Imaging module with color wheel

Abstract

The present application provides an imaging module with a color wheel, comprising an image sensor, a lens group, a color wheel, a light shield, a light shield blade and a driving element. The lens group is disposed above the image sensor, the color wheel is disposed above the lens group and comprises a plurality of filters of different light filtering bands. The light shield is disposed above the color wheel and has a gap, wherein the gap exposes part of the filters. The light shield blade is connected to the light shield and is used to move relative to the gap to form different degrees of shielding for the gap. The driving element is used to drive at least one of the color wheel and the light shield to rotate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an imaging module, and more particularly to an imaging module having a color wheel. Background Technology

[0002] The color wheel is a key component in digital light processing (DLP) technology, responsible for breaking down white light from a light source into primary colors such as red, green, and blue to generate a color image. This technology is widely used in commercial, educational, and home theater projectors because it provides excellent color reproduction and brightness.

[0003] The color wheel consists of a transparent disc divided into multiple sector-shaped areas, 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, causing white light to pass through these filters sequentially, breaking the light down into monochromatic light.

[0004] These monochromatic lights sequentially illuminate the chip of a digital micromirror device (DMD). The DMD chip contains millions of tiny mirrors, each corresponding to a pixel in the image. As the light passes through the color wheel, the DMD chip adjusts the tilt angle of the micromirrors according to the color of the light, determining whether the light is reflected into the projection lens. The DMD chip can precisely control the brightness and color of each pixel, ultimately synthesizing a complete color image.

[0005] The main advantages of a color wheel lie in its cost-effectiveness and high efficiency in color projection. Compared to multi-chip DLP projectors, single-chip DLP projectors require only a single DMD chip and color wheel to generate color images, significantly reducing production costs. Furthermore, optimized color wheel design improves color accuracy and saturation, providing a better viewing experience.

[0006] However, there is currently no technology to apply color wheels to camera modules, thus limiting the color saturation achievable by current camera modules and hindering further cost reduction. Furthermore, there is also no technology to apply variable aperture to camera modules that incorporates color wheels. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This invention relates to an imaging module with a color wheel, which can achieve high color saturation and dual optimization of color and contrast, or at a 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 light-shielding plate, light-shielding blades, and a driving element. The lens group is disposed above the image sensor, and the color wheel is disposed above the lens group, including multiple filters with different filtering bands. The light-shielding plate is disposed above the color wheel and has a notch, wherein the notch exposes a portion of the filters. The light-shielding blades are connected to the light-shielding plate and are movable relative to the notch to create different degrees of shading of the notch. The driving element is used to drive at least one of the color wheel and the light-shielding plate to rotate.

[0009] In the imaging module with a color wheel in an embodiment of the present invention, a color wheel is used, which includes multiple filters with different wavelengths. A light-shielding plate with a notch is also used above the color wheel to expose a portion of the filters. By driving at least one of the color wheel and the light-shielding plate to rotate, the image sensor can sequentially sense images of light at different wavelengths. These images can be combined to form a color image, thus allowing the image sensor to sense a color image with high color saturation. Furthermore, in the imaging module with a color wheel in an embodiment of the present invention, since a color wheel is used to sequentially filter light at different wavelengths, a simpler image sensor can be used, effectively reducing the cost of the imaging module. Moreover, in the imaging module with a color wheel in an embodiment of the present invention, light-shielding blades connected to the light-shielding plate are used. These blades move relative to the notch to create varying degrees of occlusion of the notch, thereby achieving dual optimization of color and contrast. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1A This 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 It is Figure 1A A schematic diagram of the cross-section of an imaging module with a color wheel cut along the optical axis;

[0012] Figure 2A It is viewed at an angle. Figure 1A A schematic diagram of the light-shielding blades, light-shielding plates, and the upper side of the color wheel;

[0013] Figure 2B It is viewed at an angle. Figure 1A A schematic diagram of the upper side of the color wheel in the diagram;

[0014] Figure 3A and Figure 3B The diagram shows two shading states of the shading blades. Figure 1A A top view of the shading blades, shading plates, color wheel, coil, magnet, and connecting rope in the diagram;

[0015] Figure 4A To view at an angle Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first magnet, the first coil, the annular circuit board, and the underside of the color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel;

[0016] Figure 4B To view at an angle Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first coil, the ring circuit board, the second magnet, the second coil, the light shield, and the upper side of the color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel;

[0017] Figure 5A and Figure 5B To view at an angle under both shading conditions of the shading leaves. Figure 1A A partial three-dimensional schematic diagram of the upper side of the light-blocking blades, light-blocking plates, color wheel, coil, magnet, and connecting rope. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same element references are used in the drawings and description to denote the same or similar parts.

