Image sensor with improved photo sensitivity

• US 7,282,686 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ahn, Jung-Chak
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps; Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, DON J
• Application Number:
  US11/189,184
• Publication Number:
  US 20060027732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/214.1, 250/216, 257/432, 257/435, 257/431, 257/290, 257/291, 257/440, 359/618, 359/619, 359/891, 359/620, 359/621, 359/626, 359/622, 348/264, 348/265, 348/272, 348/294, 348/340
• US Class Current: 250/208.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14603 Special geometry or disposition of pixel-elements, address-lines or gate-electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14621 Colour filter arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14627 Microlenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14645 Colour imagers

Abstract

An image sensor includes a plurality of micro-lenses and a plurality of light receiving elements. Each micro-lens has a neighboring micro-lens at a respective distance that decreases with an incident angle of light converged by the micro-lens. Each light receiving element has a neighboring light receiving element at a respective distance that increases with an incident angle of light received by the light receiving element. Such position adjustment of the micro-lenses and light receiving elements enhances photo sensitivity of the image sensor.

Claims

1. An image sensor comprising:

a plurality of micro-lenses, each micro-lens having a neighboring micro-lens at a respective distance that decreases with an incident angle of light converged by the micro-lens; and

a plurality of light receiving elements, each light receiving element having a neighboring light receiving element at a respective distance that increases with an incident angle of light received by the light receiving element.

2. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of micro-lenses are arranged as an array in a plane above the plurality of light receiving elements.

3. The image sensor of claim 2, wherein the incident angle of light converged by the micro-lens increases from a center point of the array.

4. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light receiving elements are arranged as an array in a plane below the plurality of micro-lenses.

5. The image sensor of claim 4, wherein the incident angle of light received by the light receiving element increases from a center point of the array.

6. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein each light receiving element receives light converged by a respective micro-lens.

7. The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

an objective lens disposed above the micro-lenses, wherein the incident angle of light is with respect to an optical axis of the objective lens.

8. The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of color filters disposed between the micro-lenses and the light receiving elements.

9. The image sensor of claim 8, wherein each color filter has a neighboring color filter at a respective distance that decreases with an incident angle of light filtered by the color filter.

10. The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of metal structures disposed between the micro-lenses and the light receiving elements.

11. The image sensor of claim 10, wherein each metal structure has a neighboring metal structure at a respective distance that decreases with an incident angle of light.

12. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the micro-lenses are arranged in blocks, and wherein each block has a neighboring block at a respective distance that decreases with the incident angle of light converged by the micro-lenses in the block.

13. The image sensor of claim 12, wherein a distance between neighboring micro-lenses within each block decreases with the incident angle of light.

14. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the light receiving elements are arranged in blocks, and wherein each block has a neighboring block at a respective distance that increases with the incident angle of light received by the light receiving elements in the block.

15. The image sensor of claim 14, wherein a distance between neighboring light receiving elements within each block increases with the incident angle of light.

16. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is a CIS (CMOS image sensor).