KR102581986B1 - Relative active align apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is to correct the optical axis of a camera module including a first lens module that emits first light and a second lens module that is spaced apart from the first lens module and receives the incident second light, using the camera module. A support unit, a correction pattern for optical axis correction of the second lens module is formed, a screen that reflects the second light corresponding to the incident range of the first light, and the second light from the second lens module are formed. When a corresponding correction pattern image is input, a relative active alignment device including a control unit that corrects the optical axis of the second lens module according to the position difference value compared with the correction pattern image and a set reference pattern image is provided. .

Description

Relative active align apparatus {Relative active align apparatus}

The present invention relates to a relative active alignment device, and more specifically, to a relative active alignment device that corrects and attaches optical axes between first and second lens modules included in a laser module.

Generally, a laser module can emit laser and receive the emitted laser.

That is, the laser module can provide a three-dimensional image, and the laser module can include a first lens module that emits a laser and a second lens module that receives the emitted laser to generate an image.

After the assembly process is performed by the laser module, the inspection process may be performed by inspection equipment.

Through an assembly process, the first lens module of the laser module may be coupled to a housing in which a light emitting device is mounted on a PCB board.

Additionally, the second lens module of the laser module includes a lens barrel with a built-in lens and a lens holder coupled to the lens barrel, and the lens holder may be coupled to the housing in which the image sensor is mounted on the PCB board.

Thereafter, in order to fix the lens barrel and the lens holder, epoxy is applied between the lens barrel and the lens holder and hardened to complete the assembly of the laser module.

An active align device may be used for accurate assembly of the laser module.

The active alignment device is an assembly device that enables accurate assembly of the laser module by acquiring a plurality of positional information about the PCB board when assembling the lens holder into the housing.

In the active alignment device, the laser module can be assembled with the chart or light source level aligned with the PCB board, or the laser module can be assembled with the chart or light source level aligned with the lens barrel.

However, since the PCB board, light-emitting device, and image sensor that make up the laser module are attached to each other through solder balls, there may be mounting errors between the light-emitting device, image sensor, and the PCB board, and there may also be mounting errors between the lens and the lens holder. there is.

Therefore, when assembling the laser module with the chart or light source and the PCB board leveled, or when inspecting the camera module after assembling the laser module with the chart or light source and the lens barrel leveled, the light emitting element and image Errors in test results may occur due to sensor PCB board mounting errors and lens holder mounting errors.

At this time, errors in each of the first and second lens modules can be corrected through individual processes.

That is, the first lens module can align the optical axis of the light emitting device based on the camera mounted in the facility, and the second lens module can align the optical axis using a separately installed chart.

However, since each of the first and second lens modules is aligned using different standards, an alignment error with respect to the optical axis of each of the first and second lens modules, that is, the above-described mounting error, may occur.

Recently, research is in progress to align the optical axes of the first and second lens modules by using the first and second lens modules simultaneously.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a relative active alignment device that corrects and attaches optical axes between first and second lens modules included in a laser module.

In addition, the object of the present invention is to provide a correction pattern image output from the second lens module corresponding to the second light incident on the screen by the first light emitted from the first lens module during the assembly process of the laser module. 1, 2 To provide a relative active alignment device that can correct the optical axis of the lens module.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the objects mentioned above, and other objects and advantages of the present invention that are not mentioned can be understood by the following description and will be more clearly understood by the examples of the present invention. Additionally, it will be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the patent claims.

The relative active alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a camera including a first lens module that emits first light and a second lens module that is spaced apart from the first lens module and receives incident second light. For optical axis correction of the module, a support unit for supporting the camera module, a correction pattern for optical axis correction of the second lens module is formed, a screen that reflects the second light corresponding to the incident range of the first light, and When a correction pattern image corresponding to the second light is input from the second lens module, a control unit that corrects the optical axis of the second lens module according to the position difference value compared with the correction pattern image and the set reference pattern image It can be included.

The correction pattern may include a plurality of spots spaced apart at regular intervals.

At least one of the plurality of spots may have different shapes and different brightness and darkness.

It may further include a gripper unit that passes the first and second lights and corrects the optical axis of the second lens module.

The second lens module includes a lens barrel with a built-in lens, a lens holder coupled to the lens barrel with epoxy and fixed to the housing to which the first lens module is coupled, and the gripper unit includes the first, 2 Transparent glass that allows light to pass through, and the transparent glass is disposed, may include a grip portion that grips the lens barrel and corrects the optical axis under the control of the control unit.

