EP0441594A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solid image pickup device having microlenses
Assignee: Sharp Corp
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Filing: 1991-02-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-02-05
Abstract
Abstract In a solid image pickup device wherein a plurality of microlenses (28) are provided on a substrate (12) having light receiving portions (14), in opposition to the light receiving portions (14) so that incident light can converge onto the light receiving portions (14), the microlenses (28) are covered with a transparent resin layer (44) having a refractive index smaller than that of the microlenses (28). Therefore, the solid image pickup device (60), even when packaged in a molded body (72) made of a resin having a refractive index similar to that of the microlenses, can offer a good sensitivity because the microlenses (28) can effectively operate as condenser lenses due to the resin layer (44) between the molded body (72) and the microlenses (28). <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Shun-Ichi Naka
- 👤 Kiyotoshi Misawa
- 👤 Jun-Ichi Nakai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:46
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0037; G02B3/0056; B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00278; G02B3/0012; G02B3/0018; G02B3/0062; G02B3/0068; G02B5/00; G02B5/20; G02B5/201; H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/15; H10F39/156; H10F39/80; H10F39/804; H10F39/806; H10F39/8063; H10F77/00; H10F77/30; H10F77/306; H10F77/331; H10F77/334; H10F77/40; H10F77/407; H10F77/413
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A solid image pickup device wherein a plurality of microlenses (28) are provided on a substrate (12) having light receiving portions (16), opposite the light receiving portions (16) so that incident light can converge onto the light receiving portions (16), characterized in that: the microlenses (28) are covered with a transparent resin layer (44) having a refractive index smaller than that of the microlenses (28).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
The solid image pickup device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the microlenses (28) are double-layered, the microlenses (28) of an upper layer being bigger in shape than the microlenses (28) of a lower layer, and the microlenses of each layer are covered with the transparent resin layer (44).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The solid image pickup device as claimed in Claim 1, which is packaged in a molded body (72) made of a transparent resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A solid image pickup device wherein a plurality of microlenses (128) are provided on a substrate (12) having light receiving portions (16), opposite the light receiving portions (16) so that incident light can converge onto the light receiving portions, the solid image pickup device being packaged in a molded body (72) made of a transparent resin, characterized in that: the microlenses (128) have a refractive index larger than that of the molded body (72).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The solid image pickup device as claimed in Claim 4, the microlenses (128) are increased in optical density by adding a metal oxide to a base material of the microlenses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The solid image pickup device as claimed in Claim 4, the microlenses (128) are increased in optical density by introducing an aromatic ring into a base material of the microlenses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The solid image pickup device as claimed in Claim 4, the microlenses (128) are increased in optical density by introducing a halogenated alkyl group into a base material of the microlenses.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for forming microlenses (228) on a substrate (12) provided with color filters (40R, 40G, 40B) covering light receiving portions (16) in a solid image pickup device, comprising the steps of: forming a layer (27) of a photosensitive resin which has permeability to light and a refractive index of 1.65 or more on a substrate (12) which has a plurality of light receiving portions (16) arrayed in one or more rows; selectively photo-etching the photosensitive resin layer (27) in a square or stripe pattern to leave the photosensitive resin layer (27) in a sectionally rectangular shape on the substrate in positions corresponding to respective ones of the light receiving portions (16) or positions corresponding to respective rows of the light receiving portions (16); and applying a heat treatment to the substrate (12) provided with the photosensitive resin layer (27) at a temperature not affecting properties of the color filters (40R,40G,40B), with ultraviolet light being irradiated onto the photosensitive resin layer (27) during said heat treatment so that photo active groups contained in the photosensitive resin are decomposed and that the photosensitive resin is softened at said temperature to be semi-spherically or semi-cylindrically shaped by surface tension of the photosensitive resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the temperature at which the heat treatment is performed is below 160 °C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in Claim 8, wherein near ultraviolet light is irradiated onto the photosensitive resin layer (27).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
An image detection device comprising an array of light sensor elements formed on a substrate and microlenses provided over said array of light sensor elements, wherein the microlenses are covered with a transparent material having a refractive index which differs from that of the material forming the microlenses such that incident light is converged by said microlenses onto said sensor elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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