Vision system

Abstract

The present invention relates to improved optical structures, related manufacturing processes and assemblies incorporating the improved optical structures. In at least one embodiment accurate light source color information is provided throughout substantially the entire associated field of view.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a controlled vehicle comprising a vision system having an improved optical structure;

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of an exterior rearview mirror assembly having an improved optical structure;

FIG. 3 depicts an interior rearview mirror assembly having an improved optical structure;

FIG. 4 depicts an image sensor having an improved optical structure;

FIGS. 5-10 depict various embodiments of improved optical structures;

FIG. 11 depicts an image sensor having an improved optical structure;

FIGS. 12-14 depict various characteristics of improved optical structure;

FIGS. 15 and 15 a depict various embodiments of improved optical structures;

FIG. 16 depicts an image sensor having an improved optical structure;

FIGS. 17-21 depict various embodiments of improved optical structures;

FIGS. 22 and 23 depict various characteristics of improved optical structure;

FIGS. 24 and 25 depict various embodiments of improved optical structures;

FIGS. 26 and 27 depict various embodiments of an improved optical structure with a lens and an aperture mask;

FIGS. 28 and 29 depict various views of an image sensor having an improved optical structure;

FIG. 30 depicts an embodiment of an improved optical structure with a lens and an aperture mask;

FIGS. 31 and 32 depict various views of an image sensor having an improved optical structure; and

FIG. 33 depicts a graph of index of refraction v. wavelength for a glue utilized in an improved optical structure.

Claims

1. An image acquisition system, comprising: a dual lens structure configured to project dual, substantially similar, images on adjacent areas of an image surface of an image sensor, said dual lens structure comprising a first compound lens and a second compound lens, each of said first and second compound lenses comprising at least a first and second lens element each comprising at least one substantially non-planar lens surface, said first and second lens elements comprising different lens materials.

2. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 wherein said first lens elements comprise acrylic.

3. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 wherein said first lens elements comprise polycarbonate.

4. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 further comprising an aperture mask between said first lens elements and said image sensor.

5. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 further comprising a diffuser configured to uniformly set the width of diffusing to approximately equal a center-to-center spacing of adjacent pixels of said image sensor measured in the direction of said diffusing.

6. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 further comprising a red spectral filter between said first compound lens and said image sensor.

7. An image acquisition system as in claim 6 further comprising a red compliment spectral filter between said second compound lens and said image sensor.

8. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 wherein said first lens elements are further away from said image sensor than said second lens elements and said first lens elements comprise a material with a higher Abbé number than said second lens elements.

9. An image acquisition system as in claim 8 wherein said first lens elements comprise a scene side convex surface and an image sensor side convex surface.

10. An image acquisition system as in claim 8 wherein a thickness of said first lens elements is greater than a scene side surface radius.

11. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 wherein said first lens elements are further away from said image sensor than said second lens elements and said first lens elements comprise a material with a lower Abbé number than said second lens elements.

12. An image acquisition system as in claim 11 wherein said first lens elements comprise a scene side convex surface and an image sensor side concave surface.

13. An image acquisition system as in claim 11 wherein a thickness of said first lens elements is less than a scene side surface radius.

14. An image acquisition system as in claim 1 wherein said first and second lens elements are configured to function in combination to at least partially correct chromatic aberration.

15. An image acquisition system, comprising: a lens structure configured to project an image on an image surface of an image sensor, said lens structure comprising a compound lens, said compound lens comprising at least a first and a second lens element each comprising at least one substantially non-planar lens surface, said first and second lens elements comprising different lens materials, said first and second lens elements are in direct contact with one another, wherein said first and second lens elements are configured to function in combination to at least partially correct chromatic aberration.

16. An image acquisition system as in claim 15 said first lens element comprising acrylic.

17. An image acquisition system as in claim 15 said first lens element comprising polycarbonate.

18. An image acquisition system as in claim 15 further comprising an aperture mask between said first lens element and said image sensor.