The grip portion may include a gripper that holds the lens barrel and corrects the optical axis, and a vacuum passage formed on the lower and side surfaces of the transparent glass and sucked in air so that the lens barrel is caught by the gripper.

The gripper may be formed on the central axis of the transparent glass.

When the external air suction device operates and the gripper grasps the lens barrel, the transparent glass may contact the exposed upper part of the vacuum passage and close the space between the vacuum passage and the transparent glass.

When the gripper grips the lens barrel, the transparent glass may be spaced apart from the lens barrel at a predetermined distance.

The control unit includes an operation unit that operates the first lens module to emit the first light, and a control unit that determines the position difference value by comparing the correction pattern image input from the second lens module with the reference pattern image. It may include a position determination unit and a control unit that controls the gripper unit to correct the optical axis of the second lens module according to the position difference value.

The reference pattern image may be an image corresponding to the correction pattern formed in the incident range of the first light.

The position determination unit compares a plurality of spots included in the correction pattern image and a plurality of reference spots included in the reference pattern image, determines whether at least one of up and down and left and right is deflected, and determines the deflection direction and distance. Accordingly, the position difference value can be determined.

The positioning unit extracts a first length and the number of first spots in a first direction and a second length and the number of second spots in a second direction intersecting the first direction from the plurality of spots, and By comparing the 1st and 2nd lengths and the number of first and second spots with the first and second reference lengths and the number of first and second reference spots in the first and second directions set in the plurality of reference spots, whether or not the direction is oriented is determined. You can decide.

The positioning unit determines that the first length is shorter than the first reference length and the number of first spots is less than the number of first reference spots, and determines that the first length and the first spot are biased in the first direction. 1 The position difference value moving in a direction opposite to the first direction may be determined according to the difference value between the reference lengths.

If the second length is shorter than the second reference length and the number of second spots is less than the number of second reference spots, the positioning unit determines that the second direction is biased, and the second length and the first The position difference value moving in the opposite direction of the second direction can be determined according to the difference value between the two reference lengths.

The control unit may control the gripper unit to correct the optical axis of the second lens module in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction according to the position difference value.

A lens unit that varies the refractive index of the first and second lights may be further included between the support unit and the screen.

The lens unit may include a collimator lens for distance adjustment.

The relative active alignment device according to the present invention can simultaneously correct the optical axes of the first and second lens modules during the assembly process of the laser module, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing mounting errors. There is.

In addition, the relative active alignment device according to the present invention corrects the optical axis of the second lens module by using the second light incident by the first light emitted from the first lens module when correcting the optical axis of the second lens module. There is an advantage in not using a separate chart for .

In addition, various effects other than the effects described above may be disclosed directly or implicitly in the detailed description according to embodiments of the present invention, which will be described later.

Figure 1 is a control block diagram showing the control configuration of the relative active alignment device according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is an example diagram for explaining the operation of the relative active alignment device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a correction pattern formed on the screen shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram for explaining the operation of the positioning unit shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the gripper unit shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the gripper unit shown in FIG. 1.

It should be noted that in the following description, only the parts necessary to understand the embodiments of the present invention will be described, and the description of other parts will be omitted so as not to distract from the gist of the present invention.

The terms or words used in the specification and claims described below should not be construed as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and the inventor should use the concept of terminology appropriately to explain his/her invention in the best way. It must be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that it can be defined clearly. Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not represent the entire technical idea of the present invention, and therefore, various equivalents can be substituted for them at the time of filing the present application. It should be understood that there may be variations.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram showing the control configuration of the relative active alignment device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram for explaining the operation of the relative active alignment device according to the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the relative active alignment device 100 may include a screen 110, a support unit 120, a gripper unit 130, and a control unit 140.

First, the screen 110 may cause the second light L2 corresponding to the incident range of the first light L1 emitted from the laser module 1 to enter the laser module 2.

In an embodiment, the first light L1 may be a laser, and the second light L2 may be an emitted laser, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

A correction pattern for optical axis correction may be formed on the lower surface of the screen 110 toward the top of the laser module 1.

Here, the correction pattern may include a plurality of spots with different brightness and darkness, but is not limited thereto.

A plurality of spots are spaced apart at regular intervals and may have different shapes and different brightness, but are not limited thereto.

Additionally, a plurality of spots may be divided into a plurality of spot groups.

At this time, if the lower surface of the screen 110 has a low reflectance, the brightness of the second light L2 is too low, making it difficult to create an image. If the reflectance is high, it is easy to create an image of the second light L2, but other than the correction pattern, it is difficult to create an image. Noisy images for other parts may be generated.

