IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,361,230
Granted Patent B2
US 10,361,230 · App. 15/595,236 · Granted Jul 23, 2019

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 (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
H01L27/14605H01L27/1462H01L27/1464H01L27/14627H01L27/14685H01L27/14812
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,361,230
App. No.
15/595,236
Granted
Jul 23, 2019
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 (84)

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, and

wherein a first aspect ratio of the first projection and depression structure is equal to a second aspect ratio of the second projection and depression structure.

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.

3. The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein

a first exit angle of a first light beam that passes through the first light collecting part is same as a second 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 first surface of the first lens comprises the first projection and depression structure, and

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

a second 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 third 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. The imaging element according to claim 2 , wherein

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

12. The imaging element according to claim 11 ,

wherein the first scale of the first projection and depression structure is larger than the 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 are based on a wavelength of the incident light.

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

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

wherein forming the plurality of pixels comprises:

forming a first pixel and a second pixel,

wherein forming the first pixel comprises:

forming a first photoelectric conversion element; and

forming a first light collecting part,

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

wherein forming the second pixel comprises:

forming a second photoelectric conversion element; and

forming a second light collecting part,

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

wherein a first aspect ratio of the first projection and depression structure is equal to a second aspect ratio of the second projection and depression structure.

14. The method according to claim 13 ,

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

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein

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

16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein

the first light collecting part comprises a first lens, and

the second light collecting part comprises a second lens.

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

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

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

18. The method according to claim 16 , 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.

19. The method according to claim 18 , further comprising:

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

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

20. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising

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

21. The method according to claim 20 , further comprising

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

22. The method according to claim 16 , 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.

23. The method according to claim 14 , wherein

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

24. The method according to claim 23 ,

wherein the first scale of the first projection and depression structure is larger than the second scale of the second projection and depression structure,

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 are based on a wavelength of the incident light.

Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-035471 · Feb 22, 2011 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14293591 · Jun 2, 2014
Continuation 13372620 · Feb 14, 2012
Related Publication 20170250213A1 · Aug 31, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,452,512