TWI491945B - Method of fabricating a lens module - Google Patents

Description

Lens module manufacturing method

The present invention relates to a method of fabricating an optical module, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a lens module.

With the trend of miniaturization and low price of electronic product modules, the emergence of wafer level module (WLM) technology has attracted much attention. The technology of wafer-level modules is mainly to make electronic products use wafer-level manufacturing technology, and to miniaturize and reduce the cost of electronic products. For example, applying the wafer level module technology to the lens module can make the lens module much smaller than the traditional lens module, and thus can be easily applied to, for example, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, or a mobile phone. On the camera module of the electronic device.

In general, a common wafer level lens module is composed of a lens layer having at least one lens and a first gap layer and a second gap layer respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the lens layer. The first gap layer has at least one first through hole, the second gap layer has at least one second through hole, and the first through hole and the second through hole expose the lens of the lens layer. The first spacer layer is used to maintain the lens at an appropriate spacing from the image sensing elements to be subsequently attached. The second spacer layer is provided with a protective lens top so that the top of the lens is not easily damaged during the fabrication of the wafer level lens module. However, the second spacer layer increases the thickness of the wafer level lens module, which makes the image capturing device using the wafer level lens module less susceptible to thinning.

The invention provides a method for manufacturing a lens module, which can produce a lens module with a thin overall thickness.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of fabricating a lens module that includes the following steps. A lens layer is provided, wherein the lens layer comprises a light transmissive substrate and a plurality of lenses disposed on the light transmissive substrate. A first spacer layer is provided, wherein the first spacer layer has a plurality of first through holes and an adhesive sublayer penetrated by the first through holes. A second spacer layer is provided, wherein the second spacer layer has a plurality of second through holes. Stacking a first spacer layer, a lens layer and a second spacer layer, wherein the lens layer is located between the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer, the first through hole and the second through hole exposing the lens, and the adhesive sublayer and the lens layer contact. The relative positions of the first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer are fixed by the fixing member. The first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer are laminated to bond the adhesive sublayer to the lens layer. The fixture and the second spacer layer are removed to form a lens module.

In an embodiment of the invention, the method for fabricating the lens module further includes the following steps. A carrier tape is provided, wherein the carrier tape has a layer of viscous material. The first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer fixed by the fixing member are disposed on the carrier tape, wherein the first spacer layer is in contact with the adhesive material layer of the carrier tape. The carrier tape, the first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer are laminated to bond the adhesive material layer of the carrier tape to the first spacer layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the method for fabricating the lens module further includes the following steps. Before the carrier tape, the first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer are pressed, a jig is provided, and the jig is opened to extend the carrier tape.

In an embodiment of the invention, the method for fabricating the lens module further includes the following steps. Cutting the lens modules to form separate from each other A plurality of lens structures, wherein each lens structure comprises at least one lens.

In an embodiment of the invention, the light transmissive substrate has opposing first and second surfaces. Each lens includes a corresponding first sub-lens and a second sub-lens. The first sub-lens is disposed on the first surface, and the second sub-lens is disposed on the second surface.

In an embodiment of the invention, after stacking the first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer, the first sub-lens is located in the first through hole, and the second sub-lens is located in the second through hole.

In an embodiment of the invention, after stacking the first spacer layer, the lens layer, and the second spacer layer, the second spacer layer is in contact with the lens layer.

In an embodiment of the invention, the fixing member is an adhesive tape.

In the manufacturing method of the lens module according to the embodiment of the present invention, the relative position of the first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer may be temporarily fixed by using the fixing member, and the first spacer layer and the second spacer may be used. The layer is less susceptible to damage to the lens layer during the pressing process. In addition, the second spacer layer functions as a protective lens layer during the pressing process, so that the lens layer is not easily damaged during the pressing process.

More importantly, in the manufacturing method of the lens module according to the embodiment of the present invention, the position of the second spacer layer is temporarily fixed by the fixing member, so that when the lens module is completed, the manufacturer can easily The two spacer layers are removed from the lens layer, and the overall thickness of the lens module is significantly reduced. In this way, the image capturing device fabricated by using the partial lens module can have the advantage of being easy to be thinned.

