Sony patents stacked camera sensor design with aligned wiring
Sony describes a camera sensor built from three stacked layers: one that captures light, one that holds and processes the image data, and one that handles the final logic. The design aligns specific wiring holes with transistors in the middle layer to improve how signals move between the layers.
In the filing’s own words
A light detection device includes a first substrate with a plurality of pixels, a second substrate with a plurality of first pixel circuits and a plurality of second pixel circuits, and a third substrate with a logic circuit. The first substrate includes a plurality of first metal pads to which output nodes of the plurality of pixels are connected. The second substrate includes a plurality of second metal pads joined to the first metal pads, a plurality of first via holes, and a plurality of third metal pads connected to the first via holes. The third substrate includes a plurality of fourth metal pads joined to the plurality of third metal pads. Each of the first via holes and at least one transistor in one or more of the first pixel circuits, or one or more of the second pixel circuits, are arranged on one axis.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A light detection device, comprising: a plurality of pixels, each of which accumulates a charge corresponding to an amount of incident light; a plurality of first pixel circuits having a plurality of capacitance elements that retain, at the same timing, voltage signals corresponding to charges accumulated in the plurality of pixels; a plurality of second pixel circuits that generate pixel signals corresponding to charges retained by the plurality of capacitance elements; a logic circuit that performs signal processing on the plurality of pixel signals generated by the plurality of second pixel circuits; a first substrate on which the plurality of pixels are arranged; a second substrate that is laminated on the first substrate and on which the plurality of first pixel circuits and the plurality of second pixel circuits are arranged; and a third substrate that is laminated on the second substrate and on which the logic circuit is arranged, wherein the first substrate includes a plurality of first metal pads that are arranged opposite the second substrate and to which output nodes of the plurality of pixels are connected, the second substrate includes: a semiconductor layer arranged opposite the third substrate; a plurality of second metal pads joined to the plurality of first metal pads; a plurality of first via holes arranged to penetrate the semiconductor layer from the plurality of second pixel circuit; and a plurality of third metal pads arranged opposite the third substrate and connected to the plurality of first via holes, and the third substrate includes a plurality of fourth metal pads joined to the plurality of third metal pads, each of the plurality of first via holes is provided to correspond to one or more of the first pixel circuits and one or more of the second pixel circuits, and each of the plurality of first via holes and at least one transistor in the one or more of the first pixel circuits to which each of the plurality of first via holes correspond, or the one or more of the second pixel circuits to which each of the plurality of first via holes correspond, are arranged on one axis.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- LIGHT DETECTION DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
- Publication number
- US20260270582A1
- Application number
- 19164893
- Filed
- Mar 19, 2024
- Published
- Sep 10, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 17
Classified under
H04N 25/59 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/532 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/616 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/771 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/79 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/809 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Cameras & imaging
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.