Samsung patents image sensor layout that shares one readout area
Samsung describes an image sensor design where four light-sensitive pixels are arranged in a square and share a single central area to collect electrical signals. The filing details specific insulating trenches and gates that help move these signals from the four corners to the middle for reading.
In the filing’s own words
An image sensor includes: first to fourth pixel regions in a substrate; a first trench isolation encircling the first to fourth pixel regions and penetrating the substrate; a second trench isolation separating the first to fourth pixel regions from each other and penetrating the substrate; and a floating diffusion region configured to receive electrons generated at the photoelectric conversion regions in the first to fourth pixel regions. The second trench isolation includes first to fourth portions sequentially arranged in a clockwise direction. The first portion is spaced apart from the third portion in a first direction parallel to the first surface. The second portion is spaced apart from the fourth portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the first to fourth pixel regions further includes a first vertical transfer gate extending into the substrate from the first surface.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An image sensor comprising: a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; first to fourth pixel regions in the substrate arranged in a 2×2 matrix in a plan view, wherein each of the first to fourth pixel regions comprises a photoelectric conversion region; a first trench isolation encircling the first to fourth pixel regions and penetrating the substrate; a second trench isolation separating the first to fourth pixel regions from each other and penetrating the substrate; and a floating diffusion region configured to receive electrons generated at the photoelectric conversion regions in the first to fourth pixel regions, wherein the second trench isolation comprises first to fourth portions sequentially arranged in a clockwise direction in a plan view, wherein the first portion is spaced apart from the third portion in a first direction parallel to the first surface, wherein the second portion is spaced apart from the fourth portion in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein each of the first to fourth pixel regions further comprises a first vertical transfer gate extending into the substrate from the first surface, and wherein the floating diffusion region is disposed at a center of the 2×2 matrix in the plan view.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
- Official title
- IMAGE SENSOR
- Publication number
- US20260304970A1
- Application number
- 19659700
- Filed
- Apr 27, 2026
- Published
- Oct 1, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H10F 39/18 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/199 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/80373 Electricity & electronicsMore from Samsung in Chips & hardware
- Samsung patents chip that combines camera and screen Oct 13, 2026
- Samsung patents faster chip testing using machine learning Sep 1, 2026
- Samsung patents radar method to pinpoint target direction more accurately Sep 1, 2026
- Samsung patents memory chip that searches data by content, not address Sep 1, 2026
- Samsung patents chip design that skips empty data to speed up AI Sep 1, 2026
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.