Stacked Photosensitive Layers for High-Dynamic-Range Image Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image sensors struggle to capture images with high dynamic range in varying brightness conditions, leading to a lack of detailed visual representation of real environments due to limited photosensitive area utilization and inability to cover a wide range of wavelengths.
Innovation Solution
The image sensor design incorporates multiple photosensitive layers with non-overlapping regions for electrode wire placement, featuring different photosensitive component contents and arrangements to enhance light sensitivity across a broader wavelength range, allowing for improved dynamic range without reducing the photosensitive area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple photosensitive layers are stacked to expand wavelength range, then dynamic range is improved, but photosensitive area is reduced due to overlapping regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-layer planar structure to a multi-layer stacked structure, utilizing the vertical dimension to expand functional capacity. By stacking photosensitive layers with different photosensitive component contents, the system captures a broader wavelength range without sacrificing horizontal photosensitive area, as each layer is positioned at a different vertical level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested arrangement where multiple photosensitive layers are stacked within the same pixel unit area. Each layer is contained within the vertical space of the pixel structure, allowing multiple photosensitive elements to occupy the same footprint area while maintaining individual functionality through vertical separation and non-overlapping electrode wire regions.
2Reliability
If electrode wires are arranged on photosensitive layers, then electrical connection is achieved, but photosensitive area is reduced due to wire occupation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the photosensitive layer into distinct functional regions: overlapping regions dedicated to light sensing and non-overlapping regions dedicated to electrode wire placement. This segmentation allows electrode wires to be positioned in areas that do not interfere with the photosensitive area, as the wires are confined to non-overlapping regions where they do not block light detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the conflict between electrode wire placement and photosensitive area by utilizing the vertical dimension. Electrode wires are arranged in non-overlapping regions of stacked layers, allowing electrical connections to be made without wires crossing over or blocking the photosensitive areas of other layers, thus maintaining full photosensitive coverage while ensuring reliable electrical connectivity.
3Device complexity
If single photosensitive layer is used, then device complexity is low, but dynamic range and image details are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure consisting of multiple photosensitive layers with different photosensitive component contents. Each layer contains specific photoelectric conversion materials optimized for different wavelength ranges, creating a composite system that captures a broader spectrum of light. This composite approach enables high dynamic range imaging and preserves image details that would be lost in a single-layer system, while maintaining relatively manageable device complexity through systematic layer integration.
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 design enables the capture of images with a high dynamic range, providing a visual effect closer to real environments by expanding the wavelength range of each photosensitive unit and maintaining the photosensitive area, thus recording more image details effectively.
Implementation Method 1
an image sensing function is realized by a single photosensitive layer with a plurality of color filters
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an image sensor. The image sensor includes at least one photosensitive unit including at least two photosensitive layers stacked and not completely overlapped, a region where each photosensitive layer is not overlapped with other photosensitive layers being configured to arrange an electrode wire, and photosensitive component contents of the at least two photosensitive layers being different. According to the present disclosure, a wavelength range of sensible light of each photosensitive unit may be enlarged, so that more image details may be recorded, images with a high dynamic range may be generated, and people may experience a visual effect close to a real environment. In addition, as there is no need to reduce a photosensitive area of the photosensitive layer for arranging the electrode wires, the photosensitive area of the photosensitive layer is increased and thereby a dynamic range of the image sensor is improved.