Lens mount and flange design for camera modules

Abstract

A camera module assembly may include a lens mount and a lens assembly. The lens mount may include a distal portion having a substantially spherical profile. The lens assembly may include a lens barrel, an optical device, and a flange extending radially from the lens barrel, wherein the flange may be fixed to the distal portion of the lens mount.

Description

[0001] Priority claim

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 870,279, filed on July 3, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] A digital image acquisition device (camera) is a device for acquiring images and generating signals, and usually ultimately generating an electronic image based on the acquisition results. Such a device usually includes a lens or optical device and a digital or electronic image sensor. A digital camera can be used to acquire a single image, or to acquire multiple images to generate a video file. Digital cameras with one or both of the above functions are common in many commodities, such as mobile devices (phones and tablets) and cars. Due to the popularity of such devices, digital cameras are mass-produced around the world, and the mass production of cameras usually includes multiple manufacturing processes. One such process is a multi-step alignment process, which is used to help ensure that the sensor acquires clear images. As the resolution of cameras increases, improved manufacturing and alignment of camera components can improve camera performance and reliability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, similar reference numerals may describe similar components in different views. Similar reference numerals with different character subscripts may represent different instances of similar components. These drawings illustrate various embodiments described herein in an illustrative manner, not a limiting manner.

[0005] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a camera module according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown.

[0006] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a camera module according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown.

[0007] Figure 3 A top cross-sectional view of a camera module according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown.

[0008] Figure 4A A cross-sectional view of a camera module in a first arrangement according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown.

[0009] Figure 4B A cross-sectional view of a camera module according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown in a second state.

[0010] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a camera module according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown.

[0011] Figure 6 A flowchart of an exemplary method according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Camera technology has greatly improved over the past decade. The use of this technology has become more common, giving rise to a demand for high-quality, lower-priced camera modules. One way to reduce the price of camera modules is to use a camera module that includes an optical device that may have a misaligned optical axis. That is, the optical axis of the lens may not be aligned with the mechanical axis of the optical device or the body supporting the optical device. In some cases, the optical-mechanical error is limited to about 0.5°. Although this deviation helps to reduce costs, it creates manufacturing difficulties because the arrangement of the optical device relative to the image sensor of the camera module is not repeatable or does not include the same steps between different lens assemblies. Further complicating manufacturing is that the optical device is usually fixed relative to the lens barrel (or housing) and the lens flange.

[0013] A common solution to aligning an optical device relative to an image sensor is to tilt the lens barrel, thereby tilting the optical device to align the optical axis (or focal axis) of the optical device with the mechanical axis of the lens mount (chimney) and optimize the quality of the image produced by the optical device on the image sensor. This process can position the focus of the optical device at the center (or focal point) of the image acquisition sensor. When the alignment is completed, the optical device can be fixed relative to the lens mount using a bonding or gluing process, in which an adhesive is applied between the lens flange and the lens mount and then the adhesive is cured. However, most adhesives used to fix the optical device to the lens mount shrink during the processing of the adhesive (e.g., during curing). This shrinkage is a potential problem for a number of reasons. First, if the adhesive gap (or thickness of the adhesive) between the flange and the lens mount is not uniform, the optical device may tilt relative to the lens mount and the image sensor, resulting in misalignment between the optical axis of the optical device and the mechanical axis of the lens mount. Second, a non-constant gap will result in a larger average gap than a constant gap. Such a large gap results in a larger and thicker adhesive layer which is subject to adhesive shrinkage variations which can move the focal point of the optics relative to the image sensor, thereby producing focus errors. Another reason is that shrinkage effects are not always completely predictable and are often not completely repeatable, so perfect pre-compensation for shrinkage is not possible.

[0014] Therefore, to address these and other problems, the present disclosure provides a lens mount having a substantially spherical profile with a lens flange having a substantially spherical and substantially concentric (and therefore complementary) shape. This design allows the lens assembly (and flange) to be rotated (or tilted) relative to the lens mount about a center of rotation without affecting the adhesive gap between the lens mount and the flange. This arrangement allows the optical axis of the optical device to be aligned with the mechanical axis of the lens mount while maintaining a substantially constant adhesive thickness between the lens mount and the flange around the adhesive area of ​​the lens mount. The constant thickness of the adhesive helps minimize movement of the optical device relative to the image acquisition sensor during curing (due to shrinkage), helps improve image quality using lower cost optical devices, and thus helps yield.

