Image Sensor Color Separation Layer Diffraction Light Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional color display and image sensors suffer from poor light utilization efficiency due to absorption-type color filters, which absorb most incident light, limiting their ability to transmit and process colors effectively, especially as pixel density increases.
Innovation Solution
An image sensor design incorporating a photo sensor layer, a color separation layer with transparent spacer and embedded color separation elements, and a micro lens array that separates incident light by wavelength, ensuring primary colors are directed to specific photo-sensing cells while mixed colors are distributed among adjacent cells, enhancing light concentration and utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If absorption-type color filters (RGB or CYGM) are used to detect colors, then color detection capability is achieved, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates (at most 33% transmission)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the color filtering function from the absorption mechanism and implements it through wavelength-selective transmission and diffraction. The color separation layer separates incident light into different wavelength ranges that are transmitted to corresponding photo-sensing cells, eliminating the need for absorption-type color filters and achieving nearly 100% light utilization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the optical absorption mechanism with a diffraction-based wavelength separation mechanism. By using a diffraction grating structure, light is separated by wavelength and directed to appropriate photo-sensing cells, substituting the inefficient absorption process with a highly efficient diffraction-based routing system.
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of pixels is increased to improve resolution, then image quality is improved, but the width of individual pixels decreases and light reaching each pixel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to light routing by using a color separation layer positioned above the photo-sensing cells. This layer uses diffraction to route different wavelengths to different cells vertically, allowing efficient light utilization even when pixel areas are small in the horizontal plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the incident light into different wavelength components using the color separation layer, directing each wavelength range to dedicated photo-sensing cells. This segmentation allows each cell to receive sufficient light for its specific wavelength range even when overall pixel density is high.
3Reliability
If conventional color filters absorb most light, then color separation is achieved, but optical losses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a color separation layer as an intermediary between the incident light and the photo-sensing cells. This layer uses diffraction to separate wavelengths and route them to appropriate cells, acting as a mediator that achieves color separation without the optical losses inherent in absorption-type filters.
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 design significantly improves light utilization efficiency and color reproduction quality by optimizing the distribution of light across photo-sensing cells, reducing noise and enhancing color accuracy, as demonstrated by comparative spectral and visibility curve analyses.
Implementation Method 1
A color separation element separates incident light according to wavelength by transmitting or diffracting or refracting the incident light according to the wavelength thereof
Implementation Method 2
a micro lens array arranged on the color separation layer, the micro lens array including a two-dimensional array of a plurality of micro lenses, which concentrate the incident light onto the color separation elements
Implementation Method 3
a photo sensor layer including a plurality of photo-sensing cells which generate electrical signals by detecting light
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor is provided including a photo sensor layer including a plurality of photo-sensing cells; a color separation layer disposed on the photo sensor layer and including color separation elements embedded in a transparent spacer layer; and a micro lens array arranged on the color separation layer, the micro lens array including a plurality of micro lenses. The color separation layer separates light by wavelength. The micro lens array concentrates incident light onto the plurality of color separation elements. The color separation elements include: a first main splitter which transmits light of a first primary color onto first photo-sensing cells which faces the first main splitter and diffracts and/or refracts light of colors other than the first primary color onto photo-sensing cells adjacent to the first photo-sensing cell; and a plurality of first auxiliary splitters which are arranged surrounding the first main splitter.