TWI426305B - Image sensor module and image obtainning module - Google Patents

Description

Image sensing module and image capturing module

The invention relates to an image sensing module and an image capturing module.

When two objects are separated by a certain distance before and after the shooting process, when the lens is focused on one of the objects, a clear image of the object can be obtained, and the image of the other object is blurred. In order to obtain a clear image of two objects (also known as an all-focused image), the lens is combined with a digital processing image processing (Computational photography) technique for post processing.

The lens of this structure needs to be separately added with an optical component that causes loss of light transmittance, such as a coded aperture, a mask, etc., mainly relying on the processing of the optical components to obtain an image of the front and rear objects, and then The image is processed by a little bit of digital image to obtain a clear image. Since the structure mainly relies on optical components, the manufacturing cost is high; and if the wavefront optical element and phase plate are not lost in light transmittance. A phase plate, an optical diffraction element, and a micro-lens cause an increase in the amount of computation of the digital image processing.

In view of this, it is necessary to provide an image sensing module and an image capturing module which are simple in structure, low in cost, and small in computation.

An image sensing module includes an image sensing chip and completely covers the image sense The first transparent substrate of the wafer is measured. The image sensing module further includes a second transparent substrate and a liquid crystal layer composed of liquid crystal molecules between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, wherein the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate are respectively disposed Having a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer to cause the liquid crystal molecules to rotate at different angles to have different refractive indices, and light entering the image sensing wafer through the liquid crystal layer The first electrode layer and the second electrode layer each include a circular electrode, a first ring electrode surrounding the circular electrode and concentric with the circular electrode and arranged along a radial direction of the circular electrode, and a second a ring electrode, a third ring electrode, and a fourth ring electrode, wherein a radius of the circular electrode is referred to as r1, the first ring electrode, the second ring electrode, and the third ring electrode The ring widths of the fourth ring electrode and the fourth ring electrode are d2, d3, d4, and d5, respectively, and r1>d2>d3>d4>d5.

An imaging module includes a lens barrel, a lens received in the lens barrel, a lens holder and an image sensing wafer located in the lens holder, the image capturing module further comprising a lens holder a liquid crystal element comprising a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate, and a liquid crystal layer composed of liquid crystal molecules between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, the first transparent substrate completely covering The image sensing wafer, the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate are respectively provided with a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer to cause the liquid crystal molecules to rotate at different angles Having a different refractive index, light entering the image sensing wafer through the liquid crystal layer, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer each comprising a circular electrode surrounding the circular electrode and concentric with the circular electrode a first ring electrode, a second ring electrode, a third ring electrode, and a fourth ring electrode arranged along a radial direction of the circular electrode, wherein a radius of the circular electrode is denoted as r1, the first Ring electric Said second annular electrode, said annular electrodes and the third annular ring width of the fourth electrode are d2, d3, d4, and d5, and r1> d2> d3> d4> d5.

Compared with the prior art, the molecular matching in the liquid crystal layer of the embodiment of the present invention applies the electric field strength between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer to rotate at different angles, thereby generating different arrangement distributions. Liquid crystal molecules of different arrangement will correspond to different refractive indices, so different optical paths will occur when incident light enters, and the object passes through the liquid crystal element and is affected by its different optical paths, thereby producing images with special optical characteristics. Then, using the technique of digital image processing, a clear all-focus image can be calculated. Since the liquid crystal element is used instead of the coding aperture, the reticle, etc., the structure is simple and the cost is low; since the light is mainly adjusted by the liquid crystal element, the image can be processed by a little bit of digital image processing to obtain a clear image, and therefore, the amount of calculation Smaller.

