Imaging module with color wheel

Abstract

The invention provides an imaging module with a color wheel. The imaging module comprises an image sensor, a lens group, the color wheel, a shading sheet, a shading blade and a driving element, the lens group is arranged above the image sensor, and the color wheel is arranged above the lens group and comprises a plurality of optical filters with different filtering wave bands. The anti-dazzling screen is arranged above the color wheel and provided with a notch, and part of the optical filters are exposed out of the notch. The shading blade is connected to the shading piece and used for moving relative to the notch so as to shield the notch to different degrees. The driving element is used for driving at least one of the color wheel and the anti-dazzling screen to rotate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an imaging module, and in particular to an imaging module with a color wheel. Background Art

[0002] The color wheel is a key component in digital light processing (DLP) technology, responsible for decomposing the white light of the light source into basic colors such as red, green, and blue to generate color images. This technology is widely used in commercial, educational, and home theater projectors because it can provide high-quality color reproduction and brightness.

[0003] The color wheel consists of a transparent disk divided into multiple sectors, each covered with a filter of a different color. Common configurations include red, green, and blue. When the projector is running, the color wheel rotates at high speed, allowing white light to pass through these filters in turn, breaking the light into monochromatic light.

[0004] These monochromatic lights are sequentially irradiated onto the chip of the digital micro-mirror device (DMD). There are millions of tiny mirrors on the DMD chip, and each mirror corresponds to a pixel in the image. When the light passes through the color wheel, the DMD chip adjusts the tilt angle of the micromirror according to the color of the light to determine whether the light is reflected into the projection lens. The DMD chip can accurately control the brightness and color of each pixel, and finally synthesize a complete color image.

[0005] The main advantage of the color wheel is its cost-effectiveness and high efficiency of color projection. Compared with multi-chip DLP projectors, single-chip DLP projectors only need one DMD chip and color wheel to generate color images, which significantly reduces production costs. At the same time, the design optimization of the color wheel can improve color accuracy and saturation, providing a better viewing experience.

[0006] However, there is no technology for applying color wheels to camera modules, so the color saturation that can be achieved by current camera modules needs to be improved, and the cost of current camera modules is difficult to further reduce. In addition, there is no technology for applying variable apertures suitable for color wheels to camera modules. Summary of the invention

[0007] The present invention is directed to an imaging module with a color wheel, which can achieve higher color saturation, and can achieve dual optimization of color and contrast, or can have lower cost.

[0008] One embodiment of the present invention provides an imaging module with a color wheel, including an image sensor, a lens group, a color wheel, a shading sheet, a shading blade, and a driving element. The lens group is arranged above the image sensor, and the color wheel is arranged above the lens group, and includes a plurality of filters with different filter bands. The shading sheet is arranged above the color wheel, and has a notch, wherein the notch exposes part of these filters. The shading blade is connected to the shading sheet, and is used to move relative to the notch to form different degrees of shielding for the notch. The driving element is used to drive at least one of the color wheel and the shading sheet to rotate.

[0009] In the imaging module with a color wheel of the embodiment of the present invention, a color wheel is arranged above the lens group, the color wheel includes a plurality of filters of different filter bands, and a light shielding sheet is arranged above the color wheel, which has a notch to expose part of these filters. By driving at least one of the color wheel and the light shielding sheet to rotate, the image sensor can sequentially sense the images of light of different bands, and the images of light of different bands can be synthesized into a color image, so the image sensor can further sense a color image with a higher color saturation. In addition, in the imaging module with a color wheel of the embodiment of the present invention, since the color wheel is used to sequentially filter out light of different bands, an image sensor with a relatively simple structure can be used, so the cost of the imaging module can be effectively reduced. Furthermore, in the imaging module with a color wheel of the embodiment of the present invention, a light shielding blade connected to the light shielding sheet is used, and the light shielding blade is used to move relative to the notch to form different degrees of shielding for the notch, thereby achieving dual optimization of color and contrast. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an imaging module with a color wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] Figure 1B Yes Figure 1A A schematic cross-sectional view of an imaging module with a color wheel cut along an optical axis;

[0012] Figure 2A Is to watch at an angle Figure 1A Schematic diagram of the shading blades, shading sheet and the upper side of the color wheel;

[0013] Figure 2B Is to watch at an angle Figure 1A A schematic diagram of the upper side of the color wheel in FIG.

