TWI420177B - Apparatus and method for assembling lens module - Google Patents

Description

Lens module assembly device and assembly method

The present invention relates to the field of lens modules, and in particular, to a lens module assembly device and an assembly method.

In recent years, with the widespread use of digital cameras, camcorders, and mobile phones with camera functions, the development of high-quality and high-definition video images has become a goal. The lens module is an indispensable component in digital cameras, video cameras, and mobile phones. The image quality determines the quality of the final image of the camera.

Generally, in the process of assembling the lens module, the components, such as the lens barrel, the lens, the gasket, the infrared cut filter (IR-Cut), etc., which are to be assembled by the centering positioning device, are firstly positioned. The so-called centering positioning refers to determining the position of the central axis of each component, and then using the take-up device such as the nozzle, the clip or the robot to grasp the optical component that has been accurately positioned in a centering positioning device, and the positioning is positioned in another corresponding centering position. In the lens barrel of the device, the central axis of the optical element such as the lens, the spacer, and the infrared cut filter in the lens barrel coincides with the central axis of the lens barrel to ensure image quality. See the paper by Alpheus W. Burner et al. at the 1995 SPIE System, Videometrics IV, Zoom Lens Calibration For Wind Tunnel Measurements, which reveals the light from the lenses in the lens module. The effect of the misalignment of the axes.

As shown in FIG. 6, one lens assembly device 30 of the prior art includes a suction mechanism 31, a holding mechanism 32, and a lifting device 33. The lifting device 33 includes a table 333, a first rail 331 fixed to the table 333, and a second rail 332 slidably coupled to the first rail 331. The suction mechanism 31 is slidably coupled to the second rail 332 and slidable along the length of the first rail 331 by the second rail 332. The holding mechanism 32 is disposed on the table 333 and opposite to the second rail 332 , and includes two movable positioning blocks 321 and a fixing portion 322 between the two positioning blocks 321 . Closing the two positioning blocks 321 can form a cylindrical cavity for placing the lens barrel 35. The central axis of the cylindrical cavity is disposed coaxially with the central axis of the suction mechanism 31. When the suction mechanism 31 slides along the second guide rail 332, its central axis is always parallel with the central axis of the cylindrical cavity, so that the suction mechanism The central axis of the clipped optical element 34 can coincide with the central axis of the lens barrel 35, thereby assembling the optical element 34 into the lens barrel 35.

When the lens module is assembled, the lens barrel 35 is first placed on the opposite side of the fixing portion 322 and the second rail 332, and the two positioning blocks 321 are closed to center the lens barrel 35, and then vacuum-adsorbed in the fixing portion 322. A device, such as a suction nozzle (not shown), secures the lens barrel 35 to the opposite side. Finally, the optical component 34 positioned in the other centering positioning device is clamped and assembled into the lens barrel 35 by the suction mechanism 11, and the assembly of the lens module is completed.

However, due to the limitation of the processing precision of the lens barrel 35, the center axis of the cylinder (the inner cylinder) enclosed by the inner surface of the final barrel 35 and the cylinder (outer cylinder) enclosed by the outer surface may not completely coincide. . The central axis of the lens barrel 35 determined by the above method is the central axis of the cylinder outside the lens barrel 35, and the central axis may not coincide with the central axis of the inner cylinder of the actual lens barrel 35, and there is a positional deviation. Similarly, the central axis is also associated with the optical element 34 positioned in the corresponding other centering device. There may be a positional deviation in the central axis. The deviation is usually greater than 10 μm, which cannot meet the accuracy requirements of the production of high-order lens modules (the optical axis deviation requirement is less than 5 μm) and the accuracy requirements of the low-order lens module (the optical axis deviation requirement is less than 10 μm). In addition, if the optical elements 34 positioned in the centering positioning device are assembled into the corresponding lens barrels 35, the optical elements 34 may not be smoothly placed into the lens barrel 35, and the optical elements 34 may be directly caused by the optical elements 34. Damage or drop, such as cracks in the lens, reducing yield. At the same time, the central axis of the lens barrel 35 does not coincide with the central axis of the optical element 34 incorporated in the lens barrel 35, which also reduces the assembly yield and deteriorates the image quality.

