IP Library Granted Patent US 12,710,630
Granted Patent B2
US 12,710,630 · App. 18/847,784 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Light detection element and electronic apparatus

Inventors: Hiroaki Takase (Kanagawa, JP); Kaito Yokochi (Kanagawa, JP); Koji Miyata (Tokyo, JP); Seiki Takahashi (Tokyo, JP); Takayuki Ogasahara (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
G02B19/0076G02B19/0009G02B27/1013G02B27/1066H04N25/134H04N25/76
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,710,630
App. No.
18/847,784
Filed
Sep 17, 2024
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Examiner
HSU, AMY R
Art Unit
2638
USPC
348/272
Abstract

A light detection element according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of photoelectric converters, a color splitter layer, and a plurality of condensers. The plurality of photoelectric converters are disposed side by side in a matrix in a semiconductor layer. The color splitter layer is disposed on a light incident side with respect to the plurality of photoelectric converters, and includes a low refractive index layer and a plurality of columnar high refractive index portions. The plurality of condensers are disposed on the light incident side with respect to the color splitter layer, and condenses incident light to the corresponding high refractive index portions.

Claims (30)

1 . A light detection element, comprising:

a plurality of photoelectric converters disposed side by side in a matrix form in a semiconductor layer;

a color splitter layer disposed on a light incident side with respect to the plurality of photoelectric converters and including a low refractive index layer and a plurality of columnar high refractive index portions; and

a plurality of condensers disposed on a light incident side with respect to the color splitter layer and condensing incident light to corresponding high refractive index portions, wherein one condenser in the plurality of condensers is provided for each columnar high refractive index portion in the plurality of columnar high refractive index portions.

2 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , wherein

the color splitter layer has a meta-surface structure.

3 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , wherein

the condensers are disposed to cover the corresponding high refractive index portions from a light incident side.

4 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , wherein

the condensers are disposed to be in direct contact with the corresponding high refractive index portions.

5 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , further comprising

an intermediate layer disposed between the color splitter layer and the plurality of condensers.

6 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , wherein

the condensers are made of a same material as the high refractive index portions.

7 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , wherein

the plurality of condensers are disposed to cover the color splitter layers without any gap.

8 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , wherein

the condensers have a hemispherical shape.

9 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , further comprising

an antireflection film disposed on a surface of the condensers.

10 . The light detection element according to claim 1 , further comprising

a plurality of optical elements disposed on an opposite side to a light incident side with respect to the color splitter layer and configured to return light that has passed through each of the plurality of high refractive index portions to plane waves.

11 . An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a light detection element;

an optical system configured to capture incident light from an object to be detected and form an image on a light detection surface of the light detection element; and

a signal processing circuit configured to perform processing on an output signal from the light detection element,

wherein the light detection element includes:

a plurality of photoelectric converters disposed side by side in a matrix form in a semiconductor layer;

a color splitter layer disposed on a light incident side with respect to the plurality of photoelectric converters and including a low refractive index layer and a plurality of columnar high refractive index portions; and

a plurality of condensers disposed on a light incident side with respect to the color splitter layer and condensing incident light to corresponding high refractive index portions, wherein one condenser in the plurality of condensers is provided for each columnar high refractive index portion in the plurality of columnar high refractive index portions.