U.S. patent application number 15/976883 was filed with the patent office on 2018-09-20 for image capture apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Gingy Technology Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Gingy Technology Inc.. Invention is credited to Chuck Chung, Jen-Chieh Wu.
Application Number | 20180270403 15/976883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63520397 |
Filed Date | 2018-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180270403 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chung; Chuck ; et
al. |
September 20, 2018 |
IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS
Abstract
An image capture apparatus includes a cover plate, a sensor, and
an optical collimator disposed between the cover plate and the
sensor and including a first, a second, and a third light shielding
pattern layers that are overlapped with each other. The first,
second, and third light shielding pattern layers have first,
second, and third light-transmitting openings, respectively. A size
of each third light-transmitting opening is larger than or equal to
a size of each second light-transmitting opening, and the size of
each second light-transmitting opening is larger than a size of
each first light-transmitting opening. Alternatively, the size of
each third light-transmitting opening is larger than the size of
each second light-transmitting opening, and the size of each second
light-transmitting opening is larger than or equal to the size of
each first light-transmitting opening.
Inventors: |
Chung; Chuck; (Hsinchu City,
TW) ; Wu; Jen-Chieh; (Hsinchu City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gingy Technology Inc. |
Hsinchu City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Gingy Technology Inc.
Hsinchu City
TW
|
Family ID: |
63520397 |
Appl. No.: |
15/976883 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15239842 |
Aug 18, 2016 |
|
|
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15976883 |
|
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|
62266002 |
Dec 11, 2015 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/2256 20130101;
G02B 27/30 20130101; H01L 27/14623 20130101; H01L 27/14625
20130101; H04N 5/23216 20130101; H01L 27/14643 20130101; H04N
21/42224 20130101; H04N 5/2253 20130101; H01L 27/146 20130101; H04N
5/2254 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/225 20060101
H04N005/225; G02B 27/30 20060101 G02B027/30; H04N 5/232 20060101
H04N005/232 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 18, 2016 |
TW |
105122567 |
Aug 8, 2017 |
TW |
106126793 |
Dec 5, 2017 |
CN |
201711271306.0 |
Claims
1. An image capture apparatus, comprising: a cover plate; a sensor,
disposed on one side of the cover plate; and an optical collimator,
disposed between the cover plate and the sensor, wherein the
optical collimator comprises a first light shielding pattern layer,
a second light shielding pattern layer, and a third light shielding
pattern layer, the first light shielding pattern layer, the second
light shielding pattern layer, and the third light shielding
pattern layer are overlapped with each other, the first light
shielding pattern layer comprises a plurality of first
light-transmitting openings, the second light shielding pattern
layer comprises a plurality of second light-transmitting openings,
the third light shielding pattern layer comprises a plurality of
third light-transmitting openings, and the optical collimator
satisfies a condition below: a size of each of the third
light-transmitting openings is larger than or equal to a size of
each of the second light-transmitting openings, and the size of
each of the second light-transmitting openings is larger than a
size of each of the first light-transmitting openings; or the size
of each of the third light-transmitting openings is larger than the
size of each of the second light-transmitting openings, and the
size of each of the second light-transmitting openings is larger
than or equal to the size of each of the first light-transmitting
openings.
2. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
size of each of the third light-transmitting openings is larger
than the size of each of the second light-transmitting openings,
the size of each of the second light-transmitting openings is
larger than the size of each of the first light-transmitting
openings, and the first light shielding pattern layer, the second
light shielding pattern layer, and the third light shielding
pattern layer are sequentially arranged from the sensor towards the
cover plate or from the cover plate towards the sensor.
3. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
size of each of the third light-transmitting openings is equal to
the size of each of the second light-transmitting openings, the
size of each of the second light-transmitting openings is larger
than the size of each of the first light-transmitting openings, and
the first light shielding pattern layer, the second light shielding
pattern layer, and the third light shielding pattern layer are
sequentially arranged from the sensor towards the cover plate or
from the cover plate towards the sensor.
4. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
size of each of the third light-transmitting openings is larger
than the size of each of the second light-transmitting openings,
the size of each of the second light-transmitting openings is equal
to the size of each of the first light-transmitting openings, and
the first light shielding pattern layer, the second light shielding
pattern layer, and the third light shielding pattern layer are
sequentially arranged from the sensor towards the cover plate or
from the cover plate towards the sensor.
5. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
optical collimator further comprises a first transparent substrate
and a second transparent substrate, the first transparent substrate
is located between the sensor and the cover plate, the second
transparent substrate is located between the first transparent
substrate and the cover plate, the second light shielding pattern
layer is located between the first transparent substrate and the
second transparent substrate, one of the first light shielding
pattern layer and the third light shielding pattern layer is
located between the sensor and the first transparent substrate, and
the other of the first light shielding pattern layer and the third
light shielding pattern layer is located between the second
transparent substrate and the cover plate.
6. The image capture apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the
optical collimator further comprises a first transparent substrate
and a second transparent substrate, the first transparent substrate
is located between the sensor and the cover plate, the second
transparent substrate is located between the first transparent
substrate and the cover plate, the second light shielding pattern
layer is located between the first transparent substrate and the
second transparent substrate, one of the first light shielding
pattern layer and the third light shielding pattern layer is
located between the sensor and the first transparent substrate, and
the other of the first light shielding pattern layer and the third
light shielding pattern layer is located between the second
transparent substrate and the cover plate.
7. The image capture apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
optical collimator further comprises a first transparent substrate
and a second transparent substrate, the first transparent substrate
is located between the sensor and the cover plate, the second
transparent substrate is located between the first transparent
substrate and the cover plate, the second light shielding pattern
layer is located between the first transparent substrate and the
second transparent substrate, one of the first light shielding
pattern layer and the third light shielding pattern layer is
located between the sensor and the first transparent substrate, and
the other of the first light shielding pattern layer and the third
light shielding pattern layer is located between the second
transparent substrate and the cover plate.
8. The image capture apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
optical collimator further comprises a first transparent substrate
and a second transparent substrate, the first transparent substrate
is located between the sensor and the cover plate, the second
transparent substrate is located between the first transparent
substrate and the cover plate, the second light shielding pattern
layer is located between the first transparent substrate and the
second transparent substrate, one of the first light shielding
pattern layer and the third light shielding pattern layer is
located between the sensor and the first transparent substrate, and
the other of the first light shielding pattern layer and the third
light shielding pattern layer is located between the second
transparent substrate and the cover plate.
9. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a light source, located beside the sensor, wherein the
light source and the sensor are located on one side of the cover
plate.
10. The image capture apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising: a light source, located beside the sensor, wherein the
light source and the sensor are located on one side of the cover
plate.
11. The image capture apparatus according to claim 3, further
comprising: a light source, located beside the sensor, wherein the
light source and the sensor are located on one side of the cover
plate.
12. The image capture apparatus according to claim 4, further
comprising: a light source, located beside the sensor, wherein the
light source and the sensor are located on one side of the cover
plate.
13. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising: a display panel, located between the optical collimator
and the cover plate.
14. The image capture apparatus according to claim 2, further
comprising: a display panel, located between the optical collimator
and the cover plate.
15. The image capture apparatus according to claim 3, further
comprising: a display panel, located between the optical collimator
and the cover plate.
16. The image capture apparatus according to claim 4, further
comprising: a display panel, located between the optical collimator
and the cover plate.
17. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, further
comprising: a band-pass filter layer, located between the display
panel and the sensor.
18. The image capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
optical collimator further comprises a fourth light shielding
pattern layer, the first light shielding pattern layer, the second
light shielding pattern layer, the third light shielding pattern
layer, and the fourth light shielding pattern layer are overlapped
with each other, the fourth light shielding pattern layer comprises
a plurality of fourth light-transmitting openings, and the optical
collimator satisfies a condition below: a size of each of the
fourth light-transmitting openings is larger than or equal to the
size of each of the third light-transmitting openings.
19. The image capture apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the
display panel is a display panel comprising a touch sensing layer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
and claims the priority benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.
15/239,842, filed on Aug. 18, 2016, now pending, which claims the
priority benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No.
62/266,002, filed on Dec. 11, 2015, and Taiwan application serial
no. 105122567, filed on Jul. 18, 2016. This application also claims
the priority benefits of Taiwan application serial no. 106126793,
filed on Aug. 8, 2017, and China application serial no.
201711271306.0, filed on Dec. 5, 2017. The entirety of each of the
above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporated by
reference herein and made a part of this specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The disclosure relates to an optoelectronic apparatus, and
in particular, to an image capture apparatus.
Description of Related Art
[0003] The types of biometric identification include identification
of a face, a voice, an iris, a retina, a vein, a palm print, a
fingerprint, etc. According to different sensing methods, biometric
identification apparatuses are classified into an optical type, a
capacitive type, an ultrasonic type, and a thermosensitive type.