In view of the above, a lens module assembly apparatus and an assembly method using the lens module assembly apparatus are provided, so that a central axis of an optical component incorporated in a lens barrel coincides with a central axis of an inner side surface of the lens barrel, thereby improving assembly. Rate to ensure image quality is necessary.

Hereinafter, a lens module assembly device and an assembly method using the lens module assembly device will be described by way of embodiments.

A lens module assembling device includes a suction mechanism, a shaft center adjusting device, a holding mechanism and a lifting device. The lifting device is used for providing a suction mechanism, a shaft center adjusting device and a holding mechanism. The suction mechanism is used to take out the optical components to be assembled and assemble them into the lens barrel. The holding mechanism is used to position and fix the lens barrel to be assembled. The axial adjustment device has an end portion designed to match the incident end of the light beam of the lens barrel to be assembled, and the end portion has an abutting surface having a shape and a size matched with the lens barrel to be assembled for being placed in the lens barrel to be assembled Interacting with the incident end of the beam to adjust the position of the barrel to be assembled.

An assembly method using the lens module assembly device includes the following steps: first, placing a lens barrel in a holding mechanism to determine that the outer side of the lens barrel to be assembled is enclosed The central axis of the cylinder. Next, the axial adjustment device is adjusted to abut the end of the axial adjustment device against the incident end of the beam to be assembled to finely adjust the position of the lens barrel to be assembled, so that the central axis of the inner side of the lens barrel is enclosed with the end portion The center axis coincides; again, the lens barrel to be assembled is fixed by the holding mechanism; finally, the moving suction mechanism loads the optical element group into the lens barrel.

Compared with the prior art, the lens module assembly device includes a shaft center adjusting device, and after the holding mechanism is centered on the outer side of the lens barrel, the shaft center adjusting device is used again to assist the lens barrel according to the inner side of the lens barrel. The alignment operation is performed to obtain the central axis of the cylinder in which the central axis of the lens barrel is enclosed by the inner side of the lens barrel, thereby avoiding the alignment error caused by the low processing precision of the lens barrel. When the above lens module assembly device is used for assembly operation, the central axis of the optical component incorporated in the lens barrel coincides with the central axis of the inner side surface of the lens barrel to ensure that the optical component is smoothly assembled into the lens barrel to avoid damage of the optical component or Drop, improve the lens module assembly yield and ensure image quality.

10,30‧‧‧Lens module assembly equipment

11,31‧‧‧ suction mechanism

12‧‧‧Axis adjustment device

121‧‧‧ Push top

122‧‧‧Axis adjustment rod

1221‧‧‧End

1222‧‧‧Abutment

13,32‧‧‧Retention institutions

131,321‧‧‧ positioning block

132,322‧‧‧Fixed Department

1321‧‧‧fixed surface

14,33‧‧‧ lifting device

141,331‧‧‧First rail

142,332‧‧‧Second rail

143,333‧‧‧Workbench

1431‧‧‧Working face

20,35‧‧‧Mirror tube

21‧‧‧Outside

22‧‧‧ inside

23‧‧‧Into the light hole

231‧‧‧Jumping

34‧‧‧Optical components

1 is a perspective view of a lens module assembly apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present technical solution.

FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view of a lens module assembly apparatus provided by an embodiment of the present technical solution.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a lens barrel to be assembled provided by an embodiment of the present technical solution.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the lens assembly of FIG. 3 installed in a lens module assembly apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technical solution.

FIG. 5A is a partial cross-sectional view showing the first case of FIG. 4 provided by the embodiment of the present technical solution.

FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view of the second case of FIG. 4 provided by the embodiment of the present technical solution.

