Adjustable lens mount

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016334597-A1
Application number	US-201514712814-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 14, 2015
Priority date	May 14, 2015
Publication date	Nov 17, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Examples are disclosed herein that relate to a lens mount for aligning a lens relative to an image sensor in a camera module. One example provides a lens mount comprising a first housing having a first tiltable joint structure and a first receptacle, and a second housing having a second tiltable joint structure complementary to the first tiltable joint structure and also having a second receptacle, wherein the first receptacle and the second receptacle are configured to accommodate a lens holder when the first housing and the second housing are joined by the first tiltable joint structure and the second tiltable joint structure, and wherein the first housing and the second housing are configured to permit the lens holder to be tiltably adjustable when the lens holder is positioned within the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

First claim

1 . A lens mount, comprising:
a first housing having a first tiltable joint structure and a first receptacle; and a second housing having a second tiltable joint structure complementary to the first tiltable joint structure and also having a second receptacle, wherein the first receptacle and the second receptacle are configured to accommodate a lens holder when the first housing and the second housing are joined by the first tiltable joint structure and the second tiltable joint structure, and wherein the first housing and the second housing are configured to permit the lens holder to be tiltably adjustable when the lens holder is positioned within the first receptacle and the second receptacle.

2 . The lens mount of claim 1 , wherein the first tiltable joint structure comprises a spherically curved concave surface and the second tiltable joint structure comprises a complementary spherically curved convex surface.

3 . The lens mount of claim 1 , wherein the second housing is fixed to an optical bench, and wherein the first housing is tilted relative to the optical bench and the second housing.

4 . The lens mount of claim 1 , wherein the first housing is fixed to an optical bench, and wherein the second housing is tilted relative to the optical bench and the first housing.

5 . The lens mount of claim 1 , wherein the first housing is mounted to a printed circuit board, and the lens mount further comprises an adhesive between the first housing and the printed circuit board.

6 . The lens mount of claim 1 , further comprising an image sensor, and wherein the lens holder comprises a lens system, and wherein the lens holder is configured to be tiltably adjustable to adjust a tilt of an optical axis of the lens system relative to the image sensor.

7 . An optical device, comprising:
a sensor package mounted to a printed circuit board, the sensor package comprising an image sensor; a lens holder comprising a lens system; and a lens mount mounted to the printed circuit board, the lens mount comprising a first housing and a second housing that define a joint therebetween, the first housing and the second housing each comprising a receptacle through which the lens holder at least partially extends, the lens holder being tilted by a relative position of the first housing to the second housing at the joint.

8 . The optical device of claim 7 , wherein the joint between the first housing and the second housing comprises a spherical joint.

9 . The optical device of claim 7 , wherein the second housing is fixed to an optical bench, and wherein the first housing is tilted relative to the optical bench and the second housing.

10 . The optical device of claim 9 , wherein the lens system is substantially orthogonal relative to the optical bench.

11 . The optical device of claim 7 , wherein the first housing is fixed to an optical bench, and wherein the second housing is tilted relative to the optical bench and the first housing.

12 . The optical device of claim 11 , wherein the printed circuit board is parallel relative to the optical bench.

13 . The optical device of claim 7 , wherein the first housing is mounted to the printed circuit board, and the optical device further comprises an adhesive between the first housing and the printed circuit board, wherein the adhesive comprises a substantially uniform bond thickness.

14 . A method, comprising:
determining a measure of a tilt between an image sensor and an optical axis of a lens system contained in a lens holder; adjusting a joint connecting a first housing and a second housing, through each of which the lens holder at least partially extends, to vary the tilt of the optical axis relative to a plane of the image sensor; lessening the tilt via adjusting the joint; and fixing the first housing and the second housing thereby maintaining the lessened tilt of the optical axis relative to the plane of the image sensor.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the measure of the tilt comprises actively measuring the tilt.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the measure of the tilt comprises passively measuring the tilt.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising fixing the first housing to an optical bench, and wherein the second housing is tilted relative to the optical bench and the first housing.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising fixing the second housing to an optical bench, and wherein the first housing is tilted relative to the optical bench and the second housing.

19 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising mounting the first housing on a printed circuit board and dispensing an adhesive between the first housing and the printed circuit board, wherein the adhesive comprises a substantially uniform bond thickness.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising positioning the lens holder within a receptacle of each of the first housing and the second housing.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Bohn David Douglas

Classifications

• H04N23/55

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

• G03B5/00 Primary

  Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/54

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

• H04N5/2252

  Electricity · mapped topic