Having Structure To Improve Output Signal (e.g., Antiblooming Drain) Patents (Class 257/223)
  • Patent number: 9305199
    Abstract: An image reader can include an image sensor array. An image reader in one embodiment can include an optical system capable of directing light reflected from a target onto the image sensor array. An image reader can be used for reading a dataform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Ynjiun Wang, William H. Havens
  • Patent number: 9257081
    Abstract: A two-screen display device, in which an increase of production cost can be suppressed while the same resolution as an image of a usual (one-screen display) device is maintained, is provided. In a liquid crystal display panel of the two-screen display device, each of a first sub-pixel for first image and a second sub-pixel for second image has an aspect ratio of about 6:1. A source line supplies an image signal to both the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel. Each row of the sub-pixel includes a gate line (first gate line) that drives the first sub-pixel and a gate line (second gate line) that drives the second sub-pixel. An opening of a parallax barrier is disposed in a region between the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Nakayama, Yoshimitsu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9257473
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device is provided which comprises a floating diffusion, a transfer gate, and a photoelectric conversion element. The floating diffusion is provided in a surface of a semiconductor layer. The transfer gate extends inward from the surface of the semiconductor layer and bends in the semiconductor layer toward the floating diffusion side. The photoelectric conversion element is provided in part of the semiconductor layer on the opposite side of the transfer gate from the floating diffusion and stretches from the side-surface side of the transfer gate to a position under the bottom thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Motohiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 9257479
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an active pixel sensor having a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels having a photodiode formed by a part of a first semiconductor region of a first conductive type and a second semiconductor region of a second conductive type, and a transfer transistor for transferring a charge carrier from the photodiode, includes the steps of preparing a substrate on which the first semiconductor region of the first conductive type is formed, forming a mask to form the second semiconductor region on the substrate, forming the second semiconductor region using the mask, and forming a gate of the transferring transistor after forming the second semiconductor region. The gate of the transferring transistor overlaps the second semiconductor region in a planar view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toru Koizumi, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Isamu Ueno, Tetsunobu Kochi, Katsuhito Sakurai, Hiroki Hiyama
  • Patent number: 9252185
    Abstract: A back side illuminated image sensor may be provided with an array of image sensor pixels. Each image sensor pixel may include a substrate having a front surface and a back surface. The image sensor pixels may have a charge storage region formed at the back surface and a charge readout node formed at the front surface of the substrate. The image sensor pixels may receive image light at the back surface of the substrate. Photo-generated charge may be accumulated at the charge storage region during a charge integration cycle. Upon completion of the charge integration cycle, a transfer gate formed at the front surface may be pulsed high to move the charge from the charge storage region to the charge readout node. The charge may be converted to a voltage at the charge readout node and may be read out using a rolling shutter readout mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Jaroslav Hynecek
  • Patent number: 9209327
    Abstract: A pixel is formed in a semiconductor substrate (S) with a plane surface for use in a photodetector. It comprises an active region for converting incident light (In) into charge carriers, photogates (PGL, PGM, PGR) for generating a lateral electric potential (?(x)) across the active region, and an integration gate (IG) for storing charge carriers generated in the active region and a dump site (Ddiff). The pixel further comprises separation-enhancing means (SL) for additionally enhancing charge separation in the active region and charge transport from the active region to the integration gate (IG). The separation-enhancing means (SL) are for instance a shield layer designed such that for a given lateral electric potential (?(x)), the incident light (In) does not impinge on the section from which the charge carriers would not be transported to the integration gate (IG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Simon Neukom, Michael Lehmann, Rolf Kaufmann, Thierry Oggier
  • Patent number: 9203111
    Abstract: The object of an exemplary embodiment of the invention is to provide a secondary battery which contains a positive electrode active material operating at a potential of 4.5 V or higher and which has good cycle property at a high temperature. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a secondary battery, comprising a positive electrode that can absorb and desorb lithium and an electrolyte liquid; wherein the positive electrode comprises a positive electrode active material that operates at a potential of 4.5 V or higher with respect to lithium; and wherein the electrolyte liquid comprises a fluorinated ether represented by a prescribed formula and a cyclic-type sulfonate represented by a prescribed formula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makiko Uehara, Takehiro Noguchi, Hideaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9196646
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image sensor semiconductor device. A semiconductor substrate having a first-type conductivity is provided. A plurality of sensor elements is formed in the semiconductor substrate. An isolation feature is formed between the plurality of sensor elements. An ion implantation process is performed to form a doped region having the first-type conductivity substantially underlying the isolation feature using at least two different implant energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Cheng Liu, Ching-Hung Cheng, Chien-Hsien Tseng, Chia-Hao Hsu, Feng-Jia Shiu, Shou-Gwo Wuu
  • Patent number: 9184209
