IP Library Granted Patent US 12684265
Granted Patent B2
US 12684265 · App. 18/982,363 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Image sensor

Inventors: Taesung Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Hyungeun Yoo (Suwon-si, KR); Yunki Lee (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
H04N25/77H04N25/11H04N25/704
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12684265
App. No.
18/982,363
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image sensor includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel includes a first photodiode, a second photodiode at least partially overlapping the first photodiode in a first direction, a first metal shield on one photodiode of the first photodiode or the second photodiode in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first color filter on another photodiode of the first photodiode or the second photodiode in the vertical direction, and a first micro lens on both the first metal shield and the first color filter in the vertical direction. The second pixel includes a third photodiode, a fourth photodiode at least partially overlapping the third photodiode in the first direction, a second color filter on both the third photodiode and the fourth photodiode in the vertical direction, and a second micro lens on the second color filter in the vertical direction.

Claims (71)

1 . An image sensor, comprising:

a first pixel; and

a second pixel,

wherein the first pixel includes

a first photodiode,

a second photodiode at least partially overlapping the first photodiode in a first direction,

a first metal shield on one photodiode of the first photodiode or the second photodiode in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction,

a first color filter on another photodiode of the first photodiode or the second photodiode in the vertical direction, and

a first micro lens on both the first metal shield and the first color filter in the vertical direction, and

wherein the second pixel includes

a third photodiode,

a fourth photodiode at least partially overlapping the third photodiode in the first direction,

a second color filter on both the third photodiode and the fourth photodiode in the vertical direction, and

a second micro lens on the second color filter in the vertical direction.

2 . The image sensor of claim 1 ,

wherein the first pixel and the second pixel are adjacent to each other in the first direction.

3 . The image sensor of claim 2 , wherein

the first metal shield is on the first photodiode and the first color filter is on the second photodiode, and

the first metal shield is configured to block incident light passing through the first micro lens from being incident on the first photodiode, the incident light inclined in relation to the first photodiode.

4 . The image sensor of claim 2 , wherein

the first color filter on the first photodiode and the first metal shield is on the second photodiode, and

the first metal shield is configured to block incident light passing through the first micro lens from being incident on the second photodiode, the incident light inclined in relation to the second photodiode.

5 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

the first pixel comprises an auto focusing (AF) pixel, and

the second pixel comprises a general pixel.

6 . The image sensor of claim 1 ,

wherein the first pixel and the second pixel comprise separate, respective auto focusing (AF) pixels.

7 . The image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a Bayer pattern of color filters, the Bayer pattern including the first color filter and the second color filter, the Bayer pattern including a green color filter, a red color filter, and a blue color filter, such that

the first color filter is one filter of the green color filter, the red color filter, or the blue color filter, and

the second color filter is another filter of the green color filter, the red color filter, or the blue color filter.

8 . The image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first device isolation film configured to separate the first photodiode from the second photodiode;

a second device isolation film configured to separate the third photodiode from the fourth photodiode; and

a third device isolation film configured to separate the first pixel from the second pixel.

9 . The image sensor of claim 8 ,

wherein the first device isolation film, the second device isolation film, and the third device isolation film are spaced apart from each other in the first direction.

10 . An image sensor, comprising:

a pixel array, the pixel array including a plurality of pixels arrayed in a first direction and a second direction, the plurality of pixels including a first pixel and a second pixel,

wherein the plurality of pixels are arrayed in two adjacent columns and two adjacent rows,

wherein the first pixel includes

a first photodiode,

a second photodiode at least partially overlapping the first photodiode in the first direction,

a first metal shield on one photodiode of the first photodiode or the second photodiode in a vertical direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and

a first color filter on another photodiode of the first photodiode or the second photodiode in the vertical direction, and

wherein the second pixel includes

a third photodiode,

a fourth photodiode at least partially overlapping the third photodiode in the first direction, and

a second color filter on both the third photodiode and the fourth photodiode in the vertical direction.

11 . The image sensor of claim 10 ,

wherein the first metal shield is configured to block incident light.

12 . The image sensor of claim 10 , further comprising:

a Bayer pattern of color filters, the Bayer pattern including the first color filter and the second color filter, the Bayer pattern including a green color filter, a red color filter, and a blue color filter, such that

the first color filter is one filter of the green color filter, the red color filter, or the blue color filter, and

the second color filter is another filter of the green color filter, the red color filter, or the blue color filter.

13 . The image sensor of claim 10 , wherein

the first pixel and the second pixel comprise separate, respective auto focusing (AF) pixels, and

the first pixel and the second pixel are adjacent to each other in the first direction.

14 . The image sensor of claim 10 , further comprising:

a first device isolation film configured to separate the first photodiode from the second photodiode;

a second device isolation film configured to separate the third photodiode from the fourth photodiode;

a third device isolation film configured to separate the first pixel from the second pixel; and

a grid pattern on the third device isolation film.

15 . The image sensor of claim 14 ,

wherein the first device isolation film, the second device isolation film, and the third device isolation film are spaced apart at equal intervals in the first direction or the second direction.

16 . The image sensor of claim 10 , wherein

the first photodiode and the second photodiode are connected to one floating diffusion node, and

the third photodiode and the fourth photodiode are connected to the one floating diffusion node.

17 . The image sensor of claim 10 , further comprising:

a first micro lens on both the first metal shield and the first color filter of the first pixel in the vertical direction; and

a second micro lens on both the second color filter of the second pixel in the vertical direction.