KR101033066B1 - Camera manufacturing device and camera device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing a camera, in particular a vehicle camera. The device includes a holding device and a correction area mounted to the holding device, wherein the image sensor of the camera and the camera can be oriented with respect to each other according to the image signal of the image sensor generated by the image sensor from the correction area. Done.

Vehicle Camera, Retention Device, Correction Area, Image Sensor, Optical Unit

Description

Camera manufacturing device and camera device {DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A CAMERA, AND A CAMERA SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to a camera, in particular a vehicle camera manufacturing apparatus and a camera apparatus.

Cameras, in particular vehicle camera manufacturing apparatuses, having the features of the independent claim 1 described herein, have the advantage that the manufacturing technical inaccuracies of camera components such as image sensors, housings or optical units are corrected by said manufacturing apparatus. This type of coarseness includes all coarse machine parts, the offset of the optical axis of the optical unit (objective), the inclined screw cross section, the poor positional precision of the image former (image sensor) on the printed circuit board, the Precise assembly and tolerance of printed circuit boards are included. The advantage of the device according to the invention is that not only this inaccuracy is corrected, but also that high tolerances can be tolerated in the individual mechanical components and processing steps of the camera. This makes it possible to manufacture component parts at low cost. In addition, the device enables accurate orientation (meaning alignment and placement). This allows the camera to have a wider tolerance range when mounted in the vehicle, and the sharpness range is guaranteed over the entire temperature range, for example, occurring in the vehicle. Thus, the overall camera manufacturing cost is lowered. The tolerances of the camera parts should not exceed the calibration range of the device. The device has the advantage of minimizing manufacturing tolerances and shortening the overall tolerance chain. In addition, a holding device preferably configured to bend and not bend is used, so that high precision can be achieved because the mutual position of the component parts of the device is stably fixed for a long time by the holding device.

Particularly preferably, hexapods are used for the movement of the image sensor and / or optical unit, which allows for accurate movement in three vertical translation directions with respect to each other and three vertical rotation directions with respect to each other. .

Also preferably, when the device fixes the active surface of the image sensor, the correction area and, for example, the camera to the inner side of the windshield inside the vehicle, the housing edge of the camera in contact with the windshield retainer (reference element) Is oriented exactly. For tolerance-free windshield holders, the camera is pointed in the desired direction.

Also preferably, the optical unit is fixedly mounted to the holding device at the time of orientation and the image sensor of the camera moves for orientation, whereby the orientation of the optical unit relative to the correction area is fixed and a device of particularly simple construction is provided.

Preferably, the first correction region comprises at least one deflection apparatus, in particular at least one mirror, which ensures imaging of at least a portion of the at least one second correction region for at least a portion of the image sensor. This type of deflection mirror located in the first correction region reflects a relatively small second correction region to the image sensor, for example at five positions. Without the mirrors, the second correction area would have been much larger, and certainly would have taken up more space. Therefore, the device of the present invention can be installed compact and space-saving. In addition, the mirror preferably converts the separation distance of about 10 to 15 m, preferably 11 m, from the camera to the correction area, necessary for orientation, into a horizontal structure that can be simply installed in the manufacturing mode. The measurement of the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) by imaging of the second correction region for the image sensor can be carried out in an advantageous manner, in particular at the corners or edges of the image sensor.

Particularly preferably, the device according to the invention comprises at least one imaging unit, which is arranged between the optical unit and the first correction area, which contributes to reducing the required space of the apparatus and also exchanges the imaging unit. This is because the device can simply be adapted for different camera types.

Also preferably, the distance of the first correction region with respect to the imaging unit may be changed, which corresponds to the change of the objective lens distance. Thus, for example, the behavior of the modulation transfer function (MTF) can be measured by the objective lens distance.

Preferably, the imaging unit and / or the first correction area is mounted to the holding device such that the shooting unit and / or the first correction area can be inserted and detached from the image capturing area of the camera, thereby providing a holding device used for manufacturing the camera. The at least one additional correction area mounted is revealed in the image capture area of the camera after the photographing unit and / or the first correction area are pivoted.

In particular, a camera device which can be manufactured by the apparatus described below and / or obtainable by the method of manufacturing a camera apparatus described below is also preferred, in which the image sensor and the optical unit have three-dimensional translational motion and / or three It is oriented with respect to each other by a dimensional rotational movement, which movement is made according to the image signal of the image sensor of at least one correction area. Such a camera device can be manufactured with high precision at low cost.

Further advantages are presented from the description of the embodiments described below with reference to the drawings and from the dependent claims of the claims.

