Pixel with spatially varying sensor positions
First Claim
1. An image sensor comprising:
- a substrate;
at least a first metal layer, disposed over the substrate; and
a plurality of pixels arranged in an array having a pair of perpendicular axes extending from an optical center, each pixel including a sense element disposed at least partially in the substrate and at least an associated first metal interconnect segment disposed in the first metal layer,wherein for a line of consecutive pixels extending substantially perpendicularly from one of the axes to a peripheral edge of the array, (i) a pitch between corresponding ones of the associated first metal interconnect segments of each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is equal to a first distance, (ii) a pitch between sense elements of each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is at least equal to the first distance, and (iii) a pitch between each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is equal to a second distance which is greater than the first distance.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An image sensor including a substrate, at least one metal layer, and a plurality of pixels arranged in array. Each pixel includes a sense element disposed in the substrate and at least one metal interconnect segment disposed in the at least one metal layer. The array includes a pair of perpendicular axes extending from an optical center, wherein for a line of pixels extending perpendicularly from one of the axes to a peripheral edge of the array a spacing between the sense elements of consecutive pairs of pixels of the line is at least equal to a spacing between the associated at least one metal interconnect segments, and wherein for at least one consecutive pair of pixels of the line the spacing between the sense elements is greater by an incremental amount than the spacing between the corresponding at least one metal interconnect segments.
29 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An image sensor comprising:
-
a substrate; at least a first metal layer, disposed over the substrate; and a plurality of pixels arranged in an array having a pair of perpendicular axes extending from an optical center, each pixel including a sense element disposed at least partially in the substrate and at least an associated first metal interconnect segment disposed in the first metal layer, wherein for a line of consecutive pixels extending substantially perpendicularly from one of the axes to a peripheral edge of the array, (i) a pitch between corresponding ones of the associated first metal interconnect segments of each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is equal to a first distance, (ii) a pitch between sense elements of each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is at least equal to the first distance, and (iii) a pitch between each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is equal to a second distance which is greater than the first distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of configuring an image sensor including a substrate, a first metal layer, and an array of pixels having a pair of perpendicular axes extending from an optical center, each pixel including a sense element disposed at least partially within the substrate and at least an associated first metal interconnect segment disposed in the first metal layer, the method comprising:
-
positioning corresponding ones of the associated first metal interconnect segments of each consecutive pair of pixels of a line of pixels extending substantially perpendicularly from one of the axes to a peripheral edge of the array at a pitch equal to a first distance; positioning the sense elements of each consecutive pair of pixels of the line at a pitch at least equal to the first distance; and positioning each consecutive pair of pixels of the line at a pitch equal to a second distance which is greater than the first distance. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An image sensor comprising:
-
a substrate; at least a first metal layer disposed over the substrate; and an array of pixels having an optical center, each pixel having a sense element disposed in the substrate and associated first and second metal interconnect segments disposed in the first metal layer, wherein each of the first metal interconnect segments have a first pitch, wherein the sense elements have a plurality of pitches which are at least equal to the first pitch and, for selected pixels of the array, have pitches that are greater than the first pitch such that an offset value equal to a distance of the sense element from the optical center minus a distance of the associated first metal interconnect segment from the optical center is greater for a first pixel proximate to a peripheral edge of the array than for a second pixel proximate to the optical center. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification