Two-Side Illuminated Image Sensor Light Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current color image sensors face limitations in capturing images efficiently due to the need for light to pass through metal signal wiring layers, which can cause scattering and reduce light efficiency, especially when capturing images from both the front and rear sides.
Innovation Solution
A two-side illuminated image sensor design featuring a first and second optical sensor layer with a signal wiring layer in between, along with color filter layers and microlens arrays on each side, allowing light to directly reach the sensors from both sides without passing through the signal wiring, enhancing light efficiency and reducing scattering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If light passes through metal signal wiring layers to reach optical sensing cells, then electrical signals can be read effectively, but light scattering occurs and light efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dual-sided three-dimensional structure with optical sensing cells on both front and rear surfaces of the substrate. Light can incidentally reach the sensing cells from either side without passing through the metal signal wiring layer, effectively moving the light path to a different spatial dimension that avoids the harmful wiring layer interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensing cells are divided into two separate groups located on opposite sides of the substrate. The first optical sensing cells face the front surface while the second optical sensing cells face the rear surface, allowing independent light reception paths that bypass the metal signal wiring layer positioned between them.
2Loss of energy
If a single optical sensor layer is used, then device structure is simplified, but light efficiency is reduced due to wiring layer interference
Solution Approach 1:
By utilizing both front and rear surfaces of the substrate, the patent creates a three-dimensional light reception architecture. This dual-sided configuration allows light to reach optical sensing cells directly from either side without traversing the metal signal wiring layer, effectively adding a spatial dimension to the light path that circumvents the wiring interference.
3Reliability
If metal signal wiring layers are placed between optical sensor layers, then electrical signal reading is enabled, but light scattering increases and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical sensing function into two independent layers positioned on opposite sides of the substrate. The first optical sensing cells are arranged on the front side while the second optical sensing cells are arranged on the rear side, creating separate light reception zones that do not require light to pass through the metal signal wiring layer, thereby maintaining image quality while enabling signal reading through the wiring layer's position between the segmented layers.
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 design improves light efficiency by allowing direct light incidence on both sides of the sensor, reducing scattering, and enabling effective image capture from both the front and rear sides, thus enhancing overall image quality.
Implementation Method 1
a first optical sensor layer comprising a plurality of optical sensing cells configured to sense a light incident from a first side of the image sensor and generate an electrical signal based on the light incident from the first side
Implementation Method 2
A first microlens array disposed on the first color filter layer and including a plurality of microlenses
Data Source
AI summary
A two-side illuminated image sensor includes: a first optical sensor layer and a second optical sensor layer each including a plurality of optical sensing cells, and a signal wiring layer disposed between the first and second optical sensor layers. The first and second optical sensor layers may include a first color filter layer and a second color filter layer each including a plurality of color filters corresponding to the plurality of optical sensing cells.