Precise insertion device for insertion line of lens module

Abstract

In a process of installation of a lens module of a device manufactured through a process of installing a lens module such as an optical sensor in a lens housing, in order to provide a technology capable of improving the manufacturing yield of the device without the necessity of manual work by an operator or a complicated epoxy fixing process, a precise insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a lens housing fixing portion which fixes a lens housing in which an insertion space and a through-line are formed, wherein a cylindrical lens module that has an end side to which a lens is coupled and has an empty space formed therein is inserted into the insertion space, and the through-line is penetrated such that a region in the outer surface thereof can be connected to the insertion space; a gripper which is inserted into the lens module through an opening formed in another end side opposite to the end side of the cylindrical lens module on which the lens is installed, and inserts the lens module into the insertion space while moving in a first direction that is the lengthwise direction of the insertion space while supporting the lens module by applying an external force toward the outer surface of the cylinder; a focus sensing module which senses the focus of the lens by having a photographing angle in a direction toward the lens along the empty space in the lens module; and a controller which controls the movement of the gripper in the first direction according to a photographing result of the focus sensing module.

Description

Precision insertion device for the insertion line of the lens module

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for an insertion assembly device for a lens barrel with a lens inserted into it and a CCD and a lens housing, which is used for assembling camera modules such as lidar sensors, cameras / mobile phone cameras, etc., and more specifically, to a technology for automatically and precisely adjusting the insertion depth of a cylindrical lens module into an insertion line space so as to precisely set the focal length of the lens, and for ensuring that fixation between the lens module and the sensor module is very accurate and easy after insertion.

[0002]

[0003] LiDAR sensors are a technology that detects the distance, direction, speed, temperature, material distribution, and concentration characteristics of an object by shining a laser beam on the target and analyzing the characteristics of the reflected beam. These LiDAR sensors include a lens housing, a light source inserted into the lens housing to emit a specific laser beam at a set focal length, and a lens module that focuses the light from the light source to the focal length.

[0004] Optical sensors, including lidar sensors, are fundamentally influenced by factors such as laser output, wavelength, spectral characteristics, pulse width and shape, as well as the receiver's sensitivity and dynamic range, and the characteristics of optical filters and lenses. Furthermore, the Field Of View (FOV), which indicates the receiver's measurement angle, the field stop for selecting the measurement range, and the overlap characteristics of the laser beam and the receiver's FOV are also important. The minimum time for unit data collection relative to the speed of light is a factor that determines the range resolution, and therefore, data collection and processing within a few nanoseconds is required for a range resolution of less than 1 meter.

[0005] For the precise manufacturing of these optical sensors, it is necessary to insert the lens module into the lens housing at a position that precisely corresponds to the focal length, and then fix the lens module and the lens housing.

[0006] The technology for inserting a lens module for manufacturing a conventional sensor is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. First, referring to FIG. 1, a lens module (10) is inserted longitudinally into an insertion space (21) of a lens module (10) provided in a lens housing (20). Thereafter, when the groove (11) formed on the outer surface of the lens module (10) is positioned in the slit (22) formed in the lens housing (20), the worker positions the pin (100) in the groove (11), and applies force to the pin (100) in the insertion direction (d1, d2) to micro-move the lens module (10) in the d1, d2 direction, so that the position where the image formed on the lens (12) appears clearly according to the distance between the lens (12) installed on the lens module (10) and the substrate is a distance corresponding to the focal length, and so the worker uses a camera to look at the position in a manner of directly taking a picture of the image reflected on the lens (12), and micro-move the lens module (10) using the pin (100) as described above. Thereafter, epoxy is applied, the pin (100) is removed, and epoxy is applied to the remaining portion.

[0007] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 2, when the protrusion (13) formed on the outer surface of the lens module (10) is extended to the outside through the slit (22-1) formed in the lens housing (20), the worker moves the protrusion (13) in the d1, d2 direction as described above to move the distance of the lens module (10) minutely.

[0008] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 3, a screw line is formed in the above insertion space of the lens housing, and a screw line (14) is formed on the outer surface of the lens module (10) as shown in FIG. 3 (a), and a groove (15) is formed on the short side of the lens (12) or the opposite side as shown in FIG. 3 (b), and a pin or other insertion device as shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into the groove (15) and rotated in the R1 direction, etc., so that the lens module (10) is minutely moved in the d1 and d2 directions as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to the rotation in the R1 direction by matching the screw lines (14) described above.

