convex surface of the first lens, the second lens being a crown glass ball lens and having a second refractive index;
- a third lens comprising a convex surface and a substantially planar surface, the substantially planar surface of the third lens coupled to another portion of the second lens, the third lens having a third refractive index, wherein the second refractive index is lower than the first and third refractive indices;
- a support structure which serves to couple the first, second, and third lenses;
- and
- an imager for capturing an image through the imager lens system, wherein the imager lens system comprises the first, second and third lenses.
3 more elements
An imager system comprising:
- a digital image-capture device comprising a sensor surface having a plurality of micro-lenses associated with a plurality of photosensors;
- and
- a lens system comprising:
- a first lens comprising a convex surface and a substantially planar surface;
- a second lens, which is substantially spherical in shape;
- a third lens comprising a convex surface and a substantially planar surface;
- and
- a support structure which supports one portion of the second lens to the convex surface of the first lens and another portion of the second lens to the planar surface of the third lens;
- wherein the digital-image capture device and the lens system are optically aligned with a layer of air between them.
6 more elements
An image capture module comprising:
- a semiconductor die;
- a pixel array included on the semiconductor die, for capturing an image;
- and
- a lens system, through which the imager views an image, the lens system optically aligned with the pixel array and comprising:
- a first lens comprising a convex surface and a substantially planar surface;
- a second lens, which is substantially spherical in shape;
- a third lens comprising a convex surface and a substantially planar surface;
- and
- a first bonding material that bonds one portion of the second lens to the convex surface of the first lens and another portion of the second lens to the planar surface of the third lens, wherein the first bonding material surrounds the second lens.
6 more elements
A method of producing an imager lens system comprising:
- providing a cover glass adjacent an imager surface;
- providing a first lens adjacent the cover glass, wherein the first lens comprises a convex surface and a substantially planar surface;
- providing a second lens adjacent the first lens, wherein the second lens is substantially spherical in shape and wherein the convex surface of the first lens is coupled to one portion of the second lens;
- providing a third lens adjacent the second lens, wherein the third lens comprises a convex surface and a substantially planar surface and wherein the planar surface of the third lens is coupled to another portion of the second lens;
- and
- coupling the first, second and third lenses together.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.