19. An image acquisition system as in claim 15 further comprising a diffuser configured to uniformly set the width of diffusing to approximately equal a center-to-center spacing of adjacent pixels of said image sensor measured in the direction of said diffusing.

20. An image acquisition system as in claim 15 wherein said first lens element is further away from said image sensor than said second lens element, said first lens element comprising a material with a higher Abbé number than said second lens element.

21. An image acquisition system as in claim 20 said first lens element comprising a scene side convex surface and an image sensor side convex surface.

22. An image acquisition system as in claim 20 wherein a thickness of said first lens element is greater than a scene side surface radius.

23. An image acquisition system as in claim 15 wherein said first lens element is further away from said image sensor than said second lens element, said first lens element comprising a material with a lower Abbé number than said second lens element.

24. An image acquisition system as in claim 23 said first lens element comprising a scene side convex surface and an image sensor side concave surface.

25. An image acquisition system as in claim 23 wherein a thickness of said first lens element is less than a scene side surface radius.

26. An image acquisition system, comprising: a lens structure configured to project an image on an image surface of an image sensor, said lens structure comprising a compound lens, said compound lens comprising at least a first and a second lens element each comprising at least one substantially non-planar lens surface, said first and second lens elements comprising different lens materials, wherein the image acquisition system is substantially free of air gaps between said lens elements and said image surface.

27. An image acquisition system as in claim 26 said first lens element comprising acrylic.

28. An image acquisition system as in claim 26 said first lens element comprising polycarbonate.

29. An image acquisition system as in claim 26 further comprising an aperture mask between said first lens element and said image sensor.

30. An image acquisition system as in claim 26 further comprising a diffuser configured to uniformly set the width of diffusing to approximately equal a center-to-center spacing of adjacent pixels of said image sensor measured in the direction of said diffusing.

31. An image acquisition system as in claim 26 wherein said first lens element is further away from said image sensor than said second lens element, said first lens element comprising a material with a higher Abbé number than said second lens element.

32. An image acquisition system as in claim 31 said first lens element comprising a scene side convex surface and an image sensor side convex surface.

33. An image acquisition system as in claim 31 wherein a thickness of said first lens element is greater than a scene side surface radius.

34. An image acquisition system as in claim 26 wherein said first lens element is further away from said image sensor than said second lens element, said first lens element comprising a material with a lower Abbé number than said second lens element.

35. An image acquisition system as in claim 34 said first lens element comprising a scene side convex surface and an image sensor side concave surface.

36. An image acquisition system as in claim 34 wherein a thickness of said first lens element is less than a scene side surface radius.

37. An image acquisition system as in claim 26 wherein said first and second lens elements are configured to function in combination to at least partially correct chromatic aberration.

38. An image acquisition system, comprising: a lens structure configured to project an image on an image surface of an image sensor, said lens structure comprising a compound lens, said compound lens comprising at least a first and a second lens element each comprising at least one substantially non-planar lens surface, said first and second lens elements comprising different lens materials, said first lens element is further away from said image sensor than said second lens element, said first lens element comprising a material with a higher Abbé number than said second lens element, wherein a change in an index of refraction of said second lens element is greater than a change in an index of refraction of said first lens element over a given temperature range thereby reduce the change in focal length of said compound lens over said given temperature range.

39. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 said first lens element comprising acrylic.

40. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 said first lens element comprising cyclic olefin copolymer.

41. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 further comprising an aperture mask between said first lens element and said image sensor.

42. An image acquisition system as in claim 41 wherein an aperture mask is printed on a surface of said first lens element closest to said image surface.

43. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 wherein an index of refraction of said first lens element changes more quickly as a function of temperature than an index of refraction of said second lens element.

44. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 said first lens element comprising a scene side convex surface and an image sensor side convex surface.

45. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 wherein a thickness of said first lens element is greater than a scene side surface radius.

46. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 wherein a focal length of said second lens element is negative.

47. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 wherein said second lens element is in direct contact with said first lens element.

48. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 wherein said second lens element material is a glue.

49. An image acquisition system as in claim 38 wherein said second lens element material is an epoxy.