Active alignment using continuous motion sweeps and temporal interpolation
US9156168B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 12, 2013 |
| Grant date | Oct 13, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S901/47
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for actively aligning a first optical element, such as a lens, to a second optical element, such as an image sensor, use continuous scans, even absent a synchronization signal from one of the optical elements. During a scan, timed position information about the scanned optical element is collected, and then a relationship between position of the scanned optical element and time is estimated, such as by fitting a curve to a set of position-time pairs. This relationship can then be used to estimate locations of the scanned optical element at times when image data or other alignment quality-indicating data samples are acquired. From this alignment quality versus location data, an optimum alignment position can be determined, and the scanned optical element can then be positioned at the determined alignment position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.