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US 2016/0241802 A1Published application
Curved Image Sensor for a Curved Focal Surface
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsRoman Lewkow, Philip Sean Stetson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This document describes curved image sensors capable of sensing light from a monocentric lens. This curved image sensor receives light focused at a curved focal surface and then provides electric signals from this curved image sensor to a planar computing chip, such as a CMOS chip. By so doing, the higher image quality, smaller size, and often smaller weight of monocentric lenses can be gained while using generally high-quality, low-cost planar chips.
Claims20
A curved image sensor comprising:
- a curved surface on which photodetectors are disposed, the photodetectors capable of sensing light at the curved surface and providing, from the curved surface, electric signals in response to sensing the light;
- a curved-to-planar substrate capable of receiving the electric signals at the curved surface and providing the electric signals to a planar surface, the curved-to-planar substrate comprising an array of electrical connections for providing the electric signals between the curved surface and the planar surface, each electrical connection having a curved-surface connection end and an electric receptor end, the electric receptor ends being at the planar surface, spacings between the electric receptor ends at the planar surface decreasing as the distance from a center of the curved-to-planar substrate increases;
- a circuit capable of receiving the electric signals at the planar surface and from the curved-to-planar substrate.
A method comprising:
- receiving, at a curved image sensor in which photodetectors are disposed on a curved surface, light focused to a curved focal surface by at least one monocentric lens;
- converting the light to electric signals through the photodetectors disposed on the curved surface of the curved image sensor;
- passing the electric signals through a curved-to-planar substrate from the curved surface to a circuit, the curved-to-planar substrate comprising:
- an array of electrical connections for providing the electric signals between the curved surface and the circuit, each electrical connection having a curved-surface connection end and an electric receptor, spacings between the electric receptor ends decreases as the distance from a center of the curved-to-planar substrate increases;
- and
- constructing an image from the electric signals received at the circuit.
3 more elements
An imaging device comprising:
- a monocentric lens capable of providing a curved focal surface;
- and
- a curved image sensor, the curved image sensor having:
- a curved surface;
- a curved-to-planar substrate;
- and
- a circuit,
- the curved image sensor capable of sensing light of the curved focal surface at the curved surface and providing electric signals in response to sensing the light;
- the curved-to-planar substrate capable of receiving the electric signals at the curved surface and providing the electric signals to a planar surface, the curved-to-planar substrate comprising:
- an array of electrical connections for providing the electric signals between the curved surface and the planar surface, each electrical connection having a curved-surface connection end and an electric receptor end, spacings between the electric receptor ends decreases as the distance from a center of the curved-to-planar substrate increases;
- and
- the circuit capable of receiving the electric signals at the planar surface and from the curved-to-planar substrate.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.