KR100822882B1 - Test device and method for camera module - Google Patents

Abstract

A camera module test device and a method thereof are provided to perform a simultaneous test of plural camera modules in case of performing a test at once in each test step, thereby reducing production costs and improving production efficiency. A display device unit(50) respectively displays images corresponding to plural inputted image signals. In a circuit board unit(31), plural circuit modules(61,62,63) are installed. The circuit module outputs a live image signal or an image signal for test, stored in plural camera modules(10a,10b,10c), to the display device unit during once test. Each of the plural circuit modules comprises a communication module, a control module and an image signal output module. The control module transmits a confirm signal and an image signal output request signal to the camera module connected to the communication module, and receives an image signal outputted by the camera module in response to the transmitted image signal output request signal.

Description

Test Device and Method for Camera Module

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera module inspection apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera module inspection apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a circuit module installed in the camera module inspection apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera module inspection apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an inspection method of an apparatus for inspecting camera modules according to first to third embodiments of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

1,2,3: Camera module inspection device 20: Multi-channel overlay board

31 PCB Board 70 Reset Switch

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for inspecting the function of a camera module, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for quickly inspecting the function of a camera module in a production line.

In recent years, as the digital technology is generalized, the camera has been converted into a digital data storing method of image information obtained by using an image pickup device instead of the conventional analog method of storing image information using a film.

Examples of such an image capturing device include a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and a charge coupled device (CCD), and a camera module using the same is a digital camera, a camcorder, or a camera mounted on a mobile phone.

Products equipped with the camera module are manufactured by mounting an image pickup device on a printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as a PCB) and assembling a camera lens and a housing to construct a camera module. In order to check whether the module is working properly, the inspection process includes lens auto focus adjustment, color temperature adjustment, lens distortion adjustment and foreign object detection.

The conventional inspection method sequentially transfers the finished products from the production line to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) provided at each inspection step by using a conveyor belt, and in each inspection step, the inspected products are transferred in order. By displaying the image corresponding to the inspection video signal output from the camera module on the monitor, the operator judges whether the camera module is good or bad in order. Therefore, excessive time and manpower required for inspection are required. And reduced production efficiency.

In order to solve this problem, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-0073069 discloses a method of mounting a plurality of camera modules to be inspected on a tray and continuously inspecting the camera module mounted on the tray. Since the inspection in the inspection step is performed sequentially one by one, there is a disadvantage in terms of production cost and efficiency than when inspecting multiple camera modules at the same time in one inspection.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, the production cost and the inspection of the plurality of camera modules at the same time in each inspection step required to inspect the function of the camera module is made at the same time and An object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus and inspection method capable of improving production efficiency.

In order to achieve the above object, the camera module inspection apparatus according to the present invention is an inspection apparatus for inspecting a function of a camera module, wherein a plurality of image signals are input, and a display device unit for displaying an image corresponding thereto once. A circuit board unit is provided with a plurality of circuit modules for outputting the test image signal or live video signal stored in the plurality of camera modules to the display device during the inspection, each of the plurality of circuit modules are communication of the plurality of camera modules A communication module for communicating with a camera module connected to the camera module, and transmitting a confirmation signal and an image signal output request signal to the camera module connected to the communication module, and the image signal output by the connected camera module by the transmitted image signal output request signal. The control module for receiving a video signal received by the control signal of the control module Characterized in that the configuration logic circuits, including the video signal output module for output to the display device.

In addition, the circuit board portion is characterized in that the PCB substrate.

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The display device may include a display area corresponding to each of the plurality of circuit modules, and display the image signal output from the image signal output module of each of the circuit modules in a display area corresponding to the circuit module. It is done.

The apparatus may further include a reset switch unit for initializing at least one operation of the plurality of circuit modules.

In addition, the camera module inspection apparatus according to the present invention is a display device unit for displaying the image corresponding to each of the plurality of video signals input, and the inspection stored in the plurality of camera modules in communication with the plurality of camera modules in one inspection And a PC equipped with a multi-channel overlay board for receiving a video signal or a live video signal and outputting the plurality of received video signals to the display unit, wherein the multi-channel overlay board is provided with an operating program mounted on the PC. It is characterized by being operated by execution.

In addition, the inspection method of the camera module according to the present invention in the first step and the first step of communicating with a plurality of camera modules at the time of inspection to receive a test video signal or a live video signal stored in the plurality of camera module And displaying a video image corresponding to the received video signal on a display device, respectively.

In addition, the first and second steps may be performed using a PC board equipped with a PCB board or a multi-channel overlay board on which a circuit module constituting a logic circuit is installed.

