Imaging module with color wheel
By introducing the design of color wheels and light shields into the camera module, high color saturation and low cost imaging effects are achieved, which solves the shortcomings in color saturation and cost of the existing camera modules, simplifies the image sensor structure, and improves the authenticity and resolution of color restoration.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411852107.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-08-28
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-16
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-18
AI Technical Summary
The existing camera modules have shortcomings in color saturation and cost, and it is difficult to further improve and reduce.
A color wheel arranged above the lens group is adopted. The color wheel includes a plurality of filters of different filter bands, and a light shield is arranged above it. The light shield has a notch to expose some of the filters. The color wheel and the light shield are driven to rotate through the driving element, so that the image sensor can sense light in different bands in sequence and synthesize a color image.
It improves the color saturation of the image and reduces the cost of the imaging module, while simplifying the structure of the image sensor, reducing wind resistance and energy loss, and improving the authenticity and resolution of color reduction.
Smart Images
Figure CN120335218A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an imaging module, and more particularly to an imaging module having a color wheel. Background Art
[0002] The color wheel was originally a key component in digital light processing (DLP) technology, responsible for decomposing the white light of the 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 can provide high-quality color reproduction and brightness.
[0003] The color wheel consists of a transparent disk divided into multiple sector regions, each region covered with a different color filter. Common configurations include red, green, and blue. When the projector is running, the color wheel rotates at high speed, allowing the white light to pass through these filters in sequence, decomposing the light into monochromatic light.
[0004] These monochromatic lights are sequentially irradiated onto the chip of a digital micro-mirror device (DMD). There are millions of tiny mirrors on the DMD chip, each mirror corresponding to a pixel in the image. When the light passes through the color wheel, the DMD chip adjusts the tilt angle of the micro-mirrors 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, finally synthesizing a complete color image.
[0005] The main advantages of the color wheel are its cost-effectiveness and the high efficiency of color projection. Compared with multi-chip DLP projectors, single-chip DLP projectors only need one DMD chip and a color wheel to generate a color image, significantly reducing 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 currently no technology that applies the color wheel to a camera module. Therefore, the color saturation that can be achieved by the current camera module needs to be improved, and it is also difficult to further reduce the cost of the current camera module. Summary of the Invention
[0007] The present invention is directed to an imaging module having a color wheel, which can achieve a high color saturation or may have a low cost.
[0008] An embodiment of the present invention provides an imaging module with a color wheel, which includes an image sensor, a lens group, a color wheel, a light shield, and a driving element. The lens group is disposed above the image sensor, the color wheel is disposed above the lens group and includes a plurality of filter films with different filter bands. The light shield is disposed above the color wheel and has a notch, where the notch exposes a part of these filter films. The driving element is used to drive at least one of the color wheel and the light shield to rotate.
[0009] In the imaging module with a color wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention, a color wheel disposed above the lens group is adopted. The color wheel includes a plurality of filter films with different filter bands, and a light shield disposed above the color wheel is adopted, which has a notch to expose a part of these filter films. By driving at least one of the color wheel and the light shield to rotate, the image sensor can sequentially sense images of light with different bands, and these images of light with different bands can be synthesized into a color image. Therefore, the image sensor can further sense a color image with a relatively high color saturation. In addition, in the imaging module with a color wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention, since a color wheel is adopted to sequentially filter out light with different bands, an image sensor with a relatively simple structure can be used, so that the cost of the imaging module can be effectively reduced. 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 Is Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the imaging module with a color wheel after being cut along the optical axis;
[0012] Figure 2A Is Figure 1A A top view schematic diagram of the light shield and the color wheel in
[0013] Figure 2B Is Figure 1A A top view schematic diagram of the light shield and the color wheel with the light shield presented in a transparent drawing method in
[0014] Figure 3 Is Figure 1A A top view schematic diagram of the color wheel in
[0015] Figure 4A Is Figure 1A A bottom view schematic diagram of the first magnet, the first coil, the annular circuit board, and the color wheel in the imaging module with a color wheel of
[0016] Figure 4B Is Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first coil, the annular circuit board, the second magnet, the second coil, the light shield, and the color wheel in the imaging module with a color wheel of Detailed Embodiments
[0017] 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.
