Image sensor and image-capturing device

An image sensor comprising:

• a plurality of image-capturing pixels that, upon each receiving a partial light flux within a predetermined wavelength range, which is part of a photographic light flux used to form an optical image, output image signals corresponding to the optical image, each of the plurality of image-capturing pixels having an image-capturing photoelectric conversion unit that converts the partial light flux received thereat to an image signal among the image signals, the plurality of image-capturing pixels having first image-capturing pixels and second image-capturing pixels, each of the first image-capturing pixels having a first color filter through which a light flux in a first wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range is transmitted, each of the second image-capturing pixels having a second color filter through which a light flux in a second wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range different from the first wavelength range is transmitted;
• a plurality of focus detection pixels that receive a pair of focus detection light fluxes in a wider wavelength range than the predetermined wavelength range and output a pair of focus detection signals, each of the plurality of focus detection pixels having a focus detection photoelectric conversion unit that converts a focus detection light flux received thereat in the focus detection light fluxes to a focus detection signal among the focus detection signals, the wider wavelength range of the focus detection light fluxes including the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range;
• and
• a reduction unit that adjusts a signal level of the focus detection signals output from the plurality of focus detection pixels so as to ensure that the signal level of the focus detection signals, each output from one of the plurality of focus detection pixels under a given light receiving condition, is equal to or less than a signal level of the image signals each output from one of the plurality of image-capturing pixels under the given light receiving condition, the reduction unit including a light reducing unit that reduces an amount of light in the focus detection light flux received at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit,
• wherein:
• each of the plurality of focus detection pixels includes a light shielding mask disposed substantially directly above the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit so as to block light other than the focus detection light flux and a micro-lens;
• the light reducing unit includes a light shielding member disposed between the micro-lens and the light shielding mask;
• and
• the light shielding member blocks part of the focus detection light flux so as to ensure that the part of the focus detection light flux is not received at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit.

An image sensor comprising:

• a plurality of image-capturing pixels that, upon each receiving a partial light flux within a predetermined wavelength range, which is part of a photographic light flux used to form an optical image, output image signals corresponding to the optical image, each of the plurality of image-capturing pixels having an image-capturing photoelectric conversion unit that converts the partial light flux received thereat to an image signal among the image signals, the plurality of image-capturing pixels having first image-capturing pixels and second image-capturing pixels, each of the first image-capturing pixels having a first color filter through which a light flux in a first wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range is transmitted, each of the second image-capturing pixels having a second color filter through which a light flux in a second wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range different from the first wavelength range is transmitted;
• a plurality of focus detection pixels that receive a pair of focus detection light fluxes in a wider wavelength range than the predetermined wavelength range and output a pair of focus detection signals, each of the plurality of focus detection pixels having a focus detection photoelectric conversion unit that converts a focus detection light flux received thereat in the focus detection light fluxes to a focus detection signal among the focus detection signals, the wider wavelength range of the focus detection light fluxes including the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range;
• and
• a reduction unit that adjusts a signal level of the focus detection signals output from the plurality of focus detection pixels so as to ensure that the signal level of the focus detection signals, each output from one of the plurality of focus detection pixels under a given light receiving condition, is equal to or less than a signal level of the image signals each output from one of the plurality of image-capturing pixels under the given light receiving condition, the reduction unit including a light reducing unit that reduces an amount of light in the focus detection light flux received at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit,
• wherein:
• the light reducing unit includes a beam splitter disposed at each of the plurality of focus detection pixels;
• and
• the beam splitter deflects part of the focus detection light flux toward outside of the plurality of focus detection pixels so as to ensure that part of the focus detection light flux is not received at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit.

An image sensor comprising:

• a plurality of image-capturing pixels that, upon each receiving a partial light flux within a predetermined wavelength range, which is part of a photographic light flux used to form an optical image, output image signals corresponding to the optical image, each of the plurality of image-capturing pixels having an image-capturing photoelectric conversion unit that converts the partial light flux received thereat to an image signal among the image signals, the plurality of image-capturing pixels having first image-capturing pixels and second image-capturing pixels, each of the first image-capturing pixels having a first color filter through which a light flux in a first wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range is transmitted, each of the second image-capturing pixels having a second color filter through which a light flux in a second wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range different from the first wavelength range is transmitted;
• a plurality of focus detection pixels that receive a pair of focus detection light fluxes in a wider wavelength range than the predetermined wavelength range and output a pair of focus detection signals, each of the plurality of focus detection pixels having a focus detection photoelectric conversion unit that converts a focus detection light flux received thereat in the focus detection light fluxes to a focus detection signal among the focus detection signals, the wider wavelength range of the focus detection light fluxes including the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range;
• and
• a reduction unit that adjusts a signal level of the focus detection signals output from the plurality of focus detection pixels so as to ensure that the signal level of the focus detection signals, each output from one of the plurality of focus detection pixels under a given light receiving condition, is equal to or less than a signal level of the image signals each output from one of the plurality of image-capturing pixels under the given light receiving condition, the reduction unit including a light reducing unit that reduces an amount of light in the focus detection light flux received at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit,
• wherein:
• the light reducing unit includes a multilayered body disposed at each of the plurality of focus detection pixels;
• and
• the multilayered body blocks part of the focus detection light flux so as to ensure that the part of the focus detection light flux is not received at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit.