Hereinafter, the present invention is described in more detail in the embodiment shown in the drawings.

1 is an overall view of a camera manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

2 is a partial view of a camera manufacturing apparatus.

3 is a plan view of a first correction region according to the first embodiment.

4 is a side view of the first correction region according to the first embodiment.

5 is an overall view of a camera manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

6 is an overall view of a camera manufacturing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

Hereinafter, a camera, in particular a vehicle camera manufacturing apparatus, is described. The apparatus includes a holding device and a correction area mounted to the holding device, wherein the camera manufacturing device is configured to move the image sensor of the camera and the optical unit of the camera relative to each other according to the image signal of the image sensor generated by the image sensor from the correction area. Can be oriented.

The described device is an adjustment device for orienting an image sensor (image former) or a general optical sensor with respect to the optical unit. The optical unit is preferably located in the camera housing. The optical unit is then fixedly connected with the device for adjustment. An image sensor comprising an image sensor chip is optimally oriented and fixed relative to the optical unit, the aim of which is to align such that the optical axis of the optical unit is perpendicular to the center of the photodiode region of the image sensor chip. The image sensor is in operation while the orientation is in progress. The fixing and the connection are preferably made by mutual coupling. After injection and curing of the interlocking material, the camera device can be manufactured and the housing closed. Preferably the curing time of the mutual bonding material is used for further electrical and / or optical testing of the camera.

The device possesses the property of moving the image sensor and / or optical unit in all three axes of the rectangular coordinate system. It can also be rotated around all three axes. Thus six orientation degrees of freedom are formed.

In an embodiment a camera consisting of a housing and an image conversion element is manufactured. The housing of the camera is an aluminum die casting part and has a substantially rectangular base surface and a side surface located on the base surface, which side forms a trough inside the camera. The base surface of the housing also includes an outwardly facing ridge within which the optical unit of the camera is located. Inside the housing a container (reservoir) is located at each of the four corners of the foundation surface. Within each container is a post positioned substantially perpendicular to the base surface of the housing. Four posts are riveted pins with undercuts. The undercut is present to secure the pin to the side opposite the housing. The image conversion element consists of a processed printed circuit board, a printed circuit board frame, an image sensor printed circuit board, a fixed element and an image sensor. The image sensor consists of an image sensor chip and a glass cover. Through the printed circuit board frame, the process printed circuit board and the image sensor printed circuit board are connected substantially parallel to each other. An image sensor is mounted on the outward side of the image sensor printed circuit board to form an optical system with the optical unit. At each corner of the printed circuit board frame are four fastening elements located on the face of the image sensor substantially perpendicular to the image sensor printed circuit board. The fixing element is formed by a countersunk head screw which likewise comprises an undercut by screwing into the printed circuit board frame. The housing and the printed circuit board frame are each connected so that one fastening element is inserted into one container at intervals of up to 0.5 mm to 3.5 mm with respect to the posts present in the container, and as soon as the image sensor is oriented relative to the optical unit Is filled with the mutual coupling material. In an embodiment the ultraviolet crosslinkable interconnect material is injected into four containers in a fluid state through a supply of interconnect material. The crosslinking material is then cured by ultraviolet radiation (UV-irradiation) to effect the crosslinking action.

1 is an overall view of the camera manufacturing apparatus according to the first embodiment, which consists of a holding device 1, a hexapod 2 and a first correction region 5; The camera manufacturing apparatus includes a shape stability maintaining device 1 (rack) which is not bent and not bent, which is made of steel in this embodiment. The holding device 1 is located on a heavy base 9 with four rubber buffers 10. The base prevents coherent vibration and shaking. The image sensor 3 is connected with the holding device through the hexapod 2. The hexapod 2 is a device in which six movable lifting bars of variable length connect the foundation surface with the working surface. The hexapod 2 embodies a three-dimensional translational motion and / or a three-dimensional rotational motion of the working surface with respect to the foundation surface. The photosensitive area of the image sensor 3 faces downward. Under the image sensor 3, an optical unit assembled in the camera housing 4 is fixedly mounted to the holding device 1. The apparatus is configured such that the optical unit is oriented downward so that the liquid mutual coupling material supplied through the supply portion 27 of the mutual coupling material does not flow out of the upperly located reservoir. In addition, the first correction region 5 is disposed in the opening angle 25 of the camera under the optical unit. In this embodiment the correction region 5 is arranged at height f = 8 mm, so that the focal length of the camera becomes its height f value. The holding device 1 comprises, for example, a mechanical device in the form of an angle in which the correction area 5 can be mounted to another height corresponding to the focal length f = 3mm, f = 6mm or f = 12mm. A camera having a focal length f of is manufactured. The correction area 5 comprises a stamp 7 with adapters and a plurality of mirrors 8. In order to perform focusing of the camera, a distance of about 11 m of the second correction region 6 with respect to the camera is required. The mirror 8 is mounted and oriented such that each mirror photographs each at least a portion of the second correction region 6 with respect to at least a portion of the image sensor 3. The device also comprises a control device 29 connected with the image sensor 3 and the hexapod 2 via signal lines. The control device 29 receives the image signal of the image sensor 3, evaluates it, and adjusts the hexapod 2 so that a closed control circuit is formed.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the camera manufacturing apparatus of the first embodiment according to FIG. The image sensor 3 connected with the printed circuit board is connected with the tension gripper 11 of the hexapod 2 by the image sensor receiver 12, and the hexapod 2 is mounted to the holding device 1. The camera housing 4 with the optical unit is connected with the tension gripper 14 by a camera housing receptacle 13, which is mounted to the holding device 1.

