Multi-lens imaging systems and methods

• US 20060125936A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Gruhike, Russell W., Stanback, John H., Schroeder, Dale W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements

Abstract

Imaging systems and methods are provided. One exemplary system incorporates multiple lenses that are individually configured to receive visible light from an object to be imaged, and to direct this light upon a corresponding sensor array. Luminance information is then derived from signals generated in one or more of the sensor arrays. When chrominance information is desired, an optical filter is interposed between a lens and the corresponding sensor array. The mosaic pattern contained in the optical filter is tailored to provide advantageous chrominance information. One or more such filters with different mosaic patterns may be employed. The luminance and chrominance information obtained from the sensor arrays are combined to generate an image of the object.

Claims

1. An imaging system comprising:

a first luminance sensor array operative to produce a first pixilated luminance information from a full spectrum of visible light; and

a first chrominance sensor array operative to produce a first pixilated chrominance information from a first sub-spectrum of visible light, and wherein the first pixilated luminance information and the first pixilated chrominance information are combined to generate an image of an object.

2. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first lens configured to receive the full spectrum of visible light from the object to be imaged and operative to direct the full spectrum of visible light on to the first luminance sensor array;

a second lens configured to receive the full spectrum of visible light from the object to be imaged; and

a first optical filter optically arranged in series with the second lens to receive the full spectrum of visible light directed by the second lens upon the first optical filter, and operative to propagate the first sub-spectrum of visible light on to the first chrominance sensor array.

3. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the first optical filter is a Bayer color filter operative to propagate at least three sub-spectrums corresponding to red, green, and blue light;

and wherein the first chrominance sensor array is operative to produce chrominance information corresponding to at least one red pixel, one green pixel, and one blue pixel.

4. The imaging system of claim 2, further comprising:

a second luminance sensor array operative to produce a second pixilated luminance information from the full spectrum of visible light.

5. The imaging system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second chrominance sensor array operative to produce a second pixilated chrominance information from a second sub-spectrum of visible light.

6. The imaging system of claim 5, further comprising:

a Bayer color filter operative to propagate at least three sub-spectrums of visible light, the three sub-spectrums including the second sub-spectrum of visible light that is incident upon the second chrominance sensor array.

7. The imaging system of claim 2, wherein the first optical filter comprises a four-quadrant filter.

8. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein a first quadrant of the four-quadrant filter propagates light of a first color and a second quadrant of the four-quadrant filter-propagates light of a second color.

9. The imaging system of claim 7, wherein at least one of four quadrants of the four-quadrant filter is operative to propagate the full spectrum of visible light.

10. An imaging system comprising:

a first chrominance sensor array operative to produce a first pixilated chrominance information from a first sub-spectrum of visible light; and

a second chrominance sensor array operative to produce a second pixilated chrominance information from a second sub-spectrum of visible light, and wherein the first and second pixilated chrominance information are combined to generate an image of an object.

11. The imaging system of claim 10, further comprising:

a first lens configured to receive a full spectrum of visible light from an object to be imaged;

a first optical filter optically arranged in series with the first lens to receive the full spectrum of visible light directed by the first lens upon the first optical filter, and operative to propagate the first sub-spectrum of visible light on to the first chrominance sensor array;

a second lens configured to receive the full spectrum of visible light from the object to be imaged; and

a second optical filter optically arranged in series with the second lens to receive the full spectrum of visible light directed by the second lens upon the second optical filter, and operative to propagate the second sub-spectrum of visible light on to the second chrominance sensor array.

12. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein a first sensor element of the first chrominance sensor array is spatially offset with reference to a corresponding first sensor element of the second chrominance sensor array.

13. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein a mosaic filter pattern of the first optical filter is spatially offset with reference to a substantially similar mosaic filter pattern of the second optical filter.

14. The imaging system of claim 10, further comprising:

a third chrominance sensor array operative to produce a third pixilated chrominance information from a third sub-spectrum of visible light.

15. The imaging system of claim 10, wherein the first and second sub-spectrums of visible light are the same.

16. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second optical filters is a Bayer color filter.

17. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein the first optical filter is a green-red modified Bayer color filter, the second optical filter is a red-green-blue Bayer color filter, and the third optical filter is a blue-green modified Bayer color filter.

18. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second optical filters is configured in size to provide a desired depth of field of the imaging system.

19. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second chrominance sensor arrays is configured in size to provide a desired depth of field of the imaging system.

20. The imaging system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second lens is configured to provide an optimum modulation transfer function (MTF) at an off-axis location on a corresponding one of the first and second chrominance sensor arrays.

21. A method of imaging, the method comprising:

providing a first and a second sensor;

obtaining from the first sensor, chrominance information of an object to be imaged;

obtaining from the second sensor, luminance information of the object to be imaged; and

combining the chrominance information and luminance information to generate an image of the object.

22. A method of imaging, the method comprising:

providing a first and a second sensor;

obtaining from the first sensor, a first chrominance information of an object to be imaged;

obtaining from the second sensor, a second chrominance information of the object to be imaged; and

combining the first and second chrominance information to generate an image of the object to be imaged.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing a third sensor;

obtaining from the third sensor, a third chrominance information of the object to be imaged; and

combining the third chrominance information with the first and second chrominance information to generate the image of the object to be imaged.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing a third sensor;

obtaining from the third sensor, luminance information of the object to be imaged; and

combining the luminance information with the first and second chrominance information to generate the image of the object.