AEi DEVELOPS IMPROVED APPROACH FOR CAMERA MODULE MANUFACTURING
FOR CELL PHONES AND OTHER CONSUMER PRODUCTS
New Approach Uses Active Alignment for Improved Yield And Performance
Wilmington, MA – January 15, 2005–Automation Engineering Incorporated (AEi), a leading supplier of high precision automation systems, announces an improved method to automate the manufacturing of camera modules for a variety of consumer product applications. AEi’s approach uses active alignment of optical and optoelectronic components in three to six degrees of freedom. This approach is based on AEi’s alignment algorithms and techniques used for high value products for fiber optic communications.
According to AEi Chief Technical Officer Andre By, “We’ve been using machine vision plus active device feedback for several years to achieve alignment accuracies on the order of 1 micron or better for telecommunications products such as fiber optic transmitters and receivers. We use acquired vision images in combination with signals directly from the devices to be aligned to precisely position and assemble the critical components of these packages quickly and very reliably.
“We have now adapted these same approaches to align camera module sensors and optical elements such as lens assemblies together within very high tolerances in either a fully automated or semi-automated fashion. This greatly improves the accuracy of the alignment, assembly, and test function, as well as dramatically decreasing cycle time,” concluded By.
About Automation Engineering, Inc.
Automation Engineering Inc. (AEi) is a leading supplier of high-precision automation systems across the optoelectronics, medical devices, consumer products, aerospace/ defense, and other world-wide markets. AEi provides comprehensive design for manufacturing, process development, and pre-production build services in addition to complete turn-key automated manufacturing stations and lines. For more information, visit AEi’s website, www.aeiboston.com.