    Abstract: In a TDI-type linear image sensor in which pixels are constituted of CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices) of n phases (n being an integer not smaller than 3), a gate opening portion and a gate non-opening portion functioning as a TDI transfer channel (15) are formed in all of transfer gates of the CCDs of n phases constituting the pixels. Within one pixel pitch in a TDI transfer direction, n microlenses (18) are formed such that light is concentrated at the gate non-opening portion formed at the transfer gate of each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Onakado, Junji Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 9130037
    Abstract: A semiconductor device may include a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive type well and a second conductive type drift region in the semiconductor substrate, the drift region including a first drift doping region and a second drift doping region, the second drift doping region vertically overlapping the well, and a first conductive type body region in the well, the body region being in contact with a side of the first drift doping region. The first drift doping region and the second doping region may include a first conductive type dopant and a second conductive type dopant, and an average density of the first conductive type dopant in the first drift doping region may be less than an average density of the first conductive type dopant in the second drift doping region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae-June Jang
  • Patent number: 9117729
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a charge-coupled device includes channel stops laterally spaced away from the channel by fully depleted regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Parks
  • Patent number: 9048159
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a substrate; an insulator layer formed on the substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the insulator layer; and a silicon layer formed on the semiconductor layer. The silicon layer includes a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converter configured to convert light into signal charge, and a circuit configured to read the signal charge, and a refractive index of the insulator layer is lower than a refractive index of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Okino, Mitsuyoshi Mori, Yutaka Hirose, Yoshihisa Kato, Tsuyoshi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9024361
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device including: a photodiode which converts an optical signal to signal charges; a transfer gate which transfers the signal charges from the photodiode; an impurity diffusion layer to which the signal charges are transferred by the transfer gate; and a MOS transistor of which a gate is connected to the impurity diffusion layer. The impurity diffusion layer has a first conduction type semiconductor layer and a second conduction type semiconductor layer which is formed in the first conduction type semiconductor layer and under an end portion of the transfer gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohri, Yasunori Sogoh
  • Patent number: 9025060
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which comprises a pixel group in which unit pixels each including a microlens and a plurality of photo-electric converters are arrayed two-dimensionally, wherein a shielding unit that shields part of all of a plurality of photo-electric converters corresponding to a single microlens is provided in a portion of the unit pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishio, Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8994139
    Abstract: A lateral overflow drain and a channel stop are fabricated using a double mask process. Each lateral overflow drain is formed within a respective channel stop. Due to the use of two mask layers, one edge of each lateral overflow drain is aligned, or substantially aligned, with an edge of a respective channel stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Edmund K. Banghart, Eric G. Stevens, Hung Q. Doan
  • Patent number: 8970753
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section wherein pixels including photoelectric conversion devices are arranged in a matrix; and a pixel driving section including a row selection circuit which controls the pixels to perform an electronic shutter operation and readout of the pixel section. The row selection circuit has a function of selecting a readout row from which a signal is read out and a shutter row on which reset is performed by discharging charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices, in accordance with address and control signals. The row selection circuit can set, in accordance with the address and control signals, in the pixels of the selected row, at least a readout state, a discharge state where a smaller amount of the charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices than the reset is discharged, an electronic shutter state, and a charge state where the charge is accumulated in the photoelectric conversion devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Makino, Tetsuji Nakaseko, Ryoji Eki, Youji Sakioka
  • Patent number: 8946783
    Abstract: An image sensor including a semiconductor layer including a plurality of unit pixels each including a photoelectric conversion device and read devices; and an insulating layer including a light-shielding pattern defining a light-receiving region and a light-shielding region of the semiconductor layer, the insulating layer covering one surface of the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer further includes a potential drain region formed adjacent to an interface between the semiconductor layer and an insulating layer in the light-shielding region, wherein electrons generated due to defects occurring at the interface are accumulated in the potential drain region. At least one of the unit pixels in the light-shielding region provides a drain path for draining the electrons accumulated in the potential drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Chak Ahn
  • Patent number: 8933494
    Abstract: A pixel cell includes a storage transistor including a deep implant storage region having a first polarity is implanted in a semiconductor substrate to store image charge accumulated by a photodiode. A transfer transistor is coupled between the photodiode and an input of the storage transistor to selectively transfer the image charge from the photodiode to the storage transistor. An output transistor is coupled to an output of the storage transistor to selectively transfer the image charge from the storage transistor to a readout node. A first shallow implant region having the first polarity is implanted in the semiconductor substrate under a first spacer region between a transfer gate of the transfer transistor and a storage gate of the storage transistor. A second shallow implant region having the first polarity is implanted in the semiconductor substrate under a second spacer region between the storage gate and the output gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sing-Chung Hu, Dajiang Yang, Zhenhong Fu