6 is a perspective view of a lens module assembly apparatus of the prior art.

The lens module assembly device and the assembly method using the lens module assembly device according to the embodiments of the present technical solution will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , a lens module assembly device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a suction mechanism 11 , a shaft center adjustment device 12 , a holding mechanism 13 , and a lifting device 14 .

The lifting device 14 is configured to provide a suction mechanism 11 , a shaft center adjusting device 12 and a holding mechanism 13 , and includes a first rail 141 , a second rail 142 slidably coupled to the first rail 141 , and a table 143 . The table 143 has a work surface 1431. The second rail 142 is slidable along the length of the first rail 141. In this embodiment, the lifting device 14 includes a first rail 141 and a second rail 142 that is vertically slidably coupled to the first rail 141. The suction mechanism 11 and the axial adjustment device 12 are slidably disposed on the same second guide rail 142 for adjusting the position of the suction mechanism 11 and the axial adjustment device 12 according to the position of the lens barrel (not shown) to be assembled. The holding mechanism 13 and the first rail 141 are fixed to the working surface 1431 of the table 143. Of course, the lifting device 14 can also include a plurality of first guiding rails 141 and a plurality of second guiding rails 142, so that the suction mechanism 11 and the axial center adjusting device 12 can be respectively slidably disposed on different second guiding rails 142, and the first one is different. The guide rail 141 is disposed on the table 143 to facilitate the movement of the suction mechanism 11 and the axis adjustment device 12 to complete the assembly of the lens module. Secondly, the first rail 141 and the holding mechanism 13 can also be slidably fixed to the working surface 1431 to adjust the first rail 141 and the holding according to the assembly needs. Agency 13 location.

The suction mechanism 11 is slidably coupled to the second rail 142 of the lifting device 14 and is opposite to the working surface 1431 of the table 14. The suction mechanism 11 is slidable along the length of the second rail 142 and can be slid along the length of the first rail 141 by the second rail 142 for optical components such as lenses, spacers, and spacer rings. The optical component is taken out from the carrier tray (not shown) and assembled into the lens barrel to be assembled. The suction mechanism 11 in this embodiment is a vacuum adsorption device having an adsorption function, such as a vacuum suction head, for mounting the adsorption optical element into the lens barrel to be assembled. It can be understood that the suction mechanism 11 can also be other devices that can pick up and drop optical components, and is not limited to the embodiment.

The axial adjustment device 12 and the suction mechanism 11 are slidably coupled to the second rail 142 of the lifting device 14 and slidable along the length of the second rail 142, and can be driven along the first rail 141 by the second rail 142. Sliding in the length direction for centering the inner side of the barrel to be assembled for further fine adjustment of the position of the barrel to be assembled. In the embodiment, the axial adjustment device 12 includes a push top 121 and a shaft adjustment rod 122 disposed on the push top 121.

The push top 121 is slidably coupled to the second rail 142 of the support body 14, so that the push top 121 can slide along the second rail 142 to adjust the position of the pivot adjustment device 12 according to the position of the barrel to be assembled. In this embodiment, the length of the push top 121 is fixed, and can only slide along the length direction of the first rail 141 along the second rail 142, and is used to drive the shaft adjustment rod 122 to slide and push the tube to be assembled. The shaft centering device 12 is capable of centering the barrels to be assembled of different axial lengths. Of course, the push top 121 can also be a length adjustable design, so that the push top 121 can be freely telescoped, thereby driving the pivot adjustment rod 122 into and out of the lens barrel to be assembled, so as to realize the axial adjustment rod 122 to push and squeeze. Press the purpose of assembling the lens barrel. Push top 121 can be a pneumatic expansion device, liquid A compression and contraction device, an electric expansion device, a hydraulic expansion device, or other device that can realize expansion and contraction.