10‧‧‧Image capture module

11, 21‧‧ ‧ mirror base

12, 22‧‧ ‧ lens barrel

16, 26‧‧‧ Infrared cut filter

120, 220‧‧‧ lens group

111, 211‧‧‧ internal thread

121, 221‧‧‧ external thread

13‧‧‧Image sensing surface

14, 24‧‧‧ liquid crystal components

141, 241‧‧‧ first transparent substrate

142, 242‧‧‧ second transparent substrate

143, 243‧‧‧ liquid crystal layer

144, 244‧‧‧ first electrode layer

145, 245‧‧‧ second electrode layer

1450‧‧‧ Round electrode

1451‧‧‧First ring electrode

1452‧‧‧second ring electrode

1453‧‧‧ third ring electrode

1454‧‧‧fourth ring electrode

20‧‧‧Image capture device

23‧‧‧Image sensing wafer

212‧‧‧ first hole

213‧‧‧ second hole

15‧‧‧Image Sensing Module

1 is a schematic view of a image taking module according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which includes a liquid crystal element.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the liquid crystal cell of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of an image taking device of a second embodiment of the present invention.

The invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the image capturing module 10 of the embodiment of the present invention includes a lens holder 11 , a lens barrel 12 , and an image sensing module 15 located in the lens holder 11 .

A lens group 120 is disposed in the lens barrel 12, and the lens group 120 includes at least one lens. In this embodiment, two lenses are taken as an example.

The lens holder 11 has an internal thread 111. The lens barrel 12 has an external thread 121 that cooperates with the internal thread 111. The internal thread 111 and the external thread 121 cooperate such that the lens barrel 12 can be along the optical axis of the lens assembly 120 with respect to the lens holder 11. mobile.

The image sensing module 15 includes an image sensing surface 13 and a liquid crystal element 14 . The image sensing surface 13 functions to image an object, which may be a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Transistor (CMOS).

The liquid crystal element 14 is disposed between the image sensing surface 13 and the lens group 120, and includes a first transparent substrate 141, a second transparent substrate 142, and liquid crystal molecules disposed between the first transparent substrate 141 and the second transparent substrate 142. A liquid crystal layer 143 is formed. The first transparent substrate 141 is disposed on the image sensing surface 13 by bonding, and the first transparent substrate 141 is provided with a first electrode layer 144, and the second transparent substrate 142 is provided with a second electrode layer 145, the first electrode The layer 144 is disposed on a surface of the first transparent substrate 141 near the liquid crystal layer 142, and the second electrode layer 145 is disposed on a surface of the second transparent substrate 142 near the liquid crystal layer 143.

An infrared cut filter 16 is disposed on a surface of the second transparent substrate 142 facing away from the liquid crystal layer 143. Of course, the infrared cut filter 16 may be disposed on the surface of the second transparent substrate 142 near the liquid crystal layer 143 or on the first transparent substrate 141.

Since the first transparent substrate 141 is disposed on the image sensing surface 13, the image sensing surface 13 can be protected; at the same time, the first transparent substrate 141 has the function of supporting the liquid crystal layer 143, thereby making the object more versatile and reducing the image capturing mode. The components of group 10 make the structure simple.

Of course, the first electrode layer 144 may also be disposed on a surface of the first transparent substrate 141 away from the liquid crystal layer 142, and the second electrode layer 145 is disposed on a surface of the second transparent substrate 142 away from the liquid crystal layer 143.

The materials of the first transparent substrate 141 and the second transparent substrate 142 are transparent glass or plastic materials. Materials and so on. The thickness of the first transparent substrate 141 and the second transparent substrate 142 ranges from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, and preferably, the thickness of the first transparent substrate 141 and the second transparent substrate 142 ranges from 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm.

In this embodiment, when no voltage is applied between the first transparent substrate 141 and the second transparent substrate 142, the molecular axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer 143 is parallel to the first transparent substrate 141 and the second transparent substrate 142. The thickness of the liquid crystal layer 143 ranges from 10 micrometers to 100 micrometers, preferably from 30 micrometers to 70 micrometers.

Referring to FIG. 2 together, the second electrode layer 145 includes a circular electrode 1450, a first ring electrode 1451 surrounding the circular electrode 1450 and concentric with the circular electrode 1450 and sequentially arranged in the radial direction thereof. The electrode 1452, the third ring electrode 1453, and the fourth ring electrode 1454. The thickness of the second electrode layer 145 preferably ranges from 50 nm to 500 nm, more preferably from 100 nm to 300 nm.

