Image Sensor Light Guide Deflection Structures for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image sensor apparatuses face limitations in collecting light due to the inherent inability of individual sensor elements to record colors, leading to reduced resolution and increased image noise when trying to enhance image information, especially in fixed sensor sizes.
Innovation Solution
The use of a carrier medium with input and output coupling regions and deflection structures, such as holographic optical elements, to redirect and collect light of specific wavelengths onto sensor elements, increasing the area from which light can be collected and reducing image noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the pixel number or number of sensor elements is increased to achieve higher resolution, then image information quality is improved, but the sensor area must increase or individual pixels become smaller leading to increased image noise
Solution Approach 1:
A light guide layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the lens and sensor elements. This light guide captures and redirects light that would otherwise be lost, channeling it to appropriate sensor elements. The light guide acts as a mediator that improves light collection efficiency without requiring smaller pixels or larger sensor area, thereby maintaining signal strength and reducing noise while enabling higher resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a two-dimensional pixel array to a three-dimensional light management system by introducing the light guide layer. This additional dimension allows light to be collected from multiple angles and paths, redirecting stray light and improving the effective light collection area for each pixel without increasing the physical sensor footprint or reducing pixel size.
2Loss of information
If color filters are overlaid on pixels to enable color recording, then color information is obtained, but only one third of pixels are effectively used for each color resulting in reduced resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The light guide layer serves as an intermediary that redistributes light across the sensor array. By capturing light at multiple points and redirecting it to appropriate sensor elements, the light guide enables more efficient use of the pixel array, allowing better color resolution without sacrificing color information capture capability.
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 approach allows for improved light collection and increased resolution without augmenting image noise, enabling the generation of color images with sufficient light for each sensor element.
Implementation Method 1
The carrier medium is formed to transfer the light coupled in via the input coupling regions to the output coupling regions by internal reflection
Implementation Method 2
the first output coupling region comprises a first output coupling deflection structure, which is formed to couple the transferred light with the first preset wavelength out of the carrier medium onto the first sensor element
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an image sensor apparatus of a camera for detecting light. The image sensor apparatus comprises at least a first and a second sensor element and a carrier medium, wherein the carrier medium has a first and second input coupling region and a first and second output coupling region, wherein the first input coupling region has a first deflection structure which input couples light at a first given wavelength into the carrier medium in the direction of the first output coupling region, wherein the second input coupling region has a second deflection structure which input couples light at a second given wavelength into the carrier medium in the direction of the second output coupling region, wherein the first output coupling region has a first output coupling deflection structure which output couples the transmitted light from the carrier medium onto the first sensor element and wherein the second output coupling region has a second output coupling deflection structure which output couples the light onto the second sensor element.