The tension grippers 11, 14 are standard receptacles that are firmly connected to the hexapod 2 or the retaining device 1. The tension gripper 11 is an electric tension gripper for gripping the modular image sensor receiver 12 for a printed circuit board. The tension gripper 14 is located on the retaining device 1 and receives a standardized camera housing receiver 13, which comprises a negative mold of the camera housing 4. The opening for the optical unit by the camera housing receiver 13 and the tension gripper 14 is configured such that the full opening angle of the camera can be utilized. In the preferred embodiment, mechanical clamping jaws as tension grippers 11 and 14 are used in accordance with the principle of the vise. Alternatively or additionally in a variant embodiment magnetic fixing by electromagnets is used.

According to the camera manufacturing method, the image sensor is inserted into the image sensor receiving portion of the image sensor with respect to the camera housing having the optical unit, which is located in the camera housing receiving portion, and is then moved by the hexapod to the roughly initial position. An image sensor in operation and connected with the control device is moved to a receiving area where the sensor receives an image signal of a second correction area, which image signal is used to control the orientation. The optically recognized image can be evaluated and a control algorithm or feedback is applied. The rough orientation of the initial position moves the center of the sensor region and the optical unit on the axis. The image sharpness is adjusted by the image sensor approaching the optical unit by measuring the contrast in the first step by the second correction area, while in the second step the image correction device is designed as a control point area by the adapter and stamp. Thereby the image sensor is oriented in the x- and y-directions and in relation to the reel. Alternatively the first and second steps are executed several times in succession until the optimum orientation of the image sensor with respect to the optical unit is reached. In the last step the image sensor is connected with the optical unit in an oriented position, which connection is made by mutual coupling in a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first correction region 5 of the first embodiment consisting of a stamp 7 and an adapter 19 shown by way of example. The correction area 5 is configured with any features provided in the correction area 5, showing sufficient contrast with respect to the peripheral features. The locations are known to the system and can be detected through contrast determination by image processing techniques. High contrast is achieved, for example, by black features on a white background or vice versa. The features are circle and / or star and / or square. An advantage of the adapter 19 and the pass bore is that on the one hand an adapter 19 or a mirror can be used, the positions of which are known to the system. This on the one hand enables the possibility of substitution of features and the simple displacement of features. The adapter 19 is mounted on the surface of the correction area 5 and the stamp 7. The base surface of the correction area 5 is supported from the rear to ensure stability. In addition, the surface of the correction region 5 is anodized with matte black to prevent coherent reflection. The adapter 19 is matte white treated to prevent coherent reflection.

