Imaging Element Polarization and Phase Difference Pixel Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing process of conventional imaging elements is complex due to the need to dispose a light shielding film and form a polarization structure in phase difference pixels, as well as in other pixels where a color filter is used.
Innovation Solution
An imaging element with a polarization pixel that includes a polarizer transmitting light of a specific polarization direction and a phase difference pixel with a light shielding film formed simultaneously, allowing for simultaneous formation of the polarizer and light shielding film, and optionally including a polarizer in the phase difference pixel, with the polarizer being a wire grid of strip-shaped conductors, and the light shielding film made of the same material as the polarizer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a light shielding film is disposed in phase difference pixels and a polarization structure is formed in other pixels, then the imaging element can perform both phase difference detection and polarization detection, but the manufacturing process becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light shielding film and polarization structure into a single integrated component called a polarization structure with light shielding function. This merging eliminates the need for separate formation processes of the light shielding film and polarization structure, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining both phase difference detection and polarization detection capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The polarization structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a polarization filter for polarization detection and a light shielding film for phase difference detection. This multi-functional design allows a single structure to replace what would traditionally require two separate components and formation processes
2Manufacturing precision
If the light shielding film and polarization structure are formed in separate processes, then each structure can be optimized independently, but the manufacturing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding film and polarization structure are formed in a single integrated process rather than separate processes. This combining maintains manufacturing precision through optimized single-step formation while dramatically improving productivity by eliminating the need for multiple sequential processing steps
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 simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing the polarizer and light shielding film to be formed in the same step, improving the efficiency of imaging element production while maintaining image signal generation capabilities for both polarization and phase difference detection.
Implementation Method 1
a polarizer transmitting incident light having a specific polarization direction
Implementation Method 2
the polarizer includes a wire grid that includes a plurality of strip-shaped conductors arranged at a predetermined pitch
Data Source
AI summary
A process of manufacturing an imaging element is simplified. The imaging element includes a polarization pixel and a phase difference pixel. The polarization pixel included in the imaging element includes a polarizer transmitting incident light having a specific polarization direction and generates an image signal based on the incident light being from a subject and being transmitted through the polarizer. The phase difference pixel included in the imaging element includes a light shielding film being formed simultaneously with the polarizer and being disposed to be shifted in a predetermined pupil-division direction for pupil-dividing the incident light from the subject and generates an image signal for detecting a phase difference.