3-D wave optical simulation for image sensors by localized boundary element method

Abstract

A novel wave optical simulation method (a localized boundary element method) has been developed. This method enables us to execute 3-D wave optical simulation with much smaller memory space and much shorter calculation time than conventional boundary element methods or FDTD (Finite Difference Time Domain) methods. The color shading characteristics of inner lens structures in image sensors and the light-gathering power and crosstalk of light waveguide structures in CMOS image sensors can be analyzed by this method. This method was found to be powerful and useful for wave optical analysis of image sensors.