Patent ID: 8350952

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: (a) a substrate having a plurality of photosensitive areas arranged in a two-dimensional array; (b) a light shield spanning the photosensitive areas and configured to produce a plurality of apertures, wherein the plurality of apertures are positioned over respective photosensitive areas, wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in the two-dimensional array; and (c) a plurality of microlenses are positioned over respective photosensitive areas and are arranged in the two-dimensional array for focusing light through respective apertures, wherein the plurality of microlenses are respectively positioned spanning and centered over the respective photosensitive areas, wherein each microlens produces a single focal point, wherein a curvature of each microlens is shaped such that the single focal point of light through each microlens is substantially extended into the substrate to a point where light received at a normal incident angle fills each aperture and a portion of the light received at the normal incident angle is blocked by the light shield, and wherein, as an incident light angle of the light increases, an amount of light blocked at one edge of the light shield is offset by an increase in the light received at an opposite edge of the light shield.