IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,665,734
Granted Patent B2
US 10,665,734 · App. 15/693,596 · Granted May 26, 2020

Image sensor and image capturing apparatus

Inventor: Kohei Okamoto (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
H01L31/02325H01L27/14625H01L31/02016H01L31/02327
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,665,734
App. No.
15/693,596
Granted
May 26, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels that are each provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and a microlens, and that are configured to read out signals that have been subjected to pupil division, the plurality of pixels each being provided with a light guide that is located between the microlens and the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, wherein a maximum width of a shape of a cross section, the cross section being parallel with an image sensing surface of the image sensor, of the light guide in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions that form a pair are arranged is greater than a maximum width of the shape of the cross section in an direction that is orthogonal to the arrangement direction.

Claims (12)

1. An image sensor comprising: a plurality of pixels that are each provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and a microlens, and that are configured to read out signals that have been subjected to pupil division, the plurality of pixels each being provided with a light guide that is located between the microlens and the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions,

wherein a maximum width of a shape of a cross section, the cross section being parallel with an image sensing surface of the image sensor, of the light guide in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions that form a pair are arranged is greater than a maximum width of the shape of the cross section in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and

wherein the shape of the cross section of the light guide has a protruding corner when viewed from an inside of the light guide.

2. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the shape of the cross section of the light guide does not include a side that is parallel with the orthogonal direction.

3. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the shape of the cross section of the light guide is recessed when viewed from an inside of the light guide.

4. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein, if the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions form a plurality of pairs, the shape of the cross section of the light guide of each pixel is a shape resulting from combining shapes of cross sections of the light guide, the cross sections respectively corresponding to the plurality of pairs of photoelectric conversion portions of the pixel.

5. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein an index of refraction of a material of the light guide is greater than an index of refraction of a material that surrounds the light guide.

6. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein a layer that exhibits a high reflectance with respect to guided light is formed on a side wall of the light guide.

7. The image sensor according to claim 6 , wherein the layer that exhibits a high reflectance is a multilayer film.

8. An image capturing apparatus comprising the image sensor that has a plurality of pixels that are each provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and a microlens, and that are configured to read out signals that have been subjected to pupil division, the plurality of pixels each being provided with a light guide that is located between the microlens and the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions,

wherein a maximum width of a shape of a cross section, the cross section being parallel with an image sensing surface of the image sensor, of the light guide in an arrangement direction in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions that form a pair are arranged is greater than a maximum width of the shape of the cross section in an orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and

wherein the shape of the cross section of the light guide has a protruding corner when viewed from an inside of the light guide.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2017
From: OKAMOTO, KOHEI
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 044345/0645 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-174001 · Sep 6, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180069137A1 · Mar 8, 2018