Generally, an optical-type biometric identification apparatus
includes a light source, a light guide element, and a sensor. A
light beam emitted by the light source is irradiated to an object
to be identified pressed on the light guide element. The sensor
receives the light beam reflected by the object to be identified to
perform biometric identification. In the process of capturing an
image by the sensor, the light beam reflected by the fingerprint is
likely to be transmitted to the sensor in a scattered manner, which
causes undesirable quality of captured images and affects an
identification result. Although improvements have been made to the
quality of captured images in the related art, the techniques
currently available are likely to overly limit an amount of light
entering the sensor while improving crosstalk.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide an image
capture apparatus that avoids overly limiting an amount of light
entering a sensor while improving crosstalk.
[0005] An image capture apparatus according to an exemplary
embodiment of the invention includes a cover plate, a sensor, and
an optical collimator. The sensor is disposed on one side of the
cover plate. The optical collimator is disposed between the cover
plate and the sensor. The optical collimator includes a first light
shielding pattern layer, a second light shielding pattern layer,
and a third light shielding pattern layer that are overlapped with
each other. The first light shielding pattern layer includes a
plurality of first light-transmitting openings. The second light
shielding pattern layer includes a plurality of second
light-transmitting openings. The third light shielding pattern
layer includes a plurality of third light-transmitting openings.
The optical collimator satisfies a condition below: a size of each
of the third light-transmitting openings is larger than or equal to
a size of each of the second light-transmitting openings, and the
size of each of the second light-transmitting openings is larger
than a size of each of the first light-transmitting openings; or
the size of each of the third light-transmitting openings is larger
than the size of each of the second light-transmitting openings,
and the size of each of the second light-transmitting openings is
larger than or equal to the size of each of the first
light-transmitting openings.
[0006] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the size of
each of the third light-transmitting openings is larger than the
size of each of the second light-transmitting openings. The size of
each of the second light-transmitting openings is larger than the
size of each of the first light-transmitting openings. The first
light shielding pattern layer, the second light shielding pattern
layer, and the third light shielding pattern layer are sequentially
arranged from the sensor towards the cover plate or from the cover
plate towards the sensor.
[0007] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the size of
each of the third light-transmitting openings is equal to the size
of each of the second light-transmitting openings. The size of each
of the second light-transmitting openings is larger than the size
of each of the first light-transmitting openings. The first light
shielding pattern layer, the second light shielding pattern layer,
and the third light shielding pattern layer are sequentially
arranged from the sensor towards the cover plate or from the cover
plate towards the sensor.
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the size of
each of the third light-transmitting openings is larger than the
size of each of the second light-transmitting openings. The size of
each of the second light-transmitting openings is equal to the size
of each of the first light-transmitting openings. The first light
shielding pattern layer, the second light shielding pattern layer,
and the third light shielding pattern layer are sequentially
arranged from the sensor towards the cover plate or from the cover
plate towards the sensor.
[0009] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the optical
collimator further includes a first transparent substrate and a
second transparent substrate. The first transparent substrate is
located between the sensor and the cover plate. The second
transparent substrate is located between the first transparent
substrate and the cover plate. The second light shielding pattern
layer is located between the first transparent substrate and the
second transparent substrate. One of the first light shielding
pattern layer and the third light shielding pattern layer is
located between the sensor and the first transparent substrate. The
other of the first light shielding pattern layer and the third
light shielding pattern layer is located between the second
transparent substrate and the cover plate.
[0010] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the image
capture apparatus further includes a light source. The light source
is located beside the sensor, and the light source and the sensor
are located on one side of the cover plate.
[0011] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the image
capture apparatus further includes a display panel. The display
panel is located between the optical collimator and the cover
plate, and the display panel is a display panel including a touch
sensing layer.
[0012] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the image
capture apparatus further includes a band-pass filter layer. The
band-pass filter layer is located between the display panel and the
sensor.
[0013] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the optical
collimator further includes a fourth light shielding pattern layer.
The first light shielding pattern layer, the second light shielding
pattern layer, the third light shielding pattern layer, and the
fourth light shielding pattern layer are overlapped with each
other. The fourth light shielding pattern layer includes a
plurality of fourth light-transmitting openings. The optical
collimator satisfies condition below: a size of each of the fourth
light-transmitting openings is larger than or equal to the size of
each of the third light-transmitting openings.
[0014] In view of the above, in the image capture apparatus of the
exemplary embodiments of the invention, through adjusting the sizes
of the light-transmitting openings of the different light shielding
pattern layers, the crosstalk as well as a hole blocking phenomenon
caused by a process tolerance are both improved, so that the amount
of light entering the sensor can be effectively increased.
Accordingly, while improving the crosstalk, the image capture
apparatus of the exemplary embodiments of the invention also avoids
overly limiting the amount of light entering the sensor.
