IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,638,067
Granted Patent B2
US 11,638,067 · App. 17/813,490 · Granted Apr 25, 2023

Phased metalens for adjusting a focus of an image

Inventors: Ronald M. Taylor (Greentown, IN); James Nicholas Nickolaou (Clarkston, MI)
Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
H04N23/52H04N23/672
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,638,067
App. No.
17/813,490
Filed
Jul 19, 2022
Granted
Apr 25, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2698
USPC
348/349
Abstract

The techniques of this disclosure relate to a system for adjusting a focus of an image. A system includes a phased metalens configured to adjust a focus of an image detected by an imaging substrate of an image sensor to compensate for warpage of the imaging substrate. The phased metalens can achieve a near-diffraction-limited focusing over incoming light wavelengths using precisely defined nanoscale subwavelength resolution structures.

Claims (34)

1. A system, comprising:

a phased metalens configured to adjust a focus of an image detected by an imaging substrate of an image sensor by compensating for defocus effects caused by thermal expansion or contraction of the image sensor to enable the imaging substrate to focus the image over a range of operating temperatures.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the phased metalens is configured to compensate a warpage of the imaging substrate to compensate for the defocus effects.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein features of the phased metalens comprises a plurality of sub-wavelength structures grouped into arrangements having unique phase profiles to compensate for variations in the warpages at different operating temperatures of the image sensor.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the unique phase profiles are based further on a respective radial distance from that particular arrangement and a center of the phased metalens.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the warpage comprises a stress-induced warpage of the imaging substrate that is at least one of:

due to cooling of the image sensor from an initial curing process; or

variable based on an increase or decrease in an operating temperature of the system.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the phased metalens is configured to adjust a property of light that reaches the imaging substrate to compensate for a change in a flatness of the imaging substrate caused by the warpage.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the property of light that reaches the imaging substrate comprises a phase of all the light that reaches the imaging substrate at a same time.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the phased metalens is configured to adjust the property of light based on at least one of:

an operating temperature of the image sensor; or

a color of the light.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

the image sensor; and

an objective lens, wherein the phased metalens is positioned between the objective lens and the image sensor.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system comprises a camera.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the camera is configured for use in a vehicle.

12. An apparatus, comprising:

a camera including a phased metalens configured to adjust a focus of an image detected by an imaging substrate of an image sensor of the camera by compensating for defocus effects caused by thermal expansion or contraction of the image sensor to enable the imaging substrate to focus the image over a range of operating temperatures.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the phased metalens is configured to compensate a warpage of the imaging substrate to compensate for the defocus effects.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein features of the phased metalens comprises a plurality of sub-wavelength structures being grouped into arrangements having unique phase profiles to compensate for variations in the warpages at different operating temperatures of the image sensor.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the unique phase profiles are based further on a respective radial distance from that particular arrangement and a center of the phased metalens.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the warpage comprises a stress-induced warpage of the imaging substrate that is at least one of:

due to cooling of the image sensor from an initial curing process; or

variable based on an increase or decrease in an operating temperature of the apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the phased metalens is configured to adjust a property of light that reaches the imaging substrate to compensate for a change in a flatness of the imaging substrate caused by the warpage.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the phased metalens is configured to adjust the property of light based on at least one of:

an operating temperature of the image sensor; or

a color of the light.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the camera further comprises:

an objective lens, wherein the phased metalens is positioned between the objective lens and the image sensor.

20. A system, comprising:

a phased metalens configured to compensate operating temperature induced warpage of an imaging substrate of an imaging sensor to adjust a focus of an image detected by the imaging substrate.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Feb 11, 2024
From: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES (2) S.À R.L.
To: APTIV MANUFACTURING MANAGEMENT SERVICES S.À R.L.
Reel/Frame 066566/0173 →
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Feb 11, 2024
From: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
To: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES (2) S.À R.L.
Reel/Frame 066746/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2024
From: APTIV MANUFACTURING MANAGEMENT SERVICES S.À R.L.
To: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES AG
Reel/Frame 066551/0219 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2022
From: TAYLOR, RONALD M.; NICKOLAOU, JAMES NICHOLAS
To: APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 060552/0090 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17367275 · Jul 2, 2021
Continuation 17087526 · Nov 2, 2020
Related Publication 20220360698A1 · Nov 10, 2022