In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more obvious, the following The embodiments are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a flow chart of a method of fabricating a lens module according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the manufacturing method of the lens module of this embodiment includes the following steps. A lens layer is provided, wherein the lens layer includes a light transmissive substrate and a plurality of lenses disposed on the light transmissive substrate (step 100). A first spacer layer is provided, wherein the first spacer layer has a plurality of first vias and an adhesive sublayer that is penetrated by the first vias (step 200). A second spacer layer is provided, wherein the second spacer layer has a plurality of second vias (step 300). Stacking a first spacer layer, a lens layer, and a second spacer layer, wherein the lens layer is located between the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer, the first through hole and the second through hole exposing the lens, and the first spacer layer is bonded The sublayer is in contact with the lens layer (step 400). The relative position between the first spacer layer, the lens layer, and the second spacer layer is fixed by at least one fixing member (step 500). The first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer are laminated to bond the adhesive sub-layer of the first spacer layer to the lens layer (step 600). The fixture and the second spacer layer are removed to form a lens module (step 700). It should be noted that the order of the foregoing steps S100, S200, and S300 can be arbitrarily changed. For example, step S200 may be performed first, and then step S100 and step S300 are performed. Of course, step S300 may be performed first, and then step S100 and step S200 are performed.

Hereinafter, a method of fabricating a lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2H and FIGS. 3A to 3H.

2A to 2H are schematic top views of a method of fabricating a lens module according to an embodiment of the invention. 3A to 3H are lenses of an embodiment of the present invention A schematic cross-sectional view of the module fabrication method. In particular, Figures 3A through 3H are cross-sectional views corresponding to line segments AA' in Figures 2A through 2H. Referring first to FIGS. 2A and 3A, first, a lens layer 100 is provided. The lens layer 100 includes a light transmissive substrate 110 and a plurality of lenses 120 disposed on the light transmissive substrate 110. In detail, as shown in FIG. 3A, in the present embodiment, the light transmissive substrate 110 has opposing first and second surfaces 110a, 110b. Each lens 120 includes a corresponding first sub-lens 122 and second sub-lens 124. The optical axis of the first sub-lens 122 is alignable with the optical axis of the second sub-lens 124. The first sub-lens 122 is disposed on the first surface 110a, and the second sub-lens 124 is disposed on the second surface 110b. In the present embodiment, the light-transmitting substrate 110 is, for example, a glass substrate, and the lens 120 is, for example, a convex lens in which the first sub-lens 122 and the second sub-lens 124 are combined. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the lens 120 may also be a concave lens. The form of the lens 120 depends on the needs and design of the user. In addition, the lens module of the present embodiment is fabricated by a wafer level manufacturing technique, and the transparent substrate 110 and the lens 120 can be formed integrally or separately.

Referring to FIG. 2B and FIG. 3B, next, a first spacer layer 200 is provided. The first spacer layer 200 has a plurality of first through holes H1 and an adhesive sub-layer 210 penetrated by the first through holes H1. In this embodiment, the size of the first through hole H1 may be larger than the size of the lens 120, and the number of the first through holes H1 may correspond to the number of the lenses 120. In this way, when the first spacer layer 200 is bonded to the lens layer 100 by the adhesive sub-layer 210, the first through hole H1 of the first spacer layer 200 can surround the periphery of the lens 120 (for example, the first sub-lens 122). It is not easy to crush the lens 120. In this embodiment, the first spacer layer 200 The material can be made of light or not easy to transmit light. In addition, the first spacer layer 200 has a thickness G1 to maintain an appropriate distance between the image sensing component (not shown) and the lens 120, which is formed by the lens module of the embodiment. The image capture module has excellent optical performance.

Referring to FIG. 2C and FIG. 3C, next, a second spacer layer 300 is provided. The second spacer layer 300 has a plurality of second through holes H2. Similarly, the size of the second through hole H2 may be larger than the size of the lens 120, and the number of the second through holes H2 may correspond to the number of the lenses 120. In this way, when the second spacer layer 300 is stacked on the lens layer 100, the second through hole H2 of the second spacer layer 300 can surround the periphery of the lens 120 (for example, the second sub-lens 124), and is not easy to crush the lens. 120. In this embodiment, the material of the second spacer layer 300 may also be a material that is transparent or not easily transparent. Further, the second spacer layer 300 has a thickness G2, wherein the thickness G2 may be greater than the maximum height H of the second sub-lens 124 (shown in FIG. 3A). In this way, when the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100 and the second spacer layer 300 are pressed together, the second spacer layer 300 can protect the lens 120 (for example, the second sub-lens 124), and the lens 120 is pressed. The process is not easily damaged.

Referring to FIG. 2D and FIG. 3D, next, the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300 are stacked. After the lens layer 100 and the first spacer layer 200 and the second spacer layer 300 are stacked, the lens layer 100 is located between the first spacer layer 200 and the second spacer layer 300. The adhesive sub-layer 210 of the first spacer layer 200 is in contact with the lens layer 100. The first constant hole H1 and the second through hole H2 expose the lens 120. Further, the first sub-lens 122 is located in the first through hole H1, and the second sub-lens 124 is located in the second through hole H2. in. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the second spacer layer 300 is in contact with the lens layer 100. In other words, there is no adhesive layer between the second spacer layer 300 and the lens layer 100. The second spacer layer 300 of the present embodiment is supported on the lens layer 100 without being adhered to the lens layer 100.

