Integrated sensor and lens assembly with differential threads adjustment

Abstract

An integrated image sensor and lens assembly comprises a lens barrel, an adapter tube, and a lens mount. The lens mount includes a first thread having a first pitch and the tube adapter comprises a second thread reciprocal to the first thread. The first and second threads secure the tube adapter within the lens mount. The tube adapter further comprises a third thread having a second pitch different than the first pitch, and the lens barrel comprises a fourth thread reciprocal to the third thread. The third and fourth threads secure the lens barrel within the tube adapter. A rotation of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes linear movement of the lens barrel and the lens mount with respect to the tube adapter in a same direction along the optical axis.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An integrated image sensor and lens assembly comprising:
 an image sensor substrate comprising an image sensor;   a lens mount affixed to the image sensor substrate and comprising a tube portion and a base portion, the tube portion having a channel and extending from the base portion in a direction of an optical axis substantially perpendicular to a focal plane, the lens mount comprising a first thread having a first pitch forming a first spiral on an inner surface of the tube portion;   a tube adapter extending into the channel of the tube portion, the tube adapter comprising a second thread on an exterior surface of the tube adapter, the second thread reciprocal to the first thread and having the first pitch, the first and second threads securing the tube adapter within the lens mount, the tube adapter further comprising a third thread having a second pitch different than the first pitch, the third thread forming a second spiral on an inner surface of the tube adapter; and   a lens barrel housing a set of lenses for directing light to the image sensor, the lens barrel having a threaded portion extending into the tube adapter, and the threaded portion comprising a fourth thread on an exterior surface of the lens barrel reciprocal to the third thread and having the second pitch, the third and fourth threads securing the lens barrel within the tube adapter,   wherein the lens barrel is configured to rotate about the optical axis,   wherein rotation of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes linear movement of the lens barrel and the lens mount with respect to the tube adapter in a same direction along the optical axis,   wherein a magnitude of a difference between the first pitch and the second pitch is smaller than the first pitch and the second pitch, and   wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       2. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first thread is on a lower subsection of the lens mount and the second thread is on a lower subsection of the tube adapter, the third thread is on an upper subsection of the tube adapter and the fourth thread is on an upper subsection of the lens barrel. 
     
     
       3. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion of the lens barrel is tapered and wherein the tube adapter is configured to retain a fluid and to prevent the fluid from being deposited onto the image sensor. 
     
     
       4. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid is viscous non-curing fluid. 
     
     
       5. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a single rotation of the of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes a change in focal length less than the first pitch and less than the second pitch. 
     
     
       6. A camera comprising: one or more controls to operate the camera;
 a storage medium to store images and video captured by the camera; an image sensor substrate comprising an image sensor;   a lens mount affixed to the image sensor substrate and comprising a tube portion and a base portion, the tube portion having a channel and extending from the base portion in a direction of an optical axis substantially perpendicular to a focal plane, the lens mount comprising a first thread having a first pitch forming a spiral on an inner surface of the tube portion;   a tube adapter extending into the channel of the tube portion, the tube adapter comprising a second thread on an exterior surface of the tube adapter, the second thread reciprocal to the first thread and having the first pitch, the first and second threads securing the tube adapter within the lens mount, the tube adapter further comprising a third thread having a second pitch different than the first pitch, the third thread forming a spiral on an inner surface of the tube adapter; and   a lens barrel housing a set of lenses for directing light to the image sensor, the lens barrel having a threaded portion extending into the tube adapter, and the threaded portion comprising a fourth thread on an exterior surface of the lens barrel reciprocal to the third thread and having the second pitch, the third and fourth threads securing the lens barrel within the tube adapter,   wherein the lens barrel is configured to rotate about the optical axis,   wherein rotation of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes linear movement of the lens barrel and the lens mount with respect to the tube adapter in a same direction along the optical axis,   wherein a magnitude of a difference between the first pitch and the second pitch is smaller than the first pitch and the second pitch, and   wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       7. The camera of  claim 6 , wherein the first thread is on a lower subsection of the lens mount and the second thread is on a lower subsection of the tube adapter, the third thread is on an upper subsection of the tube adapter and the fourth thread is on an upper subsection of the lens barrel. 
     
