# US 7,612,425 B2 · Image sensor with a transparent plate having refractive index changing regions

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- Number: US 7,612,425 B2
- Document ID: US7612425B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/550,163
- Filed: 2006-10-17
- Published: 2007-11-01
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2006-04-28
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Inventors: Takafumi Endo; Yohei Nokami
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612425B2

## CPC

- H10F 39/806: {Optical elements or arrangements associated with the image sensors}
- H10F 39/024: {of coatings or optical elements}
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION

## Abstract

An image sensor includes: a light source that irradiates a light on an object; a lens body that converges a reflection of the light from the object; a plurality of IC chips that receive the reflection passed through the lens body; and a transparent member provided between the IC chips and the lens body. The transparent member includes a refractive index changing region provided at a portion opposite to a gap between adjacent IC chips. A refractive index in the refractive index changing region increases continuously or stepwise toward an inner portion of the transparent member from a surface of the transparent member on an IC chips side so that the refractive index changing region refracts a part of the reflection to be incident into the gap to the IC chips.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An image sensor comprising:
a light source that irradiates a light on an object;
a lens body that converges a reflection of the light from the object;
a plurality of IC chips that receive the reflection passed through the lens body; and
a transparent member provided between the IC chips and the lens body and formed continuously over the plurality of IC chips,
wherein the transparent member includes a refractive index changing region having a mountain shape or an arc shape, which is provided at a portion opposite to a gap between adjacent IC chips, and
a refractive index in the refractive index changing region increases continuously inward toward an inner body of the transparent member in a direction perpendicular to a plane that passes through the plurality of chips so that the refractive index changing region refracts a part of the reflection to be incident into the gap to the IC chips.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the refractive index changing region includes a plurality of refractive index changing regions formed in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the transparent member and are formed so as to be shifted to each other in the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the refractive index in the refractive index changing region decreases toward a center thereof in a plane parallel to the plane that passes through the plurality of chips.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transparent member has a plate shape having a first flat surface facing the plurality of IC chips and a second flat surface opposite to the first flat surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the transparent member includes a plurality of the refractive index changing regions which are arranged at an equal interval with each other.