Lens Substrate Groove Structures Mitigate Total Internal Reflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-array imaging systems, high incident angle light can cause total internal reflection, leading to undesirable image artifacts such as flare or ghosting, which degrade the quality of the final image.
Innovation Solution
A transparent lens substrate with total internal reflection mitigating groove structures is used between adjacent lenses, altering the incident angle of light to prevent total internal reflection and reduce flare artifacts. These groove structures can be formed in various shapes and patterns, such as concentric rings or staggered configurations, to effectively manage light transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple image sensor pixel arrays with corresponding lenses are used to extend depth of focus and increase output resolution, then imaging capability is improved, but total internal reflection occurs causing image flare and ghosting artifacts that degrade image quality
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent substrate with total internal reflection mitigating groove structures is introduced as an intermediary element between adjacent lenses. This substrate modifies the optical path of high incident angle light, preventing it from causing harmful total internal reflection at the lens interfaces while maintaining normal light transmission for image capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structures on the transparent substrate change the physical parameters of light propagation by altering its incident angle. When light encounters the grooves, its path is modified such that the angle of incidence at lens interfaces is reduced below the critical angle for total internal reflection, thereby eliminating flare and ghosting artifacts.
2Use of energy by moving object
If high incident angle light is allowed to pass through lenses in a multi-array system, then light transmission is maintained, but total internal reflection occurs at lens interfaces causing undesirable image artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent substrate acts as a mediator between the incoming high incident angle light and the lenses. The groove structures on this substrate modify the light's trajectory before it reaches the lenses, ensuring that light transmission is maintained while the angle of incidence is adjusted to prevent total internal reflection.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove structures physically alter the incident angle parameter of incoming light. By changing this angular parameter through refraction and reflection at the groove interfaces, the system maintains light transmission while transforming the light path to avoid the critical angle condition that causes total internal reflection.
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
The solution effectively mitigates total internal reflection, reducing image flare and ghosting artifacts, thereby improving the image quality captured by multi-array imaging systems.
Implementation Method 1
high incident angle light can enter a lens corresponding to a first array in the multi-array system and be captured at a second array in the system that is adjacent to the first array. This high incident angle light may cause the arrays to generate undesirable image artifacts such as image flare or ghosting
Data Source
AI summary
Imaging systems may include camera modules that include multiple image sensor pixel arrays. A transparent lens substrate may be formed over the image pixel arrays. Lenses may be formed in the lens substrate such that each lens transmits light to a corresponding image sensor pixel array. Total internal reflection mitigation structures such as groove structures may be formed in one or more surfaces of the lens substrate between each of the lenses. The groove structures may include concentric ring shaped grooves in a surface of the lens substrate so that each lens is surrounded by a respective group of concentric ring shaped grooves. The groove structures may have a depth, angle, shape, and spacing that prevents total internal reflection of image light between the lenses so that high incident angle image light incident on a given pixel array is not captured by an adjacent pixel array.