[0009] The above-described existing technologies contain serious problems in the process of precisely positioning the lens module (10) in the lens housing (20) at the focal length of the lens (12) and then fixing the lens housing (20) and the lens module (10). First, since the user manually manipulates the image formed on the lens (12), there is a problem in that when an external force is released, such as when working with a pin (100), a backlash phenomenon occurs, causing microscopic movement, making it impossible to control the microscopic insertion depth.

[0010] In addition, after placing it in the corresponding position, when fixing the lens housing (20) and the lens module (10) by applying epoxy or the like, for example, before removing the pin (100), the first epoxy is applied, and after removing the pin (100), the second epoxy is applied to the insertion space of the pin (100), etc., so there is a possibility that the lens module may move slightly between the first and second epoxy applications, and post-processing is difficult during subsequent fixation, so precise control of the insertion of the lens module is very difficult, and there is a problem that the quality of the optical sensor is deteriorated as a result.

[0011]

[0012] The present invention is derived to solve the problem related to the precise installation between the above-mentioned conventional lens module and the lens housing to which the lens module is to be inserted, and specifically, the purpose is to provide a technology that enables precise automatic control of the insertion and insertion depth within the insertion space of the lens module, and eliminates the possibility of an error occurring in the fixation between the lens module and the lens housing through a single process, thereby enabling the precise manufacturing of a device in which a lens module, such as an optical sensor, is installed.

[0013]

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, a precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including: an insertion space into which a cylindrical lens module having a lens coupled to one end and forming an empty space inside is inserted; a lens housing fixing part for fixing a lens housing having a through line formed so that one area of ​​an outer surface is connected to the insertion space; a gripper for inserting the lens module into the insertion space while moving in a first direction, which is a longitudinal direction of the insertion space, by applying an external force toward the outer surface of the cylinder while supporting the lens module through an opening formed at an end opposite to the end on which the lens of the cylindrical lens module is installed; a focus detection module for detecting a focus of the lens by having a shooting angle in a direction toward the lens along the empty space of the lens module; and a control part for controlling movement of the gripper in the first direction according to a shooting result of the focus detection module.

[0015] The gripper may include a pair of arms that move in the radial direction of the cylinder of the lens module and at the same time move in the longitudinal direction of the lens module, and a portion of which is inserted into the interior of the lens module through the opening; a first driving module that provides a moving force to move the pair of arms in a second direction, which is the radial direction of the lens module; and a second driving module that provides a moving force to move the pair of arms in the first direction.

[0016] It is possible for the inner surface of the cancer to be shaped such that the line connecting the inner surfaces of the pair of cancers forms a circle.

[0017] The above focus detection module may include a camera that photographs in a direction toward the lens along the empty space of the lens module between the pair of arms; and a communication module that transmits an image photographed by the camera to the control unit in real time.

[0018] The control unit can control the movement of the gripper in the first direction so that the gripper moves the lens module to a depth at which the image formed on the lens among the images received through the communication module is detected as an image that corresponds to the focal length of the lens and minimizes blurring.

[0019] The gripper may further include a torque sensor that senses a force applied to the pair of arms as the pair of arms move in the second direction.

[0020] The control unit may stop the operation of the first driving module when, while the pair of arms are moving in a direction in which one of the pair of arms moves away from each other in the second direction, the torque detected by the torque sensor reaches a preset threshold torque, thereby preventing the pair of arms from moving further away from each other.

[0021] The first drive module may include a first motor; and a first gear module that converts the moving force of the first motor into a linear moving force in opposite directions, so that the pair of arms move in opposite directions simultaneously according to the moving force of the first motor, so that the pair of arms move in a direction closer to or farther away from each other according to the driving of the first motor.

[0022] The lens module has an outer surface having a cylindrical integral outer surface, and can be fixed to the lens housing at a depth inserted by the gripper by a single application of epoxy applied along the through line while the gripper is supporting it.

[0023] The control unit controls the movement of the gripper in the first direction so that the lens module is inserted into the insertion space at the depth at which the image formed on the lens is captured, by causing the focus detection module to capture a preset number of images in preset depth units and, as a result of analyzing the captured images, memorizing the result of controlling the movement of the gripper in the first direction when the image formed on the lens is captured with the sharpest image.

