IP Library Granted Patent US 7,786,426
Granted Patent B2
US 7,786,426 · App. 12/133,536 · Granted Aug 31, 2010

Imaging device with a color filter that contains a layer only covering the surrounding areas

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,786,426
App. No.
12/133,536
Granted
Aug 31, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a substrate of which surface is provided with a pixel area where a plurality of pixels arranged, each pixel including a photoelectric converting element to receive light from a subject image and perform photoelectric conversion on the received light to generate signal charge, and a surrounding area that is positioned around the pixel area and that includes a surrounding circuit to process the signal charge generated by the photoelectric converting elements. The solid-state imaging device includes a color filter facing the substrate so as to receive the light from the subject image in a surface corresponding to the surface of the substrate and to allow the light to transmit therethrough onto the surface of the substrate. The color filter includes a first colored layer and a second colored layer.

Claims (30)

1. A solid-state imaging device including a substrate of which a surface is provided with a pixel area where a plurality of pixels are arranged, and a surrounding area that is positioned around the pixel area and that includes a surrounding circuit, the solid-state imaging device comprising a color filter facing the substrate so as to receive the light from the subject image in a surface corresponding to the surface of the substrate and to allow the light to transmit therethrough onto the surface of the substrate, wherein:

(a) the color filter comprises

a first colored layer that has high light transmittance in a first wavelength band and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough,

a second colored layer that has high light transmittance in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough,

a third colored layer that has high light transmittance in a third wavelength band different from the first and second wavelength bands and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough, and

a fourth colored layer having a transmittance lower than the transmittance of any of the first to third colored layers;

(b) a plurality of colored arrays of segments of the first, second, and third colored layers are arranged in the surface corresponding to the surface of the substrate, a first part of said plurality of colored arrays being placed in the pixel area and a second part being placed in the surrounding area, the colored arrays corresponding to the plurality of pixels in the pixel area; and

(c) the fourth colored layer is laminated on the colored arrays to cover only the second part.

2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second colored layer covers a side surface of an endmost colored array among the plurality of colored arrays placed in the surrounding area.

3. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first colored layer allows green light to transmit therethrough,

wherein the second colored layer allows red light to transmit therethrough,

wherein the third colored layer allows blue light to transmit therethrough.

4. A color filter facing a substrate to receive light from a subject image in a surface corresponding to a surface of the substrate and to allow the light to transmit therethrough onto the surface of the substrate, said surface being provided with a pixel area where a plurality of pixels are arranged and a surrounding area that is positioned around the pixel area and including a surrounding circuit, the color filter comprising:

a first colored layer that has high light transmittance in a first wavelength band and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough;

a second colored layer that has high light transmittance in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough;

a third colored layer that has high light transmittance in a third wavelength band different from the first and second wavelength bands and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough; and

a fourth colored layer having a transmittance lower than the transmittance of any of the first to third colored layers,

wherein,

a plurality of colored arrays of segments of the first, second and third colored layers are arranged in the surface corresponding to the surface of the substrate, a first part of said plurality of colored arrays being placed in the pixel area and a second part being placed in the surrounding area, the colored arrays corresponding to the plurality of pixels in the pixel area, and

the fourth colored layer is laminated on the colored arrays to cover only the second part.

5. A camera including a solid-state imaging device including a substrate of which a surface is provided with a pixel area where a plurality of pixels are arranged, and a surrounding area that is positioned around the pixel area and that includes a surrounding circuit, the solid-state imaging device comprising a color filter facing the substrate so as to receive the light from the subject image in a surface corresponding to the surface of the substrate and to allow the light to transmit therethrough onto the surface of the substrate, wherein:

(a) the color filter comprises

a first colored layer that has high light transmittance in a first wavelength band and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough,

a second colored layer that has high light transmittance in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough,

a third colored layer that has high light transmittance in a third wavelength band different from the first and second wavelength bands and that allows the light from the subject image to transmit therethrough, and

a fourth colored layer having a transmittance lower than the transmittance of any of the first to third colored layers;

(b) a plurality of colored arrays of segments of the first, second and third colored layers are arranged in the surface corresponding to the surface of the substrate, a first part of said plurality of colored arrays being placed in the pixel area and a second part being placed in the surrounding area, the colored arrays corresponding to the plurality of pixels in the pixel area; and

(c) the fourth colored layer is laminated on the colored arrays to cover only the second part.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 040419/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2008
From: YAMASHITA, KAZUYOSHI; KUDOH, YOSHIHARU
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021051/0619 →