Single chip image sensor with both visible light image and ultraviolet light detection ability and the methods to implement the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016142660-A1
Application number	US-201514853948-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 14, 2015
Priority date	Sep 12, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a single chip image sensor with both visible light image and ultraviolet light detection ability and methods to implement the single chip image sensor. In an embodiment, a single chip image sensor may comprise a first plurality of sensor cells provided on a substrate, the first plurality of sensor cells each including a photo detector sensitive to visible light, and a UV coating layer provided for the first plurality of sensor cells to convert incident UV light to visible light.

First claim

1 . A single chip image sensor, comprising:
a first plurality of sensor cells provided on a substrate, the first plurality of sensor cells each including a photo detector sensitive to visible light, and a UV coating layer provided for the first plurality of sensor cells to convert incident UV light to visible light.

2 . The single chip image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second plurality of sensor cells provided on the substrate, the second plurality of sensor cells each also including a photo detector sensitive to visible light.

3 . The single chip image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a filter film disposed on the UV coating layer to block incident visible and infrared lights.

4 . The single chip image sensor of claim 2 , further comprising:
a package cover disposed over the first and second plurality of sensor cells.

5 . The single chip image sensor of claim 4 , wherein the UV coating layer is provided on a portion of the package cover that covers the first plurality of sensor cells.

6 . The single chip image sensor of claim 4 , wherein the UV coating layer is provided between the package cover and the first plurality of sensor cells.

7 . The single chip image sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first and second plurality of sensor cells each further comprises:
a color filter formed on the photo detector to allow light of a particular color to pass therethrough, and a micro-lens formed on the color filter to focus incident light onto the photo detector.

8 . The single chip image sensor of claim 7 , wherein the color filter includes a red, green or blue filter.

9 . The single chip image sensor of claim 7 , wherein the UV coating layer is formed within the first plurality of sensor cells.

10 . The single chip image sensor of claim 9 , wherein the color filters in the first plurality of sensor cells are replaced by the UV coating layer.

11 . The single chip image sensor of claim 2 , wherein the first and second plurality of sensor cells are arranged in an array of a rectangular shape, and the first plurality of sensor cells are arranged along a side of the rectangular shape.

12 . The single chip image sensor of claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of sensor cells includes a black region where the sensor cells are covered by a black layer so as to sense a dark current, and the first plurality of sensor cells and the second plurality of sensor cells in the black region are arranged along a same side of the rectangular shape.

13 . The single chip image sensor of claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of sensor cells are arranged in a rectangular region that is separated from or abuts a rectangular region where the first plurality of sensor cells are arranged.

14 . An electronic device including a single chip image sensor comprising:
a first plurality of sensor cells provided on a substrate, the first plurality of sensor cells each including a photo detector sensitive to visible light, and a UV coating layer provided for the first plurality of sensor cells to convert incident UV light to visible light.

15 . The electronic device of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second plurality of sensor cells provided on the substrate, the second plurality of sensor cells each also including a photo detector sensitive to visible light.

16 . The electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising:
a filter film disposed on the UV coating layer to block incident visible and infrared lights.

17 . The electronic device of claim 15 , further comprising:
a package cover disposed over the first and second plurality of sensor cells, wherein the UV coating layer is disposed above or below the package cover.

18 . The electronic device of claim 14 , wherein the electronic device is one of a cell phone, a tablet, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wearable device, a smart watch, or a camera.

19 . A method of making a single chip image sensor, comprising:
forming a first plurality of sensor cells on a substrate, the first plurality of sensor cells each including a photo detector sensitive to visible light; and providing a UV coating layer for the first plurality of sensor cells, the UV coating layer being capable of converting incident UV light to visible light.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
forming a second plurality of sensor cells on the substrate, the second plurality of sensor cells each also including a photo detector sensitive to visible light.

Assignees

• Shen Yanfei
• Zhang Garry Guangbin
• Qiao Wenhao
• Pang Jiangtao
• Du Zheng
• Cista Sys Corp

Inventors

• Shen Yanfei
• Zhang Garry Guangbin
• Qiao Wenhao
• Pang Jiangtao
• Du Zheng

Classifications

• H04N25/633

  by using optical black pixels · CPC title

• H10F39/8063

  Microlenses · CPC title

• H10F39/8053

  Colour filters · CPC title

• H10F39/806

  Optical elements or arrangements associated with the image sensors · CPC title

• H10F39/024

  of coatings or optical elements · CPC title