[0018] Figure 1A A three-dimensional schematic diagram of an imaging module with a color wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1B is Figure 1A a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the imaging module with a color wheel in FIG. Figure 2A is Figure 1A a top view of the light shield and the color wheel in FIG. Figure 2B is Figure 1A a top view of the light shield and the color wheel in FIG. with the light shield presented in a transparent drawing method, where in FIG. Figure 2B using the transparent drawing method for the light shield does not mean that the light shield can transmit light, and such a drawing method is to more clearly present the relationship between the notch of the light shield and the filter of the color wheel. In addition, Figure 3 is Figure 1A a top view of the color wheel in FIG. Please refer to Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2A , Figure 2B and Figure 3 and Figure 3 shown), 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 shield 140, and a driving element 150. The lens group 120 is disposed above the image sensor 110, and 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 with different filter bands (as shown in
[0019] The driving element 150 is used to drive at least one of the color wheel 130 and the light shield 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 shield 140 to rotate, the notch 142 sequentially exposes these filters 132. In this embodiment, these filters 132 with different filter bands include a red filter, a green filter, and a blue filter. In an embodiment, these filters 132 with different filter bands may include at least one of an infrared-pass filter and a ultraviolet-pass filter. Alternatively, in an embodiment, these filters 132 with different filter bands may include at least one of a purple filter, a yellow filter, and an orange filter. And in Figure 3 , these filters 132 of the color wheel 130 are these 8 filters such as a red filter, a green filter, a blue filter, a purple filter, a yellow filter, an orange filter, an infrared-pass filter, and a ultraviolet-pass filter. In addition, 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, and this substrate is, for example, a white glass plate and, for example, a circular plate.
[0020] The light 50 from an external object passes through the notch 142 of the light shield 140, and then is filtered by the filter 132 of the color wheel 130 into light of a specific band, and then the light filtered into a specific band is converged by the lens group 120 to the image sensor 110 and then forms an image on the image sensor 110. When the driving element 150 drives at least one of the color wheel 130 and the light shield 140 to rotate, the notch 142 of the light shield 140 sequentially exposes these filters 132 with different filter bands, so that lights of different bands are 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 signals of the image sensor 110 can analyze which band of image the image sensor 110 senses at a certain time, and thus can obtain the information of the color image synthesized by these images of different bands.
[0021] In one embodiment, the driving element 150 is used to drive the color wheel 130 to rotate while the light shielding sheet 140 is stationary, or to drive the light shielding sheet 140 to rotate while the color wheel 130 is stationary. In this way, the notch 142 of the light shielding sheet 140 can sequentially expose these filter sheets 132 with different filter bands. In this embodiment, the driving element 150 can be used to drive the color wheel 130 to rotate while the light shielding sheet 140 is stationary, and to drive the light shielding sheet 140 to rotate while the color wheel 130 is stationary. In this way, when the notch 142 rotates relative to the lens group 120 to different angles, images of these different bands can be generated, so that the imaging module 100 with a color wheel can obtain complete color image information. That is to say, when one cycle of rotation of the color wheel 130 and one cycle of rotation of the light shielding sheet 140 are completed, the image sensor 110 can obtain complete color image information.
[0022] In this embodiment, the rotation of the color wheel 130 is a rotation about the optical axis A1 of the lens group 120, and the rotation of the light shielding sheet 140 is a rotation about the optical axis A1 of the lens group 120.
[0023] In the imaging module 100 with a color wheel of this embodiment, a color wheel 130 disposed above the lens group 120 is adopted. The color wheel 130 includes a plurality of filter sheets 132 with different filter bands, and a light shielding sheet 140 disposed above the color wheel 130 is adopted. The light shielding sheet 140 has a notch 142 to expose some of these filter sheets 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. The images of light of these different bands can be synthesized into a color image. Therefore, 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 this embodiment, since the color wheel 130 is adopted to sequentially filter out light of different bands, an image sensor 110 with a relatively simple structure can be used, so that 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 sheets 132 of the color wheel 130 with 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.
[0024] In addition, by using filter 132 with different wavelength bands, not only can the color accuracy of the image be improved, but also the problem of color deviation can be effectively reduced. By precisely controlling the spectral characteristics of filter 132, the technology of color wheel 130 can achieve more realistic color reproduction. In addition, with the continuous progress of technology, the structure of color wheel 130 is also continuously optimized, capable of providing a wider color gamut and higher brightness.
[0025] In this embodiment, the junction B between two adjacent filters among these filters 132 is arc-shaped. In addition, in this embodiment, each filter 132 among these filters 132 has an arc-shaped protruding side C1, an arc-shaped recessed side C2, and an arc side C3 connecting the arc-shaped protruding side C1 and the arc-shaped recessed side C2. The rotation direction D1 of color wheel 130 is from the arc-shaped recessed side C2 towards the arc-shaped protruding side C1. In this way, when color wheel 130 rotates rapidly, it can more effectively guide the airflow, reduce the generation of airflow separation and vortices, thereby reducing wind resistance. This design enables filter 132 to cut the air more smoothly during rotation, reducing energy loss.