[0015] For example, for a flange with a 22 mm flange diameter and a 0.5 degree lens pitch, the resulting glue non-uniformity is a thickness difference of approximately 0.2 mm between the two sides. This difference in adhesive or glue uniformity may result in shrinkage uncertainty that cannot be pre-compensated for in actual applications because the shrinkage process depends on many factors, including: thickness, surface angle, excess glue being rejected on the smaller thickness side, etc. The above arrangement may help reduce or eliminate this 0.5 degree lens pitch non-uniformity. In addition, this arrangement also allows the use of camera designs that include a smaller nominal flange-lens mount gap because there is no need to deal with the approach area caused by the tilt. It should be understood that other examples are also conceivable where the flange has a different diameter and / or uses a different lens pitch and the glue non-uniformity is different from the exemplary values ​​given above.

[0016] The purpose of the above content is to summarize the subject matter of this patent application. It is not intended to provide a unique or detailed description of the present invention. The following description is used to provide more information about the improved design.

[0017] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a camera module 100 according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown. The camera module 100 may include a body 102, an image acquisition sensor 104, and a lens assembly 106. The body 102 may include a cavity 108 and a lens mount 110. The lens mount 110 may include a lens mount hole 112 and a distal portion 114. The lens assembly 106 may include a lens barrel 116, an optical component 118 (or multiple optical components 118 or optical devices 118), and a flange 120. The camera module 100 may also include an adhesive (or glue) 122. Figure 1 Proximal and distal direction indicators are also shown.

[0018] The body 102 may be a rigid or semi-rigid body composed of one or more materials selected from metal, plastic, foam, elastomer, ceramic, composite materials, and combinations thereof. In some examples, the size and shape of the body 102 allows it to be mounted on a machine (e.g., a vehicle), or, in other examples, the size and shape of the body 102 allows it to be handheld. The cavity 108 may be a cavity within the body 102 that is sized and shaped to receive and support one or more components, such as the image acquisition sensor 104, therein.

[0019] The lens mount 110 can be a portion of the body 102 that extends distally from the body 102 and can include a lens mount aperture 112 extending through the lens mount 110 and connected to the cavity 108. The lens mount 110 can be generally cylindrical, and the lens mount aperture 112 can be sized to receive a portion of the lens assembly 106 therein to connect the lens assembly 106 to the body 102. The distal portion 114 of the lens mount 110 can be sized and shaped to engage with the flange 120 of the lens assembly 106 and can be configured to receive an adhesive 122 thereon to secure the lens assembly 106 to the body 102. As discussed further below, in some examples, the distal portion 114 of the lens mount 110, where the lens mount 110 engages with the flange 120, can be curved or substantially spherical. The distal portion 114 can be spherical, so that the distal portion 114 has a spherical surface profile, wherein the radius of each point of the surface of the distal portion 114 is equidistant from the center of the surface of the distal portion 114. The distal portion 114 can also be substantially spherical, so that the distal portion 114 has a curvature, wherein each point of the surface of the distal portion 114 is not equidistant from the center. In such a case, the radius of each point can differ from the average radius by at most 6%. In another example in which the distal portion 114 can be substantially spherical, the radius of each point can differ from the average radius by at most 2%.

[0020] The image acquisition sensor 104 may include an image plane 124 (e.g., a film plane), which may be the plane of the imaging sensor. The image acquisition sensor 104 may include an active pixel sensor, a semiconductor charge coupled device (CCD), a CMOS image sensor, or other imaging sensor configured to generate a signal based on an image projected onto the image acquisition sensor 104. The image acquisition sensor 104 may be disposed within the body 102 near the lens mount 110 (axially disposed below the lens mount), but may be connected to other portions of the body 102, and, in some examples, may be external to the body 102. In some examples, the image acquisition sensor 104 may be connected to an integrated circuit board configured to support and electrically connect various components (including transistors and circuits in any of a variety of forms known in the industry) to provide conductive structures and contacts to distribute signals.

