JP2015046867A - Imager - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the use efficiency of an image sensor by enabling its use without wasting light receiving elements in an imager that is able to specify a difference in the direction of incidence to a micro-lens on the basis of a difference between the light receiving elements.SOLUTION: In an imager having an image sensor 40 that receives, via a micro-lens array 30, light passed through the aperture part 51 of a square or hexagonal diaphragm member and condensed by an imaging optical system 20, condensing means, a micro-condensing member array and a light receiving element array are arranged such that non-corresponding light receiving areas on the light receiving element array, which does not receive light without corresponding to any micro-condensing members, are fewer than the case where corresponding light receiving areas, which receive light passed through a circular aperture in correspondence with each micro-condensing member, are in contact with each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging apparatus that receives light from an imaging region by a light receiving element array in which a plurality of light receiving elements are two-dimensionally arranged through a micro light collecting member array in which a plurality of micro light collecting members are two-dimensionally arranged. It is about.

  In a normal imaging device, when light from a certain subject point is incident on the imaging lens, the light is collected at one point on the image sensor, and light amount information of the subject point is obtained. The light amount information is not limited to the luminance information of the subject point, and includes light amount information of a specific wavelength and light amount information of a specific polarization component at the subject point by interposing various optical filters. On the other hand, a light field camera, a plenoptic camera, or the like in which a microlens array in which a large number of small lenses (microlenses) are arranged in a two-dimensional array is disposed immediately before an image sensor in which a large number of light receiving elements are arranged in a two-dimensional array A special imaging device called is also known.

  In this special imaging device, when light from a certain subject point enters the imaging lens, it is condensed on one or more microlenses on the microlens array. The luminous flux from the subject point focused on the microlens changes the direction of emission from the microlens due to the difference in the incident direction with respect to the microlens, and is divided into a plurality of light receiving elements on the image sensor corresponding to the microlens. Is received. At this time, light incident on the microlens from a certain incident direction is received by a predetermined light receiving element among a plurality of light receiving elements corresponding to the microlens. Therefore, the difference in the incident direction to the microlens can be specified by the difference in the light receiving element.

  According to a special imaging apparatus having such a feature, for example, the focus position of an image can be changed after shooting (Patent Document 1). Explaining this point, light received by one light receiving element on the image sensor is light incident on a corresponding microlens from a specific incident direction. That is, the light received by one light receiving element is light emitted in a specific emission direction from a specific location on the imaging lens. In this way, light emitted from a specific location on the imaging lens in a specific emission direction includes light from a plurality of subject points that exist at different points from the imaging lens. On the other hand, light from a plurality of subject points received by the one light receiving element is also emitted from any other location on the imaging lens, but the emission direction from each location is the plurality of subject locations. The light is received by different light receiving elements. Therefore, the combination of a plurality of light receiving elements that receive light from one of the plurality of subject points is completely different for each of the plurality of subject points. By utilizing this, the light amount information of the subject point corresponding to the combination can be obtained by summing up the received light amounts of a plurality of light receiving elements related to the certain combination. That is, by changing the combination to be aggregated, it is possible to selectively obtain light quantity information of a plurality of subject points that exist at different points from the imaging lens. As a result, it is possible to generate a plurality of images with different focus positions from the pixel data obtained by one photographing operation.

  Moreover, according to this special imaging device, for example, a plurality of filter images having different optical characteristics can be obtained from pixel data obtained by one imaging operation (Patent Document 2). In this regard, the light is divided into a plurality of filter regions that selectively allow light having different optical characteristics (wavelength characteristics, polarization characteristics, etc.) to pass on the incident optical path to the imaging lens or the outgoing optical path from the imaging lens. An example in which an optical filter is arranged will be described. Light from a certain subject point passes through every point on the imaging lens, and then is received by being divided into a plurality of light receiving elements on the image sensor by the microlens array. That is, the light received by these light receiving elements is light from the same subject point, but is light that has passed through different locations on the imaging lens. Therefore, by arranging the optical filter provided with the plurality of filter regions described above on the optical path, the light emitted from the same subject point and passed through the plurality of different filter regions can be received by the different light receiving elements. it can. As a result, it is possible to obtain a plurality of filter images in which the optical characteristics corresponding to each filter region are selected from the pixel data obtained by one photographing operation.

