CN114080798A

CN114080798A - Image sensor, camera and electronic equipment

Info

Publication number: CN114080798A
Application number: CN202080033672.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 杜灿鸿
Original assignee: Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-22
Filing date: 2020-06-22
Publication date: 2022-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-22
Also published as: WO2021258265A1; CN114080798B

Abstract

An image sensor, a camera and an electronic device, wherein the image sensor comprises: at least one pixel block (10), the pixel block (10) comprising at least two pixel units (11) arranged in series, the pixel units (11) comprising at least two pixels (111) having the same arrangement direction, the arrangement direction comprising a first arrangement direction and a second arrangement direction; the pixel block (10) comprises at least one pixel unit (11) in a first arrangement direction and at least one pixel unit (11) in a second arrangement direction, and the first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction are perpendicular. The embodiment of the application optimizes the focusing performance of the image sensor, avoids the process difficulty increase of the image sensor caused by the undersize of the pixel (111), and also avoids the production difficulty increase caused by the pixel unit with the same size comprising an excessive number of pixels.

Description

Image sensor, camera and electronic equipment

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of image processing, in particular to an image sensor, a camera and electronic equipment.

Background

The image sensor senses optical signals emitted by a target object through pixels in pixel units of the image sensor and converts the optical signals into electric signals so as to obtain corresponding images.

However, the existing image sensor has the following technical problems:

(1) the focusing performance of the image sensor is poor;

(2) the image sensor has a high process difficulty and a high commercialization difficulty.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an image sensor, a camera and an electronic device, which overcome or partially overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks in the prior art.

In one aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an image sensor, including: at least one pixel block including at least two pixel units arranged in series, the pixel units including at least two pixels having the same arrangement direction, the arrangement direction including a first arrangement direction and a second arrangement direction; the pixel block comprises at least one pixel unit in a first arrangement direction and at least one pixel unit in a second arrangement direction, and the first arrangement direction is vertical to the second arrangement direction.

On the other hand, the embodiment of the present application further provides a camera including the image sensor according to any embodiment of the present application.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device, including the image sensor according to any embodiment of the present application.

In the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application, a pixel block of an image sensor includes a pixel unit in at least one first arrangement direction and a pixel unit in at least one second arrangement direction, where the first arrangement direction is perpendicular to the second arrangement direction, so that the pixel units are both arranged in the first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction which are perpendicular to each other, and a PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) technical effect can be formed in both the first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction by two pixels of the pixel units, thereby optimizing the focusing performance of the image sensor. In addition, the pixel unit in the embodiment of the application includes two pixels with the same arrangement direction, which avoids the increase of the process difficulty of the image sensor caused by the undersize of the pixels and also avoids the increase of the production difficulty caused by the excessive number of pixels included in the pixel unit with the same size.

Drawings

Some specific embodiments of the present application will be described in detail hereinafter by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in the drawings identify the same or similar elements or components. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A-1C are top, Y and X side views, respectively, of a pixel cell in a pixel block of an image sensor;

FIGS. 1D-1F are top, Y and X side views, respectively, of a pixel cell in a pixel block of another image sensor;

fig. 2A to 2C are a top view, a Y side view and an X side view of a pixel unit in a pixel block of yet another image sensor, respectively;

fig. 2D to 2F are a top view, a Y side view and an X side view of a pixel unit in a pixel block of yet another image sensor, respectively;

FIGS. 2G to 2I are a top view, a Y side view and an X side view of a pixel unit in a pixel block of an image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating an implementation of pixel blocks forming a sensing array in the image sensor according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a diagram of another embodiment of a pixel block forming a sensor array in an image sensor according to the present application;

FIG. 3C is a diagram of another embodiment of a pixel block forming a sensor array in an image sensor according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a diagram of another embodiment of a pixel block forming a sensor array in an image sensor according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a diagram of another embodiment of a pixel block forming a sensor array in an image sensor according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 4C is a diagram of another embodiment of a pixel block forming a sensor array in an image sensor according to the present disclosure;

fig. 4D is a schematic diagram of another specific implementation of the pixel blocks forming the sensing array in the image sensor according to the embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

It is not necessary for any particular embodiment of the invention to achieve all of the above advantages at the same time.

In order to make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, but not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present application shall fall within the scope of the protection of the embodiments in the present application.