[0021] The lens assembly 106 may be a device configured to engage with the body 102 and may be configured to provide a focused image to the image sensor 104. The lens barrel 116 may be a rigid or semi-rigid body constructed of one or more materials among metal, plastic, foam, elastomer, ceramic, composite material, etc. The lens barrel 116 may be substantially cylindrical and have a size (e.g., diameter) such that it can be inserted into the lens mount hole 112 of the lens mount. One or more optical components 118 may be fixed within the lens barrel 116 and may be made of one or more optical materials, such as glass, plastic, or other materials that are transparent and optically active for the wavelength band used by the camera module 100. The lens optical component 118 may include one or more optical elements, such as a fixed focus lens, a zoom system, a combination lens, etc.

[0022] The flange 120 may be a flange connected to the lens barrel 116 and extending radially outward from the lens barrel 116. The flange 120 may be located between the proximal end and the distal end of the lens barrel 116. The flange 120 may be sized and shaped so that it may be fixed to the distal portion 114 of the lens mount 110, for example, using an adhesive (or glue) 122. The adhesive 122 may be any suitable resin, which may be one or more resins selected from epoxy resins, acrylic resins, acrylate resins, cyanoacrylate resins, cyanopolyurethane resins, silicone resins, and the like.

[0023] The following will refer to Figure 2-6 Further details, assembly and operation of similar camera modules are discussed.

[0024] Figure 2A cross-sectional view of a camera module 200 according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown. The camera module 200 may include a lens mount whose distal portion is substantially spherical to help limit the asymmetry of the adhesive gap between the flange and the lens mount. Any camera module discussed above (or below) may include such a lens mount.

[0025] The camera module 200 may include a body 202, an image acquisition sensor 204, and a lens assembly 206. The body 202 may include a cavity 208 and a lens mount 210. The lens mount 210 may include a lens mount hole 212 and a distal portion 214. The lens assembly 206 may include a lens barrel 216, an optical component 218, and a flange 220. The camera module 200 may also include a plate 225. Figure 2 Also shown are proximal and distal direction indicators, adhesive gap G, center of rotation R, and perspective indicator 3 - 3 .

[0026] The components of camera module 200 may be similar to those of camera module 100 , except that camera module 200 illustrates that image acquisition sensor 204 may be connected to plate 225 , wherein plate 225 may abut body 202 to position image acquisition sensor 204 near or within lens mount 210 .

[0027] Camera module 200 also differs in that distal portion 214 of lens mount 210 can be substantially spherical or have a substantially spherical profile. In some instances, distal portion 214 can be curved in one or more directions rather than being substantially spherical. In some instances, distal portion 214 can be spherical. Similarly, flange 220 can be substantially spherical or have a substantially spherical profile. In some instances, flange 220 can be curved in one or more directions rather than being substantially spherical. In some instances, flange 220 can be spherical.

[0028] The shape of the distal portion 214 and the flange 220 may be such that the distal portion 214 is concentric, or substantially concentric, with the proximal surface 226 of the flange 220, so that rotation (or tilting) of the lens assembly 206 about the rotation center R does not affect the adhesive gap G between the distal portion 214 and the flange 220. More specifically, the distal portion 214 and the flange 220 may allow the lens assembly 206 (and the flange 220) to rotate relative to the lens mount 210 about the rotation center R without affecting the adhesive gap G between the lens mount 210 and the flange 220, so that the adhesive gap G is substantially constant around the gluing area (or bonding area) of the distal portion 214. This design allows the optical axis of the optical component 218 to be aligned with the mechanical axis of the lens mount while maintaining a substantially constant adhesive thickness between the lens mount 210 and the flange 220 to help minimize movement of the optical component 218 relative to the image acquisition sensor 204, thereby facilitating the use of lower cost lenses to improve image quality, as discussed in further detail below.

[0029] The substantially constant adhesive gap G between the lens mount 210 and the flange 220 may be, for example, 1 mm, and, in other examples, a constant distance of 0.1 mm to 5 mm. The substantially constant adhesive gap G between the lens mount 210 and the flange 220 may also be, for example, an average gap G of 0.5 mm to 3 mm, with a variation of less than 0.01 mm. In some examples, the variation may be between 0.001 mm and 0.1 mm.

[0030] Figure 3 A top cross-sectional view of a camera module 200 is shown in accordance with at least one example of the present disclosure. Figure 3 An image acquisition sensor 204 and a board 225 are shown. Figure 3 Also shown are lens mount aperture 212 and distal portion 214 of lens mount 210 (shown in phantom). Figure 3 Also shown are lens barrel 216 and lens flange 220 of lens assembly 206 . Figure 3 Also shown are a focal point F and a center of rotation R, which are collectively denoted by the reference characters F, R.

