Patent · US Active

Multisection light guides for image sensor pixels

US8542311B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
7References
8Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJan 20, 2011
Grant dateSep 24, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 19, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10F39/8063

Abstract

Image sensors may contain arrays of image sensor pixels, each of which includes a microlens and a photosensitive element. A multisection light guide that is made up of multiple light guide layers may be interposed between the microlens and the photosensitive element. The light guide layers may have alternating indicies of refraction to form a spectral filter. The lateral dimensions of the light guide layers may also be configured so that the light guide layers perform spectral filtering. Light guide shapes and sizes may be altered as a function of the lateral position of each image sensor pixel within the image sensor array. The uppermost light guide may be aligned with the microlens and the lowermost light guide may be aligned with the photosensitive element. The lateral positions of each light guide may be laterally shifted with respect to the next to form a staggered stack of light guides.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.