The following further describes specific implementations of embodiments of the present application with reference to the drawings of the embodiments of the present application.

For an image sensor, the pixels in the following embodiments of the present application can be understood as: the photoelectric conversion device comprises a minimum unit capable of performing photoelectric conversion, a photosensitive optical structure corresponding to each pixel, and a pixel circuit for performing photoelectric conversion. For a scene to which color image sensing can be applied, the optical structure may include a microlens, a color filter, an optical channel, and the like, and if a black-and-white image sensing scene is applied, the color filter may be omitted from the optical structure, or the black-and-white image sensing may be indirectly achieved in a software processing manner, as in the case of the optical structure to which color image sensing is applied. For a pixel circuit, it may include an optoelectronic device as well as some functional circuitry.

In the embodiment of the present application, a pixel block (referred to as pixel sub in the industry) may be understood as: the pixel combination may be periodically used and continuously arranged when forming a sensing array of the image sensor.

In the embodiment of the present application, a pixel cell (also referred to as a pixel cell in the industry) may be understood as: the pixel combination of the pixel block is formed, the pixel unit can be divided into at least two pixels, and one pixel block can comprise at least two pixel units.

For an image sensor applied to a color image sensing scene, which may also be referred to as a color image sensor, in the following embodiments, the technical solution of the present application is exemplified by the color image sensor. The optical structure corresponding to one pixel 11 includes a microlens 111A, a color filter 111B, and a filler 111C, the functions of the microlens 111A and the color filter 111B are described above, the filler 111C is used to form the optical channel, and a light blocking barrier 111D for avoiding optical crosstalk is disposed between two adjacent pixels 11.

Referring to fig. 1A, one pixel block 10 includes four pixel units 11, wherein one pixel unit 11 can be divided into four square pixels 111; the green (G), red (R), and blue (B) colors of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed on the four square pixel units 11 of the same pixel block 10, the microlenses 111A are further disposed above the color filter 111B pattern, and one pixel corresponds to one microlens 111A. The pixel blocks shown in FIG. 1A are also referred to as a Bayer 2x2 RGGB array. Referring to fig. 1B and 1C again, a light-blocking barrier 111D may be disposed between every two adjacent pixels 111 to prevent crosstalk between light rays of the adjacent pixels 111, and the light channel is formed in each pixel 111 by a filler 111C.

If the pixel block 10 shown in fig. 1A is used to form a sensing array of an image sensor, a filling space occupied by each pixel in the same pixel unit is square, and each pixel in the pixel unit corresponds to a microlens, so that a PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) technical effect cannot be achieved. In addition, since the pixel size is small in the pixel block 10, the process difficulty of the image sensor is increased, and the production difficulty is increased because the pixel unit of the same size includes an excessive number of pixels.

Referring to fig. 1D, as in the above fig. 1A, one pixel block 10 includes four pixel units 11, where one pixel unit 11 is divided into four pixels 111 whose occupied filling space is square, and one pixel corresponds to one microlens 111A; different from fig. 1A, the green, red, or blue color of the color filter 111B pattern is uniformly distributed on the four pixel units 11 of the same pixel block 10, so that the size of the color filter 111B becomes larger compared to fig. 1A, thereby reducing the process difficulty and the product difficulty of the image sensor. Referring to fig. 1E and 1F again, as in fig. 1B and 1C, a light-blocking barrier 111D is disposed between every two adjacent pixels 111, so as to avoid crosstalk between adjacent pixels 111.

The focusing principle of FIG. 1D is similar to that of FIG. 1A, and is not described herein again.

Referring to fig. 2A, one pixel block 10, which is the same in size as the above-described fig. 1A, includes four pixel units 11, except that each pixel unit 11 is divided into two pixels 111 having the same arrangement direction instead of four pixels 111. In this embodiment, for example, the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 in each pixel unit 11 is a vertical arrangement direction, so that the positional relationship between two pixels 111 in the same pixel unit 11 is a left-right relationship, a left image is captured by the left pixel 111, a right image is captured by the right pixel 111, and then the position of the Focus is directly determined by comparing the correlation values (i.e., the Phase difference) of the left image and the right image, thereby realizing the technical effect of PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) and optimizing the focusing performance of the image sensor. However, since the arrangement directions of the pixels 111 in the four pixel units 11 included in the pixel block 10 in fig. 2A are the same, that is, the arrangement directions of the pixel blocks 10 in the pixel units 11 are all vertical arrangement directions, the focusing performance of the image sensor in the horizontal arrangement direction is better, and the focusing performance in the vertical arrangement direction is poorer.

