IP Library Granted Patent US 11,075,236
Granted Patent B2
US 11,075,236 · App. 16/486,936 · Granted Jul 27, 2021

Solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus

Inventors: Shouichirou Shiraishi (Kanagawa, JP); Takuya Maruyama (Kanagawa, JP); Shinichiro Yagi (Kanagawa, JP); Shohei Shimada (Tokyo, JP); Shinya Sato (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
H01L27/14607B60R11/04H01L27/1463H01L27/14612H01L27/14621H01L27/14645
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,075,236
App. No.
16/486,936
Granted
Jul 27, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus capable of improving the accuracy of phase difference detection while suppressing degradation of a picked-up image. There is provided a solid-state imaging device including: a pixel array unit, a plurality of pixels being two-dimensionally arranged in the pixel array unit, a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices being formed with respect to one on-chip lens in each of the plurality of pixels, a part of at least one of an inter-pixel separation unit formed between the plurality of pixels and an inter-pixel light blocking unit formed between the plurality of pixels protruding toward a center of the corresponding pixel in a projecting shape to form a projection portion. The present technology is applicable to, for example, a CMOS image sensor including a pixel for detecting the phase difference.

Claims (53)

1. A solid-state imaging device, comprising:

a pixel array unit, including:

a plurality of pixels, wherein the pixels are two-dimensionally arranged in the pixel array unit, and;

a plurality of photoelectric conversion areas formed with respect to one on-chip lens in each pixel of the plurality of pixels, wherein for each pixel of the plurality of pixels a part of at least one of an inter-pixel separation unit formed between the plurality of pixels and an inter-pixel light blocking unit formed between the plurality of pixels protrudes toward a center of the corresponding pixel in a projecting shape to form a projection portion, and wherein for each pixel in the plurality of pixels an impurity region is disposed between the first and second photoelectric conversion areas.

2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the plurality of pixels is a square unit pixel, and

the projection portion is formed toward a center of the square unit pixel.

3. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein

the inter-pixel separation unit is formed of a material embedded in a trench formed in a square lattice in a semiconductor layer in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices are formed, and physically separates adjacent pixels, and

a part of the inter-pixel separation unit protrudes toward the center of the square unit pixel in a projecting shape to form the projection portion.

4. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein

the inter-pixel light blocking unit is formed of a material formed in a square lattice in an area between the on-chip lens and a semiconductor layer in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices are formed, and blocks light between adjacent pixels, and

a part of the inter-pixel light blocking unit protrudes toward the center of the square unit pixel in a projecting shape to form the projection portion.

5. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein

the inter-pixel separation unit is formed of a material embedded in a trench formed in a square lattice in a semiconductor layer in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices are formed, and physically separates adjacent pixels,

the inter-pixel light blocking unit is formed of a material formed in a square lattice in an area between the on-chip lens and a semiconductor layer in which the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices are formed, and blocks light between adjacent pixels, and

a part of the inter-pixel separation unit and a part of the inter-pixel light blocking unit protrude toward the center of the square unit pixel in a projecting shape to form the projection portion.

6. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein

the square unit pixel forms an R pixel, a G pixel, or a B pixel corresponding to a red (R), green (G), or blue (B) color filter located immediately below the on-chip lens, respectively, and

the projection portion is formed with respect to at least one of the R pixel, the G pixel, and the B pixel among the plurality of pixels arranged in the pixel array unit.

7. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein

the projection portion is formed with respect to only the R pixel, the G pixel, or the B pixel.

8. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein

the projection portion is formed with respect to all of the R pixel, the G pixel, and the B pixel.

9. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein

the projection portion is formed with respect to a combination of two pixels out of the R pixel, the G pixel, and the B pixel.

10. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 6 , wherein

a projecting length of the projection portion differs for each of the R pixel, the G pixel, and the B pixel.

11. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein

a protruding length of the projection portion is determined depending on a focused spot diameter of the on-chip lens.

12. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 11 , wherein

the protruding length of the projection portion corresponds to one seventh to one fourth a length of a side of a pitch of the on-chip lens.

13. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein

a depth of a cross section of the projection portion with respect to an incident surface of light differs for each projecting part having a projecting shape.

14. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 3 , wherein

the trench is formed from a first surface that is a surface on a light incident side or a second surface that is a surface opposite to the light incident side.

15. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein

in the square unit pixel, the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices formed in a semiconductor layer are separated by an impurity.

16. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2 , wherein

an output of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices is used for phase difference detection.

17. A solid-state imaging device, comprising:

a pixel array unit, and

a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged in the pixel array unit, wherein first and second photoelectric conversion devices are formed in each of the plurality of pixels, the pixel array unit including pixels arranged with respect to one on-chip lens, a part of at least one of an inter-pixel separation unit and an inter-pixel light blocking unit formed between the pixels protrudes toward a center of the pixels arranged with respect to the one on-chip lens in a projecting shape to form a projection portion, wherein in each of the pixels the projection portion extends between at least portions of the first and second photoelectric conversion devices, wherein the projection portion is not formed at the center of each of the pixels, and wherein an impurity region extends through the center of each of the pixels and between the first, and second photoelectric conversion devices.

18. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein

the on-chip lens has an elliptical shape covering two consecutive pixels in a row direction or a column direction, and

a part of at least one of the inter-pixel separation unit and the inter-pixel light blocking unit protrudes between the two consecutive pixels to form the projection portion.

19. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein

the on-chip lens has a circular shape covering four pixels in two rows and two columns, and

a part of at least one of the inter-pixel separation unit and the inter-pixel light blocking unit protrudes toward a center of the four pixels to form the projection portion.

20. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a solid-state imaging device including

a pixel array unit, a plurality of pixels being two-dimensionally arranged in the pixel array unit,

a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices being formed with respect to one on-chip lens in each pixel of the plurality of pixels, a part of at least one of an inter-pixel separation unit formed between the plurality of pixels and an inter-pixel light blocking unit formed between the plurality of pixels protruding toward a center of the corresponding pixel in a projecting shape to form a projection portion, wherein in each of the pixels the projection portion extends between at least portions of the photoelectric conversion devices, wherein the projection portion is not formed at the center of each of the pixels, and wherein an impurity region extend through the center of each of the pixels and between the photoelectric conversion devices.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2019
From: SHIRAISHI, SHOUICHIROU; MARUYAMA, TAKUYA; YAGI, SHINICHIRO; SHIMADA, SHOHEI; SATO, SHINYA
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050588/0602 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP JP2017-105715 · May 29, 2017 · national
JP JP2018-095949 · May 18, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200235149A1 · Jul 23, 2020
Cited By (6)
US 12,199,114 US 12,368,981 US 12,414,397 US 12,414,399 US 12,672,368 US 12,690,287