Color Filter Array for Simultaneous Color and Depth Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera systems that capture both color and depth information require separate sensors and lenses, leading to increased costs and synchronization challenges.
Innovation Solution
A color filter array for image sensors that includes a combination of filters for visible light regions and infrared filters, allowing simultaneous detection and processing of color and depth information using a single sensor, with a processor generating depth information from the differences in wavelengths passed through various filters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate sensors and lenses are used to capture color and depth information, then the reliability of depth information is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines color filter and infrared filter functions into a single color filter array structure, allowing one sensor to capture both color information (through red, green, blue filters) and depth information (through infrared filters) simultaneously. This merging eliminates the need for separate sensors and lenses while maintaining the reliability of depth information capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The color filter array is designed with multi-functionality, where each pixel location can capture both visible light for color imaging and infrared light for depth mapping. The filter array serves dual purposes: conventional color filtering for RGB images and infrared transmission for depth information, making the single sensor system universally capable of both functions.
2Measurement precision
If separate sensors and lenses are used to capture color and depth information, then the measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges color filtering and infrared filtering capabilities into a single filter array structure that can be manufactured as one integrated component. This approach maintains measurement precision for both color and depth while reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for separate sensor assemblies, multiple lenses, and complex alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-functional filter array design allows a single manufactured component to serve both color imaging and depth mapping functions, reducing the total number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled. This universal design maintains precise measurement capabilities while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing overall system cost.
3Reliability
If separate sensors are used to capture color and depth information, then the reliability of information capture is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to synchronization difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines color and depth information capture into a single sensor with an integrated filter array, eliminating the synchronization problem that arises when using separate sensors. Since both color filters (red, green, blue) and infrared filters are present at each pixel location simultaneously, the sensor captures both types of information at the same moment without requiring complex timing coordination between multiple sensors.
4Device complexity
If a single sensor with mixed filters is used to capture color and depth information, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The filter array is segmented into distinct filter types (red, green, blue, and infrared filters) arranged in a regular pattern across the sensor surface. This segmentation allows each filter type to independently process its specific wavelength range with high precision, while the overall integrated structure maintains low device complexity. The segmented design ensures that color and depth measurements remain independent and precise despite sharing the same sensor substrate.
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
This solution improves the reliability of depth information by enabling simultaneous capture and processing of color and depth data, reducing the complexity and cost associated with dual sensor systems.
Implementation Method 1
a color filter array included in an image sensor to detect color image information and depth information of an object at the same time
Implementation Method 2
a color filter array of an image sensor including a first filter to transmit wavelengths of a first region in a visible light region, a second filter to transmit wavelengths of a second region in the visible light region, a third filter to transmit wavelengths of a third region in the visible light region, and a mixed filter to transmit wavelengths of at least one region of the first region to third region and wavelength of infrared region at the same time
Data Source
AI summary
A color filter array of an image sensor is disclosed. The color filter array includes a first filter to transmit wavelengths of a first region in a visible light region, a second filter to transmit wavelengths of a second region in the visible light region, a third filter to transmit wavelengths of a third region in the visible light region, and a mixed filter to transmit wavelengths of at least one of the first region, the second region and the third region, and wavelengths of an infrared region at the same time.