Polarization Imaging System Using Wavefront Control Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional polarization imaging devices suffer from low light detection efficiency due to light attenuating polarization filters and increased fabrication and implementation costs, particularly in achieving a compact size without reducing the quantity of light reaching the image sensor.

Innovation Solution

A polarization imaging image-pickup system with a wavefront control element featuring microscopic structures that spatially separate polarized light into orthogonal directions, allowing high light use efficiency and reducing device size, while eliminating the need for light attenuating filters and minimizing component count.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If light attenuating polarization filters are used to achieve polarization separation, then polarization imaging can be performed, but light detection efficiency decreases and device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolarization imaging capabilityVSAvoidlight detection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the light attenuating polarization filter from the optical path, replacing it with a beam splitter that separates polarized light without absorption or attenuation, thereby eliminating light loss while maintaining polarization imaging capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the optical absorption mechanism of polarization filters with a beam splitting mechanism that uses reflection and transmission to separate polarized light, substituting a lossy optical system with a non-lossy optical system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If conventional polarization filters are used, then polarization separation is achieved, but fabrication costs and implementation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolarization separationVSAvoidfabrication cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex polarization filter assembly from the system, replacing it with a simpler beam splitter configuration that reduces fabrication steps, component count, and overall manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The beam splitter serves multiple functions simultaneously: it separates polarized light, directs light paths, and eliminates the need for additional polarization filtering components, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture and reducing fabrication costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If light attenuating polarization filters are used, then polarization imaging is possible, but device size increases and portability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolarization imaging functionVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the bulky polarization filter components from the device architecture, replacing them with a compact beam splitter system that achieves the same polarization separation function with significantly reduced volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the polarization separation function with the existing beam splitter component, eliminating the need for separate polarization filter assemblies and thereby reducing overall device size and improving portability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 system achieves high sensitivity and compact size with improved light use efficiency, reducing fabrication costs and enabling portable, small-sized polarization imaging devices with enhanced productivity.

Implementation Method 1

one wavefront control element that includes a plurality of microscopic structures; and a pixel array that is arranged to face the wavefront control element... light from an imaging object is spatially separated by the one wavefront control element into first polarized light, and a second polarized light that is in a direction orthogonal to the first polarized light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentUS11733100B2Polarization imaging system

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

A polarization imaging image-pickup system includes an image-pickup unit array that includes a plurality of image-pickup units arranged two-dimensionally, wherein the image-pickup units each include: one wavefront control element that includes a plurality of microscopic structures; and a pixel array that is arranged so as to face the wavefront control element, and includes a plurality of pixels that are associated with the wavefront control element and are two-dimensionally arranged, and light from an imaging object is spatially separated by the one wavefront control element into first polarized light, and a second polarized light that is in a direction orthogonal to the first polarized light or has a rotation direction opposite to a rotation direction of the first polarized light, the first polarized light is collected at a first collection position on the pixel array, and the second polarized light is collected at a second collection position on the pixel array.