Image sensor having nano-photonic lens array and electronic apparatus including the image sensor

1 . An image sensor comprising:

a sensor substrate comprising a first pixel group and a second pixel group, the first pixel group comprising a plurality of first pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the second pixel group comprising a plurality of second pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged in the first direction and the second direction;

a nano-photonic lens array comprising a first region and a second region, the first region facing the first pixel group in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and the second region facing the second pixel group in the third direction; and

a color filter layer provided between the sensor substrate and the nano-photonic lens array, the color filter layer comprising a first color filter and a second color filter, the first color filter facing the first pixel group and the first region in the third direction and configured to transmit light of a first wavelength band, and the second color filter facing the second pixel group and the second region in the third direction and configured to transmit light of a second wavelength band that is different from the first wavelength band,

wherein the first region comprises a plurality of nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with a first period,

wherein the second region comprises a plurality of nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with a second period,

wherein the second period is less than the first period,

wherein each of the first region and the second region comprises a first lens, a second lens adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, a third lens adjacent to the first lens in the second direction, and a fourth lens adjacent to the third lens in the first direction,

wherein each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the first region comprises a plurality of first nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with the first period,

wherein each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the second region comprises a plurality of second nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with the second period, and

wherein, in the first region:

a first gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the second lens, in the first direction is greater than the first period, and

a second gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the third lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the first direction is greater than the first period.

2 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first gap is different from the second gap.

3 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein, in the first region,

a third gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the third lens, in the second direction is equal to the first period, and

a fourth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the second lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the second direction is equal to the first period.

4 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein, in the first region,

a third gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the third lens, in the second direction is different from the first period, and

a fourth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the second lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the second direction is different from the first period.

5 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein, in the second region,

a fifth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of second nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of second nano-structures in the second lens, in the first direction is less than the second period, and

a sixth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of second nano-structures in the third lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of second nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the first direction is less than the second period.

6 . The image sensor of claim 5 , wherein the fifth gap is different from the sixth gap.

7 . The image sensor of claim 5 , wherein, in the second region,

a seventh gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of second nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of second nano-structures in the third lens, in the second direction is less than the second period,

an eighth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of second nano-structures in the second lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of second nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the second direction is less than the second period, and

wherein the seventh gap is different from the eighth gap.

8 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

each of the first pixel group and the second pixel group comprises a first sub-group, a second sub-group, a third sub-group, and a fourth sub-group arranged in a 2×2 array, and

each of the first sub-group, the second sub-group, the third sub-group, and the fourth sub-group in each of the first pixel group and the second pixel group comprises a plurality of independent pixels arranged in a 2×2 array.

9 . The image sensor of claim 8 , wherein

the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the first region are arranged respectively to face the first sub-group, the second sub-group, the third sub-group, and the fourth sub-group of the first pixel group in the third direction, and

the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the second region are arranged respectively to face the first sub-group, the second sub-group, the third sub-group, and the fourth sub-group of the second pixel group in the third direction.

10 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

the sensor substrate further comprises a third pixel group and a fourth pixel group, the third pixel group comprising a plurality of third pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged in the first direction and the second direction, and the fourth pixel group comprising a plurality of fourth pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged in the first direction and the second direction,

the nano-photonic lens array further comprises a third region and a fourth region, the third region facing the third pixel group in the third direction and the fourth region facing the fourth pixel group in the third direction,

the color filter layer comprises a third color filter and a fourth color filter, the third color filter facing the third pixel group and the third region in the third direction and configured to transmit light of a third wavelength band different from the first and second wavelength bands, and the fourth color filter facing the fourth pixel group and the fourth region in the third direction and configured to transmit light of the first wavelength band,

the third region comprises a plurality of nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with a third period,

the fourth region comprises a plurality of nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with a fourth period, and

the second period is less than the third period and the fourth period.

11 . The image sensor of claim 10 , wherein the first period, the third period, and the fourth period are equal to one another.

12 . The image sensor of claim 10 , wherein the first period and the fourth period are less than the third period.

