Omnivision Technologies, Inc.

Da Meng

Chin Poh Pang

Guansong Liu

Xiaodong Yang

Rui Wang

Keiji Mabuchi

Peng Lin

Eiichi Funatsu

Woon Il Choi

Boyang Zhang

Qingfei Chen

Hongjun Li

Vivian Wang

An image sensor pixel includes a plurality of photodiodes, a shared microlens, and a plurality of microlenses. The plurality of photodiodes are arranged as a photodiode array with each of the plurality of photodiodes disposed within a semiconductor material. The shared microlens is optically aligned with a group of neighboring photodiodes included in the plurality of photodiodes. Each of the plurality of microlenses are optically aligned with an individual one of the plurality of photodiodes other than the group of neighboring photodiodes. The plurality of microlenses laterally surrounds the shared microlens.

Image sensor with shared microlens between multiple subpixels

An imaging device includes a photodiode array. The photodiodes include a first set of photodiodes configured as image sensing photodiodes and a second set of photodiodes configured as phase detection auto focus (PDAF) photodiodes. The PDAF photodiodes are arranged in at least pairs in neighboring columns and are interspersed among the image sensing photodiodes. Transfer transistors are coupled to corresponding photodiodes. The transfer transistors coupled to the image sensing photodiodes included in an active row of are controlled in response to a first transfer control signal or a second transfer control signal that control all of the image sensing photodiodes of the active row. A transfer transistor is coupled to one of a pair of the PDAF photodiodes of the active row. The first transfer transistor is controlled in response to a first PDAF control signal that is independent of the first or second transfer control signals.

Flexible exposure control for image sensors with phase detection auto focus pixels

An image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes, a plurality of color filters, and a plurality of microlenses. The plurality of photodiodes are arranged as a photodiode array, each of the plurality of photodiodes disposed within respective portions of a semiconductor material with a first lateral area. The plurality of color filters are arranged as a color filter array optically aligned with the photodiode array. Each of the plurality of color filters having a second lateral area greater than the first lateral area. The plurality of microlenses are arranged as a microlens array optically aligned with the color filter array and the photodiode array. Each of the plurality of microlenses have a third later area greater than the first lateral area and less than the second lateral area.

Image sensor with shared microlens

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Da Meng