Mounted imaging device

• US 7,868,286 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2009
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• 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:
  US12/427,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20090201371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 250/226, 250/208.1, 257/440, 348/272, 356/402, 356/419, 349/106
• 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, each pixel cell comprising of a photodiode formed on a semiconductor substrate and a color filter formed on the photodiode, wherein:

the color filter includes a layered structure and is composed of an inorganic material,

the color filter is configured to selectively transmit a wavelength of incident light, and

the vehicle-mounted imaging device is mounted in an engine compartment of the automobile.

2. The vehicle-mounted imaging device of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-mounted imaging device is configured to monitor condition of at least one of an engine, a transmission, a suspension, and a tire.

3. The vehicle-mounted imaging device of claim 1, outputting signals input to a video control device, wherein

another vehicle-mounted imaging device mounted in a passenger compartment of the automobile also outputs signals input to the video control device.