[0015] To provide a further understanding of the aforementioned and
other features and advantages of the disclosure, exemplary
embodiments, together with the reference drawings, are described in
detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the invention, and
are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.
The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating
an image capture apparatus according to a first exemplary
embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are top schematic diagrams respectively
illustrating the image capture apparatus according to the first
exemplary embodiment of the invention in a case where a process
tolerance is absent and in a case where a process tolerance is
present.
[0019] FIG. 4 to FIG. 8 are cross-sectional schematic diagrams
respectively illustrating image capture apparatuses according to a
second exemplary embodiment to a sixth exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The foregoing and other technical content, features, and
effects of the exemplary embodiments of the invention will be
clearly presented in the following detailed description of the
exemplary embodiments with reference to the reference drawings.
Directional terminology, such as "upper", "lower", "front", "back",
"left", "right", etc., mentioned in the exemplary embodiments below
is used with reference to the orientation of the drawings attached.
Accordingly, the directional terminology used will be regarded as
illustrating rather than limiting the exemplary embodiments of the
invention. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiments below, the same
or similar components will be labeled with the same or similar
reference numerals.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating
an image capture apparatus according to a first exemplary
embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are top schematic
diagrams respectively illustrating the image capture apparatus
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the invention in a
case where a process tolerance is absent and in a case where a
process tolerance is present.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an image capture apparatus
100 is adapted to capture a biometric feature of an object under
test. For example, the object under test may be a finger or a palm,
and the biometric feature may be a fingerprint, a palm print, or a
vein, but the invention is not limited hereto.
[0023] The image capture apparatus 100 includes a cover plate 110,
a sensor 120, and an optical collimator 130.
[0024] The cover plate 110 has an outer surface SO and an inner
surface SI. The outer surface SO and the inner surface SI are
opposite to each other, and the outer surface SO is, for example, a
touch operation surface of the image capture apparatus 100, i.e.,
the object under test touches the outer surface SO of the cover
plate 110 for biometric identification.
[0025] The cover plate 110 is adapted to protect components located
below (e.g., the sensor 120 and the optical collimator 130) and may
be a substrate of high mechanical strength to prevent damage to the
components below the cover plate 110 due to press of the object
under test or impact of other external forces. Moreover, the cover
plate 110 is formed of a transparent material, so that a light beam
reflected by the object under test (i.e., a light beam carrying
information of the fingerprint, the palm print, or the vein) can
penetrate through the cover plate 110 and be transmitted towards
the sensor 120. For example, the cover plate 110 may be a glass
cover plate, such as a glass cover plate of a display apparatus or
a glass cover plate of a touch sensing apparatus, but the invention
is not limited hereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the cover plate
may also be formed by curing a transparent colloid through a
heating process or a light irradiation process. The transparent
colloid is, for example, an epoxy, a silicone gel, an optical gel,
a resin, or another suitable transparent material.
[0026] The sensor 120 is disposed on one side of the cover plate
110 and includes a plurality of optical sensing regions R to
receive the light beam reflected by the object under test.
Specifically, the sensor 120 includes, for example, a charge
coupled devices (CCD), a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor
(CMOS) device, or another suitable image-sensing device. In the
case of the charge coupled device, the plurality of optical sensing
regions R are regions where a plurality of charge coupled devices
are located. In the case of the complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor device, the plurality of optical sensing regions R
are a plurality of pixel regions in the complementary metal-oxide
semiconductor device.
[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the image capture apparatus 100
further includes a light source (not illustrated). The light source
is located beside the sensor 120, and the light source and the
sensor 120 are located on one side of the cover plate 110 (e.g.,
both located below the cover plate 110). The light source is
adapted to provide a light beam irradiated to the object under test
and may include a plurality of light-emitting elements. The
plurality of light emitting elements include, for example, light
emitting diodes, laser diodes, or a combination of the two.
Moreover, the light beam includes, for example, visible light,
non-visible light, or a combination of the two. The non-visible
light is, for example, infrared light but is not limited hereto. In
a framework where the image capture apparatus 100 includes the
light source, a pulse width modulation circuit may be integrally
formed in the sensor 120. A light-emitting time of the plurality of
light-emitting elements and an image-capturing time of the sensor
120 are controlled by the pulse width modulation circuit, such that
the light-emitting time of the plurality of light-emitting elements
and the image-capturing time of the sensor 120 are synchronized,
and the effect of precise control is achieved, but the invention is
not limited hereto.