  If the corresponding light receiving areas corresponding to the microlenses are configured to overlap on the image sensor, the number of the light receiving elements in the overlapping portion is not one. For this reason, the light receiving element cannot be associated with the incident direction to the corresponding one microlens. Therefore, this light receiving element is a useless light receiving element that does not contribute to the function of the special imaging device described above. End up. Further, if the interval between the corresponding light receiving regions corresponding to each microlens is widened, the number of light receiving elements that do not correspond to the microlenses (light receiving elements that do not receive the light transmitted through the microlenses) increases. Such a light receiving element is also a useless light receiving element that does not contribute to the function of the special imaging device described above. In the special imaging apparatus described above, it is important to use light receiving elements on a limited image sensor without wasting as much as possible, and it is possible to increase the use efficiency of the image sensor by reducing the number of useless light receiving elements. desired.

FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship among an imaging lens, a microlens array, and an image sensor in a conventional device.
FIG. 10B is an explanatory diagram showing corresponding light receiving areas (only three are shown) corresponding to each microlens on the image sensor.
In addition, the imaging lens here is what was actually comprised by the imaging optical system which consists of several optical components, such as a lens and a mirror, and illustrated in figure as a single lens equivalently.

In the conventional apparatus, the relationship among the imaging lens (imaging optical system) 20, the microlens array 30, and the image sensor 40 is usually determined so as to satisfy the following relational expression (1 ′). In this relational expression (1 ′), “D” is the entrance pupil diameter of the imaging lens 20, “F” is the focal length of the imaging lens 20, and “d” is the entrance pupil diameter of the microlens 31. “F” is the focal length of the microlens 31. The microlens array 30 is disposed near the focal length of the imaging lens 20.
D / F = d / f (1 ′)

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the diaphragm shape of the conventional device is usually circular, and the corresponding light receiving area (macropixel) corresponding to each microlens on the image sensor 40 is also circular. When the relationship among the imaging lens (imaging optical system) 20, the microlens array 30, and the image sensor 40 satisfies the relational expression (1 ′), the circular corresponding light receiving region corresponding to each microlens 31 is shown in FIG. As shown in (b), it is arranged so as to circumscribe each other without overlapping each other. With such a configuration, the corresponding light receiving regions corresponding to the respective microlenses 31 do not overlap, so there is no useless light receiving element due to overlap. In addition, since the circular corresponding light receiving areas corresponding to the respective microlenses 31 are arranged so as to circumscribe each other, there are fewer useless light receiving elements as compared with the arrangement in which there is a gap between the corresponding light receiving areas.

  However, even with such a configuration, there are still many useless light receiving elements that do not correspond to the microlenses 31. This point will be specifically described with reference to the image example shown in FIG. The image example shown in FIG. 11 is an image having a pixel value corresponding to the amount of light received by each light receiving element on the image sensor in the conventional apparatus. In this image, the circular corresponding light receiving areas corresponding to the respective microlenses 31 have respective pixel values, but are surrounded by other portions, that is, four 2 × 2 corresponding light receiving areas. The portion has no pixel value and is a black pixel. In the conventional apparatus, this portion of the light receiving element does not correspond to the microlens, and thus is a useless light receiving element.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and an object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of specifying the difference in the incident direction to the minute condensing member (microlens) by the difference in the light receiving element. Another object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can use a light receiving element that has been wasted without corresponding to a microlens in a conventional apparatus, and that improves the utilization efficiency of an image sensor.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention includes a diaphragm member having a rectangular or hexagonal opening that allows light from an imaging region to pass through, a condensing unit that collects light from the imaging region, and a plurality of condensing means. A micro light condensing member array in which micro light condensing members are two-dimensionally arranged, and a large number of light that passes through the aperture of the aperture member and is collected by the light condensing means via the micro light condensing member array Each light receiving element has a light receiving element array two-dimensionally arranged so that two or more light receiving elements receive light through one minute light collecting member, and is incident on each minute light collecting member of the minute light collecting member. In an imaging apparatus configured to receive light that has passed through each minute light collecting member according to a light incident direction to different light receiving elements corresponding to each minute light collecting member, the aperture of the diaphragm member The light that has passed through A light receiving area on the light receiving element array that receives light corresponding to a member is a corresponding light receiving area, and a light receiving area on the light receiving element array that does not receive any light that does not correspond to any minute condensing member is an unsupported light receiving area. The condensing means, the micro condensing member array, and the light receiving element array so that the non-corresponding light receiving area is smaller than the case where the shape of the opening is circular and the corresponding light receiving areas are in contact with each other. It is arranged.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the imaging apparatus that can identify the difference in the incident direction to the minute condensing member due to the difference in the light receiving element, the light receiving element that was wasted without corresponding to the microlens in the conventional apparatus. It is possible to obtain the excellent effect that the utilization efficiency of the image sensor can be improved.

