# US 12,193,246 B2 · Image sensors and electronic devices

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- Number: US 12,193,246 B2
- Document ID: US12193246B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/530,010
- Filed: 2021-11-18
- Published: 2022-06-02
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2020-11-30
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Seon-Jeong Lim; Gae Hwang Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12193246B2

## CPC

- H10F 39/192: {Colour image sensors}
- H10K 39/32: Organic image sensors
- G02B 5/003: {Light absorbing elements}
- G02B 5/201: {in the form of arrays}
- H10F 39/1825: {Multicolour image sensors having stacked structure, e.g. NPN, NPNPN or multiple quantum well [MQW] structures}
- H10F 39/803: {Pixels having integrated switching, control, storage or amplification elements}
- H10F 39/8053: {Colour filters}
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- H10K: ORGANIC ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An image sensor includes a color filter array, a first photoelectric conversion device configured to absorb first light passing through the color filter array and convert the absorbed first light into electrical signals, and a second photoelectric conversion device configured to absorb second light passing through both the color filter array and the first photoelectric conversion device and convert the absorbed second light into electrical signals. The first photoelectric conversion device includes a first photoelectric conversion layer configured to selectively absorb a mixed light of the first and second colors. The second photoelectric conversion device comprises a second photoelectric conversion layer configured to absorb light including a third color. Each of the first to third colors is one of three primary colors. The image sensor combines the electrical signals converted from the first and second photoelectric conversion devices to obtain electrical signals of the first to third colors.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image sensor, comprising:
a color filter array;
a first photoelectric conversion device configured to absorb first light that is a portion of light passing through the color filter array and convert the absorbed first light into first electrical signals; and
a second photoelectric conversion device configured to absorb second light that is at least a portion of light passing through both the color filter array and the first photoelectric conversion device and convert the absorbed second light into second electrical signals,
wherein the first photoelectric conversion device includes
a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other, and
a first photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first photoelectric conversion layer configured to selectively absorb a first mixed light of a first color and a second color,
wherein the second photoelectric conversion device includes
a third electrode and a fourth electrode facing each other, and
a second photoelectric conversion layer between the third electrode and the fourth electrode, the second photoelectric conversion layer configured to absorb light including a third color,
wherein each color of the first color, the second color, and the third color is one of three primary colors,
wherein the first color, the second color, and the third color are different from each other, and
wherein the image sensor is configured to combine the first electrical signals converted from the first photoelectric conversion device and the second electrical signals converted from the second photoelectric conversion device to obtain electrical signals of the first color, the second color, and the third color.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising:
a substrate supporting the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device,
wherein the substrate does not comprise any silicon-based photodiodes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The image sensor of claim 2, wherein the first photoelectric conversion layer is on an entire surface of the substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, wherein
the color filter array comprises a first color filter and a second color filter that are each a different one of a cyan filter, a yellow filter, or a magenta filter, and
the first color filter and the second color filter are configured to selectively transmit second mixed light and third mixed light, respectively, wherein both the second mixed light and the third mixed light include the third color.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The image sensor of claim 4, wherein the first color filter and the second color filter are alternately arranged along rows and columns.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, wherein
the first photoelectric conversion layer comprises a first light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb light of the first color and a second light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb light of the second color, or
the first photoelectric conversion layer comprises a light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb the first mixed light of the first color and the second color.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The image sensor of claim 6, wherein the first light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb light of the first color and the second light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb light of the second color are mixed or stacked in the first photoelectric conversion layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the second photoelectric conversion layer comprises:
a light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb the light including the third color;
a light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb a second mixed light of the third color and the first color;
a light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb a third mixed light of the third color and the second color;
a light absorbing material configured to selectively absorb a fourth mixed light of the first color, the second color, and the third color; or
any combination thereof.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising a third color filter between the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device, the third color filter being configured to selectively transmit the light of the third color.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, wherein
the color filter array comprises a cyan filter and a yellow filter,
the first color is blue,
the second color is red, and
the third color is green.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The image sensor of claim 10, further comprising a green filter between the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, wherein
the color filter array comprises a magenta filter and a cyan filter,
the first color is red,
the second color is green, and
the third color is blue.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The image sensor of claim 12, further comprising a blue filter between the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, wherein
the color filter array comprises a yellow filter and a magenta filter,
the first color is green,
the second color is blue, and
the third color is red.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The image sensor of claim 14, further comprising a red filter between the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising a third photoelectric conversion device configured to absorb third light that is light of at least a portion of an infrared wavelength spectrum and to convert the absorbed third light into a third electrical signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

An electronic device comprising the image sensor of claim 1.