18398981. BACK SIDE ILLUMINATION IMAGE SENSORS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME simplified abstract (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)

BACK SIDE ILLUMINATION IMAGE SENSORS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

Organization Name

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Inventor(s)

Yun Ki Lee of Hwaseong-si (KR)

Jong Hoon Park of Hwaseong-si (KR)

Jun Sung Park of Hwaseong-si (KR)

BACK SIDE ILLUMINATION IMAGE SENSORS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18398981 titled 'BACK SIDE ILLUMINATION IMAGE SENSORS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

Simplified Explanation

The abstract describes a back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with various components such as a photodiode, device isolation film, dark current suppression layer, light shield grid, light shielding filter layer, planarization layer, lens, and anti-reflective film.

• The pixel in the BSI image sensor is designed to generate electrical signals in response to light incident on the back side of a substrate.
• The pixel includes a light shield grid with an opening area of 1 to 15% of the pixel's area to improve light sensitivity.
• A dark current suppression layer helps reduce noise in the image sensor.
• The anti-reflective film between the photodiode and lens helps minimize reflections and improve image quality.

Potential Applications

The technology described in the patent application could be used in various applications such as smartphone cameras, digital cameras, security cameras, and medical imaging devices.

Problems Solved

This technology helps improve the sensitivity and image quality of back side illumination image sensors by reducing noise and reflections, resulting in clearer and more detailed images.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include enhanced image quality, improved low-light performance, reduced noise, and overall better performance of image sensors in various devices.

Potential Commercial Applications

The technology could be commercialized for use in smartphone cameras, digital cameras, security cameras, medical imaging devices, and other imaging systems.

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art in this field is the use of anti-reflective coatings in optical systems to reduce reflections and improve image quality. Another could be the use of light shield grids in image sensors to enhance light sensitivity.

Unanswered Questions

How does the size of the opening area in the light shield grid affect the performance of the image sensor?

The article does not provide specific details on how the size of the opening area in the light shield grid impacts the overall performance of the image sensor.

Are there any potential drawbacks or limitations to the design of the BSI image sensor described in the patent application?

The article does not mention any potential drawbacks or limitations of the technology, leaving room for further exploration and analysis in this area.

Original Abstract Submitted

In some example embodiments, a back side illumination (BSI) image sensor may include a pixel configured to generate electrical signals in response to light incident on a back side of a substrate. In some example embodiments, the pixel includes, a photodiode, a device isolation film adjacent to the photodiode, a dark current suppression layer above the photodiode, a light shield grid above the photodiode and including an opening area of 1 to 15% of an area of the pixel, a light shielding filter layer above the light shield grid, a planarization layer above the light shielding filter layer, a lens above the planarization layer, and/or an anti-reflective film between the photodiode and the lens.