[0028] The optical collimator 130 is disposed between the cover
plate 110 and the sensor 120 and is adapted to collimate the light
beam that is reflected by the object under test and transmitted
towards the sensor 120. Specifically, the optical collimator 130
includes a first light shielding pattern layer 132, a second light
shielding pattern layer 134, and a third light shielding pattern
layer 136 that are overlapped with each other. The first light
shielding pattern layer 132, the second light shielding pattern
layer 134, and the third light shielding pattern layer 136 have a
high absorption and a low reflectivity to reduce a proportion of
the light beam transmitted to the light shielding pattern layers
that is reflected by the light shielding pattern layers and a count
of reflecting the light beam by the light shielding pattern layers,
which further effectively reduces a proportion of large-angle light
beams (the angle refers to an angle included between a transmission
path of the light beam and a normal line of the optical sensing
regions R) that are received by the sensor 120 and thereby improves
crosstalk. The low reflectivity means that the reflectivity is
lower than 10% in the visible light wave band and the infrared wave
band. For example, the light shielding pattern layers are formed of
an ink of a low reflectivity but are not limited hereto.
[0029] Moreover, to allow the light beam reflected by the object
under test to be received by the sensor 120, the first light
shielding pattern layer 132, the second light shielding pattern
layer 134, and the third light shielding pattern layer 136
respectively include a plurality of first light-transmitting
openings O1, a plurality of second light-transmitting openings O2,
and a plurality of third light-transmitting openings O3. Each of
the first light-transmitting openings O1 is overlapped with one of
the second light-transmitting openings O2, one of the third
light-transmitting openings O3, and a corresponding optical sensing
region R, such that a small-angle light beam transmitted towards
the optical sensing region R is transmitted to the corresponding
optical sensing region R through the one first light-transmitting
opening O1, the one second light-transmitting opening O2, and the
one third light-transmitting opening O3 that are overlapped with
each other.
[0030] The optical collimator 130 satisfies the following
condition: a size SO3 of each of the third light-transmitting
openings O3 is larger than or equal to a size SO2 of each of the
second light-transmitting openings O2, and the size SO2 of each of
the second light-transmitting openings O2 is larger than a size SO1
of each of the first light-transmitting openings O1; or the size
SO3 of each of the third light-transmitting openings O3 is larger
than the size SO2 of each of the second light-transmitting openings
O2, and the size SO2 of each of the second light-transmitting
openings O2 is larger than or equal to the size SO1 of each of the
first light-transmitting openings O1. In a framework where a shape
of the light-transmitting openings is circular, the size of the
light-transmitting openings refers to a diameter of the
light-transmitting openings. In a framework where the shape of the
light-transmitting openings is a rectangle, another polygon, or a
combination of the foregoing shapes, the size of the
light-transmitting openings refers to a width of one of edges of
the light-transmitting openings.
[0031] In a case where sizes of the plurality of light-transmitting
openings of the plurality of light shielding pattern layers are all
identical, the larger the sizes of the plurality of
light-transmitting openings, the larger an amount of light entering
the optical sensing regions R, but crosstalk is likely to occur.
Conversely, as the sizes of the plurality of light-transmitting
openings become smaller, although crosstalk is effectively
improved, the amount of entering light is likely to be overly
small. Moreover, it is likely that centers of the plurality of
light-transmitting openings of the different light shielding
pattern layers cannot be aligned due to a process tolerance. In
other words, the light shielding pattern layer closer to the
optical sensing regions R may block the light-transmitting openings
above it (i.e., a hole blocking phenomenon), which causes an
effective opening value (i.e., an intersecting region of the
light-transmitting openings of the different light shielding
pattern layers) corresponding to each of the optical sensing
regions R to be smaller than a predetermined effective opening
value (i.e., the sizes of the light-transmitting openings) and
thereby causes an actual amount of entering light of each of the
optical sensing regions R to be smaller than a predetermined amount
of entering light of each of the optical sensing regions R.
