Method for calculating shift amount of image pickup element and image pickup element

Abstract

A method for calculating a shift amount of a microlens from a position of a light receiving element arranged in a pixel of an image pickup element is provided. The microlens collects incident light from an image pickup lens. The method comprises: acquiring an incident angle characteristic value indicating a relation between an arranged position of the pixel and an incident angle of the incident light to the pixel; calculating a sampled shift amount of the microlens from the position of the light receiving element corresponding the incident angle characteristic value based on light collection efficiency of the incident light; approximating the sampled shift amount by a second or higher order function to calculate a shift amount characteristic function indicating a relation between the arranged position and the shift amount; and calculating the shift amount of the pixel using the shift amount characteristic function.

1 . A method for calculating a shift amount of a microlens from a position of a light receiving element arranged in a pixel of an image pickup element, the microlens directing incident light through an image pickup lens onto the light receiving element, the method comprising:
 acquiring an incident angle characteristic value indicating a relation between an arranged position of the pixel and an incident angle of the incident light to the pixel;   calculating a sampled shift amount of the microlens from the position of the light receiving element corresponding to the incident angle characteristic value based on light collection efficiency of the incident light;   approximating the sampled shift amount by a second or higher order function to calculate a shift amount characteristic function indicating a relation between the arranged position and the shift amount;   calculating the shift amount of the pixel using the shift amount characteristic function; and   calculating a shift amount of an on-chip color filter, arranged adjacent to the microlens, from the position of the light receiving element such that the shift amount of the on-chip color filter is equal to the shift amount of the microlens.   
     
     
         2 . A method for calculating a shift amount of a microlens from a position of a light receiving element arranged in a pixel of an image pickup element, the microlens directing incident light through an image pickup lens onto the light receiving element, the method comprising:
 acquiring an incident angle characteristic value indicating a relation between an arranged position of the pixel and an incident angle of the incident light to the pixel;   calculating a sampled shift amount of the microlens from the position of the light receiving element corresponding to the incident angle characteristic value based on light collection efficiency of the incident light;   approximating the sampled shift amount by a second or higher order function to calculate a shift amount characteristic function indicating a relation between the arranged position and the shift amount;   calculating the shift amount of the pixel using the shift amount characteristic function; and   calculating a shift amount of an on-chip color filter, arranged adjacent to the microlens, from the position of the light receiving element such that the shift amount of the on-chip color filter includes a predetermined relation with the shift amount of the microlens.   
     
     
         3 . An image pickup element for receiving incident light through an image pickup lens with a light receiving element and for converting the received light into an image signal, the image pickup element comprising:
 a microlens that collects the incident light,   wherein the microlens is shifted from a position of the light receiving element based on an incident angle characteristic indicating a relation between an arranged position of the light receiving element and an incident angle of the incident light to the light receiving element; and   an on-chip color filter arranged adjacent to the microlens,   wherein a shift amount between the on-chip color filter and the light receiving element is equal to a shift distance between the microlens and the light receiving element.   
     
     
         4 . An image pickup element for receiving incident light through an image pickup lens with a light receiving element and for converting the received light into an image signal, the image pickup element comprising:
 a microlens that collects the incident light,   wherein the microlens is shifted from a position of the light receiving element based on an incident angle characteristic indicating a relation between an arranged position of the light receiving element and an incident angle of the incident light to the light receiving element; and   an on-chip color filter arranged adjacent to the microlens,   wherein a shift amount between the on-chip color filter and the light receiving element includes a predetermined relation with a shift distance of the microlens.