Image Sensor Pixel Array Zigzag Metal Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image sensors suffer from line-type defects due to linear arrangements of metal lines in row and column directions, leading to fixed pattern noise (FPN) that affects image quality.
Innovation Solution
The image sensor employs a zigzag pattern for metal lines in both row and column paths within the pixel array, allowing only one pixel in a block to be accessed, which reduces line-type defects by isolating potential defects to a single pixel, enabling effective compensation by adjacent pixels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If metal lines are arranged in a linear pattern for row and column paths, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but line-type defects occur frequently affecting image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing linear metal line arrangements with zigzag patterns. The zigzag configuration bends the metal lines in a non-linear fashion, which disrupts the propagation path of defects while maintaining electrical connectivity. This curvature principle transforms the straight-line vulnerability into a more resilient path that isolates defect impacts to individual pixels rather than propagating across multiple pixels.
2Reliability
If a zigzag pattern is used for metal lines, then line-type defects are reduced by isolating defects to single pixels, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The zigzag pattern inherently segments the metal line path into multiple sections. Each segment connects adjacent pixels but is electrically isolated from other segments by the zigzag geometry. This segmentation ensures that a defect in one segment affects only the pixel connected to that segment, preventing defect propagation to other pixels. The segmentation principle transforms a single continuous vulnerable path into multiple isolated safe paths.
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 configuration minimizes the generation of line-type FPN, allowing for efficient compensation of defects and improved image quality by ensuring that defects in metal lines do not propagate across multiple pixels, thus enhancing the image sensor's performance and reducing production defects.
Implementation Method 1
The pixel array includes a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns each having pixels. The pixel array has a layout configuration having a nonlinear pattern for a row path and a column path, receives optical signals and converts the optical signals into electric signals
Data Source
AI summary
An image sensor capable of preventing generation of a line-type defect is disclosed. The image sensor includes a row driver, a pixel array, an analog signal processor, a data mapping buffer and a row data buffer. The pixel array has a layout configuration having a nonlinear pattern for a row path and a column path, receives optical signals and converts the optical signals into electric signals, and outputs the electric signals as image signals in response to the pixel control signals. The analog signal processor performs analog-to-digital conversion on the image signals to generate first signals. The data mapping buffer compensates position errors caused by the layout configuration of the zigzag pattern for the first signals to generate a second signals.