Sony patents camera sensor layout with metal line between transistors
Sony describes a photodetector design where two light-sensing elements and their readout circuits are placed side-by-side on a semiconductor layer. A shared electric conductor runs between the two transistors to manage the signals generated by the light.
In the filing’s own words
A photodetector according to an embodiment of the disclosure includes a first photoelectric conversion element, a first readout circuit, a second photoelectric conversion element, a second readout circuit, and an electric conductor. The first photoelectric conversion element photoelectrically converts light. The first readout circuit includes a first transistor provided on a side of a first surface of a first semiconductor layer, and is configured to output a first signal based on electric charge obtained by conversion by the first photoelectric conversion element. The second photoelectric conversion element photoelectrically converts light. The second readout circuit includes a second transistor provided next to the first transistor on the side of the first surface of the first semiconductor layer, and is configured to output a second signal based on electric charge obtained by conversion by the second photoelectric conversion element. The electric conductor is provided between the first transistor and the second transistor.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A photodetector, comprising: a first photoelectric conversion element that photoelectrically converts light; a first readout circuit including a first transistor provided on a side of a first surface of a first semiconductor layer, the first readout circuit being configured to output a first signal based on electric charge obtained by conversion by the first photoelectric conversion element; a second photoelectric conversion element that photoelectrically converts light; a second readout circuit including a second transistor provided next to the first transistor on the side of the first surface of the first semiconductor layer, the second readout circuit being configured to output a second signal based on electric charge obtained by conversion by the second photoelectric conversion element; and an electric conductor provided between the first transistor and the second transistor.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- PHOTODETECTOR AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
- Publication number
- US20260282586A1
- Application number
- 19167823
- Filed
- Feb 22, 2024
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H10F 39/809 Electricity & electronicsG01J 1/44 Physics & computingH10F 39/811 Electricity & electronicsG01J 2001/446 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Chips & hardware
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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.