[0031] Figure 3 The camera module 200 may be a Figure 2 The camera module 200 is consistent; Figure 3 Additional details of camera module 200 are shown. For example, Figure 3 The flange 220 is shown extending radially outward from the lens barrel 216, so that the flange 220 can have a substantially spherical profile with an opening (a truncated spherical shape with a hole therethrough) that allows the lens barrel 216 to pass therethrough. Figure 3The flange 220 is also shown positioned above the lens mount 210 and extending radially beyond the lens mount 210 , which allows the flange 220 to move relative to the lens mount 210 while still providing radial overlap between the flange 220 and the lens mount 210 .

[0032] Figure 4A A cross-sectional view of a camera module 400A in a first arrangement according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 4B FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a camera module 400B in a second state according to at least one example of the present disclosure. Each of the camera modules 400A and 400B may be the same as described above with reference to FIG. Figure 2 and 3 The camera module 200 discussed above is consistent with the above; Figure 4A and Figure 4B A camera module is shown with lenses having different focal axes and being in different orientations relative to the body of the module. Figure 4A and Figure 4B .

[0033] Each of the camera modules 400A and 400B may include a body 402, an image acquisition sensor 404, and a lens assembly 406. The body 402 may include a cavity 408 and a lens mount 410. The lens mount 410 may include a lens mount hole 412 and a distal portion 414. The lens assembly 406 may include a lens barrel 416, an optical component 418, and a flange 420. The camera module 400 may also include a plate 425. Figure 4A and Figure 4B Also shown are proximal and distal directional indicators, adhesive gaps G1 and G2, center of rotation R, lens mechanical axis AL, lens mount mechanical axis AC, lens optical axis AO, and angle θ.

[0034] Figure 4A The illustrated camera module 400A has a lens mechanical axis AL, a lens mount mechanical axis AC, and a lens optical axis AO, each of which is substantially aligned. Thus, the lens assembly 406 does not tilt relative to the lens mount 410, and the adhesive gaps G1 and G2 are substantially uniform and constant around the adhesive area of ​​the distal portion 414 of the lens mount 410. However, Figure 4BThe optical components 418 of the illustrated camera module 400B have an optical axis AO that is not aligned with the lens mechanical axis AL, which causes the lens optical axis AO to be rotated (or tilted) by an angle θ relative to the lens mechanical axis AL. The angle θ between the lens optical axis AO and the lens mechanical axis may be between 0 and 2 degrees in some examples, between 0 and 1 degree in other examples, and between 0 and 0.5 degrees in other examples. By further example, the angle θ between the lens optical axis AO and the lens mechanical axis may depend on the tolerance of the lens. The tolerance of the lens may be determined by the manufacturing process and quality.

[0035] As described above, this misalignment results in defocusing at an off-center position relative to the image sensor 404, which can cause image focus problems. To help limit image focus problems, the lens assembly 406 can be tilted (or rotated) relative to the lens mount 410 so that the lens optical axis AO is aligned with the lens mount mechanical axis AC and becomes perpendicular to the plane of the image acquisition sensor 404. To align the lens optical axis AO with the lens mount mechanical axis AC, the lens mechanical axis AL can be rotated about the rotation center R, which causes the lens mechanical axis AL to rotate by an angle θ relative to the lens mount mechanical axis AC.

[0036] In the prior art, such rotation of the lens assembly would result in a deviation of the adhesive gaps G1 and G2 (and typically around the adhesive area of ​​the distal portion of the lens mount). However, in camera module 400, because distal portion 414 of lens mount 410 is substantially spherical, and flange 420 is substantially spherical and complementary to distal portion 414 of lens mount 410, such that distal portion 414 of lens mount 410 is concentric with flange 420, lens assembly 406 can be rotated about rotation center R, thereby generating angle θ and aligning lens optical axis AO with lens mount mechanical axis AC without affecting adhesive gaps G1 and G2.

