Light Shielding Edge Design for Multi-Angle Phase Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In lens interchangeable imaging apparatuses, the chief ray angle varies with different lenses and zoom positions, requiring numerous image plane phase difference pixels to handle these changes, which leads to a degradation in image quality due to the handling of these pixels as defective pixels.
Innovation Solution
A solid-state imaging device with pixels that include a microlens, a photoelectric conversion unit, and a light shielding portion with edge portions formed across the light receiving surface, allowing the device to handle incident light at multiple chief ray angles, including stepped portions and corner sections for effective phase difference detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If image plane phase difference pixels are provided according to the chief ray angle of each lens or zoom position, then the device can handle multiple chief ray angles for phase difference detection, but the number of pixels increases and image quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding portion is designed with a universal structure that can handle multiple chief ray angles simultaneously. By positioning the light shielding portion at a specific distance from the light receiving surface and designing its edge portions to extend in multiple directions, a single pixel structure can perform phase difference detection for various chief ray angles, eliminating the need for separate pixels for each angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional approach (separate pixels for different angles) to a two-dimensional approach (light shielding portion with edge portions extending in multiple directions). The edge portions are designed to extend in a first direction and a second direction that is not parallel to the first direction, creating a multi-directional shielding structure that handles multiple chief ray angles within a single pixel location.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of image plane phase difference pixels are provided to cover wide angle ranges, then phase difference detection can be performed for various lenses and zoom positions, but these pixels are handled as defective pixels which degrades captured image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding portion creates a universal pixel structure that serves multiple functions: it performs phase difference detection for various chief ray angles while simultaneously functioning as a normal imaging pixel. This eliminates the need to treat phase difference pixels as defective pixels, as the same pixel can contribute to both phase difference detection and image capture depending on the light incident angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the phase difference detection function with the normal imaging function into a single pixel structure. By combining the light shielding portion with the photoelectric conversion unit in the same pixel location, the system can perform both phase difference detection and image capture using the same pixel, thereby eliminating the trade-off between the two functions.
3Measurement precision
If the light shielding portion edge portion is positioned to separate imaging point and entrance side edge, then phase difference detection accuracy is improved for specific angles, but the structure becomes complex and cannot handle varying chief ray angles
Solution Approach 1:
The light shielding portion edge portion is designed to extend in multiple non-parallel directions, creating a two-dimensional shielding pattern. This multi-directional extension allows the structure to maintain accurate phase difference detection for multiple chief ray angles simultaneously, rather than optimizing for a single angle as in conventional one-dimensional edge designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the light shielding portion edge are designed with different orientations and positions to handle different chief ray angles. The edge portions extending in the first direction and second direction are positioned to specifically address different angle ranges, allowing each local portion to optimize for its specific angular range while the overall structure handles all variations.
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 enables the imaging device to handle multiple chief ray angles without degrading image quality, allowing for efficient focus determination and improved image capture capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a microlens that condenses light from a subject
Implementation Method 2
a photoelectric conversion unit that receives the subject light condensed by the microlens to generate an electrical signal according to an amount of received light
Implementation Method 3
a light shielding portion provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the microlens
Data Source
AI summary
Image plane phase difference pixels that can handle incident light at two or more chief ray angles are realized. A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel, the pixel including a microlens that condenses light from a subject, a photoelectric conversion unit that receives the subject light condensed by the microlens to generate an electrical signal according to an amount of received light, and a light shielding portion provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the microlens. The light shielding portion includes an edge portion formed across over a light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion unit, and the edge portion includes a first edge portion and a second edge portion at positions different from each other both in a first direction corresponding to an up and down direction of an output image and a second direction corresponding to a left and right direction of the output image.