Referring to FIG. 2E and FIG. 3E, the relative position between the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300 is fixed by at least one fixing member 400. In other words, the relative positions of the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300 may be temporarily fixed by the fixing member 400, so that the lens layer 100 is not easily damaged by the first spacer layer 200 in the subsequent pressing process. The position of the two spacer layers 300 is offset to cause damage to the lens 120. In the present embodiment, when the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300 are temporarily fixed by the fixing member 400, the outer edges of the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300 may be mutually Cut together. The first through hole H1 and the second through hole H2 may be aligned with each other. The fixing member 400 of the embodiment is, for example, an adhesive tape, but the invention is not limited thereto. The fixing member 400 may be any component that temporarily fixes the relative positions of the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100 and the second spacer layer 300. . Further, the present invention is not limited to the number of the fixing members 400 used in this step. The number and type of fasteners 400 used can be determined by the actual process requirements.

2E and FIG. 3E, next, at a relative position where the fixing member 400 temporarily fixes the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300, the first spacer layer 200 and the lens layer 100 are pressed together. The second spacer layer 300 is such that the adhesive sub-layer 210 of the first spacer layer 200 is in close contact with the lens layer 100. In this embodiment, the adhesive sub-layer 210 is, for example, a thermosetting adhesive layer. In the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer While the pressure is 300, the adhesive layer 210 may be heated and pressurized so that the first spacer layer 200 can be adhered to the lens layer 100 through the adhesive sub-layer 210. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the adhesive sub-layer 210 may also be a photo-curable adhesive layer or other suitable type of adhesive layer.

It is worth mentioning that the second spacer layer 300 can protect the lens layer 100 (ie, the second sub-lens 124) during the pressing process described in the above paragraph, and the first spacer layer 200 can protect the lens layer 100 (and the first The sub-lens 122) makes the lens layer 100 less susceptible to damage. In addition, in the embodiment, since the second spacer layer 300 is supported on the lens layer 100 without being adhered to the lens layer 100, the second spacer layer 300 can be easily self-contained after all the pressing processes are completed. The lens layer 100 is removed, thereby significantly reducing the overall thickness of the lens module.

Referring to FIG. 2F and FIG. 3F, next, a tape 500 is provided. Carrier tape 500 can have a layer of viscous material 510. Then, the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300 fixed by the fixing member 400 are disposed on the carrier tape 500, wherein the first spacer layer 200 is in contact with the adhesive material layer 510 of the carrier tape 500. Next, the carrier tape 500, the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100 and the second spacer layer 300 are laminated to bond the adhesive material layer 510 of the carrier tape 500 with the first spacer layer 200. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the adhesive material layer 510 may be a thermosetting adhesive layer. While the carrier tape 500, the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100 and the second spacer layer 300 are laminated, the adhesive layer 510 may be warmed and pressurized to make the carrier tape 500 permeable to the adhesive material layer 510. Good adhesion to the first spacer layer 200. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the adhesive material layer 510 may also be a photocurable adhesive layer or other suitable type of adhesive layer.

In addition, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2F and FIG. 3F, in press-fit The jig 600 may be provided before the carrier tape 500, the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300. The jig 600 is used to extend the carrier tape 500. After the jig 600 is opened, the first spacer layer 200, the lens layer 100, and the second spacer layer 300, which are temporarily fixed by the fixing member 400, are disposed on the carrier tape 500 and then pressed to perform the bonding operation. The 500 is well attached to the first spacer layer 200 in the press-bonding process. In the present embodiment, the jig 600 is, for example, a rigid member having a through hole, and the material thereof is, for example, a stainless steel. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the form and material type of the jig 600 may be determined according to actual process requirements.

Referring to FIG. 2G and FIG. 3G , the fixing member 400 and the second spacer layer 300 are removed to form the lens module 1000 . In the present embodiment, since the second spacer layer 300 is supported on the lens layer 100 without being adhered to the lens layer 100, the second spacer layer 300 can be easily removed from the lens layer 100. The overall thickness of the lens module 1000 not including the second spacer layer 300 is thin, so that the image capturing device formed by using the partial lens module 1000 has the advantage of being easy to be thinned. The lens module 1000 of the present embodiment includes a carrier tape 500, a first gap layer 200, and a lens layer 100. The carrier tape 500 has a layer 510 of viscous material. The first gap layer 200 has an adhesive sub-layer 210. The body 220 of the first gap layer 200 is located between the adhesive sub-layer 210 and the viscous material layer 510. The first gap layer 200 is attached to the first surface 110a of the transparent substrate 110. The first sub-lens 122 is located in the first through hole H1 of the first gap layer 200. The second sub-lens 124 is disposed on the second surface 110b of the transparent substrate 110.