[0037] That is, when the lens assembly 406 is tilted relative to the lens mount 410 so that the lens optical axis AO is aligned with the lens mount mechanical axis AC, and the lens mechanical axis AL is offset by an angle θ relative to the lens mount mechanical axis AC, the adhesive gaps G1 and G2 can be substantially the same and can be substantially constant around the adhesive area of ​​the distal portion 414 of the lens mount 410. This consistency of adhesive gaps G1 and G2 can help limit the thickness difference of the adhesive disposed between the flange 420 and the lens mount 410, which can help reduce asymmetric shrinkage of the adhesive during curing, help maintain the focus of the optical component 418 at the center of the image capture sensor 404 (or a desired position relative to the image capture sensor 404), and thus help reduce image focusing issues.

[0038] As described above, adhesive gaps G1 and G2 can be substantially the same and can be substantially constant around the adhesive area of ​​the distal portion 414 of the lens mount 410. That is, adhesive gaps G1 and G2 can be constant, for example, 1 mm, and, in other examples, can be a constant distance of 0.1 mm to 5 mm. Adhesive gaps G1 and G2 can also be, for example, an average of 0.5 mm to 3 mm, with a variation of less than 0.01 mm. In some examples, the variation can be between 0.001 mm and 0.1 mm. In another example, adhesive gaps G1 and G2 can also be, for example, an average of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm, with a variation of ±200 microns or ±400 microns. In some examples, the shrinkage can be between 8 microns and 20 microns.

[0039] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a camera module 500 according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown. The camera module 500 may include a lens mount whose distal portion is substantially spherical and has a flange that is curved and has a substantially rectangular prism shape. Any camera module discussed above (or below) may be modified to include such a flange.

[0040] Figure 5 Image acquisition sensor 504 and board 525 are shown. Figure 5 Also shown are lens mount aperture 512 and distal portion 514 of lens mount 510 (shown in phantom). Figure 5 Also shown are lens barrel 516 and lens flange 520 of lens assembly 506. Figure 5 Also shown are a focal point F and a center of rotation R, which are collectively denoted by reference numerals F, R, and the x and y axes are also shown.

[0041] Figure 5 The camera module 500 may be used with Figure 1-4B Camera modules 100 and 200 are similar, except that flange 520 of camera module 500 may have a substantially rectangular prism shape that is curved to complement distal portion 514 of lens mount 510 .

[0042] In some examples, the image acquisition sensor 504 may have a y-axis dimension that is larger than the x-axis dimension, thereby Figure 5The image acquisition sensor 504 is substantially rectangular from the perspective of . Due to the shape of the image acquisition sensor 504, tilting about the x-axis may cause more defocus than tilting about the y-axis because there is a greater off-axis distance in the y direction. In this case, the flange 520 may be curved only about the x-axis direction. In this case, a full tilt correction may be applied about the x-axis, and no tilt may be applied about the y-axis (or a limited tilt may be applied), thereby minimizing defocus and image quality issues caused by tilt due to uneven adhesive shrinkage during curing. The fact that the flange 520 is not curved about the y-axis means that the adhesive gap is compensated only when the flange 520 is tilted about the x-axis; however, since the tilt of the lens about the y-axis does not affect the image quality as much as the tilt about the x-axis, the desired focus or image quality can still be achieved. Since the curved cylindrical flange can be manufactured more cheaply than a substantially spherical flange, the flange 520 of the camera module 500 can provide a lower cost solution, thereby helping to reduce image quality issues caused by uneven adhesive shrinkage.

[0043] In other examples, the flange 520 of the lens mount can be designed to compensate for various characteristics of the image acquisition sensor 504 to achieve a desired focus or image quality result. For example, the flange 520 can be designed to compensate for characteristics such as the surface consistency (flatness of the surface) of the image acquisition sensor 504, the tilt of the image acquisition sensor 504 relative to the lens mount 510, and the manufacturing tolerances of the image acquisition sensor 504.

[0044] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a method 600 according to at least one example of the present disclosure is shown. The method 600 may be a method of manufacturing a portion of a camera module. For convenience and clarity, the steps or operations of the method 600 are shown in a particular order; many of the operations discussed may be performed in a different order or in parallel without materially affecting other operations. The method 600 discussed includes operations performed by a plurality of different participants, devices, and / or systems. It should be understood that a subset of the operations discussed in the method 600 may be attributed to a single participant, device, or system and may be considered as separate independent processes or methods.