The first step may further include initializing the PCB board or the PC when the image signal is normally received and is not normally received.

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

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera module inspection apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The camera module inspection apparatus 1 of FIG. 1 includes an inspection PC 30 equipped with a multi-channel overlay board 20 for processing three image signals received from three camera modules 10; Image signals received from the three camera modules 10 by the connector 40 and the multichannel overlay board 20 for communicatively connecting the camera module 10 for inspection to each channel of the multichannel overlay board 20. It comprises three monitors 50 for displaying the images corresponding to the respectively.

In this case, the channel refers to an independent device in which a microcomputer (not shown) of the main board 25 mounted on the inspection PC 30 communicates with any one camera module to be displayed on one monitor. An image signal processing path, and a multi-channel overlay board, refers to a substrate for processing input / output of an image signal through a plurality of channels independent for each channel.

The inspection PC 30 is a conventional PC operated by a general operating system such as Windows, and is equipped with a program for operating the multi-channel overlay board 20 as described above, and the multi-channel overlay board 20 is main It is mounted on the board 25.

In addition, communication between the multi-channel overlay board 20 and the camera module 10 to be inspected may be preferably implemented by any one of known communication methods such as USB communication or RCA cable, and the connect 40 may communicate. Depending on the method, it can be selected with appropriate specifications. In the present embodiment, a wired communication method is described as an example, but a wireless communication method may be used as necessary.

On the other hand, the monitor 50 is provided to correspond to the number of channels supported by the multi-channel overlay board 20 (three channels as an example in this embodiment) is connected to each corresponding channel, the camera module connected to the channel Images corresponding to the inspection video signal received from (10) are respectively displayed.

The inspection video signal may be an image signal that is stored in the camera module in advance or taken in real time in the inspection step before performing the inspection step.

In the present embodiment, the case of having three monitors 50 is described as an example, but if necessary, the screen of one monitor 50 is divided into three sub-screens corresponding to each channel, and the corresponding channel is assigned to each sub-screen. It may be configured to display an image corresponding to the inspection video signal received from. In addition, when the inspection PC is stopped due to various factors during the inspection, it may be initialized using a reset switch (not shown) provided in the ordinary PC.

In the present embodiment, the case of having three channels has been described as an example, but the number of channels and corresponding monitors can be expanded according to the specification of the multi-channel overlay board 20.

The camera module inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is different from the prior art in which inspection is sequentially performed on a plurality of camera modules to be inspected at a time of inspection at each inspection step, and a plurality of camera modules 10 at a time of inspection. Since the inspection can be performed, there is an advantage of reducing the time and labor costs required for the inspection.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the camera module inspection apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each circuit module installed on the PCB substrate of the camera module inspection apparatus of FIG.

The camera module inspection apparatus 2 of FIG. 2 includes a PCB board 31 having three circuit modules 61, 62, and 63 electrically separated from each other, and a camera module for inspection on each circuit module 61, 62, and 63. Three for displaying images corresponding to three image signals received from the connector 41 for communicatively connecting the 10 and the camera module 10 connected to each of the circuit modules 61, 62, and 63, respectively. It comprises a monitor 50.

In this case, each of the circuit modules 61, 62, and 63 constitutes an independent channel for displaying the image signal received by communicating with the connected camera module 10 to be monitored on the monitor. Meanwhile, since the three circuit modules 61, 62, and 63 shown in FIG. 2 are configured to perform the same function, only the configuration of the first circuit module 61 will be described below as an example.

The first circuit module 61 controls the communication unit 61a and the communication unit 61a for communicating with the first camera module 10a which is communicatively connected, so as to request confirmation and video signal output to the first camera module 10a. The first monitor 50a transmits the received video signal according to a control signal of the control unit 61b and the control unit 61b which transmits a signal and receives an image signal output by the first camera module 10a according to the output request signal. ) And a video signal output section 61c for outputting.

In addition, the camera module inspection apparatus 2 of FIG. 2 further includes a reset switch 70 for initializing the operation of the PCB substrate 31 when the operation of the PCB substrate 31 is interrupted due to various factors during the inspection. do.

In this embodiment, the case of having three monitors 50 is described as an example, but if necessary, the screen of one monitor 50 is divided into three sub-screens corresponding to each channel, and each sub-screen is divided into a corresponding channel. It may be configured to display an image corresponding to the received inspection image signal. In addition, although the present embodiment has been described with three channels as an example, the number of channels and corresponding monitors can be expanded as necessary.

The camera module inspection apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment has three camera modules in one inspection, unlike the prior art in which inspection is sequentially performed on three camera modules 10 to be inspected in each inspection step. Since the inspection of (10) can be performed, there is an advantage of reducing the time and labor costs required for the inspection.

