IP Library Granted Patent US 11,064,144
Granted Patent B2
US 11,064,144 · App. 16/301,904 · Granted Jul 13, 2021

Imaging element, imaging apparatus, and electronic equipment

Inventors: Masahiko Nakamura (Kanagawa, JP); Norihiko Akamatsu (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
H04N5/36961G02B7/34G03B13/36H01L27/146H01L27/14605H01L27/14621H01L27/14623H01L27/14627H04N5/369H04N5/379H04N9/0455H04N9/07H04N5/232122
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,064,144
App. No.
16/301,904
Granted
Jul 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present technology relates to an imaging element, an imaging apparatus, and electronic equipment which are capable of accurately detecting phase difference. The imaging element includes a first light-receiving part that receives incident light entering through a first on-chip lens, a first phase detecting pixel which is placed between the first on-chip lens and the first light-receiving part and which has a shading film to limit an amount of light reaching the first light-receiving part, and a second phase detecting pixel which has a second light-receiving part to receive incident light entering through a second on-chip lens, with the second light-receiving part being divided into a plurality of light-receiving regions. The technique disclosed herein is applicable to imaging apparatuses having the autofocusing function.

Claims (36)

1. An imaging element, comprising:

a first light-receiving part configured to receive first incident light through a first on-chip lens;

a first phase detecting pixel between the first on-chip lens and the first light-receiving part, wherein the first phase detecting pixel has a shading film to limit an amount of light that reaches the first light-receiving part; and

a second phase detecting pixel that comprises a second light-receiving part configured to receive second incident light through a second on-chip lens, wherein the second light-receiving part comprises a first plurality of light-receiving regions.

2. The imaging element as defined in claim 1 , wherein

the first phase detecting pixel is in a peripheral region of a pixel array part of the imaging element, and

the second phase detecting pixel is in a region other than the peripheral region of the pixel array part.

3. The imaging element as defined in claim 1 , wherein a density of the first phase detecting pixel gradually increases from a central region of a pixel array part of the imaging element to a peripheral region of the pixel array part.

4. The imaging element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first light-receiving part comprises a second plurality of light-receiving regions.

5. The imaging element as defined in claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of light-receiving regions and the second plurality of light-receiving regions are in at least one of a vertical direction or a lateral direction.

6. The imaging element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first phase detecting pixel and the second phase detecting pixel are configured to detect phase differences in different directions.

7. The imaging element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first phase detecting pixel includes:

a first pixel configured to detect a phase difference in a horizontal direction; and

a second pixel configured to detect the phase difference in a vertical direction.

8. The imaging element as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first light-receiving part has a light-receiving region.

9. The imaging element as defined in claim 1 , wherein

the first phase detecting pixel has a first color filter,

the second phase detecting pixel has a second color filter, and

the first color filter and the second color filter are of a same color.

10. The imaging element as defined in claim 9 , wherein

the first color filter and the second color filter are so arranged as to constitute Bayer layout for red, green, and blue, and

the first phase detecting pixel is arranged on the second phase detecting pixel such that blue color overlaps with green color.

11. The imaging element as defined in claim 1 , wherein

the second phase detecting pixel is configured to detect a phase difference inside an area, wherein the area is set based on optical conditions of at least one of the first on-chip lens or the second on-chip lens,

and

the first phase detecting pixel is configured to detect the phase difference outside the area.

12. An imaging apparatus, comprising:

an imaging element that comprises:

a first light-receiving part configured to receive first incident light through a first on-chip lens;

a first phase detecting pixel between the first on-chip lens and the first light-receiving part, wherein the first phase detecting pixel has a shading film to limit an amount of light that reaches the first light-receiving part; and

a second phase detecting pixel that comprises a second light-receiving part configured to receive second incident light through a second on-chip lens, wherein the second light-receiving part comprises a plurality of light-receiving regions.

13. An electronic equipment, comprising:

an imaging element that comprises:

a first light-receiving part configured to receive first incident light through a first on-chip lens;

a first phase detecting pixel between the first on-chip lens and the first light-receiving part, wherein the first phase detecting pixel has a shading film to limit an amount of light that reaches the first light-receiving part; and

a second phase detecting pixel that comprises a second light-receiving part configured to receive second incident light through a second on-chip lens, wherein the second light-receiving part being divided comprises a plurality of light-receiving regions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2018
From: NAKAMURA, MASAHIKO; AKAMATSU, NORIHIKO
To: SONY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047573/0149 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2016-112845 · Jun 6, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190289235A1 · Sep 19, 2019