Camera modules having integrated time of flight sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11226415-B1
Application number	US-202017020010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2020
Priority date	Sep 14, 2020
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for camera modules having integrated time of flight sensors. In one embodiment, an integrated sensor module may include a substrate, a molding compound disposed on the substrate, and a camera sensor disposed on the substrate. The integrated sensor module may include a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser assembly (VCSEL) disposed on the molding compound and separated from the substrate by a first distance, and a single photon avalanche photodiode assembly (SPAD) disposed on the molding compound and separated from the substrate by the first distance. The camera sensor may be configured to detect a first portion of light emitted by the VCSEL and reflected from an object, and the SPAD may be configured to detect a second portion of light emitted by the VCSEL and reflected from the object.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A camera module having an integrated time of flight sensor, the camera module comprising:
a rectangular substrate comprising at least one passive component;
a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser assembly (VCSEL) configured to emit light in a vertical direction;
a single photon avalanche photodiode assembly (SPAD) configured to detect a first portion of light emitted by the VCSEL and reflected from an object;
an camera chip disposed at or near a center of the rectangular substrate and configured to detect a second portion of light emitted by the VCSEL and reflected from the object;
a camera lens; and
a molding compound disposed on the substrate, wherein the molding compound forms a housing of the camera module, the molding compound comprising:
a first portion disposed along a first side of the rectangular substrate, the first portion comprising a first recessed cavity; and
a second portion disposed along a second side of the rectangular substrate, the second portion comprising a second recessed cavity.

2. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the SPAD is disposed in the first recessed cavity, and wherein the VCSEL is disposed in the second recessed cavity, such that the SPAD and the VCSEL are separated from the rectangular substrate, the camera module further comprising:
a first via disposed in the first portion and configured to electrically couple the SPAD to the rectangular substrate; and
a second via disposed in the second portion and configured to electrically couple the VCSEL to the rectangular substrate.

3. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the first recessed cavity has a first floor that is angled at a first angle with respect to the rectangular substrate, and wherein the second recessed cavity has a second floor that is angled at a second angle with respect to the rectangular substrate, wherein the first angle is opposite the second angle relative to a vertical axis.

4. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the VCSEL is disposed at a first corner of the housing, and the SPAD is disposed at a second corner of the housing.

5. An integrated sensor module comprising:
a substrate;
a molding compound disposed on the substrate;
a camera sensor disposed on the substrate;
a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser assembly (VCSEL) disposed on the molding compound and separated from the substrate by a first distance; and
a single photon avalanche photodiode assembly (SPAD) disposed on the molding compound and separated from the substrate by the first distance.

6. The integrated sensor module of claim 5 , wherein the substrate is disposed at a lower end of the integrated sensor module, and wherein the molding compound comprises:
a first portion disposed at a first side of the substrate, the first portion comprising a first recessed cavity adjacent to an upper end of the integrated sensor module; and
a second portion disposed at a second side of the substrate, the second portion comprising a second recessed cavity adjacent to the upper end.

7. The integrated sensor module of claim 6 , wherein the VCSEL is disposed in the first recessed cavity, and the SPAD is disposed in the second recessed cavity.

8. The integrated sensor module of claim 6 , wherein the first recessed cavity comprises a first floor oriented at a first angle with respect to the substrate, and the second recessed cavity comprises a second floor oriented at a second angle with respect to the substrate.

9. The integrated sensor module of claim 5 , further comprising:
a camera lens aligned with the camera sensor.

10. The integrated sensor module of claim 5 , wherein the molding compound forms a first sidewall having a first width and a second width, and a second sidewall having a third width and a fourth width.

11. The integrated sensor module of claim 10 , wherein the first width is different than the third width, and the second width is different than the fourth width.

12. The integrated sensor module of claim 5 , wherein the VCSEL is coupled to the substrate by a first via extending through the molding compound, and wherein the SPAD is coupled to the substrate by a second via extending through the molding compound.

13. The integrated sensor module of claim 5 , further comprising:
a first filter disposed at the upper end adjacent to the VCSEL; and
a second filter disposed at the upper end adjacent to the SPAD.

14. The integrated sensor module of claim 5 , wherein the molding compound forms a cube-shaped housing of the integrated sensor module, and wherein the VCSEL is disposed at a first upper corner of the cube-shaped housing, the SPAD is disposed at a second upper corner of the cube-shaped housing, and the camera sensor is disposed between the VCSEL and the SPAD.

15. The integrated sensor module of claim 5 , wherein the molding compound forms a rectangular housing of the integrated sensor module, wherein the VCSEL is disposed at a first side of the rectangular housing, and the SPAD is disposed at a second side of the rectangular housing, and wherein the VCSEL, the camera sensor, and the SPAD are aligned in a linear arrangement.

16. A device comprising:
an integrated sensor module comprising:
a substrate;
a molding compound disposed on the substrate;
a camera sensor disposed on the substrate;
a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser assembly (VCSEL) disposed on the molding compound and separated from the substrate by a first distance; and
a single photon avalanche photodiode assembly (SPAD) disposed on the molding compound and separated from the substrate by the first distance;

wherein the camera sensor is configured to detect a first portion of light emitted by the VCSEL and reflected from an object, and the SPAD is configured to detect a second portion of light emitted by the VCSEL and reflected from the object.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the molding compound of the integrated sensor module forms a cube-shaped housing of the integrated sensor module, and wherein the VCSEL is disposed at a first corner of the cube-shaped housing, the SPAD is disposed at a second corner of the cube-shaped housing, and the camera sensor is disposed between the VCSEL and the SPAD.

18. The device of claim 16 , wherein the molding compound of the integrated sensor module comprises:
a first sidewall disposed at a first side of the substrate, the first sidewall comprising a first recessed cavity; and
a second sidewall disposed at a second side of the substrate, the second sidewall comprising a second recessed cavity.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the VCSEL is disposed in the first recessed cavity, and the SPAD is disposed in the second recessed cavity.

20. The device of claim 18 , wherein the first recessed cavity comprises a first floor oriented at a first angle with respect to the substrate, and the second recessed cavity comprises a second floor oriented at a second angle with respect to the substrate.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Song Fubin
• Ge Jun
• Du Jianhua
• Guo Ke
• Yang Chaoran

Classifications

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• G01S17/86 Primary

  Combinations of lidar systems with systems other than lidar, radar or sonar, e.g. with direction finders · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title