Samsung electronics co., ltd. (20240120357). IMAGE SENSOR simplified abstract

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IMAGE SENSOR

Organization Name

samsung electronics co., ltd.

Inventor(s)

Sanghoon Kim of Suwon-si (KR)

Jonguk Kim of Suwon-si (KR)

Heegeun Jeong of Suwon-si (KR)

IMAGE SENSOR - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240120357 titled 'IMAGE SENSOR

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an image sensor with a unique design to capture both image and phase information effectively.

  • The image sensor includes first pixel regions for image information and second pixel regions for phase information.
  • A grid pattern on the substrate divides spaces for each type of pixel region.
  • Color filters are placed in spaces for image information, while polarization patterns are placed in spaces for phase information.
  • A microlens layer with microlenses is placed on top of the color filters.

Potential Applications

This technology can be used in:

  • Digital cameras
  • Smartphones
  • Surveillance systems
  • Medical imaging devices

Problems Solved

  • Efficient capture of both image and phase information
  • Improved image quality and accuracy
  • Enhanced depth perception in images

Benefits

  • Higher quality images
  • Enhanced depth perception
  • Improved accuracy in image capture

Potential Commercial Applications

  • Camera manufacturers
  • Smartphone companies
  • Medical device manufacturers
  • Surveillance system providers

Possible Prior Art

One possible prior art could be the use of separate sensors for image and phase information capture, which may not be as efficient as the integrated design described in this patent application.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology compare to existing image sensor designs in terms of image quality?

The article does not provide a direct comparison with existing image sensor designs in terms of image quality. It would be interesting to see a side-by-side comparison to understand the potential improvements offered by this technology.

What are the potential limitations or challenges in implementing this technology in commercial products?

The article does not address any potential limitations or challenges in implementing this technology in commercial products. It would be important to consider factors such as cost, manufacturing complexity, and compatibility with existing devices.


Original Abstract Submitted

an image sensor includes a substrate having a plurality of first pixel regions configured to generate image information and a plurality of second pixel regions configured to detect phase information, a grid pattern on the substrate and dividing a plurality of spaces corresponding to each of the plurality of first pixel regions and the plurality of second pixel regions. the image sensor also includes a plurality of color filters respectively in first spaces of the plurality of spaces, excluding second spaces corresponding to the plurality of second pixel regions, a plurality of polarization patterns respectively in the second spaces and partitioning the second spaces, and a microlens layer including a plurality of first microlenses respectively on the plurality of color filters.