The shaft adjustment rod 122 is adjustably connected to the push top 121 at one end to adjust the design of the shaft adjustment rod 122, such as the length, the shape and the size, according to different barrels to be assembled. As shown in FIG. 2, the other end of the shaft adjustment rod 122 has an end portion 1221 designed to cooperate with the barrel to be assembled for interacting with the barrel to be assembled to adjust the position of the barrel to be assembled. The end portion 1221 has an abutment surface 1222 that matches the shape of the lens barrel to be assembled. The central axis of the end portion 1221 corresponds to the central axis of the extraction mechanism 11 for taking out the optical element, which can be realized by computer control. That is, when the suction mechanism 11 is moved over the lens barrel to be assembled, the central axis of the take-out optical element coincides with the central axis of the end portion 1221 of the axial adjustment device 12.

In this embodiment, one end of the shaft adjusting rod 122 is provided with a thread (not shown), and the pushing top 121 is provided with a corresponding screw hole (not shown) for the shaft adjusting rod 122 to be adjustably connected to the pushing top 121. . The design of the axial adjustment rod 122 is not limited to the embodiment, and may be a cylinder, a prism or the like, as long as it can be placed in the barrel to be assembled so that the end portion 1221 can cooperate with the incident end of the beam to be assembled.

The holding mechanism 13 is disposed on the working surface 1431 of the table 143 and located below the second rail 142 so that the suction mechanism 11 and the shaft adjusting device 12 disposed on the second rail 142 can be moved thereto to be assembled. The lens barrel is assembled for the optical component. The holding mechanism 13 includes a positioning block 131 and a fixing portion 132. The positioning block 131 and the fixing portion 132 cooperate with each other to fix the lens barrel to be assembled. The design of the holding mechanism 13 is not limited as long as the lens barrel to be assembled can be positioned and fixed. In this embodiment, the holding mechanism 13 includes two positioning blocks 131 and a fixing portion 132 between the two positioning blocks 131.

The two positioning blocks 131 are oppositely disposed for clamping the group to be placed on the fixing portion 132. The lens barrel is positioned to assemble the lens barrel to be assembled. The two positioning blocks 131 can be a movable positioning device, two movable positioning devices or other devices capable of centering the lens barrel. In this embodiment, one of the two positioning blocks 131 is movable, and the other positioning block 131 is fixed and non-movable. The central axis of the cylindrical cavity formed by closing the two positioning blocks 321 coincides with the central axis of the end portion 1221 of the alignment centering device 12 when centering the alignment element, and also the central axis of the optical component is taken out by the suction mechanism 11 during assembly. The phases are coincident, thereby ensuring the alignment of the lens barrel to be assembled with the central axis of the optical element.

The fixing portion 132 is fixed to the non-movable positioning block 131 and has a fixing surface 1321 for carrying and fixing the lens barrel to be assembled. In this embodiment, the fixing portion 132 is a vacuum suction device, that is, the lens barrel to be assembled is fixed to the fixing surface 1321 by a vacuum nozzle. Of course, the fixing of the lens barrel to be assembled may also be performed by clamping or other methods, and is not limited to the fixing portion 132 used in the embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the lens module assembly device of FIG. 3 is assembled by using the lens module assembly device provided in the embodiment of the present technical solution as an example, and the method for using the lens module assembly device is described in detail, which includes The following steps: As shown in FIG. 3, the lens barrel 20 is a cylindrical structure having an outer side surface 21 and an inner side surface 22 opposite to the outer side surface 21 for accommodating the optical element. The outer side surface 21 is enclosed by a cylinder having a diameter D21 and the central axis is AA'. The central axis of the cylinder enclosed by the inner side surface 22 is BB'. Due to the accuracy limitations of the processing barrel 20, AA' and BB' may not coincide. The incident end of the beam of the lens barrel 20 has an entrance aperture 23, and a projection having a land 231 is formed at the incident end of the beam. The aperture of the light entrance hole 23 near the inner end of the lens barrel 20 is D1, and the aperture near the outer end of the lens barrel 20 is D2, wherein D1 is larger than D2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft adjustment lever 122 is used for the boss of the light entrance hole 23 of the lens barrel 20. The face 231 interacts to adjust the position of the lens barrel 20 so that the abutment surface 1222 of the axis adjustment rod 122 matches the boss surface 231 of the lens barrel 20.

