IP Library Granted Patent US 12,690,282
Granted Patent B2
US 12,690,282 · App. 18/210,946 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Image sensor and electronic apparatus including the image sensor

Inventors: Junho Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Sookyoung Roh (Suwon-si, KR); Sangeun Mun (Suwon-si, KR); Seokho Yun (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
H10F39/182H10F30/223H10F39/806H10F77/147
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 12,690,282
App. No.
18/210,946
Filed
Jun 16, 2023
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2898
USPC
257/432
Abstract

An image sensor may include a pixel array including a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixels. Each pixel may include a first meta-photodiode absorbing light of a first wavelength band; a second meta-photodiode absorbing light in a second wavelength band; and a third meta-photodiode absorbing light of a third wavelength band, wherein the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode may be arranged in an area having a size less than a diffraction limit. The arrangement form of the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode arranged in the plurality of pixels in a central portion of the pixel array may be the same as the arrangement form of the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode arranged in the plurality of pixels in a periphery of the pixel array.

Claims (55)

1 . An image sensor comprising:

a pixel array comprising a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises:

a first meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light of a first wavelength band;

a second meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light of a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; and

a third meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light of a third wavelength band different from the first wavelength band and second wavelength band,

wherein, the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode are arranged in an area having dimensions equal to or less than 450 nm×450 nm,

wherein the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode of one or more first pixels in a central portion of the pixel array, among the plurality of pixels, are arranged in a same form as the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode of one or more second pixels in a periphery of the pixel array, among the plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises one of the first meta-photodiode, one of the second meta-photodiode, and two of the third meta-photodiode, and

wherein the first meta-photodiode and the second meta-photodiode are provided in a first diagonal direction, and the two third meta-photodiodes are provided in a second diagonal direction crossing the first diagonal direction.

2 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein, in the central portion and the periphery of the pixel array, the first meta-photodiodes arranged in the plurality of pixels have a same first structure, the second meta-photodiodes have a same second structure, and the third meta-photodiodes have a same third structure.

3 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein, in each of the plurality of pixels, the following condition is satisfied: W/2+40 nm>S, where S is a spacing between two meta-photodiodes adjacent in a first direction among the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode and W is a sum of widths of the two adjacent meta-photodiodes.

4 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein, in each of the plurality of pixels, a spacing between two meta-photodiodes adjacent in a first direction among the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode is about 150 nm or less, and is at least ½ of a sum of widths of the two adjacent meta-photodiodes.

5 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein, in each of the plurality of pixels, a spacing between two meta-photodiodes adjacent in a first direction among the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode is one third or less of 450 nm×450 nm.

6 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the central portion of the pixel array is a first area in which incident light is vertically incident, and the periphery of the pixel array surrounds the central portion and is a second area in which incident light is obliquely incident.

7 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the pixel array further comprises:

an optical plate arranged to face light incident surfaces of the plurality of pixels and configured to change a traveling direction of incident light to be perpendicular to the light incident surfaces of the plurality of pixels.

8 . The image sensor of claim 7 , wherein the optical plate comprises a digital micro-lens array or a digital deflector.

9 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein each of the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode has a rod-shape comprising:

a first conductivity-type semiconductor layer,

an intrinsic semiconductor layer stacked on the first conductivity-type semiconductor layer, and

a second conductivity-type semiconductor layer stacked on the intrinsic semiconductor layer, and

wherein the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode respectively have a first width, a second width, and a third width different from each other in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction.

10 . The image sensor of claim 9 , wherein the first width, the second width, and the third width are about 50 nm to about 200 nm.

11 . The image sensor of claim 9 , wherein the first wavelength band is greater than the second wavelength band, and the second wavelength band is greater than the third wavelength band, and

wherein the first width is greater than the second width, and the second width is greater than the third width.

12 . The image sensor of claim 9 , wherein heights of the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode in the stacking direction are about 500 nm or more.

13 . The image sensor of claim 12 , wherein the heights of the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode in the stacking direction are same as each other.

14 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels has a width of about 250 nm to about 450 nm.

