Spectrally reconfigurable pixels for dual-color-mode imaging sensors

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Color Science
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Traditional photodetectors have fixed spectral responses, limiting their adaptability.
• Achieving accurate color reproduction requires precise spectral sensitivity matching.
• Reconfigurable sensors offer potential for enhanced performance and versatility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and experimentally validate a dual-color-mode reconfigurable sensor.
• To demonstrate the ability to tune spectral responses for different color acquisition modes.
• To improve color reproduction accuracy using a novel sensor design.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an improved design of the Transverse Field Detector, a filterless, tunable three-color pixel.
• Configured pixels in two different biasing modes to achieve dual-color acquisition.
• Evaluated color reproduction accuracy by comparing sensor color space to reference color space.

Main Results:

• The reconfigurable sensor demonstrated the ability to operate in different color acquisition modes.
• Achieved typical color errors ΔE(a,b) of 2-3 in a standard RGB mode.
• Exploited multiple spectral responses to increase color reproduction accuracy in a dual-mode configuration.

Conclusions:

• The proposed dual-color-mode sensor offers real-time reconfigurability for diverse color acquisition needs.
• This filterless, tunable sensor design enhances color reproduction accuracy.
• The Transverse Field Detector serves as a viable platform for advanced reconfigurable optoelectronic sensors.