US 12,432,464 B2
Adjustable colour filter array using liquid crystal device
Mikko Ollila, Tampere (FI); and Mikko Strandborg, Hangonkylä (FI)
Assigned to Varjo Technologies 0y, Helsinki (FI)
Filed by Varjo Technologies Oy, Helsinki (FI)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/541,183.
Prior Publication US 2025/0203229 A1, Jun. 19, 2025
Int. Cl. H04N 25/13 (2023.01); G02B 5/20 (2006.01); G02F 1/137 (2006.01); H04N 23/611 (2023.01); H04N 23/71 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 25/135 (2023.01) [G02B 5/201 (2013.01); G02F 1/137 (2013.01); H04N 23/611 (2023.01); H04N 23/71 (2023.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An imaging system comprising:
an image sensor comprising:
a plurality of photo-sensitive cells arranged on a photo-sensitive surface of the image sensor;
a colour filter array arranged on an optical path of the photo-sensitive surface of the image sensor, the colour filter array comprising:
a first type of colour filters that allow wavelengths lying in a first wavelength range to pass through;
a second type of colour filters that allow wavelengths lying in a second wavelength range to pass through;
a third type of colour filters that allow wavelengths lying in a third wavelength range to pass through; and
a fourth type of colour filters that allow wavelengths lying in the first wavelength range, the second wavelength range and the third wavelength range to pass through; and
a light valve device comprising a grid of light valves, wherein the light valves of said grid are arranged on optical paths of at least the fourth type of colour filters; and
at least one processor configured to:
for a given colour filter of the fourth type, control a corresponding light valve during a given time period to allow wavelengths lying in only one of: the first wavelength range, the second wavelength range, the third wavelength range, to pass through towards the given colour filter of the fourth type, wherein the given colour filter of the fourth type allows said wavelengths to pass therethrough towards a corresponding photo-sensitive cell;
read out image data from the plurality of photo-sensitive cells; and
process the image data to generate a given image.