US 12,455,427 B2
Camera focusing including lens centration estimation using variable focal length phased metalens
Ronald M. Taylor, Greentown, IN (US); and Morgan Daniel Murphy, Kokomo, IN (US)
Assigned to Aptiv Technologies AG, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed by Aptiv Technologies AG, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed on May 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/661,908.
Prior Publication US 2023/0358989 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 7/00 (2021.01); G01M 11/02 (2006.01); G02B 1/00 (2006.01); G02B 7/02 (2021.01)
CPC G02B 7/003 (2013.01) [G01M 11/0292 (2013.01); G02B 1/002 (2013.01); G02B 7/021 (2013.01); G02B 7/023 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
identifying, loaded in camera modular alignment and test (CMAT) equipment, a set of lenses and a set of camera components including an image sensor for a camera assembly;
executing, by the CMAT equipment, a multiple-axis lens alignment check to measure a modulation transfer function performance of the lenses after integration with the camera components, wherein executing the alignment check includes:
positioning a variable focal length phased metalens between the lenses and the image sensor;
measuring optical characteristics of the lenses at two or more opposing segments of the metalens to determine defocusing effects of the lenses after integration with the camera components;
computing, based on the defocusing effects of the lenses, a centration tilt vector for the lenses relative to a boresight of the image sensor; and
repositioning the lenses to align the centration tilt vector with the boresight of the image sensor to generate instructions for precisely aligning the centration tilt vector with the boresight during production of the camera assembly; and
outputting, by the CMAT equipment, the instructions for precisely aligning the centration tilt vector with the boresight during production of the camera assembly.