In other words, Active Align finds the Z-axis value of the Best Focus point by analyzing the resolution of the image (quantifying the degree of blur because the image is out of focus) to find the Z-axis value of the Best Focus point, and calculates the Tilt correction value. can do.

Therefore, if the reflectance is low, the image brightness is too low, making resolution analysis difficult, and if the reflectance is high, a noise image may be generated, making resolution analysis difficult.

In an embodiment, the active alignment device 110 may be formed of a blackout film with a reflectance of 5% on the inside of the housing.

The support unit 120 may support the laser module 1.

First, the laser module 1 may include a first lens module 3, a second lens module 5, and a PCB board 9.

The first lens module 3 may include a first lens 4 on top of the light emitting element 2 mounted on the PCB board 9 and may be coupled to the housing 10.

Here, the first lens 4 may emit the first light L1 emitted from the light emitting device 2 to the screen 110.

At this time, the first lens 4 can diffuse the first light L1 along the set optical axis.

The second lens module 5 may include a lens barrel 6 with a built-in second lens, and a lens holder 7 that is coupled to the lens barrel 6 with epoxy and fixed to the housing 10.

At this time, the second lens module 5 may be located on top of the image sensor 8 mounted on the PCB board 9.

The support unit 120 can support the laser module 1 to remain horizontal.

The gripper unit 130 may include transparent glass 132 and a grip portion 134.

The transparent glass 132 can pass the laser module 1, that is, the first light L1 emitted from the first lens module 3 and the second light L2 incident on the second lens module 5. there is.

At this time, the transparent glass 132 may be made of glass or a material with a very low refractive index.

Additionally, the transparent glass 132 may be spaced apart from the lens barrel 5 at a predetermined distance.

The grip portion 134 may include a gripper 136 and a vacuum passage 138.

The gripper 136 can grip the lens barrel 6. For example, the gripper 136 may grip the lens barrel 6 by sucking in air, or may grip the lens barrel 6 by contacting it from the top to the bottom, but is not limited thereto.

Additionally, the gripper 136 may be equipped with transparent glass 132 and may hold the lens barrel 6 to correct the optical axis. The gripper 136 may be formed on the central axis of the transparent glass 132.

The vacuum passage 138 is formed in the gripper 136 where the transparent glass 132 is disposed, and may be formed to suck air so that the lens barrel 6 is captured.

That is, when the external air suction device operates and the lens barrel 6 is caught by the gripper 136, the vacuum passage 138 contacts the upper part exposed by the transparent glass 132 and forms a transparent The space between the glasses 132 can be blocked.

The control unit 140 may include an operating unit 142, a positioning unit 144, and a control unit 146.

The operating unit 142 may operate the first lens module 3 by supplying power to the light emitting device 2 so that the first light L1 is emitted.

In addition, the operating unit 142 may receive a correction pattern image (m) corresponding to the second light L2 reflected by the screen 110 from the image sensor 8 and transmit it to the positioning unit 144. there is.

The position determination unit 144 may determine the position coordinate value (c) by comparing the correction pattern image (m) and the set reference pattern image.

The reference pattern image may be an image having the correction pattern set to correspond to the second light L2 when the first light L1 is incident.

That is, the reference pattern image is an image of the correction pattern in a state in which the optical axes of the first and second lens modules 3 and 5 are corrected.

The position determination unit 144 compares a plurality of spots included in the correction pattern image (m) with a plurality of reference spots included in the reference pattern image, and provides a position coordinate value corresponding to the deflection direction of the optical axis and the position coordinate difference. (c) can be determined.

For example, the positioning unit 144 may determine the first length and the number of first spots in the first direction and the second length and the number of second spots in the second direction intersecting the first direction in the plurality of spots. Extract and compare the first and second lengths and the number of first and second spots with the first and second reference lengths and the number of first and second reference spots in the first and second directions set in the plurality of reference spots. Thus, it is possible to determine whether or not the flavor is favorable.

In addition, the positioning unit 144 determines that the first length is shorter than the first reference length and the number of first spots is less than the number of first reference spots, and determines that the first direction is biased. The position difference value moving in a direction opposite to the first direction may be determined according to the difference value between the length and the first reference length.

Then, the positioning unit 144 determines that the second length is shorter than the second reference length and the number of second spots is less than the number of second reference spots, and determines that the second direction is biased. The position difference value moving in a direction opposite to the second direction may be determined according to the difference value between the length and the second reference length.

The control unit 146 may move the gripper unit 130 so that the optical axis of the second lens module 5 is corrected according to the position coordinate value c determined by the position determination unit 144.