     
       8. The camera of  claim 6 , wherein the threaded portion of the lens barrel is tapered and wherein the tube adapter is configured to retain a fluid and to prevent the fluid from being deposited onto the image sensor. 
     
     
       9. The camera of  claim 8 , wherein the fluid is viscous non-curing fluid. 
     
     
       10. The camera of  claim 6 , wherein a single rotation of the of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes a change in focal length less than the first pitch and less than the second pitch. 
     
     
       11. An integrated lens assembly comprising:
 a lens mount affixed to an image sensor substrate including an image sensor and comprising a tube portion and a base portion, the tube portion having a channel and extending from the base portion in a direction of an optical axis substantially perpendicular to a focal plane, the lens mount comprising a first thread having a first pitch forming a first spiral on an inner surface of the tube portion;   a tube adapter extending into the channel of the tube portion, the tube adapter comprising a second thread on an exterior surface of the tube adapter, the second thread reciprocal to the first thread and having the first pitch, the first and second threads securing the tube adapter within the lens mount, the tube adapter further comprising a third thread having a second pitch different than the first pitch, the third thread forming a second spiral on an inner surface of the tube adapter; and   a lens barrel housing a set of lenses for directing light to the image sensor, the lens barrel having a threaded portion extending into the tube adapter, and the threaded portion comprising a fourth thread on an exterior surface of the lens barrel reciprocal to the third thread and having the second pitch, the third and fourth threads securing the lens barrel within the tube adapter,   wherein the lens barrel is configured to rotate about the optical axis,   wherein rotation of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes linear movement of the lens barrel and the lens mount with respect to the tube adapter in a same direction along the optical axis,   wherein a magnitude of a difference between the first pitch and the second pitch is smaller than the first pitch and the second pitch, and   wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       12. The integrated lens assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first thread is on a lower subsection of the lens mount and the second thread is on a lower subsection of the tube adapter, the third thread is on an upper subsection of the tube adapter and the fourth thread is on an upper subsection of the lens barrel. 
     
     
       13. The integrated lens assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a single rotation of the of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes a change in focal length less than the first pitch and less than the second pitch. 
     
     
       14. An integrated image sensor and lens assembly comprising:
 an image sensor substrate comprising an image sensor;   a lens mount affixed to the image sensor substrate and comprising a tube portion and a base portion, the tube portion having a channel and extending from the base portion in a direction of an optical axis substantially perpendicular to a focal plane, the lens mount comprising a first thread having a first pitch forming a first spiral on an inner surface of the tube portion;   a tube adapter extending into the channel of the tube portion, the tube adapter comprising a second thread on an exterior surface of the tube adapter, the second thread reciprocal to the first thread and having the first pitch, the first and second threads securing the tube adapter within the lens mount, the tube adapter further comprising a third thread having a second pitch different than the first pitch, the third thread forming a second spiral on an inner surface of the tube adapter; and   a lens barrel housing a set of lenses for directing light to the image sensor, the lens barrel having a threaded portion extending into the tube adapter, and the threaded portion comprising a fourth thread on an exterior surface of the lens barrel reciprocal to the third thread and having the second pitch, the third and fourth threads securing the lens barrel within the tube adapter,   wherein the lens barrel is configured to rotate about the optical axis,   wherein rotation of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes linear movement of the lens barrel and the lens mount with respect to the tube adapter in a same direction along the optical axis,   wherein a single rotation of the of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes a change in focal length less than the first pitch and less than the second pitch, and   wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       15. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first thread is on a lower subsection of the lens mount and the second thread is on a lower subsection of the tube adapter, the third thread is on an upper subsection of the tube adapter and the fourth thread is on an upper subsection of the lens barrel. 
     
