Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/20—Filters
  • G02B5/201—Filters in the form of arrays
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B13/00—Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below
  • G02B13/001—Miniaturised objectives for electronic devices, e.g. portable telephones, webcams, PDAs, small digital cameras
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B3/00—Simple or compound lenses
  • G02B3/02—Simple or compound lenses with non-spherical faces
  • G02B3/04—Simple or compound lenses with non-spherical faces with continuous faces that are rotationally symmetrical but deviate from a true sphere, e.g. so called "aspheric" lenses
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/20—Filters
  • G02B5/208—Filters for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
  • H04N23/50—Constructional details
  • H04N23/55—Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
  • H04N25/10—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof for transforming different wavelengths into image signals
  • H04N25/11—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics
  • H04N25/13—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements
  • H04N25/131—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements including elements passing infrared wavelengths
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
  • H04N25/10—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof for transforming different wavelengths into image signals
  • H04N25/11—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics
  • H04N25/13—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements
  • H04N25/134—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements based on three different wavelength filter elements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
  • H04N25/10—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof for transforming different wavelengths into image signals
  • H04N25/11—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics
  • H04N25/13—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements
  • H04N25/135—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements based on four or more different wavelength filter elements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N25/00—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof
  • H04N25/10—Circuitry of solid-state image sensors [SSIS]; Control thereof for transforming different wavelengths into image signals
  • H04N25/11—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics
  • H04N25/13—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements
  • H04N25/135—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements based on four or more different wavelength filter elements
  • H04N25/136—Arrangement of colour filter arrays [CFA]; Filter mosaics characterised by the spectral characteristics of the filter elements based on four or more different wavelength filter elements using complementary colours
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
  • H04N23/57—Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Definitions

• Embodiments described herein generally relate to image capture systems and more specifically to a lens, color filter, and imager assembly having automotive applications.
• Image-capture sensors that include one or more cameras are particularly useful for detecting and recognizing objects, monitoring other vehicles, and for reading signs and road markings.
• Camera-based systems have been applied to measure three-dimensional structures, such as the vertical contour of the road, to identify lane markers, and curbs, and to detect objects or hazards.
• Practical sensor systems are expected to provide high-resolution images reliably in varying weather and road conditions across a wide field of view.
• FIG. 1 is a side-view drawing of a vehicle including an automotive camera according to an example embodiment
• FIG. 2 is a cut-away side view drawing showing components of an automotive camera according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 3 A is a top-plan view of a color filter matrix according to an example embodiment.
• FIG. 3B is a graph of quantum efficiency (QE) versus wavelength showing characteristics of an imager according to an example embodiment.
• FIGs. 4A, 4B, and 4C are graphs of modulation transfer function
• FIGs. 5 A, 5B, 5C, 6 A, 6B, 6C, 7 A, 7B, and 7C are graphs of MTF versus focus shift distance of a lens system according to an example embodiment.
• Embodiments described below implement a camera lens and color filter matrix that are tuned to light in the red to green spectral range without consideration for light in the blue spectral range.
• the red to green spectral range is used in automotive applications to perform many sensing functions including, without limitation, to sense red, yellow, and green traffic signals, to sense activation of brake lights of other vehicles, to identify and read road signs and lane markings, and to identify obstacles. None of these tasks relies on light in the blue spectral range.
• a lens system that ignores the blue spectral range may produce a more focused image in the red, yellow, and green spectral ranges, improving the resolution of the images captured by the camera.
• An active pixel sensor (APS) imager such as a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager, is sensitive to a wide range of wavelengths that includes the visible spectrum from 400nm to 70Qnm. Images captured by an APS imager represent all wavelengths in the visible spectrum as welf as wavelengths in the infrared (Hi) and ultra-violet (!JV) spectrum.
• CMOS complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
• an APS imager may employ one or more cut filters to attenuate wavelengths in the IR and UV spectrum and a color filter matrix arranged in front of the individual pixel sensors of the imager in a particular pattern. The pattern includes multiple color pixel filter elements to pass light in different portions of the visible spectrum to different pixel sensors of the APS imager.
• CCD charge-coupled device
• the color filter elements may include red (R), green (G), and blue (B) pixel filter elements arranged in a pattern that repeats vertically and horizontally across all pixel sensor positions of the APS imager.
• the signals captured by the pixel sensors are combined to generate an image having good resolution and proper color rendition even in low-light environments.