Additionally, the active alignment device 100 may further include a lens unit 150 between the screen 110 and the support unit 120 that varies the refractive index of the first and second lights L1 and L2.

Here, the lens unit 150 may include a collimator lens for distance adjustment.

The lens unit 150 can reduce the size of the active alignment device 100 by reducing the distance between the screen 110 and the support unit 120.

As described above, the active alignment device 100 according to the present invention provides a correction pattern image corresponding to the second light (L2) according to the incident range of the first light (L1) emitted from the first lens module (3). By being able to correct the optical axis of the second lens module 5 using (c), there is an advantage of simultaneously reducing the error regarding the optical axis between the first and second lens modules 3 and 5.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram showing an example of a correction pattern formed on the screen shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, the screen 110 may have a correction pattern formed in which a plurality of spot groups including a plurality of spots are spaced apart at regular intervals.

Here, each of the plurality of spots may be composed of nine pixels with different contrast, that is, brightness, but is not limited thereto.

The correction pattern shown in FIG. 3 shows one example, and may be formed into other patterns, but is not limited thereto.

A plurality of spots may be formed with the same width and spacing (rd) between spots, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary diagram for explaining the operation of the positioning unit shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4 , the position determination unit 144 may compare the correction pattern image (m) and the reference pattern image to determine the position coordinate value (c).

Figure 4(a) shows a reference pattern image, wherein a plurality of spots have a first reference spot length (rw1) in a first direction, a first reference spot number (not shown), and a first direction that intersects the first direction. It may have a second reference spot length (rh1) and a second reference spot number (not shown).

Additionally, each of the plurality of spots may be spaced apart at a certain interval (rd).

Figure 4(b) may represent a correction pattern image (m).

At this time, the positioning unit 144 determines the first length (rw) in the first direction and the number of first spots (not shown) in the plurality of spots included in the correction pattern image (m) and the first direction and the The second length (rh) in two directions and the number of second spots (not shown) can be confirmed.

Thereafter, the positioning unit 144 determines the first and second lengths (rw, rh) and the first and second spot numbers and the set first and second reference spot lengths (rw1, rh1) of FIG. 4(a) and the first and second spot numbers. You can compare the number of spots based on 1 and 2.

Here, based on FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the first length (rw) of the positioning unit 144 is shorter than the first reference spot length (rw1), and the number of first spots is shorter than the first reference spot length (rw1). If it is less than the number of spots, it may be determined to be biased in the first direction.

At this time, the positioning unit 144 may calculate the difference value between the first length (rw) and the first reference spot length (rw1) based on the constant interval (rd) between the plurality of spots.

Additionally, the positioning unit 144 may determine the position difference value c so that the optical axis moves in a direction opposite to the first direction according to the difference value.

The above-mentioned position coordinate value (c) may be a value for optical axis correction of the second lens module 5.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the gripper unit shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the gripper unit 130 may include transparent glass 132 and a grip portion 134.

First, Figure 5(a) is a cross-sectional perspective view of the gripper unit 130, and Figure 5(b) is a cross-sectional view of the gripper unit 130.

Referring to FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the transparent glass 132 has a vacuum passage 138 through which the gripper 136 included in the grip portion 136 moves air to grip the lens barrel 6. To form a trapezoid-shaped cross section.

When the gripper 136 sucks air to grab the lens barrel 6, the transparent glass 132 is adsorbed to the exposed upper surface of the vacuum passage 138, creating a gap between the vacuum passage 138 and the transparent glass 132. Space can be blocked.

At this time, the air sucked through the gripper 136 may be discharged to an external air suction device through the air suction port formed on the side through the vacuum passage 138, but there is no limitation on this.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the gripper unit shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 6, the gripper unit 130 may include transparent glass 132 and a grip portion 134.

Unlike FIG. 5, the gripper unit 130 shown in FIG. 6 can grip the lens barrel 6 with mechanical force rather than gripping the lens barrel 6 with air suction.

The transparent glass 132 can pass the first light L1 emitted from the first lens module 3 and the second light L2 reflected by the second lens module 5.

At this time, the transparent glass 132 may be made of glass or a material with a very low refractive index.

The gripper 136 is coupled to the grip portion 134, and first and second holes h1 and h2 through which the first and second lights L1 and L2 pass may be formed in the transparent glass 132.

Additionally, the grip unit 134 may operate the gripper 136 under control of the control unit 140, but is not limited thereto.

Here, the first hole h1 may be located on the first lens module 3, and the second hole h2 may be located on the second lens module 5.

