Image Sensor Filter Segmentation for Resolution Sensitivity Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image photographing devices face challenges in achieving high sensitivity while maintaining high-resolution images, as reducing pixel unit area leads to reduced light exposure, and existing technologies struggle to separate red, green, and blue signals effectively, resulting in deteriorated color reproducibility.
Innovation Solution
An image photographing apparatus and method utilizing a filter unit with complementary color filters and a white filter, along with photoelectric conversion layers of different spectral sensitivity, to enhance light exposure and precise color separation, including an infrared filter to prevent image distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the unit area of each pixel is reduced to increase resolution, then the number of pixels increases, but the amount of light reaching each pixel is reduced, resulting in reduced sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is segmented into different functional regions: color filter regions (R, G, B) and white filter regions. This segmentation allows different pixels to serve different purposes - color pixels for color information and white pixels for high-sensitivity luminance information, resolving the contradiction between resolution and sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The white filter regions serve multiple functions: they act as high-sensitivity light receptors for luminance information and also contribute to overall image brightness. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain both high resolution and high sensitivity simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional color filter arrangements are used to ensure signal charge and resolution, then color reproducibility is enhanced, but sensitivity is reduced due to pixel miniaturization
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is divided into color filter pixels and white filter pixels. The white filter pixels specifically address the sensitivity issue by capturing more light without the wavelength restrictions of colored filters, while color filter pixels maintain color accuracy. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between color reproducibility and sensitivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If magenta-green filters in a Bayer pattern are used to compensate for crosstalk, then color characteristics are improved, but light reception sensitivity to green is reduced to 1/3 of original sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array is segmented into dedicated green color filter pixels and white filter pixels. The white pixels compensate for the reduced green sensitivity by providing high-sensitivity luminance data that can be processed to recover green information, effectively restoring overall green sensitivity while maintaining color accuracy.
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 increases pixel sensitivity and improves color reproducibility by allowing more light to reach pixels and enabling precise separation of primary color signals, resulting in higher-quality images with enhanced resolution and sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensor unit to sense an image from the light signal that passes through the filter unit, wherein the image sensor unit comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion layers each having a different spectral sensitivity
Implementation Method 2
a filter unit comprised of at least two combinations of a first filter region which passes a wavelength band of an incident light signal corresponding to a complementary color of a first color
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A
AI summary
An image photographing apparatus, method and medium that can enhance color reproducibility and sensitivity. The image photographing apparatus includes a filter unit having a first filter region to pass at least one band of an incident light signal corresponding to a complementary color of a first color, and a second filter region to pass all bands of the incident light signal, wherein the first filter region and the second filter region are each formed in one of two adjacent pixels, and an image sensor unit to sense an image from the incident light signal that passes through the filter unit, the image sensor unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion layers each having a different spectral sensitivity.