The first electrode layer 145 may include more ring electrodes, such as a fifth ring electrode, a sixth ring electrode, and the like.

The radius of the circular electrode 1450 is r1, and the ring widths of the first ring electrode 1451, the second ring electrode 1452, the third ring electrode 1453, and the fourth ring electrode 1454 are d2, d3, d4, and d5, respectively. . In the present embodiment, r1>d2>d3>d4>d5. Adjacent electrodes are closely spaced but insulated from each other, such as by insulating glue. It can be understood that in practical applications, there may be small gaps between adjacent electrodes as long as the overall optical performance is not affected.

The first electrode layer 144 and the second electrode layer 145 have the same structure and are opposite to the second electrode layer 145 or are plate electrodes, and the first electrode layer 144 is used to form a voltage with the second electrode layer 145. Of course, the second electrode layer 145 can also be a flat electrode, and The first electrode layer 144 includes a circular electrode and a ring electrode.

Of course, the first electrode layer 144 and the second electrode layer 145 may also have other structures, such as circular electrodes having a matrix arrangement.

The materials of the first electrode layer 144 and the second electrode layer 145 are both carbon nanotubes, and the carbon nanotubes may be single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (single-walled carbon nanotubes). Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube (MWNT), single-walled carbon nanotube bundles (SWNT Bundles), multi-walled carbon nanotube bundles (MWNT Bundles) or super-aligned MWNT Yarns.

Because the liquid crystal material has the following characteristics: when the liquid crystal molecules have a deflection angle with respect to the direction of propagation of the light, the deflection angle is different, and the refractive index is also different, and the deflection direction of the liquid crystal molecules changes in a direction parallel to the propagation direction of the light and perpendicular to the propagation direction of the light. When the liquid crystal molecules are parallel to the direction of propagation of the light, the refractive index of the liquid crystal is the smallest, and when the liquid crystal molecules are perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the light, the refractive index of the light is the largest.

According to the characteristics of the liquid crystal material, the molecules in the liquid crystal layer 143 match the electric field strength between the first electrode layer 144 and the second electrode layer 145, and are rotated at different angles to generate different arrangement distributions. Liquid crystal molecules of different arrangement will correspond to different refractive indices, so different incident optical paths will occur when incident light enters.

When an object is photographed by the image capturing module 10, the object passes through the liquid crystal element 14 and is affected by different optical paths of the liquid crystal element 14, thereby generating an image having special optical characteristics on the image sensor 13. A clear all-focused image can then be calculated by means of a digital image processing technique. In addition, in addition to the full focus image In addition, according to the digital image of the special optical characteristics, the depth between the photographic object and the environment can also be obtained; according to the depth between the photographic object and the environment, a clear image of the special object can be emphasized, and the image of the image can be modified.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image taking device 20 of the second embodiment of the present invention includes a lens holder 21, a lens barrel 22, an image sensing wafer 23 located in the lens holder 21, and a liquid crystal element 24.

A lens group 220 is disposed in the lens barrel 22, and the lens group 220 includes at least one lens. The lens holder 21 has a first hole 212 and a second hole 213 which are coaxial and have different diameters, and the diameter of the second hole 213 is larger than the diameter of the first hole 212. The hole wall of the first hole 212 has an internal thread 211, and the lens barrel 22 has an external thread 221 that cooperates with the internal thread 211. The internal thread 111 and the external thread 221 cooperate such that the lens barrel 22 can be along the lens group with respect to the lens holder 21. The optical axis direction of 220 moves.

The image sensing chip 23 is disposed on a circuit board (not shown). The liquid crystal element 24 is located in the first hole 212 and located between the lens group 220 and the image sensing chip 23. The liquid crystal element 24 and the image sensing chip 23 have a spacing. .

