Image Sensor Microlens Separating Zone Light Blocking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image sensors with separated photoelectric conversion portions suffer from low sensitivity zones due to the shape of the separating zones, leading to unnatural blur in captured images due to the incident angle distribution of light fluxes.

Innovation Solution

The image sensor design includes a microlens with a separating zone side lens portion that either provides no power or a negative power for light fluxes entering the separating zone, or uses sub-microlenses with decentered apexes to prevent light fluxes from entering the separating zone, thereby eliminating the low sensitivity area in the pupil intensity distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separated photoelectric conversion portions are used to perform pupil division, then parallax images can be produced, but low sensitivity zones are formed in the pupil intensity distribution causing unnatural blur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepupil division capabilityVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful function of the separating zone by introducing a light blocking structure that prevents light fluxes from entering the separating zone, thereby eliminating the low sensitivity zone that causes unnatural blur while preserving the pupil division capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a light blocking structure as an intermediary element between the microlens and the separating zone. This intermediary blocks light fluxes that would otherwise enter the separating zone and create low sensitivity areas, thus resolving the contradiction between pupil division and image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separating zones are formed among separated photoelectric conversion portions, then photoelectric conversion can be performed for light fluxes from different exit pupil areas, but the separating zones create low sensitivity zones that cause unnatural blur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotoelectric conversion for multiple pupil areasVSAvoidpupil intensity distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful effect of the separating zone by blocking light fluxes from entering it, thereby removing the source of non-uniformity in the pupil intensity distribution while maintaining the ability to perform photoelectric conversion for multiple pupil areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A light blocking structure is introduced as an intermediary to prevent light fluxes from entering the separating zone. This mediator ensures that the separating zone does not create low sensitivity areas, thus achieving uniform pupil intensity distribution while preserving multi-area photoelectric conversion capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 suppresses the influence of low sensitivity zones, preventing unnatural blur and enhancing image quality by ensuring that light fluxes are directed outside the separating zone, allowing for accurate electric signal acquisition and improved pupil dividing performance.

Implementation Method 1

plural photoelectric conversion portions separated from one another with a separating zone thereamong and photoelectrically converting light fluxes passing through the microlens

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9237281B2Image sensor comprising plural pixels including a microlens and plural photoelectric conversion portions and image pickup apparatus comprising same

Publication Date: 2016.01.12 CANON KK

AI summary

The image sensor 107 includes plural pixels each including a microlens and plural photoelectric conversion portions separated from one another with a separating zone thereamong and photoelectrically converting light fluxes passing through the microlens. The microlens includes a separating zone side lens portion overlapping the separating zone in an optical axis direction of the microlens. When the photoelectric conversion portions photoelectrically convert the light fluxes passing through mutually different areas of an exit pupil of an image capturing optical system, the separating zone side lens portion provides no power or a negative power for a light flux entering the separating zone side lens portion in the light fluxes entering the microlens.