Responsive To Non-electrical External Signal (e.g., Imager) Patents (Class 257/222)
  • Patent number: 8558234
    Abstract: Highly efficient, low energy, low light level imagers and photodetectors are provided. In particular, a novel class of Della-Doped Electron Bombarded Array (DDEBA) photodetectors that will reduce the size, mass, power, complexity, and cost of conventional imaging systems while improving performance by using a thinned imager that is capable of detecting low-energy electrons, has high gain, and is of low noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shouleh Nikzad, Chris Martin, Michael E. Hoenk
  • Patent number: 8541820
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes the following structure. The first insulating film is formed on a first major surface of a semiconductor substrate. The electrode pad is formed in the first insulating film. The electrode pad includes a conductive film. At least a part of the conductive film includes a free region in which the conductive film is not present. The external connection terminal is formed on a second major surface facing the first major surface. The through-electrode is formed in a through-hole formed from the second major surface side of the semiconductor substrate and reaching the electrode pad. The first insulating film is present in the free region, and a step, on a through-electrode side, between the first insulating film being present in the free region and the electrode pad is not greater than a thickness of the electrode pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuko Hayasaki, Kenichiro Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 8536625
    Abstract: An electronic image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a first surface configured for accepting illumination to a pixel array disposed in the substrate. An electrically-doped channel region for each pixel is disposed at a second substrate surface opposite the first substrate surface. The channel regions are for collecting photogenerated charge in the substrate. An electrically-doped channel stop region is at the second substrate surface between each channel region. An electrically-doped shutter buried layer, disposed in the substrate at a depth from the second substrate surface that is greater than that of the pixel channel regions, extends across the pixel array. An electrically-doped photogenerated-charge-extinguishment layer, at the first substrate surface, extends across the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Barry E. Burke
  • Patent number: 8520104
    Abstract: An image sensor device may include a dual-gated charge storage region within a substrate. The dual-gated charge storage region includes first and second diodes within a common charge generating region. This charge generating region is configured to receive light incident on a surface of the image sensor device. The first and second diodes include respective first conductivity type regions responsive to first and second gate signals, respectively. These first and second gate signals are active during non-overlapping time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Young Gu Jin, Soo Jung Hwang, Dae Kil Cha, Yoon Dong Park, Jung Chak Ahn, Kyoung Sik Moon
  • Patent number: 8519405
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a thin film transistor, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including the same, and manufacturing methods of them. The thin film transistor comprises: a substrate; a gate electrode disposed on the substrate; a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer; an inter layer dielectric disposed on the entire surface of the substrate; and source and drain electrodes disposed on the inter layer dielectric and connected to the semiconductor layer, and in which the gate electrode is disposed so as to correspond to the entire surface of the semiconductor layer, and a manufacturing method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Su Ahn, Kwang-Nam Kim, Jae-Yong Lee, Beong-Ju Kim, In-Young Jung
  • Publication number: 20130215287
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, and multiple pixels. Each of the multiple pixels includes a photoelectric-conversion unit disposed in the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive first semiconductor region disposed in the semiconductor substrate, which holds charge generated by the photoelectric-conversion unit at a place different from the photoelectric-conversion unit, a first transfer unit which transfers charge to the first semiconductor region, and a second transfer unit which transfers charge held at the first semiconductor region. The first semiconductor region includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. At the depth where the third portion is disposed, the first portion is disposed between the third portion and first transfer unit, and the second portion is disposed between the third portion and second transfer unit. Impurity concentration of the third portion is lower than that of the first and second portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
  • Patent number: 8502225
    Abstract: An object is to improve reliability of a light-emitting device. A light-emitting device has a driver circuit portion including a transistor for a driver circuit and a pixel portion including a transistor for a pixel over one substrate. The transistor for the driver circuit and the transistor for the pixel are inverted staggered transistors each including an oxide semiconductor layer in contact with part of an oxide insulating layer. In the pixel portion, a color filter layer and a light-emitting element are provided over the oxide insulating layer. In the transistor for the driver circuit, a conductive layer overlapping with a gate electrode layer and the oxide semiconductor layer is provided over the oxide insulating layer. The gate electrode layer, a source electrode layer, and a drain electrode layer are formed using metal conductive films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Junichiro Sakata, Masayuki Sakakura, Yoshiaki Oikawa, Kenichi Okazaki, Hotaka Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20130187199
