Lens Alignment Method Using Pre-shifted Offset Position

Solution Overview

Problem

In portable imaging modules, such as those in mobile phones, the movable lens assembly often fails to accurately align with the center position of the image sensing chip when moved along the X or Y direction, affecting image focus and quality.

Innovation Solution

A method and module that involve providing energy to shift the movable lens assembly relative to a predetermined position point or line within a housing frame, then shifting the frame to align the lens assembly with the image sensing chip's center, using a series of precise horizontal adjustments and energy applications to ensure accurate alignment of geometric center lines or points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the lens is moved by using a motor along X or Y direction, then the lens can be activated to move in the imaging module, but the lens cannot accurately align with the center position of the image sensor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens movement capabilityVSAvoidalignment accuracy with image sensor center

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-shifting the movable lens assembly to a predetermined offset position relative to the housing frame before final assembly with the image sensor. This offset position is calculated in advance to compensate for the misalignment that would occur with conventional motor-driven lens movement, ensuring that after assembly the lens center accurately coincides with the image sensor center.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positional parameter of the lens assembly by introducing a predetermined offset distance from the center line of the housing frame. Instead of positioning the lens at the conventional center position, the lens is deliberately positioned at an offset location that compensates for alignment errors, thereby achieving accurate alignment with the image sensor center after assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the pixel number is increased from VGA-level to higher resolutions, then picture quality is improved, but the requirement for precise alignment becomes more critical and difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidalignment precision requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-shifting the movable lens assembly to a predetermined offset position relative to the housing frame before final assembly with the image sensor. This offset position is calculated in advance to compensate for the misalignment that would occur with conventional motor-driven lens movement, ensuring that after assembly the lens center accurately coincides with the image sensor center.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positional parameter of the lens assembly by introducing a predetermined offset distance from the center line of the housing frame. Instead of positioning the lens at the conventional center position, the lens is deliberately positioned at an offset location that compensates for alignment errors, thereby achieving accurate alignment with the image sensor center after assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If auto-focus or optical zoom functionality is added, then device functionality is improved, but the complexity of alignment and positioning increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauto-focus and optical zoom capabilityVSAvoidalignment and positioning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-shifting the movable lens assembly to a predetermined offset position relative to the housing frame before final assembly with the image sensor. This offset position is calculated in advance to compensate for the misalignment that would occur with conventional motor-driven lens movement, ensuring that after assembly the lens center accurately coincides with the image sensor center.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the positional parameter of the lens assembly by introducing a predetermined offset distance from the center line of the housing frame. Instead of positioning the lens at the conventional center position, the lens is deliberately positioned at an offset location that compensates for alignment errors, thereby achieving accurate alignment with the image sensor center after assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9128223B2Method of aligning and assembling an image capturing module

Publication Date: 2015.09.08 LITE ON TECH CORP

AI summary

An image capturing module includes an image sensing unit and an actuator unit. The image sensing unit includes a circuit substrate and an image sensing chip disposed on the circuit substrate. The actuator unit includes a housing frame disposed on the circuit substrate and a movable lens assembly movably disposed inside the housing frame. The image sensing chip includes an image sensing area having a first geometric center line and a first geometric center point, and the movable lens assembly has a second geometric center line and a second geometric center point. Whereby, when the predetermined energy is provided for the actuator unit to shift the movable lens assembly, the second geometric center line (or the second geometric center point) of the movable lens assembly can be accurately aligned with the first geometric center line (or the first geometric center point) of the image sensing area.