Samsung patents image sensor with metal shields to block light
Samsung describes an image sensor design where some light sensors are covered by metal shields instead of color filters. This setup uses micro lenses to direct light to specific parts of the sensor, potentially improving how the camera captures images.
In the filing’s own words
An image sensor includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel includes a first photodiode, a second photodiode at least partially overlapping the first photodiode in a first direction, a first metal shield on one photodiode of the first photodiode or the second photodiode in a vertical direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first color filter on another photodiode of the first photodiode or the second photodiode in the vertical direction, and a first micro lens on both the first metal shield and the first color filter in the vertical direction. The second pixel includes a third photodiode, a fourth photodiode at least partially overlapping the third photodiode in the first direction, a second color filter on both the third photodiode and the fourth photodiode in the vertical direction, and a second micro lens on the second color filter in the vertical direction.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An image sensor, comprising: a substrate comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposing the top surface; a first pixel group comprising a first four photodiodes arranged in a first 2 x 2 matrix, a first micro lens on the first four photodiodes, a first color filter on two photodiodes of the first four photodiodes, and a first metal shield on the other two photodiodes of the first four photodiodes; a second pixel group comprising a second four photodiodes arranged in a second 2 x 2 matrix, a second micro lens on the second four photodiodes, a second color filter on two photodiodes of the second four photodiodes, and a second metal shield on the other two photodiodes of the second four photodiodes; a first device isolation film separating the first pixel group from the second pixel group; and a second device isolation film separating each of the first four photodiodes and the second four photodiodes from each other, wherein the first pixel group and the second pixel group are arranged in a first direction in plan view, wherein the two photodiodes under the first metal shield are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the two photodiodes under the second metal shield are arranged in the second direction.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
- Official title
- IMAGE SENSOR
- Publication number
- US20260303998A1
- Application number
- 19709694
- Filed
- Jun 16, 2026
- Published
- Oct 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04N 25/77 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/11 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/704 Electricity & electronicsMore from Samsung 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.