    Abstract: A MOS-type solid-state image pickup device includes a photoelectric conversion unit having a first semiconductor region of a first conductive type, a second semiconductor region of a second conductive type forming a pn-junction with the first semiconductor region, and a third semiconductor region of the first conductive type disposed on the second semiconductor region. In addition, a transfer gate electrode is disposed on an insulation film and transfers a carrier from the second semiconductor region to a fourth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type, an amplifying MOS transistor having a gate electrode is connected to the fourth semiconductor region, and a fifth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type is continuously disposed to the second semiconductor region, disposed under the gate electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130175582
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a transfer transistor including a vertical gate portion extending in a depth direction of a substrate in an active region of the substrate and photodiode regions located at positions of different depths with respect to a top surface of the substrate in the active region. At least one color adjustment path extends between at least two photodiode regions of the photodiode regions and provides a charge movement path between the at least two photodiode regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Inventors: Hisanori Ihara, Chang-rok Moon
  • Patent number: 8482126
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, a device includes a substrate, a base body formed on or above the substrate, and a pair of wirings. The base body has a line shape in a plan view and extends along a length direction. The pair of wirings includes first and second catalyst layers formed on both side surfaces of the base body in the length direction of the base body with sandwiching the base body; and first and second graphene layers formed on both side surfaces of the base body in a manner of contacting the first and second catalyst layers, respectively, and extending along the length direction of the base body, the graphene layers includes a plurality of graphenes laminated perpendicularly with respect to both side surfaces of the base body, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Makoto Wada, Yuichi Yamazaki, Akihiro Kajita, Atsuko Sakata
  • Publication number: 20130140608
    Abstract: In a photoelectric conversion device, groups of unit pixels are arranged in a well, where each of the unit pixels includes photoelectric conversion elements, an amplifier transistor, and transfer transistors. The photoelectric conversion device includes a line used to supply a voltage to the well, a well-contact part used to connect the well-voltage-supply line to the well, and transfer-control lines used to control the transfer transistors. The transfer-control lines are symmetrically arranged with respect to the well-voltage-supply line in respective regions of the unit-pixel groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Publication number: 20130134299
    Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation detector includes a semiconductor substrate of a first doping type, a well in the semiconductor substrate of a second doping type, two or more detector terminal doping regions, two or more transfer gates, and a collection gate. The first and second doping type are different and the well includes a rising dopant concentration in a direction parallel to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The two detector terminal doping regions are arranged at least partly in a terminal region of the well. The detection of the electromagnetic radiation is based on a generation of free charge carriers by the electromagnetic radiation in a detection region of the well. The transfer gates control a transfer of free charge carriers to be or not to be evaluated in a region of the well. The collection gate collects free charge carriers in the stated region of the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Daniel DURINI ROMERO, Werner BROCKHERDE, Bedrich HOSTICKA
  • Patent number: 8446500
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device 1 is provided with a plurality of photoelectric converting portions 3 and first and second shift registers 9, 13. Each photoelectric converting portion 3 has a photosensitive region 15 which generates a charge according to incidence of light and which has a planar shape of a nearly rectangular shape composed of two long sides and two short sides, and a potential gradient forming region 17 which forms a potential gradient increasing along a predetermined direction parallel to the long sides forming the planar shape of the photosensitive region 15, in the photosensitive region, 15. The plurality of photoelectric converting portions 3 are juxtaposed along a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction. The first and second shift registers 9, 13 acquire charges transferred from the respective photoelectric converting portions 3 and transfer them in the direction intersecting with the predetermined direction to output them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shinya Otsuka, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8445986
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided with plural light receiving areas arranged two-dimensionally, and a vertical scanning circuit comprising plural unit circuit stages arranged in the vertical direction and a horizontal scanning circuit comprising plural unit circuit stages arranged in the horizontal direction, for selecting and reading the plural light receiving areas in succession. The vertical and horizontal scanning circuits are arranged in spaces between the light receiving areas. A crossing area of the vertical and horizontal scanning circuits, in a space between the light receiving areas, is divided into two areas. A unit circuit of the horizontal scanning circuit is provided in one of the two areas. A unit circuit of the vertical scanning circuit is provided in the other of the two areas. In one embodiment, the unit circuits of the vertical scanning circuit and/or of the horizontal scanning circuit are arranged at a constant pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Noda
