Phase-Modulated Imaging Pixel for High Light Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing image recognition systems have low light utilization efficiency due to limited light areas and light beam distortion at the peripheral edges of microlenses, making it difficult to achieve high-quality images with a wide angle of view.
Innovation Solution
The imaging device incorporates a phase modulation unit that generates a phase difference of half a wavelength between light passed through two parts, a light-shielding unit with a pinhole, and a light guide unit to enhance light utilization and reduce crosstalk, allowing for high-quality image capture with improved light efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pinholes are used to limit the area of incident light, then light beam direction can be controlled, but light utilization efficiency becomes low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the optical parameters by introducing a phase modulation unit that modulates the phase of light passing through the microlens. This allows the system to achieve precise light beam direction control through phase manipulation rather than relying solely on geometric constraints from pinholes, thereby improving light utilization efficiency while maintaining directional control precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If pinholes are used at peripheral edges of microlens array, then wide angle of view can be achieved, but light beam distortion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase modulation to compensate for the geometric distortion inherent in peripheral microlenses. By dynamically adjusting the phase of incoming light, the system can correct the elliptical distortion of light beams from peripheral regions, maintaining high image quality across the entire field of view while preserving the wide angle of view capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase modulation unit acts as an intermediary between the microlens array and the imaging sensor. It processes the distorted light beams from peripheral microlenses by applying phase corrections, thereby transforming the distorted light into properly focused beams that maintain image quality while allowing the peripheral microlenses to contribute to the wide angle of view.
3Measurement precision
If pinholes are used for light selection, then light direction can be controlled, but image quality deteriorates due to distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from geometric light control using pinholes to phase-based light control. The phase modulation unit modifies the phase parameter of light waves, enabling precise directional control without the geometric constraints and distortions imposed by pinhole apertures, thereby maintaining both directional precision and image quality.
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 high-quality image acquisition with high light utilization efficiency and reduced distortion, effectively addressing the limitations of existing systems by modulating light phases and guiding light effectively through the pinhole.
Implementation Method 1
a lens unit that condenses incident light
Implementation Method 2
a phase modulation unit that modulates a phase of some light passed through the lens unit
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an imaging device capable of obtaining a high-quality image with high light utilization efficiency, and an electronic apparatus using the imaging device. An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes at least one pixel, in which the pixel includes a lens unit that condenses incident light, a phase modulation unit that modulates a phase of some light passed through the lens unit, a light-shielding unit including a pinhole that lets light of which phase is modulated in the phase modulation unit and light of which phase is not modulated pass through, and an imaging element that images light passed through the pinhole.