Samsung Applies for Transparent Pixel Patent

Samsung patent application US20110156114 has quite an entertaining title "Image sensor using light-sensitive transparent oxide semiconductor material". The patent summary says "Example embodiments include an image sensor that may reduce the size of a unit pixel by using a light-sensitive transparent oxide semiconductor material as a light-sensing layer." The base structure consists of interleaved transparent sensing layers 110, 120 and 130 and color filter layers 140 and 150, separated by insulating layers 115:

"Light incident on the image sensor 100 constructed as described above may be detected by the first through third light-sensing layers 110, 120, and 130 with respect to color components of the light. For example, the first light-sensing layer 110 may detect all of red, green, and blue light. Part of the light incident on the image sensor 100 travels toward the second light-sensing layer 120. For example, the first filter layer 140 may block only light having blue wavelengths and transmit light having wavelengths other than the blue wavelengths. Accordingly, the second light-sensing layer 120 may detect mostly red and green light. Part of the light passing through the second light-sensing layer 120 travels toward the third light-sensing layer 130. The second filter layer 150 may block only light having green wavelengths and transmit light having wavelengths other than the green wavelengths. Alternatively, the second filter layer 150 may transmit only light having red wavelengths and block light having wavelengths other than the red wavelengths. Accordingly, the third light-sensing layer 130 may detect mostly red light."