[0032] Accordingly, In the exemplary embodiment, when designing the
sizes of the plurality of light-transmitting openings of the
different light shielding pattern layers, the crosstalk, the amount
of entering light, and the hole blocking phenomenon caused by the
process tolerance are all taken into consideration. For example,
the size SO1 of the first light-transmitting openings O1 of the
first light shielding pattern layer 132 is designed according to
the size of each of the optical sensing regions R, a transverse
distance D between two adjacent optical sensing regions R, and a
longitudinal distance (including a longitudinal distance D' and a
longitudinal distance D'') between two adjacent light shielding
pattern layers, to improve issues of crosstalk and an overly small
amount of entering light at the same time. Moreover, the size of
the light-transmitting openings of at least one layer of the other
light shielding pattern layers (e.g., at least one of the second
light shielding pattern layer 134 and the third light shielding
pattern layer 136) is configured to be larger than the size SO1 of
the first light-transmitting openings O1 of the first light
shielding pattern layer 132. Accordingly, even if the centers of
the plurality of light-transmitting openings of the different light
shielding pattern layers cannot be aligned due to the process
tolerance (see FIG. 3), the light shielding pattern layer closer to
the optical sensing regions R is prevented from blocking the
light-transmitting openings above it, such that the effective
opening value corresponding to each of the optical sensing regions
R is equal to or similar to the predetermined effective opening
value (i.e., the size SO1 of the first light-transmitting openings
O1) and thereby the amount of light entering the sensor 120 is not
overly limited while crosstalk is improved.
[0033] In the exemplary embodiment, the size SO3 of each of the
third light-transmitting openings O3 is larger than the size SO2 of
each of the second light-transmitting openings O2, and the size SO2
of each of the second light-transmitting openings O2 is larger than
the size SO1 of each of the first light-transmitting openings O1.
Moreover, the first light shielding pattern layer 132, the second
light shielding pattern layer 134, and the third light shielding
pattern layer 136 are sequentially arranged from the sensor 120
towards the cover plate 110. However, relative relations between
the sizes of the different light-transmitting openings and
arrangement of the different light shielding pattern layers may be
changed according to the requirement and are not limited to those
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0034] According to different requirements, the optical collimator
100 may further include other components. For example, the optical
collimator 100 may further include a first transparent substrate
131 and a second transparent substrate 133 to carry the light
shielding pattern layers. The first transparent substrate 131 and
the second transparent substrate 133 are adapted to allow the light
beam to pass through. For example, the transparent substrates may
be glass substrates, plastic substrates, or transparent
photoresists but are not limited hereto.
[0035] The first transparent substrate 131 is located between the
sensor 120 and the cover plate 110, and the second transparent
substrate 133 is located between the first transparent substrate
131 and the cover plate 110. The second light shielding pattern
layer 134 is located between the first transparent substrate 131
and the second transparent substrate 133. The first light shielding
pattern layer 132 is located between the sensor 120 and the first
transparent substrate 131. The third light shielding pattern layer
136 is located between the second transparent substrate 133 and the
cover plate 110. In the exemplary embodiment, the first light
shielding pattern layer 132 is disposed on a surface S131 of the
first transparent substrate 131 facing the sensor 120, the second
light shielding pattern layer 134 is embedded in a surface S133A of
the second transparent substrate 133 facing the first transparent
substrate 131, and the third light shielding pattern layer 136 is
disposed on a surface S133B of the second transparent substrate 133
facing the cover plate 110, but the invention is not limited
hereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the first light shielding
pattern layer 132 may be embedded in the surface S131 of the first
transparent substrate 131 facing the sensor 120. Moreover, the
second light shielding pattern layer 134 may be disposed on the
surface S133A of the second transparent substrate 133 facing the
first transparent substrate 131. In addition, the third light
shielding pattern layer 136 may be embedded in the surface S133B of
the second transparent substrate 133 facing the cover plate
110.
[0036] An adhesive layer (not illustrated) or a fixing mechanism
(not illustrated) may be provided between the cover plate 110 and
the second transparent substrate 133, between the second
transparent substrate 133 and the first transparent substrate 131,
and between the first transparent substrate 131 and the sensor 120
to fix them together. The adhesive layer may be an optical clear
adhesive (OCA) or a die attach film (DAF) but is not limited
hereto. When the cover plate 110 and the second transparent
substrate 133 are fixed together through the adhesive layer, the
adhesive layer may be located in a gap G1 between the cover plate
110 and the second transparent substrate 133, between the third
light shielding pattern layer 136 and the cover plate 110, or a
combination of the two. In other words, a light-transmitting medium
in the gap G1 between the cover plate 110 and the second
transparent substrate 133 may be air or the adhesive layer.
Moreover, when the second transparent substrate 133 and the first
transparent substrate 131 are fixed together through the adhesive
layer, the adhesive layer may be located between the second
transparent substrate 133 and the first transparent substrate 131,
between the second light shielding pattern layer 134 and the first
transparent substrate 131, or a combination of the two. In
addition, when the first transparent substrate 131 and the sensor
120 are fixed together through the adhesive layer, the adhesive
layer may be located in a gap G2 between the first transparent
substrate 131 and the sensor 120, between the first light shielding
pattern layer 132 and the sensor 120, or a combination of the two.