• the Bayer filter for example uses twice as many green pixel filters as red and blue filters arranged in an RGGB two-by-two matrix pattern such that one row of the pattern includes alternating R and G filters and the next row of the pattern includes alternating G and B filters.
• An alternative filter pattern uses complimentary color filter elements such as cyan (Cy), yellow (Y), and magenta (M).
• the R, G, and B pixel filters each reduce the amount of light reaching the respective pixel sensors by about 2/3 while the Cy, Y, and M pixel filters reduce the amount of light reaching the pixel sensors by about 1/3.
• Monochrome sensors which have no color filters and thus allow all incident light to reach the pixel sensors, have significantly better low light performance than imagers having a color filter matrix.
• One filter matrix that achieves good low light performance and still retains some color information uses only red and clear color filter elements.
• a RCCC (red, clear, clear, clear) filter matrix has been developed for automotive applications. This filter has no G or B filter elements and has R filter elements covering only every second pixel sensor in every second row. The R filter elements allow a camera system using this filter to detect red traffic signals and break lights of other vehicles.
• the lack of G filters makes it difficult for optical systems including an RCCC filter matrix to sense other colors, such as yellow traffic signs and/or yellow and green traffic signals
• an automotive camera includes a lens system that focuses light from a scene onto the imager. It is desirable for such lens system to provide high-resolution images over a wide field of view.
• the resolution of an image projected by a lens system is a function of the spatial frequency response of the lens system.
• the spatial frequency response of an optical system may be specified in terms of the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the system.
• MTF is the modulus of the optical transfer function (QTF), which specifies how an optical system affects the amplitude and phase of light from a scene projected onto a detector array.
• the OTF is the Fourier transform of the point spread function (PSF).
• the PSF is the impulse response of the optical system (e.g., the image produced from an ideal point source). Because the OTF is Fourier transform it is a complex function having values in both the real and imaginary planes.
• the MTF is the modulus (e.g., absolute value) of the complex OTF The MTF ignores the phase portion of the transfer function providing a measure of how the amplitude of the projected light changes across the relevant spectrum.
• Both the OTF and the MTF specify the response of the optical system to a periodic sine-wave pattern passing through the optical system. This response is a function of both the spatial frequency or period and orientation of the sine wave pattern. [0018]
• the OTF and MTF measurements described herein may specify a particular resolution.
• the resolution may be specified as cycles per millimeter (CYC/mm) or line-pairs per millimeter (Ip/mm).
• a lens system capable of resolving 10 pm features has a resolution of 100 Ip/mm.
• a lens system having an MTF of 80% at 100 Ip/mm may project an image having 200 lines per millimeter that is slightly blurred compared to the original image.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example vehicle 104 having a camera 102 that includes processing circuitry 108.
• the camera 102 is affixed to the vehicle 104 and monitors the environment of the vehicle 104.
• the processing circuitry 108 is integrated into the camera 102.
• FIG. 1 shows, the camera by way of example as a forward looking camera mounted behind the windshield. The camera components described herein, however, may be used for rear or side facing cameras mounted inside or outside of the vehicle 104.
• the processing circuitry 108 performs vehicle environment modeling via images obtained from the camera 102.
• the vehicle environment modeling may include modeling the road surface 106, obstacles, obstructions, and moving bodies (e.g., other vehicles, pedestrians, animals, etc.).
• the camera 102 or other cameras may be used to model traffic signals, road signs, and environmental conditions.
• These models may be used by the processing circuitry 108 directly, or via another management system (not shown), to adjust operating parameters of the vehicle 104 based on the sensed environmental conditions.
• the processing circuitry may use the camera 102 to monitor lane markers on the road surface 106 and to alert the driver upon detecting that the vehicle 104 is crossing a lane marker.
• the processing system 108 is arranged to obtain a time-ordered sequence of images representative of the road surface 106.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of components of an example camera that may be used as the camera 102 shown in FIG. 1.
• the example camera 102 includes a lens system 200 coupled to an imager system 220.
• the lens system 200 is contained in a lens barrel 202 having a front cover glass 204 and a rear cover glass 218.
• the example lens system 200 includes a first biconvex lens 206, a second biconvex lens 208, a composed lens including a positive meniscus lens 210 and a biconvex lens 212, and a second positive meniscus lens 214.
• the lens system 200 also includes a cut filter 216 that attenuates light in the IR and UV spectral ranges that is projected from the lens system 200 onto the imager system 220.