In addition, when the image signal, which is a large amount of information in megapixel units, is processed in software as in the first embodiment, the number of camera modules 10 that can be inspected in one inspection due to the limitation of memory and CPU performance. (I.e., the number of channels) is limited, but the present embodiment processes the video signal in hardware using the circuit modules 61, 62, and 63 installed on the PCB board 31 so that the camera to be inspected at the time of one inspection There is an advantage that it is easy to increase the number of modules 10.

In addition, in the case of the first embodiment, it takes a considerable time to load the operating program of the boot and overlay board 20 when initialized with the reset switch, but when implemented in hardware as in this embodiment, the inspection time is omitted There is an advantage that can be further shortened.

4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a camera module inspection apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The camera module inspection apparatus 3 of FIG. 4 has three PCB boards 32, 33, and 34 independent of each other, for communicating the camera module 10 for inspection to each PCB board 32, 33, 34 for communication. And three monitors 50 for displaying the images corresponding to the three image signals received from the camera module 10 connected to the connector 41 and the PCB boards 32, 33, and 34, respectively. .

At this time, each PCB board (32, 33, 34) is provided with a circuit module constituting an independent channel for displaying on the monitor the image signal received by communicating with the connected camera module 10 for inspection, the circuit module Since the configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, the camera module inspection apparatus 3 of FIG. 4 initializes the operation of the PCB boards 32, 33, 34 when the operation of the PCB boards 32, 33, 34 is stopped due to various factors during the inspection. Reset switches 71, 72, and 73 are provided on the PCB substrates 32, 33, and 34, respectively.

Therefore, in the case of the camera module inspection apparatus 2 according to the second embodiment, if some of the three circuit modules 61, 62, 63 are damaged, partial replacement is impossible and some circuit modules 61, 62, 63 are not present during the inspection. ), The entire PCB substrate 31 is inconvenient to be initialized, but in the case of the camera module inspection apparatus 3 according to the present embodiment, the PCB substrates 32, 33, and 34 are separated for each channel. Since there is an advantage that the replacement and initialization of the PCB board (32, 33, 34) for some channels.

5 is a flowchart showing an inspection method using camera module inspection apparatuses 1, 2, and 3 according to the first to third embodiments of the present invention.

The operator and the like to take a picture for inspection with three camera modules for inspection at the same time in the inspection step at the same time to store the inspection video signal (S100).

The inspection image photographing may be performed collectively for the entire camera module to be inspected at the time of product completion or inspection, or may be performed for every three camera modules for inspection. In addition, in the above, the case in which the worker or the like photographs the inspection image has been described as an example. In some cases, as described above, mechanical live continuous shooting may be performed in the inspection step.

When the step S100 is completed, the camera module is transferred to the inspection apparatus by three units or sequentially using a transfer apparatus such as a conveyor (S110). In this case, each inspection apparatus may be a lens automatic focusing apparatus, a color temperature adjusting apparatus, a lens distortion adjusting apparatus, or a foreign matter detecting apparatus as described above.

When the step S110 is completed, the worker and the like to connect the three camera modules to each channel in a single test using a connector (S120).

When the step S120 is completed, the microcomputer or the controller outputs the confirmation signal and the video signal output request signal through the overlay board or the communication unit according to the logic of the program or the circuit module provided in the camera module inspection apparatus (1, 2, 3). Transfer to the camera module and receives the inspection video signal output from each camera module accordingly (S130).

When the step S130 is completed, the microcomputer or the controller determines whether the inspection PC or the PCB substrate is an initialization condition (S140), and if the initialization condition, the microcomputer or the controller performs initialization (S150).

In this case, the initialization condition refers to a case in which the inspection apparatus does not operate normally, such as when an image signal output from each camera module is not input in step S130 due to various factors.

In the present embodiment, the microcomputer or the control unit determines the initialization condition and if the initialization condition, the microcomputer or the control unit is configured to execute the initialization itself, but the micom or the control unit to indicate that the initialization condition, the operator can reset using the reset switch. It can also be configured to do so.

In addition, even if the camera module is connected to each channel as needed, if the image is not displayed on all or some of the monitors within a predetermined time, the operator may determine that the initialization conditions are directly initialized.

On the other hand, if the initialization condition is not at step S140, the microcomputer or the controller controls the overlay board or the video signal output unit to display an image corresponding to the received video signal on the monitor for each channel (S160).