It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the general principle of the imaging device which can pinpoint the difference in the incident direction to a microlens by the difference in a light receiving element. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the imaging device in embodiment. It is a front view when the aperture member in which the optical filter in the imaging device was stuck is seen from the incident optical axis direction. It is sectional drawing when the said aperture member is cut | disconnected along the incident optical axis direction. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the structure of the same optical filter. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the imaging optical system, microlens array, and image sensor in the imaging device. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the light-receiving area | region corresponding to each microlens on the image sensor. (A) is an example of RAW image data when the shape of the aperture of the aperture member is circular as in the prior art. (B) is an image example of RAW image data when the shape of the aperture of the aperture member is square as in the embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the relationship between the entrance pupil diameter D and entrance pupil length D 'of the imaging optical system in embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the relationship between the entrance pupil diameter D and entrance pupil length D 'of an imaging optical system in case the shape of the opening part of an aperture member is square. (A) is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the imaging lens in a conventional apparatus, a microlens array, and an image sensor. (B) is explanatory drawing which shows the corresponding light-receiving area | region corresponding to each microlens on an image sensor. It is an example of RAW image data in a conventional apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Before describing the specific configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, the general principle of the imaging apparatus that can identify the difference in the incident direction to the microlens by the difference in the light receiving elements will be described with reference to FIG. .
Here, for easy understanding of the principle, the imaging optical system is shown as a single lens 20 ′, and the aperture position S of the imaging optical system is shown at the center of the single lens 20 ′. At the center of the single lens 20 ', three types of filters fR (R: red), fG (G: green), and fB (B: blue) constituting the optical filter are shown.

  Near the light condensing position of the single lens 20 ′, a microlens array 30 is disposed as a microlight condensing member array in which a plurality of microlenses (microlight condensing members) 31 are two-dimensionally arranged. Further, in the vicinity of the focal position of each microlens 31, there are two or more light receiving elements that receive light collected by the single lens 20 ′ via the microlens array 30 with respect to one microlens 31. Correspondingly, an image sensor 40 as a light receiving element array arranged two-dimensionally is arranged. Here, a monochrome sensor is used as the image sensor 40 for easy understanding.

  Light from one subject point 10 in the imaging region at the focal length of the single lens 20 ′ spreads radially and enters different locations on the single lens 20 ′, and has different spectral characteristics depending on the incident location. Passes through the filter regions fR, fG, fB. The light that has passed through each of the filter regions fR, fG, and fB is collected on a corresponding microlens 31 on the microlens array 30 (here, it is assumed that it is one microlens). At this time, the incident direction (incident angle) incident on the microlens 31 differs depending on the portion that has passed through the single lens. If the direction of incidence on the microlens 31 is different, the direction of emission from the microlens 31 is also different, and light is received by separate light receiving elements on the image sensor 40. Therefore, light that has passed through different locations on the single lens, that is, light that has passed through different filter regions fR, fG, and fB is received by different light receiving elements. Therefore, light having different wavelength components at a certain subject point 10 can be detected by the image sensor 40 by one imaging operation.

  Further, at a subject point different from the subject point 10 shown in FIG. 1 at the focal length of the single lens 20 ′, the light that has passed through the filter regions fR, fG, and fB on the microlens array is the same as described above. Are collected by another microlens 31 and received by different light receiving elements on the image sensor 40. Therefore, the image sensor 40 can detect light having different wavelength components at each point of the subject at the focal length of the single lens 20 ′ in one imaging operation. As a result, by extracting image signals corresponding to the filter regions fR, fG, and fB from the image signal output from the image sensor 40 (a signal indicating the amount of light received by each light receiving element), each filter region is extracted. Filter images of wavelength components corresponding to fR, fG, and fB can be acquired by one imaging operation.

