Color Filter Array With Segmented White And RGB Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional color filter arrays in image sensors and LCDs have low sensitivity and brightness due to filtering only a third of incoming or outgoing light, respectively, using red, green, and blue color filters.
Innovation Solution
A color filter array with alternating layers of high light transmittance white color filters and lower transmittance color filters, arranged in a specific pattern to increase light passage, enhancing sensitivity and brightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional color filter arrays use only red, green, and blue color filters to pass through light, then color accuracy is maintained, but light transmittance decreases to about 1/3 of incident light
Solution Approach 1:
The color filter array is segmented into multiple layers, with each layer containing specific color filters (red, green, blue, and clear filters). This segmentation allows different layers to handle different color components, enabling the system to maintain color accuracy while increasing overall light transmittance by distributing the filtering function across multiple specialized layers rather than requiring all three color filters at every pixel location.
Solution Approach 2:
Clear filters are introduced as intermediary elements between the color filters and the imaging sensor. These clear filters allow additional light to pass through to the sensor without blocking any color components, thereby increasing overall light transmittance while the colored filters in other layers maintain color separation and accuracy.
2Reliability
If color filter arrays filter only red, green, and blue light, then color reproduction is achieved, but sensitivity of the image sensor decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering function is segmented across multiple layers with different filter configurations. This allows the system to optimize for both color reproduction and light transmission by having some layers prioritize color separation while other layers (with clear filters) prioritize light transmission to the sensor, thereby improving sensitivity without sacrificing color accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the color filter array by introducing clear filters alongside traditional colored filters and arranging them in specific patterns. This parameter change increases the overall light transmission parameter while maintaining the color filtering capability through the colored filters, thereby improving sensor sensitivity without losing color reproduction capability.
3Illumination intensity
If LCDs use conventional color filter arrays with red, green, and blue filters, then color display is achieved, but brightness of emitted light decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The color filter array in the LCD is segmented into multiple layers with clear and colored filters distributed across them. This segmentation allows the LCD to maintain color display capability through the colored filters while the clear filters in other layers allow more light to pass through, thereby increasing the brightness of emitted light without sacrificing color reproduction.
Solution Approach 2:
Clear filters serve as intermediaries that allow additional light to pass through the color filter array to the display panel. These clear filter regions act as mediators that transmit light without color filtering, increasing overall brightness while the colored filters in other layers maintain the color display function.
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 proposed color filter array design significantly increases the sensitivity of image sensors and brightness of LCDs by allowing more light to pass through, compared to conventional arrays that filter only red, green, and blue light.
Implementation Method 1
A first layer includes one or more first type color filters, and one or more other type color filters which are arranged sequentially
Data Source
AI summary
A color filter array is provided. The color filter array includes a plurality of basic filter blocks arranged in all directions. Each of the basic filter blocks include one or more color filters. The color filters include a first type color filter that passes through all light without filtering it or has a higher light transmittance than a second type color filter, a third type color filter, and a fourth type color filter. The second through fourth color filters being a red, green or blue filter. Accordingly, the color filter array increases sensitivity to incident light or increases brightness of outgoing light.