[0024]

[0025] According to the present invention, the lens module is firmly supported by a gripper that supports the lens module on the inside of the lens module so that no manual work is required, no damage to the lens module and the insertion space due to interference between the lens module and the insertion space, and no improvement to existing products occurs, and the lens module is inserted along the insertion space while the lens module is placed at a depth where the image formed on the lens by the focus detection module is the clearest, and in that state, the lens module and the lens housing are fixed using epoxy, and then the operation of the gripper is released to complete the installation of the lens module.

[0026] Accordingly, the lens module can be automatically placed through precise insertion control without any manual work or visual confirmation by the worker, and the lens module can be installed into the lens housing through a single fixing process, which has the effect of greatly improving the yield in the manufacturing of devices such as optical sensors that include a lens module installation process that requires precise work.

[0027]

[0028] Figures 1 to 3 are drawings for explaining the installation process of a lens module using conventional technology.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 5 is a drawing for explaining the inner shape of a gripper according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining the difference in the fixing process between the lens module and lens housing of the existing technology and the present invention.

[0032] Figure 7 is a drawing for explaining the function of a control unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a drawing for explaining an example in which the insertion depth of a lens module is determined according to each embodiment of the present invention.

[0034]

[0035] Hereinafter, various embodiments and / or aspects are now disclosed with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that such aspects may be practiced without these specific details. The following description and the accompanying drawings detail specific exemplary aspects of one or more aspects. However, these aspects are exemplary, and any of the various methods within the principles of the various aspects may be utilized, and the description is intended to encompass all such aspects and their equivalents.

[0036] The terms “embodiment,” “example,” “aspect,” “example,” and the like as used herein may not be construed to imply that any aspect or design described is better or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

[0037] Additionally, it should be understood that the terms “comprises” and / or “comprising” imply the presence of the features and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, components and / or groups thereof.

[0038] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used solely to distinguish one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0039] Additionally, in the embodiments of the present invention, unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] FIGS. 1 to 3 are drawings for explaining an installation process of a lens module by a conventional technology, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a drawing for explaining an inner shape of a gripper according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a drawing for explaining a difference in a fixing process between a lens module and a lens housing according to a conventional technology and the present invention, FIG. 7 is a drawing for explaining a function of a control unit according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a drawing for explaining an example in which an insertion depth of a lens module is determined according to each embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Meanwhile, in the following description, some of the details described in the drawings are omitted or excessively enlarged or reduced in order to explain the functions of each component of the present invention, but it should be understood that the details depicted do not limit the technical features and scope of rights of the present invention.

[0042] Additionally, in the following description, multiple drawings will be simultaneously referenced and described to explain one technical feature or component constituting the invention.

[0043] As described above, referring to the above drawings together, a precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module according to one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the “device of the present invention”) is characterized by including a lens housing fixing part (40), a gripper (50), a focus detection module (60), and a control part (70).

[0044] The lens housing fixing member (40) is a stage that performs the function of fixing the lens housing (20) to a predetermined position for insertion of the lens module (10), which has an insertion space in which a cylindrical lens module, which has a lens attached to one side and an empty space inside, is inserted, and a through-line formed so that one area of ​​the outer surface is connected to the insertion space.

[0045] A lens housing fixing member (40) refers to a configuration including a stage and a fixing member that performs the function of fixing a lens housing (20) having an insertion space (21) into which a cylindrical lens module (10) is inserted, which has a lens (12) attached to one side and an empty space inside, and a through line (22) formed through the outer surface to connect one area with the insertion space, to a predetermined position for insertion of the lens module (10).

[0046] As described above, the lens module (10) refers to a component in which a lens (12) is coupled to one side and an empty space is formed in a region corresponding to the direction of travel of light looking at the lens (12) in a cylindrical shape. At this time, the lens module (10) is inserted along the insertion space (21) and coupled to the lens housing (20). After insertion into the insertion space (21), fixation between the lens module (10) and the lens housing (20) is performed by applying an adhesive material such as epoxy along the above-described through line (22) and then curing it, thereby coupling the outer surface of the lens module (10) to the inner surface of the insertion space (21) side of the lens housing (20).