When the step S160 is completed, the operator observes the monitor to determine whether the images of each channel are all normal (S170), and if normal, separates the three camera modules that have been inspected and transfers them to the next step (S190). On the other hand, if there is an abnormal channel in step S170, the operator performs step S190 after performing the necessary measures (S180).

In this case, the necessary measures mean that if the worker can adjust the abnormal state to the normal state in the inspection step, the adjustment process is carried out. it means. For example, if the inspection step is the lens automatic focus adjustment step, the focus of the lens is adjusted using a not shown focusing unit. If the inspection step is a foreign material detection step, the defective camera module is excluded as a defective product. .

In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, a case in which the operator directly determines the quantity / defect of the camera module is described as an example, but if necessary, the quantity / defect may be determined by software (ie, a program) or hardware (ie, a logic circuit). You can also judge.

When the step S190 is complete, the microcomputer or the controller determines whether it is the end condition of the test step (S200), if the end condition is terminated, and if the end condition is not, the step S100 is performed.

In this case, the end condition means a case where an inspection end signal is input from an operator or a camera module connected to each channel is not continuously recognized for a predetermined time or more.

As described above, the camera module inspection apparatus and method according to the present invention can improve production cost and production efficiency by simultaneously performing inspection on a plurality of camera modules in one inspection in each inspection step.

In addition, as shown in an embodiment of the present invention, the inspection process for a plurality of channels may be implemented in hardware using a logic circuit mounted on a PCB board, thereby further reducing the inspection time, and may simultaneously inspect the test at the same time. There is an advantage that can easily increase the number of camera modules.

Claims (16)

In the inspection device for inspecting the function of the camera module, A display device unit for displaying a video corresponding to each of a plurality of video signals; The circuit board unit is provided with a plurality of circuit modules for outputting the inspection video signal or live video signal stored in the plurality of camera modules to the display unit at the time of one inspection, Each of the plurality of circuit modules is a communication module for communicating with a camera module communicatively connected among the plurality of camera modules, and transmits a confirmation signal and an image signal output request signal to a camera module connected to the communication module, and the image signal transmitted. Configuring a logic circuit including a control module for receiving an image signal output from the camera module by an output request signal and an image signal output module for outputting the image signal received by the control signal of the control module to the display unit. Camera module inspection device characterized in that. The method of claim 1, The circuit board unit is a camera module inspection device, characterized in that the PCB substrate. delete The method of claim 2, The display device unit includes a display area corresponding to each of the plurality of circuit modules. And a video signal output from the video signal output module of each circuit module is displayed in a display area corresponding to the circuit module. The method according to claim 2 or 4, And a reset switch unit for initializing at least one operation of the plurality of circuit modules. The method of claim 5, The camera module inspection device, characterized in that the CMOS or CCD. The method of claim 6, The circuit module inspection apparatus, characterized in that each circuit module is installed on a separate PCB board. The method of claim 7, wherein The reset switch unit camera module inspection apparatus, characterized in that installed independently of each PCB substrate. In the inspection device for inspecting the function of the camera module, A display device unit for displaying a video corresponding to each of a plurality of video signals; The multi-channel overlay board for receiving the inspection video signal or live video signal stored in the plurality of camera module to communicate with the plurality of camera modules at the time of one inspection, and outputs the received plurality of video signals to the display unit Includes a PC, The multi-channel overlay board is operated by the execution of the operating program mounted on the PC camera module inspection apparatus. The method of claim 9, The display device unit includes a display area corresponding to each of the plurality of video signals, And a plurality of video signals output from the multi-channel overlay board are output to corresponding display areas. The method of claim 9 or 10, Camera module inspection apparatus further comprises a reset switch for initializing the operation of the PC. The method of claim 11, The camera module inspection device, characterized in that the CMOS or CCD. In the inspection method for inspecting the function of the camera module, A first step of communicating with a plurality of camera modules during a single inspection to receive an inspection image signal or a live image signal stored in the plurality of camera modules; and And a second step of displaying an image corresponding to the image signal received in the first step on a display device, respectively. The first and second steps are camera module inspection method, characterized in that made using a PCB board is installed circuit module constituting a logic circuit. delete In the inspection method for inspecting the function of the camera module, A first step of communicating with a plurality of camera modules during a single inspection to receive an inspection image signal or a live image signal stored in the plurality of camera modules; and And a second step of displaying an image corresponding to the image signal received in the first step on a display device, respectively. And the first and second steps are performed using a PC equipped with a multi-channel overlay board and a program for operating the multi-channel overlay board. The method according to claim 13 or 15, The first step of the camera module inspection method further comprises the step of initializing the PCB substrate or PC if it is not normally received by determining whether the image signal is normally received.

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