JP6774207B2 - Image sensor and image sensor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image pickup device and an image pickup device, and more particularly to an image pickup device and an image pickup apparatus including a pixel having a focus detection function.

In an electronic camera capable of recording moving images and still images, a technique has been proposed for realizing focus detection by a phase difference detection method using an image sensor for image recording. In this imaging surface phase difference detection method, the luminous flux that has passed through the exit pupil of the photographing optical system is received by a set of light receiving elements for focus detection, and the signal waveform of the one-to-two image output according to the amount of the received light is The amount of deviation, that is, the amount of relative positional deviation of the luminous flux in the pupil division direction is detected. Then, the defocus amount (defocus amount) of the photographing optical system is obtained from the detected relative position shift amount. As the characteristics of focus detection by this imaging surface phase difference detection method, there are characteristics that depend on the arrangement of the pixels for focus detection and the shape of the pupil division characteristics of the pixels. Therefore, the intrapixel structure and arrangement for improving the characteristics of focus detection. Various technologies have been proposed.

Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of pixel sequences having different division positions of the photoelectric conversion unit, and selects the optimum pixel sequence according to the eccentricity error of the microlens and the pupil change due to the type of interchangeable lens and the image height. It is disclosed that the imbalance of pixel output is reduced.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-015164

However, when the division position of the photoelectric conversion unit is different depending on the image height as in Patent Document 1, since the transfer gate electrode that transfers the charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the floating diffusion region is a light-shielding material, it is used as a pixel. It creates a new imbalance in optical characteristics.

Here, the imbalance of the optical characteristics of the pixels caused by the transfer gate electrode will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic view for explaining the pixel structure of an image pickup device having pixel groups at different division positions of the photoelectric conversion unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 and the state of the pixel structure on the pupil surface. Is.

In FIG. 5A, a pixel array of 2 rows and 2 columns is drawn, and the structure is such that the division center positions are different in the first row (pixel group A) and the second row (pixel group B). Therefore, the imbalance in the amount of received light of the focus detection signal is reduced. The transfer gate electrodes 403 corresponding to the photoelectric conversion units 401a, 401b, 402a, and 402b having different division center positions shown in FIG. 5 are arranged so as to partially cover the photoelectric conversion units 401a, 401b, 402a, and 402b. Will be done. The transfer gate electrode 403 controls the potential of the signal charge to and from the adjacent stray diffusion region 404.

The transfer gate electrode 403 is designed in consideration of transfer efficiency according to the width of each of the photoelectric conversion units 401a, 401b, 402a, and 402b. Since the transfer gate electrode 403 is a light-shielding member, the photoelectric conversion regions of the photoelectric conversion units 401a, 401b, 402a, and 402b are optically shaded. In the configuration of the photoelectric conversion units 401a, 401b, 402a, and 402b having different division center positions, the transfer gate electrode 403 optically performs the photoelectric conversion units 401a, 401b and the pixel group A and the pixel group B having different division center positions. The regions that limit 402a and 402b are different.

5 (b) is a schematic view showing how the pixels of the pixel group A and FIG. 5 (c) show how the pixels of the pixel group B separate the luminous flux on the pupil surface, and FIG. 5 (a) shows. The shape in which the pixels shown in (1) are projected onto the pupil surface is shown at the upper part of the figure. In FIGS. 5B and 5C, the region 420 shows the range of the pupil region that the pixel receives light. Further, the regions 421a, 421b, 422a and 422b indicate the range of the pupil region received by the photoelectric conversion units 401a, 401b, 402a and 402b, respectively. Further, the region 423 indicates the range of the pupil region affected by the shading by the transfer gate electrode 403.

The circle 410 arranged in the center indicates the range cut out by the aperture frame of the imaging optical system attached to the image sensor. Therefore, in reality, the area inside the circle 410 is the range in which the pixel receives light. In order to simplify the explanation, in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the exit pupil distance Dl of the imaging optical system attached to the image sensor is substantially equivalent to the set pupil distance Ds of the image sensor, and the circle 410. Is a drawing of the aperture frame observed from the pixel of the central image height. As shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, the area where the transfer gate electrode 403 optically blocks light differs between the pixel group A and the pixel group B, so that the pixel group A and the pixel group B are the aperture frames. There is a difference in the shape of the light receiving area that can be cut out through. For this reason, the center of gravity of the light receiving region is different between the pixel group A and the pixel group B, which causes unfavorable horizontal stripes as a captured image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the influence on the captured image while having a plurality of division patterns of the photoelectric conversion unit suitable for focus detection.