• the cut filter 216 may be configured to attenuate at least a portion of the light in the blue spectral range in addition to attenuating light in the IR and UV spectral ranges
• Any of the lens elements 206, 208, 210, 212, and/or 214 may be a spherical or non-spherical element.
• the lenses 210 and 212 that form the composed lens may be joined by an optical cement or separated by air. This lens configuration is one possible configuration. Other configurations that satisfy the design rules described below with reference to Tables 1, 2, and 3 may be used in place of the lens system 200.
• the imager system 220 includes a housing 222, a color filter matrix
• the relative sizes of the color filter matrix 224 and imager 226 are exaggerated to aid description of the imager system 220.
• the imager 226 is positioned at a location relative to the lens sy stem 200 in the housing 222 such that images from a scene are focused onto the top surface of the imager 226 through the color filter matrix 224. Pixel data captured by the imager 226 is provided to the processing circuitry- 108, which may also control the operation of the imager 226.
• the color filter matrix 224 of the imager system 220 is a RYYCy filter matrix according to an example embodiment.
• An example layout of the color filter matrix 224 is shown in FIG. 3 A.
• Conventional color filter such as an RGGB filter matrix or a CyYYM filter matrix produce images that span the spectrum from red to blue. These filters, however, reduce the amount of light reaching the pixel sensors by 1/3 or 2/3, as described above. This reduction in the amount of light results in a reduced quantum efficiency (QE) for the imager.
• QE of an imager is a ratio of electrons produced by the imager from photons impinging on the imager thus, QE is a measure of the efficiency of an imager in converting photons into electrons.
• the RYYCy filter matrix is one example matrix.
• Other filter matrixes which may be used include RYYB, RYYY, RYYG, and RYYC.
• Other example filter matrixes may be used if the cut filter 216 is tuned to attenuate light in the blue spectral range as well as light in the IR and UV spectral ranges.
• an RCCC or RCCB filter matrix may produce acceptable images when used with a lens system such as the lens system 200, described above, which the MTF of the lens system 200 is configured for the red to green range of the spectrum.
• image data from the blue spectral range may be less important than image data fro the red to green spectral range.
• One way to increase the quantum efficiency of an imager without increasing the aperture of the lens is to design a lens that is configured to produce a sharper image in the red to green spectral range than in the blue spectral range and provide a color filter matched to the lens.
• yellow light is a combination of red light and green light.
• the imager color filter matrix 224 is designed to match the lens system 200 and both the lens system 200 and color filter matrix 224 are configured to emphasize light in the red to green spectral range over light in the blue to violet spectral range.
• the RCCC filter matrix is currently used in many automotive applications.
• the color filter matrix 224 uses yellow filter elements instead of clear filter elements such that imager pixel positions under the yellow filter elements provide most of the information from the imager.
• the processing circuitry 108 uses red filter elements to detect taii!ights as in the RCCC filter matrix.
• the example color filter matrixes 224 also use cyan filter elements.
• the cyan filter elements also help the processing system 108 to distinguish between red and orange.
• the example color filter matrix 224 is a RYYCy filter matrix, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3 A. As shown, the filter includes a pattern of R, Y, and Cy filter elements that repeats horizontally and vertically.
• the pattern includes four filters elements arranged in a two-by-two submatrix, an R filter 302, a first Y filter 304, a second Y filter 306, and a Cy filter 308
• the two-by-two submatrix repeats both horizontally and vertically across the surface of the imager 226.
• FIG. 3B shows an example QE of a sensor using the RYYCy filter matrix 224.
• the QE depends on the dyes used to implement the filter and characteristic of the APS imager without the color filter matrix 224. Consequently, the QE of a particular sensor may vary significantly from that shown in FIG. 3B.
• Curve 322 represents the QE of the sensor for photons in the cyan spectral range.
• Curves 324 and 326 represent the QE of the sensor for photons in the yellow to green spectral range
• curve 328 represents the QE of the sensor for photons in the red spectral range.
• Each of the curves shown in FIG. 3B corresponds to a pixel position in the two-by-two submatrix shown in FIG.
• FIG. 3A shows a drop in QE from a peak of approximately 70 percent around 525 nm (corresponding to yellow light) down to about 50 percent at 800 nm (corresponding to near infrared light). It is noted that the yellow peak is higher than the red and cyan peaks.