[0045] The method may begin at step 602, where a camera module may be produced, such as Figure 2The camera module 200 of FIG. 604 may be manufactured to have a lens mount that can be coupled to a camera module body such that the lens mount extends from the body, wherein the lens mount may include a substantially spherical distal portion. For example, the lens mount 210 may be manufactured to be coupled to the camera module body 202 such that the lens mount 210 extends from the camera module body 202, wherein the lens mount 210 may include a substantially spherical distal portion 214. In step 606, an image acquisition sensor may be secured within the body near the lens mount, wherein the image acquisition sensor may be configured to acquire images transmitted thereto. For example, the image acquisition sensor 204 may be secured within the body 202 near the lens mount 210, wherein the image acquisition sensor 204 may be configured to acquire images transmitted thereto.

[0046] In step 608, the lens barrel can be at least partially inserted into the lens mount. For example, lens barrel 216 can be at least partially inserted into lens mount 210. In step 610, a flange of the lens barrel can be placed near a distal portion of the lens mount. For example, flange 210 of lens barrel 202 can be placed near distal portion 214 of lens mount 210.

[0047] In another example, method 600 may include applying an adhesive between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount 612. In another example, method 600 may include tilting a lens barrel (e.g., lens barrel 216) relative to lens mount 210 to align an optical axis of a lens at a distal end of the lens barrel with a mechanical axis of the lens mount 614. Method 600 may also include curing the adhesive 616.

[0048] Description and Examples

[0049] The following non-limiting examples illustrate in detail certain aspects of the present subject matter for solving problems and providing the benefits discussed herein, among others.

[0050] Example 1 is a camera module, which includes: a camera module body; a lens mount connected to and extending from the camera module body, the lens mount including a distal portion that is substantially spherical; an image acquisition sensor, which is connected to the body near the lens mount and is configured to acquire an image transmitted thereto; and a lens assembly, which includes: a lens barrel; an optical device, which is fixed to the lens barrel and is configured to transmit an image to the image acquisition sensor; and a flange extending radially from the lens barrel and fixable to the distal portion of the lens mount.

[0051] In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 includes: the shape of the lens mount is substantially cylindrical, and its substantially spherical distal contour end is located at one end of the substantially cylindrical lens mount.

[0052] In Example 3, the subject matter of Examples 1-2 includes: the shape of the flange is complementary to the substantially spherical profile of the distal portion of the lens mount.

[0053] In Example 4, the subject matter of Example 3 includes: the shape of the flange is substantially spherical and concentric with the substantially spherical contour of the lens mount, so that when the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount about the center of the substantially spherical contour of the lens mount, the gap between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is substantially constant between the distal portion of the lens mount and the flange.

[0054] In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 4 includes: the tilt of the lens barrel relative to the lens mount is defined by a non-coaxial alignment of a mechanical axis of the optical device relative to a mechanical axis of the lens mount.

[0055] In Example 6, the subject matter of Example 5 includes: the optical axis of the optical device is offset from the mechanical axis of the optical device; and the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount and the image sensor to align the optical axis of the optical device with the mechanical axis of the lens mount.

[0056] In Example 7, the subject matter of Examples 3-6 includes: the shape of the flange is substantially spherical, so that when the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount about the center of the substantially spherical contour of the lens mount, the gap between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is substantially constant between the distal portion of the lens mount and the flange.

[0057] In Example 8, the subject matter of Example 7 includes: the gap between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is an adhesive gap configured to receive adhesive therein to secure the flange to the distal portion of the lens mount.

[0058] In Example 9, the subject matter of Examples 3-8 includes: the shape of the flange and the substantially spherical profile of the lens mount are configured such that the thickness of the adhesive between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is substantially constant when the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount.

[0059] In Example 10, the subject matter of Examples 1-9 includes: the image sensor having a length and a width greater than the length; and the flange of the optical device is curved along the width of the image sensor to substantially match the substantially spherical distal portion of the lens mount.

[0060] In Example 11, the subject matter of Example 10 includes: the flange of the optical device has a curved substantially rectangular prism shape.

[0061] In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 includes: the optical device is fixed relative to the lens barrel and the flange.