13 . The image sensor of claim 10 , wherein

each of the third region and the fourth region comprises a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens arranged in a 2×2 array,

each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the third region comprises a plurality of nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with the third period, and

each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the fourth region comprises a plurality of nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with the fourth period.

14 . The image sensor of claim 13 , wherein, in the third region,

a ninth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the second lens, in the first direction is equal to the third period,

a tenth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the third lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the first direction is equal to the third period,

an eleventh gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the third lens, in the second direction is equal to the third period, and

a twelfth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the second lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the second direction is equal to the third period.

15 . The image sensor of claim 13 , wherein, in the fourth region,

a thirteenth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the second lens, in the first direction is equal to the fourth period,

a fourteenth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the third lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the first direction is equal to the fourth period,

a fifteenth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the third lens, in the second direction is greater than the fourth period, and

a sixteenth gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the second lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the second direction, from among the plurality of nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the second direction is greater than the fourth period.

16 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of first pixels are grouped and arranged in a 2×2 array,

the plurality of second pixels are grouped and arranged in a 2×2 array,

the first region comprises a lens facing all of the plurality of first pixels in the first pixel group, and

the second region comprises a lens facing all of the plurality of second pixels in the second pixel group.

17 . An electronic apparatus comprising:

a lens assembly configured to form an optical image of a subject;

an image sensor configured to convert the optical image formed by the lens assembly into an electrical signal; and

a processor configured to process a signal generated by the image sensor,

wherein the image sensor comprises:

a sensor substrate comprising a first pixel group and a second pixel group, each of the first pixel group and the second pixel group comprising a plurality of pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

a nano-photonic lens array comprising a first region and a second region, the first region facing the first pixel group in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and the second region facing the second pixel group in the third direction; and

a color filter layer provided between the sensor substrate and the nano-photonic lens array, the color filter layer comprising a first color filter and a second color filter, the first color filter facing the first pixel group and the first region in the third direction and configured to transmit light of a first wavelength band, and the second color filter facing the second pixel group and the second region in the third direction and configured to transmit light of a second wavelength band that is different from the first wavelength band,

wherein the first region comprises a plurality of nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with a first period,

wherein the second region comprises a plurality of nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with a second period, and

wherein the second period is less than the first period,

wherein each of the first region and the second region comprises a first lens, a second lens adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, a third lens adjacent to the first lens in the second direction, and a fourth lens adjacent to the third lens in the first direction,

wherein each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the first region comprises a plurality of first nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with the first period,

wherein each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the second region comprises a plurality of second nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with the second period, and

wherein, in the first region:

a first gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the second lens, in the first direction is greater than the first period, and

a second gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the third lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the first direction is greater than the first period.

18 . An image sensor comprising:

a sensor substrate comprising a first pixel group and a second pixel group, the first pixel group comprising a plurality of first pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the second pixel group comprising a plurality of second pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged in the first direction and the second direction;

a nano-photonic lens array comprising a first region overlapping the first pixel group in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and a second region overlapping the second pixel group in the third direction; and

a color filter layer provided between the sensor substrate and the nano-photonic lens array, the color filter layer comprising a first color filter overlapping the first pixel group in the third direction, and a second color filter overlapping the second pixel group in the third direction,

wherein the first region comprises a plurality of first nano-structures and the second region comprises a plurality of second nano-structures,

wherein the plurality of first nano-structures are arranged in the first direction to have a first period, and

wherein the plurality of second nano-structures are arranged in the first direction to have a second period different from the first period,

wherein each of the first region and the second region comprises a first lens, a second lens adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, a third lens adjacent to the first lens in the second direction, and a fourth lens adjacent to the third lens in the first direction,

wherein each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the first region comprises respective ones of the plurality of first nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with the first period,

wherein each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens in the second region comprises respective ones of the plurality of second nano-structures that are two-dimensionally arranged with the second period, and

wherein, in the first region:

a first gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the second lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the first lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the first lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the second lens, in the first direction is greater than the first period, and

a second gap between a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the fourth lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the third lens, and a nano-structure arranged at an edge adjacent to the third lens in the first direction, from among the plurality of first nano-structures in the fourth lens, in the first direction is greater than the first period.