DETAILED ACTION
General Remarks
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election with traverse of Invention I, and Species (c), (claims 1-10 and 13-19), in the reply filed on 06/05/2026 is acknowledged. Claims 11-12 and 20 are withdrawn from consideration.
Restriction for examination purposes as indicated is proper because all these inventions listed in this action are independent or distinct for the reasons given above and there would be a serious search and examination burden if restriction were not required because one or more of the following reasons apply:
(a) the inventions have acquired a separate status in the art in view of their different classification;
(b) the inventions have acquired a separate status in the art due to their recognized divergent subject matter;
(c) the inventions require a different field of search (for example, searching different classes/subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different search queries);
(d) the prior art applicable to one invention would not likely be applicable to another invention;
(e) the inventions are likely to raise different non-prior art issues under 35 U.S.C. 101 and/or 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph.
As described in the previous office action filed on 05/14/2026, the device of the invention I, can be made by another and materially different process because the device does not require “forming a planarization layer on the color filters, the planarization formed of a microlens material; providing a photoresist on the planarization layer, the photoresist having an asymmetrical shape; reflowing the photoresist; and etching the planarization layer using the reflowed photoresist as a mask” as recited in the method claim 20 in the invention II which is not required in the invention I.
In addition, it is explained the difference between Species (a) to Species (e), for example some figures include symmetrical microlenses and others include asymmetrical microlenses having different shapes and sizes.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1-4,10 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee 20210057478 A1, hereinafter Lee) in view of Kawabata (US 20150001662 A1, hereinafter Kawabata).
Re: Independent Claim 1, Lee discloses an image sensor (Fig. 3), comprising:
a pixel array (a portion of pixels of the sensor array region SAR in [0038], Fig. 2) in which a plurality of pixels (a plurality of unit pixels arranged in two dimensions in [0038], Fig. 2) having photoelectric conversion elements (PD, photoelectric conversion layer in [0051], Fig. 3) are arranged in a matrix in a first direction (x direction, Fig. 3) and a second direction (y direction, Fig. 3) intersecting the first direction (in [0038]);
color filters (124, in [0050], Fig. 3) corresponding to the plurality of pixels ([0061]), each color filter (124) configured to selectively transmit light of a particular wavelength band (as part of function of color filter 124 is selectively allows the transmission of the light is a specific wavelength band, [0062]), at least some of the color filters (124 may be blue, green or red color in [0062]) configured to selectively transmit light of at least two different wavelength bands from each other (in [0062]); and
microlenses (128, in [0050], Fig. 3) on the color filters (124), each microlens of the microlenses at least partially overlapping (Fig. 3) a separate corresponding color filter of the color filters (124) in a third direction (z direction, Fig. 3) that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction (x and y directions, Fig. 3), the microlenses (128) configured to condense light incident on the plurality of pixels and entering the photoelectric conversion elements through the color filters ([0066]), wherein the pixel array (a plurality of pixels in [0038]) is in a pixel region (sensor array region SAR in [0038], Fig. 2).
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Lee’s Figure 3-Annotated.
Lee does not expressly disclose wherein at least some microlenses of the microlenses have different shapes depending on respective wavelength bands that respective corresponding color filters at least partially overlapping with the at least some microlenses are configured to selectively transmit, such that the at least some microlenses are configured to compensate for chromatic aberration between light passing through the respective corresponding color filters, and a distance between an uppermost point of each respective microlens of the microlenses and a center of a corresponding pixel of the plurality of pixels at least partially overlapping the each respective microlens in the third direction increases in a direction toward an edge portion of the pixel region from a central portion of the pixel region.
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Kawabata’s Figure 8A-Annotated.
