Abstract: A multi-processing unit reduces the time to compute parameters of a digital image to by the number of computers operating in the parallel. An image of a digital picture taken during a test of a digital camera module is portioned into N independent portions and each portion is stored into one of N memories. N processors compute test parameters of the image, where each processor works independently on a portion of the image and in parallel with the other processors. The serial computational content of the image is zero allowing a speed-up of the multiprocessing unit to be N with respect to the running the entire computation on a single processor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically focusing a miniature digital camera module (MUT) is described. A MUT is loaded onto a test fixture and aligned with an optics system of a test handler. Focus targets contained within two target wheels are positioned over an optical centerline above the digital camera module using stepper motors. A field lens is positioned to focus an image of the targets onto the lens opening of the MUT. The image can be of a single target or a combination of targets contained on the target wheels at various optical distances from the MUT. A focusing unit adjusts the lens cap of the MUT for a best focus setting and after the MUT has been tested the best focus setting if physically fixed by permanently connecting the lens cap to the body of the MUT.

Abstract: An intelligent light source for use with the test of a digital camera module provides a plurality of shapes of light. A fast light pulse is created with turn-on and turn-off transitions less than or equal to one microsecond. Other waveform shapes comprise a ramp and a sinusoid, and all shapes can be made to occur once or repetitively. The magnitude of the light has a range from 0.01 LUX to 1000 LUX, and the ramp has a ramp time that has a range from microseconds to 100 ms. The light comprises of a plurality of colors created by serial connected strings of LED devices, where the LED devices in a string emit the same color. The light emanating from the light source is calibrated using a photo diode and the control of a tester by adjusting offset voltages of a DAC controlling a current through the LED strings.

Abstract: A test system for digital camera modules used in consumer electronics, e.g. cellular phones and PDA's is shown. The test system comprises of a tester and a module handler that is aimed at reducing test time by an order of magnitude. The Test system has an image-processing unit that uses N-parallel processor to reduce the computation time on a test image by approximately the number of parallel processors. The handler is controlled by the tester to select, focus and test small digital camera modules. There are two test stations in the handler, where a first test station performs tests on a first camera module while a second test station is loaded with a second camera module, thus burying the loading time within the test time.

Abstract: A test handler is controlled by a tester to transport, select, focus and test miniature digital camera modules. The modules are loaded onto a transport tray and moved on a conveyer to a robot. The robot selects the untested modules from the tray an alternately places the modules into two test stations. A first test station focuses and tests a first module while the second test station is loaded with a second module, thus burying the handling time for the modules within the test time. The robot returns tested modules to the transport tray, and when all modules on the tray are tested, moves the tray out of the test handler. A second tray with untested modules is positioned at the robot while the tested modules of the first tray are being focus fixed and sorted into part number bins. The overlap of operations buries handling time within the focus and test time so that the limitation of total test time is depending on focus and test operations.