[0014] Figure 3A and Figure 3B The two shade states of the shading blades are shown. Figure 1A A schematic top view of the shading blades, shading sheets, color wheel, coil, magnet, and connecting rope;

[0015] Figure 4A For tilted viewing Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a first magnet, a first coil, a ring-shaped circuit board and the lower side of a color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel;

[0016] Figure 4B For tilted viewing Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a first coil, a ring-shaped circuit board, a second magnet, a second coil, a light shielding sheet and an upper side of a color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel;

[0017] Figure 5A and Figure 5B To tilt the light at an angle to view the two shaded states of the shading blades Figure 1A A partial three-dimensional schematic diagram of the upper side of the shading blades, shading sheets, color wheel, coil, magnet, and connecting rope. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0019] Figure 1A is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an imaging module with a color wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1B Yes Figure 1A A schematic cross-sectional view of an imaging module with a color wheel cut along the optical axis. Figure 2A Is tilted at an angle Figure 1A Schematic diagram of the shading blades, shading sheet and the upper side of the color wheel, and Figure 2B Is tilted at an angle Figure 1A See the diagram for the top side of the color wheel in Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2A and Figure 2B The imaging module 100 with a color wheel of this embodiment includes an image sensor 110, a lens group 120, a color wheel 130, a light shielding sheet 140, a light shielding blade 160, and a driving element 150. The lens group 120 is disposed above the image sensor 110. The lens group 120 may include at least one lens for imaging an external object on the image sensor 110. The color wheel 130 is disposed above the lens group 120 and includes a plurality of filters 132 (such as Figure 2B ). The light shielding sheet 140 is disposed above the color wheel 130 and has a notch 142 , wherein the notch 142 exposes a portion of the filters 132 .

[0020] The driving element 150 is used to drive at least one of the color wheel 130 and the shading plate 140 to rotate. In the present embodiment, the shape of the notch 142 corresponds to the shape of the filter 132, and when the driving element 150 drives at least one of the color wheel 130 and the shading plate 140 to rotate, the notch 142 exposes these filters 132 in sequence. In the present embodiment, these filters 132 of different filter bands include a red filter, a green filter, and a blue filter. In one embodiment, these filters 132 of different filter bands may include at least one of an infrared filter and an ultraviolet filter. Alternatively, in one embodiment, these filters 132 of different filter bands may include at least one of a purple filter, a yellow filter, and an orange filter. And Figure 2B In the embodiment, the filters 132 of the color wheel 130 are 8 filters, namely, a red filter, a green filter, a blue filter, a purple filter, a yellow filter, an orange filter, an infrared filter, and an ultraviolet filter. In addition, in the present embodiment, the filters 132 are arranged in a ring shape around the optical axis A1 of the lens group 120. In addition, in the present embodiment, the filters 132 can be attached to a substrate 134, and the substrate 134 is, for example, a white glass plate, and is, for example, a circular plate.

[0021] Light 50 from an external object passes through the notch 142 of the filter 140, and is then filtered into light of a specific wavelength band by the filter 132 of the color wheel 130. The light filtered into the specific wavelength band is then focused to the image sensor 110 by the lens group 120, and is then imaged on the image sensor 110. When the driving element 150 drives at least one of the color wheel 130 and the light shielding plate 140 to rotate, the notch 142 of the light shielding plate 140 sequentially exposes the filters 132 of different filtering wavelength bands, so that light of different wavelength bands is sequentially imaged on the image sensor 110. By recording the timing of the color wheel 130, the controller electrically connected to the image sensor 110 and used to process the signal of the image sensor 110 can analyze which wavelength band the image sensed by the image sensor 110 at which time is the image, and thus can obtain information of a color image synthesized by the images of different wavelength bands.

[0022] In one embodiment, the driving element 150 is used to drive the color wheel 130 to rotate when the light shielding sheet 140 is stationary, or to drive the light shielding sheet 140 to rotate when the color wheel 130 is stationary. In this way, the notch 142 of the light shielding sheet 140 can sequentially expose the filters 132 of different filter bands. In this embodiment, the driving element 150 can be used to drive the color wheel 130 to rotate when the light shielding sheet 140 is stationary, and to drive the light shielding sheet 140 to rotate when the color wheel 130 is stationary, so that the notch 142 can generate images of different wavelength bands when it is rotated to different angles relative to the lens group 120, so that the imaging module 100 with the color wheel can obtain complete color image information. That is, when the rotation of the color wheel 130 completes a cycle, and the rotation of the light shielding sheet 140 completes a cycle, the image sensor 110 can obtain complete color image information.

