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Here's an interesting patent from Japan's Nikon Corp.
Color separation device of solid-state image sensor
Abstract
A microlens condenses incident light to an opening. Light passed through the opening reaches a first dichroic mirror. The first dichroic mirror passes blue light and reflects green and red light. Only the blue light is incident on a first light receiving surface. The first dichroic mirror leads the green and red light to a second dichroic mirror. The second dichroic mirror passes the green light and reflects the red light. Only the green light is incident on a second light receiving surface. The second dichroic mirror leads the red light to a third dichroic mirror. The third dichroic mirror reflects the red light. Therefore, the red light is incident on a third light receiving surface.
Some details:
Inventors: Hoshuyama; Hideo (Kawasaki, JP)
Assignee : Nikon Corporation (Tokyo, JP)
Appl. No. : 10/732,462
Filed : December 11, 2003
Claims of corresponding document: US2005213221
1. A color separation unit of a solid-state image sensor comprising:
a microlens which condenses light to an opening provided in a mask layer;
a first optical element which receives light condensed by said microlens through said opening, to divide the light into light to be transmitted and light to be reflected in accordance with wavelengths of the light received;
a first light receiving surface which receives light passed through said first optical element;
a second optical element which receives light reflected by said first optical element to divide the light into light to be transmitted and light to be reflected in accordance with wavelengths of the received light different from those of said first optical element;
a second light receiving surface which receives light reflected by said second optical element;
a third optical element which receives and reflects light passed through said second optical element; and
a third light receiving surface which receives light reflected by said third optical element.
2. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 1, wherein said first and second optical elements are dichroic mirrors.
3. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 1, wherein said first optical element passes blue light to lead the blue light to said first light receiving surface, and reflects green and red light to lead the green and red light to said second optical element.
4. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 3, wherein said second optical element reflects the green light to lead the green light to said second light receiving surface, and passes the red light to lead the red light to said third optical element.
5. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 4, wherein said third optical element reflects the red light.
6. A color separation unit of a solid-state image sensor comprising:
a microlens which condenses light to an opening provided in a mask layer;
a first optical element which receives light condensed by said microlens through said opening, to divide the light into light to be transmitted and light to be reflected in accordance with wavelengths of the light received;
a first light receiving surface which receives light passed through said first optical element;
a second optical element which receives light reflected by said first optical element to divide the light into light to be transmitted and light to be reflected in accordance with wavelengths of the received light different from those of said first optical element;
a second light receiving surface which receives light reflected by said second optical element;
a third optical element which receives light passed through said second optical element to divide the light into light to be transmitted and light to be reflected in accordance with wavelengths of the received light different from those of said first and second optical elements; and
a third light receiving surface which receives light reflected by said third optical element.
7. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 6, wherein said first, second, and third optical elements are dichroic mirrors.
8. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 6, wherein said third optical element reflects red light and absorbs infrared rays.
9. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 6, wherein said first optical element passes blue light to lead the blue light to said first light receiving surface, and reflects green and red light to lead the green and red light to said second optical element.
10. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 9, wherein said second optical element reflects the green light to lead the green light to said second light receiving surface, and passes the red light to lead the red light to said third optical element.
11. The color separation unit of the solid-state image sensor according to claim 10, wherein said third optical element reflects the red light.
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