In this embodiment, the pixel unit 11 in fig. 2A includes two pixels 111 with the same arrangement direction, which avoids the increase of the process difficulty of the image sensor caused by the undersize of the pixels 111 and the increase of the production difficulty caused by the excessive number of pixels included in the pixel unit with the same size.

Referring to fig. 2B and 2C, the color of the color filter 111B patterns of all the pixels 111 in the same pixel unit 11 are the same, and compared to fig. 1A, the sizes of the color filter 111B and the microlens 111A are increased, so that the process difficulty and the product difficulty of the image sensor are reduced.

Referring to fig. 2D to 2F, if the pixel unit 11 is divided into four square pixels 111, unlike the above-mentioned fig. 1D, the four pixels in each pixel unit share one microlens, so that the PDAF (phase focusing) technical effect can be achieved as well, and since the pixels 111 are arranged in both the horizontal arrangement direction and the vertical arrangement direction, the focusing performance of the image sensor is better in both the horizontal arrangement direction and the vertical arrangement direction. However, since the pixel unit 111 is divided into four square pixels 111, the size of the pixel 111 is relatively small, and the process difficulty is large compared to fig. 2A. As the size of the pixels 111 is reduced, the number of pixels 111 of the image sensor increases for the same size, which also increases the difficulty of commercializing the image sensor. The arrangement of the color filter 111B pattern and the micro-lenses 111A in fig. 2D to 2F is similar to that in fig. 2A to 2C, and is not repeated here.

Fig. 2G to 2I are a schematic plan view, a side view in Y-side direction, and a side view in X-side direction of one pixel block 10 in the image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this pixel block 10, the pixel unit 11 includes two pixels 111 having the same arrangement direction, which includes a first arrangement direction and a second arrangement direction. The pixel block 10 includes at least one pixel unit 11 in a first arrangement direction and at least one pixel unit 11 in a second arrangement direction, and the first arrangement direction is perpendicular to the second arrangement direction.

In this embodiment, since the pixel block 10 of the image sensor includes at least one pixel unit 11 in a first arrangement direction and at least one pixel unit 11 in a second arrangement direction, and the first arrangement direction is perpendicular to the second arrangement direction, the pixel units 11 are arranged along the first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction which are perpendicular to each other, and the PDAF technical effect can be achieved by the two pixels 111 of the pixel unit 11 in both the first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction, so that the focusing performance of the image sensor is improved. In addition, the pixel unit 11 described in this embodiment includes two pixels 111 with the same arrangement direction, which avoids the increase of the process difficulty of the image sensor caused by the undersize of the pixels 111, and also avoids the increase of the production difficulty of the image sensor caused by the excessive number of pixels 111 included in the pixel unit 11 with the same size.

Illustratively, the first arrangement direction is a horizontal arrangement direction, and the second arrangement direction is a vertical arrangement direction. Illustratively, for example, in fig. 2G, the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 in the pixel unit 11 at the upper left corner is a vertical arrangement direction, and the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 in the pixel unit 11 at the upper right corner is a horizontal arrangement direction. The embodiment of the present application is not limited to the horizontal arrangement direction and the vertical arrangement direction, as long as the first arrangement direction and the second arrangement direction are perpendicular to each other, for example, the first arrangement direction is the vertical arrangement direction, and the second arrangement direction is the horizontal arrangement direction.

Optionally, in this embodiment, the filling space occupied by each pixel 11 is rectangular, so that the pixel unit is square in a top view, and the commonly used microlens is bowl-shaped or hemispherical, and when each pixel unit 11 includes two pixels 111 sharing one microlens, the pixel unit can be externally connected to the microlens in the top view.

In another specific implementation of the embodiment of the present application, the image sensor includes color filters 111B, and patterns of the color filters are regularly distributed on the at least one pixel unit 11 in the first arrangement direction and the at least one pixel unit 11 in the second arrangement direction.

Specifically, the different color filters 111B may have different patterns, for example, the pattern of the color filter 111B may specifically include red, green, and blue.

Referring again to fig. 2H and 2I, the same as fig. 2A above, the color of the color filter 111B patterns of all the pixels 111 in the same pixel unit 11 are the same.