  Further, at a subject point at a distance outside the focal length of the single lens 20 ′, the light that has passed through the filter regions fR, fG, and fB is divided into a plurality of microlenses 31 on the microlens array and collected. However, the light is received by different light receiving elements on the image sensor 40. The relationship between the distance between the subject points and the light receiving element that receives the light that has passed through the filter regions fR, fG, and fB from the subject point is uniquely determined. Therefore, as described above, the image sensor 40 can also detect light having different wavelength components for each point of the subject at a distance deviating from the focal length of the single lens 20 ′ in one imaging operation. .

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.
The image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an image pickup optical system 20 as a condensing unit configured by optical parts such as a plurality of lenses, a microlens array 30 as a minute condensing member array, and an image sensor as a light receiving element array. 40. The imaging optical system 20 includes a diaphragm member 50 having an opening 51 that allows light from the imaging region to pass through and 16 × 4 × 4 16 different from each other so as to close the opening 51 of the diaphragm member 50. An optical filter 60 having a filter region having spectral characteristics is provided. Therefore, according to the imaging apparatus of the present embodiment, filter images for 16 different wavelength components can be acquired by a single imaging operation.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the diaphragm member 50 to which the optical filter 60 is attached as viewed from the incident optical axis direction.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the diaphragm member 50 with the optical filter 60 attached is cut along the incident optical axis direction.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the structure of the optical filter 60.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the optical filter 60 of the present embodiment is a band-shaped filter in which four filter members F1 to F4 having different spectral characteristics (wavelength components to pass through are different) are arranged 2 × 2. By arranging the members F5 to F8, filter regions f1 to f16 having 16 different spectral characteristics are created. Specifically, the spectral characteristic of the filter region f1 is only the spectral characteristic of the filter member F1, the spectral characteristic of the filter region f2 is a combination of the spectral characteristics of the filter members F1 and F5, and the spectral characteristic of the filter region f3 is the filter member F2. , F6, the spectral characteristic of the filter region f4 is only the spectral characteristic of the filter member F2, the spectral characteristic of the filter region f5 is a combination of the spectral characteristics of the filter members F1, F7, and the spectral characteristic of the filter region f6. The characteristic is a combination of the spectral characteristics of the filter members F1, F5 and F7, the spectral characteristic of the filter region f7 is a combination of the spectral characteristics of the filter members F2, F6 and F7, and the spectral characteristic of the filter region f8 is the filter member F2, The combination of the spectral characteristics of F7, the spectral characteristics of the filter region f9 is the filter member F , F8, the spectral characteristics of the filter region f10 are combined with the spectral characteristics of the filter members F3, F5, F8, and the spectral characteristics of the filter region f11 are the spectral characteristics of the filter members F4, F6, F8. The spectral characteristic of the filter region f12 is a combination of the spectral characteristics of the filter members F4 and F8, the spectral characteristic of the filter region f13 is only the spectral characteristic of the filter member F3, and the spectral characteristic of the filter region f14 is the filter member F3. The spectral characteristics of F5, the spectral characteristics of the filter region f15 are combined with the spectral characteristics of the filter members F4 and F6, and the spectral characteristics of the filter region f16 are only the spectral characteristics of the filter member F4.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a configuration in which the diaphragm member 50 is pasted from the imaging region side is adopted for such an optical filter 60, but the diaphragm member 50 is pasted from the image sensor 40 side. You may employ | adopt the structure attached.

Next, features of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship among the imaging optical system 20, the microlens array 30, and the image sensor 40 in the imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram showing light receiving areas (only three are shown) corresponding to each microlens on the image sensor.
In FIG. 6, the imaging optical system 20 is shown as a single lens, and a diaphragm member 50 and an optical filter 60 are shown at the center of the single lens.