     
       16. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the threaded portion of the lens barrel is tapered and wherein the tube adapter is configured to retain a fluid and to prevent the fluid from being deposited onto the image sensor. 
     
     
       17. An integrated lens assembly comprising:
 a lens mount affixed to the image sensor substrate including an image sensor and comprising a tube portion and a base portion, the tube portion having a channel and extending from the base portion in a direction of an optical axis substantially perpendicular to a focal plane, the lens mount comprising a first thread having a first pitch forming a first spiral on an inner surface of the tube portion;   a tube adapter extending into the channel of the tube portion, the tube adapter comprising a second thread on an exterior surface of the tube adapter, the second thread reciprocal to the first thread and having the first pitch, the first and second threads securing the tube adapter within the lens mount, the tube adapter further comprising a third thread having a second pitch different than the first pitch, the third thread forming a second spiral on an inner surface of the tube adapter; and   a lens barrel housing a set of lenses for directing light to the image sensor, the lens barrel having a threaded portion extending into the tube adapter, and the threaded portion comprising a fourth thread on an exterior surface of the lens barrel reciprocal to the third thread and having the second pitch, the third and fourth threads securing the lens barrel within the tube adapter,   wherein the lens barrel is configured to rotate about the optical axis,   wherein rotation of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes linear movement of the lens barrel and the lens mount with respect to the tube adapter in a same direction along the optical axis,   wherein a single rotation of the of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes a change in focal length less than the first pitch and less than the second pitch, and   wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       18. A camera comprising: one or more controls to operate the camera;
 a storage medium to store images and video captured by the camera; an image sensor substrate comprising an image sensor;   a lens mount affixed to the image sensor substrate and comprising a tube portion and a base portion, the tube portion having a channel and extending from the base portion in a direction of an optical axis substantially perpendicular to a focal plane, the lens mount comprising a first thread having a first pitch forming a first spiral on an inner surface of the tube portion;   a tube adapter extending into the channel of the tube portion, the tube adapter comprising a second thread on an exterior surface of the tube adapter, the second thread reciprocal to the first thread and having the first pitch, the first and second threads securing the tube adapter within the lens mount, the tube adapter further comprising a third thread having a second pitch different than the first pitch, the third thread forming a second spiral on an inner surface of the tube adapter; and   a lens barrel housing a set of lenses for directing light to the image sensor, the lens barrel having a threaded portion extending into the tube adapter, and the threaded portion comprising a fourth thread on an exterior surface of the lens barrel reciprocal to the third thread and having the second pitch, the third and fourth threads securing the lens barrel within the tube adapter,   wherein the lens barrel is configured to rotate about the optical axis,   wherein rotation of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes linear movement of the lens barrel and the lens mount with respect to the tube adapter in a same direction along the optical axis,   wherein a single rotation of the of the tube adapter with respect to the lens barrel and the lens mount causes a change in focal length less than the first pitch and less than the second pitch, and   wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       19. The camera of  claim 18 , wherein the first thread is on a lower subsection of the lens mount and the second thread is on a lower subsection of the tube adapter, the third thread is on an upper subsection of the tube adapter and the fourth thread is on an upper subsection of the lens barrel. 
     
     
       20. The camera of  claim 18 , wherein the threaded portion of the lens barrel is tapered and wherein the tube adapter is configured to retain a fluid and to prevent the fluid from being deposited onto the image sensor. 
     
     
       21. An integrated image sensor and lens assembly comprising:
 an image sensor substrate supporting an image sensor defining an optical axis;   a lens mount coupled to the image sensor substrate;   a tube adapter received by the lens mount, the tube adapter including:
 an upper threaded section; 
 a lower threaded section; and 
 an unthreaded section positioned axially between the upper threaded section and the lower threaded section; and 
   a lens barrel for directing light to the image sensor, the lens barrel having a threaded section engageable with the upper threaded section of the tube adapter, wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       22. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 21, wherein the upper threaded section and the lower threaded section of the tube adapter each include an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the upper threaded section spaced from the upper end of the lower threaded section along an axis generally parallel in relation to the optical axis. 
     