However, in the same semiconductor device field of endeavor, Kawabata discloses at least some microlenses of the microlenses (optical elements 811,813,814 as microlenses in [0004,0005], Fig. 8A) have different shapes, and a distance (D81, D83, D84, in [0069], Fig. 8A) between an uppermost point (the uppermost point of 811,813,814 corresponding respectively to P6, P83, P84 disposed on the bottom surface of 811,813,814, Fig. 8A) of each respective microlens of the microlenses (811,813,814) and a center (P5 is the center of each optical element in the X axis in [0069], Fig. 8A) increases (in [0069], Fig. 8A) in a direction toward an edge portion (in [0069], Fig. 8A).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the Kawabata’s feature of at least some microlenses of the microlenses having different shapes to Lee’s device to obtain microlenses that depending on respective wavelength bands that respective corresponding color filters at least partially overlapping with the at least some microlenses are configured to selectively transmit, such that the at least some microlenses are configured to compensate for chromatic aberration between light passing through the respective corresponding color filters, and a distance between an uppermost point of each respective microlens of the microlenses and a center of a corresponding pixel of the plurality of pixels at least partially overlapping the each respective microlens in the third direction increases in a direction toward an edge portion of the pixel region from a central portion of the pixel region to improve the light collection ability ([0005], Kawabata).
Re: Claim 2, Lee modified by Kawabata discloses the image sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one microlens of the microlenses (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee), when viewed in a cross-section passing through a center of a respective corresponding pixel (x direction, Fig. 3, Lee) and taken in a direction parallel to the first direction, has an asymmetric shape (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee) with respect to a line passing through the center of the corresponding pixel (x direction, Fig. 3, Lee).
Re: Claim 3, Lee modified by Kawabata discloses the image sensor of claim 2, wherein the uppermost point (Kawabata applied to Lee) of the each respective microlens of the microlenses (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee) is a point of the each respective microlens protruding furthest in the third direction (Kawabata applied to Lee, z direction, Fig. 3 Lee), the uppermost point of the each respective microlens (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee) is spaced apart (Kawabata applied to Lee, Kawabata’s Fig. 8A) from the center of the corresponding pixel (Fig. 3 Lee) on a plane.
Re: Claim 4, Lee modified by Kawabata discloses the image sensor of claim 3, wherein the color filters (124, in [0050], Fig. 3, Lee) comprise a first color filter, a second color filter, and a third color filter (124 may be red, green or blue color in [0062], Lee) configured to transmit different (in [0062], Lee), respective wavelength bands of light from each other, and the microlenses comprise a first microlens, a second microlens, and a third microlens (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee), respectively on the first color filter, the second color filter, and the third color filter (124 may be red, green or blue color in [0062], Lee), the different shapes of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens (124 may be blue, green or red color in [0062], Lee) are based on the different, respective wavelength bands of light that the first color filter, the second color filter, and the third color filter are respectively configured to selectively transmit (consistent with the phenomenon of chromatic aberration, described in [0005], Kawabata).
Re: Claim 10, Lee modified by Kawabata discloses the image sensor of claim 1, wherein each of the microlenses (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee) has a shape of a circle, an ellipse, and/or a polygon (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee, Figs. 8A, 8B from Kawabata), when viewed in plan view.
Claim(s) 5-9 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Kawabata and further in view of Ryu (US 20120081587 A1, hereinafter Ryu).
Re: Claim 5, Lee modified by Kawabata discloses the image sensor of claim 4, wherein the first color filter, the second color filter, and the third color filter (124 may be blue, green or red color filter in [0062], Lee) are configured to selectively transmit sequentially longer wavelengths, such that the second color filter (124 may be green color filter in [0062], Lee) is configured to selectively transmit a longer wavelength than the first color filter (124 may be blue color filter in [0062], Lee), and the third color filter (124 may be red color filter in [0062], Lee) is configured to selectively transmit a longer wavelength than the second color filter 124 may be green in [0062], Lee).
Lee modified by Kawabata does not expressly disclose wherein heights of respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens in the third direction are sequentially increased, such that a height of an uppermost point of the second microlens is greater than a height of an uppermost point of the first microlens, and a height of an uppermost point of the third microlens is greater than the height of the uppermost point of the second microlens.
