Methods of manufacturing array camera modules incorporating independently aligned lens stacks

A method of assembling an array camera module, comprising:

• forming a plurality of holes in a carrier;
• mounting the carrier relative to a plurality of sensors so that light passing through each of the plurality of holes in the carrier is incident on one of a plurality of focal planes formed by the plurality of sensors;
• mounting at least one spectral filter within at least one of the plurality of holes in the carrier;
• independently mounting a plurality of lens barrels to the carrier, so that a lens stack in each lens barrel directs light through the at least one hole in the at least one carrier and focuses the light onto a focal plane formed by a corresponding sensor in the plurality of sensors;
• and
• mounting a module cap over the lens barrels so that the module cap is attached to the carrier and a small air gap exists between the module cap and the top of the lens barrels, where the module cap includes a plurality of openings that each admits light into one of the plurality lens stacks contained within the plurality of lens barrels;
• and
• applying a small bead of adhesive to each of the lens barrels to seal the air gap between the module cap and the lens barrels.