3D Image Sensor With Thin Lenses and Scatterers for Compact Depth Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3-dimensional image sensors are complex and difficult to manufacture for use in small devices like mobiles and Internet of Things due to their optical lens systems, making it challenging to create compact 3D image sensors capable of controlling light pathways effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of an image sensor with thin lenses and light-sensing cells on a substrate, where the thin lenses concentrate different wavelengths of light onto the cells, and include scatterers with specific shapes and heights to manage light pathways efficiently, allowing for compact size and 3D information capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional optical lenses are used in 3-dimensional image sensors, then light pathway control capability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the substrate into multiple layers (first substrate with thin lenses, second substrate with light-sensing cells) and segments the optical system into discrete functional components. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently while simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to conventional integrated optical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a light guide layer as an intermediary component between the thin lenses and light-sensing cells. This intermediary structure facilitates efficient light transmission and pathway control without requiring complex direct coupling between lenses and sensors, thereby reducing system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If conventional 3-dimensional image sensors are designed with comprehensive optical systems, then 3D information capture capability is improved, but device size increases making it unsuitable for mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional planar sensor architecture to a three-dimensional stacked architecture with multiple substrates and layers arranged in the vertical dimension. This dimensional change allows for compact integration of optical and sensing functions while maintaining 3D information capture capability through depth-encoded light pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where the second substrate with light-sensing cells is positioned within the optical path defined by the first substrate with thin lenses. The light guide layer and other components are nested between these substrates, creating a compact integrated structure that captures 3D information without increasing lateral device dimensions.
3Power
If thin lenses with scatterers are used to concentrate different wavelengths of light, then light concentration efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies the parameters of scatterers (size, shape, material composition, spacing) across different regions of the thin lenses to optimize light concentration for different wavelengths. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high light concentration efficiency while accommodating manufacturing tolerances through deliberate parameter optimization rather than requiring extreme precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality variations in the scatterer structures, where different regions of the thin lenses contain scatterers with specifically tailored properties optimized for concentrating particular wavelength ranges. This localized optimization allows each region to function efficiently with relaxed manufacturing precision requirements compared to a uniform high-precision design.
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 enables the creation of small, efficient 3D image sensors capable of generating multi-color and stereo images, extracting depth information, and calculating depth maps, addressing the complexity and size constraints of conventional 3D image sensors.
Implementation Method 1
thin lenses disposed on a first surface of the substrate and configured to concentrate lights incident on the first surface
Implementation Method 2
thin lenses disposed on a first surface of the substrate and configured to concentrate lights incident on the first surface
Implementation Method 3
light-sensing cells being configured to sense lights passing through the thin lenses, and generate electrical signals based on the sensed lights
Implementation Method 4
Each of the thin lenses may include scatterers, and each of the scatterers may have a pillar structure
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor includes a substrate, thin lenses disposed on a first surface of the substrate and configured to concentrate lights incident on the first surface, and light-sensing cells disposed on a second surface of the substrate, the second surface facing the first surface, and the light-sensing cells being configured to sense lights passing through the thin lenses, and generate electrical signals based on the sensed lights. A first thin lens and second thin lens of the thin lenses are configured to concentrate a first light and a second light, respectively, of the incident lights onto the light-sensing cells, the first light having a different wavelength than the second light.