Multi-spectral imaging with almost-full fill-factor using 3D pixels
First Claim
1. An imaging sensor comprising a plurality of pixels, where each of said pixels comprises a semiconductor substrate and a three-dimensional stack of color sensors on the semiconductor substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Image systems having three dimensional pixels. Each pixel is comprised of a substrate and a three dimensional stack of color sensors. Wavelength sensitive color reflectors are inserted between the individual color sensors and the semiconductor substrate. Incoming photons are partially converted into an electric charge in a color sensor. The unabsorbed portion is wavelength-selectively reflected to produce additional charge in the color sensor. The transmitted portion passes into a lower color sensor to produce an electric charge in that lower color sensor. The unabsorbed portion is wavelength-selectively reflected by another color reflector to produce additional charge in the lower color sensor. The process repeats for still lower color sensors/color reflectors. The substrate includes logic to interrogate the color sensors. Electrical conductors connect the substrate to the individual color sensors.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An imaging sensor comprising a plurality of pixels, where each of said pixels comprises a semiconductor substrate and a three-dimensional stack of color sensors on the semiconductor substrate.
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11. An imaging sensor comprising:
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a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of crossing row and column conductors;
a row decoder for selectively applying potentials to a set of row conductors;
a column decoder for selectively reading charges on a set of column conductors;
a pixel matrix comprised of a plurality of pixels, where each of said pixels is located adjacent to one of said crossings of row and column conductors, wherein each pixel includes a three-dimensional stack of color sensors on said semiconductor substrate; and
electrical connectors that electrically connect each color sensor to one of said row conductors and to one of said column conductors. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of imaging, comprising the steps of:
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converting a first portion of incoming light into a first electric charge;
reflecting a second portion of the incoming light and converting said second portion into additional first electric charge;
passing the remaining incoming light through a material while reflecting the second portion;
converting a third portion of incoming light into a second electric charge;
reflecting a fourth portion of the incoming light and converting said fourth portion into additional second electric charge;
passing the remaining incoming light through a material while reflecting the fourth portion;
converting a fifth portion of incoming light into a third electric charge; and
reflecting a sixth portion of the incoming light and converting said sixth portion into additional third electric charge. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification