Hybrid Pixel Structure for Visible and UV-IR Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image sensors face challenges in integrating pixels for sensing visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light due to differences in their structural requirements, making it difficult to manufacture image sensors with combined functionalities like night vision, thermal photography, and 3D photography efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The image sensor employs a hybrid pixel structure where first pixels for visible light and second pixels for ultraviolet or infrared light are arranged together, with the second pixels being larger and split into sub-regions, each served by a dedicated driving circuit unit, allowing for efficient use of the sensor area and varied functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If pixels for sensing ultraviolet light or infrared light are integrated into an image sensor, then the image sensor can perform additional functions such as night vision and thermal photography, but the device complexity increases due to the need for different pixel structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a common pixel structure that can sense multiple types of light (visible, ultraviolet, and infrared) through a single integrated design. The pixel array includes both visible light sensing pixels and ultraviolet/infrared sensing pixels with different structures, but both types share common components such as the substrate, color filters, and readout circuits. This multi-functional approach allows the image sensor to perform various functions including color imaging, night vision, and thermal photography without requiring completely separate pixel structures for each function.
2Reliability
If separate pixel structures are used for visible light and ultraviolet/infrared sensing, then each pixel type can be optimized for its specific function, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining multiple pixel types (visible light pixels and ultraviolet/infrared pixels) into a single integrated pixel array on one substrate. Both pixel types share common manufacturing processes and structures, including the substrate, color filters, and readout circuits. The visible light pixels include color filter arrays while the ultraviolet/infrared pixels have different filter structures, but they are manufactured together in the same device using compatible processes. This merging approach maintains optimized sensing performance for each pixel type while simplifying manufacturing compared to producing separate devices.
3Measurement precision
If different pixel structures are arranged together in a hybrid pixel structure, then the image sensor can achieve high resolution with varied functionalities, but the area utilization becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the pixel array into distinct regions for different pixel types. The pixel array includes both visible light sensing pixels and ultraviolet/infrared sensing pixels arranged in a segmented pattern. Each pixel type can be optimized for its specific function while maintaining high resolution within its designated region. The segmented arrangement allows for efficient area utilization by allocating specific areas to each pixel type based on the intended application requirements, rather than attempting to mix all pixel types uniformly throughout the array.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This hybrid pixel structure enables the effective coexistence of visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light sensing pixels on the same substrate, facilitating the production of image sensors that can perform night vision, thermal photography, and 3D photography while maintaining high resolution and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a pixel that senses visible light and a pixel that senses ultraviolet light or infrared light
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image sensor having a hybrid pixel structure in which pixels that sense visible light and pixels that sense ultraviolet light or infrared light are arranged together. For example, the image sensor includes a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels that are different in size. A width of each of the plurality of second pixels in a horizontal direction is a first integer multiple of a width of each of the plurality of first pixels in the horizontal direction, and a width of each of the plurality of second pixels in a vertical direction is a second integer multiple of a width of each of the plurality of first pixels in the vertical direction. The image sensor enables the pixels sensing ultraviolet light or infrared light, which have different sizes from the pixels sensing visible light, to be efficiently arranged together with the pixels sensing visible light, on the same substrate.