• FIG. 3B shows that the QE of yellow pixels drops to half at 475 nm so that the blue to violet spectral range from 400 nm to 500 nm does not significantly affect the sensing of light in the red to green spectral range.
• the RYYCy filter matrix uses a red filter in place of the magenta filter of a CyYYM filter matrix, the shape of the red, yellow' and cyan curves shown in FIG. 3B may be different from corresponding curves for a CyYYM filter.
• the cutoff wavelengths for the different spectral ranges, however, are similar.
• the RYYCy color filter matrix 224 is different from existing patterns such as RGGB, CyYYM, and RCCC.
• the filter matrix 224 combined with the lens system 200, designed without regard for the blue to violet spectral range, implement the camera 102 shown in FIG. 1.
• the lens system 200 can be focused to implement a good MTF values light in the red to green spectral range but a relatively reduced MTF for light in the blue to violet spectral range.
• the imager system 220 uses the color filter matrix 224 having red filter elements instead of magenta filter elements as in the standard CyYYM filter matrix, the red-filtered pixels provided by imager array 226 are in good focus as are the yellow-filtered pixels.
• the only pixels that appear out of focus are the cyan-filtered pixels as the color filter elements covering these pixels include a significant blue component and the MTF of lens system is designed to produce a higher MTF for light in the red to green spectral range than for light in the blue to violet spectral range. If an image of a monochrome resolution target is captured with a lens system, designed as described below, and the RYYCy color matrix shown in FIG. 3A, the subsampled image including only the red pixel data will appear significantly sharper than the subsampled image including only the cyan pixel data even though the imager includes the same number of pixels with red filter elements and cyan filter elements
• An example lens system such as the lens system 200 shown in FIG. 2, may be designed according to design rules shown in Tables I, 2 and 3 below.
• Table 1 show's the wavelength weighting for the lens design.
• Table 2 shows the polychromatic MTF for the lens design having the wavelength weightings shown in Table 1
• Table 3 show's parameters of the cut filter 216 which is configured to attenuate UV light having wavelengths less than a cut-off wavelength that may range between 410 nrn and 395 run and to attenuate IR light having wavelengths greater than a cut off wavelength that may range between 690 nm and 705 nm.
• the cut filter 216 may be configured to attenuate light having wavelengths less than about 500 nm to attenuate light in the blue to violet spectral range as well as light in the UV spectral range.
• These design rules specify a lens system in which the focus of light in the red to green spectral range is emphasized over a 60 degree field of view.
• the weighting design rules shown in Table 1 place more weight on yellow' wavelengths than on red wavelengths or blue wavelengths.
• the field of view design rules shown in Tables 1 - 3 specify a relatively high MTF for at least light in the red to green spectral range across the field of view of the lens system.
• Such a lens system can be used by the processing system 108 of the camera 102 to identify items of interest across the field of view ' of the camera 102.
• FIG. 4A shows the design MTF (e.g., the modulus of the design
• Curve 412 represents the MTF in the tangential plane and curve 414 represents the MTF in the sagittal plane.
• the tangential response concerns light in the direction of propagation and the sagittal response concerns light in a direction perpendicular to the direction of propagation.
• the curves 412 and 414 represent the spatial frequency response of an example lens system at a resolution of 120 lp/mm.
• the design MTF is not less than 0.8 (80 percent) for 120 lp/mm in the center of the FOV and greater than 0.5 across the 60 degree FOV.
• FIG. 4B shows the MTF for wavelengths in the blue range (at about
• Curve 422 shows the tangential response and curve 424 shows the sagittal response.
• the MTF is less than 0.5 or even less than 0.4 throughout the FOV also at a resolution of 120 lp/mm.
• FIG. 4C shows the design MTF for the lens using the standard weighting for visible spectrum from 436 nm to 656 nm. As shown in FIG. 4C, the tangential MTF is less than 0.8 at the center of the FOV and less than 0.5 at many other angles in the FOV.
• FIGs. 5A, 5B, and 5C show' the MTF for light in a range of 510 nm to 660 nm (e.g., light in the red to green spectral range) as a function of focus shift for an example lens system 200 designed in accordance with the design rules showm in Tables 1, 2, and 3.
• the MTF values shown in FIGs. 5 A, 5B, and 5C are at a resolution of 120 lp/mm.
