Split Pupil Imaging Apparatus with Polarization Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging systems struggle to capture high-quality multispectral images due to uncorrected aberrations across different wavelength ranges, leading to interference and poor image quality when splitting the pupil region.
Innovation Solution
The imaging apparatus employs a split pupil region with bandpass filters and polarization filters, each with distinct wavelength ranges and polarization directions, and adjusts optical elements like curvature, thickness, and inclination to individually correct aberrations for each region, allowing for the capture of multispectral images with improved quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the pupil region is split into multiple regions to capture different wavelength ranges, then multispectral imaging capability is improved, but aberration interference between regions worsens image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different optical elements (first optical element and second optical element) for different pupil regions, where each optical element has specifically designed optical characteristics to correct aberrations for its corresponding wavelength range. This localized optimization resolves the contradiction by ensuring each region contributes high-quality images without interfering with other regions.
2Manufacturing precision
If optical elements with different characteristics are used for different pupil regions, then aberration correction for each wavelength range is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a unified optical system where the pupil region is divided and each region is assigned a specific optical element. The imaging element integrates signals from multiple pixels receiving light from different pupil regions, and the processor combines these signals to generate the final multispectral image. This merging approach achieves precise aberration correction while maintaining system integration and avoiding excessive complexity.
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 enables the capture of multispectral images with good image quality by correcting aberrations for each wavelength range, reducing interference and enhancing dynamic range, and can be applied to existing imaging lenses for multispectral imaging capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a polarizer which polarizes light beams passing through the first pupil region and the second pupil region in directions different from each other
Implementation Method 2
first optical element that transmits a light beam of a first wavelength range, and a second optical element that transmits a light beam of a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an imaging apparatus that captures a multispectral image having a good image quality. An imaging apparatus (1) includes an imaging optical system (10) that includes a pupil region which is split into a plurality of regions including a first pupil region and a second pupil region different from the first pupil region, and a polarization filter which polarizes light beams passing through the first pupil region and the second pupil region in directions different from each other, an imaging element (100) that includes a first pixel which receives the light beam passing through the first pupil region and a second pixel which receives the light beam passing through the second pupil region, and a signal processing unit (200) that processes signals output from the imaging element (100), and outputs at least first image data consisting of an output signal of the first pixel and second image data consisting of an output signal of the second pixel. In the imaging optical system (10), wavelengths of the light beams passing through the first pupil region and the second pupil region are different from each other, and aberration characteristics of regions corresponding to the first pupil region and the second pupil region are different from each other.