Method and apparatus providing refractive index structure for a device capturing or displaying images

An optical structure for an imaging device comprising:

• a photo device arranged in a first layer, and
• an associated optical path for the photo device, said optical path comprising:
• the first layer comprising a first material having a first refractive index;
• a second layer comprising a second material having a second refractive index;
• and
• a transition region comprising the first material and the second material and arranged between said first and second layers and having a refractive index which changes from a value at or about said first refractive index to a value at or about said second refractive index,
• wherein said transition region comprises a mixture of said first and second materials,
• wherein a ratio of said first material to said second material in said mixture increases in the direction of the optical path toward the second layer, and
• wherein said first material is silicon dioxide and said second material is silicon.

An imaging system comprising:

• a CPU;
• and
• an imaging device comprising an optical structure, said optical structure comprising:
• a photo device arranged in a first layer, and
• an associated optical path for the photo device, said optical path comprising:
• the first layer comprising a first material having a first refractive index;
• a second layer comprising a second material having a second refractive index;
• and
• a transition region comprising the first material and the second material and arranged between said first and second layers and having a refractive index which changes from a value at or about said first refractive index to a value at or about said second refractive index.

An imaging system comprising:

• a CPU;
• and
• an imaging device comprising an optical structure, said optical structure comprising:
• a photo device arranged in a first layer, and
• an associated optical path for the photo device, said optical path comprising:
• the first layer comprising a first material having a first refractive index;
• a second layer comprising a second material having a second refractive index;
• and
• a transition region comprising the first material and the second material and arranged between said first and second layers and having a refractive index which changes from a value at or about said first refractive index to a value at or about said second refractive index,
• wherein said transition region comprises a mixture of said first and second materials,
• wherein a ratio of said first material to said second material in said mixture increases in the direction of the optical path toward the second layer, and
• wherein said first material is silicon dioxide and said second material is silicon.