[0023] In this embodiment, the color wheel 130 rotates with the optical axis A1 of the lens group 120 as the rotation axis, and the light shielding sheet 140 rotates with the optical axis A1 of the lens group 120 as the rotation axis.

[0024] Figure 3A and Figure 3B The two shade states of the shading blades are shown. Figure 1A Schematic diagram of the shading blades, shading sheets, color wheel, coil, magnet, and connecting rope in the top view. Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2A , Figure 2B , Figure 3A and Figure 3B The shading blade 160 is connected to the shading sheet 140 and is used to move relative to the notch 142 to shield the notch 142 to different degrees. Figure 3A The one shown is the one with less shielding. Figure 3B The one shown is the one with a greater degree of obscuration.

[0025] In the imaging module 100 with a color wheel of the present embodiment, a color wheel 130 disposed above the lens group 120 is used. The color wheel 130 includes a plurality of filters 132 of different filtering bands, and a light shielding sheet 140 disposed above the color wheel 130 is used. The light shielding sheet 140 has a notch 142 to expose part of the filters 132. By driving at least one of the color wheel 130 and the light shielding sheet 140 to rotate, the image sensor 110 can sequentially sense images of light of different bands, and these images of light of different bands can be synthesized into a color image, so the image sensor 110 can further sense a color image with a higher color saturation. In addition, in the imaging module 100 with a color wheel of the present embodiment, since the color wheel 130 is used to sequentially filter out light of different bands, an image sensor 110 with a relatively simple structure can be used, so the cost of the imaging module can be effectively reduced. The pixels of the image sensor 110 do not need to be divided into sub-pixels of different colors, and the color of the image sensed by the image sensor 110 can be determined by the filter 132 of the color wheel 130, which has a lower cost, thereby effectively reducing the cost. On the other hand, since the pixels of the image sensor 110 do not need to be divided into sub-pixels of different colors, the pixels of the image sensor 110 can be made smaller, or the resolution of the image sensor 110 can be made higher.

[0026] In addition, using filters 132 of different wavelengths can not only improve the color accuracy of the image, but also effectively reduce the color deviation problem. By accurately controlling the spectral characteristics of the filters 132, the technology of the color wheel 130 can achieve more realistic color reproduction. In addition, with the continuous advancement of technology, the structure of the color wheel 130 is also continuously optimized, which can provide a wider color gamut and higher brightness.

[0027] Furthermore, in the imaging module 100 with a color wheel of the present embodiment, a shading blade 160 connected to the shading sheet 140 is used, and the shading blade 160 is used to move relative to the notch 142 to form different degrees of shielding for the notch 142, so that the dual optimization of color and contrast can be achieved. Specifically, when the color wheel 130 and the shading blade 160 (which can be regarded as a variable aperture) work together, the synergistic improvement of color and contrast is achieved. The color wheel 130 is responsible for decomposing white light into different colors of light such as red, green, and blue to ensure the color restoration and brightness performance of the image. This makes the image color bright and full, and can faithfully reproduce the original color tone of the object. Relying on the color wheel is not enough to meet the needs of high contrast and deep black in some scenes. At this time, the shading blade 160 (i.e., the variable aperture) enhances the contrast and color performance of the image by adjusting the amount of light passing through. When necessary, the passage of light is reduced to make the bright scene deeper and the color purer, so that the image is more three-dimensional and layered. The combination of these technologies not only retains the vividness of colors, but also enhances the details of the image in light and dark scenes, achieving dual optimization of color and contrast.

[0028] This combination has achieved remarkable results on the technical level. The synergy of the color wheel 130 and the shading blade 160 (i.e., variable aperture) can provide richer colors and deeper blacks. Scenes often contain images with strong contrast between light and dark, such as night scenes, light and shadow changes, or action scenes. The scenes put forward higher requirements for color accuracy and contrast. After using the color wheel and the shading blade 160 (i.e., variable aperture) together, the details of the original content can be better reproduced, presenting a realistic image effect.

[0029] In addition, the technical combination of the color wheel 130 and the shading blade 160 (i.e., the variable aperture) performs well in handling dynamic scenes. When the brightness in the picture changes frequently, the variable aperture can quickly adjust the intensity of the light to ensure that the picture will not be overexposed due to changes in light. At the same time, the color wheel 130 stably provides accurate colors to ensure that the image can maintain color consistency and accuracy in the case of rapid changes. This design allows the picture to remain stable and smooth when watching fast-moving scenes or frequently switching scenes.