  The aperture member 50 in the present embodiment is a fixed type in which the shape of the opening 51 is square as shown in FIG. 3, and the area of the opening 51 cannot be changed. Here, the shape of the corresponding light receiving region (hereinafter referred to as “macro pixel”) on the image sensor 40 corresponding to each microlens 31 is similar to the shape of the opening 51 of the diaphragm member 50. In the present embodiment, since the shape of the opening 51 of the diaphragm member 50 is a square shape, the shape of the macro pixel on the image sensor 40 is a square shape as shown in FIG. If the shape of the macro pixel on the image sensor 40 is such a square shape, as shown in FIG. 6B, the macro pixels do not overlap each other and the sides of the adjacent macro pixels touch each other. With such an arrangement relationship, it is theoretically possible to eliminate the existence of non-macropixels that do not receive light that has passed through the microlenses 31.

  When the shape of the aperture of the aperture member is circular as in the prior art, the macro pixels do not overlap with each other, and the non-macro pixel portion (non-corresponding light receiving region, that is, 2 × 2) that does not constitute the macro pixel. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), even if the arrangement relationship is such that adjacent macro pixels are in contact with each other so that the black pixel portion surrounded by the four circular macro pixels is minimized. There are many pixel parts. On the other hand, when the shape of the opening 51 of the diaphragm member 50 is square as in the present embodiment, the non-macro pixel portion is present as shown in FIG. Can be zero theoretically, and it is possible to eliminate or significantly reduce useless light receiving elements and improve the utilization efficiency of the image sensor.

  In general, as the number of light receiving elements constituting one macro pixel increases, the number of filter images (number of filter regions) that can be simultaneously acquired increases, and the number of light receiving elements corresponding to individual filter images increases. The accuracy of the filter image is also improved. If attention is paid to the function as a refocus camera capable of generating a plurality of images with different focus positions from pixel data obtained by one photographing operation, the resolution of direction information is increased. The accuracy of the image is increased.

Here, the relationship among the imaging optical system 20, the microlens array 30, and the image sensor 40 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the following description, the entrance pupil diameter of the imaging optical system 20 (in this specification, the entrance pupil diameter means the maximum length of the entrance pupil) is D, and the focal length of the imaging optical system 20 is F. The entrance pupil diameter of the microlens 31 is d, and the focal length of the microlens 31 is f. Further, the entrance pupil length (hereinafter simply referred to as “incidence pupil length”) D ′ of the imaging optical system 20 corresponding to the distance between the opposite sides of the square of the opening 51 of the aperture member 50 is assumed to be D ′. At this time, in order to realize the arrangement relationship of this embodiment in which the macro pixels do not overlap each other and the sides of the adjacent macro pixels are in contact with each other, the following relational expression (9) is satisfied. That's fine.
F / D ′ = f / d (9)

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship between the entrance pupil diameter D and the entrance pupil length D ′ of the imaging optical system 20.
The entrance pupil length D ′ in the present embodiment satisfies the following relational expression (10) in relation to the entrance pupil diameter D (maximum length of the entrance pupil). However, k = √2.
D = k × D ′ (10)

Therefore, in this embodiment, the relationship between the entrance pupil diameter D of the imaging optical system 20, the focal length F of the imaging optical system 20, the entrance pupil diameter d of the microlens 31, and the focal length f of the microlens 31 is as follows. The expression (11) is satisfied. However, k = √2.
D / F = k × d / f (11)

  In the present embodiment, at least one of the entrance pupil diameter D of the imaging optical system 20, the focal length F of the imaging optical system 20, the entrance pupil diameter d of the microlens 31, and the focal length f of the microlens 31 is adjusted. Thus, the configuration is made to satisfy the relational expression (11). Among these, the entrance pupil diameter D (incidence pupil length D ′) of the imaging optical system 20 can be changed by a simple method of changing the size of the opening 51 of the diaphragm member 50. The entrance pupil diameter d of the microlens 31 can also be changed by a simple method of adjusting the distance between the imaging optical system 20 and the microlens array 30.

