USRE50292EActiveUtility

Image sensor and imaging device

Assignee: CANON KKPriority: Mar 24, 2011Filed: Mar 21, 2012Granted: Feb 4, 2025
Est. expiryMar 24, 2031(~4.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Koichi Fukuda
H10F 39/8067H10F 39/8063H10F 39/8057H10F 39/1825H10F 39/12H04N 23/55H04N 25/704H04N 23/672H10F 39/807H01L 27/14647H01L 27/14629H01L 27/14627H01L 27/14623H01L 27/146H01L 27/1463
79
PatentIndex Score
1
Cited by
10
References
7
Claims

Abstract

In an image sensor, if a pixel for focusing has a structure having a light-shielding layer for performing pupil division, between the micro lens and the photoelectric conversion unit, the pixel may be configured such that the focal position of the micro lens is positioned further on the micro lens side than the light-shielding layer, and the distance from the focal position of the micro lens to the light-shielding layer is greater than 0 and less than nFΔ, where n is the refractive index at the focal position of the micro lens, F is the aperture value of the micro lens, and Δ is the diffraction limit of the micro lens. This enables variation in the pupil intensity distribution of the pixel for focusing due to positional production tolerance of components to be suppressed.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An image sensor in which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, comprising:
 a micro lens provided on a light-receiving side of each of the plurality of pixels; and   a plurality of photoelectric conversion units provided in each of the plurality of pixels, and for receiving light collected by the micro lens,   wherein the plurality of photoelectric conversion units are disposed such that central points thereof are eccentric relative to a central point of a single light-receiving surface combining light-receiving surfaces of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units,   a focal position of the micro lens is positioned further on the micro lens side than the light-receiving surfaces of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and   a distance from the focal position of the micro lens to the light-receiving surfaces of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units is greater than 0 and less than nFΔ, where n is a refractive index at the focal position of the micro lens, F is an aperture value of the micro lens, and Δ is a diffraction limit of the micro lens.   
     
     
       2. An imaging device comprising an image sensor according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       3. An image sensor in which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, comprising:
 a plurality of micro lenses respectively provided on a light-receiving side of the plurality of pixels; and   light-receiving areas, provided in each pixel of the plurality of pixels, for receiving light through a corresponding micro lens, wherein each area of the light-receiving areas is eccentric from an optical axis of the corresponding micro lens,   wherein focal positions of the plurality of micro lenses are offset by a predetermined amount to the micro lens from light-receiving surfaces of the light-receiving areas.   
     
     
       4. The image sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the light-receiving areas comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units. 
     
     
       5. The image sensor according to  claim 3 , wherein distances between the focal positions of the plurality of micro lenses and light-receiving surfaces of a plurality of photoelectric conversion units are less than a focal depth of the plurality of micro lenses corresponding to the predetermined region of wavelengths. 
     
     
       6. The image sensor according to  claim 5 , wherein the distances between the focal positions of the plurality of micro lenses and the light-receiving surfaces of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units are less than a focal depth of the micro lenses in a case where a diffraction limit Δ of the micro lenses in the predetermined wavelength region is a permissible circle of confusion. 
     
     
       7. An imaging device comprising an image sensor according to  claim 3 .

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