Nano-Photonic Lens Array for Color Filter Light Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image sensors experience low light utilization efficiency due to the absorption of unwanted light by color filters, resulting in significant light loss, particularly in color display and image sensing applications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a nano-photonic lens array that condenses incident light onto pixels, allowing for improved light separation and utilization by arranging nano-structures to match the focal length and refractive indices of the layers, thereby enhancing light transmission efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a color filter layer is used to sense light by wavelength, then color discrimination is achieved, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates due to absorption of non-intended wavelengths
Solution Approach 1:
The incident light is segmented into different wavelength components by the nano-photonic lens array, which directs different wavelengths to different pixel regions. This allows the color filter layer to receive pre-separated wavelengths, improving both color discrimination and reducing absorption losses since each filter only needs to handle its designated wavelength range.
Solution Approach 2:
The nano-photonic lens array performs preliminary wavelength separation before light reaches the color filter layer. By condensing and directing specific wavelength ranges to corresponding pixel regions in advance, the system prepares the light in an optimized state, enabling the color filters to work more efficiently with less waste absorption.
2Measurement precision
If a color filter layer is used to separate wavelengths, then color purity is improved, but light transmission efficiency deteriorates due to absorption of 2/3 of incident light
Solution Approach 1:
The nano-photonic lens array segments the incident light into different wavelength bands and directs them to specific pixel regions. This segmentation means that color filters only need to filter their designated wavelength range with high precision, improving color purity while allowing more total light to be utilized since non-target wavelengths are already spatially separated rather than absorbed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the pixel array are assigned to detect different wavelength bands, creating local specialization. The nano-photonic lens array ensures that each region receives predominantly its target wavelength, allowing color filters to achieve high color purity locally while the overall system maintains high light transmission efficiency by utilizing the full incident light spectrum across different regions.
3Device complexity
If conventional light sensing is used without wavelength pre-separation, then device complexity is low, but light utilization efficiency deteriorates due to lack of targeted light condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The nano-photonic lens array introduces a segmented structure that divides the pixel array into regions corresponding to different wavelength bands. Each region is equipped with color filters optimized for its specific wavelength range, creating a modular system that improves light utilization efficiency while maintaining manageable device complexity through systematic organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The nano-photonic lens array adds a spatial dimension to wavelength separation by condensing different wavelengths to different spatial locations on the sensor array. This dimensional approach to light organization enables efficient wavelength-specific detection without requiring complex spectral analysis equipment, thus improving light utilization while keeping device complexity acceptable.
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 nano-photonic lens array significantly improves light utilization efficiency by effectively separating and condensing light onto specific pixels, reducing absorption losses and enhancing color purity, leading to improved image sensing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a nano-photonic lens array arranged on the encapsulation layer, the nano-photonic lens array including a plurality of nano-structures that are arranged to condense incident light onto the plurality of first pixels and the plurality of second pixels
Data Source
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AI summary
An image sensor includes a sensor substrate including a plurality of first pixels for sensing light of a first wavelength band and a plurality of second pixels for sensing light of a second wavelength band that is different from the first wavelength band, a color filter layer on the sensor substrate, and including a plurality of color filters , a planarization layer arranged on the color filter layer, an encapsulation layer arranged on the planarization layer, and a nano-photonic lens array arranged on the encapsulation layer, and including a plurality of nano-structures that are arranged to condense incident light onto the plurality of first pixels and the plurality of second pixels.