IP Library Granted Patent US 9,257,469
Granted Patent B2
US 9,257,469 · App. 14/353,113 · Granted Feb 9, 2016

Color imaging device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,257,469
App. No.
14/353,113
Granted
Feb 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging apparatus 10 according to one implementation of the present invention includes: a plurality of photodetectors 5 a and 5 b ; a transparent layer 2 provided at the side of a light-receiving surface 15 a, 15 b of the photodetectors 5 a and 5 b ; a plurality of spectroscopic portions 3 provided between a light-entering surface 2 a of the transparent layer 2 and the photodetectors 5 a and 5 b ; and a plurality of high refractive index transparent members 6 provided closer to the photodetectors 5 a and 5 b than are the spectroscopic portions 3 . The high refractive index transparent members 6 have a higher refractive index than does the transparent layer 2.

Claims (20)

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a plurality of photodetecting portions;

a transparent layer provided at the side of a light-receiving surface of the plurality of photodetecting portions;

a plurality of spectroscopic portions provided between a light-entering surface of the transparent layer and the plurality of photodetecting portions; and

a plurality of high refractive index transparent members disposed closer to the plurality of photodetecting portions than are the plurality of spectroscopic portions,

wherein,

the plurality of high refractive index transparent members have a higher refractive index than does the transparent layer;

orthogonal projections of the plurality of spectroscopic portions onto the light-receiving surface do not overlap those of the plurality of high refractive index transparent members;

+1 st order diffracted light and −1 st order diffracted light, into which light is separated as the light passes through the transparent layer and one of the spectroscopic portions, are incident on respectively different ones of the photodetecting portions; and

the high refractive index transparent members are disposed so that diffraction angles of the +1 st order diffracted light and the −1 st order diffracted light become more spread than without the high refractive index transparent members.

2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein,

each spectroscopic portion is shaped so that a length thereof along a direction which is perpendicular to the light-receiving surface is longer than a length thereof along a direction which is parallel to the light-receiving surface; and

each high refractive index transparent member is shaped so that a length thereof along a direction which is parallel to the light-receiving surface is longer than a length thereof along a direction which is perpendicular to the light-receiving surface.

3. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein,

the spectroscopic portions are disposed so as to correspond to every other one of the plurality of photodetecting portions.

4. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a light shielding portion is provided at a boundary portion between the photodetecting portions.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the high refractive index transparent members are provided above those areas of the light-receiving surface of the plurality of photodetecting portions where the light shielding portion is not provided.

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an on-chip lens is provided at the side of the light-entering surface of the transparent layer.

7. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a face of each high refractive index transparent member along a direction which is parallel to the light-receiving surface is rectangular or circular.

8. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, along a direction which is perpendicular to the light-receiving surface, the high refractive index transparent members are disposed at positions which are closer to the spectroscopic portions than to the light-receiving surface.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2018
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: SOVEREIGN PEAK VENTURES, LLC
Reel/Frame 048268/0916 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 4, 2014
From: NAKAMURA, TATSUYA; NISHIWAKI, SEIJI; WAKABAYASHI, SHINICHI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033243/0385 →