Abstract: Among other things, one or more image sensors and techniques for forming image sensors are provided. An image sensor comprises a photodiode array configured to detect light. The image sensor comprises an oxide grid comprising a first oxide grid portion and a second oxide grid portion. A metal grid is formed between the first oxide grid portion and the second oxide grid portion. The oxide grid and the metal grid define a filler grid. The filler grid comprises a filler grid portion, such as a color filter, that allows light to propagate through the filler grid portion to an underlying photodiode. The oxide grid and the metal grid confine or channel the light within the filler grid portion. The oxide grid and the metal grid are formed such that the filler grid provides a relatively shorter propagation path for the light, which improves light detection performance of the image sensor.

Abstract: Various structures of image sensors are disclosed, as well as methods of forming the image sensors. According to an embodiment, a structure comprises a substrate comprising photo diodes, an oxide layer on the substrate, recesses in the oxide layer and corresponding to the photo diodes, a reflective guide material on a sidewall of each of the recesses, and color filters each being disposed in a respective one of the recesses. The oxide layer and the reflective guide material form a grid among the color filters, and at least a portion of the oxide layer and a portion of the reflective guide material are disposed between neighboring color filters.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a multi-dimensional integrated chip having a redistribution structure vertically extending between integrated chip die at a location laterally offset from a bond pad. The integrated chip structure has a first die and a second die. The first die has a first plurality of interconnect layers arranged within a first dielectric structure disposed on a first substrate. The second die has a second plurality of interconnect layers arranged within a second dielectric structure disposed between the first dielectric structure and a second substrate. A bond pad is disposed within a recess extending through the second substrate. A redistribution structure electrically couples the first die to the second die at a position that is laterally offset from the bond pad.

Abstract: The image sensing device includes a pixel region in a pixel array area and a dummy pixel region in a periphery area. The pixel region includes a radiation region, a floating diffusion region, a transfer transistor, a source-follower transistor, a reset transistor and a select transistor. The dummy pixel region includes a radiation region and a floating diffusion region. A gate of one of the transfer transistor, the reset transistor and the select transistor in the pixel region is electrically connected to the radiation region or the floating diffusion region in the dummy pixel region.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate including a front surface and a back surface; a backside metallization layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, the backside metallization layer being closer to the back surface than to the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, at least a portion of the backside metallization layer forming an inductor structure; and an electrically non-conductive material formed in the semiconductor substrate, the electrically non-conductive material at least partially overlapping the inductor structure from a top view, and the electrically non-conductive material including a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls, the top surface being adjacent to the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a substrate and a first interconnect wire arranged within a dielectric structure on the substrate. A bond pad contacts the first interconnect wire. A via support structure has one or more vias arranged within the dielectric structure at a location separated from the substrate by the first interconnect wire, The via support structure has a metal pattern density that is greater than or equal to approximately 19% and that is configured to mitigate damage caused by a force of a bonding process on the bond pad.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate including a front surface and a back surface; a backside metallization layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, the backside metallization layer being closer to the back surface than to the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, at least a portion of the backside metallization layer forming an inductor structure; and an electrically non-conductive material formed in the semiconductor substrate, the electrically non-conductive material at least partially overlapping the inductor structure from a top view, and the electrically non-conductive material including a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls, the top surface being adjacent to the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: Present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure, including a semiconductor substrate having an active side, an interconnect layer over the active side of the semiconductor substrate, and a through substrate via (TSV) extending from the semiconductor substrate to the first metal layer. The interconnect layer includes a first metal layer closest to the active side of the semiconductor substrate, a thickness of the first metal layer is lower than 1 micrometer, and a dimension of a continuous metal feature of the first metal layer is less than 2 micrometer from a top view perspective. The continuous metal feature is cut off by a first dielectric feature. Present disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing the semiconductor structure described herein.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method includes forming a first interconnect wire within a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over a substrate. One or more vias are formed on the first interconnect wire and within a second ILD layer separated from the substrate by the first ILD layer. One or more additional vias are formed within the second ILD layer. Respective ones of the one or more vias have a larger size than respective ones of the one or more additional vias. A thickness of the substrate is reduced, and the substrate is etched to form a bond pad opening extending through the substrate to the first interconnect wire. A bond pad is formed within the bond pad opening and directly over the one or more vias.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method. In the method, a CMOS substrate, which includes a plurality of CMOS devices, is received. An interconnect structure including a plurality of metal layers is formed over the CMOS substrate, wherein a first metal layer of the metal layers is nearest the CMOS substrate and an Nth of the metal layers is furthest from the CMOS substrate. An image sensor substrate is bonded to the interconnect structure. A first mask is formed over the image sensor substrate, and a first etch is performed with the first mask in place to expose an upper surface of the first metal layer. A conductive bond pad material is formed in direct contact with the exposed first metal layer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming a back-side image (BSI) sensor. The method may be performed by forming an image sensing element within a substrate and forming a pixel-level memory node at a position within the substrate that is laterally offset from the image sensing element. A back-side of the substrate is etched to form one or more trenches that are laterally separated from the image sensing element by the substrate and that vertically overlie the pixel-level memory node. A reflective material is formed within the one or more trenches.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated chip (IC) structure. The method may be performed by forming a first integrated chip die having one or more semiconductor devices within a first substrate, and forming a passivation layer over the first integrated chip die. The passivation layer is selectively etched to form interior sidewalls defining a first opening, and a conductive material is deposited over the passivation layer and within the first opening. The conductive material is patterned to define a conductive blocking structure that laterally extends past the one or more semiconductor devices in opposing directions. The first integrated chip die is bonded to a second integrated chip die having an array of image sensing elements within a second substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip. The method may be performed by forming a plurality of interconnect layers within a dielectric structure over an upper surface of a substrate. A passivation structure is formed over the dielectric structure. The passivation structure has sidewalls and a horizontally extending surface defining has a recess within an upper surface of the passivation structure. A bond pad is formed having a lower surface overlying the horizontally extending surface and one or more protrusions extending outward from the lower surface. The one or more protrusions extend through one or more openings within the horizontally extending surface to contact a first one of the plurality of interconnect layers. An upper passivation layer is deposited on sidewalls and an upper surface of the bond pad and on sidewalls and the upper surface of the passivation structure.