[0062] Example 13 is a camera module assembly, which includes: a lens mount including a distal portion opposite to the proximal end, the distal portion having a substantially spherical profile; and a lens assembly, which includes: a lens barrel that can be at least partially inserted into the lens mount through the distal portion; an optical device that is fixed to the distal end of the lens barrel and is configured to transmit an image to an image acquisition sensor; and a flange that extends radially from the lens barrel and can be fixed to the distal portion of the lens mount using an adhesive.

[0063] In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 13 includes a camera module body configured to support a lens mount such that the lens mount extends from the camera module body.

[0064] In Example 15, the subject matter of Example 14 includes: the image acquisition sensor is located near the lens mount within the camera module body and is configured to acquire an image transmitted by the optical device to the image acquisition sensor.

[0065] In Example 16, the subject matter of Examples 13-15 includes: the shape of the lens mount is substantially cylindrical, and its substantially spherical contour end is located at one end of the substantially cylindrical lens mount.

[0066] In Example 17, the subject matter of Examples 13-16 includes: the shape of the flange is complementary to the substantially spherical contour of the lens mount.

[0067] In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 17 includes: the shape of the flange is substantially spherical and concentric with the substantially spherical contour of the lens mount, so that when the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount about the center of the substantially spherical contour of the lens mount, the gap between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is substantially constant between the distal portion of the lens mount and the flange.

[0068] In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 18 includes: the tilt of the lens barrel relative to the lens mount is defined by a non-coaxial alignment of the mechanical axis of the optical device relative to the mechanical axis of the lens mount.

[0069] In Example 20, the subject matter of Example 19 includes: the focal axis of the optical device is offset from the mechanical axis of the optical device; and the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount and the image sensor to align the focal axis of the optical device with the mechanical axis of the lens mount.

[0070] Example 21 is a method for manufacturing a camera module, the method comprising: producing a camera module body; producing a lens mount that can be coupled to the camera module body so that the lens mount extends from the camera module body, the lens mount including a substantially spherical distal portion; fixing an image acquisition sensor connected to the body near the lens mount, the image acquisition sensor being configured to acquire an image transmitted thereto; inserting a lens barrel at least partially into the lens mount; and placing a flange of the lens barrel near the distal portion of the lens mount.

[0071] In Example 22, the subject matter of Example 21 includes applying an adhesive between the flange and a distal portion of the lens mount.

[0072] In Example 23, the subject matter of Example 22 includes: tilting the lens barrel relative to the lens mount to align an optical axis of an optical device located at a distal end of the lens barrel with a mechanical axis of the lens mount; and curing the adhesive.

[0073] Example 24 is at least one machine-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to perform operations to implement any of Examples 1-23.

[0074] Example 25 is an apparatus comprising means for implementing any one of Examples 1-23.

[0075] Example 26 is a system for implementing any one of Examples 1-23.

[0076] Example 27 is a method for implementing any one of Examples 1-23.

[0077] The above detailed description contains references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The accompanying drawings show specific embodiments in which the present invention can be practiced in an exemplary manner. These embodiments are also referred to as "examples" in this article. Such examples may include other elements in addition to the elements shown or described. However, the inventors have also considered examples in which only the shown or described elements are arranged. Moreover, the inventors have also considered the use of any combination or arrangement of the elements shown or described (or one or more features therein) for the specific examples (or one or more features therein) or other examples (or one or more features therein) shown or described herein.

[0078] In the event of an inconsistency in the manner of usage between this document and any document incorporated by reference, the manner of usage in this document shall control.

[0079] In this document, the term "one" commonly used in patent documents shall include one or more than one, independent of any other instance or use of "at least one" or "one or more". In this document, unless otherwise indicated, the term "or" is used to refer to non-exclusivity, so that "A or B" includes "is A but not B", "is B but not A" and "A and B". In this document, the terms "including" and "wherein" are the plain English equivalents of the corresponding terms "including" and "wherein". Moreover, in the claims below, the terms "including" and "comprising" are open, that is, in a claim, a system, device, article, composition, formula or process containing elements other than the elements listed after such a term is still considered to be within the scope of the claim. Moreover, in the claims below, the terms "first", "second" and "third" are used only as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.