The diameter of the second hole (h2) may be the same as or larger than the diameter of the first hole (h1), and the first and second holes (h1, h2) are equally spaced from each other based on the center of the transparent glass 132. can be formed.

Here, the gripper unit 130 may grip the side of the second lens module 5 with the gripper 136 moving down from the upper side of the second lens module 5 to the lower side.

The features, structures, effects, etc. described in the embodiments above are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention and are not necessarily limited to only one embodiment. Furthermore, the features, structures, effects, etc. illustrated in each embodiment can be combined or modified and implemented in other embodiments by a person with ordinary knowledge in the field to which the embodiments belong. Therefore, contents related to such combinations and modifications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention.

In addition, although the above description focuses on the embodiments, this is only an example and does not limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art will understand the above examples without departing from the essential characteristics of the present embodiments. You will see that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the examples can be modified and implemented. And these variations and differences in application should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (18)

In the active alignment device for optical axis correction of a camera module including a first lens module emitting first light and a second lens module spaced apart from the first lens module and receiving incident second light,
A support unit supporting the camera module;
a screen on which a correction pattern for optical axis correction of the second lens module is formed and which reflects the second light corresponding to an incident range of the first light; and
When a correction pattern image corresponding to the second light is input from the second lens module, a control unit that corrects the optical axis of the second lens module according to the position difference value compared with the correction pattern image and the set reference pattern image Contains,
The second lens module,
Comprising a lens barrel with a built-in lens, a lens holder coupled to the lens barrel and epoxy and fixed to the housing to which the first lens module is coupled,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 1,
The correction pattern is,
Containing a plurality of spots spaced at regular intervals,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 2,
At least one of the plurality of spots is,
With different shapes and different shades,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 1,
Further comprising a gripper unit that passes the first and second lights and corrects the optical axis of the second lens module,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 4,
The gripper unit is,
Transparent glass that allows the first and second lights to pass through; and
The transparent glass is disposed, and includes a grip portion that grips the lens barrel and corrects the optical axis according to the control of the control unit.
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 5,
The grip part,
A gripper that holds the lens barrel and corrects the optical axis; and
It is formed on the lower and side surfaces of the transparent glass and includes a vacuum passage formed to suck air so that the lens barrel is caught by the gripper,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 6,
The gripper is,
formed on the central axis of the transparent glass,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 6,
When the external air intake device operates and the gripper grips the lens barrel,
The transparent glass is,
Contacting the exposed top of the vacuum passage to close the space between the vacuum passage and the transparent glass,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 6,
When the gripper grips the lens barrel,
The transparent glass is,
Spaced apart from the lens barrel at a predetermined distance,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 4,
The control unit is,
an operating unit that operates the first lens module to emit the first light;
a position determination unit that compares the correction pattern image input from the second lens module and the reference pattern image to determine the position difference value; and
Comprising a control unit that controls the gripper unit to correct the optical axis of the second lens module according to the position difference value,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 10,
The reference pattern image is,
An image corresponding to the correction pattern formed in the incident range of the first light,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 10,
The positioning unit,
A plurality of spots included in the correction pattern image and a plurality of reference spots included in the reference pattern image are compared with each other to determine whether at least one of up and down and left and right is biased, and the position difference value according to the direction and distance of the deflection. to decide,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 12,
The positioning unit,
A first length and the number of first spots in a first direction and a second length and the number of second spots in a second direction intersecting the first direction are extracted from the plurality of spots, and the first and second lengths and Comparing the number of first and second spots with the first and second reference lengths in the first and second directions set in the plurality of reference spots and the number of first and second reference spots to determine whether the bias is present,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 13,
The positioning unit,
If the first length is shorter than the first reference length and the number of first spots is less than the number of first reference spots, it is determined to be biased in the first direction, and a distance between the first length and the first reference length is determined to be biased in the first direction. Determining the position difference value moving in a direction opposite to the first direction according to the difference value,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 13,
The positioning unit,
If the second length is shorter than the second reference length and the number of second spots is less than the number of second reference spots, it is determined to be biased in the second direction, and a distance between the second length and the second reference length is determined. Determining the position difference value moving in a direction opposite to the second direction according to the difference value,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 10,
The control unit,
Controlling the gripper unit to correct the optical axis of the second lens module in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction according to the position difference value,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 1,
Further comprising a lens unit that varies the refractive index of the first and second lights between the support unit and the screen,
Relative active alignment device. According to claim 17,
The lens unit is,
Including a collimator lens for distance adjustment,
Relative active alignment device.

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