The relationship represented by the relational expression (9) can also be realized by changing the distance between the microlens array 30 and the image sensor 40. Specifically, when the distance between the microlens array 30 and the image sensor 40 is g, the following relational expression (12) is obtained. However, k = √2. In order to realize the arrangement relationship of the present embodiment in which the square macro pixels do not overlap each other and the sides of the adjacent square macro pixels are in contact with each other, the following relational expression (12) is satisfied. You may do it.
D ′ / F = k × d / g (12)

  In this case, at least one of the entrance pupil diameter D of the imaging optical system 20, the focal length F of the imaging optical system 20, the entrance pupil diameter d of the microlens 31, and the distance g between the microlens array 30 and the image sensor 40 is adjusted. Thus, the configuration is made to satisfy the relational expression (12). At this time, the distance g between the microlens array 30 and the image sensor 40 can be changed by a simple method. That is, the distance between the microlens array 30 and the image sensor 40 is set to a distance that is k times the focal length f of the microlens array 30.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, although the shape of the opening part 51 of the aperture | diaphragm | squeeze member 50 is a square shape, the shape can also be comprised by the thing of another polygonal shape. In particular, if the shape of the opening 51 of the aperture member 50 is a regular hexagon, it is theoretically possible to eliminate the presence of non-macropixels as in the case of a square as shown in FIG.

The relationship among the imaging optical system 20, the microlens array 30, and the image sensor 40 when the shape of the opening 51 of the aperture member 50 is a regular hexagon will be described.
The entrance pupil length D ′ of the imaging optical system 20 corresponds to the distance between opposite sides of the regular hexagon of the aperture 51 of the aperture member 50. At this time, in order to realize the arrangement relationship of this embodiment in which the macro pixels do not overlap each other and the sides of the adjacent macro pixels are in contact with each other, the relational expression (9) may be satisfied. The coefficient k in the relational expression (10) between the entrance pupil length D ′ and the entrance pupil diameter D (maximum entrance pupil length) at this time is 2 / √3. Therefore, when the shape of the opening 51 of the aperture member 50 is a regular hexagon, the entrance pupil diameter D of the imaging optical system 20 is set so as to satisfy the relational expression (11) (k = 2 / √3). The entrance pupil diameter d of the microlens 31 is adjusted, or the distance g between the microlens array 30 and the image sensor 40 is adjusted so as to satisfy the relational expression (12) (k = 2 / √3). That's fine.

  However, when the shape of the opening 51 of the diaphragm member 50 is a regular hexagon, in order to make non-macropixels zero, as shown in FIG. It is necessary to dispose the odd-numbered columns so as to be shifted by half of the microlenses.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the configuration in which the presence of the non-macro pixel portion is zero has been described. However, as long as the shape of the opening 51 of the diaphragm member 50 is circular, the number of non-macro pixel portions may be smaller. Not limited to this. For example, in the case of square-shaped macro pixels, as long as the macro pixels do not overlap each other, the adjacent square-shaped macro pixels may be arranged so that the sides of the macro pixels are close to each other in parallel. In this case, the coefficient k in the relational expression (11) or the relational expression (12) is a value smaller than √2. Similarly, for example, in the case of regular hexagonal macropixels, if the macropixels do not overlap with each other, the sides of adjacent regular hexagonal macropixels are arranged in parallel with a slight gap. There may be. In this case, the coefficient k in the relational expression (11) or the relational expression (12) is a value smaller than 2 / √3. Further, the shape of the opening 51 of the aperture member 50 does not have to be an accurate square or regular hexagon.

What has been described above is merely an example, and the present invention has a specific effect for each of the following modes.
(Aspect A)
A diaphragm member 50 having a rectangular or hexagonal opening 51 that allows light from the imaging region to pass through, a condensing means such as the imaging optical system 20 that condenses the light from the imaging region, a plurality of microlenses 31, etc. A micro condensing member array such as a microlens array 30 in which the micro condensing members are two-dimensionally arranged, and the light that passes through the aperture of the diaphragm member and is condensed by the condensing means. A large number of light receiving elements that receive light through the array have a light receiving element array such as an image sensor 40 that is two-dimensionally arranged so that two or more light receiving elements receive light through one minute light condensing member. Configured so that different light receiving elements corresponding to the respective micro condensing members receive the light that has passed through the respective micro condensing members according to the incident direction of the light incident on the respective micro condensing members of the condensing member. Imaging The light-receiving area on the light-receiving element array that receives light passing through the opening of the diaphragm member corresponding to each of the micro-light-collecting members is defined as a corresponding light-receiving area (macropixel), and any of the micro-light-collecting members If the light receiving area on the light receiving element array that does not correspond to the light receiving element is a non-corresponding light receiving area, the shape of the opening is circular and the non-corresponding light receiving area is more than the case where the corresponding light receiving areas are in contact with each other. The light condensing means, the minute light condensing member array, and the light receiving element array are arranged so as to reduce the number of light condensing elements.
The shape of the corresponding light receiving region on the light receiving element array corresponding to each minute light condensing member is similar to the shape of the aperture of the aperture member. Therefore, when the shape of the aperture of the aperture member is a square or hexagon, the shape of the corresponding light receiving region on the light receiving element array is also a square or hexagon. The shape of the corresponding light receiving area on the light receiving element array is square or hexagonal so that the corresponding light receiving areas do not overlap each other and the number of non-corresponding light receiving areas is significantly smaller than when the shape is circular. A configuration or a configuration in which the non-corresponding light receiving area is eliminated can be realized.

