Abstract: An image sensor includes two or more phase-difference detection pixels disposed adjacent to each other, a plurality of general pixels spaced apart from the phase-difference detection pixels, first and second peripheral pixels, and first to third light shields. The first and second peripheral pixels are adjacent to the phase-difference detection pixels, and between the phase-difference detection pixels and the general pixels. The first light shield is disposed in one of the general pixels and has a first width. The second light shield extends into the first peripheral pixel from a first area between the phase-difference detection pixels and the first peripheral pixel, and has a second width different from the first width. The third light shield extends into the second peripheral pixel from a second area between the phase-difference detection pixels and the second peripheral pixel, and has a third width different from the first width.

Abstract: A 3D image sensor include a depth pixel and at least two polarization pixels adjacent to the depth pixel. The depth pixel includes a charge generation region in a substrate. The depth pixel is configured to generate depth information associated with a depth of an object from the 3D image sensor in a 3D scene based on detecting light reflected from the object. Each polarization pixel includes a photodiode in the substrate and a polarizer on the substrate in a light-incident direction. The polarization pixel is configured to generate shape information associated with a shape of a surface of the object in the 3D scene based on detecting light reflected from the object. The polarization pixels and the depth pixel collectively define a unit pixel. The respective polarizers are associated with different polarization directions.

Abstract: An image sensor may include a first photo gate and a second photo gate each extending substantially in parallel in a first direction, the first photo gate and the second photo gate isolated from direct contact with each other in a second direction, the second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, a first overflow gate between the first photo gate and the second photo gate, the first overflow gate extending in the first direction, a first charge collection region on the first photo gate, a second charge collection region on the second photo gate and isolated from direct contact with the first charge collection region in the second direction, a first floating diffusion region that may receive first charge from the first charge collection region and output the first charge, and a second floating diffusion region that may receive second charge from the second charge collection region and output the second charge.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate with a first surface opposite a second surface, a pixel isolation pattern defining first and second unit pixels adjacent to each other in the substrate, and first and second separation patterns in the substrate. The first unit pixel includes first and second photoelectric conversion parts along a first direction. The second unit pixel includes third and fourth photoelectric conversion parts along a second direction intersecting the first direction. The first separation pattern extends in the second direction between the first and second photoelectric conversion parts. The second separation pattern extends in the first direction between the third and fourth photoelectric conversion parts. A width of the pixel isolation pattern, a width of the first separation pattern, and a width of the second separation pattern each decrease from the second surface of the substrate toward the first surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface, a photodiode layer in the semiconductor substrate, a transfer gate on the photodiode layer, the transfer gate being on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, a first trench recessed from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate at one side of the transfer gate, a first impurity injection region on at least a portion of a bottom surface of the first trench, the first impurity injection region not being on a sidewall of the first trench, and a lens on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of pixel regions, a first surface, and a second surface opposing the first surface, a plurality of transistors adjacent to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in each of the plurality of pixel regions, a microlens on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of conductive patterns in contact with the semiconductor substrate and closer to the second surface of the semiconductor substrate than to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in each of the plurality of pixel regions.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first element separation film inside a substrate and having a mesh shape, pixel regions on the substrate defined by the first element separation film and including at least first and second pixel regions, and a second element separation film inside the substrate and partitioning the first pixel region into sub-pixel regions, the second element separation film not being in the second pixel region, wherein the first pixel region includes first photoelectric conversion elements, and a first color filter on the first photoelectric conversion elements, the first color filter being one of white, green, and blue color filters, and wherein the second pixel region includes second photoelectric conversion elements, and a second color filter on the second photoelectric conversion elements, the second color filter being different from the first color filter and one of red and white color filters.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate including a first side on which light is incident, and a second side opposite to the first side, a pixel isolation pattern formed inside the substrate which defines a plurality of unit pixels, a first photoelectric conversion region and a second photoelectric conversion region arranged along a first direction, inside each of the unit pixels, and a region isolation pattern which protrudes from the pixel isolation pattern in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and defines an isolation region between the first photoelectric conversion region and the second photoelectric conversion region. A first width of the isolation region in the second direction on the first side is more than about 1.1 times a second width of the isolation region in the second direction on the second side.

Abstract: A 3D image sensor include a depth pixel and at least two polarization pixels adjacent to the depth pixel. The depth pixel includes a charge generation region in a substrate. The depth pixel is configured to generate depth information associated with a depth of an object from the 3D image sensor in a 3D scene based on detecting light reflected from the object. Each polarization pixel includes a photodiode in the substrate and a polarizer on the substrate in a light-incident direction. The polarization pixel is configured to generate shape information associated with a shape of a surface of the object in the 3D scene based on detecting light reflected from the object. The polarization pixels and the depth pixel collectively define a unit pixel. The respective polarizers are associated with different polarization directions.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate, a first isolation region defining a unit pixel, a first photoelectric conversion region in the unit pixel, a second photoelectric conversion region in the unit pixel, the second photoelectric conversion region spaced apart from the first photoelectric conversion region, a floating diffusion region, the floating diffusion region adjacent to the first surface of the substrate, a first transfer gate on the first surface of the substrate, the first transfer gate between the first photoelectric conversion region and the floating diffusion region, and a second transfer gate on the first surface of the substrate, the second transfer gate between the second photoelectric conversion region and the floating diffusion region. At least a part of the first transfer gate is buried in the substrate, and a bottom surface of the first transfer gate is different in height from a bottom surface of the second transfer gate.