However, in the same semiconductor device field of endeavor, Ryu discloses wherein heights (Fig. 2-Annotated) of respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens (150 micro lens layer in [0032], Fig. 2) in the third direction (vertical direction, Fig. 2) are sequentially increased (Fig. 2), such that a height (h2 Fig. 2-Annotated) of an uppermost point of the second microlens (Fig. 2-Annotated) is greater than a height (h1 Fig. 2-Annotated) of an uppermost point of the first microlens, and a height (h3 Fig. 2-Annotated) of an uppermost point of the third microlens is greater than the height of the uppermost point of the second microlens.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the Ryu’s feature wherein heights of respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens in the third direction are sequentially increased, such that a height of an uppermost point of the second microlens is greater than a height of an uppermost point of the first microlens, and a height of an uppermost point of the third microlens is greater than the height of the uppermost point of the second microlens to the combination of Lee and Kawabata for maximizing an amount of light incident on photoelectric conversion devices ([0007], Ryu).
Re: Claim 6, Lee modified by Kawabata and Ryu discloses the image sensor of claim 5, wherein the first color filter is a blue color filter (124 may be blue color filter in [0062], Lee), the second color filter is a green color filter (124 may be green color filter in [0062], Lee), and the third color filter is a red color filter (124 may be red color filter in [0062], Lee).
Re: Claim 7, Lee modified by Kawabata and Ryu discloses the image sensor of claim 6,
Lee modified by Kawabata and Ryu does not expressly disclose wherein an area of a pixel corresponding to the second color filter is larger than an area of a separate pixel corresponding to the first color filter or the third color filter.
However, the Applicant has not presented persuasive evidence that the claimed
“area of a pixel corresponding to the second color filter larger than an area of a separate pixel corresponding to the first color filter or the third color filter” is for a particular purpose that is critical to the overall claimed invention (i.e. the invention would not work without the specific claimed relation of the area between first, second and third pixels). Also, the applicant has not shown that the claimed “difference of area of a pixel corresponding to the second color filter larger than an area of a separate pixel corresponding to the first color filter or the third color filter” produces a result that was new or unexpected enough to patentably distinguish the claimed invention over the cited prior art.
Therefore it is a prima facie obvious in view of In Gardner v. TEC Syst., Inc., 725 F.2d 1338, 220 USPQ 777 (Fed. Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 830, 225 USPQ 232 (1984), the Federal Circuit held that, where the only difference between the prior art and the claims was a recitation of relative dimensions of the claimed device and a device having the claimed relative dimensions would not perform differently than the prior art device, the claimed device was not patentably distinct from the prior art device, see 2144.04 IV(A).
Re: Claim 8, Lee modified by Kawabata and Ryu discloses the image sensor of claim 6,
Lee modified by Kawabata and Ryu does not expressly disclose wherein a size of the second microlens corresponding to the second color filter is larger than a size of either the first microlens corresponding to the first color filter or the third microlens corresponding to the third color filter.
However, the Applicant has not presented persuasive evidence that the claimed
“size of the second microlens corresponding to the second color filter larger than a size of either the first microlens corresponding to the first color filter or the third microlens corresponding to the third color filter” is for a particular purpose that is critical to the overall claimed invention (i.e. the invention would not work without the specific claimed relation of the size between the first, second and third microlens). Also, the applicant has not shown that the claimed “difference of size of the second microlens corresponding to the second color filter larger than a size of either the first microlens corresponding to the first color filter or the third microlens corresponding to the third color filter” produces a result that was new or unexpected enough to patentably distinguish the claimed invention over the cited prior art.
Therefore it is a prima facie obvious in view of In Gardner v. TEC Syst., Inc., 725 F.2d 1338, 220 USPQ 777 (Fed. Cir. 1984), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 830, 225 USPQ 232 (1984), the Federal Circuit held that, where the only difference between the prior art and the claims was a recitation of relative dimensions of the claimed device and a device having the claimed relative dimensions would not perform differently than the prior art device, the claimed device was not patentably distinct from the prior art device, see 2144.04 IV(A).