  • Patent number: 8921855
    Abstract: It is disclosed that, as an embodiment, a test circuit includes a test signal supply unit configured to supply a test signal via a signal line to signal receiving units provided in a plurality of columns, wherein the test signal supply unit is a voltage buffer or a current buffer, and the test circuit has a plurality of test signal supply units and a plurality of signal lines, and wherein at least one test signal supply unit is electrically connected to one signal line different from a signal line to which another test signal supply unit is electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Okita, Masaaki Iwane, Yu Arishima, Masaaki Minowa
  • Patent number: 8916869
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which holds a potential for a long time and includes a thin film transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. When the off-state current of a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is set to 1×10?13 A or less and the thin film transistor is used as a reset transistor and a transfer transistor of the solid-state image sensor, the potential of the signal charge storage portion is kept constant, so that a dynamic range can be improved. When a silicon semiconductor which can be used for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor is used for a peripheral circuit, a high-speed semiconductor device with low power consumption can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8911668
    Abstract: A Lab On a Chip (LOC) has a Sample Preparation Module (SPM) coupled to a sample inlet, a microchannel coupled to the SPM, and an optic module optically proximate to the microchannel. The optic module holds multiple lenses, each of which has a different effective focal length, such that all fields of focus within the microchannel are covered as objects suspended within the liquid sample pass through the microchannel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Durniak, Robert R. Friedlander, James R. Kraemer
  • Patent number: 8907342
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed technology provide to a thin film transistor array substrate comprising a first base substrate; a gate line formed on the first base substrate; and two data lines separately formed on the first base substrate; wherein the two data lines are located on both sides of the gate line respectively in the direction of data signal transmission but do not overlap with the gate line. The two data lines can be electrically connected through conductive elements for transmitting data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Boe Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mi Zhang
  • Patent number: 8902341
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with unit pixels which have a photoelectric conversion element, an electric charge transferring/accumulating unit with multiple levels able to transfer electric charge generated in the photoelectric conversion element and accumulate the electric charge, and an electric charge detection unit that holds the electric charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion element, where, after resetting the photoelectric conversion element, all unit pixels simultaneously transfer signal electric charges, which are generated in the photoelectric conversion element during continuous exposure times of which each has a different duration, to the electric charge transferring/accumulating units and accumulate the signal electric charges in the different respective electric charge transferring/accumulating units, and in units of one or more pixels, the signal electric charges is transferred to the electric charge detecting unit and a plurality of signals which respectively corresponds to the p
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Mabuchi
  • Patent number: 8847285
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a charge-coupled device includes channel stops laterally spaced away from the channel by fully depleted regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Parks
  • Patent number: 8785982
    Abstract: A unit pixel of a depth sensor including a light-intensity output circuit configured to output a pixel signal according to a control signal, the pixel signal corresponding to a first electric charge and a second electric charge, a first light-intensity extraction circuit configured to generate the first electric charge and transmit the first electric charge to the light-intensity output circuit, the first electric charge varying according to an amount of light reflected from a target object and a second light-intensity extraction circuit configured to generate the second electric charge and transmit the second electric charge to the light-intensity output circuit, the second electric charge varying according to the amount of reflected light. The light-intensity output circuit includes a first floating diffusion node. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize waste of a space, thereby manufacturing a small-sized pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo Joo Kim, Hyoung Soo Ko, Yoon Dong Park, Jung Bin Yun
  • Patent number: 8759886
    Abstract: A solid-state image capturing device including: a substrate; a substrate voltage source which applies a first potential to the substrate during a light reception period and applies a second potential to the substrate during a non-light reception period; and a plurality of pixels which each includes a light receiver which is formed on a front surface of the substrate and generates signal charges in accordance with received light, a storage capacitor which is formed adjacent to the light receiver and accumulates and stores signal charges generated by the light receiver, dark-current suppressors which are formed in the light receiver and the storage capacitor, an electronic shutter adjusting layer which is formed in an area facing the light receiver in the substrate and distant from the storage capacitor and which adjusts potential distribution, and a floating diffusion portion to which the signal charges accumulated in the storage capacitor are transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Kanbe
  • Patent number: 8748954
