Dongqing Te Cao

US Patent:

20120189293, Jul 26, 2012

Filed:

May 16, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/108727

Inventors:

Dongqing Cao - San Jose CA, US
Qun Sun - San Jose CA, US
Juanqing Chen - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

G03B 41/00

US Classification:

396333

Abstract:

An array camera may be formed from an array of lenses, an array of corresponding apertures, and an array of corresponding image sensors. The array of apertures may be configured so that some image sensors receive light through apertures of different size than other image sensors. Providing apertures of smaller size increases the F/# of an array camera and increases the depth-of-field in a captured image. The array of image sensors may include a near-infrared image sensor. Providing an image sensor array with a near-infrared image sensor may enhance depth information in captured images or increase night vision capabilities of an array camera. Combining an array of image sensors that includes a near-infrared sensor with an array of apertures having different aperture diameters may allow increased depth-of-field imaging, enhanced extraction of depth information from an image, improved night vision, enhanced image clarity or other improvements.

US Patent:

20120193515, Aug 2, 2012

Filed:

Jul 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/188389

Inventors:

Gennadiy Agranov - San Jose CA, US
Dongqing Cao - San Jose CA, US
Junichi Nakamura - Tokyo, JP
Richard Scott Johnson - Boise ID, US

International Classification:

H01L 27/146
G01J 1/44

US Classification:

2502081, 250214 P

Abstract:

An imager may include depth sensing pixels that provide an asymmetrical angular response to incident light. The depth sensing pixels may each include a substrate region formed from a photosensitive portion and a non-photosensitive portion. The depth sensing pixels may include mechanisms that prevent regions of the substrate from receiving incident light. Depth sensing pixel pairs may be formed from depth sensing pixels that have different asymmetrical angular responses. Each of the depth sensing pixel pairs may effectively divide the corresponding imaging lens into separate portions. Depth information for each depth sensing pixel pair may be determined based on the difference between output signals of the depth sensing pixels of that depth sensing pixel pair. The imager may be formed from various combinations of depth sensing pixel pairs and color sensing pixel pairs arranged in a Bayer pattern or other desired patterns.

US Patent:

20120274568, Nov 1, 2012

Filed:

Jun 16, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/161903

Inventors:

Victor Lenchenkov - Sunnyvale CA, US
Dongqing Cao - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

APTINA IMAGING CORPORATION - GEORGETOWN GRAND CAYMAN

International Classification:

G06F 3/01
G03H 1/26
G03H 1/16

US Classification:

345168, 359 29, 359 22

Abstract:

A hologram projecting system includes a coherent light source for emitting a reference beam onto a real object; and an image sensor for receiving the reference beam and a scattered beam reflected from the real object, and recording a Fourier image of the real object. Also included is a modulator for receiving the Fourier image. The reference beam is passed through the modulator, and configured to interact with the Fourier image to form a virtual image of the real object. The image sensor includes an n×m pixel array, where n and m are numbers of rows and columns, respectively. The modulator includes an n×m pixel array corresponding to the n×m pixel array of the image sensor. The pixels in the n×m pixel array of the image sensor control transmissivity of light in corresponding pixels of the n×m pixel array of the modulator.

US Patent:

20130027577, Jan 31, 2013

Filed:

Jul 16, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/550539

Inventors:

Richard Holscher - Boise ID, US
Gennadly Agranov - San Jose CA, US
Dongqing Cao - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/225
H01L 31/18
H01L 31/0232
H01L 27/146

US Classification:

3482221, 257432, 438 70, 257E31127, 257E2713

Abstract:

An image sensor may be provided in which a pixel array includes imaging pixels and application-specific pixels. The application-specific pixels may include depth-sensing pixels, infrared imaging pixels, or other types of application-specific pixels. A color filter array may be formed over the pixel array. The color filter array may include Bayer color filter array formed over the imaging pixels. The color filter array may also include a plurality of green color filter elements formed over the application-specific pixels. Barrier structures may be interposed between imaging pixels and application-specific pixels. The barrier structures may be configured to reduce or eliminate optical crosstalk between imaging pixels and adjacent application-specific pixels. The barrier structures may include an opaque photodefinable material such as black or blue photodefinable material that may be configured to filter out wavelength bands of interest. The barrier structures may be formed during the color filter array fabrication process.

