Image Sensor Module Dam Geometry to Reduce Inner-Wall Flare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image sensor modules in cameras suffer from unwanted flare due to incident light being reflected by the inner wall of the dam, which is not effectively mitigated by existing designs.
Innovation Solution
The dam's inner wall is designed with a sawtooth pattern and inclined surface to minimize light reflection, and the manufacturing process involves steps like plasma cleaning, lamination with dry film, UV exposure, and heating to create a dam with specific surface patterns that reduce flare.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the dam has a smooth inner wall, then the manufacturing process is simple, but light reflection causes unwanted flare on the image
Solution Approach 1:
The inner wall of the dam is given a non-uniform surface structure with sawtooth patterns and inclined surfaces at specific locations where light reflection occurs. This local modification of surface quality reduces flare while maintaining the overall simplicity of the dam structure and manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The sawtooth pattern and inclined surfaces create an asymmetric surface geometry on the dam's inner wall. This asymmetric structure prevents symmetric reflection of light back to the image sensor, thereby reducing flare while being manufacturable through standard lithographic processes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the dam inner wall has complex surface patterns, then light reflection is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sawtooth pattern and inclined surfaces introduce curved and angled surfaces on the dam inner wall. These curved geometries effectively scatter and redirect reflected light away from the image sensor, reducing flare while being compatible with standard semiconductor manufacturing techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The surface parameters of the dam inner wall are modified by introducing specific geometric patterns (sawtooth shapes, inclination angles) that optimize light reflection characteristics. These parameter changes are achieved through controlled manufacturing processes rather than complex structural additions.
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
The sawtooth and inclined surfaces significantly reduce or eliminate flare on the detected image, enhancing image quality by minimizing light reflection towards the image sensor.
Implementation Method 1
optionally cleaned by plasma
Implementation Method 2
the exposure mask is exposed to exposing UV (ultra violet) light
Implementation Method 3
the photo-lithographically processed dry film is cured by heating
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor module comprises an image sensor having a light sensing area, a cover glass for covering the light sensing area, a dam between the image sensor and the cover glass, which surrounds the light sensing area, and has an outer wall and an inner wall, where a cross-section of the inner wall parallel to the surface of the light sensing area of the image sensor forms a sawtooth pattern and/or, where a cross-section of the inner wall orthogonal to the surface of the light sensing area of the image sensor forms an inclined surface.