Image sensor with big and small pixels and method of manufacture
AssigneeOmniVision Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGang Chen, Duli Mao, Dyson Hsin-Chih Tai
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Abstract
An image sensor includes a substrate, a first set of sensor pixels formed on the substrate, and a second set of sensor pixels formed on the substrate. The sensor pixels of the first set are arranged in rows and columns and are configured to detect light within a first range of wavelengths (e.g., white light). The sensor pixels of the second set are arranged in rows and columns and are each configured to detect light within one of a set of ranges of wavelengths (e.g., red, green, and blue). Each range of wavelengths of the set of ranges of wavelengths is a subrange of said first range of wavelengths, and each pixel of the second set of pixels is smaller than each pixel of the first set of pixels.
Claims50
An image sensor, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a first set of sensor pixels formed on said substrate, arranged in rows and columns, and configured to detect light within a first range of wavelengths;
- a second set of sensor pixels formed on said substrate, arranged in rows and columns, and each configured to detect light within one of a set of ranges of wavelengths, each range of wavelengths of said set of ranges of wavelengths being a subrange of said first range of wavelengths, and each pixel of said second set of pixels being smaller than each pixel of said first set of pixels;
- and wherein
- each pixel of said first set of pixels has a center disposed between adjacent rows of said second set of pixels and between adjacent columns of said second set of pixels.
A filter array for an image sensor, comprising:
- a set of transparent windows disposed above said image sensor, arranged in rows and columns, and configured to pass light within a first range of wavelengths;
- a set of filters disposed above said image sensor, arranged in rows and columns, and each configured to pass light within one of a set of ranges of wavelengths, each range of wavelengths of said set of ranges of wavelengths being a subrange of said first range of wavelengths, and each filter of said set of filters being smaller than each transparent window of said set of transparent windows;
- and wherein
- each transparent window of said set of transparent windows has a center disposed between adjacent rows of said set of filters and between adjacent columns of said set of filters.
A camera module, comprising:
- a housing defining an aperture;
- a lens disposed in said aperture;
- and
- an image sensor fixed within said housing and disposed in a focal plane of said lens;
- and wherein
- said image sensor includes a plurality of image sensor pixels including a first set arranged in rows and columns and a second set arranged in rows and columns, each pixel of said first set configured to detect light of the entire visible spectrum and each pixel of said second set operative to detect light of one of three distinct colors, each pixel of said first set being larger than each pixel of said second set;
- and
- each of said first set of pixels has a center disposed between adjacent rows of said second set of pixels and between adjacent columns of said second set of pixels.
A method of manufacturing an image sensor, comprising:
- providing a substrate;
- forming a first set of sensor pixels on said substrate arranged in rows and columns;
- forming a second set of sensor pixels on said substrate arranged in rows and columns, each pixel of said second set of pixels being smaller than each pixel of said first set of pixels;
- forming a set of transparent windows over said first set of sensor pixels, said transparent windows being arranged in rows and columns and each being configured to pass light within a first range of wavelengths;
- and
- forming a set of filters over said second set of sensor pixels, said filters being arranged in rows and columns and each being configured to pass light within one of a set of ranges of wavelengths, each range of wavelengths of said set of ranges of wavelengths being a subrange of said first range of wavelengths;
- and wherein
- each pixel of said first set of pixels has a center disposed between adjacent rows of said second set of pixels and between adjacent columns of said second set of pixels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.