Re: Claim 9, Lee modified by Kawabata and Ryu discloses the image sensor of claim 5, wherein in a cross-section passing through the respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens (the uppermost point of 811,813,814 corresponding respectively to P6, P83, P84 disposed on the bottom surface of 811,813,814, Fig. 8A, Kawabata) and taken in the second direction (y-direction, Kawabata), respective radii of curvature at the respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens increase in an order from the first microlens to the third microlens, such that the second microlens has a greater (Fig. 8A, Kawabata) radius of curvature than the first microlens, and the third microlens has a greater (Fig. 8A, Kawabata) radius of curvature than the second microlens.
Claim(s) 13-14 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Kawabata and further in view of Jeong (US 20220190023 A1, hereinafter Jeong).
Re: Claim 13, Lee modified by Kawabata discloses the image sensor of claim 1,
Lee modified by Kawabata does not expressly disclose wherein at least some pixels of the plurality of pixels each comprise a first subpixel and a second subpixel, sequentially arranged in at least one of the first direction or the second direction.
However, in the same semiconductor device field of endeavor, Jeong discloses wherein at least some pixels of the plurality of pixels (PX1, PX2 in [0048], Fig. 4) each comprise a first subpixel (a subpixel of the PX1 having a photodiode PD1 in Fig. 4) and a second subpixel (a subpixel of the PX1 having a photodiode PD2 in Fig. 4), sequentially arranged in at least one of the first direction (x-direction, Fig. 4) or the second direction.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the Jeong’s feature of wherein at least some pixels of the plurality of pixels each comprise a first subpixel and a second subpixel, sequentially arranged in at least one of the first direction or the second direction to the combination of Lee and Kawabata for having improved performance, in which an autofocusing function is supplemented in a vertical direction ([0004], Jeong).
Re: Claim 14, Lee modified by Kawabata and Jeong discloses the image sensor of claim 13,
Lee modified by Kawabata and Jeong does not expressly disclose wherein the first subpixel and the second subpixel share a single microlens.
However, in the same semiconductor device field of endeavor, Jeong discloses wherein the first subpixel (a subpixel of the PX1 having a photodiode PD1 in Fig. 4) and the second subpixel (a subpixel of the PX1 having a photodiode PD2 in Fig. 4) share a single microlens (ML2 in [0048], Fig. 4).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the Jeong’s feature of wherein the first subpixel and the second subpixel share a single microlens to the combination of Lee and Kawabata for having improved performance, in which an autofocusing function is supplemented in a vertical direction ([0004], Jeong).
Claim(s) 15-18 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Kawabata and further in view of Banerjee (US 20240120358 A1, hereinafter Banerjee).
Re: Claim 15, Lee modified by Kawabata discloses the image sensor of claim 1,
Lee modified by Kawabata does not expressly disclose wherein the pixel array comprises a plurality of pixel groups, and each pixel group of the plurality of pixel groups comprises a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel, and a fourth pixel, arranged in a 2x2 matrix.
However, in the same semiconductor device field of endeavor, Banerjee discloses wherein the pixel array comprises a plurality of pixel groups (MPXL1 multi-pixel in [0012], Fig. 1A), and each pixel group of the plurality of pixel groups comprises a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel, and a fourth pixel (a first pixel with a blue (B) filter, a second pixel with a green (G) filter, a third pixel with a green (G) filter, and a fourth pixel with a red (R) filter in [0012], Fig. 1A-Annotated), arranged in a 2x2 matrix (Fig. 1A).
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Banerjee’s Figure 1A-Annotated.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the Banerjee’s feature wherein the pixel array comprises a plurality of pixel groups, and each pixel group of the plurality of pixel groups comprises a first pixel, a second pixel, a third pixel, and a fourth pixel, arranged in a 2x2 matrix to the combination of Lee and Kawabata to capture the color images ([0003], Banerjee).
Re: Claim 16, Lee modified by Kawabata and Banerjee discloses the image sensor of claim 15, wherein the color filters comprise a first color filter, a second color filter, and a third color filter (124 may be blue, green or red color filter in [0062], Lee) configured to selectively transmit different wavelength bands of light, and the first pixel, the second pixel, the third pixel, and the fourth pixel (MPXL1, Banerjee) correspond to one of the first color filter, the second color filter, or the third color filter (a first pixel with a blue (B) filter, a second pixel with a green (G) filter, a third pixel with a green (G) filter, and a fourth pixel with a red (R) filter in [0012], Fig. 1A-Annotated, Banerjee).
