Curved Image Sensor for a Curved Focal Surface

摘要

This document describes curved image sensors capable of sensing light from a monocentric lens. This curved image sensor receives light focused at a curved focal surface and then provides electric signals from this curved image sensor to a planar computing chip, such as a CMOS chip. By so doing, the higher image quality, smaller size, and often smaller weight of monocentric lenses can be gained while using generally high-quality, low-cost planar chips.

主权项

1. A curved image sensor comprising:
a curved surface on which photodetectors are disposed, the photodetectors capable of sensing light at the curved surface and providing, from the curved surface, electric signals in response to sensing the light; a curved-to-planar substrate capable of receiving the electric signals at the curved surface and providing the electric signals to a planar surface, the curved-to-planar substrate comprising an array of electrical connections for providing the electric signals between the curved surface and the planar surface, each electrical connection having a curved-surface connection end and an electric receptor end, the electric receptor ends being at the planar surface, spacings between the electric receptor ends at the planar surface decreasing as the distance from a center of the curved-to-planar substrate increases; a circuit capable of receiving the electric signals at the planar surface and from the curved-to-planar substrate.