Granted Patent B2

US 12,250,475 · App. 17/718,428 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Inventors: Yasuhisa Inada (Osaka, JP); Atsushi Ishikawa (Osaka, JP); Motoki Yako (Osaka, JP)

Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.

H04N25/135G01J3/2803G01J3/2823G01J3/51G01J2003/2806G01J2003/2826G01J2003/467

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A filter array comprising:

filters including a plurality of first groups of filters and a plurality of second groups of filters, the filters being arranged two-dimensionally, wherein:

first transmission spectra of the plurality of first groups of filters are different from each other and each of the first transmission spectra includes first peaks,

second transmission spectra of the plurality of second groups of filters are different from each other and each of the second transmission spectra includes one or more second peaks,

a total number of the first peaks included in each of the first transmission spectra is greater than a total number of the one or more second peaks included in each of the second transmission spectra,

filters in a same group among the plurality of first groups of filters have a same first transmission spectrum, and the filters having the same first transmission spectrum are arranged aperiodically, and

filters in a same group among the plurality of second groups of filters have a same second transmission spectrum, and the filters having the same second transmission spectrum are arranged periodically.

2. The filter array according to claim 1 , wherein

the total number of the first peaks included in each of the first transmission spectra is greater than or equal to 3, and

the total number of the one or more second peaks included in each of the second transmission spectra is 1 or 2.

3. The filter array according to claim 1 , wherein a full width at half maximum of each of the first peaks is narrower than a full width at half maximum of each of the one or more second peaks.

4. The filter array according to claim 3 , wherein two or more wavelength ranges corresponding to two or more peaks included in the first peaks included in each of the first transmission spectra overlap a set of (i) one or more wavelength ranges corresponding to one or more second peaks included in one of the second transmission spectra and (ii) one or more wavelength ranges corresponding to one or more second peaks in a transmission spectrum included in the second transmission spectra and different from the one of the second transmission spectra.

5. The filter array according to claim 1 , wherein one or more transmission spectra included in the first transmission spectra each include a transmittance maximum in a wavelength band greater than or equal to 700 nm and less than or equal to 2500 nm.

6. The filter array according to claim 1 , wherein a number of groups of the plurality of second groups of filters is three.

7. The filter array according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of second groups of filters include a group into which a filter mainly transmitting light in a red wavelength band is classified, a group into which a filter mainly transmitting light in a green wavelength band is classified, and a group into which a filter mainly transmitting light in a blue wavelength band is classified.

8. The filter array according to claim 1 , wherein a number of the plurality of first groups of filters is 10 or more and 50 or less.

9. The filter array according to claim 1 , wherein each filter of the plurality of first groups of filters has a resonant structure including a first reflection layer, a second reflection layer, and an intermediate layer between the first reflection layer and the second reflection layer.

10. A light detection system comprising:

the filter array according to claim 1 ;

an image sensor including light detecting elements; and

a signal processing circuit, wherein

each of the light detecting elements is disposed at a position for receiving light transmitted through a corresponding filter from among the filters, and

the signal processing circuit

generates first image data in accordance with first detection signals from light detecting elements that receive light transmitted through the first filters and are included in the light detecting elements, and

generates second image data in accordance with second detection signals from light detecting elements that receive light transmitted through the second filters and are included in the light detecting elements.

11. The light detection system according to claim 10 , wherein the signal processing circuit

generates first chromaticity data in accordance with the first image data, and

generates second chromaticity data in accordance with the second image data.

12. The filter array according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first peaks included in each of the first transmission spectra are included in a predetermined wavelength band, and

wherein the one or more second peaks included in each of the second transmission spectra are included in a predetermined wavelength band.

13. The light detection system according to claim 11 , wherein

the first image data includes first pixels,

the second image data includes second pixels,

the first pixels correspond to the second pixels,

pieces of the first chromaticity data correspond to the first pixels,

pieces of the second chromaticity data correspond to the second pixels, and

the pieces of the first chromaticity data substantially match the pieces of the second chromaticity data.

14. The filter array according to claim 1 , wherein

the first filters and the second filters are disposed in a mixed arrangement, and

the mixed arrangement comprises:

a state in which one or more of the first filters are interposed between two of the second filters in a row direction or a column direction,

or a state in which one or more of the second filters are interposed between two of the first filters in the row direction or the column direction.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (22)