Polarization imaging system
US-11733100-B2 · Aug 22, 2023 · US
Optical element, image sensor and imaging device
US12538601B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-12538601-B2 |
| Application number | US-202018031157-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Oct 12, 2020 |
| Priority date | Oct 12, 2020 |
| Publication date | Jan 27, 2026 |
| Grant date | Jan 27, 2026 |
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Abstract
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An optical element includes a transparent layer for covering a pixel including a photoelectric conversion element, and a plurality of columnar structures which are disposed on the transparent layer or in the transparent layer in a plane direction of the transparent layer and guide incident light to the corresponding photoelectric conversion element, wherein the plurality of columnar structures are formed on an entire surface of the transparent layer at intervals shorter than a wavelength of the incident light.
First claim
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The invention claimed is: 1 . An optical element comprising: a transparent layer for covering a pixel including a photoelectric conversion element; and a plurality of columnar structures which are disposed on the transparent layer or in the transparent layer in a plane direction of the transparent layer and guide incident light to the corresponding photoelectric conversion element, wherein the plurality of columnar structures are formed on an entire surface of the transparent layer at intervals shorter than a wavelength of the incident light, wherein each of the plurality of columnar structures provides an optical phase delay amount to the incident light, based on a width of each columnar structure in a plan view, and the width of each columnar structure is determined based on a predetermined wavelength for the corresponding photoelectric conversion element and a predetermined incident angle of the incident light. 2 . The optical element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columnar structures are formed in a lattice shape in the plan view. 3 . The optical element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columnar structures have a refractive index higher than that of a surrounding material of the plurality of columnar structures, and in the plan view, at least some columnar structures of the plurality of columnar structures have widths different from each other, and in a side view, the plurality of columnar structures have a same height. 4 . The optical element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columnar structures have a refractive index higher than that of a surrounding material of the plurality of columnar structures, at least some columnar structures of the plurality of columnar structures have refractive indices different from each other, and in a side view, the plurality of columnar structures have a same height. 5 . The optical element according to claim 1 , wherein the width of each of the plurality of columnar structures is set to a different value corresponding to a different predetermined wavelength for the corresponding photoelectric conversion element. 6 . The optical element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columnar structures are formed using a material having a refractive index higher than that of the transparent layer. 7 . The optical element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columnar structures have a four-fold rotationally symmetric structure in the plan view. 8 . An imaging element comprising: the optical element according to claim 1 ; and a plurality of pixels each including the photoelectric conversion element. 9 . An imaging apparatus comprising: the imaging element according to claim 8 ; and a signal processing unit configured to process an electric signal output from the imaging element and generate an image.
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Classifications
Disposition of the elements in pixels, e.g. smaller elements in the centre of the imager compared to larger elements at the periphery · CPC title
the devices being sensitive to infrared, visible or ultraviolet radiation · CPC title
high refractive index type, i.e. high-contrast waveguides · CPC title
Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths · CPC title
with pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength · CPC title
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- What does patent US12538601B2 cover?
- An optical element includes a transparent layer for covering a pixel including a photoelectric conversion element, and a plurality of columnar structures which are disposed on the transparent layer or in the transparent layer in a plane direction of the transparent layer and guide incident light to the corresponding photoelectric conversion element, wherein the plurality of columnar structures …
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Ntt Inc
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification H10F39/8063. Mapped technology areas include Electricity.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Jan 27 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 7 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).