In this embodiment, since the color filter 111B patterns are regularly distributed on the at least one pixel unit 11 in the first arrangement direction and the at least one pixel unit 11 in the second arrangement direction, and different color filters 111B are matched with the pixel units 11 in the first arrangement direction and the pixel units 11 in the second arrangement direction, different color sensor arrays can be formed.

In still another specific implementation of the embodiment of the present application, referring to fig. 3A, in the sensing array, the arrangement directions of the pixels 111 of any two adjacent pixel units 11 in the pixel units 11 included in the pixel block 10 are different. Specifically, the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 of any two adjacent pixel units 11 is different in the horizontal arrangement direction of the sensor array, and the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 of any two adjacent pixel units 11 is different in the vertical arrangement direction of the sensor array.

Therefore, the pixel units 11 are distributed more uniformly in the horizontal arrangement direction and in the vertical arrangement direction, so that the two pixels 111 of the pixel unit 11 can form more uniform PDAF technical effects in the horizontal arrangement direction and in the vertical arrangement direction, thereby optimizing the directional uniformity of focusing of the image sensor.

In still another specific implementation of the present application, referring to fig. 3B, in each pixel block 10, the green color (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed in the pixel units 11 in the second arrangement direction in the pixel block 10, and the red color (R) and the blue color (B) of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel units 11 in the first arrangement direction in the pixel block 10.

Specifically, the green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed in the pixel cells 11 in the vertical arrangement direction in the pixel block 10, and the red (R) and blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel cells 11 in the horizontal arrangement direction in the pixel block 10.

In this embodiment, different color filters 111B are distributed on the pixel unit 11, so as to form different color sensing arrays.

Fig. 3B is only an implementation example of the pixel units 11 in the vertical arrangement direction in the pixel block 10, in which green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed, and red (R) and blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel block 10, and in this implementation example, the arrangement directions of the pixels 111 of any two adjacent pixel units 11 in the pixel units 11 included in the pixel block 10 are different. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to the distribution illustrated in fig. 3B.

In this embodiment, the three patterns, i.e., the green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern, the red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern, and the blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern, are uniformly distributed in the pixel unit 11, that is, the same number of red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern and blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern are provided in the pixel unit 11, and the number of green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is twice as many as the number of red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern and blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern, so that a better spatial resolution can be achieved.

In still another specific implementation of the present application, referring to fig. 3C, the red (R), blue (B), and green (G) colors of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel block 10 in the first arrangement direction of the pixel units 11 and in the second arrangement direction of the pixel units 11.

Specifically, the red (R), blue (B), and green (G) colors of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel block 10 in the pixel cells 11 in the vertical arrangement direction and the pixel cells 11 in the horizontal arrangement direction. For example, the green color (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is uniformly distributed in the pixel cells 11 in the horizontal and vertical arrangement directions of the pixel block 10, and the red color (R) and the blue color (B) of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel cells 11 in the horizontal and vertical arrangement directions of the pixel block 10.

Referring to fig. 3C again, in the pixel block 10 at the upper left corner and the pixel block 10 at the upper right corner, the arrangement directions of the red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern are respectively a horizontal arrangement direction and a vertical arrangement direction, and the arrangement directions of the blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern are respectively a vertical arrangement direction and a horizontal arrangement direction.

Fig. 3C is only one implementation example of the color filter 111B pattern of the present application in which red (R), blue (B), and green (G) are uniformly distributed in the pixel units 11 in the vertical arrangement direction and the pixel units 11 in the horizontal arrangement direction in the pixel block 10, and in this implementation example, the arrangement directions of the pixels 111 of any two adjacent pixel units 11 in the pixel units 11 included in the pixel block 10 are different. It is to be noted that the pixels opposite in the diagonal direction are not the "adjacent" pixels referred to in this application. The embodiments of the present application are not limited to the distribution illustrated in fig. 3C.

In the image sensor of the embodiment of the present application, the pixel units 11 are uniformly distributed in the vertical arrangement direction and the horizontal arrangement direction, so that a good PDAF focusing effect can be achieved in both the horizontal arrangement direction and the vertical arrangement direction.