Abstract: A 3D image sensor include a depth pixel and at least two polarization pixels adjacent to the depth pixel. The depth pixel includes a charge generation region in a substrate. The depth pixel is configured to generate depth information associated with a depth of an object from the 3D image sensor in a 3D scene based on detecting light reflected from the object. Each polarization pixel includes a photodiode in the substrate and a polarizer on the substrate in a light-incident direction. The polarization pixel is configured to generate shape information associated with a shape of a surface of the object in the 3D scene based on detecting light reflected from the object. The polarization pixels and the depth pixel collectively define a unit pixel. The respective polarizers are associated with different polarization directions.

Abstract: An image sensor includes two or more phase-difference detection pixels disposed adjacent to each other, a plurality of general pixels spaced apart from the phase-difference detection pixels, first and second peripheral pixels, and first to third light shields. The first and second peripheral pixels are adjacent to the phase-difference detection pixels, and between the phase-difference detection pixels and the general pixels. The first light shield is disposed in one of the general pixels and has a first width. The second light shield extends into the first peripheral pixel from a first area between the phase-difference detection pixels and the first peripheral pixel, and has a second width different from the first width. The third light shield extends into the second peripheral pixel from a second area between the phase-difference detection pixels and the second peripheral pixel, and has a third width different from the first width.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, at least one of the pixels comprising: a photodiode configured to generate charges in response to light; and a pixel circuit disposed on the substrate, and including a storage transistor configured to store the charges generated by the photodiode, and a transfer transistor connected between the storage transistor and a floating diffusion node, wherein a potential of a boundary region between the storage transistor and the transfer transistor has a first potential when the transfer transistor is in a turned-off state, and has a second potential, lower than the first potential, when the transfer transistor is in a turned-on state.

Abstract: An image sensor includes two or more phase-difference detection pixels disposed adjacent to each other, a plurality of general pixels spaced apart from the phase-difference detection pixels, first and second peripheral pixels, and first to third light shields. The first and second peripheral pixels are adjacent to the phase-difference detection pixels, and between the phase-difference detection pixels and the general pixels. The first light shield is disposed in one of the general pixels and has a first width. The second light shield extends into the first peripheral pixel from a first area between the phase-difference detection pixels and the first peripheral pixel, and has a second width different from the first width. The third light shield extends into the second peripheral pixel from a second area between the phase-difference detection pixels and the second peripheral pixel, and has a third width different from the first width.

Abstract: An image sensor including a light source configured to emit an optical signal to a target object, and a pixel array including a first pixel configured to generate pixel signals based on the optical signal reflected from the target object, the first pixel including a first photo gate group having at least two photo gates that are configured to receive first gate signals with a first phase difference from the optical signal in a time interval and a second photo gate group having at least two photo gates configured to receive second gate signals with a second phase difference from the optical signal in the time interval, may be provided.

Abstract: An image sensor includes two or more phase-difference detection pixels disposed adjacent to each other, a plurality of general pixels spaced apart from the phase-difference detection pixels, first and second peripheral pixels, and first to third light shields. The first and second peripheral pixels are adjacent to the phase-difference detection pixels, and between the phase-difference detection pixels and the general pixels. The first light shield is disposed in one of the general pixels and has a first width. The second light shield extends into the first peripheral pixel from a first area between the phase-difference detection pixels and the first peripheral pixel, and has a second width different from the first width. The third light shield extends into the second peripheral pixel from a second area between the phase-difference detection pixels and the second peripheral pixel, and has a third width different from the first width.

Abstract: An image sensor includes unit pixels, and from among the unit pixels, a first unit pixel and a second unit pixel that are adjacent to each other each include a first tap having a first photo gate, to which a first signal having a first phase difference with respect to an optical signal is applied, and a second tap having a second photo gate, to which a second signal having a second phase difference with respect to the optical signal is applied. A location of the first tap in the first unit pixel and a location of the first tap in the second unit pixel, and a location of the second tap in the first unit pixel and a location of the second tap in the second unit pixel are symmetrical with each other based on one point between the first unit pixel and the second unit pixel.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of pixel regions, a first surface, and a second surface opposing the first surface, a plurality of transistors adjacent to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in each of the plurality of pixel regions, a microlens on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of conductive patterns in contact with the semiconductor substrate and closer to the second surface of the semiconductor substrate than to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in each of the plurality of pixel regions.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, at least one of the pixels comprising: a photodiode configured to generate charges in response to light; and a pixel circuit disposed on the substrate, and including a storage transistor configured to store the charges generated by the photodiode, and a transfer transistor connected between the storage transistor and a floating diffusion node, wherein a potential of a boundary region between the storage transistor and the transfer transistor has a first potential when the transfer transistor is in a turned-off state, and has a second potential, lower than the first potential, when the transfer transistor is in a turned-on state.

Abstract: An image sensor may include a first photo gate and a second photo gate each extending substantially in parallel in a first direction, the first photo gate and the second photo gate isolated from direct contact with each other in a second direction, the second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, a first overflow gate between the first photo gate and the second photo gate, the first overflow gate extending in the first direction, a first charge collection region on the first photo gate, a second charge collection region on the second photo gate and isolated from direct contact with the first charge collection region in the second direction, a first floating diffusion region that may receive first charge from the first charge collection region and output the first charge, and a second floating diffusion region that may receive second charge from the second charge collection region and output the second charge.