  • Publication number: 20130120751
    Abstract: There is described a photodetector comprising a semiconductor material having at least a region substantially depleted of free moving carriers, the photodetector comprising: a substrate of one of n-type and p-type; at least one charge collector along a surface of the substrate and having a doping-type opposite from the substrate; a substrate contact along the surface of the substrate spaced apart from the at least one charge collector to allow current to flow between the at least one charge collector and the substrate contact; and at least one non-conductive electrode positioned along the surface of the substrate in an alternating sequence with the at least one charge collector, and separated from the substrate by an insulator, and adapted to apply an electric potential to the substrate and cause charge carriers generated therein by application of a light source to advance towards the at least one charge collector due to the effects of an electric field, such that the at least one charge collector can measure
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Yves Audet
  • Patent number: 8440491
    Abstract: An imager device is disclosed including a first substrate having an array of photosensitive elements formed thereon, a first conductive layer formed above the first substrate, a first conductive member extending through the first substrate, the first conductive member being conductively coupled to the first conductive layer, a standoff structure formed above the first substrate, a second conductive layer formed above the standoff structure, the second conductive layer being conductively coupled to the first conductive layer, and an electrically powered device positioned above the standoff structure, the electrically powered device being electrically coupled to the second conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren Farnworth
  • Patent number: 8436401
    Abstract: The effective photosensitive area of a solid-state photosensor is controlled with a multitude of electrodes (E1, . . . , Ei, . . . , En) on top of an insulator layer (O) covering a semiconductor substrate (S). Photogenerated charge carriers move laterally under the influence of the voltage distribution on the various electrodes (E1, . . . , Ei, . . . , En), and they are collected at the two ends of the photosensor in diffusions (D1, D2). The voltage distribution on the electrodes (E1, . . . , Ei, . . . , En) is such that the voltage at the two furthermost electrodes (E1, En) is maximum (if photoelectrons are collected), minimum at an interior electrode (Ei), and monotonously decreasing in between. The lateral position of the electrode (Ei) with minimum voltage defines the effective photosensitive area of the photosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: CSEM Centre Suisse D'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
    Inventor: Peter Seitz
  • Publication number: 20130092982
    Abstract: Embodiments of an image sensor pixel that includes a photosensitive element, a floating diffusion region, and a transfer device. The photosensitive element is disposed in a substrate layer for accumulating an image charge in response to light. The floating diffusion region is dispose in the substrate layer to receive the image charge from the photosensitive element. The transfer device is disposed between the photosensitive element and the floating diffusion region to selectively transfer the image charge from the photosensitive element to the floating diffusion region. The transfer device includes a buried channel device including a buried channel gate disposed over a buried channel dopant region. The transfer device also includes a surface channel device including a surface channel gate disposed over a surface channel region. The surface channel device is in series with the buried channel device. The surface channel gate has the opposite polarity of the buried channel gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Sing-Chung Hu, Hsin-Chih Tai, Duli Mao, Manoj Bikumandla, Wei Zheng, Yin Qian, Zhibin Xiong, Vincent Venezia, Keh-Chiang Ku, Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 8411189
    Abstract: A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes multiple vertical charge-coupled device (VCCD) shift registers and independently-controllable gate electrodes disposed over the VCCD shift registers and arranged into physically separate and distinct sections that are non-continuous across the plurality of VCCD shift registers. The CCD image sensor can be configured to operate in two or more operating modes, including a full resolution charge multiplication mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Truesense Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio S. Ciccarelli, Eric J. Meisenzahl
  • Patent number: 8405092
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a first gate electrode and a second gate electrode formed apart from each other over an insulating surface, an oxide semiconductor film including a region overlapping with the first gate electrode with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, a region overlapping with the second gate electrode with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween, and a region overlapping with neither the first gate electrode nor the second gate electrode, and an insulating film covering the gate insulating film, the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode, and the oxide semiconductor film, and being in direct contact with the oxide semiconductor film is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiko Inoue, Hiroyuki Miyake, Kouhei Toyotaka
