Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7071966?dq=6377161
Timestamp: 2014-03-10 14:55:54
Document Index: 604502317

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62']

Patent US7071966 - Method of aligning lens and sensor of camera - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA method for aligning a lens of a camera with a sensor of the camera. The method includes positioning a test object a predetermined distance away from the lens of the camera, photographing the test object with the camera to produce image data, and outputting the image data from the camera to a calibration...http://www.google.com/patents/US7071966?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7071966 - Method of aligning lens and sensor of cameraAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7071966 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/460,790Publication dateJul 4, 2006Filing dateJun 13, 2003Priority dateJun 13, 2003Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCN1261788C, CN1573400A, US20040252195Publication number10460790, 460790, US 7071966 B2, US 7071966B2, US-B2-7071966, US7071966 B2, US7071966B2InventorsJih-Yung Lu, Chih-Po Yang, Chih-Ching ChenOriginal AssigneeBenq CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (16), Referenced by (8), Classifications (24), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod of aligning lens and sensor of cameraUS 7071966 B2Abstract A method for aligning a lens of a camera with a sensor of the camera. The method includes positioning a test object a predetermined distance away from the lens of the camera, photographing the test object with the camera to produce image data, and outputting the image data from the camera to a calibration device. The method also includes dividing the image data into a plurality of sections, calculating resolution data for at least two sections of the image data, calculating position parameters of the lens according to the resolution data, and correcting alignment of the lens with respect to the sensor according to the position parameters.
To solve this problem, many alignment methods are currently used to detect the alignment of the lens with respect to the sensor of the camera. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,193 entitled �Optical Sensor Array Mounting and Alignment�, Glenn teaches a method for aligning a lens and a sensor of a camera, which is herein incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a method of aligning a lens of a camera with a sensor of the camera in order to solve the above-mentioned problems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lens alignment system according to the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a lens alignment system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a resolution chart 62 used in the present invention aligning method. In FIG. 2, a partial internal structure of a camera 50 is shown. The camera 50 contains a circuit board 54, such as a printed circuit board (PCB), for holding all circuitry of the camera 50. A sensor 56 is formed on the circuit board 54 for receiving images from a lens 51 and for converting the images into image data. For example, if the camera 50 is a digital camera, the sensor 56 can be a charge-coupled device (CCD). A lens holder 52 is used for holding the lens 51 in place with respect to the sensor 56, and the lens holder 52 may be mounted directly on the circuit board 54. For properly aligning the lens 51 with the sensor 56, position of the lens 51 can be adjusted slightly when the lens 51 is resting in the lens holder 52.
During the alignment process, a photograph is taken of the resolution chart 62, which is placed at a distance d1 away from the lens 51 of the camera 50. When a photograph of the resolution chart 62 is taken, the sensor 56 produces image data and sends the image data to a calibration device 60 through a wire 58 connected to the circuit board 54. The two-dimensional resolution chart 62 is divided into a plurality of sections 62A�62F, and resolution data corresponding to each section 62A�62F can be produced from pictures taken by the camera 50 of the resolution chart 62. The resolution data can be calculated using a Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) or calculated in terms of TV resolution, both of which are well known to those skilled in the art.
From the resolution data corresponding to each of the sections 62A�62F of the resolution chart 62, the calibration device 60 is able to calculate position data including linear translation in the x, y, and z directions as well as rotation in the .x, .y, and .z directions. For example, if resolution data corresponding to sections 62A and 62D indicates higher resolution than the resolution data corresponding to sections 62C and 62F, then the lens 51 may be rotated slightly in the .y direction. The calibration device 60 will detect this rotation, and correct it accordingly.
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