Re: Claim 17, Lee modified by Kawabata and Banerjee discloses the image sensor of claim 16, wherein the first color filter, the second color filter, and the third color filter (a first pixel with a blue (B) filter, a second pixel with a green (G) filter, a third pixel with a green (G) filter, and a fourth pixel with a red (R) filter in [0012], Fig. 1A-Annotated, Banerjee) are configured to transmit wavelength bands of light corresponding to blue, green, and red colors, respectively, the first pixel corresponds to the first color filter, the second pixel and the third pixel correspond to the second color filter, and the fourth pixel corresponds to the third color filter (a first pixel with a blue (B) filter, a second pixel with a green (G) filter, a third pixel with a green (G) filter, and a fourth pixel with a red (R) filter in [0012], Fig. 1A-Annotated, Banerjee).
Re: Claim 18, Lee modified by Kawabata and Banerjee discloses the image sensor of claim 15, wherein the microlenses (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee) correspond to each pixel group of the plurality of pixel groups, and the first pixel, the second pixel, the third pixel, and the fourth pixel (a first pixel with a blue (B) filter, a second pixel with a green (G) filter, a third pixel with a green (G) filter, and a fourth pixel with a red (R) filter in [0012], Fig. 1A-Annotated, Banerjee) in each pixel group (Fig. 1A-Annotated, Banerjee) of the plurality of pixel groups share a single corresponding microlens (Kawabata’s 811,813,814 applied to Lee).
Claim(s) 19 is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Kawabata and further in view of Ryu.
Re: Independent Claim 19, Lee discloses an image sensor, comprising:
a pixel array (a portion of pixels of the sensor array region SAR in [0038], Fig. 2) in which a plurality of pixels (a plurality of unit pixels arranged in two dimensions in [0038], Fig. 2) having photoelectric conversion elements (PD, photoelectric conversion layer in [0051], Fig. 3) are arranged in a matrix in a first direction (x direction, Fig. 3) and a second direction (y direction, Fig. 3) intersecting the first direction (in [0038]);
a first color filter, a second color filter, and a third color filter (124 may be blue, green or red color in [0062], Fig. 3) corresponding to the plurality of pixels (in [0038], Fig. 2), the first color filter, the second color filter, and the third color filter (124) configured to transmit light of sequentially longer wavelengths (124 may be blue, green or red color in [0062]), such that
the second color filter (124 may be green color filter in [0062]) is configured to selectively transmit a longer wavelength than the first color filter (124 may be blue color filter in [0062]), and
the third color filter (124 may be red color filter in [0062]) is configured to selectively transmit a longer wavelength than the second color filter; and
a first microlens, a second microlens, and a third microlens (128, in [0050], Fig. 3), respectively on the first color filter, the second color filter, and the third color filter (124, Fig. 3), the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens (128) configured to condense light incident on the plurality of pixels ([0066]) through the first color filter, the second color filter, and the third color filter (124 may be green color filter in [0062]),
wherein the pixel array (a plurality of pixels in [0038]) is in a pixel region (sensor array region SAR in [0038], Fig. 2).
Lee does not expressly disclose wherein each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens, when viewed in a cross-section passing through a center of a corresponding pixel and taken in a direction parallel to the first direction, has an asymmetric shape with respect to a line passing through the center of the corresponding pixel, wherein the each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens has a respective uppermost point that is a point of the each microlens protruding furthest in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and heights of respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens in the third direction increase sequentially, such that
a height of an uppermost point of the second microlens is greater than a height of an uppermost point of the first microlens, and a height of an uppermost point of the third microlens is greater than the height of the uppermost point of the second microlens, and a distance between the respective uppermost point of each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens and a center of a respective pixel corresponding to the each microlens increases in an outward direction toward an edge portion of the pixel region from a central portion of the pixel region.
