Color image sensor having imaging element array forming images on respective regions of sensor elements

• US 20050134712A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Gruhlke, Russell W., Schroeder, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,511,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/272
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/36 Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/513 having fixed filter-detector pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/201 in the form of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/02 for lenses supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/15 Image signal generation with circuitry for avoiding or correcting image misregistration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors

Abstract

The color image sensor generates a color image signal representing a subject and includes an optical substrate and a light sensor. The optical substrate includes spatially-separated imaging elements. Each of the imaging elements is configured to image light of a respective color. The light sensor includes regions of sensor elements disposed opposite respective ones of the imaging elements. The sensor elements in each of the regions are operable to generate a component of the color image signal in response to the light of the respective color incident on them.

Claims

1. A color image sensor for generating a color image signal representing a subject, the image sensor comprising:

an optical substrate comprising spatially-separated imaging elements, each of the imaging elements configured to image light of a respective color; and

a light sensor comprising regions of sensor elements disposed opposite respective ones of the imaging elements, the sensor elements in each of the regions operable to generate a component of the color image signal in response to the light of the respective color incident thereon.

2. The image sensor of claim 1, in which at least one of the imaging elements comprises a convex surface structured to image the light of the respective color.

3. The image sensor of claim 2, in which the convex surface is aspherical.

4. The image sensor of claim 2, in which:

the convex surface is spherical; and

the one of the imaging elements additionally comprises an aspherical surface opposite the spherical convex surface, the aspherical surface structured to correct aberration with respect to light of the respective color.

5. The image sensor of claim 2, in which:

the convex surface is spherical; and

the one of the imaging elements additionally comprises a diffractive element opposite the convex spherical element, the diffractive element structured to correct aberration with respect to light of the respective color.

6. The image sensor of claim 1, in which at least one of the imaging elements comprises a diffractive element structured to image the light of the respective color.

7. The image sensor of claim 1, additionally comprising a first color filter disposed between a first one of the imaging elements and the light sensor, the first color filter configured to transmit light of a first color to a first one of the regions.

8. The image sensor of claim 7, additionally comprising a second color filter disposed between a second one of the imaging elements and the light sensor, the second color filter configured to transmit light of a second color, different from the first color.

9. The image sensor of claim 7, in which:

the light sensor additionally comprises an additional region of sensor elements; and

the image sensor additionally comprises a polychromatic imaging element disposed opposite the additional region of sensor elements to image broad-spectrum light from the subject thereon.

10. The image sensor of claim 9, in which the first one of the regions and the additional region are equal in at least one of (a) area and (b) number of sensor elements.

11. The image sensor of claim 9, in which the first one of the regions and the additional region differ in at least one of (a) area and (b) number of sensor elements.

12. The image sensor of claim 9, in which the sensor elements of the first one of the regions and the sensor elements of the additional region differ in area in a ratio that equalizes sensitivity to the respective light incident thereon.

13. The image sensor of claim 7, in which the optical substrate defines a mount for the polychromatic imaging element.

14. The image sensor of claim 1, in which the imaging elements are arranged along a straight line.

15. The image sensor of claim 1, in which the imaging elements are arranged in a triangle.

16. The image sensor of claim 1, in which the optical substrate additionally comprises side pieces affixed to the light sensor.

17. The image sensor of claim 16, in which the side pieces are affixed to the light sensor with solder.

18. The image sensor of claim 1, in which the optical substrate is stepped to locate the imaging elements at respective distances from the light sensor.

19. A method of making a color image sensor, the method comprising:

molding an imaging element array comprising an optical substrate and side pieces, the optical substrate comprising spatially-separated imaging elements, each of the imaging elements configured to image light of a respective color;

providing a light sensor comprising regions of sensor elements, each of the regions operable to generate an image signal component in response to light of the respective color incident thereon; and

affixing the imaging element array to the light sensor with the imaging elements disposed opposite respective ones of the regions.

20. The method of claim 19, in which the affixing comprises soldering the sidepieces of the imaging element array to the light sensor.

21. The method of claim 19, in which:

the imaging element array is an element of a matrix of imaging element arrays,

the light sensor is an element of an array of light sensors fabricated in a wafer; and

the method additionally comprises aligning the matrix of imaging element arrays with the array of light sensors before the affixing.

22. The method of claim 21, in which the molding comprises molding the matrix of imaging element arrays interconnected with flexible filaments.

23. A method for generating a color image signal representing a subject, the method comprising:

independently and in parallel forming images of the subject in light of different colors; and

converting the images into respective image signal components of the color image signal.

24. The method of claim 23, in which the forming comprises forming ones of the images in narrow-band light.

25. The method of claim 23, in which the forming comprising forming at least one of the images in broad-spectrum light.

26. The method of claim 23, in which the forming comprises diffractively forming ones of the images in narrow-band light.

27. The method of claim 23, in which the forming comprises refractively forming ones of the images in narrow-band light.

28. The method of claim 27, in which the forming additionally comprises diffractively correcting aberrations in the ones of the images.

29. The method of claim 23, in which the forming comprises individually and in parallel filtering light from the subject to provide the light of the different colors.

30. The method of claim 23, additionally comprising correcting the color image signal for misalignment between the images.

31. The method of claim 23, additionally comprising preventing light leakage among the images.