Funnel-Waveguide Imaging for Filterless Wavelength Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging devices suffer from reduced light sensitivity due to the use of filters that discard a significant portion of incident light, especially in wavelength dependent imaging, and struggle with maintaining image quality at low light conditions as pixel size decreases.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a funnel element and multimode waveguide arrangement that asymmetrically couples light propagating units to detectors, allowing light to be distributed based on wavelength without filters, ensuring maximum light collection and efficient propagation across different angles of incidence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional filters are used for wavelength dependent imaging, then wavelength discrimination is achieved, but light sensitivity is reduced due to discarding more than 50% of incident light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes conventional wavelength filters from the optical path and extracts only the necessary wavelength discrimination function, implementing it instead through asymmetric coupling between funnel elements and waveguides. This extraction eliminates the light-blocking filters while preserving wavelength selectivity through geometric design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetric coupling as an intermediary mechanism between the funnel element and waveguide. This asymmetric coupling acts as a mediator that redirects different wavelengths to different waveguides without requiring physical filters, thereby maintaining wavelength discrimination while allowing maximum light transmission.
2Manufacturing precision
If pixel size is decreased to achieve higher resolution, then image resolution is improved, but image quality deteriorates at low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical path into distinct functional components: funnel elements for light collection, asymmetric coupling structures for wavelength routing, and waveguides for directed transmission. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with funnel elements maximizing light collection area while waveguides deliver light efficiently to small detector pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional pixel array to a three-dimensional optical path manipulation system. By using funnel elements with larger collecting cross-sections that taper to smaller transmitting ends, and waveguides that extend in the third dimension, the system decouples the light collection area from the detector pixel size, allowing small pixels to receive sufficient 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
Enhances light sensitivity and image quality by maximizing light collection and distribution efficiency, enabling accurate wavelength-dependent imaging without significant light loss, particularly at low light conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a funnel element having a collecting end and a transmitting end, and defining a central funnel axis extending from the collecting end to the transmitting end, the funnel element being configured to collect light incident at the collecting end and to propagate the light to the transmitting end
Implementation Method 2
a waveguide having a receiving end and a distributing end, and defining a central waveguide axis extending from the receiving end to the distributing end, the waveguide being configured to receive the light from the transmitting end at the receiving end and to propagate the light to the distributing end, wherein the waveguide is a multimode waveguide configured to propagate the light through the waveguide in dependence of wavelength such that a spatial distribution of the light at the distributing end is dependent on wavelength of the light
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an imaging device for wavelength dependent imaging. The imaging device includes a detector having a plurality of light sensitive elements, a plurality of light propagating units, each including: a funnel element for collecting light at a collecting end and propagate the light to a transmitting end; a waveguide for receiving light from the transmitting end at a receiving end and propagating light to a distributing end.