In a further specific implementation of the embodiment of the present application, referring to fig. 4A, the pixel blocks 10 include pixel units 11 in which the arrangement directions of the pixels 111 of one column of the pixel units 11 are the same, and the arrangement directions of the pixels 111 of two adjacent columns of the pixel units 11 are different.

Specifically, in fig. 4A, the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 of the first column of pixel units 11 is a horizontal arrangement direction, the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 of the second column of pixel units 11 is a vertical arrangement direction, the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 of the third column of pixel units 11 is a horizontal arrangement direction, and the arrangement direction of the pixels 111 of the fourth column of pixel units 11 is a vertical arrangement direction.

In fig. 4A, the arrangement directions of the pixels 111 of the pixel units 11 in one column of the pixel units 11 included in the pixel block 10 are the same, and the arrangement directions of the pixels 111 of the pixel units 11 in two adjacent columns are different, and since each pixel 111 in the same column of the pixels 111 is in the same arrangement mode, the arrangement of the pixels 111 is more regular, so as to reduce the difficulty of designing the routing of the pixel circuit, such as a readout circuit, for example, but the example in fig. 4A is only one implementation example, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

In still another specific implementation of the present application, referring to fig. 4B, the color filter pattern is shown on the sensor array shown in fig. 4B, specifically, green (G) of the color filter pattern is uniformly distributed in the pixel blocks 10 of the first arrangement direction pixel units 11 and the second arrangement direction pixel units 11, blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed in the pixel blocks 10 of the first arrangement direction pixel units 11, red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed in the pixel blocks 10 of the second arrangement direction pixel units 11, so that the green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern has good PDAF focusing performance in both horizontal arrangement direction and vertical arrangement direction, and the blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern has good PDAF focusing performance in both vertical arrangement direction, the red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern has good PDAF focusing performance in the horizontal arrangement direction. In addition, since each pixel 111 in the same column of pixels 111 is arranged in the same manner, the arrangement of the pixels 111 is more regular, thereby reducing the difficulty in designing the routing of a pixel circuit such as a readout circuit therein.

Specifically, in fig. 4B, in each pixel block 10 in the sensor array, the green color (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is uniformly distributed in the pixel blocks 10 in the horizontal arrangement direction and the pixel units 11 in the vertical arrangement direction, the blue color (B) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed in the pixel blocks 10 in the horizontal arrangement direction and the red color (R) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed in the pixel units 11 in the vertical arrangement direction in the pixel blocks 10.

Fig. 4B shows two different examples, in which the green color (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is uniformly distributed in the pixel block 10 in the horizontal arrangement direction of the pixel units 11 and the vertical arrangement direction of the pixel units 11, the blue color (B) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed in the pixel block 10 in the horizontal arrangement direction of the pixel units 11, and the red color (R) of the color filter 111B pattern is distributed in the pixel block 10 in the vertical arrangement direction of the pixel units 11, but the embodiment of the present application is not limited thereto.

In this embodiment, since the three patterns, i.e., the green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern, the red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern, and the blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern, are uniformly distributed in the pixel unit 11, that is, the same number of red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern and blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern are provided in the pixel unit 11, and the number of green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is twice as many as the number of red (R) of the color filter 111B pattern and blue (B) of the color filter 111B pattern, it is possible to achieve a better spatial resolution. Meanwhile, the green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern is uniformly distributed in the pixel units 11 in the vertical arrangement direction and the pixel units 11 in the horizontal arrangement direction, so that the green (G) of the color filter 111B pattern has better PDAF focusing performance in both the horizontal arrangement direction and the vertical arrangement direction.

In still another specific implementation of the present application, referring to fig. 4C, the green, blue and red colors of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel block 10 of the first arrangement direction pixel units 11 and the second arrangement direction pixel units 11.

Specifically, for example, the green, blue, and red colors of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel block 10 in the pixel units 11 in the horizontal arrangement direction and the pixel units 11 in the vertical arrangement direction.

In this embodiment, since the green color (G) of the color filter 111B pattern, the red color (R) of the color filter 111B pattern, and the blue color (B) of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel units 11 in the vertical arrangement direction and the pixel units 11 in the horizontal arrangement direction, the green color (G) of the color filter 111B pattern, the red color (R) of the color filter 111B pattern, and the blue color (B) of the color filter 111B pattern can achieve a good PDAF focusing effect in both the horizontal arrangement direction and the vertical arrangement direction.

