Optical module comprising an image sensor and a lens unit that is supported on the sensitive surface of the image sensor

{
  "publication_number": "US2006203875A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Optical module comprising an image sensor and a lens unit that is supported on the sensitive surface of the image sensor",
  "abstract": "An optical module has a lens holder into which a lens array formed of three lenses and a diaphragm, for example, is inserted. The lenses, and optionally the diaphragm, are clearly oriented by way of the geometrical shape thereof such that no further optical adjustment is required while the lens array is disposed in a supported manner directly on the sensitive surface of the semiconductor element. A camera module can be designed which dispenses with the need to mechanically adjust the focus in any manner by supporting especially the lens holder or the lens or the peripheral area thereof directly on the chip surface. The optical module is particularly suitable for applications in the interior or exterior zone of a motor vehicle.",
  "claims": [
    "13. An optical module, comprising: a circuit carrier; a semiconductor element disposed on said circuit carrier, said semiconductor element having an optically sensitive surface; and a lens unit for projecting electromagnetic radiation onto said semiconductor element; said lens unit being supported directly on said sensitive surface of said semiconductor element.",
    "14. The optical module according to claim 13, wherein said lens unit includes a lens holder supported on said sensitive surface of said semiconductor element.",
    "15. The optical module according to claim 13, which further comprises a frame-shaped area formed on said lens holder, wherein said semiconductor element rests on said frame-shaped area with said optically sensitive surface.",
    "16. The optical module according to claim 13, which further comprises a frame-type support formed on said lens holder, wherein said semiconductor element rests on said support with said optically sensitive surface.",
    "17. The optical module according to claim 13, wherein said lens unit includes a support lens disposed on said sensitive surface of said semiconductor element.",
    "18. The optical module according to claim 17, wherein said support lens is formed with a flat surface resting on said sensitive surface of said semiconductor element.",
    "19. The optical module according to claim 18, which comprises an amount of optical gel between the flat surface of said support lens and said sensitive surface of said semiconductor element.",
    "20. The optical module according to claim 17, which further comprises a frame-type support formed on said support lens at least in sections thereof, and wherein said sensitive area of said semiconductor element rests on said support.",
    "21. The optical module according to claim 13, wherein: said lens unit is disposed on one side of said circuit carrier and said semiconductor element is disposed on an opposite side thereof; and said circuit carrier is formed with an opening allowing electromagnetic radiation to be projected by a lens assembly of said lens unit onto said semiconductor element.",
    "22. The optical module according to claim 20, wherein said frame-type support of said support lens is: at least as large as said sensitive surface of said semiconductor element; and slightly smaller than an opening formed in said circuit carrier through which electromagnetic radiation is projected onto said semiconductor element.",
    "23. The optical module according to claim 15, wherein said frame-shaped area of said lens holder is: at least as large as said sensitive surface of said semiconductor element; and slightly smaller than an opening formed in said circuit carrier through which electromagnetic radiation is projected onto said semiconductor element.",
    "24. The optical module according to claim 16, wherein: said semiconductor element is flip-chip mounted on said circuit carrier; said lens holder or a support lens is formed with a closed frame formed to function as a flow barrier against an underfill material introduced between said semiconductor element and said circuit carrier during a mounting operation of said semiconductor element on said circuit carrier.",
    "25. The optical module according to claim 16, wherein said lens unit or a lens holder are connected to said circuit carrier away from an opening formed in said circuit carrier.",
    "26. The optical module according to claim 25, wherein said lens unit or said lens holder are connected to said circuit carrier by gluing, laser-welding, and/or screwing.",
    "27. An optical system, comprising an optical module according to claim 13."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to an optical module with a circuit carrier, a semiconductor element arranged on the circuit carrier and a lens unit for projecting electromagnetic radiation onto the semiconductor element.\n\nThe invention further relates to an optical system with an optical module embodied in this way.\n\nGeneric optical modules and systems are used especially in automotive technology.\n\nIn such cases operation can be with electromagnetic radiation from different frequency ranges, in which case cumulatively to the visible light, with which applications in the exterior area of a motor vehicle typically operate, such as LDW (Lane Departure Warning), BSD (Blind Spot Detection), or (Rear View Cameras), the infrared light which is invisible to the human eye is preferred for applications in the interior of the motor vehicle such as OOP (Out of Position Detection) or for additional outside illumination of a night vision system.\n\nHigh demands are imposed on applications in the interior and exterior area of a vehicle as a result of external influences such as temperature, moisture, contamination and vibration. The typical lifetime for systems in the motor vehicle is around 10 to 15 years, with only extremely low failure rates being tolerated, so that the components of an optical system of the type mentioned at the start may only exhibit very slow ageing.\n\nSince in many cases the space for installing optical modules or optical systems is very restricted, additional difficulties arise in implementing the optical systems.",
  "cpc": [
    "H10F 77/50",
    "G02B 7/021",
    "H04N 23/54",
    "H04N 23/55",
    "H04N 23/57",
    "H10F 39/804",
    "H10F 77/407"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G02B 7/02",
    "H01L 31/0203",
    "H01L 31/0232",
    "H01S 3/08",
    "H04N 25/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Siemens AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Henryk Frenzel",
    "Harald Schmidt",
    "Stephan Voltz"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2004-09-07",
  "publication_date": "2006-09-14",
  "priority_date": "2003-09-26",
  "application_number": "US-57354404-A",
  "family_id": "34384299",
  "cited_by_count": 11,
  "citations": [
    "US20040095502A1",
    "US6734419B1",
    "US6924514B2"
  ]
}