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Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ polarization sensor can capture a four directional polarization image in one shot by the four directional polarizer (Fig.1). It can calculate the direction and degree of polarization (DoP) based on the intensity of each directional polarization. Together with subsequent signal processing, it can capture the polarization information^*3 in real time^*4.

• *3. Degree of Polarization and Direction of Polarization
• *4. Subject to subsequent signal processing power.

With conventional types of polarization sensors, the polarizer is attached on top of the on-chip lens layer (Fig.2), however with Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ polarization sensor the polarizer is formed on chip under the on-chip lens layer (Fig.3). A shorter distance between the polarizer and the photodiode improves the extinction ratio^*5 and the incident angle dependence.
Since the polarizer is formed during the semiconductor process, form and formulation of polarizer, uniformity, mass productivity and durability are excellent compared to conventional polarization sensors. Furthermore, Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ Polarization sensor is covered with an anti-reflection layer which helps to reduce reflectance and avoids poor flare and ghost characteristics.

• *5. Extinction Ratio
  Extinction ratio is a specification to measure polarization. The extinction ratio of polarization image sensor is the ratio between the sensitivity of transmission axis light and the sensitivity of extinction axis light (the sensitivity of transmission axis light / the sensitivity of extinction axis light). The higher the number, the better the specification and performance.

Polarization has two physical information, which are the degree of polarization and the direction of polarization. This information can be used for various applications such as surface scratch detection, particle inspection, distortion and shape recognition which has traditional been difficult to detect.

The light is reflected by the surface of the object in polarized and unpolarized lights. The DoP of the reflected light depends on the surface condition (material, color, roughness etc.) and the angle of reflection.

In the Degree of Polarization image (Fig.6) the white is high polarization and black is low polarization.
As example, the stitch is easily visible due to the difference in the degree of polarization of the thread and leather.

Polarization direction provides the direction information of reflected plane of an object.

The direction of polarization image (Fig.8) shows the angle of the polarization direction in color using HSV color mapping (Fig.9).
In this example, the upper side of the cube is highlighted in light blue meaning that the angle of the polarization direction is 90 degree (according to Fig.9).

These examples show dents and dust on a homogenous glass plane. We can easily find scratches and stains (fingerprint and dust) due to differences in the degree of polarization. (Fig.10,11)

Thanks to the difference in the degree of polarization between the tablet and the aluminum package, it is easy to identify whether the tablets are filled in or not. (Fig.13)

With the information of direction of polarization, we can identify both distortions and the direction of distortion of the plane. (Fig.15)

Polarization information can be used to remove reflections (Fig.17). Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ polarization sensor has a four-directional polarizer, which can simultaneously remove the reflections in multi planes.(Fig.17)

All images were generated by Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ polarization sensor’s evaluation board.

Polarization sensor that can capture a four directional polarization image in one shot
Together with subsequent signal processing, it can capture the polarization information in real time.