Application of the Quanta image sensor concept to linear polarization imaging-a theoretical study

Research efforts in linear polarization imaging have largely targeted the development of novel polarizing filters with improved performance and the monolithic integration of image sensors and polarization filter arrays. However, as pixel sizes in CMOS image sensors continue to decrease, the same limitations that have an impact on color and monochrome CMOS image sensors will undoubtedly affect polarization imagers. Issues of low signal capacity and dynamic range in small pixels will severely limit the useful polarization information that can be obtained. In this paper, we propose to leverage the benefits of the relatively new Quanta image sensor (QIS) concept to mitigate the anticipated limitations of linear polarization imaging as pixel sizes decrease. We address, by theoretical calculation and simulation, implementation issues such as alignment of polarization filters over extremely small pixels used in the QIS concept and polarization image formation from single-bit output of such pixels. We also present design innovations aimed at exploiting the benefits of this new imaging concept for simultaneous color and linear polarization imaging.