[0030] In this embodiment, the boundary B between two adjacent filters in these filters 132 is arc-shaped. In addition, in this embodiment, each filter 132 in these filters 132 has an arc-shaped convex side C1, an arc-shaped concave side C2, and an arc side C3 connecting the arc-shaped convex side C1 and the arc-shaped concave side C2, wherein the rotation direction D1 of the color wheel 130 is from the arc-shaped concave side C2 to the arc-shaped convex side C1, so that the color wheel 130 can more effectively guide the airflow when rotating rapidly, reduce the separation of airflow and the generation of vortex, thereby reducing wind resistance. This design allows the filter 132 to cut the air more smoothly when rotating, reducing energy loss.

[0031] Figure 4A For tilted viewing Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a first magnet, a first coil, a ring-shaped circuit board and the lower side of the color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel, and Figure 4B For tilted viewing Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a first coil, a ring-shaped circuit board, a second magnet, a second coil, a light shielding sheet and the upper side of the color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel. Please refer to Figure 1A , Figure 4A and Figure 4B In this embodiment, the driving element 150 includes a plurality of first magnets 151, a plurality of first coils 152, a plurality of second magnets 153, and a plurality of second coils 154. The first magnets 151 are disposed around the edge of the color wheel 130, and the first coils 152 are correspondingly disposed around the first magnets 151. In response to the first coils 152 being energized, a first magnetic force is generated. The first magnets 151 are subjected to the first magnetic force and drive the color wheel 130 to rotate. In other words, the first coils 152 serve as stators, and the first magnets 151 serve as rotors. The second magnets 153 are disposed around the edge of the light shielding sheet 140, and the second coils 154 are correspondingly disposed around the second magnets 153. In response to the second coils 154 being energized, a second magnetic force is generated. The second magnets 153 are subjected to the second magnetic force and drive the light shielding sheet 140 to rotate. In other words, the second coils 154 serve as stators, and the second magnets 153 serve as rotors. In this embodiment, the driving element 150 includes an annular circuit board 155, wherein the first coils 152 and the second coils 154 are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the annular circuit board 155 and are electrically connected to the annular circuit board 155. The annular circuit board 155 is used to provide current to the first coils 152 and the second coils 154.

[0032] Figure 5A and Figure 5B To tilt the light at an angle to view the two shaded states of the shading blades Figure 1AA partial three-dimensional diagram of the upper side of the shading blades, shading sheets, color wheel, coil, magnet, and connecting rope. Figure 1A , Figure 3A , Figure 3B , Figure 5A and Figure 5B The imaging module 100 with a color wheel in this embodiment further includes a coil 172, a magnet 174 and a connecting rope 171. The coil 172 is disposed on the light shielding sheet 140, and the magnet 174 is disposed beside the coil 172. The connecting rope 171 connects the magnet 174 and the light shielding blade 160, wherein the energized state of the coil 172 is used to change the position of the magnet 174 on the light shielding sheet 140 (for example, when the coil 172 is energized, it will generate a magnetic force on the magnet 174 to change the position of the magnet 174 on the light shielding sheet 140, and then drive the light shielding blade 160 to rotate through the connecting rope 171, thereby changing the degree of shielding of the light shielding blade 160 to the gap 142.

[0033] In this embodiment, the imaging module 100 with a color wheel further includes a plurality of limiting structures 173 and a roller 175. The limiting structures 173 are disposed on the light shielding sheet 140, wherein the connecting rope 171 passes through the limiting structures 173. The limiting structures 173 can limit the lateral displacement of the connecting rope, and are, for example, limiting rings, and the connecting rope 171 can pass through the hole in the center of the limiting ring. The roller 175 is disposed on the light shielding sheet 140 and is located on one side of the coil 172, wherein the connecting rope 171 passes around the roller 175 to change its extension direction.

[0034] In this embodiment, the shading blade 160 is rotatably connected to the shading sheet 140 via the rotating shaft 180, and the shading blade 160 has a main body 162 and a light adjustment portion 164. The main body 162 is connected to the rotating shaft 180, and the light adjustment portion 164 is connected to the main body 162 and extends along the circumference of the color wheel 130. The width of the light adjustment portion 164 in the radial direction of the color wheel 130 decreases from one end connected to the main body 162 to the end away from the main body 162. In this way, with the different conversion angles of the shading blade 160, different degrees of shielding effect on the gap 142 can be achieved.