US Patent:

20130038691, Feb 14, 2013

Filed:

Feb 24, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/404319

Inventors:

Gennadiy Agranov - San Jose CA, US
Dongqing Cao - San Jose CA, US
Avi Yaron - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

APTINA IMAGING CORPORATION - Georgetown Grand Cayman

International Classification:

H04N 13/02

US Classification:

348 46, 348E13074

Abstract:

Depth sensing imaging pixels include pairs of left and right pixels forming an asymmetrical angular response to incident light. A single microlens is positioned above each pair of left and right pixels. Each microlens spans across each of the pairs of pixels in a horizontal direction. Each microlens has a length that is substantially twice the length of either the left or right pixel in the horizontal direction; and each microlens has a width that is substantially the same as a width of either the left or right pixel in a vertical direction. The horizontal and vertical directions are horizontal and vertical directions of a planar image array. A light pipe in each pixel is used to improve light concentration and reduce cross talk.

US Patent:

20130222552, Aug 29, 2013

Filed:

Dec 27, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/728086

Inventors:

Dongqing Cao - San Jose CA, US
Hirofumi Komori - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Aptina Imaging Corporation - George Town

International Classification:

H04N 13/02

US Classification:

348 49

Abstract:

An imager may include depth sensing pixels that receive and convert incident light into image signals. The imager may have an associated imaging lens that focuses the incident light onto the imager. Each of the depth sensing pixels may include a microlens that focuses incident light received from the imaging lens through a color filter onto first and second photosensitive regions of a substrate. The first and second photosensitive regions may provide different and asymmetrical angular responses to incident light. Depth information for each depth sensing pixel may be determined based on the difference between output signals of the first and second photosensitive regions of that depth sensing pixel. Color information for each depth sensing pixel may be determined from a summation of output signals of the first and second photosensitive regions.

US Patent:

20130222603, Aug 29, 2013

Filed:

Feb 26, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/777776

Inventors:

Dongqing Cao - San Jose CA, US
Richard Holscher - Boise ID, US

Assignee:

Aptina Imaging Corporation - George Town

International Classification:

H04N 5/33

US Classification:

348164

Abstract:

An imaging device capable of simultaneously capturing visible and infrared images may be provided with an array of photosensitive elements, an array of filter elements arranged over the array of photosensitive elements, and a dual bandpass filter arranged over the array of filter elements. The dual bandpass filter may have a first passband in the visible spectral range and a second passband in the infrared spectral range. The array of filter elements may include color filter elements and infrared filter elements. During color image capturing operations, each color pixel receives visible and near infrared light through the dual bandpass filter and an associated color filter element. The infrared portion of the pixel signal from the color pixels may be removed using signals from the near infrared pixels. During infrared image capturing operations, each near infrared pixel receives infrared light through the dual bandpass filter and an associated infrared filter element.

US Patent:

20140078359, Mar 20, 2014

Filed:

Aug 27, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/011660

Inventors:

- George Town, KY
Dongqing Cao - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Aptina Imaging Corporation - George Town

International Classification:

H01L 27/146
H04N 5/335

US Classification:

348294, 257432, 438 72

Abstract:

A front-side illuminated image sensor with an array of image sensor pixels is provided. Each image pixel may include a photodiode, transistor gate structures, shallow trench isolation structures, and other associated pixel circuits formed in a semiconductor substrate. Buried light shielding structures that are opaque to light may be formed over regions of the substrate to prevent the transistor gate structures, shallow trench isolation structures, and the other associated pixel circuits from being exposed to stray light. Buried light shielding structures formed in this way can help reduce optical pixel crosstalk.