Abstract: Presented herein is a device including an image sensor having a plurality of pixels disposed in a substrate and configured to sense light through a back side of the substrate and an RDL disposed on a front side of the substrate and having a plurality of conductive elements disposed in one or more dielectric layers. A sensor shield is disposed over the back side of the substrate and extending over the image sensor. At least one via contacts the sensor shield and extends from the sensor shield through at least a portion of the RDL and contacts at least one of the plurality of conductive elements.

Abstract: The image sensing device includes a pixel region in a pixel array area and a dummy pixel region in a periphery area. The pixel region includes a radiation region, a floating diffusion region, a transfer transistor, a source-follower transistor, a reset transistor and a select transistor. The dummy pixel region includes a radiation region and a floating diffusion region. A gate of one of the transfer transistor, the reset transistor and the select transistor in the pixel region is electrically connected to the radiation region or the floating diffusion region in the dummy pixel region.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement and method of formation are provided herein. A semiconductor arrangement includes an active area on a substrate, where the active area is at least one of a p-type region or an n-type region. The substrate includes a well, where the well is a p-well when the active area is a p-type region, and the well is an n-well when the active area is an n-type region. The well includes a photodiode. The active area is connected to a voltage supply having a voltage level, such as ground. The active area on the substrate increases a distance between the photodiode and the active area, which reduces junction leakage as compared to a semiconductor arrangement where the active area is formed at least partially within the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure is disclosed. The semiconductor structure includes: a semiconductor substrate including a front surface and a back surface; a backside metallization layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, the backside metallization layer being closer to the back surface than to the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, at least a portion of the backside metallization layer forming an inductor structure; and an electrically non-conductive material formed in the semiconductor substrate, the electrically non-conductive material at least partially overlapping the inductor structure from a top view, and the electrically non-conductive material including a top surface, a bottom surface, and sidewalls, the top surface being adjacent to the back surface of the semiconductor substrate. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of fabrication of alignment marks for a non-STI CMOS image sensor is introduced. In some embodiments, zero layer alignment marks and active are alignment marks may be simultaneously formed on a wafer. A substrate of the wafer may be patterned to form one or more recesses in the substrate. The recesses may be filled with a dielectric material using, for example, a field oxidation method and/or suitable deposition methods. Structures formed by the above process may correspond to elements of the zero layer alignment marks and/or to elements the active area alignment marks.

Abstract: According to one example, a device includes a semiconductor substrate. The device further includes a plurality of color filters disposed above the semiconductor substrate. The device further includes a plurality of micro-lenses disposed above the set of color filters, each micro-lens of the plurality of micro-lenses being configured to direct light radiation. The device further includes a structure that is configured to block light radiation that is traveling towards a region between adjacent micro-lenses. The structure and the color filters are level at respective top surfaces and bottom surfaces thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated circuit, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit comprises a deep trench grid disposed at a back side of a substrate. A passivation layer lines the deep trench grid within the substrate. The passivation layer includes a first high-k dielectric layer and a second high-k dielectric layer disposed over the first high-k dielectric layer. A first dielectric layer is disposed over the passivation layer, lining the deep trench grid and extending over an upper surface of the substrate. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer and enclosing remaining spaces of the deep trench grid to form air-gaps at lower portions of the deep trench grid. The air-gaps are sealed by the first dielectric layer or the second dielectric layer below the upper surface of the substrate.