Image capturing element and image capturing device image sensor and image-capturing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10686004-B2
Application number	US-201716085168-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

An image sensor having a plurality of pixels along a first direction includes: a first pixel having a first photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion and a reflecting portion disposed at least in a part of an area located in the first direction relative to a center of the first photoelectric conversion unit, which reflects part of light having been transmitted through the first photoelectric conversion unit toward the first photoelectric conversion unit; and a second pixel having a second photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion and a second reflecting portion disposed at least in a part of an area located in a direction opposite from the first direction relative to a center of the second photoelectric conversion unit, which reflects part of light having been transmitted through the second photoelectric conversion unit toward the second photoelectric conversion unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image sensor having a plurality of pixels along a first direction, the image sensor comprising:
a first pixel having:
a first filter having first spectral characteristics,
a first photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light having been transmitted through the first filter, and
a first reflecting portion disposed at least in a part of an area located in the first direction relative to a center of the first photoelectric conversion unit at a surface crossing a direction in which the light enters the first photoelectric conversion unit, which reflects part of light having been transmitted through the first photoelectric conversion unit toward the first photoelectric conversion unit; and

a second pixel having:
a second filter having the first spectral characteristics,
a second photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light having been transmitted through the second filter, and
a second reflecting portion disposed at least in a part of an area located in a direction opposite from the first direction relative to a center of the second photoelectric conversion unit at a surface crossing the direction in which the light enters the second photoelectric conversion unit, which reflects part of light having been transmitted through the second photoelectric conversion unit toward the second photoelectric conversion unit; and

a third pixel having:
a third filter having the first spectral characteristics, and
a third photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light having been transmitted through the third filter.

2. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first pixel includes a first output unit that outputs a signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion unit;
the second pixel includes a second output unit that outputs a signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the second photoelectric conversion unit; and
the first reflecting portion and the second reflecting portion are disposed between the first output unit and the second output unit, or the first output unit and the second output unit are disposed between the first reflecting portion and the second reflecting portion.

3. The image sensor according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first output unit includes a first wiring;
the second output unit includes a second wiring; and
the first reflecting portion and the second reflecting portion are disposed between the first wiring and the second wiring, or the first wiring and the second wiring are disposed between the first reflecting portion and the second reflecting portion.

4. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first reflecting portion is disposed over a first distance, measured along the first direction, from a separation portion present between the first pixel and an adjacent pixel; and
the second reflecting portion is disposed over a second distance, different from the first distance, measured along the first direction from a separation portion present between the second pixel and an adjacent pixel.

5. The image sensor according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fourth pixel having a fourth photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light having entered therein, wherein:
the fourth pixel includes fourth filter having second spectral characteristics with higher transmissivity to light with a shorter wavelength compared to the first spectral characteristics.

6. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first pixel is disposed next to the second pixel; and
a light shielding portion or another reflecting portion is disposed between the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit.

7. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the third pixel is disposed between the first pixel and the second pixel; and
a light shielding portion or another reflecting portion is disposed at least either between the first photoelectric conversion unit and the third photoelectric conversion unit or between the second photoelectric conversion unit and the third photoelectric conversion unit.

8. The image sensor according to claim 7 , wherein:
a plurality of third pixels, each identical to the third pixel, are disposed between the first pixel and the second pixel; and
a light shielding portion or another reflecting portion is disposed at least either between the third photoelectric conversion unit in at least one of the plurality of third pixels and the first photoelectric conversion unit or between the third photoelectric conversion unit in at least one of the plurality of third pixels and the second photoelectric conversion unit.

9. The image sensor according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first reflecting portion and the second reflecting portion are each constituted with a metal film or an insulating film.

10. An image-capturing device, comprising:
the image sensor according to claim 1 ; and
a control unit that controls a position of a focusing lens based upon a signal output from the first pixel and a signal output from the second pixel in the image sensor that captures an image formed via an optical system having included therein the focusing lens, so as to achieve an in-focus state at the image sensor for the image formed via the optical system.

11. An image-capturing device, comprising:
the image sensor according to claim 1 ; and
a control unit that controls a position of a focusing lens based upon a signal output from the first pixel, a signal output from the second pixel and a signal output from the third pixel in the image sensor that captures an image formed via an optical system that includes the focusing lens, so as to achieve an in-focus state at the image sensor for the image formed via the optical system.

12. An image sensor having a plurality of pixels along a first direction, the image sensor comprising:
a first pixel having;
a first filter having first spectral characteristics,
a first photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light having been transmitted through the first filter, and a first reflecting portion disposed at least in a part of an area located in the first direction relative to a center of the first photoelectric conversion unit at a surface crossing a direction in which the light enters the first photoelectric conversion unit, which reflects part of light having been transmitted through the first photoelectric conversion unit toward the first photoelectric conversion unit; and

a second pixel having;
a second filter having the first spectral characteristics,
a second photoelectric conversion unit that generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light having been transmitted through the second filter, and
a second reflecting portion disposed at least in a part of an area located in a direction opposite from the first direction relative to a center of the second photoelectric conversion unit at a surface crossing the direction in which the light enters the second photoelectric conversion unit, which reflects part of light having been transmitted through the second photoelectric conversion unit toward the second photoelectric conversion unit; and

a third pixel having;
a third filter having second spectral characteristics with higher transmissivity to light with a shorter wavelength compared to the first spectral characteristics, and
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Assignees

• Nikon Corp

Inventors

• Kato Shutaro
• Takagi Toru
• Seo Takashi
• Ando Ryoji

Classifications

• H04N25/70

  SSIS architectures; Circuits associated therewith · CPC title

• H10F39/8067

  Reflectors · CPC title

• H10F39/8063

  Microlenses · CPC title

• H10F39/8053

  Colour filters · CPC title

• H10F39/8023

  Disposition of the elements in pixels, e.g. smaller elements in the centre of the imager compared to larger elements at the periphery · CPC title