[0047] The lens housing (20) is an element that constitutes a device such as an optical sensor including the above-described lidar sensor, for example, by combining a substrate (30) or the like on one side, and specifically refers to a configuration in which a lens module (10) is inserted and fixed by having the above-described structure.

[0048] The lens housing fixing member (40) performs the function of precisely fixing the lens housing (20) described above to the position for insertion of the lens module (10). That is, when the lens module (10) is fixed by the gripper (50) described below, the three-dimensional position of the lens housing (20) is fixed so that one side of the lens module (10) precisely matches the opening on the lens housing (20) side of the insertion space (21), and the longitudinal axis of the lens module (10) matches the longitudinal axis of the insertion space (21).

[0049] In the present invention, the lens housing (20) may vary depending on the type of the optical device described above, and the lens module (10) may also be configured differently depending on the size and type of the lens module (10) installed in one lidar sensor. Accordingly, the lens housing fixing part (40) may be configured as a stage-type device capable of three-dimensional movement as described above, and may include a plurality of precision control motors and gear modules, and a moving stage to fix the lens housing (20) to the precise position described above through three-dimensional movement of the stage after fixing the lens housing (20).

[0050] Meanwhile, the gripper (50) is inserted into the interior of the lens module (10), i.e., the cylindrical empty space described above, through an opening formed on the opposite side of the side where the lens (12) of the cylindrical lens module (10) is installed, and applies an external force toward the outer surface of the cylinder to support the lens module (10) while applying an external force, thereby performing the function of inserting the lens module (10) into the insertion space (21) while moving in the first direction (d1, d2), which is the longitudinal direction of the insertion space (21).

[0051] Specifically, the lens module (10) is inserted into the insertion space (21) while moving in the d1, d2 direction within the above insertion space (21), and the function of moving in the d1, d2 direction is performed so as to be positioned at a depth (position) corresponding to the above-described focal distance.

[0052] At this time, the core technical feature of the present invention is that, when moving the lens module (10), the detailed configuration of the gripper (50) contacts the inner surface of the lens module (10), that is, the inner surface of the cylindrical empty space, and applies an external force in the direction (d3) that spreads the lens module (10), thereby supporting and fixing the lens module (10), and moving the lens module (10) together as it moves in the d1 and d2 directions.

[0053] That is, in this case, when the lens module (10) is moved along the insertion space (21) without applying any external force or interference to the contact surface of the lens module (10) and the insertion space (21), and then, for example, the gripper (50) supports the lens module (10) in a direction (d4) that narrows from the outer surface of the lens module (10), the outer surface of the lens module (10) is prevented from being distorted by the external force in the contact area of ​​the lens module (10) and the gripper (50), thereby preventing the lens module (10) from coming into contact with the inner surface of the insertion space (21), thereby completely preventing the fixing force from being reduced.

[0054] The focus detection module (60) detects the focus of the lens (12) by having a detection angle in the direction toward the lens (12) along the empty space of the lens module (10), thereby performing a function of capturing an image formed on the lens (12). Specifically, the shooting angle means a shooting area, and performs a function of capturing an image corresponding to an image of a substrate (30) formed by the lens (12) in the positional relationship illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0055] Meanwhile, the focus detection module (60) may be implemented as any sensor capable of detecting the focus of a lens, such as a laser sensor, a distance sensor, or a light sensor, in addition to being implemented as the above-described image capturing device. That is, in the case of lasers and light sensors, light or lasers are irradiated onto the lens, and an image formed on the lens is detected through this to detect whether the distance at which the image is most distinct, that is, the insertion depth corresponding to the focus of the lens (12), is detected. Hereinafter, the focus detection module (65) will be described in a form implemented as a camera or the like, which is the easiest to implement, but it will be understood that it can be implemented as any of the above-described embodiments.

[0056] According to the structural features that control the movement of the gripper (50) relative to the lens module (10), the focus detection module (60) can be installed on the opposite side of the side where the gripper (50) faces the lens module (10) in the relationship between the lens module (10) and the gripper (50), as shown in FIG. 3, and the gripper (50) can be configured so that the space between the arms (51) of the gripper (50), which will be described later, is open so that, for example, the camera of the focus detection module (60) can normally capture an image formed on the lens (12) described above when shooting.

