Imaging device with photo detectors and color filters arranged by color transmission characteristics and absorption coefficients
First Claim
1. An imaging device, comprising:
- an array of photo detectors each configured to generate an electrical signal in response to received light, wherein the photo detectors all have a same lateral size; and
an array of solid material color filters disposed over the array of photo detectors such that the photo detectors receive light passing through the color filters, wherein;
each of the color filters has a color transmission characteristic,the color transmission characteristic of some of the color filters is different from that of others of the color filters,a first plurality of the color filters each of which is disposed over a plurality of the photo detectors, anda second plurality of the color filters each of which is disposed over only one of the photo detectors;
wherein the first plurality of color filters is disposed along edges of the array of color filters, and the second plurality of color filters is disposed in an inner area of the array of color filters.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging device that includes an array of photo detectors each configured to generate an electrical signal in response to received light, and an array of color filters disposed over the array of photo detectors such that the photo detectors receive light passing through the color filters. Each of the color filters has a color transmission characteristic, which vary. To even out color balance, some of the color filters are disposed over a plurality of the photo detectors while others are disposed over only one of the photo detectors. Additional color balance can be achieved by varying the relative area sizes of the color filters and underlying photo detectors based on color transmission characteristics, to compensate for the varying absorption coefficient of the photo detectors at different colors.
64 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An imaging device, comprising:
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an array of photo detectors each configured to generate an electrical signal in response to received light, wherein the photo detectors all have a same lateral size; and an array of solid material color filters disposed over the array of photo detectors such that the photo detectors receive light passing through the color filters, wherein; each of the color filters has a color transmission characteristic, the color transmission characteristic of some of the color filters is different from that of others of the color filters, a first plurality of the color filters each of which is disposed over a plurality of the photo detectors, and a second plurality of the color filters each of which is disposed over only one of the photo detectors; wherein the first plurality of color filters is disposed along edges of the array of color filters, and the second plurality of color filters is disposed in an inner area of the array of color filters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An imaging device, comprising:
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an array of photo detectors each configured to generate an electrical signal in response to received light; an array of solid material color filters disposed over the array of photo detectors such that the photo detectors receive light passing through the color filters, wherein each of the color filters is disposed over and has a lateral size matching that of only one of the photo detectors, and wherein the array of color filters includes; a first plurality of the color filters having a first color transmission characteristic and disposed over a first plurality of the photo detectors, wherein the first plurality of color filters includes a first sub-plurality thereof having a lateral size larger than that of a second sub-plurality of the first plurality of color filters, a second plurality of the color filters having a second color transmission characteristic and disposed over a second plurality of the photo detectors, wherein the second plurality of color filters includes a first sub-plurality thereof having a lateral size larger than that of a second sub-plurality of the second plurality of color filters, and a third plurality of the color filters having a third color transmission characteristic and disposed over a third plurality of the photo detectors, wherein the third plurality of color filters includes a first sub-plurality thereof having a lateral size larger than that of a second sub-plurality of the third plurality of color filters, wherein the first, second and third color transmission characteristics are different from each other; the array of photo detectors having a first absorption coefficient corresponding to the first color transmission characteristic, a second absorption coefficient corresponding to the second color transmission characteristic, and a third absorption coefficient corresponding to the third color transmission characteristic, wherein the first absorption coefficient is greater than the second absorption coefficient, and the second absorption coefficient is greater than the third absorption coefficient; the third plurality of the color filters covers a larger area of the array of photo detectors than does the second plurality of the color filters; and the second plurality of the color filters covers a larger area of the array of photo detectors than does the first plurality of the color filters. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification