Testing of miniaturized digital camera modules with electrical and/or optical zoom functions
AssigneeDigital Imaging Systems GmbH
InventorsHorst Knoedgen, Dirk Huettmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A test apparatus and method for testing the zoom of a miniature digital camera module is presented. A combination of focus targets are illuminated by different colors of light and simultaneously viewed by the digital camera module. The focus targets range from a far target to a close target and are positioned in the apparatus accordingly. The zoom capability of the camera can be either electrical or manual, and the test apparatus can be adapted to either zoom configurations allowing the zoom of the camera lens to be controlled by a tester. The brightness of the image of the focus targets captured by the digital camera is monitored to determine whether the focus of the camera is maintained over the range of zoom.
Claims30
An optics system for testing a zoom capability of a miniature digital camera module, comprising:
- a) a light source,
- b) a plurality of focus targets,
- c) a field lens,
- d) a magnifier lens,
- e) a digital camera module (MUT) containing a zoom lens,
- f) at least one of said plurality of focus targets positioned in a target holder in locations ranging from furthest to closest to the MUT to form a composite target, wherein targets in the target holder further comprise a far focus target, a first intermediate focus target, a second intermediate focus target and a close focus target,
- g) said light source illuminates said focus targets producing an image of said composite target focused onto said MUT by said field lens and said magnifier lens.
An optics system for testing a zoom capability of a miniature digital camera module, comprising:
- a) a light source,
- b) a plurality of focus targets,
- c) a field lens,
- d) a magnifier lens,
- e) a digital camera module (MUT) containing a zoom lens,
- f) said light source illuminates said focus targets producing a target image focused onto said MUT by said field lens and said magnifier lens,
- g) a far focus target located in a target holder furthest from said MUT,
- h) a first intermediate focus target located in said target holder closer to said MUT than said far focus target,
- i) a second intermediate focus target located in said target holder closer to said MUT than said first intermediate focus target,
- j) a close focus target located in said target holder closer to said MUT than said second intermediate focus target.
A method of testing a zoom lens of a miniature digital camera module, comprising:
- a) positioning a focus target in a target wheel over an optical centerline of an optics system for testing a digital camera module (MUT) containing a zoom lens,
- b) setting a distance of said target wheel from said MUT,
- c) setting said distance of a field lens that focuses an image of said focus target onto said zoom lens of said MUT,
- d) selecting a color of light to illuminate said focus target,
- e) varying a setting of said zoom lens and checking a focus of said image captured by a light sensitive device within said MUT,
- f) positioning a magnifier lens over said optical center line at a distance from said MUT,
- g) varying said setting of said zoom lens and checking a focus of said image captured by a light sensitive device within said MUT,
- h) reposition said magnifier lens and varying said setting of said zoom lens and checking a focus of said image captured by a light sensitive device within said MUT until all magnifier lens positions have been used,
- i) selecting a next color of light and repeating steps e) through h),
- k) ending when zoom testing with all colors of light has been completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.