[0057] The control unit (70) performs a function of controlling the movement of the gripper (50) in the first direction (d1, d2) according to the shooting result of the focus detection module (60).

[0058] Among the above-described configurations, a description of the specific configuration of the gripper (50) is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 7.

[0059] Referring to the drawings described above, the gripper (50) includes a pair of arms (51) that move in the radial direction (d3, d4) of the cylinder of the lens module (10) and at the same time move in the longitudinal direction (d1, d2) of the lens module (10), and some of which are inserted into the interior of the lens module (10) through an opening.

[0060] As the arm (51) is moved away from the default position, that is, the lens module (10), a pair of arms (51) are moved in the d1 direction from a position where they almost touch each other and are inserted into the empty space of the movable type of the lens module (10), and then moved in the d3 direction so that the pair of arms (51) are moved away from each other and come into contact with the inner surface of the lens module (10), thereby applying an external force to apply a fixing force to the lens module (10) and supporting the lens module (10).

[0061] Accordingly, when the arm (51) moves in the d1, d2 direction, the lens module (10) also moves in the d1, d2 direction due to the fixing force with the lens module (10). Afterwards, as described above, since the movement in the d1, d2 direction is controlled by the control unit (70), the distance between the lens (12) and the substrate (30) is placed at a position according to the insertion depth within the insertion space (21) that precisely matches the focal length according to the specifications of the lens (12), and then the process of fixing to the lens housing (20) is completed, when a pair of arms (51) moves in the d4 direction, the fixing support force for the lens module (10) is released, and then the process of fixing the lens module (10) to the lens housing (20) is completed by controlling the movement to be completely moved in the d2 direction.

[0062] A first driving module (52) that provides a moving force to move the pair of arms (51) in the d3, d4 direction, i.e., the second direction, which is the radial direction of the lens module (10), may be included in the gripper (50). In addition, correspondingly, a second driving module (53) that controls the movement of the pair of arms (51) in the d1, d2 direction, i.e., the first direction, may be included in the gripper (50).

[0063] In this way, the lens module (10) has an outer surface that is a cylindrical integral outer surface as described above, and is fixed to the lens housing (20) at a depth inserted by the gripper (50) by a single application of epoxy applied along the through line (22) while supported by the gripper (50).

[0064] That is, referring to FIG. 6, in the case of the existing technology in which the pin (100) is inserted into the groove as shown in (a) of FIG. 6 and the insertion depth of the lens module (10) is controlled by the external force of the operator, a first process (S1) of applying epoxy to the area where the pin (100) is not placed, such as the through line (22), i.e., both end portions of the slit, is performed. This is to prevent the pin (100) from being fixed together when the epoxy is applied to the pin (100). Thereafter, a second process (S2) of removing the pin (100) is performed, and a third process (S3) of applying epoxy even to the space where the pin (100) was placed is performed.

[0065] In this case, the pin (100) is removed from the S2 process while the epoxy is not completely hardened, and the S3 process of applying additional epoxy is performed. At this time, when the pin (100) is removed or the additional epoxy is applied, an external force is applied, and the position between the lens housing (20) and the lens module (10), which are not completely fixed, may move slightly from the original position. In this case, there is a problem that the insertion depth of the lens module (10) cannot be adjusted after the epoxy is fixed, making it difficult to precisely produce the optical sensor.

[0066] However, according to the present invention, as illustrated in (b) of FIG. 6, position control by pins or the like is not required at all, and the lens module (10) is supported by the contact between the inner surface of the arm (51) and the lens module (10) as described above, so that the position is completely fixed, and the lens module (10) is fixed to the lens housing (20) by a single epoxy application process (S10), so that the problem of the position between the lens housing (20) and the lens module (10) being minutely moved from the original position can be completely solved.

[0067] Meanwhile, the first drive module (52) may be configured to include a first motor and a first gear module that converts the moving force of the first motor into a linear moving force in opposite directions so that the pair of arms (51) move in opposite directions simultaneously according to the moving force of the first motor, so that the pair of arms (51) move in the direction (d3, d4) of moving closer or farther away from each other according to the driving of the first motor.