In a further specific implementation of the present application, referring to fig. 4D, the green, blue and red colors of the color filter 111B pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel block 10 of the pixel units 11 in the first arrangement direction and the pixel units 11 in the second arrangement direction. Compared with fig. 4C, the difference is at least that in fig. 4C, the green colors of the two color filter 111B patterns are uniformly distributed in the pixel cells 11 in the first arrangement direction and the pixel cells 11 in the second arrangement direction in the same row in the pixel block 10, and the blue colors and the red colors of the color filter 111B patterns are uniformly distributed in the pixel cells 11 in the first arrangement direction and the pixel cells 11 in the second arrangement direction in the same row in the pixel block 10; in fig. 4D, the green colors of the two color filter 111B patterns are uniformly distributed in the diagonal first arrangement direction pixel cells 11 and the diagonal second arrangement direction pixel cells 11 in the pixel block 10, and the blue colors and the red colors of the color filter 111B patterns are uniformly distributed in the diagonal first arrangement direction pixel cells 11 and the diagonal second arrangement direction pixel cells 11 in the pixel block 10.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a camera, which may include the image sensor described in any embodiment of the present application.

The embodiment of the present application further provides an electronic device, which may include the image sensor described in any embodiment of the present application.

Thus, particular embodiments of the present subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

In a typical configuration, an electronic device may include one or more processors (CPUs), input/output interfaces, network interfaces, and memory.

The memory may include forms of volatile memory in a computer readable medium, Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or non-volatile memory, such as Read Only Memory (ROM) or flash memory (flash RAM). Memory is an example of a computer-readable medium.

Computer-readable media, including both non-transitory and non-transitory, removable and non-removable media, may implement information storage by any method or technology. The information may be computer readable instructions, data structures, modules of a program, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include, but are not limited to, phase change memory (PRAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), other types of Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), Digital Versatile Discs (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transmission medium that can be used to store information that can be accessed by an electronic device. As defined herein, a computer readable medium does not include a transitory computer readable medium such as a modulated data signal and a carrier wave.

It should also be noted that the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising an …" does not exclude the presence of other like elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. The term "any two adjacent pixels" does not include pixels that are diagonally opposite or contiguous.

The same and similar parts among the various embodiments in the present specification are referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the system embodiment, since it is substantially similar to the method embodiment, the description is simple, and for the relevant points, reference may be made to the partial description of the method embodiment.

The above description is only an example of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application should be included in the scope of the claims of the present application.

Claims

An image sensor, comprising: at least one pixel block including at least two pixel units arranged in series,

the pixel unit comprises two pixels with the same arrangement direction, and the arrangement direction comprises a first arrangement direction and a second arrangement direction;

the pixel block comprises at least one pixel unit in a first arrangement direction and at least one pixel unit in a second arrangement direction, and the first arrangement direction is vertical to the second arrangement direction.
The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the pixel blocks include pixel units in which pixels of any two adjacent pixel units are arranged in different directions.
The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the pixel blocks include pixel units having pixels in the same column, and the pixel units in two adjacent columns have pixels in different arrangement directions.
The image sensor of any of claims 2-3, further comprising:

the color filter patterns are regularly distributed on the pixel units in the at least one first arrangement direction and the pixel units in the at least one second arrangement direction.
The image sensor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the green color of the color filter pattern is distributed in the pixel blocks of the second arrangement direction pixel units, and the red and blue colors of the color filter pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel blocks of the first arrangement direction pixel units.
The image sensor according to claim 4, wherein red, blue and green of the color filter pattern are uniformly distributed among the pixel units of the first arrangement direction and the pixel units of the second arrangement direction in the pixel block.
The image sensor according to claim 4, wherein green colors of the color filter pattern are uniformly distributed in the pixel blocks in the first arrangement direction and the pixel blocks in the second arrangement direction, blue colors of the color filter pattern are distributed in the pixel blocks in the first arrangement direction, and red colors of the color filter pattern are distributed in the pixel blocks in the second arrangement direction.
The image sensor of claim 1, further comprising a microlens, wherein a filling space occupied by each pixel of the pixel unit is rectangular.
The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the pixel unit comprises two pixels sharing a microlens.
A camera comprising the image sensor of any one of claims 1-9.
An electronic device, characterized in that it comprises an image sensor according to any one of claims 1-9.