(Aspect B)
In the aspect A, the shape of the aperture of the aperture member is a square, the entrance pupil diameter of the condensing unit is D, the focal length of the condensing unit is F, and the entrance pupil of the micro condensing member When the diameter is d and the focal length of the minute light collecting member is f, the following relational expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied.
D / F = k × d / f (1)
k ≤ √2 (2)
According to this, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the corresponding light receiving regions do not overlap with each other and the number of non-corresponding light receiving regions is smaller than that in the case where the shape is circular, or there is no non-corresponding light receiving region.

(Aspect C)
In the aspect A, the shape of the aperture of the aperture member is a square, the entrance pupil diameter of the condensing unit is D, the focal length of the condensing unit is F, and the entrance pupil of the micro condensing member When the diameter is d and the distance between the minute light collecting member and the light receiving element array is g, the following relational expressions (3) and (4) are satisfied.
D / F = k × d / g (3)
k ≤ √2 (4)
According to this, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the corresponding light receiving regions do not overlap with each other and the number of non-corresponding light receiving regions is smaller than that in the case where the shape is circular, or there is no non-corresponding light receiving region.

(Aspect D)
In the aspect A, the shape of the aperture of the aperture member is a regular hexagon, and the micro-light-condensing member array includes a plurality of micro-light-condensing members in an even-numbered row and an odd-numbered row. It is characterized by being shifted by the amount.
According to this, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the corresponding light receiving areas do not overlap each other and the number of non-corresponding light receiving areas is significantly smaller than when the shape is circular, or a structure in which the non-corresponding light receiving areas are eliminated. it can.

(Aspect E)
In the aspect D, the entrance pupil diameter of the condensing unit is D, the focal length of the condensing unit is F, the entrance pupil diameter of the micro condensing member is d, and the focal length of the micro condensing member is When f, it is configured to satisfy the following relational expressions (5) and (6).
D / F = k × d / f (5)
k ≦ 2 / √3 (6)
According to this, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the corresponding light receiving regions do not overlap with each other and the number of non-corresponding light receiving regions is smaller than that in the case where the shape is circular, or there is no non-corresponding light receiving region.

(Aspect F)
In the aspect D, the entrance pupil diameter of the condensing means is D, the focal length of the condensing means is F, the entrance pupil diameter of the minute condensing member is d, and the minute condensing member and the light receiving element When the distance from the array is g, the following relational expressions (7) and (8) are satisfied.
D / F = k × d / g (7)
k ≦ 2 / √3 (8)
According to this, it is possible to realize a configuration in which the corresponding light receiving regions do not overlap with each other and the number of non-corresponding light receiving regions is smaller than that in the case where the shape is circular, or there is no non-corresponding light receiving region.

(Aspect G)
In any one of the aspects A to F, one type that is disposed on the optical path from the imaging region to the minute light collecting member array and selectively transmits a specific optical component of the light from the imaging region or The optical filter 60 has at least two types of regions selected from two or more types of selection filter regions and a non-selection filter region that transmits light from the imaging region as it is.
According to this, filter images respectively corresponding to the filter regions f1 to f16 provided in the optical filter can be acquired by one imaging operation.

(Aspect H)
In the aspect G, the optical filter is provided so as to close an opening of the diaphragm member.
According to this, a high-quality filter image can be easily obtained.