[0068] In the movement in the d3, d4 directions, if the lens module (10) moves excessively in the d3 direction without being inserted, the cylindrical outer shape of the lens module (10) may be damaged by the arm (51). In addition, even when the lens module (10) is inserted, if the movement in the d3, d4 directions is not precisely controlled, as described above, the lens module (10) and the lens housing (20) may be damaged together, or the support of the lens module (10) may not be completely achieved, so that the movement of the arm (50) in the d1, d2 directions may not be completely converted into the movement of the lens module (10).

[0069] To prevent this phenomenon, in another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the gripper (50), specifically the first drive module, may further include a torque sensor (S1, S2) that senses the torque applied to the pair of arms (51) as the pair of arms (51) move in the second direction (d3, d4) described above.

[0070] According to the above-described example, when a pair of arms (51) of the S1 and S2 sensors contact the inner surface of the lens module (10) and apply an external force to the inner surface, the S1 and S2 sensors will measure the reaction force, i.e., the enduring force. That is, the force applied to the pair of arms (51), for example, the force corresponding to the torque of the first motor and the resistance force thereto, will be measured.

[0071] At this time, when the torque detected by the torque sensor (S1, S2) reaches a preset threshold torque while the pair of arms (51) are moving in the direction (d3) away from each other among the second directions (d3, d4) according to the driving of the first driving module, the control unit (70) controls the driving of the first driving module to stop the driving of the first driving module so that the pair of arms (51) no longer move in the direction (d3) away from each other.

[0072] Through this, even when the lens module (10) is inserted, if the movement in the d3, d4 direction is not precisely controlled, the problem that the lens module (10) and the lens housing (20) are damaged together as described above, or the support of the lens module (10) is not completely achieved, so that the movement of the arm (50) in the d1, d2 direction is not completely converted into the movement of the lens module (10) can be solved.

[0073] Meanwhile, as described above, depending on the structural characteristics that control the movement of the gripper (50) with respect to the lens module (10), the focus detection module (60) may be installed on the opposite side of the side where the gripper (50) faces the lens module (10) in the relationship between the lens module (10) and the gripper (50), as shown in FIG. 3, and the gripper (50) may be configured so that the space between the arms (51) described below of the gripper (50) is open, for example, in order to allow the camera of the focus detection module (60) to normally capture an image formed on the lens (12) described above when shooting.

[0074] For this purpose, in one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the shape of the inner surface (A) of the arm (51) may be formed such that a line connecting the inner surfaces (A) of a pair of arms (51) forms a circle. Through this, the image sensing device (60) can completely capture the image formed on the lens (12).

[0075] The image detection device (60) may be configured to include a camera that captures an image of a substrate (30) formed by the lens (12) in a direction toward the lens (12) along the cylindrical empty space of the lens module (10) between a pair of arms (51), as described above, and a communication module that transmits the image captured by the camera to the control unit (70) in real time.

[0076] At this time, the control unit (70), as illustrated in FIG. 7, controls the movement of the gripper (50) in the first direction (d1, d2) so that the gripper (50) moves the lens module (10) to a depth where the image is detected as the clearest image, that is, the image formed on the lens (12) among the images received through the communication module, i.e., the image formed on the lens (12), corresponding to the focal length of the lens (12) and minimizing the blurring phenomenon. That is, in the above-described example, the driving of the second driving module (53) is controlled.

[0077] At this time, control of movement of the gripper (50) of the control unit (70) in the first direction (d1, d2) can be performed using a data table as shown in FIG. 8.

[0078] That is, the control unit (70) causes the focus detection module to capture a preset number of images (e.g., 20 images in units of 10 μm) in preset depth units at each distance (t1 to tn), and, as a result of analyzing the captured images (I1 to In), to memorize the result of the movement control in the first direction of the gripper at the distance (t3) at which the image (I3) formed on the lens is captured with the sharpest image, or the movement control distance (tc).

[0079] That is, the focus detection module captures a preset number of images in preset depth units, and, as a result of analyzing the captured images, the gripper controls the movement in the first direction when the image formed on the lens is captured with the sharpest image, thereby controlling the movement of the gripper in the first direction so that the lens module is inserted into the insertion space at the depth when the image formed on the lens is captured with the sharpest image.

