Image Sensor With Diffractive Color-Separating Lens Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image sensors using color filters suffer from low light utilization efficiency due to absorption of light other than the corresponding color, resulting in significant light loss.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a color separating lens array that separates incident light based on wavelength, using a sensor substrate with photosensitive cells and a color separating lens array with specific fine structures to branch and focus light of different wavelengths onto corresponding photosensitive cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color filter is used to sense the color of incident light, then color detection is achieved, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates due to absorption of light other than the corresponding color
Solution Approach 1:
The incident light is segmented by wavelength using the color separating lens array, which divides different wavelength components into different directional paths. This allows each wavelength to be directed to the appropriate photosensitive cell without absorption losses, resolving the contradiction between color detection and light utilization efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The color separating lens array acts as an intermediary component between the incident light and the photosensitive cells. It separates and directs different wavelengths to corresponding photosensitive cells, enabling color detection while maintaining high light utilization efficiency by avoiding the absorption mechanism of traditional color filters
2Measurement precision
If a color filter absorbs light of colors other than the corresponding color, then color separation is achieved, but light loss increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful absorption function of the color filter is replaced by extracting and separating different wavelength components through the color separating lens array. Each wavelength is extracted and directed to its corresponding photosensitive cell, achieving color separation without the energy loss associated with absorption
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using absorption to achieve color separation (which causes light loss), the invention converts the approach to use refraction and directional focusing. The color separating lens array bends different wavelengths into different directions, turning the potential harm of light loss into a beneficial non-absorptive separation mechanism that maintains light utilization efficiency
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 utilization efficiency by directing different wavelengths of light to specific photosensitive cells, reducing light loss and improving overall sensor performance.
Implementation Method 1
a color separating lens array configured to focus incident light separately according to wavelengths of the incident light
Implementation Method 2
the first fine structure and the second fine structure are configured to form a phase distribution below the plurality of first regions and the plurality of second regions
Implementation Method 3
light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength among incident light incident on the color separating lens array are branched into different directions and focused on the first photosensitive cells and the second photosensitive cells, respectively based on the phase distribution
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image sensor including a color separating lens array. The image sensor includes a sensor substrate including a plurality of first photosensitive cells and a plurality of second photosensitive cells configured to sense light, and a color separating lens array including a plurality of first regions respectively corresponding to the plurality of first photosensitive cells and each including a first fine structure, and a plurality of second regions respectively corresponding to the plurality of second photosensitive cells and each including a second fine structure that is different from the first fine structure, wherein, among incident light incident on the color separating lens array, light of a first wavelength and light of a second wavelength are branched into different directions and focused on the first photosensitive cells and the second photosensitive cells.