Color filter imaging array and method of formation

• US 20030211405A1
• Filed: 05/13/2002
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Venkataraman, Kartik
• Granted Patent: US 6,783,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 430/7
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14603 Special geometry or disposition of pixel-elements, address-lines or gate-electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14609 Pixel-elements with integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements scanning details of imagers (circuitry of solid-state image sensors H04N25/00); circuitry of imagers H04N25/70
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14627 Microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14643 Photodiode arrays; MOS imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 600/921 Manipulating image characteristics

Abstract

A color filter array pattern for use in a solid-state imager comprising red sensitive elements located at every other array position, with alternating blue sensitive and green sensitive elements located at the remaining array positions, is disclosed. Since red color is sampled most frequently, the color filter may be part of an in vivo camera system for imaging internal human body organs and tissues.

Claims

1. A color filter array for use in an imaging device comprising:

an imaging array; and

an array of light sensitive elements provided over said imaging array, said array of light sensitive elements comprising red sensitive elements, said red sensitive elements occurring at every other element position of said array of light sensitive elements.

2. The color filter array of claim 1, wherein said array of light sensitive elements further comprises blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements arranged in repeating patterns with respect to said red sensitive elements.

3. The color filter array of claim 1, wherein said blue sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements alternate with said red sensitive elements in alternate rows, respectively, of said array of light sensitive elements.

4. The color filter array of claim 3, wherein said blue sensitive elements occur at one fourth of said element positions.

5. The color filter array of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is part of an in vivo camera system.

6. The color filter array of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is part of an in vivo CMOS capsule camera.

7. The color filter array of claim 1, wherein said imaging device is part of an endoscope.

8. A color filter pattern for use in an imaging device comprising:

a plurality of light sensitive elements comprising red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements arranged in a predefined pattern, said red sensitive elements occurring at every other element position of said predefined pattern.

9. The color filter pattern of claim 8, wherein said blue sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements arranged in repeating order with respect to said red sensitive elements.

10. The color filter pattern of claim 9, wherein said blue sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements alternate with said red sensitive elements in alternate rows, respectively, of said predefined pattern.

11. The color filter pattern of claim 8, wherein said blue sensitive elements occur at one fourth of said element positions.

12. The color filter pattern of claim 8, wherein said imaging device is part of an in vivo camera system.

13. The color filter pattern of claim 8, wherein said imaging device is part of an in vivo CMOS capsule camera.

14. The color filter pattern of claim 8, wherein said imaging device is part of an endoscope.

15. A color filter pattern for use in a swallowable capsule imaging device comprising:

a plurality of light sensitive elements provided over an imaging area of said swallowable capsule imaging device, said plurality of light sensitive elements comprising red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements arranged in a predefined pattern, said red sensitive elements occurring at every other element position of said predefined pattern, and wherein said blue sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements alternate with said red sensitive elements in alternate rows, respectively, of said predefined pattern.

16. The color filter pattern of claim 15, wherein said blue sensitive elements occur at one eight of said element positions.

17. The color filter pattern of claim 15, wherein said capsule imaging device is part of an in vivo camera system.

18. An imager comprising:

an imaging array having a plurality of pixel sensor cells formed at an upper surface of a substrate and providing output data representing an image; and

a color filter layer formed on said imaging array, said color filter layer comprising a plurality of red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements, said plurality of red, blue and green sensitive elements being arranged in a color filter pattern so that said red sensitive elements occur at every other element position of said color filter pattern.

19. The imager of claim 18, wherein said blue sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements alternate with said red sensitive elements in alternate rows, respectively, of said color filter pattern.

20. The imager of claim 18, wherein said blue sensitive elements occur at one fourth of said element positions.

21. The imager of claim 18, wherein said pixel sensor cells are part of an in vivo camera system.

22. The imager of claim 18, wherein said pixel sensor cells are part of an in vivo CMOS capsule camera.

23. The imager of claim 18, wherein said pixel sensor cells are part of an endoscope.

24. The imager of claim 18, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal body organ.

25. The imager of claim 18, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal body muscle.

26. The imager of claim 18, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal body tissue.

27. A CMOS imager comprising:

an array of pixel sensor cells formed at an upper surface of a substrate;

a protective layer formed over said array; and

a color filter layer formed on said protective layer, said color filter layer comprising a plurality of red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements, said plurality of red, blue and green sensitive elements being arranged in a color filter pattern so that said red sensitive elements occur at every other element position of said color filter pattern.

28. The CMOS imager of claim 27, wherein said blue sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements alternate with said red sensitive elements in alternate rows, respectively, of said color filter pattern.

29. The CMOS imager of claim 27, wherein said blue sensitive elements occur at one fourth of said element positions.

30. The CMOS imager of claim 27, wherein said pixel sensor cells are part of an in vivo camera system.

31. The CMOS imager of claim 27, wherein said pixel sensor cells are part of an endoscope.

32. The CMOS imager of claim 27, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal body organ.

33. The CMOS imager of claim 27, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal body tissue.

34. A method of forming a color filter array for use in an imaging device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate having an array of pixel sensors cells formed thereon;

providing a protective layer over said pixel sensors cells; and

forming a color filter layer over said protective layer, said color filter layer being formed of a plurality of light sensitive elements comprising red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements, said plurality of light sensitive elements being arranged in a predefined pattern so that said red sensitive elements occur at every other element position of said predefined pattern.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said blue sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements alternate with said red sensitive elements in alternate rows, respectively, of said color filter pattern.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said blue sensitive elements occur at one eight of said element positions.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said pixel sensor cells form part of an in vivo camera system.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said pixel sensor cells form part of an in vivo CCD capsule camera.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein said pixel sensor cells form part of an endoscope.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal body organ.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal body muscle.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal body tissue.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of the human cardiovascular system.

44. A method of forming a color filter array for use in an in vivo video camera system, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a semiconductor substrate having an array of pixel sensors cells formed thereon, said pixel sensor cells providing output data representing an image of internal human body;

providing a protective layer over said pixel sensors cells; and

forming a color filter layer over said protective layer, said color filter layer being formed of a plurality of light sensitive elements comprising red sensitive elements, blue sensitive elements and green sensitive elements, said plurality of light sensitive elements being arranged in a predefined pattern so that said red sensitive elements occur at every other element position of said predefined pattern.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said blue sensitive elements and said green sensitive elements alternate with said red sensitive elements in alternate rows, respectively, of said color filter pattern.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said blue sensitive elements occur at one eight of said element positions.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein said in vivo video camera is a CMOS capsule camera.

48. The method of claim 44, wherein said in vivo video camera is part of an endoscope.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of an internal muscle.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of the cardiovascular system

51. The method of claim 44, wherein said pixel sensor cells provide output data representing an image of the gastrointestinal system.