Patent · US Expired

Image pickup element and apparatus for focusing

US6819360B1 · kind B1 · utility

91Cited by
3References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 2000
Grant dateNov 16, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10F39/802
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides an image pickup apparatus which photoelectrically converts an optical image transmitted through a photographing optical system and formed on a photoconductive surface. The image pickup apparatus includes a first microlens array and a second microlens array each of which has a focal position in the vicinity of the photoconductive surface and is arrayed in a two-dimensional manner, a first photoconductive element group including units each formed by a single photoconductive element which is disposed in the vicinity of the focal position of the first microlens array and outputs a first video signal, and a second photoconductive element group including units each formed by a pair of photoconductive elements which are disposed in the vicinity of the focal position of the second microlens array and output a pair of second video signals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.