IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,727,274
Granted Patent B2
US 12,727,274 · App. 18/540,418 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Image sensor

Inventors: Youngrae Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Sachoun Park (Suwon-si, KR); Daeuk Jung (Suwon-si, KR); Jeongjin Cho (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
H10F39/8063H10F39/024H10F39/182H10F39/805H10F39/8053H10F39/8057H10F39/809H10F39/811G02B3/0062
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,727,274
App. No.
18/540,418
Granted
Sep 1, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image sensor includes: a first substrate including: a first side, a second side, a pixel array region, and an edge region; and a micro lens array on the second side, which includes micro lenses. Each of the micro lenses includes a first lens layer and a second lens layer on the first lens layer. A second mean curvature radius of the second lens layer is smaller than a first mean curvature radius of the first lens layer. A first eccentric degree of the second lens layer on an edge of the pixel array region is greater than a second eccentric degree of the second lens layer at a center of the pixel array region.

Claims (82)

1 . An image sensor comprising:

a first substrate comprising:

a first side,

a second side that is opposite to the first side,

a pixel array region comprising unit pixels, and

an edge region surrounding the pixel array region; and

a micro lens array on the second side, the micro lens array comprising micro lenses,

wherein each of the micro lenses comprises a first lens layer and a second lens layer on the first lens layer,

wherein a second mean curvature radius of the second lens layer is smaller than a first mean curvature radius of the first lens layer,

wherein a first eccentric degree of the second lens layer on an edge of the pixel array region is greater than a second eccentric degree of the second lens layer at a center of the pixel array region, wherein each of the first eccentric degree and the second eccentric degree corresponds to a degree to which a center optical axis of the second lens layer deviates from the center optical axis of the first lens layer, and

wherein a direction in which the center optical axis of the second lens layer is eccentric from the center optical axis of the first lens layer is toward the center of the pixel array region.

2 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first eccentric degree increases in accordance with a distance from the center of the pixel array region.

3 . The image sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first eccentric degree and the second eccentric degree is an angle formed by the center optical axis of the second lens layer with respect to the center optical axis of the first lens layer, and

wherein the first eccentric degree is a value between zero (0) degree to 45 degrees.

4 . The image sensor of claim 3 , wherein the second eccentric degree is zero (0) degree.

5 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first lens layer and the second lens layer are integrally combined without an interface therebetween.

6 . The image sensor of claim 5 , wherein a second radius of a second bottom cross-section of the second lens layer is smaller than a first radius of a first bottom cross-section of the first lens layer.

7 . The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein a second radius of a second bottom cross-section of the second lens layer is smaller than a first radius of a first bottom cross-section of the first lens layer.

8 . The image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising color filters and an antireflection structure between the second side of the first substrate and the micro lens array.

9 . The image sensor of claim 8 , wherein the first substrate comprises photoelectric converters.

10 . The image sensor of claim 8 , further comprising a light blocking grid pattern and a low-refraction grid pattern on the antireflection structure and between the color filters.

11 . The image sensor of claim 8 , further comprising an optical black pattern on the antireflection structure and surrounding the pixel array region.

12 . The image sensor of claim 11 , further comprising a lens remaining layer on the optical black pattern.

13 . The image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second substrate on the first side of the first substrate, and

a peripheral transistor on the second substrate.

14 . The image sensor of claim 13 , further comprising wiring layers and interlayer insulating layers between the first substrate and the second substrate.

15 . The image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second substrate and a third substrate on the first side of the first substrate;

a first wiring layer and a first interlayer insulating layer between the first substrate and the second substrate;

a second wiring layer and a second interlayer insulating layer between the second substrate and the third substrate; and

a third wiring layer and a third interlayer insulating layer on the third substrate.

16 . The image sensor of claim 15 , wherein the second substrate, the first wiring layer, and the second wiring layer comprise a selection gate and a source follower gate, and

wherein the third substrate and the third wiring layer comprise a peripheral transistor.

17 . An image sensor comprising:

a first substrate comprising:

a first side,

a second side that is opposite to the first side,

a pixel array region comprising unit pixels, and

an edge region;

an antireflection structure on the second side;

a pixel separator on the first substrate and separating the unit pixels;

a color filter in the antireflection structure;

a micro lens array on the color filter and comprising micro lenses;

a first interlayer insulating layer on the first side of the first substrate;

a first wiring layer in the first interlayer insulating layer;

a second interlayer insulating layer below the first interlayer insulating layer;

a second wiring layer in the second interlayer insulating layer; and

a second substrate below the second interlayer insulating layer,

wherein each of the micro lenses comprises a first lens layer and a second lens layer on the first lens layer,

wherein a second mean curvature radius of the second lens layer is smaller than a first mean curvature radius of the first lens layer,

wherein a first eccentric degree of the second lens layer on an edge of the pixel array region is greater than a second eccentric degree of the second lens layer at a center of the pixel array region, wherein each of the first eccentric degree and the second eccentric degree corresponds to a degree to which a center optical axis of the second lens layer deviates from the center optical axis of the first lens layer, and

wherein a direction in which the center optical axis of the second lens layer is eccentric from the center optical axis of the first lens layer is toward a center of the pixel array region.

18 . The image sensor of claim 17 , wherein the first eccentric degree increases in accordance with a distance from the center of the pixel array region, and

wherein a second radius of a second bottom cross-section of the second lens layer is smaller than a first radius of a first bottom cross-section of the first lens layer.

19 . An image sensor comprising:

a first sub-chip comprising:

a first substrate comprising:

a first side,

a second side that is opposite to the first side,

a pixal array region comprising unit pixels, and

an edge region,

an antireflection structure on the second side,

a pixel separator on the first substrate and separating the unit pixels,

a color filter in the antireflection structure,

a micro lens array on the color filter,

a first interlayer insulating layer on the first side of the first substrate, and

a first wiring layer in the first interlayer insulating layer;

a second sub-chip comprising:

a second substrate below the first interlayer insulating layer,

a second interlayer insulating layer below the second substrate, and

a second wiring layer in the second interlayer insulating layer;

a third sub-chip comprising:

a third interlayer insulating layer below the second interlayer insulating layer,

a third wiring layer in the third interlayer insulating layer, and

a third substrate below the third interlayer insulating layer, and

micro lenses comprising a first lens layer and a second lens layer on the first lens layer,

wherein a second mean curvature radius of the second lens layer is smaller than a first mean curvature radius of the first lens layer,

wherein a first eccentric degree of the second lens layer disposed on an edge of the pixel array region is greater than a second eccentric degree of the second lens layer disposed at a center of the pixel array region, wherein each of the first eccentric degree and the second eccentric degree corresponds to a degree to which a center optical axis of the second lens layer deviates from the center optical axis of the first lens layer, and

wherein a direction in which the center optical axis of the second lens layer is eccentric from the center optical axis of the first lens layer is toward a center of the pixel array region.

20 . The image sensor of claim 19 , wherein the first eccentric degree increases in accordance with a distance from the center of the pixel array region, and

wherein a second radius of a second bottom cross-section of the second lens layer is smaller than a first radius of a first bottom cross-section of the first lens layer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2023
From: KIM, YOUNGRAE; PARK, SACHOUN; JUNG, DAEUK; CHO, JEONGJIN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065875/0859 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2023-0073775 · Jun 8, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240413182A1 · Dec 12, 2024
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