In order to achieve the above object, the image pickup device of the present invention is composed of a plurality of pixels, has a pixel portion including a first pixel group and a second pixel group, and has the first pixel group and the first pixel group. In each photoelectric conversion unit, each pixel included in the two pixel groups corresponds to a plurality of photoelectric conversion units and each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and is arranged on the side of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units in the arrangement direction. The first pixel group includes a plurality of transfer gates having transfer gate electrodes covering a part of the same position and shape, and the sides in the alignment direction in which the plurality of transfer gates are arranged have the same length. The average position of the center of gravity of the light-receiving region of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in each pixel of the above, and the position of the center of gravity of the light-receiving region of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in each pixel of the second pixel group. The average position of each pixel is different from that of each pixel.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the influence on the captured image while having a plurality of division patterns of the photoelectric conversion unit suitable for focus detection.

It is a schematic diagram which showed the pixel structure of the image pickup device and the state on the pupil surface of the imaging optical system in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which showed the state on the pupil surface of the pixel and the imaging optical system at the image height X1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which showed the pixel structure of the image sensor in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which showed the structure of the image pickup apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram explaining the pixel structure of the conventional image sensor.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the pixel configuration of the image sensor 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the state of the imaging optical system on the pupil surface. FIG. 1A is a plan view of a two-dimensional plane in which a plurality of pixels 10 (pixel portions) constituting the image sensor 1 are arranged, observed from the side where light is incident, and is a two-dimensional array of pixels 10. Of these, only 4 pixels in 2 rows and 2 columns are shown. Let the pixel 10 in the upper row be the pixel group A (first pixel group), and the pixel 10 in the lower row be the pixel group B (second pixel group).

Each pixel 10 has one microlens 100, and a plurality of photoelectric conversion units 101a and 101b, or 102a and 102b are arranged on the lower side in the Z direction of FIG. 1A. A floating diffusion region 104 is arranged next to the photoelectric conversion units 101a, 101b, 102a, and 102b. The transfer gate electrode 103, which is the gate of the transfer transistor, transfers the electric charges generated by the photoelectric conversion units 101a, 101b, 102a, and 102b to the connected floating diffusion region 104, respectively. Each floating diffusion region 104 is configured to be shared by a plurality of photoelectric conversion units 101a and 101b, or 102a and 102b. The transfer gate electrode 103 and the photoelectric conversion units 101a, 101b, 102a, and 102b are configured to have overlapping regions on the pixel array plane when viewed from the Z direction. At this time, the overlapping region (partial region) is designed so that the shape and position are the same in each pixel 10 regardless of the pixel group A and the pixel group B. The floating diffusion region 104 corresponds to a holding unit that holds the electric charge generated in each photoelectric conversion unit.

Next, the pixel group of the image pickup device 1 in the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1A, the photoelectric conversion units 101a and 101b of the pixel group A and the photoelectric conversion units 102a and 102b of the pixel group B have different shapes. That is, the photoelectric conversion units 101a and 101b constituting the pixel group A have their division boundaries offset by Dx from the pixel center (dashed line) to the −X side. On the other hand, the photoelectric conversion units 102a and 102b constituting the pixel group B have their division boundaries offset to the + X side of the pixel center by Dx. As a result, the pixel group A is divided around the −X side of the center of the exit pupil, and the pixel group B is divided around the + X side of the center of the exit pupil, and photoelectric conversion is performed. This is because the positions of the centers of gravity of the photoelectric conversion units 101a, 101b, 102a, and 102b are offset in opposite directions between the pixel groups, and the positions of the centers of gravity of the light receiving surfaces summed up in pixel units are between the pixel groups. Indicates that they have the same configuration. Incidentally, the division boundary of Te embodiment smell divides the photoelectric conversion units 101a and 101b correspond to the separation zone. In particular, the median strip near the overlapping region corresponds to the first median strip, and the median strip near the region where the division boundary is offset corresponds to the second median strip.

1 (b) is a schematic view showing how the pixels of the pixel group A and FIG. 1 (c) show how the pixels of the pixel group B separate the luminous flux on the pupil surface, and FIG. 1 (a) shows. The shape in which the pixels shown in (1) are projected onto the pupil surface is shown at the upper part of the figure. In FIGS. 1B and 1C, the region 120 shows the range of the pupil region that the pixel 10 receives light. Further, the regions 121a, 121b, 122a and 122b indicate the range of the pupil region received by the photoelectric conversion units 101a, 101b, 102a and 102b, respectively. Further, the region 123 indicates the range of the pupil region affected by the shading by the transfer gate electrode 103.

