Image Sensor Incident Light Control Pattern Maze Noise
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Highly integrated image sensors with shared pixel structures experience noise due to differences in output signals caused by asymmetry in transfer transistors, leading to deviations in incident light angles and maze-like noise effects during color interpolation.
Innovation Solution
The image sensor incorporates an incident light control pattern, such as a ring-shaped, flat plate, or dot-shaped structure, to control the amount of incident light entering pixels, ensuring uniform light exposure and reducing noise by sharing floating diffusion regions and using antireflection layers to improve light management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If highly integrated image sensors with shared pixel structures are used, then device integration is improved, but noise is generated due to asymmetry in transfer transistors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by intentionally introducing an incident light control pattern (such as a black matrix or light blocking structure) to one of the two adjacent pixels with the same color filter. This creates an asymmetric light blocking configuration that compensates for the inherent asymmetry in transfer transistor characteristics, thereby balancing the output signals between adjacent pixels and reducing noise during color interpolation.
2Ease of manufacture
If transfer gates are positioned asymmetrically in shared pixel structures, then manufacturing is simplified, but output signal consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the structure between adjacent pixels with the same color filter. Specifically, one pixel includes an incident light control pattern while the other does not. This local structural differentiation compensates for the asymmetric transfer gate positioning, ensuring that both pixels receive equivalent effective light exposure and produce consistent output signals, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and signal consistency.
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 effectively prevents noise by ensuring consistent pixel signals across adjacent pixels with the same color filters, enhancing the image sensor's performance and reducing the maze effect during color interpolation processes.
Implementation Method 1
an antireflection layer interposed between the substrate and the incident light control pattern
Implementation Method 2
Each of the plurality of pixels may include a photoelectric conversion element formed in a substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an image sensor having improved performance. An image sensor in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention including a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, wherein each of the plurality of pixels may include: a photoelectric conversion element formed in a substrate; a transfer gate overlapping with a portion of the photoelectric conversion element and formed on the substrate; and a color filter over the photoelectric conversion element, wherein the plurality of pixels include two adjacent pixels which have the same color filter, and wherein one of the two adjacent pixels comprises an incident light control pattern.