Imaging Apparatus Pupil Division for Crosstalk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging apparatuses face issues with signal mixing (crosstalk) due to manufacturing errors and light-shielding unit inaccuracies, leading to image degradation, and previous solutions either suffer from crosstalk or image deterioration.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus that divides the pupil region into distinct areas using a light-shielding member, ensuring only specific light beams enter corresponding light-receiving elements, thereby reducing crosstalk and improving image quality by allowing for high-quality image capture with reduced manufacturing accuracy requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If light-shielding units are provided at each pixel to block stray light, then image quality should improve, but manufacturing errors cause crosstalk between adjacent pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the pupil region into multiple discrete areas using light-shielding members, creating distinct light paths for different focal lengths. This segmentation prevents light from different focal regions from mixing at the image pickup device, thereby eliminating crosstalk without requiring high manufacturing precision for individual light-shielding units at each pixel.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple images with different focal lengths are captured simultaneously, then imaging versatility improves, but signal mixing occurs without proper pupil division
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pupil region into distinct areas corresponding to different focal lengths using light-shielding members. This allows simultaneous capture of multiple focal length images through different regions of the image pickup device without signal mixing, as each segmented region directs light from a specific focal length to dedicated pixel areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the spatial dimension of the pupil region by dividing it into multiple areas at different positions. This dimensional approach allows different focal length information to be spatially separated and captured simultaneously without overlapping or mixing signals.
3Device complexity
If the light-shielding member is positioned close to the image pickup device, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing accuracy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light-shielding member is designed to extend beyond the minimum required coverage area, creating a conservative design that tolerates manufacturing variations. By providing excessive light-shielding coverage, the system ensures proper pupil division even when placement accuracy varies within reasonable manufacturing tolerances.
Data Source
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AI summary
An imaging apparatus (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first light-shielding member (10c) formed in a predetermined optical member (10) included in a photographing optical system, the first light-shielding member dividing a pupil region of the photographing optical system into a first region (10a) and a second region (10b) and a second light-shielding member (12) letting only a light beam passing through the first region enter a first light-receiving element (16a) and letting only a light beam passing through the second region enter a second light-receiving element (16b) other than the first light-receiving element.