Patent ID: 7768574
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: G02B,H01L,H04N

Abstract:
1. A camera module comprising: (a) a sensor unit including a semiconductor chip having a front surface facing in a forward direction with an imaging area and an imaging circuit adapted to generate signals representative of an optical image impinging on said imaging area, said sensor unit also including a cover having a transparent area aligned with said imaging area, said cover overlying said front surface and being secured to said chip, said cover having an outer surface facing in the forward direction away from said chip, said sensor unit having one or more alignment features exposed at said outer surface, said one or more alignment features being in predetermined spatial relationship to said imaging area of said chip, said sensor unit further having contacts electrically connected to the imaging circuit; and (b) an optical unit including one or more optical elements, said optical unit having one or more engagement features engaged with said one or more alignment features of said sensor unit so that the engaged features position said optical elements relative to said imaging area of said chip in the forward direction so as to control the distance in the forward direction between the optical elements and the sensor unit; and (c) a circuit panel having conductors, said circuit panel extending between said optical unit and said cover but not extending between said engagement features of said optical unit and said alignment features of said unit, at least some of said contacts being electrically connected to at least some of said conductors of said circuit panel.