  • Patent number: 8399914
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion unit that includes a first region of a first conductivity type and a second region of a second conductivity type between which a pn junction is formed, the first region and the second region being formed in a signal-readout surface of a semiconductor substrate, the second region being located at a position deeper than the first region; and a transfer transistor configured to transfer signal charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit to a readout drain through a channel region that lies under a surface of the first region and horizontally adjacent to the photoelectric conversion unit, the transfer transistor being formed in the signal-readout surface. The transfer transistor includes a transfer gate electrode that extends from above the channel region with a gate insulating film therebetween to above the first region so as to extend across a step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Mabuchi
  • Patent number: 8395193
    Abstract: A MOS-type solid-state image pickup device is provided on a semiconductor substrate and includes a photoelectric conversion unit having a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, and a third semiconductor region. A transfer gate electrode is disposed on an insulation film and transfers a carrier from the second semiconductor region to a fourth semiconductor region, and an amplifying MOS transistor has a gate electrode connected to the fourth semiconductor region. In addition, a fifth semiconductor region is continuously disposed to the second semiconductor region, under the gate electrode. An entire surface of the third semiconductor region is covered with the insulation film, and a side portion of the third semiconductor region that is laterally opposite to the transfer gate is in contact with the first semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Koizumi, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Isamu Ueno, Tetsunobu Kochi, Katsuhito Sakurai, Hiroki Hiyama
  • Publication number: 20130037861
    Abstract: An image sensor for a semiconductor light-sensitive device including a semiconductor substrate and a light receiving device configured to receive light and generate a signal from the light. The image sensor may include an electron collecting device formed in the semiconductor substrate to receive at least a portion of the electrons generated by the light in the light receiving device. The image sensor may include a first type device isolation film configured to isolate the light receiving device from the electron collecting device. The image sensor may include a shielding film formed over the semiconductor substrate and configured to shield the first electron collecting device from the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoon JANG
  • Patent number: 8358008
    Abstract: A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate; an insulating film provided on the semiconductor substrate and containing a wiring trench; a first catalyst layer provided directly or via another member on side and bottom surfaces of the wiring trench; and a first graphene layer provided in the wiring trench so as to be along the side and bottom surface of the wiring trench, the first graphene layer being provided on the first catalyst layer so as to be in contact with the first catalyst layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Makoto Wada, Noriaki Matsunaga, Yosuke Akimoto
  • Patent number: 8350300
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, and a multilayer wiring structure arranged on the semiconductor substrate, the multilayer wiring structure including a plurality of first electrically conductive lines, an insulating film covering the plurality of first electrically conductive lines, and a second electrically conductive line arranged on the insulating film so as to intersect the plurality of first electrically conductive lines, where the insulating film has gaps in at least some of a plurality of regions where the plurality of first electrically conductive lines and the second electrically conductive line intersect each other, and the width of the gap in a direction along the second electrically conductive line is not larger than the width of the first electrically conductive line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20130001404
    Abstract: A pixel array includes a plurality of pixel structures, with each pixel structure having a photo-sensitive element for generating charge in response to incident light; a charge conversion element; a first transfer gate and a second transfer gate connected in series between the photosensitive element and the charge conversion element or between the photosensitive element and a supply line; and an output stage. A first transfer gate control line is connected to the first transfer gates of a first sub-set of the pixel structures in the array; and a second transfer gate control line connected to the second transfer gates of a second sub-set of the pixel structures in the array. The first sub-set of pixel structures and second sub-set of pixel structures partially overlap, having at least one pixel structure in common between them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Guy MEYNANTS
  • Patent number: 8344432
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes: a light receiving section performing photoelectric conversion; a transfer register formed in a semiconductor base; a transfer electrode formed of a semiconductor layer on the transfer register; a charge transfer section which formed of the transfer register and the transfer electrode and transferring a signal charge accumulated in the light receiving section; a bus line electrically connected to a portion of the transfer electrode to supply a driving pulse to the transfer electrode and formed of a metal layer; and a barrier metal layer formed near an interface between the transfer electrode and the bus line in a contact section that connects the transfer electrode and the bus line with each other and having a work function of the size between a work function of the semiconductor layer of the transfer electrode and a work function of the metal layer of the bus line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Fuminobu Saiho
