Image quality and wafer level optics

Abstract

Increasing demand from consumers to integrate camera modules into electronic devices, such as cell phones, has driven the cost of camera modules down very rapidly. Now that most cell phones include at least one camera, consumers are starting to ask for better image quality - without compromising on the cost. Wafer level optics has emerged over the past few years as an innovative technology enabling simultaneous manufacturing of thousands of lenses, at the wafer level. Using reflow-compatible materials to manufacture these lenses permits a reduction in the cost and size of camera module, thus answering the market demand for lowering the cost. But what about image quality? The author will present image quality analysis that was conducted for both VGA and megapixel camera resolutions. Comparison between conventional camera modules and wafer level camera modules shows wafer level technology brings equivalent, if not better, image quality performance compared to conventional camera modules.