AUTO-FOCUS IMAGE SENSOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An auto-focus image sensor, comprising:
- a substrate with unit pixels, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface and serving as a light-receiving surface;
a pixel separation part provided in the substrate to separate the unit pixels from each other;
at least one pair of photoelectric conversion parts provided in each of the unit pixels of the substrate; and
a sub-pixel separation part interposed between the at least one pair of the photoelectric conversion parts that are positioned adjacent to each other,wherein at least a portion of the pixel separation part comprises a material whose refractive index is different from that of the substrate, andthe sub-pixel separation part comprises a portion that is configured to allow photo charges generated in the at least one pair of the photoelectric conversion parts to be transmitted therethrough.
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Abstract
An auto-focus image sensor includes a substrate including unit pixels and having first and second surfaces facing each other, a pixel separation part passing through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface and separating the unit pixels from each other, at least one pair of photoelectric conversion parts provided in each of the unit pixels of the substrate, and a sub-pixel separation part provided in the substrate and interposed between the at least one pair of the photoelectric conversion parts. The second surface serves as a light-receiving surface.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An auto-focus image sensor, comprising:
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a substrate with unit pixels, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface and serving as a light-receiving surface; a pixel separation part provided in the substrate to separate the unit pixels from each other; at least one pair of photoelectric conversion parts provided in each of the unit pixels of the substrate; and a sub-pixel separation part interposed between the at least one pair of the photoelectric conversion parts that are positioned adjacent to each other, wherein at least a portion of the pixel separation part comprises a material whose refractive index is different from that of the substrate, and the sub-pixel separation part comprises a portion that is configured to allow photo charges generated in the at least one pair of the photoelectric conversion parts to be transmitted therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 15, 16)
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7-11. -11. (canceled)
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14. (canceled)
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17-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. An auto-focus image sensor, comprising:
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a substrate having first and second surfaces facing each other, the substrate comprising unit pixels, each of which comprises at least one pair of sub-pixels configured to detect a difference in phase of light incident through the second surface; a photoelectric conversion part in each of the at least one pair of the sub-pixels of the substrate; a pixel separation part configured to penetrate the substrate from the first surface to the second surface and to separate the unit pixels from each other; a sub-pixel separation part configured to penetrate the substrate from the first surface to the second surface and to separate the at least one pair of the sub-pixels from each other; and a fixed charge layer on the second surface, wherein at least a portion of the pixel separation part comprises a material whose refractive index is different from that of the substrate, and each of the unit pixels is configured to collectively process electrical signals, which are respectively output from the at least one pair of the sub-pixels, to obtain image information. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29)
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26-27. -27. (canceled)
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30. An image sensor, comprising:
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a substrate having a unit pixel disposed therein; the unit pixel comprising first and second photoelectric conversion parts; a separation part disposed between the first and second photoelectric conversion parts that is configured to provide a current path for charge to transfer between the first and second photoelectric conversion parts responsive to incident light received at the unit pixel; and a unit pixel isolation region that surrounds the unit pixel when the substrate is viewed from a plan view, wherein at least a portion of the unit pixel isolation region includes an insulating material. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33-34. -34. (canceled)
Specification