[0080] The above description is exemplary only and not restrictive. For example, the above examples (or one or more features thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Readers (e.g., ordinary technicians in the field) may also use other embodiments when studying the above description. The purpose of providing an abstract is to comply with the requirements of 37C.FR, §1.72 (b) so that readers can quickly determine the nature of the disclosure of the present technology. It should be understood that the purpose of providing an abstract is not to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Moreover, in the detailed description above, the various features may be organized together to constitute the disclosure. This should not be understood to mean that undeclared public features are necessary for any claim. On the contrary, creative content does not necessarily include all the features of a specific disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the following claims are thus incorporated into the detailed description as examples or embodiments, each claim independently as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or arrangements. The scope of the present invention should be determined with reference to the attached claims and the full scope of the equivalents of these claims.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising: Camera module body; a lens mount connected to and extending from the camera module body, the lens mount including a spherical distal portion; an image acquisition sensor connected to the camera module body proximate the lens mount and configured to acquire images transmitted thereto; as well as A lens assembly comprising: Lens barrel; an optical device secured to the lens barrel and configured to transmit an image to an image acquisition sensor; and A flange extending radially from the lens barrel and securable to the distal portion of the lens mount, wherein the shape of the flange is complementary to the spherical distal portion of the lens mount, wherein the shape of the flange is spherical and concentric with the spherical distal portion of the lens mount so that when the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount about the center of the spherical distal portion of the lens mount, a gap between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is constant between the distal portion of the lens mount and the flange.

2. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the lens mount is cylindrical in shape, and the spherical distal portion thereof is located at one end of the cylindrical lens mount.

3. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the tilt of the lens barrel relative to the lens mount is defined by a non-coaxial alignment of a mechanical axis of the optical device relative to a mechanical axis of the lens mount.

4. The camera module of claim 3, wherein: The optical axis of the optical device is offset from the mechanical axis of the optical device; and The lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount and the image acquisition sensor so that the optical axis of the optical device is aligned with the mechanical axis of the lens mount.

5. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the flange is spherical in shape so that when the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount about the center of the spherical distal portion of the lens mount, a gap between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is constant between the distal portion of the lens mount and the flange.

6. The camera module of claim 5, wherein the gap between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is an adhesive gap configured to receive adhesive therein to secure the flange to the distal portion of the lens mount.

7. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the shape of the flange and the spherical distal portion of the lens mount are configured such that a thickness of the adhesive between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is constant when the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount.

8. The camera module of claim 1, wherein: The image acquisition sensor has a length and a width greater than the length; and The flange of the optical device is bent along the width of the image acquisition sensor to match the spherical distal portion of the lens mount. 9 . The camera module of claim 8 , wherein the flange of the optical device has a curved rectangular prism shape.

10. The camera module of claim 9, wherein the optical arrangement is fixed relative to the lens barrel and the flange.

11. A camera module assembly, comprising: a lens mount including a distal portion opposite the proximal end, the distal portion having a spherical profile; as well as A lens assembly comprising: a lens barrel at least partially insertable into the lens mount through the distal portion; an optical device secured to the distal end of the lens barrel and configured to transmit an image to an image acquisition sensor; and A flange extending radially from the lens barrel and fixable to the distal portion of the lens mount using an adhesive, wherein the shape of the flange is complementary to the spherical profile of the lens mount, wherein the shape of the flange is spherical and concentric with the spherical profile of the lens mount so that when the lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount about the center of the spherical profile of the lens mount, the gap between the flange and the distal portion of the lens mount is constant between the distal portion of the lens mount and the flange.

12. The camera module assembly of claim 11, further comprising: A camera module body is configured to support the lens mount such that the lens mount extends from the camera module body.

13. The camera module assembly of claim 12, wherein the image acquisition sensor is located near the lens mount within the camera module body and is configured to acquire an image transmitted by the optical device to the image acquisition sensor.

14. The camera module assembly of claim 11, wherein the lens mount is cylindrical in shape, and the spherical profile of the distal portion is located at one end of the cylindrical lens mount.

15. The camera module assembly of claim 11, wherein the tilt of the lens barrel relative to the lens mount is defined by a non-coaxial alignment of a mechanical axis of the optical device relative to a mechanical axis of the lens mount.

16. The camera module assembly of claim 15, wherein: The focal axis of the optical device is offset from the mechanical axis of the optical device; and The lens barrel is tilted relative to the lens mount and the image acquisition sensor so that the focal axis of the optical device is aligned with the mechanical axis of the lens mount.

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