US 11,721,713 B2
Image sensors
Seungjoon Lee, Busan (KR); Kyungho Lee, Suwon-si (KR); Jungbin Yun, Hwaseong-si (KR); and Junghyung Pyo, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Filed by Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si (KR)
Filed on Dec. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/543,967.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0046646 (KR), filed on Apr. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0328548 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. H01L 27/146 (2006.01); H01L 27/148 (2006.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)
CPC H01L 27/14627 (2013.01) [H01L 27/14612 (2013.01); H01L 27/14621 (2013.01); H01L 27/14645 (2013.01); H01L 27/14831 (2013.01); H04N 23/67 (2023.01); H04N 25/75 (2023.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel array including a plurality of pixel groups arranged in a first direction and a second direction that intersects the first direction, each of the plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of unit pixels arranged in the first direction and the second direction and sharing a single microlens, the plurality of unit pixels of each of the plurality of pixel groups including color filters of the same color; and
a control logic configured to group the plurality of unit pixels of each of the plurality of pixel groups into a plurality of subgroups and to drive the pixel array for each subgroup,
wherein for each of the plurality of pixel groups the plurality of subgroups include a first subgroup and a second subgroup,
wherein the control logic is configured to obtain first image data corresponding to the first subgroup and second image data corresponding to the second subgroup; and
wherein the first subgroup and the second subgroup are provided with at least one unit pixel therebetween in the first direction or the second direction.