On-vehicle imaging device

• US 7,560,684 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2006
• Issued: 07/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Inaba, Yuuichi, Yamaguchi, Takumi, Matsuda, Kenichi, Yoshida, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn; Seung C
• Application Number:
  US11/795,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20080135740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 250/226, 250/208.1, 349/106, 257/440, 348/272, 356/402, 356/419
• US Class Current: 250/226
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/10 characterised by the type of camera system used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02165 using interference filters, e.g. multilayer dielectric filters interference filters G02B5/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/12 with one sensor only

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted imaging device that is mounted in an automobile and performs color imaging has been provided with a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixel cells. In each of the pixels, a color filter separates incident light by a multilayer interference filter. The multilayer interference filter is composed of two λ/4 multilayer films and a spacer layer sandwiched therebetween. The multilayer interference filter transmits light in a wavelength region that corresponds to an optical thickness of the spacer layer. The λ/4 multilayer films and spacer layer are composed of inorganic materials.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted imaging device that is mounted to an automobile and performs color imaging, the vehicle-mounted imaging device including a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixel cells, in each of which a color filter selectively transmits a wavelength of incident light, wherein

the color filter is composed of an inorganic material

wherein the color filter includes two λ

/4 multilayer films and a spacer layer sandwiched therebetween,

each of the λ

/4 multilayer films includes two types of dielectric layers that have been alternately laminated, each type of dielectric layer having a same optical thickness and a different refractive index, and

in each pixel cell, the color filter selectively transmits light in a wavelength region that corresponds to a film thickness of the spacer layer in the pixel cell.

2. The vehicle-mounted imaging device of claim 1, wherein

in at least one of the pixel cells, the color filter has been formed without the spacer layer in accordance with the wavelength region of light to be transmitted by the at least one pixel cell.