Filter arrangement for image sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9699394-B2
Application number	US-201514642348-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2015
Priority date	Mar 9, 2015
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus for capturing two different types of light simultaneously is described. A filter array is used for filtering light arriving at an image sensor. The filter array comprises per pixel filters arranged in rows, so if a row comprises filters, they are all of the same type. Different exposure settings may be used for rows having different filter configurations.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an image sensor comprising an array of pixels, wherein said array comprises a plurality of rows of pixels, the plurality of rows of pixels comprising a first odd row of pixels, a first even row of pixels, a second odd row of pixels, and a second even row of pixels;
a filter array comprising per pixel filters configured to filter light arriving at said array of pixels, wherein said filter array comprises a first set of visible green light per pixel filters, a second set of visible green light per pixel filters, a set of visible blue light per pixel filters, a set of visible red light per pixel filters, a first set of infrared light per pixel filters, and a second set of infrared light per pixel filters, the first set of visible green light per pixel filters and the set of visible blue light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the first odd row of pixels, the second set of visible green light per pixel filters and the set of visible red light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the first even row of pixels, the infrared light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the second odd row of pixels, the second set of infrared light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the second even row of pixels; and
a global filter configured to filter light arriving at said filter array.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , said filter array and said global filter form a band pass filter.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first set of visible green light per pixel filters are placed at every even numbered pixel in the first odd row of pixels.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the set of visible blue light per pixel filters are placed at every odd numbered pixel in the first odd row of pixels.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus further comprises a lens configured to distribute received light to said image sensor.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the set of visible red light per pixel filters are placed at every even numbered pixel in the first even row of pixels.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second set of visible green light per pixel filters are placed at every odd numbered pixel in the first even row of pixels.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein said array comprises a third odd row of pixels, a third set of visible green light per pixel filters and a second set of visible blue light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the third odd row of pixels.

9. An apparatus comprising:
an image sensor comprising an array of pixels, wherein said array comprises a plurality of rows of pixels, the plurality of rows of pixels comprising a first odd row of pixels, a first even row of pixels, a second odd row of pixels, and a second even row of pixels; and
a filter array corresponding to said array of pixels, the filter array comprising per pixel filters configured to filter light arriving at said array of pixels, wherein said filter array comprises;
a first set of visible green light per pixel filters and a set of visible blue light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the first odd row of pixels;
a second set of visible green light per pixel filters and a set of visible red light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the first even row of pixels;
a first set of infrared light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the second odd row of pixels; and
a second set of infrared light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the second even row of pixels.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a global filter configured to filter light arriving at said filter array.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein said filter array and said global filter form a band pass filter.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the first set of visible green light per pixel filters are placed at every even numbered pixel in the first odd row of pixels.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the set of visible blue light per pixel filters are placed at every odd numbered pixel in the first odd row of pixels.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the set of visible red light per pixel filters are placed at every even numbered pixel in the first even row of pixels.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the second set of visible green light per pixel filters are placed at every odd numbered pixel in the first even row of pixels.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein said array comprises a third odd row of pixels, a third set of visible green light per pixel filters and a second set of visible blue light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the third odd row of pixels.

17. A camera comprising:
an image sensor comprising an array of pixels, wherein said array comprises a first odd row of pixels, a first even row of pixels, a second odd row of pixels, and a second even row of pixels;
a filter array corresponding to said array of pixels, the filter array comprising per pixel filters configured to filter light arriving at said array of pixels, wherein said filter array comprises;
a first set of visible green light per pixel filters and a set of visible blue light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the first odd row of pixels;
a second set of visible green light per pixel filters and a set of visible red light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the first even row of pixels;
a first set of infrared light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the second odd row of pixels; and
a second set of infrared light per pixel filters being the only per pixel filters arranged at the second even row of pixels; and

a lens for receiving light arriving at said filter array.

18. A camera according to claim 17 , wherein the camera further comprises a global filter configured to filter light arriving at said filter array.

19. A camera according to claim 18 , wherein said filter array and said global filter form a band pass filter.

20. A camera according to claim 17 , wherein the first set of visible green light per pixel filters are placed at every even numbered pixel in the first odd row of pixels.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Pettersson Gustaf
• Windmark Johan
• Månsson Jens
• Bilcu Radu
• Linke Jörg
• Syvänen Pasi

Classifications

• G02B5/208 Primary

  for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation · CPC title

• H04N25/131

  including elements passing infrared wavelengths · CPC title

• H04N23/75

  by influencing optical camera components · CPC title

• H04N23/73

  by influencing the exposure time · CPC title

• H04N25/135

  based on four or more different wavelength filter elements · CPC title