• FIG. 5A show's the focus response at 0 degrees in the FOV
• FIG. 5B shows the focus response at 30 degrees in the FOV
• FIG. 5C shows the focus response at 60 degrees in the FOV. Because FIG.
• FIG. 5 A shows the response at 0 degrees
• the tangential and sagittal curves are coincident and are represented by the curve 502.
• curves 512 and 522 show the respective tangential focus responses
• curves 514 and 524 show the respective sagittal focus responses.
• FIGs. 5 A, 5B, and 5C show a focus shift of approximately 0 mm for light in the 510 nm to 660 nm spectral range.
• FIGs. 6A, 6B, and 6C show focus response (e.g., MTF versus focus shift) for light at about 450 nm (e.g. blue light) for a lens system 200 designed according to the design rules shown in Tables 1, 2, and 3.
• the MTFs shown in FIGs. 6 A, 6B, and 6C are also at a resolution of 120 lp/mm.
• Curve 602 in FIG. 6A shows the tangential and sagittal focus response of blue light at 0 degrees in the FOV.
• Curves 612 and 614 of FIG. 6B respectively show the tangential and sagittal focus response of the lens system 200 to the blue light at 30 degrees in the FOV and curves 622 and 624 of FIG.
• FIGs. 6C show the tangential and sagittal response of the lens system 200 to the blue light at 60 degrees in the FOV. Comparing FIGs. 6A, 6B, and 6C, respectively with FIGs. 5A, 5B, and 5C, shows a shift in the focus point for the blue light of about 0.01mm at 0 degrees in the FOV relative to the focus point of the light in the red-to green spectral range. It is noted that the shift in the focus point is even greater for angles (e.g , 30 degrees and 60 degrees) further out in the FOV.
• FIGs. 5A - 6C show that a lens system designed according to the design rules shown in Tables 1, 2, and 3 does not perform w ? ell for light in the blue to violet spectral range.
• the peaks of the MTF for various angles of the FO are concentrated around the same focus shift region.
• light in the red to green spectral range can be brought into focus across the entire FO V at the same time.
• FIGs. 7A - 7C shows the focus response for light for light in the red to green spectral range (e.g , from about 430 nm to about 660 nm) for a production lens system 200.
• the MTFs shown in FIGs. 7A-7C are at a resolution of 120 lp/mm and at respective FOV angles of 0 degrees,
• curve 702 represents the focus response of the lens system 200 in both the tangential and sagittal planes.
• curves 712 and 722 represent the respective focus responses of the lens system 200 in the tangential plane and curves 714 and 724 represent the respective focus responses of the lens system 200 in the sagittal plane.
• the example MTF values shown in FIGs. 7A - 7C are lower than the design values described above with reference to FIGs. 5 A - 5C because the production responses reflect the inclusion of manufacturing tolerances.
• the MTF of the lens system 200 is still greater than .60 at the center of the FQV and greater than 0.55 at both 30 degrees and 60 degrees in the FOV.
• the MTF of a production lens system 200 for light in the blue to violet spectral range at 120 lp/mm may be between 50 percent to 60 percent of the MTF for light in the red to green spectral range in some parts of the FOV.
• the MTF for light in the blue to violet spectral range in the center of the FOV may be less than 0.35, at 30 degrees the MTF may be less than 0.33 and at 60 degrees the MTF for light in the blue to violet spectral range may be less than 0.30.
• Example 1 is a camera module having a modulation transfer function (MTF) tuned to be better in a green to red spectral range than in a blue to violet spectral range, comprising: a lens system configured preferentially for the green to red spectral range relative to the blue to violet spectral range: an imager including a plurality of pixel sensors arranged in a matrix, and a color filter matrix positioned between the lens system and the imager, the color filter matrix having a plurality of filter elements corresponding in position to the plurality of pixel sensors of the imager, the filter elements including a larger number of yellow filter elements than red filter elements, wherein the imager is configured relative to the lens system such, that the MTF of the camera module is enhanced for the green to red part of the spectrum.
• MTF modulation transfer function
• Example 2 the subject matter of Example 1 includes, wherein the filter matrix includes multiple two-by-two submatrixes repeating horizontally and vertical fy across the pixel sensors of the imager, each submatrix including two yellow filter element, a red filter element and a cyan filter element.
• Example 3 the subject matter of Examples 1-2 includes, wherein the filter matrix includes multiple two-by-two submatrixes repeating horizontally and vertically across the pixel sensors of the imager, each submatrix including three yellow filter element and a red filter element.