[0080] This control can be specifically performed as follows. That is, each unit distance (t1 ~ tn) can be controlled in a wide unit of 100 um during the control of the first cycle. At this time, the distance (tc) that forms the clearest image is remembered, and after the control is completed, the control is performed to insert into the corresponding distance (tc), and thereafter, the above distance control is repeated to go back and forth at the corresponding distance (tc). However, in the control of the second cycle, the above unit distance is reduced to 10 um. At this time, if the distance that forms the clearest image is detected in the second cycle as well, the distance is remembered, and after moving to the corresponding distance, the distance is recognized as the default position, and the third cycle of control is performed to move a distance of 10 um on both sides of the distance. At this time, the unit distance is reduced to 1 um, and finally, in the third cycle, the distance that forms the clearest image is determined to be the focal distance, that is, the critical distance described above.

[0081] Through this, the insertion depth within the insertion space (21) of the lens module (10) is controlled to a precise target position corresponding to the focal length with great precision without requiring any manual work by the worker, thereby greatly improving the manufacturing yield of devices such as optical sensors.

[0082] Although the embodiments have been described above with limited examples and drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and variations are possible based on the above description. Terms such as "include," "comprise," or "have" described above mean that components that are not specifically described to the contrary may be inherent, and therefore should be interpreted as including other components rather than excluding other components. In addition, the protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the claims below, and all technical ideas within a scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lens housing fixing part that fixes a lens housing having an insertion space into which a cylindrical lens module is inserted, the insertion space forming a hollow space inside with a lens attached to one side, and a through-line formed so that one area of ​​the outer surface is connected to the insertion space; A gripper that inserts the lens module into the insertion space by applying an external force toward the outer surface of the cylinder while supporting the lens module through an opening formed on the opposite end of the end where the lens of the cylindrical lens module is installed, and moves in the first direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the insertion space; A focus detection module that detects the focus of the lens by having a shooting angle in the direction toward the lens along the empty space of the lens module; and A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that it includes a control unit that controls movement of a gripper in a first direction according to the photographing result of the focus detection module.

2. In paragraph 1, The above gripper, A pair of arms that move in the radial direction of the cylinder of the lens module and at the same time move in the longitudinal direction of the lens module, and a part of which is inserted into the interior of the lens module through the opening; A first driving module that provides a moving force to move the pair of arms in a second direction, which is the radial direction of the lens module; and A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that it includes a second driving module that provides a moving force to move the pair of arms in the first direction.

3. In paragraph 2, A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that the shape of the inner surface of the arm is formed so that the line connecting the inner surfaces of the pair of arms forms a circle.

4. In paragraph 2, The above focus detection module, A camera that photographs in a direction facing the lens along the empty space of the lens module between the pair of arms; A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that it includes a communication module that transmits an image captured by the camera to the control unit in real time.

5. In paragraph 4, The above control unit, A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that the gripper controls movement in a first direction to move the lens module to a depth at which the image formed on the lens among the images received through the communication module is detected to be an image in which blurring is minimized corresponding to the focal length of the lens.

6. In paragraph 2, The above gripper, A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that it further comprises a torque sensor that senses a force applied to the pair of arms as the pair of arms move in the second direction.

7. In paragraph 6, The above control unit, A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that when the torque detected by the torque sensor reaches a preset threshold torque while the pair of arms are moving in a direction in which one of the pair of arms moves away from each other in the second direction according to the driving of the first driving module, the driving of the first driving module is stopped so that the pair of arms no longer moves in the direction in which the arms move away from each other.

8. In paragraph 2, The above first driving module, first motor; and A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that it includes a first gear module that converts the moving force of the first motor into a linear moving force in opposite directions, so that the pair of arms move in opposite directions simultaneously according to the moving force of the first motor, so that the pair of arms move in a direction closer to or farther away from each other according to the driving of the first motor.

9. In paragraph 1, The above lens module, A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that the outer surface has an integral outer surface of a cylinder, and is fixed to the lens housing at a depth inserted by the gripper by a single application of epoxy applied along the through line while the gripper is supporting it.

10. In paragraph 1, The above control unit, A precision insertion device for an insertion line of a lens module, characterized in that the focus detection module captures a preset number of images in preset depth units, analyzes the captured images, and memorizes the result of controlling the movement of the gripper in the first direction when the image formed on the lens was captured with the sharpest image, thereby controlling the movement of the gripper in the first direction so that the lens module is inserted into the insertion space at the depth when the image formed on the lens was captured with the sharpest image.

Images