The circle 110 arranged at the center indicates the range cut out by the aperture frame of the imaging optical system attached to the image sensor 1. Therefore, in reality, the area inside the circle 110 is the range in which the pixel 10 receives light. In order to simplify the explanation, in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the exit pupil distance Dl of the imaging optical system attached to the image sensor 1 is substantially equivalent to the set pupil distance Ds of the image sensor 1. The circle 110 is a drawing of the aperture frame observed from the pixel of the central image height.

By adopting the pixel structure of the image pickup element 1 described above, it is equivalent that the combined regions of the divided photoelectric conversion units 101a and 101b and 102a and 102b used as the captured image are shielded by the transfer gate electrode 103. It turns out that. That is, since the shape of the light receiving region that can be cut out through the diaphragm frame is the same in the pixel group A and the pixel group B, the factor of horizontal stripes in the captured image can be eliminated.

FIG. 2 shows an aperture at an image height X1 in the −X direction when the exit pupil distance Dl of the imaging optical system attached to the image sensor 1 in the first embodiment is shorter than the set pupil distance Ds of the image sensor 1. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state of pupil separation of the frame and the pixel 10 of a pixel group A. As clear from this figure, the image height on the -X side, the pupil division by the pixel 10 of the pixel group A, since it can reduce the collapse of the light amount balance between two images to be separated, yo Risei high degree of focus detection Can be done. On the other hand, in the + X direction, the same situation occurs for the pixel 10 of the pixel group B. Therefore, by selecting an appropriate pixel group according to the image height, an imaging optical system having a short exit pupil distance Dl can be supported. It becomes possible. Although not shown, when the exit pupil distance Dl is longer than the set pupil distance Ds of the image sensor 1, the relationship is the opposite of the above, and in this case as well, the accuracy of focus detection is improved by selecting an appropriate pixel group. can do.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the influence on the captured image while having a plurality of division patterns of the photoelectric conversion unit suitable for focus detection.

<Second embodiment>
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the pixel structure of the image pickup device 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a two-dimensional plane in which a plurality of pixels 20 constituting the image pickup element 2 are arranged, observed from the side where light is incident, and is a two-dimensional arrangement of the pixels 20 in the ± X-axis direction. Only a total of 10 pixels arranged at the highest image height position and the center image height are shown. Let the pixel 20 in the upper row be the pixel group A, and the pixel 20 in the lower row be the pixel group B.

Each pixel 20 has one microlens 200, and photoelectric conversion units 201a and 201b, or 202a and 202b are arranged on the lower side in the Z direction in FIG. A floating diffusion region 204 is arranged next to the photoelectric conversion units 201a, 201b, 202a, and 202b. The transfer gate electrode 203, which is the gate of the transfer transistor, transfers the electric charges generated by the photoelectric conversion units 201a, 201b, 202a, and 202b to the floating diffusion region 204, respectively. The floating diffusion region 204 is configured to be shared by a plurality of photoelectric conversion units 201a and 201b, or 202a and 202b. The transfer gate electrode 203 and the photoelectric conversion units 201a, 201b, 202a, and 202b are configured to have overlapping portions on the pixel array plane when viewed from the Z direction. At this time, the overlapping portions are arranged in the same direction regardless of the pixel group A and the pixel group B. That is, it is designed so that the shape and the position are the same in the pixel 20.

Next, the pixel group of the image pickup device 2 in the second embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the photoelectric conversion units 201a and 201b of the pixel group A and the photoelectric conversion units 202a and 202b of the pixel group B have different shapes. The leftmost column will be described as an example. The photoelectric conversion unit 201a, 201b of the pixel group A, the division boundary are offset by Dx 1 on the -X side of the center (dashed line) of the pixel 20, the photoelectric conversion unit 202a of the pixel group B, 202b is , The division boundary is offset by Dx 1 to the + X side of the pixel center. In the next column, this relationship is offset by ± Dx2, the offset disappears in the central image height (third column), and the division boundaries match.

