Patent ID: 7227193
Filing Date: 2007-06-05
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A solid-state image sensor comprising: an array of photodiodes disposed in a first virtual plane for receiving beams incident from a field of view to be captured; and a plurality of arrangement patterns of micro-lenses provided over said array of photodiodes, each of said plurality of arrangement patterns being composed of a smaller micro-lens and a plurality of larger micro-lenses, each of said plurality of larger micro-lenses being larger in diameter than said smaller micro-lens, said plurality of larger micro-lenses being arranged on top, bottom, right and left sides of said smaller micro-lens with respect to the first virtual plane to form gaps with each other, in each of the arrangement patterns, said smaller micro-lens having an image projected on a second virtual plane, normal to the first virtual plane, such that a not-hidden part of the image which is visible, when viewed in a direction parallel to the first virtual plane, through at least one of the gaps which is formed between ones of said plurality of larger micro-lenses positioned on the top or bottom side and the left or right side of said smaller micro-lens is, at most, half as much in area as the entire image of said smaller micro-lens projected on the second virtual plane.