15 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein a sum of the number of the first meta-photodiodes, the second meta-photodiodes, and the third meta-photodiodes arranged in each of the plurality of pixels is nine, and the nine meta-photodiodes are arranged in the form of a 3×3 array.

16 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises one of the first meta-photodiodes, a plurality of the second meta-photodiodes, and a plurality of the third meta-photodiodes, and

wherein the first meta-photodiode is located at the center of each of the plurality of pixels.

17 . An image sensor comprising:

a pixel array comprising a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises:

a first meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light of a first wavelength band;

a second meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light in a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; and

a third meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light of a third wavelength band different from the first wavelength band and second wavelength band,

wherein the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode are arranged in an area having dimensions less than 450 nm×450 nm, and

wherein a spacing between two meta-photodiodes adjacent in a first direction among the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode is about 150 nm or less, and the spacing is at least ½ of a sum of widths of the two adjacent meta-photodiodes,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises one of the first meta-photodiode, one of the second meta-photodiode, and two of the third meta-photodiode, and

wherein the first meta-photodiode and the second meta-photodiode are provided in a first diagonal direction, and the two third meta-photodiodes are provided in a second diagonal direction crossing the first diagonal direction.

18 . The image sensor of claim 17 , wherein, in an entire area of the pixel array, the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode arranged in each of the plurality of pixels have a same arrangement form.

19 . An electronic apparatus comprising:

a lens assembly configured to form an optical image of an object;

an image sensor configured to convert the optical image formed by the lens assembly into an electrical signal; and

a processor configured to process a signal generated by the image sensor, wherein the image sensor comprises a pixel array including a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged pixels, and

each of the plurality of pixels comprises:

a first meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light of a first wavelength band;

a second meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light of a second wavelength band different from the first wavelength band; and

a third meta-photodiode configured to selectively absorb light of a third wavelength band different from the first wavelength band and second wavelength band,

wherein, the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode are arranged in an area having dimensions less than 450 nm×450 nm, and

wherein the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode of one or more first pixels in a central portion of the pixel array, among the plurality of pixels, are arranged in a same form as the first meta-photodiode, the second meta-photodiode, and the third meta-photodiode of one or more of second pixels in a periphery of the pixel array, among the plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels comprises one of the first meta-photodiode, one of the second meta-photodiode, and two of the third meta-photodiode, and

wherein the first meta-photodiode and the second meta-photodiode are provided in a first diagonal direction, and the two third meta-photodiodes are provided in a second diagonal direction crossing the first diagonal direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: LEE, JUNHO; ROH, SOOKYOUNG; MUN, SANGEUN; YUN, SEOKHO
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063976/0968 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2022-0079277 · Jun 28, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230420480A1 · Dec 28, 2023
References Cited (38)
US 7202896B2 · Wako et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 8076745B2 · Nishiwaki · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 9673236B2 · Jin et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9860491B2 · Park et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10418510B1 · Oyer et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10483414B2 · Han et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10976472B2 · Lee · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20120153124A1 · Yu et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20150214261A1 · Park · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160240580A1 · Xianyu et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180292585A1 · Yun · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200350481A1 · Jeon et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210057607A1 · Lin et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210066370A1 · Cho et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210124179A1 · Yun et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210126030A1 · Yun et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210126035A1 · Roh · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210126142A1 · Lee · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220137424A1 · Lee et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220150453A1 · Lee et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220223751A1 · Lee et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230020980A1 · Mun et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230084394A1 · Lee et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230246044A1 · Yun et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230378210A1 · Miyata et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
CN 109585342A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
EP 4152397A1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020160099386A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
KR 101772968B1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020210048953A · 2021 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020220063575A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020230012366A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020230040182A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020230116555A · 2023 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022079766A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued on Oct. 17, 2023 by the Korean Patent Office in corresponding KR Patent Application No. 10-2022-0079277. [cited by applicant]
European Extended Search Report issued Oct. 30, 2023 issued by the European Patent Office for EP Patent Application No. 23180532.6. [cited by applicant]
Communication issued on Dec. 1, 2025 by the European Patent Office in European Patent Application No. 23180532.6. [cited by applicant]