The liquid crystal element 24 includes a first transparent substrate 241, a second transparent substrate 242, and a liquid crystal layer 243 composed of liquid crystal molecules disposed between the first transparent substrate 241 and the second transparent substrate 242. The first transparent substrate 241 is provided with a first electrode layer 244, and the second transparent substrate 242 is provided with a second electrode layer 245. The first transparent substrate 241 is adjacent to the image sensing wafer 23 and has an image sensing chip 23 therebetween. gap.

An infrared cut filter 26 is disposed on the second transparent substrate 242.

In addition, those skilled in the art can make other changes in the spirit of the present invention. Of course, the changes made in accordance with the spirit of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

In summary, the present invention has indeed met the requirements of the invention patent, and has filed a patent application according to law. However, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and it is not possible to limit the scope of the patent application of the present invention. Equivalent modifications or variations made by persons skilled in the art in light of the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

10‧‧‧Image capture module

11‧‧‧Mirror seat

12‧‧‧Mirror tube

15‧‧‧Image Sensing Module

16‧‧‧Infrared cut filter

120‧‧‧ lens group

111‧‧‧ internal thread

121‧‧‧External thread

13‧‧‧Image sensing surface

14‧‧‧Liquid crystal components

141‧‧‧First transparent substrate

142‧‧‧Second transparent substrate

143‧‧‧Liquid layer

144‧‧‧First electrode layer

145‧‧‧Second electrode layer

Claims (8)

An image sensing module includes an image sensing chip and a first transparent substrate completely covering the image sensing chip, wherein the image sensing module further includes a second transparent substrate and is located at the first a liquid crystal layer composed of liquid crystal molecules between a transparent substrate and a second transparent substrate, wherein the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate are respectively provided with a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer for applying to the liquid crystal layer The electric field causes the liquid crystal molecules to rotate at different angles to have different refractive indexes, and the light enters the image sensing wafer through the liquid crystal layer, and the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer each include a circular electrode and a surrounding electrode a first ring electrode, a second ring electrode, a third ring electrode, and a fourth ring electrode which are circular electrodes and are concentric with the circular electrode and arranged in a radial direction of the circular electrode, The radius of the circular electrode is denoted as r1, and the ring widths of the first ring electrode, the second ring electrode, the third ring electrode and the fourth ring electrode are respectively d2, d3, d4 and D5, and r1>d2>d3> D4>d5. The image sensing module of claim 1, wherein the first electrode layer and/or the second electrode layer are plate electrodes. The image sensing module of claim 1, wherein the first electrode layer and/or the second electrode layer comprise circular electrodes arranged in a matrix. The image sensing module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an infrared cut filter is disposed on one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate. An image capturing module comprising a lens barrel, a lens received in the lens barrel, a lens holder and an image sensing wafer located in the lens holder, wherein the image capturing module further comprises a location a liquid crystal element in the lens holder, the liquid crystal element comprising a first transparent substrate, a second transparent substrate, and a liquid crystal layer composed of liquid crystal molecules between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate, the first The transparent substrate completely covers the image sensing wafer, the first transparent substrate The plate and the second transparent substrate are respectively provided with a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer for applying an electric field to the liquid crystal layer to cause the liquid crystal molecules to rotate at different angles to have different refractive indexes, and the light enters through the liquid crystal layer The image sensing wafer, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer each comprise a circular electrode, surrounding the circular electrode and concentric with the circular electrode and arranged along a radial direction of the circular electrode a first ring electrode, a second ring electrode, a third ring electrode and a fourth ring electrode, wherein a radius of the circular electrode is denoted by r1, the first ring electrode and the second ring electrode The ring widths of the third ring electrode and the fourth ring electrode are d2, d3, d4, and d5, respectively, and r1>d2>d3>d4>d5. The imaging module of claim 5, wherein one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate is provided with an infrared cut filter. The image capturing module of claim 5, wherein the liquid crystal element is spaced apart from the image sensing wafer by a distance. The image capturing module of claim 5, wherein the first transparent substrate covers the image sensing wafer and is in contact therewith.