Then, the offset relations are exchanged so as to be line-symmetric with the center image height (third column), and in the rightmost column, the photoelectric conversion units 201a and 201b of the pixel group A have a division boundary at the center of the pixel 20 (the division boundary is the center of the pixel 20 (3rd column). It is offset by Dx 1 to the + X side of the one-dot chain line). On the other hand, the photoelectric conversion unit 202a of the pixel group B, 202b, the division boundary is offset by Dx 1 to -X side from the pixel center. This means that in the pixel group A and the pixel group B, the average positions of the centers of gravity of the light receiving surfaces of the divided photoelectric conversion units 201a, 201b and 202a, 202b move away from each other as the image height increases. It has become. With this configuration, ranging pixels that divide the pupil region more appropriately according to the image height are arranged for each image height, and when the pupil distance of the imaging optical system changes significantly in an interchangeable lens system or the like. It is possible to respond flexibly to such matters.

As shown in FIG. 3, the divided positions of the photoelectric conversion units 201a, 201b, 202a, and 202b include a position offset from the pixel center and a position not offset. The non-offset position is in a region close to the transfer gate electrode 203. Further, all the transfer gate electrodes 203 have the same shape. As described above, the photoelectric conversion units 201a, 201b, 202a, and 202b are partially covered with the transfer gate electrode 203. Since the transfer gate electrode 203 is not a light transmitting material, the region covered by the transfer gate electrode 203 in the photoelectric conversion units 201a, 201b, 202a, and 202b is shielded from light. At this time, both the combined region of the photoelectric conversion units 201a and 201b constituting the pixel group A and the combined region of the photoelectric conversion units 202a and 202b forming the pixel group B are equally shielded by the transfer gate electrode 203. .. As described above, this overcomes the problem of the prior art of cutting out different pupil regions for each pixel group.

The image pickup device 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to take an image without adversely affecting the captured image while having a plurality of photoelectric conversion unit division patterns suitable for focus detection.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the photoelectric conversion unit is divided with all the boundaries as straight lines, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the photoelectric conversion unit may be divided by a curved line. Further, in the first and second embodiments described above, the pupil division is limited to two divisions, but the pupil division is not limited to this, and may be divided into three or more regions such as four divisions. Even in that case, the same effect can be obtained by making the overlapping portion of the transfer gate electrode and the photoelectric conversion unit the same shape and position in all the pixel groups.

In the first and second embodiments described above, two types of pixel groups have been described as the pixel group A and the pixel group B, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when a Bayer-arranged color filter is provided, a pixel group may be formed for each pixel in which the same color filter is arranged.

<Third embodiment>
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a camera which is an image pickup device 300 having an image pickup device 1 or 2 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 4, the image pickup apparatus 300 is a digital camera system including a camera body and an interchangeable lens (imaging optical system or photographing optical system) that can be attached to and detached from the camera body. However, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and can be applied to an imaging device in which a camera body and a lens that collects light from a subject are integrally configured.

The first lens group 301 is arranged at the frontmost (subject side) of the plurality of lens groups constituting the photographing lens (imaging optical system), and can move forward and backward in the direction of the optical axis OA (optical axis direction). It is held in the lens barrel in the state. The diaphragm combined shutter 302 (aperture) adjusts the amount of light at the time of shooting by adjusting the aperture diameter thereof, and also functions as a shutter for adjusting the exposure time at the time of shooting a still image. The second lens group 303 has a zoom function that advances and retreats in the optical axis direction integrally with the diaphragm and shutter 302, and performs a variable magnification operation in conjunction with the advance and retreat operation of the first lens group 301. The third lens group 305 is a focus lens group that adjusts the focus (focus operation) by moving forward and backward in the optical axis direction. The optical low-pass filter 306 is an optical element for reducing false color and moire of a captured image.

The image pickup device 1 (or 2) performs photoelectric conversion of a subject image (optical image) via an imaging optical system, and is composed of, for example, a CMOS sensor or a CCD sensor, and peripheral circuits thereof.

The zoom actuator 311 rotates (drives) a cam cylinder (not shown) to move the first lens group 301 and the second lens group 303 along the optical axis direction, thereby performing a scaling operation. The aperture shutter actuator 312 controls the aperture diameter of the aperture / shutter 302 to adjust the amount of light (captured light amount) and also controls the exposure time during still image photographing. The focus actuator 314 moves the third lens group 305 in the optical axis direction to adjust the focus.

The electronic flash 315 is a lighting device used to illuminate a subject. As the electronic flash 315, a flash illumination device provided with a xenon tube or an illumination device provided with an LED (light emitting diode) that continuously emits light is used. The AF auxiliary light means 316 projects an image of a mask having a predetermined aperture pattern onto a subject via a light projecting lens. As a result, the focus detection ability for a dark subject or a low-contrast subject can be improved.