An image sensor comprising:

• a plurality of image-capturing pixels that, upon each receiving a partial light flux within a predetermined wavelength range, which is part of a photographic light flux used to form an optical image, output image signals corresponding to the optical image, each of the plurality of image-capturing pixels having an image-capturing photoelectric conversion unit that converts the partial light flux received thereat to an image signal among the image signals, the plurality of image-capturing pixels having first image-capturing pixels and second image-capturing pixels, each of the first image-capturing pixels having a first color filter through which a light flux in a first wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range is transmitted, each of the second image-capturing pixels having a second color filter through which a light flux in a second wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range different from the first wavelength range is transmitted;
• a plurality of focus detection pixels that receive a pair of focus detection light fluxes in a wider wavelength range than the predetermined wavelength range and output a pair of focus detection signals, each of the plurality of focus detection pixels having a focus detection photoelectric conversion unit that converts a focus detection light flux received thereat in the focus detection light fluxes to a focus detection signal among the focus detection signals, the wider wavelength range of the focus detection light fluxes including the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range;
• and
• a reduction unit that adjusts a signal level of the focus detection signals output from the plurality of focus detection pixels so as to ensure that the signal level of the focus detection signals, each output from one of the plurality of focus detection pixels under a given light receiving condition, is equal to or less than a signal level of the image signals each output from one of the plurality of image-capturing pixels under the given light receiving condition, the reduction unit including a light reducing unit that reduces an amount of light in the focus detection light flux received at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit,
• wherein:
• the reduction unit includes a setting unit that selects a smaller setting for electrical charge storage time for photoelectric conversion of the focus detection light flux to the focus detection signal at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit than a setting for electrical charge storage time for photoelectric conversion of the partial light flux to the image signal at the image-capturing photoelectric conversion unit.

An image sensor comprising:

• a plurality of image-capturing pixels that, upon each receiving a partial light flux within a predetermined wavelength range, which is part of a photographic light flux used to form an optical image, output image signals corresponding to the optical image, each of the plurality of image-capturing pixels having an image-capturing photoelectric conversion unit that converts the partial light flux received thereat to an image signal among the image signals, the plurality of image-capturing pixels having first image-capturing pixels and second image-capturing pixels, each of the first image-capturing pixels having a first color filter through which a light flux in a first wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range is transmitted, each of the second image-capturing pixels having a second color filter through which a light flux in a second wavelength range set as the predetermined wavelength range different from the first wavelength range is transmitted;
• a plurality of focus detection pixels that receive a pair of focus detection light fluxes in a wider wavelength range than the predetermined wavelength range and output a pair of focus detection signals, each of the plurality of focus detection pixels having a focus detection photoelectric conversion unit that converts a focus detection light flux received thereat in the focus detection light fluxes to a focus detection signal among the focus detection signals, the wider wavelength range of the focus detection light fluxes including the first wavelength range and the second wavelength range;
• and
• a reduction unit that adjusts a signal level of the focus detection signals output from the plurality of focus detection pixels so as to ensure that the signal level of the focus detection signals, each output from one of the plurality of focus detection pixels under a given light receiving condition, is equal to or less than a signal level of the image signals each output from one of the plurality of image-capturing pixels under the given light receiving condition,
• wherein:
• first conversion characteristics, with which the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit converts the focus detection light flux having been received thereat to the focus detection signal, are different from second conversion characteristics with which the image-capturing photoelectric conversion unit converts the partial light flux having been received thereat to the image signal;
• the reduction unit ensures that the signal level of the focus detection signals output from the plurality of focus detection pixels under the given light receiving condition is equal to or less than the signal level of the image signals output from the plurality of image-capturing pixels under the given light receiving condition by making the first conversion characteristics different from the second conversion characteristics;
• each of the plurality of image-capturing pixels and the plurality of focus detection pixels includes an output unit;
• the output unit included in each of the plurality of image-capturing pixels amplifies an electrical signal obtained through photoelectric conversion of the partial light flux executed at the image-capturing photoelectric conversion unit and outputs the amplified electrical signal as the image signal;
• the output unit included in each of the plurality of focus detection pixels amplifies an electrical signal obtained through photoelectric conversion of the focus detection light flux executed at the focus detection photoelectric conversion unit and outputs the amplified electrical signal as the focus detection signal;
• and
• the reduction unit ensures that the signal level of the focus detection signals output from the plurality of focus detection pixels under the given light receiving condition is equal to or less than the signal level of the image signals output from the plurality of image-capturing pixels under the given light receiving condition by setting a lower amplification factor at the output unit included in each of the plurality of focus detection pixels relative to an amplification factor set at the output unit included in each of the plurality of image-capturing pixels.