In other words, a light-transmitting medium in the gap G2 between
the first transparent substrate 131 and the sensor 120 may be air
or the adhesive layer.
[0037] Next, other exemplary embodiments of the image capture
apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 8,
wherein the same components are labeled with the same numerals and
will not be repeatedly described below. FIG. 4 to FIG. 8 are
cross-sectional schematic diagrams respectively illustrating image
capture apparatuses according to a second exemplary embodiment to a
sixth exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, the main differences between an image
capture apparatus 200 of the second exemplary embodiment of the
invention and the image capture apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 are
described below. In the image capture apparatus 200, the size SO3
of each of the third light-transmitting openings O3 is equal to the
size SO2 of each of the second light-transmitting openings O2, and
the size SO2 of each of the second light-transmitting openings O2
is larger than the size SO1 of each of the first light-transmitting
openings O1. In the exemplary embodiment, the first light shielding
pattern layer 132, the second light shielding pattern layer 134,
and the third light shielding pattern layer 136 are sequentially
arranged from the sensor 120 towards the cover plate 110, but the
invention is not limited hereto. In another exemplary embodiment,
the first light shielding pattern layer 132, the second light
shielding pattern layer 134, and the third light shielding pattern
layer 136 are sequentially arranged from the cover plate 110
towards the sensor 120, such that the third light shielding pattern
layer 136 is located between the sensor 120 and the first
transparent substrate 131, and the first light shielding pattern
layer 132 is located between the second transparent substrate 133
and the cover plate 110.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 5, the main differences between an image
capture apparatus 300 of the third exemplary embodiment of the
invention and the image capture apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 are
described below. In the image capture apparatus 300, the size SO3
of each of the third light-transmitting openings O3 is larger than
the size SO2 of each of the second light-transmitting openings O2,
and the size SO2 of each of the second light-transmitting openings
O2 is equal to the size SO1 of each of the first light-transmitting
openings O1. In the exemplary embodiment, the first light shielding
pattern layer 132, the second light shielding pattern layer 134,
and the third light shielding pattern layer 136 are sequentially
arranged from the sensor 120 towards the cover plate 110, but the
invention is not limited hereto. In another exemplary embodiment,
the first light shielding pattern layer 132, the second light
shielding pattern layer 134, and the third light shielding pattern
layer 136 are sequentially arranged from the cover plate 110
towards the sensor 120, such that the third light shielding pattern
layer 136 is located between the sensor 120 and the first
transparent substrate 131, and the first light shielding pattern
layer 132 is located between the second transparent substrate 133
and the cover plate 110.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 6, the main differences between an image
capture apparatus 400 of the fourth exemplary embodiment of the
invention and the image capture apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 are
described below. In the image capture apparatus 100 of FIG. 1, the
sizes of the plurality of light-transmitting openings of the
different light shielding pattern layers are incrementally
increased from the sensor 120 towards the cover plate 110. In
contrast, in the image capture apparatus 400 of FIG. 6, the sizes
of the plurality of light-transmitting openings of the different
light shielding pattern layers are incrementally decreased from the
sensor 120 towards the cover plate 110.
[0041] Specifically, the first light shielding pattern layer 132,
the second light shielding pattern layer 134, and the third light
shielding pattern layer 136 are sequentially arranged from the
cover plate 110 towards the sensor 120, such that the third light
shielding pattern layer 136 is located between the sensor 120 and
the first transparent substrate 131, and the first light shielding
pattern layer 132 is located between the second transparent
substrate 133 and the cover plate 110. In the exemplary embodiment,
the third light shielding pattern layer 136 is disposed on the
surface S131 of the first transparent substrate 131 facing the
sensor 120, and the first light shielding pattern layer 132 is
disposed on the surface S133B of the second transparent substrate
133 facing the cover plate 110, but the invention is not limited
hereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the third light shielding
pattern layer 136 may be embedded in the surface S131 of the first
transparent substrate 131 facing the sensor 120, and the first
light shielding pattern layer 132 may be embedded in the surface
S133B of the second transparent substrate 133 facing the cover
plate 110.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 7, the main differences between an image
capture apparatus 500 of the fifth exemplary embodiment of the
invention and the image capture apparatus 100 of FIG. 1 are
described below. In the image capture apparatus 500, the image
capture apparatus 500 further includes a display panel 140 to
provide a display function. The display panel 140 is located
between the optical collimator 130 and the cover plate 110. For
example, the display panel 140 may be a thin film transistor liquid
crystal display panel (TFT-LCD panel), a micro light emitting diode
display panel (micro LED display panel), an organic light emitting
diode display panel (OLED display panel), or a display panel
including a touch sensing layer (i.e., an electrode wiring), but is
not limited hereto. When the display panel 140 is a self-luminous
display panel, a portion of a light beam provided by the display
panel 140 may be used in biometric identification, but the
invention is not limited hereto.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 8, the main differences between an image
capture apparatus 600 of the sixth exemplary embodiment of the
invention and the image capture apparatus 500 of FIG. 7 are
described below. In the image capture apparatus 600, the image
capture apparatus 600 further includes a band-pass filter layer 150
and a light source 160. The band-pass filter layer 150 is located
between the display panel 140 and the sensor 120, the light source
160 is located beside the sensor 120, and the light source 160 and
the sensor 120 are located on one side of the cover plate 110
(e.g., both located below the cover plate 110).