4 is a side view of the first correction region 5 according to FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. The correction area 5 is provided with a uniformly distributed path bore 21, which is used to receive the stamp 7 and / or the adapter 19 and / or the mirror 20. The reception of the adapter 19 and the mirror 20 is indicated by arrows in FIG. The stamp consists of a stamp support 17 and a stamp surface 18. A pass bore is likewise provided on the stamp surface 18, which is used to receive the adapter 19 or the mirror 20. The mirror 20 includes a ball joint used to adjust the orientation of the mirror surface.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the camera manufacturing apparatus according to the second embodiment as a whole. The elements of the second embodiment are shown as in the corresponding elements of the first embodiment and are not described in further detail below. Only the modified part of the apparatus for the first embodiment is described. In the second embodiment the measuring step and the adjusting step are carried out without a second correction area (contrast correction area) spaced apart and farther apart and without a deflection mirror on the first correction area 5. For this purpose, the reduced corrective objectives 22 are mounted on the first correction region 5 in the form of a pattern of sufficient contrast, in the first embodiment at the positions at which the mirrors are assembled. Between the optical unit 4 of the camera and the first correction region 5, an intermediate lens having a displacement device 24 is positioned as the imaging unit 23, wherein the displacement device 24 is a camera unit 23. It is configured to be able to pivot from an image capture area determined by the opening angle 25 of. The imaging unit 23 is centered in front of the camera to determine the focal plane. Alternatively the imaging unit 23 comprises a lens system. The imaging unit 23 is spaced apart from the camera's field of view for the translational and rotational orientation of the image sensor 3 and / or for the determination of the intrinsic parameters of the camera by the first correction region 5. Alternatively or additionally, in the variant of the second embodiment, the translational and rotational orientation of the image sensor 3 is achieved, so that in the intermediate connection of the imaging unit 23, in particular the orientation of the viewing angle of the camera and / or Or orientation of the image center and / or detection of the unique camera data.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the camera manufacturing apparatus according to the third embodiment as a whole. The elements of the third embodiment are shown as in the corresponding elements of the second embodiment and are not described in further detail below. Only the modified part of the apparatus for the second embodiment is described. In the third embodiment the first correction region 5 is mounted on the displacement device 26, which on the one hand measures the separation distance of the first correction region 5 with respect to the imaging unit 23. In a manner approaching the direction, and on the other hand, it is configured to pivot the imaging unit 23 from the image capture area determined by the opening angle 25 of the camera. The optical unit 4, the imaging unit 23, and the correction area 5 are arranged in succession. In the holding device 1, a third correction region 28 having a stamp 7 is arranged. By means of the apparatus according to the third embodiment, a modulation transfer function (MTF) or contrast behavior can be detected at at least one image point through at least a portion of the camera operating area, and the hexapod 2 can be detected on the basis of this data. The orientation of the image sensor 3 relative to the optical unit 4 can be achieved. Alternatively or additionally after turning of the first correction area 5, a third is formed as a control point area by the stamp 7 and the adapter 19, for example as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Detection of the inherent parameters of the camera is performed using the correction area 28.

Claims (12)

Camera manufacturing equipment, A holding device and at least one correction area mounted to the holding device, The holding device houses at least one image sensor of the camera and at least one optical unit of the camera, The camera manufacturing apparatus is configured to orient the image sensor and the optical unit with respect to each other in accordance with an image signal of the image sensor from at least a first correction region mounted to the holding device, The first correction region, the optical unit and the image sensor are disposed above and below each other in the vertical direction, and the optical unit is disposed above the first correction region, the image sensor is disposed above the optical unit, or both The camera manufacturing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera manufacturing apparatus is configured such that the camera manufacturing apparatus orients the image sensor and the optical unit to each other in at least one translational direction or at least one rotational direction or both. And the movement in both directions is performed in accordance with an image signal of at least the image sensor of the first correction region. The camera manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the camera manufacturing apparatus includes at least one hexapod that orients the image sensor and the optical unit with respect to each other. 3. The camera manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the camera manufacturing apparatus orients the view direction of the camera with respect to at least one reference element of the camera housing, wherein the view direction of the camera is optical of the optical unit. A direction along the axis, the direction starting from the image sensor toward the optical unit. The camera manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the optical unit is fixedly mounted to the holding device at the time of orientation. delete 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first correction region comprises at least one deflection device, the deflection device ensures to photograph at least one second correction region with respect to the image sensor, and wherein the second correction region. And the area is spaced apart from the holding device. The camera manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the camera manufacturing apparatus includes at least one photographing unit, and the photographing unit is disposed between the optical unit and the first correction region. The camera manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the camera manufacturing apparatus is configured such that the distance of the first correction region with respect to the photographing unit is changeable. 9. A camera manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the photographing unit or the first correction region, or both, is mounted to the holding apparatus so as to be insertable and detachable from the image capturing region of the camera. delete At least one image sensor and at least one optical unit, produced by the camera manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, manufactured by the method of manufacturing a camera apparatus, or both. Wherein the image sensor and the optical unit are oriented with respect to each other by at least one of three-dimensional translational motion or three-dimensional rotational motion in the manufacturing method, and the three-dimensional translational or three-dimensional rotational motion. At least one of the movement is in accordance with an image signal of the image sensor from at least one correction region.

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