Color-Separating Lens Array for Low-Loss Image Sensors
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image sensors using color filters suffer from low light utilization efficiency, as they absorb most incident light except for the specific color they filter, resulting in significant optical loss.
Innovation Solution
An image sensor employing a color separating lens array that concentrates light based on wavelength, using a sensor substrate with pixels sensitive to different wavelengths and a lens array that creates distinct phase profiles for each wavelength, allowing for improved light distribution and reduced absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color filter is used to sense light of a specific color, then color detection capability is improved, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates due to absorption of other wavelengths
Solution Approach 1:
The incident light is segmented by wavelength using the color separating lens array, which divides different wavelength components and directs them to different pixels. This allows simultaneous detection of multiple colors without absorbing unwanted wavelengths, resolving the contradiction between color detection precision and light utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The color separating lens array acts as an intermediary component between the incident light and the pixel array. It mediates the light distribution by separating different wavelengths and directing them to appropriate pixels, enabling efficient light utilization while maintaining color detection capability
2Adaptability or versatility
If a color filter absorbs light of all colors except one, then color selectivity is improved, but overall light transmission deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single color filter that blocks most light, the system segments the incident light into different wavelength components using the color separating lens array. Each wavelength component is directed to a dedicated pixel, achieving color selectivity while maintaining high overall light transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a spectral filtering approach (blocking unwanted wavelengths) to a spatial separation approach (directing different wavelengths to different spatial locations). This dimensional change allows simultaneous color selectivity and high light transmission by utilizing the spatial dimension rather than absorbing light
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 approach enhances light utilization efficiency and enables improved auto focusing capabilities by ensuring that light is effectively concentrated on specific pixels, reducing optical loss and enhancing image sensor performance.
Implementation Method 1
a color separating lens array configured to separate incident light based on wavelength and concentrate the separated light
Implementation Method 2
a first phase difference between the light of the first wavelength that has traveled through a center of the first pixel-corresponding area and the light of the first wavelength that has traveled through a center of the second pixel-corresponding area is different than a second phase difference
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image sensor including a sensor substrate including a first pixel configured to sense light of a first wavelength, and a second pixel configured to sense light of a second wavelength, and a color separating lens array configured to concentrate the light of the first wavelength on the first pixel, and the light of the second wavelength on the second pixel, the color separating lens array including a first pixel-corresponding area corresponding to the first pixel, and a second pixel-corresponding area corresponding to the second pixel, wherein a first phase difference between the light of the first wavelength that has traveled through a center of the first pixel-corresponding area and a center of the second pixel-corresponding area is different than a second phase difference between the light of the second wavelength that has traveled through the center of the first pixel-corresponding area and the center of the second pixel-corresponding area.