SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC CAMERA

• US 20130182173A1
• Filed: 01/08/2013
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: MURATA, Hironobu
• Granted Patent: US 9,385,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/349
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14605 Structural or functional details relating to the position of the pixel elements, e.g. smaller pixel elements in the center of the imager compared to pixel elements at the periphery
• 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 27/14636 Interconnect structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/1464 Back illuminated imager structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14645 Colour imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14647 Multicolour imagers having a stacked pixel-element structure, e.g. npn, npnpn or MQW elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/236 using varifocal lenses or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/271 wherein the generated image signals comprise depth maps or disparity maps
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/673 based on contrast or high frequency components of image signals, e.g. hill climbing method
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/136 using complementary colours
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/702 SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 19/20 comprising components having an active region that includes an inorganic semiconductor
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 39/32 Organic image sensors

Abstract

A solid-state imaging device includes a second image sensor having an organic photoelectric conversion film transmitting a specific light, and a first image sensor which is stacked in layers on a same semiconductor substrate as that of the second image sensor and which receives the specific light having transmitted the second image sensor, in which a pixel for focus detection is provided in the second image sensor or the first image sensor. Therefore, an AF method can be realized independently of a pixel for imaging.

Claims

1. A solid-state imaging device comprising:

a second image sensor including an organic photoelectric conversion film transmitting a specific light; and

a first image sensor which is stacked in layers on a same semiconductor substrate as that of the second image sensor and which receives the specific light having transmitted the second image sensor, wherein

a pixel for focus detection is provided in one of the second image sensor and the first image sensor.

2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the second image sensor is arranged in a specific color array as a color filter of the first image sensor.

3. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2, wherein

a color component of an image signal photoelectrically converted by the second image sensor and a color component of an image signal photoelectrically converted by the first image sensor are in a complementary color relationship.

4. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

a light-receiving surface of the second image sensor and a light-receiving surface of the first image sensor are arranged on a same optical path.

5. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2, wherein

a light-receiving surface of the second image sensor and a light-receiving surface of the first image sensor are arranged on a same optical path.

6. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein

a light-receiving surface of the second image sensor and a light-receiving surface of the first image sensor are arranged on a same optical path.

7. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the pixel for focus detection is uniformly arranged at all pixels of one of the second image sensor and the first image sensor.

8. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2, wherein

the pixel for focus detection is uniformly arranged at all pixels of one of the second image sensor and the first image sensor.

9. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein

the pixel for focus detection is uniformly arranged at all pixels of one of the second image sensor and the first image sensor.

10. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the pixel for focus detection includes a photoelectric conversion part which receives at least one of light beams being obtained by dividing incoming light on each pixel by a pupil-division.

11. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 2, wherein

the pixel for focus detection includes a photoelectric conversion part which receives at least one of light beams being obtained by dividing incoming light on each pixel by a pupil-division.

12. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein

the pixel for focus detection includes a photoelectric conversion part which receives at least one of light beams being obtained by dividing incoming light on each pixel by a pupil-division.

14. An electronic camera mounting the solid-state imaging device according to claim 2, wherein there are provided:

an optical system which projects incoming light from an object on the second image sensor and the first image sensor being arranged on a same optical path;

an imaging part which performs focus control of the optical system by using a focus detection signal output from the second image sensor and which captures an object image by using an image signal output from the first image sensor; and

a recording part which records the object image onto a storage medium.

15. An electronic camera mounting the solid-state imaging device according to claim 3, wherein there are provided:

an optical system which projects incoming light from an object on the second image sensor and the first image sensor being arranged on a same optical path;

an imaging part which performs focus control of the optical system by using a focus detection signal output from the second image sensor and which captures an object image by using an image signal output from the first image sensor; and

a recording part which records the object image onto a storage medium.

17. The electronic camera according to claim 14, wherein

performing error correction of a focus detection signal output from a pixel of a different color component of the second image sensor.

18. The electronic camera according to claim 15, wherein

performing error correction of a focus detection signal output from a pixel of a different color component of the second image sensor.

20. The electronic camera according to claim 14, wherein

the imaging part performs focus detection by using a phase difference detection method after inputting a focus detection signal from the pixel for focus detection, the focus detection signal corresponds to an image being obtained by dividing incoming light on the pixel for focus detection by a pupil-division.

21. The electronic camera according to claim 15, wherein

the imaging part performs focus detection by using a phase difference detection method after inputting a focus detection signal from the pixel for focus detection, the focus detection signal corresponds to an image being obtained by dividing incoming light on the pixel for focus detection by a pupil-division.

13. An electronic camera mounting the solid-state imaging device according to claim wherein there are provided:

an optical system which projects incoming light from an object on the second image sensor and the first image sensor being arranged on a same optical path;

an imaging part which performs focus control of the optical system by using a focus detection signal output from the second image sensor and which captures an object image by using an image signal output from the first image sensor; and

a recording part which records the object image onto a storage medium.

16. The electronic camera according to claim 13, wherein performing error correction of a focus detection signal output from a pixel of a different color component of the second image sensor.

19. The electronic camera according to claim 13, wherein

the imaging part performs focus detection by using a phase difference detection method after inputting a focus detection signal from the pixel for focus detection, the focus detection signal corresponds to an image being obtained by dividing incoming light on the pixel for focus detection by a pupil-division.