First, the lens barrel 20 is placed on the fixing surface 1321 of the holding mechanism 13, and the two positioning blocks 131 are closed, so that the positioning block 131 is in contact with the outer side surface 21 of the lens barrel 20, and the cylindrical space formed by closing the two positioning blocks 321 is formed. The central axis of the cavity coincides with the central axis of the cylinder enclosed by the outer surface of the lens barrel, and the central axis AA' of the lens barrel is obtained for positioning. The central axis AA' of the cylinder surrounded by the outer side 21 is determined.

Next, the corresponding axis adjustment lever 122 is selected and mounted according to the lens barrel 20. The central axis of the end portion 1221 of the axial adjustment rod 122 coincides with the central axis of the cylindrical cavity formed by closing the two positioning blocks 321, so that the central axis of the end portion 1221 coincides with the central axis AA' of the lens barrel. Moving the second guide rail 142 along the first guide rail 141, and adjusting the axial center adjusting device 12 to approach the lens barrel 20, while loosely closing the two positioning blocks 131, so that there is a gap between the lens barrel 20 and the two positioning blocks 131 for The lens barrel 20 is nudged. The axial adjustment rod 122 is placed in the lens barrel 20, and the abutting surface 1222 of the end portion 1221 abuts against the convex surface 231 of the lens barrel 20 to adjust the central axis BB' and the axis of the inner side surface 22 of the lens barrel 20. The central axes of the ends 1221 of the device 12 coincide. It can be understood that if the push top 121 is of an adjustable design, the shaft adjustment rod 122 can also be placed in the lens barrel 20 by extending the push top 121.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, since there is a gap between the lens barrel 20 and the two positioning blocks 131, there are two cases in the positional relationship between the lens barrel 20 and the two positioning blocks 131. If the central axis of the end portion 1221 of the axial adjustment device 12 is at AA, the first case (see Fig. 5A) is that the central axis BB' of the inner side 22 of the lens barrel 20 is located to the right of AA'. In contrast, the second case (see Fig. 5B) is that the central axis BB' of the inner side 22 of the lens barrel 20 is located to the left of AA'. For both cases, the lens barrel 20 is subjected to axial adjustment The entire device 12 is applied to a force F1 perpendicular to the convex surface 231, and the holding mechanism 13 is applied to a force F2 perpendicular to the fixed surface 1321. Therefore, under the action of the resultant force of F1 and F2, the lens barrel 20 is moved from the central axis BB' position toward the central axis AA' in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the end portion 1221, so that the central axis of the inner side 22 of the lens barrel 20 BB' coincides with the central axis of the end portion 1221.

Further, the lens barrel 20 that has been centered according to the inner side surface 22 of the lens barrel 20 is fixed to the fixing surface 1321 by the vacuum suction device built in the fixing portion 132, and the lens barrel 20 is not movable at this time.

Finally, the suction mechanism 11 is moved above the lens barrel 20 such that the central axis of the optical element coincides with the central axis of the cylindrical cavity formed by closing the two positioning blocks 321, that is, the central axis of the optical element and the inner side 22 of the lens barrel 20 The central axis BB' coincides, and the optical component group is sequentially loaded into the lens barrel 20 which has been centered, thereby completing the assembly of the lens module.

