Flat Optics Camera Module for Filter-Free RGB Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera modules in electronic devices rely on multiple curved refractive lenses, leading to large size and camera bumps, and CMOS image sensors use color filters that reduce efficiency and sensitivity, resulting in low spatial resolution and color accuracy.
Innovation Solution
Implementing flat lenses with meta lens technology using columnar structures with high refractive indexes and subwavelength sizes, which split incident light into separate color beams for individual image sensors, eliminating the need for color filters and reducing lens thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple curved refractive lenses are used in camera modules, then imaging function is achieved, but device size increases and camera bumps are formed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional curved refractive lenses with a flat lens system comprising a beam splitter and beam deflectors. This substitution eliminates the need for multiple stacked curved lenses, thereby reducing camera module size and eliminating camera bumps while maintaining imaging functionality through optical beam manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the optical system into distinct functional components: a beam splitter that divides incident light into multiple beams, and multiple beam deflectors that independently direct each beam to corresponding pixel sensors. This segmentation enables compact flat lens design while achieving the imaging function previously requiring multiple curved lenses.
2Reliability
If color filters are used in CMOS image sensors, then color imaging is achieved, but efficiency and sensitivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the color filter array system with an optical beam splitting and deflection system. Instead of using color filters to separate color information, the system uses a beam splitter and beam deflectors to direct different wavelength components to separate pixel sensors, eliminating the efficiency and sensitivity losses associated with color filters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces beam deflectors as intermediary optical elements between the beam splitter and pixel sensors. These beam deflectors manipulate light paths to direct different color components to appropriate sensors without requiring color filters, thereby maintaining high sensor efficiency and sensitivity while achieving color imaging.
3Reliability
If color filters are used in image sensors, then color separation is achieved, but spatial resolution and color accuracy are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the color filter-based color separation mechanism with an optical beam splitting and deflection system. This substitution directs different color components to separate pixel sensors through controlled light path manipulation, achieving superior spatial resolution and color accuracy compared to color filter arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the color imaging process into distinct optical paths for different color components. The beam splitter divides incident light into multiple beams, and beam deflectors direct each beam to dedicated pixel sensors, enabling precise spatial resolution and accurate color separation without the limitations of color filter arrays.
4Volume of moving object
If flat lenses with meta lens technology are implemented, then lens thickness is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex meta lens structures with a system of flat optical components including a beam splitter and beam deflectors. This substitution achieves thin lens design without requiring nanoscale meta lens fabrication, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining reduced thickness benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the flat lens functionality into multiple discrete flat optical components (beam splitter, beam deflectors) that can be manufactured using conventional techniques. This segmentation avoids the need for complex monolithic meta lens fabrication while achieving the same thin-profile, high-performance optical 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 solution results in a smaller camera module size, higher spatial resolution, and enhanced color accuracy by utilizing separate image sensors for each color, improving efficiency and sensitivity without color filters.
Implementation Method 1
the beam splitter is configured to split the beam into a plurality of sub-beams, each corresponding to a different color
Implementation Method 2
the beam deflectors are configured to deflect two beams amongst the red, green, and blue sub-beams respectively to the first and second pixel sensors
Implementation Method 3
the imaging lens is configured to focus visible light into a beam of white light
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a camera module comprising flat lenses. Flat lenses have reduced thicknesses compared to other types of lenses, whereby the camera module may have a small size and camera bumps may be omitted or reduced in size on cell phones and the like incorporating the camera module. The flat lenses are configured to focus visible light into a beam of white light, split the beam into sub-beams of red, green, and blue light, and guide the sub-beams respectively to separate image sensors for red, green, and blue light. The image sensors generate images for corresponding colors and the images are combined into a full-color image. Optically splitting the beam into the sub-beams and using separate image sensors for the sub-beams allows color filters to be omitted and smaller pixel sensors. This, in turn, allows higher quality imaging.