Inclined Color Filter Array for Image Sensor Sensitivity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Image sensors face a challenge in maximizing the area of color filter pixels to improve sensitivity without reducing resolution, as smaller pixel areas lead to reduced light sensitivity and lower resolution.
Innovation Solution
A color filter array is designed with an inclined rectangular arrangement of pixels, where the number of pixels in the first and last rows is progressively decreased, and the row direction is tilted by 45° relative to the horizontal direction, allowing for a larger pixel area without compromising spatial resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the area of color filter pixels is reduced to increase the number of pixels on unit area, then the resolution is improved, but the light sensitivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent rotates the color filter unit 45 degrees relative to the sensor array, changing the spatial orientation from the conventional aligned layout to a diagonal arrangement. This dimensional change allows pixels to be arranged more efficiently in the available space, maximizing the area of each color filter pixel while maintaining high resolution through the rotated configuration.
2Manufacturing precision
If more color filter pixels are integrated on unit area to improve resolution, then the resolution is improved, but the area available for each pixel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By rotating the color filter unit 45 degrees, the patent exploits a different spatial arrangement that allows for more efficient packing and larger individual pixel areas within the same unit area of the sensor, thereby maintaining high resolution while increasing pixel area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an asymmetric arrangement where the color filter unit is rotated at a specific angle (45 degrees) relative to the sensor array, creating an optimized configuration that maximizes pixel area while maintaining resolution. This asymmetric orientation allows for better spatial utilization compared to conventional symmetric alignments.
Data Source
AI summary
A color filter array includes color filter units each of which is a square array formed by four square pixels. The first color pixel and the second color pixel are arranged to form a row, the two third color pixels are arranged to form another row, and a row pixel direction of the color filter unit relative to a horizontal direction is inclined by 45° to left or right. The color filter array is an inclined rectangular array, pixels from an intermediate row to a first row or to a last row in a same direction is progressively decreased with a decrement of 1 or 2, and pixels in the first row and the last row is 1 or 2. The application can significantly increase the area of pixels of the unit color filter, and improve the sensitivity of the image sensor without reducing the resolution of the image sensor.