Image sensor and imaging device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023378210-A1
Application number	US-202018031158-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 12, 2020
Priority date	Oct 12, 2020
Publication date	Nov 23, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An imaging element ( 100 ) includes: a pixel array ( 110 ) in which a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a two-dimensional array; and an optical element array ( 120 ) in which optical elements composed of a plurality of columnar structure bodies ( 160 ) arranged opposite to a pixel array ( 110 ) and guiding incident light to a corresponding photoelectric conversion element are arranged in a two-dimensional array, in which the plurality of columnar structure bodies ( 160 ) are formed in a width having a phase characteristic for guiding light to a photoelectric conversion element directly below a columnar structure body in accordance with an incident angle of the incident light of each columnar structure body ( 160 ) when viewed in a plan view and are formed at a same height when viewed in a side view.

First claim

1 . An imaging element, comprising:
a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a two-dimensional array; and an optical element array in which optical elements composed of a plurality of columnar structure bodies arranged opposite to a pixel array and guiding incident light to a corresponding photoelectric conversion element are arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein the plurality of columnar structure bodies are formed in a width having a phase characteristic for guiding light to a photoelectric conversion element directly below a columnar structure body in accordance with an incident angle of the incident light of each columnar structure body when viewed in a plan view and are formed at a same height when viewed in a side view.

2 . An imaging element, comprising:
a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a two-dimensional array; and an optical element array in which optical elements composed of a plurality of columnar structure bodies arranged opposite to a pixel array and guiding incident light to a corresponding photoelectric conversion element are arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein the plurality of columnar structure bodies have a refractive index so that they have a phase characteristic for guiding light to the photoelectric conversion element directly below a columnar structure body in accordance with an incident angle of the incident light of each columnar structure body and are formed at a same height when viewed in a side view.

3 . The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columnar structure bodies are formed of a material having a refractive index higher than that of the material surrounding the plurality of columnar structure bodies and formed in the optical element array at intervals shorter than a wavelength of the incident light.

4 . The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of columnar structure bodies provides an amount of optical phase delay according to the width of the columnar structure body to the incident light when viewed in a plan view, and
in the optical element, the width of each of the plurality of columnar structure bodies forming the optical element when viewed in a plan view is set to have a width in which an optical phase delay amount distribution for guiding incident light to the photoelectric conversion element directly below the optical element in accordance with the incident angle of the incident light is provided.

5 . The imaging element according to claim 4 , wherein the width of each of the plurality of columnar structure bodies when viewed in a plan view is set to provide an optical phase delay amount distribution for guiding the incident light to the corresponding photoelectric conversion element directly below the columnar structure body in accordance with the incident angle of the incident light for each corresponding photoelectric conversion element directly below the columnar structure body.

6 . The imaging element according to claim 4 , wherein the width of each of the plurality of columnar structure bodies when viewed in a plan view is set to have a value different for each wavelength range of the photoelectric conversion element directly below the columnar structure body.

7 . The imaging element according to claim 4 , wherein the optical phase delay amount distribution is an optical phase delay amount for condensing light.

8 . The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columnar structure bodies are prisms.

9 . The imaging element according to claim 1 , further including:
a transparent layer formed on the pixel array, wherein the plurality of columnar structure bodies are formed on an upper portion or an inside of the transparent layer with a material having a refractive index higher than that of the transparent layer.

10 . The imaging element according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of columnar structure bodies have a four-fold rotational symmetry structure when viewed in a plan view.

11 . An imaging device, comprising:
the imaging element according to claim 1 ; and a signal processing unit, including one or more processors, configured to process an electric signal output using the imaging element and generate an image.

Assignees

• Nippon Telegraph & Telephone

Inventors

• Miyata Masashi
• Nemoto Naru
• Nakajima Mitsumasa
• Hashimoto Toshikazu

Classifications

• H10F39/8067

  Reflectors · CPC title

• H10F39/806 Primary

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

• H10F39/8023 Primary

  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

• H01L27/14625 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G02B3/08

  with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens {(diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876)} · CPC title