  • Patent number: 8338868
    Abstract: An image sensor with a shared photodiode is provided. The image sensor includes at least two unit pixels, each of which includes a photodiode, a diffusion region which gathers electrons from the photodiode, a transfer transistor which connects the photodiode with the diffusion region, and a readout circuit which reads out a signal from the diffusion region. Photodiodes of neighboring unit pixels are disposed symmetrically to be adjacent to one another to form a shared photodiode. The image sensor does not have a STI region which causes a dark current restricting its performance and does not require a basic minimum design factor (a distance or an area) related to a STI region. A region corresponding to a STI region may be used as a region of a photodiode or for additional pixel scaling. Therefore, a limitation in scaling of a photodiode is overcome, and pixel performance is improved in spite of pixel scaling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Bong Ki Mheen, Albert J. P. Theuwissen, Jae Sik Sim, Mi Ran Park, Yong Hwan Kwon, Eun Soo Nam
  • Publication number: 20120299066
    Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion portion, a carrier holding portion, and a plurality of transistors, the solid-state image pickup device further includes a first insulating film disposed over the photoelectric conversion portion, the carrier holding portion, and the plurality of transistors, a conductor disposed in an opening of the first insulating film and positioned to be connected to a source or a drain of one or more of the plurality of transistors, and a light shielding film disposed in an opening or a recess of the first insulating film and positioned above the carrier holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Aiko Kato, Kouhei Hashimoto, Seiichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 8313977
    Abstract: Provided are an image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. The image sensor comprises a semiconductor substrate, an interconnection and an interlayer dielectric, a lower electrode layer, an image sensing device, a first via hole, a barrier pattern, a second via hole, and a metal contact. The semiconductor substrate comprises a readout circuitry. The interconnection and the interlayer dielectric are formed on the semiconductor substrate. The lower electrode layer is disposed over the interlayer dielectric. The image sensing device is disposed on the lower electrode layer. The first via hole is formed through the image sensing device. The barrier pattern is formed on a sidewall of the first via hole. The second via hole is formed through the lower electrode layer and the interlayer dielectric under the first via hole. The metal contact is formed in the first and second via holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Gyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8310003
    Abstract: A charge accumulation region of a first conductivity type is buried in a semiconductor substrate. A charge transfer destination diffusion layer of the first conductivity type is formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A transfer gate electrode is formed on the charge accumulation region, and charge is transferred from the charge accumulation region to the charge transfer destination diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Yusuke Kohyama
  • Publication number: 20120273654
    Abstract: The present invention provides a junction gate photo-diode (JGP) pixel that includes a JGP accumulating charge in response to impinging photons. The JGP is positioned on a substrate and includes a top n layer, a middle p layer and a bottom n layer forming a n-p-n junction, and a control terminal coupled to the top n layer. Also includes is a floating diffusion (FD) positioned on the substrate and coupled to a pixel output line through an amplifier. Also includes is a pinned barrier (PB) and a storage gate (SG) positioned on the substrate between the JGP and the FD. The PB temporarily blocks charge transfer between the JGP and the FD, and the SG stores the accumulated charge from the JGP, and transfers the stored charge to the FD for readout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: APTINA IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jaroslav Hynecek, Hirofumi Komori
  • Publication number: 20120273653
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a junction gate photo-diode (JGP) pixel that includes a JGP for accumulating charge in response to impinging photons. The JGP is positioned on a substrate and includes a top n layer, a middle p layer and a bottom n layer forming a n-p-n junction, and a control terminal coupled to the top n layer. Also included is a floating diffusion (FD) positioned on the substrate and coupled to a pixel output line through an amplifier. Also included is a pinned barrier (PB) positioned on the substrate between the JGP and the FD, the PB temporarily blocks charge transfer between the JGP and the FD. The accumulated charge is transferred from the JGP to FD by applying a control voltage to the JGP control terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: APTINA IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jaroslav HYNECEK, Hirofumi Komori, Xia Zhao
  • Patent number: 8299468