[0044] In the exemplary embodiment, the band-pass filter layer 150
is located between the optical collimator 130 and the sensor 120,
and the light source 160 is located on one side of the sensor 120,
but the invention is not limited hereto. In an exemplary
embodiment, the band-pass filter layer 150 may be located between
the display panel 140 and the optical collimator 130. Moreover, the
light source 160 may be located on multiple sides of the sensor 120
(e.g., disposed on multiple edges of the sensor 120, multiple
corners of the sensor 120, or combination of the two).
[0045] The light source 160 is adapted to provide a light beam for
biometric identification. The band-pass filter layer 150 is adapted
to allow the light beam from the light source 160 to pass through
(namely, a light-emitting spectrum of the light source 160 falls in
a transmissive spectrum of the band-pass filter layer 150) and
filter other light beams to avoid interference resulting from
environmental light beams or the light beam from the display panel
140 that is transmitted to the sensor 120 and thereby enhance an
identification capacity of the image capture apparatus 600. For
example, the band-pass filter layer 150 may be an infrared
band-pass filter layer that allows a light beam having a wavelength
of 800 nm to 900 nm to pass through and filters light beams having
wavelengths out of the range of 800 nm to 900 nm. Correspondingly,
the light source 120 is, for example, an infrared light source
having a wavelength falling in the range of 800 nm to 900 nm. In
other exemplary embodiments, the band-pass filter layer 150 may be
a band-pass filter layer that allows a light beam having a
wavelength of 840 nm to 860 nm or a light beam having a wavelength
of 890 nm to 990 nm to pass through, and the light source 120 may
be an infrared light source having a wavelength falling in the
range of 840 nm to 860 nm or in the range of 890 nm to 990 nm, but
the invention is not limited hereto.
[0046] Although the optical collimator 130 in the first exemplary
embodiment to the sixth exemplary embodiment invariably includes
only three light shielding pattern layers, the number of the light
shielding pattern layers in the optical collimator 130 is not
limited hereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the optical collimator
may further include a fourth light shielding pattern layer (not
illustrated). The first light shielding pattern layer, the second
light shielding pattern layer, the third light shielding pattern
layer, and the fourth light shielding pattern layer are overlapped
with each other, and the fourth light shielding pattern layer
includes a plurality of fourth light-transmitting openings. The
optical collimator satisfies the following condition: a size of
each of the fourth light-transmitting openings is larger than or
equal to the size of each of the third light-transmitting openings.
Moreover, the first light shielding pattern layer, the second light
shielding pattern layer, the third light shielding pattern layer,
and the fourth light shielding pattern layer may be sequentially
arranged from the sensor towards the cover plate or from the cover
plate towards the sensor. In still another exemplary embodiment,
the optical collimator may include more than four light shielding
pattern layers (not illustrated), wherein a size of each of fifth
light-transmitting openings is larger than or equal to the size of
each of the fourth light-transmitting openings, and sizes of
light-transmitting openings of the rest of the light shielding
pattern layers may be analogously inferred in the same manner and
are not repeatedly described here.
[0047] In summary of the above, in the image capture apparatus of
the exemplary embodiments of the invention, through adjusting the
sizes of the light-transmitting openings of the different light
shielding pattern layers, the crosstalk as well as the hole
blocking phenomenon caused by the process tolerance are both
improved, so that the amount of light entering the sensor can be
effectively increased. Accordingly, while improving the crosstalk,
the image capture apparatus of the exemplary embodiments of the
invention also avoids overly limiting the amount of light entering
the sensor.
[0048] Although the invention is disclosed as the exemplary
embodiments above, the exemplary embodiments are not meant to limit
the invention. Any person skilled in the art may make slight
modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the
invention shall be defined by the claims attached below.
* * * * *