Patent ID: 7785915

Claim:
A method, comprising: providing an imager substrate comprising a plurality of imager devices; providing a transparent substrate; forming a plurality of standoff structures on one of the imager substrate and the transparent substrate, each standoff structure corresponding to at least one of the plurality of imager devices and being formed of a curable material; adhesively coupling the imager substrate and the transparent substrate to one another by forming an adhesive material on a surface on at least one of the standoff structures; urging one of the imager substrate and the transparent substrate toward the other, the urging causing the standoff structures to deform into a deformed configuration; concurrently with the urging, determining a focal position of the imager substrate and the transparent substrate relative to one another; subsequent to the urging, fixing relative positions of the imager substrate and the transparent substrate at the focal position relative to one another; and performing a cutting operation prior to the step of urging one of the imager substrate and the transparent substrate toward the other, the cutting operation defining a plurality of cut lines, each of which extends through one of the imager substrate and the transparent substrate and extends partially into the standoff structures adjacent to one of the plurality of imager devices, wherein the standoff structures, as initially formed, are pliable and have an initial configuration having an initial height, and wherein the urging causes the standoff structures to assume the deformed configuration when the imager substrate and the transparent substrate are at the focal position, the deformed configuration being different than the initial configuration and having a reduced height relative to the initial height and wherein the step of fixing the relative positions further comprises curing the standoff structures such that they remain in the deformed configuration.