• Example 4 the subject matter of Examples 1-3 includes, wherein the filter matrix includes multiple two-by-two submatrixes repeating horizontally and vertically across the pixel sensors of the imager, each submatrix including two yellow filter element, a red filter element and a green filter element.
• Example 5 the subject matter of Examples 1-4 includes, wherein the filter matrix includes multiple two-by-two submatrixes repeating horizontally and vertically across the pixel sensors of the imager, each submatrix including two yellow filter element, a red filter element and a clear filter element.
• Example 6 the subject matter of Examples 1-5 includes, wherein the filter matrix includes multiple two-by-two submatrixes repeating horizontally and vertically across the pixel sensors of the imager, each submatrix including two yellow filter element, a red filter element and a blue filter element.
• Example 7 the subject matter of Examples 1-6 includes, wherein the lens system is designed to weight light in a yellow spectral range higher than light in red and blue spectral ranges.
• Example 8 the subject matter of Examples 1-7 includes, wherein the lens system includes a plurality of optical elements including a composed optical element having two optical sub-elements joined by optical cement.
• Example 9 the subject matter of Example 8 includes, wherein at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements includes an aspherical lens.
• Example 10 the subject matter of Examples 1 -9 includes, wherein the lens system includes a cut filter positioned between the lens system and the color filter matrix, the cut filter being configured to attenuate light in an ultraviolet spectral range projected by lens system onto the color filter matrix and imager.
• the subject matter of Example 10 includes, wherein the cut filter is further configured to attenuate light in a blue to violet spectral range.
• Example 12 the subject matter of Examples 10-11 includes, wherein the cut filter is further configured to attenuate light in an infrared (IR) spectral range
• Example 13 is a camera module having a modulation transfer function (MTF) tuned to be better in a green to red spectral range than in a blue to violet spectral range, comprising: a lens system configured preferentially for the green to red spectral range relative to the blue to violet spectral range: an imager including a plurality of pixel sensors arranged in a matrix, and a color filter matrix positioned between the lens system and the imager, the color filter matrix having a plurality of filter elements corresponding in position to the plurality of pixel sensors of the imager, the filter elements including a larger number of clear filter elements than red filter elements; and a cut filter positioned between the lens system and the color filter matrix, the cut filter being configured to attenuate light in a blue to ultraviolet spectral range projected by lens system onto the color filter matrix and imager, wherein the imager is configured relative to the lens system such, that the MTF of the camera module is enhanced for the green to red part of the spectrum.
• MTF modulation transfer function
• Example 14 the subject matter of Example 13 includes, wherein the cut filter is further configured to attenuate light in an infrared (IR) spectral range.
• IR infrared
• Example 15 the subject matter of Examples 13—14 includes, wherein the filter matrix includes multiple two-by-two submatrixes repeating horizontally and vertically across the pixel sensors of the imager, each submatrix including three clear filter elements and a red filter element.
• Example 16 the subject matter of Examples 13-15 includes, wherein the filter matrix includes multiple two-by-two submatrixes repeating horizontally and vertically across the pixel sensors of the imager, each submatrix including two clear filter elements, a red filter element and a green filter element.
• Example 17 the subject matter of Examples 13-16 includes, wherein the lens system is designed to weight light in a yellow spectral range higher than light in red and blue spectral ranges.
• Example 18 the subject matter of Examples 13—17 includes, wherein the lens system includes a plurality of optical elements including a composed optical element having two optical sub-elements joined by optical cement.
• Example 19 the subject matter of Example 18 includes, wherein at least one optical element of the plurality of optical elements includes an aspherical lens.

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• 2019
  • 2019-06-07 JP JP2020567616A patent/JP7111842B2/ja active Active
  • 2019-06-07 CN CN202310289889.9A patent/CN116723376A/zh active Pending
  • 2019-06-07 EP EP19772822.3A patent/EP3804304A2/en active Pending
  • 2019-06-07 WO PCT/IB2019/000735 patent/WO2019234504A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2019-06-07 KR KR1020207036665A patent/KR102386672B1/ko active Active
  • 2019-06-07 CN CN201980038183.7A patent/CN112514375B/zh active Active
  • 2019-06-07 US US16/434,520 patent/US11231532B2/en active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-01-13 US US17/575,052 patent/US11754761B2/en active Active
  • 2022-07-21 JP JP2022116059A patent/JP7460699B2/ja active Active

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