Multi pixel micro lens pixel array and camera system for solving color mix and operating method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10916576-B2
Application number	US-201916403405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2019
Priority date	May 8, 2018
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A camera system includes a single lens and an image sensor including a reference pixel array including a plurality of W (white) pixels in a two-dimensional arrangement and a single microlens formed on the plurality of W pixels to be shared, and at least one color pixel array including two W pixels and two color pixels in a two-dimensional arrangement, and a single microlens disposed on the two W pixels and the two color pixels to be shared. Light shielding layers formed with Offset Pixel Apertures (OPAs) are disposed on the plurality of W pixels included in the reference pixel array and the two W pixels included in the at least one color pixel array, respectively, and the OPAs are formed on the light shielding layers in the reference pixel array and the at least one color pixel array, respectively, to maximize a spaced distance between the OPAs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera system, comprising:
a single lens; and
an image sensor including:
a reference pixel array including a plurality of W (white) pixels in a two-dimensional arrangement and a single microlens formed on the plurality of W pixels to be shared, and
at least one color pixel array including two W pixels and two color pixels in a two-dimensional arrangement, and a single microlens disposed on the two W pixels and the two color pixels to be shared,
wherein light shielding layers formed with Offset Pixel Apertures (OPAs) are disposed on the plurality of W pixels included in the reference pixel array and the two W pixels included in the at least one color pixel array, respectively, and
wherein the OPAs are formed on the light shielding layers in the reference pixel array and the at least one color pixel array, respectively, to maximize a spaced distance between the OPAs.

2. The camera system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one processor configured to calculate an uncontaminated color optical signal received at the at least one color pixel array using an uncontaminated W optical signal received at the reference pixel array.

3. The camera system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to calculate a depth for a subject using a disparity between any at least two images of any one set which is obtained through the plurality of W pixels included in the reference pixel array or is obtained through the two W pixels included in the at least one color pixel array.

4. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the OPAs are formed on the light shielding layers, respectively, in the reference pixel array and the at least one color pixel array, in a horizontal direction, in a vertical direction, or in a diagonal direction to maximize the spaced distance between the OPAs, such that a baseline of the camera system is increased.

5. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein an offset f-number associated with the spaced distance between the OPAs in the reference pixel array and a height of each of the plurality of W pixels included in the reference pixel array and an offset f-number associated with the spaced distance between the OPAs in the at least one color pixel array and a height of each of the two W pixels included in the at least one color pixel array are larger than an f-number of the single lens.

6. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the two color pixels included in the at least one color pixel array process color optical signals of the same wavelength.

7. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the OPAs disposed on two W pixels of the plurality of W pixels included in the reference pixel array and the OPAs disposed on the two W pixels included in the at least one color pixel array have the same center with respect to each pixel.

8. The camera system of claim 1 , wherein at least two OPAs of the OPAs disposed on the plurality of W pixels included in the reference pixel array have offset centers which are shifted with respect to each pixel, and
wherein the OPAs disposed on the two W pixel included in the at least one color pixel array have offset centers which are shifted with respect to each of the two W pixels.

9. A method of compensating color mix performed by a camera system including a single lens, an image sensor including a reference pixel array including a plurality of W (white) pixels in a two-dimensional arrangement and a single microlens formed on the plurality of W pixels to be shared, and at least one color pixel array including two W pixels and two color pixels in a two-dimensional arrangement, and a single microlens disposed on the two W pixels and the two color pixels to be shared, and at least one processor, wherein light shielding layers formed with Offset Pixel Apertures (OPAs) are disposed on the plurality of W pixels included in the reference pixel array the two W pixels included in the at least one color pixel array, respectively, and the OPAs are formed on the light shielding layers in the reference pixel array and the at least one color pixel array, respectively, to maximize a spaced distance between the OPAs, comprising:
receiving, by the plurality of w pixels included in the reference pixel array, an uncontaminated w optical signal;
receiving, by the two W pixels included m the at least one color pixel array, a contaminated W optical signal;
receiving, by the two color pixels included m the at least one color pixel array, a contaminated color optical signal from; and
calculating an uncontaminated color optical signal using the uncontaminated W optical signal.

Assignees

• Ct Integrated Smart Sensors Found

Inventors

• Kyung Chong Min
• Chang Seung Hyuk
• Choi Won Seok

Classifications

• H04N25/705

  Pixels for depth measurement, e.g. RGBZ · CPC title

• H04N23/12

  with one sensor only · CPC title

• H04N25/133

  including elements passing panchromatic light, e.g. filters passing white light · CPC title

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title