IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,666,623
Granted Patent B2
US 9,666,623 · App. 14/293,591 · Granted May 30, 2017

Imaging element, method for manufacturing imaging element, pixel design method, and electronic apparatus with light collecting parts having plural projection and depression structures

Inventor: Nobuyuki Kuboi (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
H01L27/14627H01L27/1462H01L27/14685H01L27/14812
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,666,623
App. No.
14/293,591
Granted
May 30, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

An imaging element includes a plurality of pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged and each have a light receiving part including a photoelectric conversion element and a light collecting part that collects incident light toward the light receiving part. Each of the light collecting parts in the plurality of pixels includes an optical functional layer having, in a surface, a specific projection and depression structure depending on the pixel position.

Claims (66)

1. An imaging element, comprising:

a plurality of pixels configured to be two-dimensionally arranged, the plurality of pixels comprising:

a first pixel, comprising:

a first photoelectric conversion element; and

a first light collecting part configured to collect incident light, wherein the first light collecting part comprises a first projection and depression structure; and

a second pixel, comprising:

a second photoelectric conversion element; and

a second light collecting part configured to collect the incident light, wherein the second light collecting part comprises a second projection and depression structure,

wherein a first scale of the first projection and depression structure is different from a second scale of the second projection and depression structure, and

wherein the first scale of the first projection and depression structure and the second scale of the second projection and depression structure for respective pixels of the plurality of pixels is based on a wavelength of the incident light.

2. The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein

the first pixel is closer to a center of the plurality of pixels than the second pixel, and

the first scale of the first pixel is larger than the second scale of the second pixel.

3. The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein an exit angle of a first light beam that passes through the first light collecting part is the same as an exit angle of a second light beam that passes through the second light collecting part.

4. The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein the first light collecting part comprises a first lens, and the second light collecting part comprises a second lens.

5. The imaging element according to claim 4 , wherein

a surface of the first lens comprises the first projection and depression structure, and

a surface of the second lens comprises the second projection and depression structure.

6. The imaging element according to claim 4 , further comprising:

a first inner lens arranged between the first lens and the first photoelectric conversion element; and

a second inner lens arranged between the second lens and the second photoelectric conversion element.

7. The imaging element according to claim 6 , wherein

a surface of the first inner lens comprises the first projection and depression structure, and

a surface of the second inner lens comprises the second projection and depression structure.

8. The imaging element according to claim 4 , further comprising an antireflection film arranged between the first lens and the first photoelectric conversion element, and between the second lens and the second photoelectric conversion element.

9. The imaging element according to claim 8 , wherein a surface of the antireflection film comprises the first projection and depression structure and the second projection and depression structure.

10. The imaging element according to claim 4 , wherein

the first pixel is closer to a center of the plurality of pixels than the second pixel,

the first lens is shifted towards the center of the plurality of pixels by a first amount,

the second lens is shifted towards the center of the plurality of pixels by a second amount, and

the first amount is smaller than the second amount.

11. A method of manufacturing an imaging element, comprising:

forming a plurality of pixels to be two-dimensionally arranged, comprising:

forming a first pixel, comprising:

forming a first photoelectric conversion element; and

forming a first light collecting part comprising a first projection and depression structure and configured to collect incident light; and

forming a second pixel, comprising:

forming a second photoelectric conversion element; and

forming a second light collecting part comprising a second projection and depression structure and configured to collect the incident light,

wherein a first scale of the first projection and depression structure is different from a second scale of the second projection and depression structure, and

wherein the first scale of the first projection and depression structure and the second scale of the second projection and depression structure for respective pixels of the plurality of pixels is based on a wavelength of the incident light.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein

the first pixel is closer to a center of the plurality of pixels than the second pixel, and

the first scale of the first pixel is larger than the second scale of the second pixel.

13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein

an exit angle of a first light beam that passes through the first light collecting part is the same as an exit angle of a second light beam that passes through the second light collecting part.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the first light collecting part comprises a first lens, and the second light collecting part comprises a second lens.

15. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

forming the first projection and depression structure in a surface of the first lens; and

forming the second projection and depression structure in a surface of the second lens.

16. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising:

forming a first inner lens between the first lens and the first photoelectric conversion element; and

forming a second inner lens between the second lens and the second photoelectric conversion element.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

forming the first projection and depression structure in a surface of the first inner lens; and

forming the second projection and depression structure in a surface of the second inner lens.

18. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising

an antireflection film between the first lens and the first photoelectric conversion element, and between the second lens and the second photoelectric conversion element.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising

forming the first projection and depression structure and the second projection and depression structure in a surface of the antireflection film.

20. The method according to claim 14 , wherein

the first pixel is closer to a center of the plurality of pixels than the second pixel,

the first lens is shifted towards the center of the plurality of pixels by a first amount,

the second lens is shifted towards the center of the plurality of pixels by a second amount, and

the first amount is smaller than the second amount.

21. The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein the first scale and the second scale are set within a range smaller than about ⅕ th of the wavelength of the incident light.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2016
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039346/0451 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-035471 · Feb 22, 2011 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13372620 · Feb 14, 2012
Related Publication 20140367554A1 · Dec 18, 2014