[0035] In summary, in the imaging module with a color wheel of the embodiment of the present invention, a color wheel is used to be arranged above the lens group, the color wheel includes a plurality of filters of different filter bands, and a light shielding sheet is used to be arranged above the color wheel, which has a gap to expose part of these filters. By driving at least one of the color wheel and the light shielding sheet to rotate, the image sensor can sequentially sense the images of light of different bands, and these images of light of different bands can be synthesized into a color image, so the image sensor can further sense a color image with a higher color saturation. In addition, in the imaging module with a color wheel of the embodiment of the present invention, since the color wheel is used to sequentially filter out light of different bands, an image sensor with a relatively simple structure can be used, so the cost of the imaging module can be effectively reduced. Furthermore, in the imaging module with a color wheel of the embodiment of the present invention, a light shielding blade connected to the light shielding sheet is used, and the light shielding blade is used to move relative to the gap to form different degrees of shielding for the gap, thereby achieving dual optimization of color and contrast.

[0036] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An imaging module with a color wheel, characterized in that: include: Image sensor; A lens group, arranged above the image sensor; A color wheel, disposed above the lens group and comprising a plurality of filters with different filtering bands; A light shielding sheet, disposed above the color wheel and having a notch, wherein the notch exposes a portion of the plurality of filters; A shading blade connected to the shading sheet and used to move relative to the notch to provide different degrees of shading to the notch; as well as The driving element is used to drive at least one of the color wheel and the light shielding sheet to rotate.

2. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A coil, disposed on the light shielding sheet; A magnet, disposed beside the coil; as well as A connecting rope connects the magnet and the shading blade, wherein the energized state of the coil is used to change the position of the magnet on the shading sheet, thereby driving the shading blade to rotate through the connecting rope to change the degree of shielding of the gap by the shading blade.

3. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: A plurality of limiting structures are arranged on the light shielding sheet, wherein the connecting rope passes through the plurality of limiting structures; as well as The roller is configured on the shading sheet and is located on one side of the coil, wherein the connecting rope passes around the roller to change its extending direction.

4. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shading blade is rotatably connected to the shading sheet via a rotating shaft, and the shading blade has: a main body connected to the rotating shaft; and The light quantity adjustment part is connected to the main body and extends along the circumference of the color wheel, wherein the width of the light quantity adjustment part in the radial direction of the color wheel decreases from one end connected to the main body to the end away from the main body.

5. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shape of the notch corresponds to the shape of the filter, and when the driving element drives at least one of the color wheel and the light shielding plate to rotate, the notch exposes the plurality of filters in sequence.

6. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving element comprises: A plurality of first magnets are disposed around the edge of the color wheel; A plurality of first coils correspondingly surround the plurality of first magnets, wherein a first magnetic force is generated in response to the plurality of first coils being energized, and the plurality of first magnets are subjected to the first magnetic force to drive the color wheel to rotate; A plurality of second magnets are disposed around the edge of the light shielding sheet; and A plurality of second coils correspondingly surround the plurality of second magnets, wherein a second magnetic force is generated in response to the plurality of second coils being energized, and the plurality of second magnets are subjected to the second magnetic force to drive the shading sheet to rotate.

7. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 6, characterized in that: The driving element includes an annular circuit board, wherein the plurality of first coils and the plurality of second coils are respectively disposed on two opposite surfaces of the annular circuit board and are electrically connected to the annular circuit board.

8. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of filters with different filtering bands include a red filter, a green filter and a blue filter.

9. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 8, characterized in that: The plurality of filters include at least one of an infrared light-permeable filter and an ultraviolet light-permeable filter.

10. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plurality of filters are arranged in a ring shape around the optical axis of the lens group.

11. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 10, characterized in that: The boundary between two adjacent filters among the plurality of filters is arc-shaped.

12. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 11, characterized in that: Each of the plurality of filters has an arcuate convex side, an arcuate concave side and an arcuate side connecting the arcuate convex side and the arcuate concave side, wherein the color wheel rotates from the arcuate concave side to the arcuate convex side.

13. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving element is used to drive the color wheel to rotate when the shading sheet is stationary, or to drive the shading sheet to rotate when the color wheel is stationary.

14. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 13, characterized in that: The rotation of the color wheel is a rotation with the optical axis of the lens group as the rotation axis, and the rotation of the light shielding sheet is a rotation with the optical axis of the lens group as the rotation axis.

Images