IP Library Granted Patent US 11,962,902
Granted Patent B2
US 11,962,902 · App. 18/185,942 · Granted Apr 16, 2024

Image sensor and electronic apparatus

Inventor: Masashi Nakata (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
H04N23/672G02B7/34G03B13/36H01L27/14621H01L27/14623H01L27/14625H01L27/14627H04N5/265H04N23/10H04N23/55H04N23/67H04N25/134H04N25/702H04N25/704
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,962,902
App. No.
18/185,942
Granted
Apr 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present technology relates to an image sensor and an electronic apparatus which enable higher-quality images to be obtained. Provided is an image sensor including a plurality of pixels, each pixel including one on-chip lens, and a plurality of photoelectric conversion layers formed below the on-chip lens. Each of at least two of the plurality of photoelectric conversion layers is split, partially formed, or partially shielded from light with respect to a light-receiving surface. The pixels are phase difference detection pixels for performing AF by phase difference detection or imaging pixels for generating an image. The present technology can be applied to a CMOS image sensor, for example.

Claims (50)

1. A light detecting device, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

a first on-chip lens disposed above the semiconductor substrate;

a second on-chip lens disposed above the semiconductor substrate;

a first photoelectric conversion portion disposed between the first on-chip lens and the semiconductor substrate;

a second photoelectric conversion portion disposed between the second on-chip lens and the semiconductor substrate;

a first color filter disposed above the semiconductor substrate and disposed below the first photoelectric conversion portion;

a second color filter disposed above the semiconductor substrate and disposed below the second photoelectric conversion portion;

a first photoelectric conversion region disposed in the semiconductor substrate and disposed below the first color filter; and

a second photoelectric conversion region disposed in the semiconductor substrate and disposed below the second color filter,

wherein the light detecting device is configured to detect a phase difference from a first output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and a second output of the second photoelectric conversion portion.

2. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion region is configured to photoelectrically convert light of a different color than that of the second photoelectric conversion region.

3. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion region is configured to receive light which passes through the first color filter and wherein the second photoelectric conversion region is configured to receive light which passes through the second color filter.

4. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion region is configured to photoelectrically convert light of a different color than that of the first photoelectric conversion portion and wherein the second photoelectric conversion region is configured to photoelectrically convert light of a different color than that of the second photoelectric conversion portion.

5. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first light shield,

wherein at least a part of the first light shield being is at a same level as the first color filter in a cross-sectional view; and

a second light shield,

wherein at least a part of the second light shield being is at a same level as the second color filter in a cross-sectional view.

6. The light detecting device according to claim 5 , wherein the first light shield and the second light shield comprise a metal.

7. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the first on-chip lens corresponds to the first photoelectric conversion portion and the first photoelectric conversion region and wherein the second on-chip lens corresponds to the second photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion region.

8. The light detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion are configured to photoelectrically convert light of a same color.

9. The light detecting device according to claim 8 , wherein the light is green light.

10. The light detecting device according to claim 8 , wherein the light is blue light.

11. The light detecting device according to claim 8 , wherein the light is red light.

12. The light detecting device according to claim 8 , wherein the light is white light.

13. The light detecting device according to claim 8 , wherein the light is infrared light.

14. The light detecting device according to claim 8 , wherein the light is ultraviolet light.

15. A light detecting apparatus, comprising:

a lens; and

a light detecting device, comprising:

a semiconductor substrate;

a first on-chip lens disposed above the semiconductor substrate;

a second on-chip lens disposed above the semiconductor substrate;

a first photoelectric conversion portion disposed between the first on-chip lens and the semiconductor substrate;

a second photoelectric conversion portion disposed between the second on-chip lens and the semiconductor substrate;

a first color filter disposed above the semiconductor substrate and disposed below the first photoelectric conversion portion;

a second color filter disposed above the semiconductor substrate and disposed below the second photoelectric conversion portion;

a first photoelectric conversion region disposed in the semiconductor substrate and disposed below the first color filter; and

a second photoelectric conversion region disposed in the semiconductor substrate and disposed below the second color filter,

wherein the light detecting device is configured to detect a phase difference from a first output of the first photoelectric conversion portion and a second output of the second photoelectric conversion portion.

16. The light detecting apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion region is configured to photoelectrically convert light of a different color than that of the second photoelectric conversion region.

17. The light detecting apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion region is configured to receive light which passes through the first color filter and wherein the second photoelectric conversion region is configured to receive light which passes through the second color filter.

18. The light detecting apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the first photoelectric conversion region is configured to photoelectrically convert light of a different color than that of the first photoelectric conversion portion and wherein the second photoelectric conversion region is configured to photoelectrically convert light of a different color than that of the second photoelectric conversion portion.

19. The light detecting apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a first light shield,

wherein at least a part of the first light shield is disposed at a same level as the first color filter in a cross-sectional view; and

a second light shield,

wherein at least a part of the second light shield is disposed at a same level as the second color filter in a cross-sectional view.

20. The light detecting apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the first light shield and the second light shield comprise a metal.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2023
From: NAKATA, MASASHI
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063117/0671 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 20, 2023
From: SONY CORPORATION
To: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063117/0673 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2013-061952 · Mar 25, 2013 · national
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17307548 · May 4, 2021
Continuation 16718591 · Dec 18, 2019
Continuation 15855785 · Dec 27, 2017
Continuation 15815324 · Nov 16, 2017
Continuation 14775826
Related Publication 20230232100A1 · Jul 20, 2023