Integrated Pixel Optical Element for Low-Cost Color Light Condensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing costs of imaging devices that incorporate both microlenses and color filters are high due to the complexity and cost of these components.
Innovation Solution
An optical element with a transparent layer and structure members arranged in a plane direction to condense light of different colors onto corresponding pixels, eliminating the need for separate microlenses and color filters, thereby simplifying the structure and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If microlenses and color filters are used together, then light reception efficiency is improved, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the microlens and color filter functions into a single integrated optical element. The optical element includes a first optical layer with a microlens and a second optical layer with a color filter, where the layers are integrated together. This merging eliminates the need for separate components while maintaining both light concentration and color separation functions, thereby improving light reception efficiency without increasing manufacturing costs.
2Reliability
If microlenses and color filters are used together, then optical performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple optical functions into a single integrated element. The optical element comprises a first optical layer containing a microlens and a second optical layer containing a color filter, with both layers integrated together. This integration maintains high optical performance through coordinated design of the layers while reducing overall device complexity by eliminating separate components and simplifying the optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated optical element performs multiple functions simultaneously: the microlens concentrates incident light onto the pixel, while the color filter separates wavelengths. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single optical element structure, reducing the number of discrete components needed and simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining high optical performance.
3Measurement precision
If multiple optical components are used, then color separation accuracy is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the microlens and color filter into a single optical element with coordinated layer structures. The first optical layer with the microlens and the second optical layer with the color filter are manufactured together as an integrated unit, which maintains color separation accuracy through their fixed relative positions while reducing the need for high-precision post-manufacturing alignment between separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element is designed and manufactured with the microlens and color filter layers already positioned in their correct relative orientations. This preliminary arrangement during manufacturing ensures that the optical axes and color filter alignments are pre-established, maintaining high color separation accuracy while reducing the precision requirements for subsequent assembly steps.
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 solution significantly lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining high light reception efficiency and sensitivity, with the optical element providing both color separation and lens functions, and allowing for a higher aperture ratio without the need for additional components.
Implementation Method 1
the plurality of structure members is arranged to condense light of colors corresponding to respective pixels of the plurality of pixels into the corresponding pixels
Implementation Method 2
the plurality of structure members is arranged to condense light of colors corresponding to respective pixels of the plurality of pixels into the corresponding pixels
Data Source
AI summary
An optical element includes a transparent layer for covering a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element, and a plurality of structure members disposed on the transparent layer or in the transparent layer, the structure members being arranged in a plane direction of the transparent layer. The plurality of structure members is arranged to condense light of colors corresponding to respective pixels of the plurality of pixels into the corresponding pixels, the light of the colors being of incident light.