[0019] Figure 1A This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an imaging module with a color wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1B It is Figure 1A A schematic diagram of a cross-section of an imaging module with a color wheel cut along the optical axis. Figure 2A It is viewed at an angle. Figure 1A A schematic diagram of the light-blocking blades, light-blocking plates, and the upper side of the color wheel. Figure 2B It is viewed at an angle. Figure 1A A diagram showing the upper part of the color wheel. Please refer to... Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2A and Figure 2B The imaging module 100 with a color wheel in this embodiment includes an image sensor 110, a lens group 120, a color wheel 130, a light-shielding plate 140, a light-shielding blade 160, and a driving element 150. The lens group 120 is disposed above the image sensor 110 and may include at least one lens for imaging external objects onto the image sensor 110. The color wheel 130 is disposed above the lens group 120 and includes multiple filters 132 of different filtering bands (e.g., ...). Figure 2B (As shown). The light-blocking plate 140 is disposed above the color wheel 130 and has a notch 142, wherein the notch 142 exposes a portion of these filters 132.

[0020] A driving element 150 is used to drive at least one of the color wheel 130 and the light-shielding plate 140 to rotate. In this 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 light-shielding plate 140 to rotate, the notch 142 sequentially exposes the filters 132. In this embodiment, the filters 132 of different wavelengths include red, green, and blue filters. In one embodiment, the filters 132 of different wavelengths may include at least one of an infrared-transmitting filter and an ultraviolet-transmitting filter. Alternatively, in one embodiment, the filters 132 of different wavelengths may include at least one of a violet, yellow, and orange filter. Figure 2B In this embodiment, the filters 132 of the color wheel 130 are eight types of filters: red, green, blue, purple, yellow, orange, infrared-transmitting, and ultraviolet-transmitting. Furthermore, in this embodiment, these filters 132 are arranged in a ring around the optical axis A1 of the lens group 120. Additionally, in this embodiment, these filters 132 can be attached to a substrate 134, which is, for example, a white glass plate, and for example, a circular plate.

[0021] Light 50 from an external object passes through the notch 142 of filter 140, and is then filtered into specific wavelengths by the filters 132 of color wheel 130. This filtered light is then focused by lens group 120 onto image sensor 110, where it is imaged. When driving element 150 rotates at least one of color wheel 130 and light shield 140, the notch 142 of light shield 140 sequentially exposes filters 132 of different wavelengths, allowing light of different wavelengths to be imaged sequentially onto image sensor 110. By recording the timing of color wheel 130, a controller electrically connected to image sensor 110 and used to process signals from image sensor 110 can analyze which wavelength of image was sensed by image sensor 110 at what time, thereby obtaining information about the color image synthesized from these different wavelengths.

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

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

[0024] Figure 3A and Figure 3B The diagram shows two shading states of the shading blades. Figure 1A A top view diagram of the light-blocking blades, light-blocking plates, color wheel, coil, magnet, and connecting rope. Please refer to... Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2A , Figure 2B , Figure 3A and Figure 3B The light-shielding blade 160 is connected to the light-shielding plate 140 and is used to move relative to the notch 142 to form different degrees of shading on the notch 142, such as... Figure 3A The image shown represents the one with a lower degree of obstruction, while... Figure 3B The image shown represents the one with a higher degree of obstruction.

[0025] In the imaging module 100 with a color wheel in this embodiment, a color wheel 130 is used, positioned above the lens group 120. The color wheel 130 includes multiple filters 132 with different wavelengths, and a light-shielding plate 140 with a notch 142 is positioned above the color wheel 130 to expose a portion of the filters 132. By driving at least one of the color wheel 130 and the light-shielding plate 140 to rotate, the image sensor 110 can sequentially sense images of light with different wavelengths. These images of light with different wavelengths can be combined to form a color image, thus the image sensor 110 can sense a color image with high color saturation. Furthermore, in the imaging module 100 with a color wheel in this embodiment, since a color wheel 130 is used to sequentially filter light with different wavelengths, a relatively simple image sensor 110 can be used, thus effectively reducing the cost of the imaging module. The pixels of the image sensor 110 do not need to be divided into sub-pixels of different colors, and the colors 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, thus effectively reducing costs. 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] Furthermore, using filters 132 of different wavelengths not only improves the color accuracy of the image but also effectively reduces color cast. By precisely controlling the spectral characteristics of the filter 132, the color wheel 130 technology can achieve more realistic color reproduction. Moreover, with continuous technological advancements, the structure of the color wheel 130 is constantly being optimized, providing a wider color gamut and higher brightness.

