Electronic flash, imaging device and method for producing a flash of light having a rectangular radiation pattern

1. An electronic flash for producing flashes of light, said electronic flash comprising:

a substrate;

a light source attached to said substrate, said light source being configured to emit light; and

a diffractive optical element optically coupled to said light source, said diffractive optical element being configured to diffract said light emitted from said light source such that the radiation pattern of said light emitted from said diffractive optical element is rectangular to produce a flash of light having a rectangular radiation pattern,

wherein said light source includes a light emitting diode die, wherein said substrate includes a reflector cup in which said light emitting diode die is mounted, and wherein said diffractive optical element is attached to an encapsulant that encapsulates said light source, said encapsulant being positioned on said substrate such that said reflector cup is filled with said encapsulant.

2. The electronic flash of claim 1 wherein said diffractive optical element includes a diffractive holographic film to produce said flash of light having said rectangular radiation pattern.

3. The electronic flash of claim 1 wherein said diffractive optical element includes a diffractive diffuser to produce said flash of light having said rectangular radiation pattern.

4. The electronic flash of claim 1 further comprising a wavelength-shifting region optically coupled to said light source, said wavelength-shifting region including a photoluminescent material to convert some of said light into longer wavelength light.

5. The electronic flash of claim 4 wherein said photoluminescent material includes at least one type of fluorescent organic dyes, inorganic phosphors, organic phosphors, hybrid phosphors, nano-phosphors or quantum dots.

6. The electronic flash of claim 1 further comprising additional light sources that emit light.

7. The electronic flash of claim 6 wherein said light source is a light emitting diode die that emits red light, and wherein each of said additional light sources is light emitting diode die that emits one of green light and blue light.

8. The electronic flash of claim 1 further comprising a lens attached to said diffractive optical element such that said lens is positioned between said light source and said diffractive optical element, said lens being configured to focus said light from said light source to narrow the viewing angle of said light.

9. The electronic flash of claim 8 wherein said lens has a concaved surface that faces said light source.

10. An imaging device comprising:

a substrate;

a light source attached to said substrate, said light source being configured to emit light;

a diffractive optical element optically coupled to said light source, said diffractive optical element being configured to diffract said light emitted from said light source such that the radiation pattern of said light emitted from said diffractive optical element is rectangular to produce a flash of light having a rectangular radiation pattern; and

an image sensor configured to electronically capture an image of a scene of interest using said flash of light having said rectangular radiation pattern,

wherein said light source includes a light emitting diode die, wherein said substrate includes a reflector cup in which said light emitting diode die is mounted, and wherein said diffractive optical element is attached to an encapsulant that encapsulates said light source, said encapsulant being positioned on said substrate such that said reflector cup is filled with said encapsulant.

11. The imaging device of claim 10 wherein said diffractive optical element is a diffractive holographic film to produce said flash of light having said rectangular radiation pattern.

12. The imaging device of claim 10 wherein said diffractive optical element is a diffractive diffuser to produce said flash of light having said rectangular radiation pattern.

13. The imaging device of claim 10 further comprising a wavelength-shifting region optically coupled to said light source, said wavelength-shifting region including a photoluminescent material to convert some of said light into longer wavelength light.

14. The imaging device of claim 13 wherein said photoluminescent material includes at least one type of fluorescent organic dyes, inorganic phosphors, organic phosphors, hybrid phosphors, nano-phosphors or quantum dots.

15. The imaging device of claim 10 further comprising a lens attached to said diffractive optical element such that said lens is positioned between said light source and said diffractive optical element, said lens being configured to focus said light from said light source to narrow the viewing angle of said light.

16. A method for producing flashes of light, said method comprising:

generating light within an electronic flash;

diffracting said light using a diffractive optical element of said electronic flash such that the radiation pattern of said light emitted from said diffractive optical element is rectangular to produce a flash of light having a rectangular radiation pattern; and

focusing said light to narrow the viewing angle of said light prior to said light being diffracted by said diffractive optical element.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising converting some of said light into longer wavelength light using a photoluminescent material.

18. An electronic flash for producing flashes of light, said electronic flash comprising:

a substrate;

a light source attached to said substrate, said light source being configured to emit light;

a diffractive optical element optically coupled to said light source, said diffractive optical element being configured to diffract said light emitted from said light source such that the radiation pattern of said light emitted from said diffractive optical element is rectangular to produce a flash of light having a rectangular radiation pattern; and

a lens attached to said diffractive optical element such that said lens is positioned between said light source and said diffractive optical element, said lens being configured to focus said light from said light source to narrow the viewing angle of said light.

19. An imaging device comprising:

a substrate;

a light source attached to said substrate, said light source being configured to emit light;

a diffractive optical element optically coupled to said light source, said diffractive optical element being configured to diffract said light emitted from said light source such that the radiation pattern of said light emitted from said diffractive optical element is rectangular to produce a flash of light having a rectangular radiation pattern;

an image sensor configured to electronically capture an image of a scene of interest using said flash of light having said rectangular radiation pattern; and

a lens attached to said diffractive optical element such that said lens is positioned between said light source and said diffractive optical element, said lens being configured to focus said light from said light source to narrow the viewing angle of said light.