Liquid Crystal Colour Filter Arrays for Precise Wavelength Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image generation technologies using conventional colour filter arrays, such as the Bayer pattern, struggle to accurately distinguish colors, especially in peripheral regions, leading to unrealistic and non-immersive viewing experiences due to indistinguishable color responses and noise, and are limited in spatial tracking and segmentation of distinct objects.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system incorporating adjustable colour filter arrays with a light valve device that dynamically controls light valves to allow specific wavelength ranges to pass through, using a grid of light valves arranged on the optical paths of colour filters, allowing precise wavelength control and filtering out unwanted wavelengths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional colour filter arrays (e.g., Bayer pattern) are used, then device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but color accuracy deteriorates and measurement precision worsens due to overlapping wavelength responses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing static colour filters with dynamic light valves that can be controlled in real-time. The light valve device allows selective transmission of different wavelength ranges by applying voltages to liquid crystal elements, enabling the system to adapt color filtering characteristics dynamically rather than being fixed during manufacturing. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving precise color control through electronic adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the transmission characteristics of light valves through voltage control. By changing the voltage applied to liquid crystal elements, the system can adjust which wavelength ranges are transmitted or blocked, effectively changing the color filtering parameters. This allows precise color accuracy to be achieved without complicating the manufacturing process, as the same hardware structure can produce different color responses under different operating conditions.
2Device complexity
If fixed pattern colour filters are used, then device complexity is minimized, but adaptability deteriorates as the system cannot adjust to different imaging requirements or environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by introducing controllable light valves between the lens and image sensor that can change their transmission properties in real-time. This allows the same device structure to adapt to different imaging scenarios (e.g., varying lighting conditions, different color requirements, focus adjustments) without increasing physical complexity. The light valve device serves as a programmable intermediary that provides versatility through electronic control rather than mechanical reconfiguration.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional colour filters with broad wavelength response are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but noise increases and image quality deteriorates due to inability to filter out unwanted wavelengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by using voltage-controlled light valves to adjust wavelength transmission characteristics. By changing the voltage applied to liquid crystal elements, the system can selectively block unwanted wavelength ranges that would otherwise contribute to noise. This maintains the simplicity of the overall device structure while enabling precise spectral filtering to reduce noise and improve image quality through electronic parameter adjustment rather than complex multi-layer filter manufacturing.
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 approach enables high-quality, realistic image generation with improved color accuracy, reduced noise, and enhanced processing efficiency, suitable for demanding applications like extended-reality, by controlling light valves to allow only specific wavelengths to reach photo-sensitive cells.
Implementation Method 1
a light valve device comprising a grid of light valves, wherein the light valves of the grid are arranged on optical paths of at least the fourth type of colour filters; and at least one processor configured to: for a given colour filter of the fourth type, control a corresponding light valve during a given time period to allow wavelengths lying in only one of: the first wavelength range, the second wavelength range, the third wavelength range, to pass through towards the given colour filter
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is imaging system with an image sensor having photo-sensitive cells arranged on photo-sensitive surface of image sensor; colour filter array (CFA) arranged on optical path of photo-sensitive surface, CFA with: first, second, third and fourth types of colour filters that allow wavelengths lying in first, second, third wavelength ranges, respectively, to pass through; and light valve device having grid of light valves, wherein light valves of grid are arranged on optical paths of at least fourth type of colour filters; and processor(s) configured to: for given colour filter of fourth type, control corresponding light valve during given time period to allow wavelengths lying in first, second, or third wavelength range, to pass through towards given colour filter; read out image data from photo-sensitive cells; and process image data to generate given image.