    Abstract: A three mask process for forming an LCD substrate includes, depositing in sequence on a base substrate a gate metallic layer, a gate insulation layer and a channel layer. A first photoresist pattern is used to form a gate electrode of a switching device, a channel pattern and a gate line on the gate electrode. A transparent conductive layer and a source metallic layer are deposited in sequence on the base substrate having the channel pattern. A source electrode and a drain electrode of the switching device, a pixel electrode and a source line electronically connected to the drain electrode, are formed by a second photoresist pattern. A first protective insulation layer is formed, and the first protective insulation layer on the pixel electrode is removed by a third photoresist pattern. Therefore, by the three masks process yields a simplified manufacturing process in which the lower portion of the source metallic pattern is not formed and display quality is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eun-Guk Lee
  • Patent number: 8299504
    Abstract: A two-dimensional, temporally modulated electromagnetic wavefield, preferably in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectral range, can be locally detected and demodulated with one or more sensing elements. Each sensing element consists of a resistive, transparent electrode (E) on top of an insulated layer (O) that is produced over a semiconducting substrate whose surface is electrically kept in depletion. The electrode (E) is connected with two or more contacts (C1; C2) to a number of clock voltages that are operated synchronously with the frequency of the modulated wavefield. In the electrode and in the semiconducting substrate lateral electric fields are created that separate and transport photogenerated charge pairs in the semiconductor to respective diffusions (D1; D2) close to the contacts (C1; C2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: MESA Imaging AG
    Inventor: Peter Seitz
  • Publication number: 20120248505
    Abstract: A light receiving device comprises a photoelectric conversion element formed on a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, and further comprises a plurality of photoelectron distributors formed on the first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate. The photoelectron distributor has a first transfer unit for transferring photoelectrons generated in the photoelectric conversion element, a photoelectron hold unit for temporarily holding the photoelectrons generated in the photoelectric conversion element, a second transfer unit for transferring the photoelectrons held in the photoelectron hold unit, and a floating diffusion layer for storing the transferred photoelectrons and converting the photoelectrons to a voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomoyuki KAMIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8253700
    Abstract: An exemplary touch panel includes a flexible substrate, a transparent conductive layer, and four electrodes. The flexible substrate includes a surface. The transparent conductive layer is disposed on the surface of the substrate. The transparent conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube layer. The carbon nanotube layer includes carbon nanotubes. The electrodes are separately disposed, and electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer. A display device using the above-described touch panel is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8253175
    Abstract: A sealed semiconductor device having reduced delamination of the sealing layer in high temperature, high humidity conditions is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a stack of device layers on the substrate sealed with a sealing layer. The upper surface of a street area of the substrate is oxidized so that the oxidized region extends under the sealing layer. The presence of the oxidized region of the upper surface of the substrate helps reduce the delamination, because the oxidized surface does not react with water to the same extent as a non-oxidized surface. The semiconductor devices remain sealed after dicing through the street area because the oxidized surface does not delaminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventors: Zhong Pan, Craig Ciesla
  • Patent number: 8247853
    Abstract: A stratified photodiode for high resolution CMOS image sensors implemented with STI technology is provided. The photodiode includes a semi-conductive layer of a first conductivity type, multiple doping regions of a second conductivity type, multiple doping regions of the first conductivity type, and a pinning layer. The multiple doping regions of the second conductivity type are formed to different depths in the semi-conductive layer. The multiple doping regions of the first conductivity type are disposed between the multiple doping regions of the second conductivity type and form multiple junction capacitances without full depletion. In particular, the stratified doping arrangement allows the photodiode to have a small size, high charge storage capacity, low dark current, and low operation voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventor: Jaroslav Hynecek
  • Patent number: 8248380
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate, and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate, a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate, two first-electrodes, and two second-electrodes. The two first-electrodes and the two second-electrodes are electrically connected to the second conductive layer. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube layer. Each carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. Further, the present invention also relates to a display device. The display device includes a displaying unit and a touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8247848
