METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CAMERA MODULE, CAMERA MODULE

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a camera module. An objective is aligned in relation to an image sensor and is subsequently fixated in terms of position by connecting to a support receiving the image sensor or to a housing surrounding the image sensor. The objective is connected to the support or to the housing via at least two cylindrical pins, the cylindrical pins being in each case placed laterally against the objective and being welded on the one hand to the objective, and on the other hand to the support or the housing. A camera module is also described.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A method for manufacturing a camera module, comprising: aligning an objective in relation to an image sensor; and after the aligning, fixing the objective in terms of position by connecting the objective to a support receiving the image sensor or to a housing surrounding the image sensor, wherein the objective is connected indirectly to the support or to the housing via at least two cylindrical pins, each of the cylindrical pins being placed laterally against the objective and being welded on the one hand to the objective, and on the other hand to the support or the housing.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the cylindrical pins are respectively placed longitudinally on a flat contact surface of the support or of the housing and are welded at least in punctiform fashion in an area of a linear contact area to the support or to the housing.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the cylindrical pins are placed in each case on a flat contact surface of the objective and welded to the objective at least in punctiform fashion in an area of a linear contact area.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the flat contact surface is a flattened portion on the side of the outer circumference.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the cylindrical pins are pressed in a direction of contact surfaces of the objective and the support or housing during welding in each case with the aid of a holding force applied from outside.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein a sealing element is arranged between the objective and the support or between the objective and the housing.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the sealing element is a sealing ring.

18. A camera module, comprising: an objective; and an image sensor arranged on a support and surrounded by a housing, wherein the objective is connected indirectly, to the support or to the housing, via at least two cylindrical pins, each of the cylindrical pins being welded on the one hand to the objective, and on the other hand to the support or to the housing.

19. The camera module as recited in claim 18, wherein each of the cylindrical pins in rests on a flat contact surface of the support or of the housing and are welded to the support or to the housing at least in punctiform fashion in an area of a linear contact area.

20. The camera module as recited in claim 18, wherein each of the cylindrical pins rest in each case on a flat contact surface of the objective and welded to the objective at least in punctiform fashion in an area of a linear contact area.

21. The camera module as recited in claim 20, where the flat contact surface is a flattened portion on a side of an outer circumference of the objective,

22. The camera module as recited in claim 18, wherein a sealing element is arranged between the objective and the support, or between the objective and the housing.

23. The camera module as recited in claim 22, wherein the sealing element is a sealing ring.

24. The camera module as recited in claim 18, wherein the camera module is manufactured by: aligning the objective in relation to the image sensor; and after the aligning, fixing the objective in terms of position by connecting the objective to a support receiving the image sensor or to a housing surrounding the image sensor, wherein the objective is connected indirectly to the support or to the housing via the at least two cylindrical pins, each of the cylindrical pins being placed laterally against the objective and being welded on the one hand to the objective, and on the other hand to the support or the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a first example camera module prior to the final positional fixation of the objective, in accordance with the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of the camera module of FIG. 1 in the connection area of the objective to the housing.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows a further perspective representation of the camera module of FIG. 1 in the connection area of the objective to the housing.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows a schematic longitudinal section through the camera module of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged detail of the longitudinal section of FIG. 4 in the connection area of the objective to the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The camera module 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 comprises an objective 2 and a housing 5, an image sensor 3 being received in the housing 5 (see FIG. 4). The image sensor 3 is arranged on a support 4, for example on a circuit board. The support 4 is fastened to the housing 5 (not shown in FIG. 4), so that the position of the image sensor 3 in relation to the housing 5 is defined.

[0032] As can be furthermore gathered from FIG. 4, in the area of the image sensor 3, housing 5 has an opening 12 into which an end section of objective 2 engages, forming a radial gap 13. In the radial gap 13, an elastically deformable sealing element 9 is inserted with a radial prestress so that the housing 5 is sealed toward the outside and protected against the ingress of dirt particles. Between a circumferential flange 14 of the objective 2 and the housing 5, an axial gap 15 is furthermore formed, so that the objective 2 has no direct contact to the housing 5. This creates degrees of freedom that enable a multi-axis alignment of the objective 2 in relation to the image sensor 3. So that the objective 2 can be held in a stable focal position after the alignment, the objective 2 is then fixated in terms of position in relation to the housing 5. The positional fixation is effected indirectly via cylindrical pins 6 that bridge the axial gap 15 and on the one hand are welded to the objective 2, on the other hand to the housing 5.

[0033] It can be gathered from FIG. 1 that the objective 2 exhibits flattened portions on the side of the outer circumference in the area of its flange 14 for contacting the cylindrical pins 6. The flattened portions form flat contact surfaces 8 by means of which a linear contact to the abutting cylindrical pins can be produced. A weld seam 10 can be positioned in this area (see FIG. 2). A corresponding weld seam 10 can be arranged in the area of a likewise linear contact area between the cylindrical pins 6 and a flat contact surface 7 of the housing 5 (see FIG. 3). The contact surface 7 is formed on a projection 11 of the housing 5 that also forms the opening 12.

[0034] When the weld seams 10 are placed, the cylindrical pins 6 are pressed in the direction of the contact surfaces 7, 8 with the aid of a holding force F.sub.H applied from the outside (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The direction of the force approximately corresponds to the angle bisector of the angle enclosed by the contact surfaces 7, 8. Since the holding force F.sub.H is applied on both cylindrical pins 6, the objective 2 is not moved from its focal position.

[0035] As shown in an exemplary fashion in FIG. 5, the weld seams 10 can also be placed directly in the in each case linear contact area of the cylindrical pins 6 with the objective 2 and the housing 5.