The CPU 321 is a control device (control means) that controls various controls of the image pickup device 300. The CPU 321 includes a calculation unit, a ROM, a RAM, an A / D converter, a D / A converter, a communication interface circuit, and the like. The CPU 321 drives various circuits of the image pickup apparatus 300 by reading and executing a predetermined program stored in the ROM, and controls a series of operations such as focus detection (AF), shooting, image processing, or recording. To do.

The electronic flash control circuit 322 controls the lighting of the electronic flash 315 in synchronization with the shooting operation. The auxiliary light drive circuit 323 controls the lighting of the AF auxiliary light means 316 in synchronization with the focus detection operation. The image sensor drive circuit 324 controls the image pickup operation of the image sensor 1 (or 2), and A / D-converts the acquired image signal and transmits it to the CPU 321.

The image processing circuit 325 (image processing apparatus) performs processing such as γ (gamma) conversion of image data output from the image pickup device 1 (or 2), color interpolation, or JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) compression. In the third embodiment, the image processing circuit 325 has an acquisition means 325a and an image processing means 325b (correction means). The acquisition means 325a acquires an image pickup pixel and at least one parallax image from the image sensor 1 (or 2). The imaging pixel synthesizes a plurality of signals of a plurality of photoelectric conversion units 101a and 101b, 102a and 102b, 201a and 201b, or 202a and 202b that receive light flux passing through different pupil region regions of the imaging optical system. It is an image generated by. Hereinafter, the photoelectric conversion units 101a, 102a, 201a and 202a will be referred to as a photoelectric conversion unit A, and the photoelectric conversion units 101b, 102b, 201b and 202b will be referred to as a photoelectric conversion unit B. The parallax image is an image generated from the signals of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units 101a and 101b, 102a and 102b, 201a and 201b, or the respective photoelectric conversion units of 202a and 202b.

The focus drive circuit 326 drives the focus actuator 314 based on the focus detection result, and adjusts the focus by moving the third lens group 305 along the optical axis direction. The aperture shutter drive circuit 328 drives the aperture shutter actuator 312 to control the aperture diameter of the aperture shutter 302. The zoom drive circuit 329 drives the zoom actuator 311 in response to the zoom operation of the photographer.

The display 331 is configured to include, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display). The display 331 displays information on the shooting mode of the image pickup apparatus 300, a preview image before shooting, a confirmation image after shooting, a display image of the in-focus state at the time of focus detection, and the like. The operation unit 332 (operation switch group) includes a power switch, a release (shooting trigger) switch, a zoom operation switch, a shooting mode selection switch, and the like. The release switch has a two-stage switch of a half-pressed state (SW1 is ON state) and a full-pressed state (SW2 is ON state). The recording medium 333 is, for example, a flash memory that can be attached to and detached from the image pickup apparatus 300, and records captured images (image data).

Next, the focus detection operation in the image pickup apparatus 300 of the third embodiment will be described. As described above, the pixel group of the image pickup element 1 (or 2) includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units (photoelectric conversion unit A, photoelectric conversion unit B). Therefore, it is possible to obtain a pair of subject images having parallax on each light receiving surface by a pair of light fluxes from different pupil regions. The pair of subject images correspond to the image data 1 and the image data 2, respectively. Also, the parallax image data 1 and image data 2 has varies depending on the focal position of the shooting lens. Specifically, the parallax disappears when the subject is in focus, and the parallax increases according to the amount of deviation from the focused state. That is, the amount of parallax differs depending on the focus state. This makes it possible to obtain an appropriate focus position and the distance to the subject in the image data by using the amount of parallax generated between the image data.

As a method for obtaining the parallax amount, a method using the following equation (1) will be illustrated.

ただし、Ａx、Ｂxは画像データにおいて指定した行の複数の光電変換部それぞれの出力信号値である。ｓはシフト量であり、ｑ、ｐは所定の列番号である。つまり、光電変換部Ａの信号と行方向にｓ画素分だけ光電変換部Ｂの信号値をシフトさせたものとの差分をとることで、相関値Ｃを求めることができる。そして、所定の範囲でシフト量ｓを変化させて相関値Ｃを求め、極小となるシフト量ｓが視差量に相当する。そして、極小となるシフト量ｓに対して所定の係数を乗算することによって、フォーカス位置を算出可能である。このフォーカス位置に基づいてフォーカス駆動回路３２６を制御することで、被写体に対して焦点調節を行うことが可能となる。

However, Ax and Bx are output signal values of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units in the line specified in the image data. s is the shift amount, and q and p are predetermined column numbers. That is, the correlation value C can be obtained by taking the difference between the signal of the photoelectric conversion unit A and the signal value of the photoelectric conversion unit B shifted in the row direction by s pixels. Then, the shift amount s is changed within a predetermined range to obtain the correlation value C, and the minimum shift amount s corresponds to the parallax amount. Then, the focus position can be calculated by multiplying the minimum shift amount s by a predetermined coefficient. By controlling the focus drive circuit 326 based on this focus position, it is possible to adjust the focus on the subject.

