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US5250798A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Solid state image sensor device with microlenses

Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1991-12-24
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Granted: 1993-10-05
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Expires: 2011-12-24
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Abstract

Abstract A solid state image sensor device has a semiconductor substrate, picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix, and microlenses. Each microlens is arranged with a plurality of single-layer microlens parts on each picture element for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yasuo Iizuka
  • 👤 Akira Komatsu

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 05:07
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/15; H10F39/153; H10F39/1534; G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/0006; G02B3/0037; G02B3/0056; H10F39/80; H10F39/806; H10F39/8063

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 68 words
A solid state image sensor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix; and a plurality of microlenses, each of said microlenses arranged with a single-layer microlens on each of said picture elements, such that said microlenses are spaced apart from each other for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 68 words
A solid state image sensor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix; and a plurality of microlenses, each of said microlenses arranged with a single-layer microlens on each of said picture elements, such that said microlenses are spaced apart from each other for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 61 words
A solid state image sensor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix; and a plurality of microlenses, each of said microlenses having a plurality of single-layer microlens parts positioned on each of said picture elements, for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 61 words
A solid state image sensor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix; and a plurality of microlenses, each of said microlenses having a plurality of single-layer microlens parts positioned on each of said picture elements, for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A solid state image sensor device according to claim 2, wherein each of said microlenses has a pair of single-layer microlens parts positioned on each of said picture elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
A solid state image sensor device according to claim 2, wherein each of said microlenses has four single-layer microlens parts positioned on each of said picture elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 123 words
A solid state image sensor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix; a plurality of horizontal CCDs formed along a row of the picture elements; a plurality of vertical CCDs formed along a column of the picture elements; and a plurality of microlenses for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device, wherein each of said microlenses has a two-microlens-layer structure including a first-microlens-layer and a second-microlens-layer, the first-microlens-layer is arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape in one column of the picture elements along the vertical CCD line, and the second-microlens-layer having a double lens structure is arranged by each of said picture elements in the first-microlens-layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 123 words
A solid state image sensor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix; a plurality of horizontal CCDs formed along a row of the picture elements; a plurality of vertical CCDs formed along a column of the picture elements; and a plurality of microlenses for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device, wherein each of said microlenses has a two-microlens-layer structure including a first-microlens-layer and a second-microlens-layer, the first-microlens-layer is arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape in one column of the picture elements along the vertical CCD line, and the second-microlens-layer having a double lens structure is arranged by each of said picture elements in the first-microlens-layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 122 words
A solid state image sensor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix; a plurality of horizontal CCDs formed along a row of the picture elements; a plurality of vertical CCDs formed along a column of the picture elements; and a plurality of microlenses for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device, wherein each of said microlenses has a two-microlens-layer structure having a first-microlens-layer and a second-microlens-layer, the first-microlens-layer is arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape in one column of the picture elements along the vertical CCD line, and the second-microlens-layer having a four-part lens structure is arranged by each of picture elements in the first-microlens-layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 122 words
A solid state image sensor device comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of picture elements arranged on the semiconductor substrate in a matrix; a plurality of horizontal CCDs formed along a row of the picture elements; a plurality of vertical CCDs formed along a column of the picture elements; and a plurality of microlenses for condensing an incident light transferred from outside of the solid state image sensor device, wherein each of said microlenses has a two-microlens-layer structure having a first-microlens-layer and a second-microlens-layer, the first-microlens-layer is arranged in a semi-cylindrical shape in one column of the picture elements along the vertical CCD line, and the second-microlens-layer having a four-part lens structure is arranged by each of picture elements in the first-microlens-layer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4553036A Cited
US4667092A Cited
US5118924A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-10-04 1997-04-05 1997-10-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-10-04 2001-04-05 2001-10-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-10-04 2005-04-05 2005-10-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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