     
       23. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 21, wherein the lower threaded section of the tube adapter extends along an exterior surface thereof. 
     
     
       24. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 21, wherein the lens mount includes a threaded section engageable with the lower threaded section of the tube adapter. 
     
     
       25. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 24, wherein the lens mount further includes an unthreaded section adjacent to the threaded section thereof. 
     
     
       26. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 25, wherein the threaded section of the lens mount is spaced a first distance from the image sensor substrate and the unthreaded section of the lens mount is spaced a second distance from the image sensor substrate greater than the first distance. 
     
     
       27. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 26, wherein the threaded section of the lens mount extends along an interior surface thereof. 
     
     
       28. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 21, wherein the tube adapter is rotatable about the optical axis relative to both the lens barrel and the lens mount. 
     
     
       29. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 28, wherein relative rotation between the tube adapter and the lens mount causes relative axial movement between the tube adapter and the lens mount along the optical axis. 
     
     
       30. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 29, wherein relative rotation between the tube adapter and the lens barrel causes relative axial movement between the tube adapter and the lens barrel along the optical axis. 
     
     
       31. An integrated image sensor and lens assembly comprising:
 an image sensor substrate supporting an image sensor defining an optical axis;   a lens mount supported by image sensor substrate;   a tube adapter received by the lens mount, the tube adapter including an upper threaded section and a lower threaded section positioned so as to eliminate any overlap therebetween along an axis generally parallel in relation to the optical axis; and   a lens barrel engageable with the upper threaded section of the tube adapter and configured to direct light to the image sensor, wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       32. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 31, wherein the tube adapter includes an unthreaded section positioned axially between the upper threaded section and the lower threaded section. 
     
     
       33. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 32, wherein the unthreaded section of the tube adapter includes an upper end and a lower end, the upper end of the unthreaded section coterminous with a lower end of the upper threaded section and the lower end of the unthreaded section coterminous with an upper end of the lower threaded section. 
     
     
       34. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 31, wherein the lens mount includes a threaded section engageable with the lower threaded section of the tube adapter. 
     
     
       35. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 34, wherein the lens mount includes an unthreaded section adjacent to the threaded section thereof. 
     
     
       36. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 35, wherein the unthreaded section of the lens mount is positioned closer to the lens barrel than the threaded section of the lens mount. 
     
     
       37. The integrated image sensor and lens assembly of claim 31, wherein the lens mount, the tube adapter, and the lens barrel are configured to facilitate relative rotation between the tube adapter and the lens mount and relative rotation between the tube adapter and the lens barrel, wherein relative rotation between the tube adapter and the lens mount causes relative axial movement between the tube adapter and the lens mount along the optical axis and relative rotation between the tube adapter and the lens barrel causes relative axial movement between the tube adapter and the lens barrel along the optical axis. 
     
     
       38. An imaging device, comprising:
 one or more controls to operate the imaging device;   a storage medium to store images captured by the imaging device;   an image sensor substrate supporting an image sensor defining an optical axis;   a lens mount supported by the image sensor substrate;   a tube adapter received by the lens mount, the tube adapter including:
 a first threaded section; 
 an unthreaded section having a first end coterminous with the first threaded section and a second end opposite the first end; and 
 a second threaded section coterminous with the second end of the unthreaded section; and 
   a lens barrel for directing light to the image sensor, the lens barrel rotatably coupled to the tube adapter, wherein an upper subsection of the lens mount and a lower subsection of the lens barrel are unthreaded.   
     
     
       39. The imaging device of claim 38, wherein the first threaded section of the tube adapter is spaced from the second threaded section of the tube adapter along an axis generally parallel in relation to the optical axis. 
     
     
       40. The imaging device of claim 38, wherein the lens mount includes a threaded section spaced a first distance from the image sensor substrate and an unthreaded section spaced a second distance from the image sensor substrate greater than the first distance.