[0027] Furthermore, in the imaging module 100 with a color wheel in this embodiment, a light-shielding blade 160 connected to the light-shielding plate 140 is used. The light-shielding blade 160 moves relative to the notch 142 to form different degrees of occlusion of the notch 142, thus achieving dual optimization of color and contrast. Specifically, when the color wheel 130 and the light-shielding blade 160 (which can be regarded as a variable aperture) work together, a synergistic enhancement of color and contrast is achieved. The color wheel 130 is responsible for decomposing white light into different colors such as red, green, and blue, ensuring the color reproduction and brightness performance of the image. This makes the image colors vivid and full, and can faithfully reproduce the original color tone of the object. The color wheel alone is not enough to meet the needs of high contrast and deep black in some scenes. At this time, the light-shielding 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, it reduces the amount of light passing through, making the bright scenes deeper and the colors purer, thereby making the image more three-dimensional and layered. This combination of technologies preserves color vibrancy while enhancing image detail in both bright and dark scenes, achieving dual optimization of color and contrast.

[0028] This combination achieves significant technical results. The synergy between the color wheel 130 and the aperture 160 (i.e., variable aperture) delivers richer colors and deeper blacks, especially useful in scenes with strong contrasts, such as night scenes, lighting effects, or action sequences. These scenes demand higher levels of color accuracy and contrast. Using the color wheel and aperture 160 together better reproduces the details of the original content, resulting in a more realistic image.

[0029] Furthermore, the combination of color wheel 130 and light-blocking blades 160 (i.e., variable aperture) performs exceptionally well in handling dynamic scenes. When brightness changes frequently in the scene, the variable aperture can quickly adjust the light intensity, ensuring that the image is not overexposed due to changes in light. At the same time, color wheel 130 provides stable and accurate colors, ensuring that the image maintains color consistency and accuracy even under rapid changes. This design enables a stable and smooth image when viewing fast-moving or frequently changing scenes.

[0030] In this embodiment, the junction B between two adjacent filters 132 is arc-shaped. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each filter 132 has an arc-shaped protruding side C1, an arc-shaped concave side C2, and an arc-shaped side C3 connecting the arc-shaped protruding side C1 and the arc-shaped concave side C2. The rotation direction D1 of the color wheel 130 is from the arc-shaped concave side C2 towards the arc-shaped protruding side C1. This allows the color wheel 130 to more effectively guide airflow during rapid rotation, reducing airflow separation and vortex generation, thereby reducing wind resistance. This design allows the filter 132 to cut through the air more smoothly during rotation, reducing energy loss.

[0031] Figure 4A To view at an angle Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first magnet, first coil, annular circuit board, and the underside of the color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel. Figure 4B To view at an angle Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first coil, ring circuit board, second magnet, second coil, light-blocking plate, and 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 arranged around the edge of the color wheel 130, and the first coils 152 correspondingly surround the first magnets 151. When the first coils 152 are energized, a first magnetic force is generated, and the first magnets 151 are subjected to this first magnetic force, thus driving the color wheel 130 to rotate. That is, the first coils 152 act as stators, and the first magnets 151 act as rotors. The second magnets 153 are arranged around the edge of the light-shielding plate 140, and the second coils 154 correspondingly surround the second magnets 153. When the second coils 154 are energized, a second magnetic force is generated, and the second magnets 153 are subjected to this second magnetic force, thus driving the light-shielding plate 140 to rotate. That is, the second coils 154 act as stators, and the second magnets 153 act as rotors. In this embodiment, the driving element 150 includes a ring circuit board 155, wherein the first coils 152 and the second coils 154 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the ring circuit board 155 and electrically connected to the ring circuit board 155. The ring 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 view at an angle under both shading conditions of the shading leaves. Figure 1AA partial 3D schematic diagram of the upper part of the light-blocking blades, light-blocking plates, color wheel, coil, magnet, and connecting rope. Please refer to... Figure 1A , Figure 3A , Figure 3B , Figure 5A and Figure 5B The imaging module 100 with a color wheel in this embodiment also includes a coil 172, a magnet 174, and a connecting rope 171. The coil 172 is disposed on the light-shielding plate 140, and the magnet 174 is disposed next to the coil 172. The connecting rope 171 connects the magnet 174 and the light-shielding blade 160. The energized state of the coil 172 is used to change the position of the magnet 174 on the light-shielding plate 140 (for example, when the coil 172 is energized, it will generate a magnetic force on the magnet 174, thereby changing the position of the magnet 174 on the light-shielding plate 140, and then the connecting rope 171 will drive the light-shielding blade 160 to rotate, thereby changing the degree of shading of the notch 142 by the light-shielding blade 160).

[0033] In this embodiment, the imaging module 100 with a color wheel further includes multiple limiting structures 173 and rollers 175. The limiting structures 173 are disposed on the light-shielding plate 140, through which a connecting rope 171 passes. These limiting structures 173 restrict the lateral displacement of the connecting rope; for example, they are limiting rings, through which the connecting rope 171 can pass. The rollers 175 are disposed on the light-shielding plate 140 and located on one side of the coil 172, with the connecting rope 171 bypassing the rollers 175 to change its extension direction.

