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US 8,408,821 B2Granted
Visible and infrared dual mode imaging system
AssigneeOmniVision Technologies, Inc.
InventorsFei Wu, Shunbo Mou, Jizhang Shan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An imaging system includes an image sensor and an optical filter. The image sensor captures image data in response to incident light. The optical filter filters the light and includes a dual window transmission spectrum. The dual window transmission spectrum includes a first transmission window having a first pass band aligned to pass visible light and a second transmission window having a second pass band overlapping with an absorption band of infrared light in Earth's atmosphere.
Claims16
An imaging system, comprising:
- an aperture for receiving incident light;
- an image sensor for capturing image data in response to the incident light;
- and
- an optical filter disposed between the aperture and the image sensor, wherein the optical filter includes a dual window transmission spectrum, the dual window transmission spectrum including:
- a first pass band aligned to pass visible light;
- and
- a second pass band overlapping with an absorption band of infrared light in Earth's atmosphere,
- wherein the optical filter comprises a single optical filter element including both the first and second pass bands such that a single ray of light incident on the single optical filter element is subject to both the first and second pass bands at a given time.
5 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a pixel array for capturing image data in response to incident light, the pixel array including a repeating pattern of macropixels, wherein each macropixel includes multiple color pixels for capturing a visible spectrum image and an infrared pixel for capturing an infrared image;
- and
- a multi-layer optical filter array disposed over the pixel array, the multi-layer optical filter array including:
- an infrared filter layer for filter infrared light;
- and
- a color filter array layer including a repeating pattern of color filter elements for filtering different colors of visible light,
- wherein the infrared filter layer comprises a blanket filter layer overlaying the pixel array and covering both the color pixels and the infrared pixel of each macropixel, and wherein the infrared filter layer includes:
- a first pass band aligned to pass visible light;
- and
- a second pass band overlapping with an absorption band of infrared light in Earth's atmosphere to permit light falling within the absorption band of infrared light in Earth's atmosphere to pass through the multi-layer optical filter array to the pixel array,
- wherein the second pass band overlaps 950 nm and has a width equal to or less than the absorption band of infrared light in the Earth's atmosphere.
8 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a pixel array for capturing image data in response to incident light, the pixel array including a repeating pattern of macropixels, wherein each macropixel includes multiple color pixels for capturing a visible spectrum image and an infrared pixel for capturing an infrared image;
- and
- a multi-layer optical filter array disposed over the pixel array, the multi-layer optical filter array including:
- an infrared filter layer for filter infrared light;
- and
- a color filter array layer including a repeating pattern of color filter elements for filtering different colors of visible light,
- wherein the infrared filter layer includes:
- a first portion aligned with the color pixels to block the infrared light and pass the visible light, wherein the first portion comprises an infrared cut filter;
- and
- a second portion aligned with the infrared pixel to pass the infrared light, wherein the second portion of the infrared filter layer comprises a clear element.
7 more elements
A method of operating a dual mode imaging system, comprising:
- receiving light at an optical filter having a dual window transmission spectrum, the dual window transmission spectrum including a first pass band aligned to pass visible light and a second pass band approximately equal to and limited by an absorption band of infrared light in Earth's atmosphere;
- during daytime, passing the visible light through the first pass band to an image sensor while blocking the infrared light falling outside of the second pass band;
- and
- during nighttime, passing the infrared light through the second pass band to the image sensor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.