Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Layer for Image Sensor Flare Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing semiconductor chips suffer from issues such as flare, ghost, and color unevenness in captured images, which degrade image quality.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a cholesteric liquid crystal layer on the light incident side of the imaging element to reflect light within a critical angle range and suppress specific wavelengths, thereby reducing flare and color unevenness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a glass cover is formed on the on-chip lens via seal resin to protect the lens, then the imaging element is protected, but flare, ghost, and color unevenness occur in captured images
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid crystal layer is introduced as an intermediary substance between the imaging element and the external environment. This layer selectively transmits or reflects light based on its optical properties, thereby protecting the imaging element from harmful light effects (flare, ghost, color unevenness) while maintaining proper light transmission for imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid crystal layer's optical parameters (such as refractive index, transmission characteristics) are controlled and adjusted to optimize light transmission while blocking harmful light paths. By changing the liquid crystal's orientation or phase state, the system can dynamically control light interaction to prevent flare and ghost effects.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the liquid crystal layer is added to suppress flare and control light, then image quality is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a protective barrier, a light transmission filter, and a flare/ghost suppression mechanism. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent avoids adding multiple separate elements, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while achieving comprehensive light control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cholesteric liquid crystal layer effectively reduces flare and ghost, enhancing image quality by ensuring light is directed away from the sensor surface and controlling unwanted wavelength transmission.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid crystal layer reflects light within a critical angle range
Implementation Method 2
the liquid crystal layer reflects light within a critical angle range
Implementation Method 3
suppress specific wavelengths
Implementation Method 4
Incorporating a cholesteric liquid crystal layer on the light incident side
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a semiconductor chip that includes a solid-state imaging element and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer is provided on a side from which light is incident with respect to the solid-state imaging element. The cholesteric liquid crystal layer is formed by cholesteric liquid crystal.