Image sensor employing a plurality of photodetector arrays and/or rear-illuminated architecture

• US 20070034777A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tessera, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tessera, Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Inventors: Honer, Kenneth, McWilliams, Bruce, Goudge, Charles, Tuckerman, David, Colella, Nicholas
• Granted Patent: US 7,566,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/208.100
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14618 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14632 Wafer-level processed structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/13 with multiple sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/133 including elements passing panchromatic light, e.g. filters passing white light
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/135 based on four or more different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors

Abstract

Image sensors are provided having a plurality of photodetectors in a detector layer Optionally, an optically transparent substrate is provided for a rear-illuminated sensor architecture. The photodetectors may be arranged in three or more arrays. Typically, each array is contiguous and is associated with light of a different color and/or wavelength. In addition, the arrays may be coplanar, or, in the alternative, located at increasing distances from a light-receiving surface in an at least partially nonoverlapping manner. Also provided are image sensor packages.

Claims

1. An image sensor, comprising:

an optically transparent substrate having a light-receiving surface and an opposing surface;

photodetectors located at sites of first, second, and third arrays in a detector layer in contact with the opposing surface; and

one or more color filters positioned in a manner effective to allow for selective transmission of light of first, second, and third wavelengths through the substrate to first, second, and third arrays, respectively.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises an oxide material.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the oxide material is selected from the group consisting of silicon oxides and aluminum oxides.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein the oxide material is a crystalline silicon oxide.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the detector layer comprises a semiconductor material.

6. The sensor of claim 5, wherein the semiconductor material comprises Si.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the photodetectors are arranged in contiguous first, second, and third arrays within the detector layer.

8. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the arrays are substantially coplanar relative to each other.

9. The sensor of claim 7, wherein the arrays are arranged in a triangle pattern.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the photodetectors are located at sites of first, second, third, and fourth arrays in the detector layer.

11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the arrays are arranged in a quadrilateral pattern.

12. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the photodetectors are located at sites of first, second, third, fourth, and fifth arrays in the detector layer.

13. The sensor of claim 12, wherein the arrays are arranged in a cross pattern.

14. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the arrays arranged in a linear pattern.

15. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third wavelengths correspond to red, green, and blue.

16. The sensor of claim 15, further comprising a fourth array of photodetectors, wherein the one or more color filters is positioned to allow for selective transmission of light of first, second, third, and fourth wavelengths through the substrate to first, second, third, and fourth arrays, respectively.

17. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the fourth wavelength corresponds to white.

18. The sensor of claim 16, wherein the fourth wavelength is substantially equal to either the first, second, or the third wavelength.

19. The sensor of claim 18, wherein the fourth wavelength corresponds to green.

20. The sensor of claim 1, in the absence of any microlens.

21. A image sensor package, comprising:

an optically transparent substrate having a light-receiving surface;

a plurality of electrical contacts;

a detector layer interposed between the electrical contact and the substrate;

photodetectors located at sites of first, second, and third arrays in the detector layer; and

one or more color filters positioned in a manner effective to allow for selective transmission of light of first, second, and third wavelengths through the substrate to first, second, and third arrays, respectively,

wherein the electrical contacts are

in electrical communication with the photodetectors, and

movable relative to the photodetectors.

22. An image sensor, comprising:

substantially coplanar first, second, and third contiguous arrays of photodetectors located in a detector layer; and

first, second, and third lenses positioned in a manner effective to direct transmission of light to the first, second, and third arrays of photodetectors, respectively.

23. An image sensor, comprising:

a detector layer having a light-receiving surface; and

first, second, and third contiguous arrays of photodetectors located in the detector layer at increasing distances from the light-receiving surface,

wherein at least a portion of each array does not overlap another.

24. The image sensor of claim 23, wherein no portion of each array overlaps another.

25. The image sensor of claim 24, wherein each contiguous array is placed in a manner effective to detect light of a different wavelength.

26. The image sensor of claim 23, wherein no pixel overlaps another.