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

• US 7,511,749 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• 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: Gruhlk, Russell W., Schroeder, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Luong T
• Application Number:
  US10/740,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 348/222.1, 348/265, 348/272, 348/340, 250/208.1
• 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 imaging element array configured as a unitary, open-bottomed box comprising;

an optical substrate including;

a first imaging element comprising a first refractive surface defined in an external major surface of the optical substrate, and

a second imaging element comprising a second refractive surface defined in the external major surface of the optical substrate, the first and second refractive surfaces each configured to image light of a respectively different color,

a plurality of side portions of the open-bottomed box, and

a screen extending from one side portion to an opposite side portion of the open-bottomed box between the first and the second imaging elements for separating the first and second imaging elements, the screen including a light absorbing material such that (1) light imaged by the first imaging element is blocked by the screen from being incident on a second region of sensor elements, and (2) light imaged by the second imaging element is blocked by the screen from being incident on a first region of sensor elements; and

a light sensor configured on a further substrate, the light sensor comprising;

the first and second regions of sensor elements disposed on the further substrate opposite the first and second imaging elements, respectively, and

one or more attachment pads attached to the further substrate for aligning the imaging element array to the light sensor and for affixing the imaging element array to the further substrate, the one or more attachment pads affixed to and aligned with the plurality of side portions and the screen using solder such that the first and second regions of sensor elements are encapsulated inside the unitary open-bottomed box.

2. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the light sensor comprises three regions of the sensor elements with centers of each of the three regions located at apices of a triangle.

3. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the first and second regions of image sensors are juxtaposed at adjacent corners.

4. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the first imaging element additionally comprises a first correction element defined in an internal major surface of the optical substrate, the first correction element axially aligned to the first refractive surface; and

the second imaging element additionally comprises a second correction element defined in an internal major surface of the optical substrate, the second correction element axially aligned to the second refractive surface.

5. The image sensor of claim 4, in which at least one of the first or the second refractive surfaces comprises a convex surface structured to image light of a corresponding color.

6. The image sensor of claim 5, in which the convex surface is aspherical.

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

the convex surface is spherical; and

at least one of the first or the second correction element comprises an aspherical surface opposite the spherical convex surface, the aspherical surface structured to correct aberration with respect to light of the respective color.

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

the convex surface is spherical; and

at least one of the first correction element or the second correction element comprises a diffractive element opposite the convex spherical element, the diffractive element structured to correct aberration with respect to light of the corresponding color.

9. The image sensor of claim 4, additionally comprising a first color filter disposed between the first imaging element and the light sensor, the first color filter configured to transmit light of a first color to a first one of the first and second regions of the sensor elements.

10. The image sensor of claim 9, additionally comprising a second color filter disposed between the second imaging element and the light sensor, the second color filter configured to transmit light of a second color, different from the first color.

11. The image sensor of claim 9, 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.

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

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

14. The image sensor of claim 11, 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.

15. The image sensor of claim 11, in which the optical substrate defines a mount for the polychromatic imaging element.

16. The image sensor of claim 4, in which the optical substrate is stepped to locate the first and second imaging elements at a respectively different distance from the light sensor.

17. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the imaging element array includes an attachment portion forming at least one opening in the open-bottomed box; and

the one or more attachment pads are configured to fix the regions of sensor elements in a position opposite the first and second imaging elements of the imaging element array via the attachment portion of the imaging element array.

18. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein:

the imaging element array includes an attachment portion for fixing alignment of the optical axis of the first and second image elements of the imaging element array with respect to respective regions of the sensor elements; and

the one or more attachment pads attached to the further substrate are configured to fix the attachment portion to the further substrate such that the respective regions of sensor elements are aligned with the position opposite the first and second imaging elements of the imaging element array via the attachment portion and the one or more attachment pads.

19. The image sensor of claim 18, wherein the unitary, open-bottomed box and the image sensor array are structure to be aligned using a jig such that when aligned and heated, the attachment portion and the one or more attachment pads are affixed together by a reflow of the solder on the one or more attachment pads.

20. The image sensor of claim 18, wherein the one or more attachment pads include a solder layer of the solder used for attaching the attachment portion and the one or more attachment pads together.