Color separation element and image sensor including the same
Provided are a color separation element and an image sensor including the same. The color separation element includes a spacer layer; and a color separation lens array, which includes at least one nano-post arranged in the spacer layer and is configured to form a phase distribution for splitting and focusing incident light according to wavelengths, wherein periodic regions in which color separation lens arrays are repeatedly arranged are provided, and the color separation lens array is configured to interrupt phase distribution at the boundary of the periodic regions.
1. A color separation element comprising:
a spacer layer; and
a color separation lens array, which comprises one or more nano-posts arranged on the spacer layer, the color separation lens array configured to form a phase distribution that splits and focuses light incident to the color separation lens array based on wavelengths of the light,
wherein the color separation lens array comprises a plurality of periodic regions in which the one or more nano-posts are repeatedly arranged, and,
wherein the plurality of periodic regions comprises a first periodic region and a second periodic region adjacent to each other, and a first phase distribution formed by a first set of the one or more nano-posts of the color separation lens array in the first periodic region and a second phase distribution formed by a second set of the one or more nano-posts of the color separation lens array in the second periodic region do not overlap at a boundary between the first periodic region and the second periodic region.
2. The color separation element of claim 1 , wherein the color separation lens array in one periodic region is configured to form an asymmetrical phase distribution for each wavelength light of the incident light.
3. The color separation element of claim 1 , wherein the color separation lens array in one periodic region is configured to form a non-radial phase distribution for each wavelength light of the incident light.
4. The color separation element of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of periodic regions comprises a first region for focusing first wavelength light, a second region for focusing second wavelength light, a third region for focusing third wavelength light, and a fourth region for focusing first wavelength light, the first region and the fourth region are located on a diagonal line, and the second region and a third region are located on a diagonal line.
5. The color separation element of claim 4 , wherein the first wavelength light comprises green light, the second wavelength light comprises blue light, and the third wavelength light comprises red light.
6. The color separation element of claim 4 , wherein the first wavelength light has a phase of 2 Nπ at a center of the first region and the phase of the first wavelength light decrease in directions toward the outside of the first periodic region, where N is an integer greater than 0.
7. The color separation element of claim 6 , wherein a phase of (2N−1)π is exhibited at a center of the second region, and a phase of (2N−1)π is exhibited at a center of the third region, where N is an integer greater than 0.
8. The color separation element of claim 1 , wherein the color separation lens array is configured to form a continuous phase distribution within each of the plurality of periodic regions.
9. An image sensor comprising:
an optical sensor comprising a plurality of light detecting cells for sensing light;
a spacer layer provided in the optical sensor; and
a color separation lens array, which comprises one or more nano-posts arranged on the spacer layer, the color separation lens array configured to form a phase distribution that splits and focuses light incident to the color separation lens array based on wavelengths of the light,
wherein the color separation lens array comprises a plurality of periodic regions in which the one or more nano-posts are repeatedly arranged, and
wherein the plurality of periodic regions comprises a first periodic region and a second periodic region adjacent to each other, and a first phase distribution formed by a first set of the one or more nano-posts of the color separation lens array in the first periodic region and a second phase distribution formed by a second set of the one or more nano-posts of the color separation lens array in the second periodic region do not overlap at a boundary between the first periodic region and the second periodic region.
10. The image sensor of claim 9 , wherein the color separation lens array in one periodic region is configured to form an asymmetrical phase distribution for each wavelength light of the incident light.
11. The image sensor of claim 9 , wherein the color separation lens array in one periodic region is configured to form a non-radial phase distribution for each wavelength light of the incident light.
12. The image sensor of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of periodic regions comprises a first region for focusing first wavelength light, a second region for focusing second wavelength light, a third region for focusing third wavelength light, and a fourth region for focusing first wavelength light, the first region and the fourth region are located on a diagonal line, and the second region and a third region are located on a diagonal line.
13. The image sensor of claim 12 , wherein the first wavelength light comprises green light, the second wavelength light comprises blue light, and the third wavelength light comprises red light.
14. The image sensor of claim 12 , wherein the first wavelength light has a phase of 2 nπ at a center of the first region and the phase of the first wavelength light decrease in directions toward the outside of the first periodic region, where N is an integer greater than 0.
15. The image sensor of claim 14 , wherein a phase of (2N−1)π is exhibited at a center of the second region, and a phase of (2N−1)π is exhibited at a center of the third region, where N is an integer greater than 0.
16. The image sensor of claim 9 , wherein the color separation lens array is configured to form a continuous phase distribution within each of the plurality of periodic regions.
17. The image sensor of claim 9 , further comprising a color filter between the optical sensor and the spacer layer.
18. The image sensor of claim 9 , further comprising a photographing lens unit configured to focus light reflected by an object on a light incidence side of the color separation lens array and form an optical image.