[0026] Figure 4A is Figure 1A a bottom view schematic diagram of the first magnet, the first coil, the annular circuit board, and the color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel, and Figure 4B is Figure 1A a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the first coil, the annular circuit board, the second magnet, the second coil, the light shielding sheet, and the color wheel in an imaging module with a color wheel. Please refer to Figure 1A , Figure 4A and Figure 4B, in the present 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. These first magnets 151 are disposed around the edge of the color wheel 130, and these first coils 152 correspondingly surround these first magnets 151. When an electric current is applied to these first coils 152, a first magnetic force is generated, and these first magnets 151 are subjected to the first magnetic force, thereby driving the color wheel 130 to rotate. That is to say, the first coils 152 serve as the stator, and the first magnets 151 serve as the rotor. These second magnets 153 are disposed around the edge of the light shield 140, and these second coils 154 correspondingly surround these second magnets 153. When an electric current is applied to these second coils 154, a second magnetic force is generated, and these second magnets 153 are subjected to the second magnetic force, thereby driving the light shield 140 to rotate. That is to say, the second coils 154 serve as the stator, and the second magnets 153 serve as the rotor. In the present embodiment, the driving element 150 includes an annular circuit board 155, wherein these first coils 152 and these second coils 154 are respectively disposed on 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 supply current to these first coils 152 and these second coils 154.
[0027] In summary, in the imaging module with a color wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention, a color wheel disposed above the lens group is adopted. The color wheel includes a plurality of filter sheets with different filter bands, and a light shield disposed above the color wheel is adopted, which has a notch to expose a part of these filter sheets. By driving at least one of the color wheel and the light shield to rotate, the image sensor can sequentially sense images of light with different bands, and the images of light with different bands can be synthesized into a color image. Therefore, the image sensor can further sense a color image with a higher color saturation. In addition, in the imaging module with a color wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention, since a color wheel is adopted to sequentially filter out light with different bands, an image sensor with a relatively simple structure can be used, so the cost of the imaging module can be effectively reduced.
[0028] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions 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 in that, Comprising: An image sensor; A lens group, disposed above the image sensor; A color wheel, disposed above the lens group and including a plurality of filter films with different filter bands; A light-shielding sheet, disposed above the color wheel and having a notch, wherein the notch exposes a part of the plurality of filter films; And A driving element for driving 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, The shape of the notch corresponds to the shape of the filter film, and when the driving element drives at least one of the color wheel and the light-shielding sheet to rotate, the notch sequentially exposes the plurality of filter films.
3. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The driving element includes: A plurality of first magnets, disposed around the edge of the color wheel; A plurality of first coils, correspondingly surrounding the plurality of first magnets, wherein in response to the energization of the plurality of first coils, a first magnetic force is generated, 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, disposed around the edge of the light-shielding sheet; and A plurality of second coils, correspondingly surrounding the plurality of second magnets, wherein in response to the energization of the plurality of second coils, a second magnetic force is generated, and the plurality of second magnets are subjected to the second magnetic force to drive the light-shielding sheet to rotate.
4. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 3, wherein, The driving element includes an annular circuit board, wherein the plurality of first coils and the plurality of second coils are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the annular circuit board and are electrically connected to the annular circuit board.
5. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, wherein, The plurality of filter films with different filter bands include a red filter film, a green filter film, and a blue filter film.
6. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 5, characterized in that, The plurality of filter films include at least one of an infrared-pass filter film and a ultraviolet-pass filter film.
7. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of filter films are arranged in a ring around the optical axis of the lens group.
8. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 7, characterized in that, The junction between two adjacent ones of the plurality of filter films is arc-shaped.
9. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 8, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of filter films has an arc-shaped convex side, an arc-shaped concave side, and an arc side connecting the arc-shaped convex side and the arc-shaped concave side, wherein the rotation direction of the color wheel is from the arc-shaped concave side to the arc-shaped convex side.
10. 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 light-shielding sheet is stationary, or to drive the light-shielding sheet to rotate when the color wheel is stationary.
11. The imaging module with a color wheel according to claim 10, characterized in that, The rotation of the color wheel is a rotation about the optical axis of the lens group, and the rotation of the light-shielding sheet is a rotation about the optical axis of the lens group.