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

[0035] In summary, the imaging module with a color wheel in the embodiments of the present invention employs a color wheel disposed above the lens group. The color wheel includes multiple filters with different filtering bands, and a light-shielding plate disposed above the color wheel has a notch to expose a portion of these filters. By driving at least one of the color wheel and the light-shielding plate to rotate, the image sensor can sequentially sense images of light in different bands. These images of light in different bands can be combined to form a color image, thus the image sensor can further sense a color image with high color saturation. Furthermore, in the imaging module with a color wheel in the embodiments of the present invention, since a color wheel is used to sequentially filter out light in different bands, a relatively simple image sensor can be used, thus effectively reducing the cost of the imaging module. Moreover, in the imaging module with a color wheel in the embodiments of the present invention, light-shielding blades connected to the light-shielding plate are used. The light-shielding blades move relative to the notch to form different degrees of occlusion of the notch, 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, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions 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 having a color wheel, characterized by, The image sensor; The lens group is arranged above the image sensor; The color wheel is arranged above the lens group, and includes a plurality of filters of different filter wavebands; The light shield is arranged above the color wheel, and has a gap, wherein the gap exposes part of the plurality of filters; The light shield blade is connected to the light shield, and is used to move relative to the gap to form different degrees of shielding for the gap; And The drive element is used to drive at least one of the color wheel and the light shield to rotate, wherein the plurality of filters are arranged in a ring around the optical axis of the lens group, and the intersection of adjacent two filters of the plurality of filters is arc-shaped. Also includes:

2. The imaging module with color wheel of claim 1, wherein, The coil is arranged on the light shield; The magnet is arranged beside the coil; And The connecting rope connects the magnet and the light shield, wherein the energization state of the coil is used to change the position of the magnet on the light shield, thereby driving the light shield blade to rotate through the connecting rope, and changing the shielding degree of the light shield blade to the gap. Also includes:

3. The imaging module with a color wheel of claim 2, wherein, A plurality of limiting structures are arranged on the light shield, wherein the connecting rope passes through the plurality of limiting structures; And The roller is arranged on the light shield and located on one side of the coil, wherein the connecting rope changes its extension direction by winding around the roller. The light shield blade is rotatably connected to the light shield through a rotating shaft, and the light shield blade has:

4. The imaging module with color wheel of claim 1, wherein, The main body part is connected to the rotating shaft; and The light amount adjusting part is connected to the main body part and extends along the circumference of the color wheel, wherein the width of the light amount adjusting part in the radial direction of the color wheel decreases from one end connected to the main body part to the end away from the main body part. The shape of the gap corresponds to the shape of the filter, and when the drive element drives at least one of the color wheel and the light shield to rotate, the gap sequentially exposes the plurality of filters.

5. The imaging module with color wheel of claim 1, wherein, The drive element includes:

6. The imaging module with color wheel of claim 1, wherein, A plurality of first magnets are arranged 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 energization of the plurality of first coils, and the plurality of first magnets are driven to rotate by the first magnetic force; A plurality of second magnets are arranged around the edge of the light shield; and A plurality of second coils correspondingly surround the plurality of second magnets, wherein a second magnetic force is generated in response to the energization of the plurality of second coils, and the plurality of second magnets are driven to rotate by the second magnetic force. The drive element includes a ring-shaped circuit board, wherein the plurality of first coils and the plurality of second coils are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the ring-shaped circuit board and are electrically connected to the ring-shaped circuit board.

7. The imaging module with a color wheel of claim 6, wherein, The plurality of filters of different filter wavebands include red filters, green filters and blue filters.

8. The imaging module with color wheel of claim 1, wherein, The plurality of filters include at least one of infrared light-permeable filters and ultraviolet light-permeable filters.

9. The imaging module with a color wheel of claim 8, wherein, ​ 10. The imaging module with color wheel of claim 1, wherein, Each of the plurality of filters has an arc-shaped convex side, an arc-shaped concave side, and a circular arc side connecting the arc-shaped convex side and the arc-shaped concave side, wherein a rotation direction of the color wheel is from the arc-shaped concave side to the arc-shaped convex side.

11. The imaging module with a color wheel of claim 1, wherein, The driving element is used to drive the color wheel to rotate when the light-shielding piece is static, or to drive the light-shielding piece to rotate when the color wheel is static.

12. The imaging module having a color wheel of claim 11, wherein, The rotation of the color wheel is a rotation with an optical axis of the lens group as a rotation axis, and the rotation of the light-shielding piece is a rotation with the optical axis of the lens group as a rotation axis.

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