Multispectral Image Sensor Using Color Separating Lens Array
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multispectral image sensors based on color filters suffer from reduced light utilization efficiency due to absorption of unwanted wavelength bands, and as sensor size decreases for higher resolution, unit pixel sensitivity decreases.
Innovation Solution
The use of a color separating lens array that condenses incident light separately according to wavelengths, allowing for improved light utilization efficiency and maintaining sensitivity even in smaller pixel sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color filter is used to separate wavelengths, then spectral information can be obtained, but light utilization efficiency is reduced due to absorption of unwanted wavelength bands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wavelength separation function from the color filter (which absorbs unwanted wavelengths) and relocates it to the lens array (which redirects wavelengths). This allows the sensor substrate to receive all incident light without absorption losses, while still achieving spectral separation through directional control of light onto different pixels.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens array acts as an intermediary between the incident light and the sensor substrate. Instead of the color filter directly absorbing unwanted wavelengths, the lens array mediates by redirecting different wavelengths to different pixels, enabling spectral separation without energy loss through absorption.
2Measurement precision
If sensor size is decreased to obtain high resolution, then resolution is improved, but sensitivity in unit pixel decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor substrate into multiple pixel rows, where odd-numbered rows detect wavelengths in a first spectral range and even-numbered rows detect wavelengths in a second spectral range. This segmentation allows each pixel to be optimized for its specific wavelength range, maintaining high sensitivity despite the reduced size of individual pixels in the high-resolution array.
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 proposed solution enhances light utilization efficiency and maintains sensitivity in smaller pixel sizes, enabling the development of high-resolution, highly sensitive multispectral image sensors.
Implementation Method 1
a color separating lens array provided on the spacer layer, wherein the color separating lens array includes: a first color separating lens array extending in the first direction over the first pixel row, the first color separating lens array being configured to separate from light incident on the first color separating lens array, light of a plurality of first wavelengths within a first spectral range and condense the light of the plurality of first wavelengths onto the plurality of first pixels of the first pixel row
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image sensor including a sensor substrate including a first pixel row and a second pixel row, a spacer layer arranged on the sensor substrate, and a color separating lens array arranged on the spacer layer, in which the color separating lens array includes a first color separating lens array separating, out of incident light, light of a plurality of wavelengths within a first spectral range and condensing the light of the plurality of wavelengths onto a plurality of pixels of the first pixel row and a second color separating lens array separating, out of incident light, light of a plurality of wavelengths within a second spectral range different from the first spectral range and condensing the light of the plurality of wavelengths onto a plurality of pixels of the second pixel row.