However, in the same semiconductor device field of endeavor, Kawabata discloses wherein each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens (optical elements 811,813,814 as microlenses in [0004,0005], Fig. 8A), has an asymmetric shape (811,813,814 as microlenses in [0004,0005], Fig. 8A), wherein the each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens (optical elements 811,813,814) has a respective uppermost point (the uppermost point of 811,813,814 corresponding respectively to P6, P83, P84 disposed on the bottom surface of 811,813,814, Fig. 8A) that is a point of the each microlens protruding furthest in a third direction (z-direction, Fig. 8A) perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction (horizontal directions, Fig. 8A),
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the Kawabata’s feature of wherein each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens, has an asymmetric shape, wherein the each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens has a respective uppermost point that is a point of the each microlens protruding furthest in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction to Lee’s device to obtain wherein each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens, when viewed in a cross-section passing through a center of a corresponding pixel and taken in a direction parallel to the first direction, has an asymmetric shape with respect to a line passing through the center of the corresponding pixel and a distance between the respective uppermost point of each microlens of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens and a center of a respective pixel corresponding to the each microlens increases in an outward direction toward an edge portion of the pixel region from a central portion of the pixel region to improve the light collection ability ([0005], Kawabata).
Lee modified by Kawabata does not expressly disclose heights of respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens in the third direction increase sequentially, such that a height of an uppermost point of the second microlens is greater than a height of an uppermost point of the first microlens, and a height of an uppermost point of the third microlens is greater than the height of the uppermost point of the second microlens.
However, in the same semiconductor device field of endeavor, Ryu discloses heights (Fig. 2-Annotated) of respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens (150 micro lens layer in [0032], Fig. 2) in the third direction (vertical direction, Fig. 2) increase sequentially, such that a height (h2 Fig. 2-Annotated) of an uppermost point of the second microlens (Fig. 2-Annotated) is greater than a height (h1 Fig. 2-Annotated) of an uppermost point of the first microlens, and a height (h3 Fig. 2-Annotated) of an uppermost point of the third microlens is greater than the height of the uppermost point of the second microlens.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include the Ryu’s feature heights of respective uppermost points of the first microlens, the second microlens, and the third microlens in the third direction increase sequentially, such that a height of an uppermost point of the second microlens is greater than a height of an uppermost point of the first microlens, and a height of an uppermost point of the third microlens is greater than the height of the uppermost point of the second microlens to the combination of Lee and Kawabata for maximizing an amount of light incident on photoelectric conversion devices ([0007], Ryu).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Kim et al. (US 20200403025 A1) teaches “IMAGE SENSOR”. This document is related to an image sensor and a method of manufacturing thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a substrate, a grid structure, and color filters. The substrate includes a pixel separation structure defining pixel regions, and a sub-pixel region for each pixel region. The grid structure is disposed on the substrate and includes first fence segments provided between the sub-pixel regions, and second fence segments provided between neighboring pixel regions. The grid structure defines openings corresponding respectively to the sub-pixel regions. The color filters are disposed in the openings defined by the grid structure. Each of the color filters has a flat top surface and the flat top surface of each color filter is parallel to a bottom surface thereof.
Lin et al. (US 20190067356 A1) teaches “IMAGE SENSOR DEVICE”. This document is related to an image sensor device including a semiconductor substrate having a first light-sensing region and a second light-sensing region adjacent to the first light-sensing region. The image sensor device includes an isolation structure in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the first light-sensing region and the second light-sensing region. The image sensor device includes a reflective grid over the isolation structure and surrounding the first light-sensing region and the second light-sensing region. The image sensor device includes a first color filter over the first light-sensing region and extending into a first trench of the reflective grid. The image sensor device includes a second color filter over the second light-sensing region and extending into the first trench to be in direct contact with the first color filter in the first trench.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SANDRA M RODRIGUEZ VILLANUEVA whose telephone number is (571)272-1936. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 8:00am-5:00pm (EST).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jessica Manno can be reached at (571) 272-2339. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SANDRA MILENA RODRIGUEZ VILLANUEVA/Examiner, Art Unit 2898
/JESSICA S MANNO/SPE, Art Unit 2898
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