Multi-zone imaging sensor and lens array

An imaging module, comprising:

• a matrix of detector elements formed on a single semiconductor substrate and configured to output electrical signals in response to optical radiation that is incident on the detector elements;
• objective optics, which are configured to focus light onto the matrix of the detector elements so as to form respective images of a common field of view on different, respective regions of the matrix,
• wherein the regions of the matrix comprise at least first and second regions of different, respective sizes, and wherein the objective optics comprise at least first and second lenses of different, respective magnifications, which are configured to form the respective images on at least the first and second regions;
• and
• multiple optical filters, which have different, respective passbands and are positioned so that each filter filters the light that is focused onto a different, respective one of the regions.

A method for imaging, comprising:

• providing a matrix of detector elements formed on a single semiconductor substrate and configured to output electrical signals in response to optical radiation that is incident on the detector elements;
• and
• overlaying a filter layer on the detector elements, the filter layer comprising multiple filter zones overlying different, respective, convex rectangular regions of the matrix and having different, respective passbands, each of the rectangular regions comprising multiple rows and columns of the detector elements,
• wherein the filter zones and the respective convex regions share a common aspect ratio, while the filter zones comprise at least first and second zones of different, respective, first and second sizes that share the common aspect ratio.

A method for imaging, comprising:

• providing a matrix of detector elements formed on a single semiconductor substrate and configured to output electrical signals in response to optical radiation that is incident on the detector elements;
• aligning objective optics to focus light onto the matrix of the detector elements so as to form respective images of a common field of view on different, respective regions of the matrix,
• wherein the regions of the matrix comprise at least first and second regions of different, respective sizes, and wherein aligning the objective optics comprise providing at least first and second lenses of different, respective magnifications so as to form the respective images on at least the first and second regions;
• and
• positioning multiple optical filters, which have different, respective passbands, so that each filter filters the light that is focused onto a different, respective one of the regions.

An imaging module, comprising:

• a matrix of detector elements formed on a single semiconductor substrate and configured to output electrical signals having a first dynamic range in response to optical radiation that is incident on the detector elements;
• objective optics, which are configured to focus light onto the matrix of the detector elements so as to form respective optical images of a common field of view on different, respective regions of the matrix so that the regions sense the optical images with different, respective levels of sensitivity,
• wherein the objective optics comprise lenses having different, respective F-numbers for focusing the light onto the different, respective regions, wherein the F-numbers are chosen so as to provide the different, respective levels of sensitivity;
• and
• a processor, which is configured to process the electrical signals output by the detector elements in the respective regions so as to generate a combined electronic image of the common field of view with a second dynamic range that is greater than the first dynamic range.

A method for imaging, comprising:

• providing a matrix of detector elements formed on a single semiconductor substrate and configured to output electrical signals having a first dynamic range in response to optical radiation that is incident on the detector elements;
• aligning objective optics to focus light onto the matrix of the detector elements so as to form respective images of a common field of view on different, respective regions of the matrix so that the regions sense the optical images with different, respective levels of sensitivity,
• wherein the objective optics comprise lenses having different, respective F-numbers for focusing the light onto the different, respective regions, wherein the F-numbers are chosen so as to provide the different, respective levels of sensitivity;
• and
• processing the electrical signals output by the detector elements in the respective regions so as to generate a combined electronic image of the common field of view with a second dynamic range that is greater than the first dynamic range.