Patent ID: 7432491
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An image sensor comprising: a substrate; at least a first metal layer, disposed over the substrate; and a plurality of pixels arranged in an array having a pair of perpendicular axes extending from an optical center, each pixel including a sense element disposed at least partially in the substrate and at least an associated first metal interconnect segment disposed in the first metal layer, wherein for a line of consecutive pixels extending substantially perpendicularly from one of the axes to a peripheral edge of the array, (i) a pitch between corresponding ones of the associated first metal interconnect segments of each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is equal to a first distance, (ii) a pitch between sense elements of each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is at least equal to the first distance, and (iii) a pitch between each consecutive pair of pixels of the line is equal to a second distance which is greater than the first distance.