In summary, the present invention has indeed met the requirements of the invention patent, and has filed a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is not possible to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Equivalent modifications or variations made by persons skilled in the art in light of the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

10‧‧‧Lens module assembly equipment

11‧‧‧ suction mechanism

12‧‧‧Axis adjustment device

121‧‧‧ Push top

122‧‧‧Axis adjustment rod

1221‧‧‧End

13‧‧‧ Holding institutions

131‧‧‧ Positioning block

132‧‧‧ Fixed Department

1321‧‧‧fixed surface

14‧‧‧ Lifting device

141‧‧‧First rail

142‧‧‧Second rail

143‧‧‧Workbench

1431‧‧‧Working face

Claims (17)

A lens module assembly device includes a suction mechanism, a holding mechanism and a lifting device, wherein the lifting device is configured to set a suction mechanism and a holding mechanism; the suction mechanism is configured to take out the optical component to be assembled and assemble into the lens barrel; the holding mechanism For fixing and fixing a lens barrel to be assembled; the improvement is that the lens module assembling device further comprises a shaft center adjusting device, wherein the shaft center adjusting device is disposed on the lifting device, the shaft center adjusting device has an end portion, the end portion having An abutting surface having a shape and a size matching the incident end of the beam of the lens to be assembled, the end being adapted to be placed in the barrel to be assembled to interact with the incident end of the beam to adjust the position of the barrel to be assembled. The lens module assembly device of claim 1, wherein the lifting device comprises a first rail, a second rail vertically slidably coupled to the first rail, and a table on which the first rail is disposed; the suction mechanism and The shaft center adjusting device is slidably coupled to the second rail in parallel to slide along the longitudinal direction of the second rail, and is slid along the length of the first rail by the second rail. The lens module assembly device of claim 2, wherein the axial adjustment device comprises a push top and an axial adjustment rod connected to the push top, the push top is connected to the second guide rail; the axial adjustment The rod has the end. The lens module assembly device of claim 3, wherein the push top is of a length adjustable design. The lens module assembly device according to claim 3, wherein the push top is a pneumatic expansion device, a hydraulic expansion device, an electric expansion device or a hydraulic expansion device. The lens module assembly device of claim 3, wherein the shaft adjustment rod is provided with a thread at one end, and the push top is provided with a corresponding screw hole for the shaft adjustment rod to be adjustably connected to the push top . The lens module assembly device of claim 6, wherein the shaft adjustment rod is Cylindrical or prismatic shape. The lens module assembly device of claim 1, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a positioning block and a fixing portion; the positioning block and the fixing portion cooperate with each other to fix the lens barrel to be assembled. The lens module assembly device of claim 8, wherein the fixing portion is a vacuum adsorption device. An assembly method for a lens module assembly apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: placing a lens barrel to be assembled on a holding mechanism, and determining a cylindrical body surrounded by a side surface of the lens barrel to be assembled; a central axis; the adjustment axis adjustment device abuts the end of the axial adjustment device against the beam incident end of the lens barrel to be assembled, to finely adjust the position of the lens barrel to be assembled, and the central axis of the inner side of the lens barrel is enclosed with the end The central axis of the part is coincident; the lens barrel to be assembled is fixed by the holding mechanism; and the moving suction mechanism is used to assemble the optical element group into the lens barrel. The method of assembling a lens module assembly device according to claim 10, wherein the holding mechanism comprises a positioning block and a fixing portion; and the positioning block and the fixing portion cooperate with each other to fix the lens barrel to be assembled. The method of assembling a lens module assembly device according to claim 11, wherein the fixing portion is a vacuum adsorption device. The method of assembling a lens module assembly device according to claim 10, wherein the axis adjustment device comprises a push top and an axial adjustment rod connected to the push top; the axial adjustment rod has the end. The assembly method of the lens module assembly device according to claim 13, wherein the push top is a length adjustable design. The method of assembling a lens module assembly device according to claim 13, wherein the push top is a pneumatic expansion device, a hydraulic expansion device, an electric expansion device or a hydraulic expansion device. The method for assembling a lens module assembly device according to claim 13, wherein The shaft adjustment rod is provided with a thread at one end, and the push top is provided with a corresponding screw hole for the shaft adjustment rod to be adjustably connected to the push top. The method of assembling a lens module assembly device according to claim 16, wherein the shaft adjustment rod has a cylindrical shape or a prism shape.