Although Pixelligent lenses for image sensor applications have been announced a couple of years ago, there is no such product on the market yet, to the best of my knowledge. In 2013, the company President & CEO Craig Bandes said: "During the past 12 months we have seen a tremendous increase in demand for our nanocrystal dispersions spanning the CMOS Image Sensor, ITO, LED, OLED and Flat Panel Display markets. This demand is coming from customers around the globe with the fastest growth being realized in Asia. In the first quarter of 2013, we began shipping our first commercial orders and currently have more than 30 customers at various stages of product qualification."
I admit I havent thought much about refractive index in microlenses. Maybe you can help all of us Vlad in understanding how a high index solves current problems in image sensors.
ReplyDeleteI understand that higher index means potentially flatter microlenses, or perhaps better concentration by existing microlens topologies. Does it help us with smaller pixels? (probably) Can it help with AR coatings? (maybe) Any less obvious (to me at least) advantages?
It can be useful for large pixels. Currently, microlens is efficient up to 7-8um. With larger pixels, it becomes progressively less and less effective. Having a higher refractive index helps, to a degree.
DeleteHowever, I don't see anybody using this material.
Also, higher index of refraction delta means higher fresnel reflections. How is that controlled with current Microlens Arrays?
ReplyDeleteThey have anti-reflective coating.
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