Image Pickup Element Pupil Division Shielding Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image pickup elements suffer from reduced light receiving sensitivity due to excessive shielding of the light receiving surface, which limits their ability to obtain multiple parallax images effectively.
Innovation Solution
The image pickup element incorporates a shielding layer with a larger aperture portion than shielding portion on the light receiving surface of each pixel, allowing for the division of the pupil region while minimizing sensitivity loss, enabling the capture of multiple parallax images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a shielding layer with large shielding portions is used to divide the pupil region, then multiple parallax images can be obtained, but light receiving sensitivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel is divided into multiple subpixels, with each subpixel having its own shielding layer that divides the pupil region into multiple pupil subregions. This segmentation allows each subpixel to capture light from specific pupil subregions, enabling the generation of multiple parallax images while maintaining overall light receiving sensitivity through the coordinated operation of all subpixels
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the light receiving surface are assigned different functions: some regions (aperture portions) are optimized for light reception while other regions (shielding portions) are optimized for pupil division. The shielding portions are strategically positioned to block specific light paths while the aperture portions maximize light collection, creating local functional specialization that resolves the contradiction between shielding and sensitivity
2Manufacturing precision
If shielding portions cover most of the light receiving surface, then pupil division is effective, but the area available for light reception is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The light receiving surface is segmented into multiple subpixels, each with its own shielding structure. This segmentation allows the shielding portions to be distributed across different subpixels rather than concentrated in one area, enabling effective pupil division while collectively maintaining sufficient light receiving area across the entire pixel array
Solution Approach 2:
The shielding function is implemented in the optical path dimension rather than simply reducing the light receiving area in the sensor plane. By using shielding layers positioned at specific depths and angles, the patent divides the pupil region in three-dimensional space while maintaining the two-dimensional light receiving surface area for light collection
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 configuration significantly suppresses the reduction in light receiving sensitivity, allowing for the effective generation of parallax images while maintaining high sensitivity, thereby enhancing the image pickup element's performance.
Implementation Method 1
a photoelectric conversion portion for photoelectrically converting an optical image of a subject
Data Source
AI summary
An image pickup element includes a pixel matrix, a pupil dividing portion, and a shielding portion. Pixels in the pixel matrix include a photoelectric conversion portion, and are arranged in units of a matrix of a predetermined number of the pixels. The pupil dividing portion is arranged on a side of a light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion portion of each pixel to divide a pupil region. The shielding portion arranged between the pupil dividing portion and the photoelectric conversion portion shields a predetermined region of the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion portion. The predetermined region of each pixel corresponds to any one of the divided pupil regions obtained when the pupil region is divided by the pupil dividing portion. A proportion of the predetermined region is smaller than a proportion of a region not-shielded by the shielding portion in the light receiving surface.