# US 12,015,037 B2 · Imaging device and method of manufacturing imaging device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,037 B2 - Document ID: US12015037B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/044,994 - Filed: 2019-01-17 - Published: 2021-05-20 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-11 - Assignees: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation - Applicants: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation - Inventors: Yusuke Moriya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015037B2 ## CPC - H10F 39/8023: {Disposition of the elements in pixels, e.g. smaller elements in the centre of the imager compared to larger elements at the periphery} - G02B 5/20: Filters (polarising elements G02B5/30) - G02B 5/208: {for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation} - G02B 5/22: Absorbing filters {(G02B5/201 - G02B5/208 take precedence)} - H10F 39/024: {of coatings or optical elements} - H10F 39/12: Image sensors - H10F 39/8053: {Colour filters} - H10F 39/806: {Optical elements or arrangements associated with the image sensors} - H10F 39/8063: {Microlenses} - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract To prevent the occurrence of a defect in an infrared-light attenuation filter and prevent a reduction in image quality. An imaging device includes a photoelectric converter, an on-chip lens, a color filter, the infrared-light attenuation filter, and a protective film. The photoelectric converter performs photoelectric conversion depending on incident light. The on-chip lens collects the incident light into the photoelectric converter. Infrared light and visible light of a specified wavelength from among the collected incident light are transmitted through the color filter. The infrared-light attenuation filter attenuates the infrared light from among the collected incident light, and visible light from among the collected incident light is transmitted through the infrared-light attenuation filter. The protective film is arranged adjacent to the infrared-light attenuation filter and protects the infrared-light attenuation filter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging device, comprising: a photoelectric converter that performs photoelectric conversion depending on incident light; an on-chip lens that collects the incident light into the photoelectric converter; a color filter through which infrared light and visible light of a specified wavelength from among the collected incident light are transmitted; an infrared-light attenuation filter that attenuates the infrared light from among the collected incident light and through which visible light from among the collected incident light is transmitted; and a protective film that is arranged adjacent to the infrared-light attenuation filter and protects the infrared-light attenuation filter, wherein the protective film is arranged adjacent to the color filter, wherein the infrared-light attenuation filter attenuates the infrared light transmitted through the color filter, and wherein the protective film has substantially a same refractive index as the color filter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the protective film protects the infrared-light attenuation filter when the color filter is formed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising: a pixel that includes the photoelectric converter, the on-chip lens, the color filter, the infrared-light attenuation filter, and the protective film; and an infrared-light pixel that includes an infrared-light transmission filter through which the infrared light from among the collected incident light is transmitted, the photoelectric converter, and the on-chip lens, wherein the protective film is further arranged on a face of the infrared-light attenuation filter that is adjacent to the infrared-light pixel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the protective film is made of an organic material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the protective film is made of an inorganic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the protective film is formed by stacking an organic material and an inorganic material. ### Claim 7 A method of manufacturing an imaging device, the method comprising: forming a photoelectric converter that performs photoelectric conversion depending on incident light; forming an on-chip lens that collects the incident light into the photoelectric converter; forming a color filter through which infrared light and visible light of a specified wavelength from among the collected incident light are transmitted; forming an infrared-light attenuation filter that attenuates the infrared light from among the collected incident light and through which visible light from among the collected incident light is transmitted; and forming a protective film that is arranged adjacent to the infrared-light attenuation filter and protects the infrared-light attenuation filter, wherein the protective film is arranged adjacent to the color filter, wherein the infrared-light attenuation filter attenuates the infrared light transmitted through the color filter, and wherein the protective film has substantially a same refractive index as the color filter. ### Claim 8 An imaging device, comprising: a photoelectric converter that performs photoelectric conversion depending on incident light; an on-chip lens that collects the incident light into the photoelectric converter; a color filter through which infrared light and visible light of a specified wavelength from among the collected incident light are transmitted; an infrared-light attenuation filter that attenuates the infrared light from among the collected incident light and through which visible light from among the collected incident light is transmitted; and a protective film that is arranged adjacent to the infrared-light attenuation filter and protects the infrared-light attenuation filter, wherein the protective film is formed by stacking an organic material and an inorganic material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The imaging device according to claim 8, wherein the protective film is arranged adjacent to the color filter, and the infrared-light attenuation filter attenuates the infrared light transmitted through the color filter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The imaging device according to claim 8, wherein the protective film has substantially a same refractive index as the color filter.