    Abstract: An n-type region as a charge storage region of a photodiode is buried in a substrate. The interface between silicon and a silicon oxide film is covered with a high concentration p-layer and a lower concentration p-layer is formed only in the portion immediately below a floating electrode for signal extraction. Electrons generated by light are stored in the charge storage region, thereby changing the potential of the portion of the p-layer at the surface of the semiconductor region. The change is transmitted through a thin insulating film to the floating electrode by capacitive coupling and read out by a buffer transistor. Initialization of charges is executed by adding a positive high voltage to the gate electrode of a first transfer transistor such that the electrons stored in the charge storage region are transferred to the n+ region and generation of reset noise is protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: National University Corporation Shizuoka University
    Inventor: Shoji Kawahito
  • Patent number: 8248377
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer include a carbon nanotube film respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Shou-Shan Fan, Ga-Lane Chen
  • Patent number: 8247847
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including a first transfer electrode portion and a second transfer electrode portion having a pattern area ratio higher than that of the first transfer electrode portion. The first transfer electrode portion includes a plurality of first transfer electrodes having a single-layer structure of metal material. The second transfer electrode portion includes a plurality of second transfer electrodes having a single-layer structure of polycrystalline silicon or amorphous silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kaori Takimoto, Masayuki Okada, Takeshi Takeda
  • Publication number: 20120199882
    Abstract: Image sensors are provided. The image sensors may include first and second stacked impurity regions having different conductivity types. The image sensors may also include a floating diffusion region in the first impurity region. The image sensors may further include a transfer gate electrode surrounding the floating diffusion region in the first impurity region. Also, the transfer gate electrode and the floating diffusion region may overlap the second impurity region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Jong-Cheol Shin
  • Patent number: 8237673
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate, and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate, and a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer both include a carbon nanotube layer. Each carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The first substrate and the second substrate are flexible. Further, the present invention also relates to a display device. The display device includes a displaying unit and a touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8237677
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display screen includes an upper component, a bottom component and a liquid crystal layer. The upper component includes a touch panel. The touch panel includes a first conductive layer. The conductive layer includes a transparent carbon nanotube structure, and the transparent carbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of metallic carbon nanotubes. The bottom component includes a thin film transistor panel. The liquid crystal layer is located between the upper component and the lower component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan, Ga-Lane Chen, Jia-Shyong Cheng, Jeah-Sheng Wu
  • Patent number: 8237671
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, and at least two electrodes. The transparent conductive layer is formed on a surface of the substrate. The transparent conductive layer includes at least two carbon nanotube layers, and each carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged along a same direction. The carbon nanotubes of adjacent carbon nanotube layers are arranged along different directions. The electrodes are electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer. Further, a display device using the touch panel is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8237672
    Abstract: An exemplary touch panel includes a substrate, transparent conductive layers, a capacitive sensing circuit, and conductive wires. The transparent conductive layers are disposed on a surface of the substrate and spaced apart from each other. Each transparent conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube layer. The carbon nanotube layer includes carbon nanotubes. The conductive wires respectively electrically connect the transparent conductive layers to the capacitive sensing circuit. A display device using the touch panel is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 8237679
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display screen includes an upper component, a bottom component and a liquid crystal layer. The upper component includes a touch panel. The touch panel includes a first conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes a transparent carbon nanotube structure. The bottom component includes a thin film transistor panel. The thin film transistor panel includes a plurality of thin film transistors. Each of the plurality of thin film transistors includes a semiconducting layer, and the semiconducting layer includes a semiconducting carbon nanotube structure. The liquid crystal layer is located between the upper component and the lower component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan, Ga-Lane Chen, Jia-Shyong Cheng, Jeah-Sheng Wu
  • Patent number: 8237670
    Abstract: A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate, a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate, and two first-electrodes disposed on opposite ends of the first conductive layer. The second electrode plate separates from the first electrode plate and includes a second substrate, a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate, and two second-electrodes disposed on opposite ends of the second conductive layer. At least one of the first-electrodes and the second-electrodes includes a carbon nanotube layer. Further, the present invention also relates to a display device. The display device includes a displaying unit and a touch panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan