IP Library Granted Patent US 9,204,067
Granted Patent B2
US 9,204,067 · App. 14/629,953 · Granted Dec 1, 2015

Image sensor and image capturing apparatus

Inventors: Ichiro Onuki (Kawasaki, JP); Koichi Fukuda (Tokyo, JP); Akihiro Nishio (Yokohama, JP); Hideaki Yamamoto (Kawasaki, JP); Ryo Yamasaki (Tokyo, JP); Makoto Oikawa (Yokohama, JP)
Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
H04N5/3696H01L27/14605H04N5/23212H04N13/0217G02B7/34
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,204,067
App. No.
14/629,953
Granted
Dec 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image sensor comprises a first imaging pixel and a second imaging pixel each of which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image. Each of the first imaging pixel and the second imaging pixel comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction, the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have an ability of photoelectrically converting images formed by split light beams out of a light beam from the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals to be used to detect a phase difference. A base-line length of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the first imaging pixel is longer than that of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the second imaging pixel.

Claims (12)

1. An image sensor comprising:

a first imaging pixel and a second imaging pixel each of which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image,

wherein said first imaging pixel comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction and said second imaging pixel includes four photoelectric conversion units segmented in the first direction,

the plurality of photoelectric conversion units are configured to photoelectrically convert a plurality of images formed by split light beams passing through the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals used to detect a phase difference, and

a length between gravity centers of photoelectric conversion units used to detect the phase difference out of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in said first imaging pixel is longer than a length between gravity centers of photoelectric conversion units used to detect the phase difference out of the four photoelectric conversion units included in said second imaging pixel.

2. An image sensor comprising:

an imaging pixel which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image,

wherein said imaging pixel comprises 2n photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction, where n is an integer not less than 2,

the 2n photoelectric conversion units are configured to photoelectrically convert 2n images formed by split light beams passing through the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals used to detect a phase difference, and

the image sensor has a mode in which the phase difference is detected using photoelectric conversion units of which a length between gravity centers is a first length out of the 2n photoelectric conversion units, and a mode in which the phase difference is detected using photoelectric conversion units of which a length between gravity centers is a second length, which is longer than the first length, out of the 2n photoelectric conversion units.

3. An image capturing apparatus including an image sensor according to claim 1 .

4. An image capturing apparatus including an image sensor according to claim 2 .

Priority Claims (2)
JP 2011-118397 · May 26, 2011 · national
JP 2012-045788 · Mar 1, 2012 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 13476161 · May 21, 2012
Related Publication 20150172577A1 · Jun 18, 2015