Fast testing of partial camera lenses based on a liquid crystal spatial light modulator.

Abstract

Today, there are strict requirements for the quality inspection of mobile phone cameras, as the design tolerance is getting critically tighter. In order to avoid unnecessary disposal of lens components when testing and assembling the complete cameras, testing the quality of each single lens group in advance before the final assembly is effective. However, as part of a whole camera, a single lens group cannot generate a sharp image independently; it needs to be combined with other elements in the testing system and assembled precisely. In order to address this challenge, we propose a fast testing method based on spatial light modulators (SLMs). By taking advantage of the programmable feature of the SLM, the assembly misalignments caused by fixing the lens group to be tested into the testing system are dynamically scanned and compensated at a fast speed. A design criterion of the phase map pattern to be loaded on the SLM is also verified by simulation and is applied on the testing system. In this way, the proposed method significantly reduces the positioning requirement of the lens under test, and thus improves efficiency. The passed yield of tested lens groups reaches 92.6%.