Referring to FIG. 2H and FIG. 3H, after the lens module 1000 is completed, the lens module 1000 can be cut to form the lens module 1000. This separate multiple lens structure. Figure 4 shows a number of lens structures cut from the lens module of Figure 3H. Each lens structure 1000A includes at least one lens 120. The invention does not limit the number of lenses 120 included in each lens structure 1000A. The number of lenses 120 included in each lens structure 1000A may depend on the needs of the back end user.

In the manufacturing method of the lens module according to the embodiment of the present invention, the relative position of the first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer can be temporarily fixed by using the fixing member, so that the first spacer layer and the first spacer layer The two spacer layers are less likely to cause damage to the lens layer during the pressing process. In addition, the second spacer layer functions as a protective lens layer during the pressing process, so that the lens layer is not easily damaged during the pressing process.

More importantly, in the manufacturing method of the lens module according to the embodiment of the present invention, the position of the second spacer layer is temporarily fixed by the fixing member, so that when the lens module is completed, the manufacturer can easily The two spacer layers are removed from the lens layer, and the overall thickness of the lens module is significantly reduced. In this way, the image capturing device fabricated by using the partial lens module can have the advantage of being easy to be thinned.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some modifications and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

100‧‧‧ lens layer

110‧‧‧Transparent substrate

110a‧‧‧ first surface

110b‧‧‧ second surface

120‧‧‧ lens

122‧‧‧First sub-lens

124‧‧‧Second sub-lens

200‧‧‧ first spacer

210‧‧‧Adhesive sublayer

220‧‧‧ Subject

300‧‧‧Second spacer

400‧‧‧Fixed parts

500‧‧‧ Carrying belt

510‧‧‧Adhesive material layer

600‧‧‧ fixture

1000‧‧‧ lens module

1000A‧‧‧ lens structure

H‧‧‧Maximum height of the second sub-lens

H1‧‧‧ first through hole

H2‧‧‧Second hole

G1, G2‧‧‧ thickness

S100~S700‧‧‧Steps

1 is a flow chart of a method of fabricating a lens module according to an embodiment of the invention.

2A to 2H are schematic top views of a method of fabricating a lens module according to an embodiment of the invention.

3A to 3H are schematic cross-sectional views showing a method of fabricating a lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a number of lens structures cut from the lens module of Figure 3H.

S100~S700‧‧‧Steps

Claims (6)

A lens module is provided, comprising: providing a lens layer, the lens layer comprising a transparent substrate and a plurality of lenses disposed on the transparent substrate; providing a first spacer layer, the first spacer layer having a plurality of a first through hole and an adhesive sublayer penetrated by the first through holes; providing a second spacer layer having a plurality of second through holes; stacking the first spacer layer, the lens layer And the second spacer layer, wherein the lens layer is located between the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer, and the first through holes and the second through holes expose the lenses, and the first interval The adhesive sublayer of the layer is in contact with the lens layer; the relative position between the first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer is fixed by at least one fixing member; a carrier tape is provided, and the carrier tape has a viscosity The first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer are fixed on the carrier tape, wherein the first spacer layer is in contact with the adhesive material layer of the carrier tape Providing a fixture that supports the Carrying the carrier tape, the first spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer, so that the adhesive material layer of the carrier tape is bonded to the first spacer layer, and the first layer is pressed a spacer layer, the lens layer and the second spacer layer such that the adhesive sub-layer of the first spacer layer is in close contact with the lens layer; and removing the fixing member and the second spacer layer to form a lens mold group. The method of fabricating the lens module of claim 1, further comprising: cutting the lens module to form a plurality of lens structures separated from each other, each lens structure comprising at least one lens. The method of manufacturing the lens module of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate has a first surface and a second surface, each of the lenses comprising a corresponding first sub-lens and a a second sub-lens, the first sub-lens is disposed on the first surface, and the second sub-lens is disposed on the second surface. The method of manufacturing the lens module of claim 3, wherein after the first spacer layer, the lens layer, and the second spacer layer are stacked, the first sub-lenses are located in the first through holes And the second sub-lenses are located in the second through holes. The method of fabricating the lens module of claim 1, wherein the second spacer layer is in contact with the lens layer after the first spacer layer, the lens layer, and the second spacer layer are stacked. The method for manufacturing a lens module according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is a tape.