(Aspect I)
In the aspect G or H, the at least two types of regions of the optical filter include two or more types of spectral filter regions f1 to f16 that transmit different wavelength components.
According to this, filter images of wavelength components respectively corresponding to the spectral filter regions f1 to f16 provided in the optical filter can be acquired by one imaging operation.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Subject point 20 Imaging optical system 30 Micro lens array 31 Micro lens 40 Image sensor 50 Diaphragm member 51 Aperture 60 Optical filter

Japanese Patent No. 4752031 U.S. Pat. No. 7,433,042

Claims (9)

A diaphragm member having a rectangular or hexagonal opening that allows light from the imaging region to pass through;
Condensing means for condensing light from the imaging region;
A micro light collecting member array in which a plurality of micro light collecting members are two-dimensionally arranged;
A large number of light receiving elements that receive light that has passed through the aperture of the aperture member and that has been condensed by the light condensing means via the micro light condensing member array have two or more light receiving elements through one micro light condensing member. A light receiving element array arranged two-dimensionally so that the element receives light,
According to the incident direction of the light incident on each of the minute light collecting members of the minute light collecting member, the light passing through each of the minute light collecting members is received by different light receiving elements corresponding to the respective minute light collecting members. In the imaging device configured in
The light receiving area on the light receiving element array that receives the light passing through the opening of the aperture member corresponding to each of the micro light condensing members is a corresponding light receiving area, and the light is not corresponding to any of the micro light condensing members. When the light-receiving area on the light-receiving element array that does not receive light is set as a non-corresponding light-receiving area, the non-corresponding light-receiving area is smaller than when the shape of the opening is circular and the corresponding light-receiving areas are in contact with each other. An imaging apparatus comprising: a light collecting means, the minute light collecting member array, and the light receiving element array. The imaging device according to claim 1.
The shape of the opening of the diaphragm member is a square,
When the entrance pupil diameter of the condensing unit is D, the focal length of the condensing unit is F, the entrance pupil diameter of the micro condensing member is d, and the focal length of the micro condensing member is f, An image pickup apparatus configured to satisfy the following relational expressions (1) and (2).
D / F = k × d / f (1)
k ≤ √2 (2) The imaging device according to claim 1.
The shape of the opening of the diaphragm member is a square,
The entrance pupil diameter of the condensing means is D, the focal length of the condensing means is F, the entrance pupil diameter of the minute condensing member is d, and the distance between the minute condensing member and the light receiving element array is An imaging device configured to satisfy the following relational expressions (3) and (4) when g is satisfied.
D / F = k × d / g (3)
k ≤ √2 (4) The imaging device according to claim 1.
The shape of the aperture of the diaphragm member is a regular hexagon,
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the micro light condensing member array includes the plurality of micro light condensing members that are shifted from each other by half of the micro light condensing members in even rows and odd rows. The imaging device according to claim 4.
When the entrance pupil diameter of the condensing unit is D, the focal length of the condensing unit is F, the entrance pupil diameter of the micro condensing member is d, and the focal length of the micro condensing member is f, An image pickup apparatus configured to satisfy the following relational expressions (5) and (6):
D / F = k × d / f (5)
k ≦ 2 / √3 (6) The imaging device according to claim 4.
The entrance pupil diameter of the condensing means is D, the focal length of the condensing means is F, the entrance pupil diameter of the minute condensing member is d, and the distance between the minute condensing member and the light receiving element array is An image pickup apparatus configured to satisfy the following relational expressions (7) and (8) when g is satisfied.
D / F = k × d / g (7)
k ≦ 2 / √3 (8) The imaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
One or two or more types of selection filter regions that are arranged on an optical path from the imaging region to the minute light collecting member array and selectively transmit a specific optical component of the light from the imaging region and the imaging region An image pickup apparatus comprising an optical filter having at least two types of regions selected from non-selection filter regions that transmit light as it is. The imaging device according to claim 7.
The image pickup apparatus, wherein the optical filter is provided so as to close an opening of the diaphragm member. The imaging device according to claim 7 or 8,
2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least two types of regions of the optical filter include two or more types of spectral filter regions that transmit different wavelength components.