Image Sensor Nanostructures for Edge Pixel Oblique Light Compensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

As image sensors become more compact, the chief ray angle at the edge of the image sensor increases, leading to decreased sensitivity of edge pixels and potential dark edges in images. Additionally, complex color operations required for compensation burden the image processing processor and degrade processing speed.

Innovation Solution

The image sensor incorporates a color separation nanostructure layer to separate incident light by wavelength and concentrate each separated light on corresponding photosensing cells. An oblique light compensation layer is also included to adjust the incidence angle of oblique light at the edge of the sensor to be closer to perpendicular, using nanostructures arranged differently for each position to compensate for varying chief ray angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If image sensors are made more compact, then device size is reduced, but chief ray angle at the edge increases causing decreased sensitivity of edge pixels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidsensitivity of edge pixels

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing different nanostructure configurations in different regions of the sensor. Specifically, the sensor includes a first region with a first nanostructure configuration and a second region with a second nanostructure configuration, where the configurations differ to compensate for position-dependent chief ray angle variations. This allows edge regions to be optimized for their specific optical conditions while maintaining overall compactness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a spatial dimension variation by using nanostructures with different geometries, orientations, or densities in different regions. This dimensional approach allows the sensor to compensate for oblique light incidence at edges by adjusting the nanostructure properties in the spatial domain, thereby maintaining uniform sensitivity across the compact sensor surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If complex color operations are performed to compensate for edge sensitivity, then image quality is improved, but processor burden increases and processing speed degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by performing color separation and compensation at the optical level before the image reaches the processor. The nanostructures are designed to pre-separate colors and compensate for oblique light effects, so that when light reaches the photosensing cells, the compensation has already been applied. This eliminates the need for complex post-processing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the computational/mechanical processing system with an optical system. Instead of using software algorithms to compensate for edge effects, the invention uses physically structured nanostructures that optically separate and redirect light paths. This substitution moves the compensation function from the digital processing domain to the optical domain, significantly reducing processor burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If uniform nanostructure arrangement is used across the sensor, then manufacturing is simplified, but edge regions cannot compensate for varying chief ray angles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenanostructure fabricationVSAvoidoblique light compensation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution enhances the sensitivity of edge pixels to match central pixels, improving image quality by reducing dark edges and minimizing the processing burden associated with complex color operations.

Implementation Method 1

a color separation nanostructure layer provided on the sensor substrate and including a plurality of color separation nanostructures, each of the plurality of color separation nanostructures being configured to separate the light according to wavelengths and concentrate each separated light on a corresponding photosensing cell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 2

the plurality of oblique light compensation nanostructures are configured such that a direction of an oblique light incident on the oblique light compensation layer is deflected toward the color separation nanostructure layer corresponding thereto

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS20250185396A1Image sensor and electronic apparatus including the same

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are an image sensor including an oblique light compensation layer, and an electronic apparatus including the image sensor. The image sensor may include a sensor substrate including a plurality of photosensing cells, each of the plurality of photosensing cells being configured to sense a light; a color separation nanostructure layer provided on the sensor substrate; a spacer layer provided on the color separation nanostructure layer; and an oblique light compensation layer provided on the spacer layer.