In the third embodiment, the signal of the photoelectric conversion unit B is shifted, but the signal of the photoelectric conversion unit A may be shifted. Further, the parallax amount may be calculated by using an equation other than the equation (1).

By using the image data 1 and the image data 2 generated from the signals of the photoelectric conversion units A and B having parallax in this way, the distance to the subject at an arbitrary place on the screen can be obtained. Further, the image data 3 can be obtained by adding the image data 1 and the image data 2. That is, the image data 3 corresponds to a composite image of the image data 1 and the image data 2. Although the light receiving surface is divided into two in the third embodiment, the light receiving surface may be divided into three or more. When synthesizing the image data 1 and the image data 2 in order to create the image data 3, a predetermined weighting may be performed, or one of the images may be processed and then added.

1,2: Image sensor, 10,20: Pixel, 100: Microlens, 101a, 101b, 102a, 102b, 201a, 201b, 202a, 202b: Photoelectric converter, 103, 203: Transfer gate electrode, 104: Floating diffusion Area, 300: Image sensor, 301: First lens group, 302: Aperture combined shutter, 303: Second lens group, 305: Third lens group

Claims (10)

It is composed of a plurality of pixels and has a pixel portion including a first pixel group and a second pixel group.
Each pixel included in the first pixel group and the second pixel group
With multiple photoelectric conversion units
A plurality of transfers having a transfer gate electrode corresponding to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and covering a part of the same position and shape in each photoelectric conversion unit arranged on the side in the arrangement direction of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units. Including the gate,
The lengths of the sides in the alignment direction in which the plurality of transfer gates are arranged are equal,
The average position of the center of gravity of the light receiving region of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in each pixel of the first pixel group and the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in each pixel of the second pixel group. An image sensor characterized in that the average position of the center of gravity of the light receiving region is different from that of each pixel. The average position of the center of gravity of the light receiving region of each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in each pixel of the first pixel group, and the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in each pixel of the second pixel group, respectively. The image pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the average position of the center of gravity of the light receiving region is offset in opposite directions with respect to the division directions of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units in each pixel. .. The position of the center of gravity of the light receiving region of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in each pixel of the first pixel group is at the same position of each pixel, and the plurality of photoelectrics included in each pixel of the second pixel group. The image pickup device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position of the center of gravity of the light receiving region of the conversion unit is at the same position of each pixel. The second aspect of claim 2, wherein the average position in the first pixel group and the average position in the second pixel group are separated from each other as the image height in the pixel portion increases. Image sensor. The image pickup device according to claim 4, wherein the average position in the first pixel group and the average position in the second pixel group coincide with each other in the central image height of the pixel portion. Any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of pixels further include a holding unit that holds the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and the holding unit is connected to the plurality of transfer gates. The image sensor according to the section. The image pickup device according to claim 6, wherein the holding portion in the first pixel group and the holding portion in the second pixel group are arranged in the same direction. The image pickup device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the pixel further includes one microlens. It is composed of a plurality of pixels and has a pixel portion including a first pixel group and a second pixel group.
Each pixel included in the first pixel group and the second pixel group
With multiple photoelectric conversion units
A separation band that separates the plurality of photoelectric conversion units,
A plurality of transfer gates corresponding to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and having transfer gate electrodes covering the same partial region in each photoelectric conversion unit are included.
The position of the separation band included in the first pixel group and each of the second pixel group with respect to the position of the center of gravity of the light receiving region of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in each pixel of the first pixel group. The position of the separation band included in the second pixel group with respect to the position of the center of gravity of the light receiving region of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in the pixel is at a position different from that of each pixel.
The separation band includes a first separation band in the light receiving region and a second separation band in the partial region.
The position of the first separation band included in each pixel of the first pixel group and the position of the first separation band included in each pixel of the second pixel group are different from each other of each pixel. In position,
The position of the second separation band included in each pixel of the first pixel group and the position of the second separation band included in each pixel of the second pixel group are the same positions of each pixel. An image sensor characterized by being in. The image sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
An image pickup device characterized in that the image pickup element is provided with a lens for collecting light from a subject.

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