    Abstract: The invention relates to linear time-delay and integration sensors (or TDI sensors). According to the invention, adjacent pixels of the same rank comprise, alternately, at least one photodiode and one transfer gate adjacent to the photodiode, the photodiodes comprising a common reference region of a first conductivity type, in which an individual region of opposite conductivity type is formed, itself covered by a individual surface region of the first conductivity type, characterized in that the surface regions of two photodiodes located on either side of a transfer gate are electrically separated so as to be able to be brought to different potentials in order to create potential wells and potential barriers allowing accumulation and transfer of charges as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: E2V Semiconductors
    Inventor: Frederic Mayer
  • Publication number: 20140146209
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pumped pixel that includes a first photo-diode accumulating charge in response to impinging photons, a second photo-diode, and a floating diffusion positioned on a substrate. The pixel also includes a charge barrier positioned on the substrate between the first photo-diode and the second photo-diode, where the charge harrier temporarily blocks charge transfer between the first photo-diode and the second photo-diode. A pump gate may also be formed on the substrate adjacent to the charge barrier. The pump gate pumps the accumulated charge from the first photo-diode to the second photo-diode through the charge barrier. Also included is a transfer gate positioned on the substrate between the second photo-diode and the floating diffusion. The transfer gate serves to transfer the pumped charge from, the second photo-diode to the floating diffusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Chung Chun Wan, Xiangli Li
  • Patent number: 8735952
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes an imaging region having a plurality of pixels arranged on a semiconductor substrate, in which each of the pixels includes a photoelectric converting portion and a charge converting portion for converting a charge generated by photoelectric conversion into a pixel signal and blooming is suppressed by controlling a substrate voltage of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Maki Sato, Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 8674359
    Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT), an array substrate including the TFT, and methods of manufacturing the TFT and the array substrate. The TFT includes an active layer, and a metal member that corresponds to a portion of each of the source region and the drain region of the active layer, and is arranged on the active layer, a portion of the metal member contacts the source and drain regions of the active layer and the source and drain electrodes, and portions of the active layer that corresponds to portions below the metal member of the active layer are not doped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Hyun Noh, Sung-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8643008
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which can operate at high speed and consumes a smaller amount of power is provided. In a semiconductor device including transistors each including an oxide semiconductor, the oxygen concentration of the oxide semiconductor film of the transistor having small current at negative gate voltage is different from that of the oxide semiconductor film of the transistor having high field-effect mobility and large on-state current. Typically, the oxygen concentration of the oxide semiconductor film of the transistor having high field-effect mobility and large on-state current is lower than that of the oxide semiconductor film of the transistor having small current at negative gate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Naoto Yamade, Junichi Koezuka
  • Patent number: 8614464
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a nitride-based semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. The nitride-based semiconductor device includes: a base substrate having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface; an epitaxial growth film formed on the front surface of the base substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the rear surface of the base substrate; and an electrode structure body provided on the epitaxial growth film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woochul Jeon, Kiyeol Park, Younghwan Park
  • 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: 8546197
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor includes: forming a gate electrode on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; forming an organic semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer; forming an organic semiconductor pattern by selectively removing part of the organic semiconductor layer by means of a laser ablation method; and forming source and drain electrodes on the organic semiconductor pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kawashima, Hidehisa Murase, Mao Katsuhara
  • Patent number: 8513710
    Abstract: In realizing an entire-screen simultaneous shutter function using a solid-state imaging device having a device structure as a CMOS solid-state imaging device, the restriction undergone by exposure time is relieved to secure a sufficient exposure time with swift operation. Separately from a transfer Tr for transferring a signal charge of a buried-type PD to an FD, a drain Tr is provided to exclude a signal charge of the buried PD. Both a channel potential on the drain transistor when turned on and a channel potential on the transfer transistor when turned on are set higher than a depleting potential for the PD. This makes it possible to completely transfer the signal charge of the PD by both the transfer Tr and the drain Tr. In the operation to sequentially read out a signal charge from the FD on a pixel-row basis, PD exposure operation is started in a course of reading out the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Mabuchi
  • Patent number: 8492804
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, light being incident on the second surface side; a wiring layer disposed on the first surface side; a photodetector formed in the substrate and including a first region of a first conductivity type; a transfer gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the photodetector, the transfer gate transferring a signal charge accumulated in the photodetector; and at least one control gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and superposed on the photodetector, the control gate controlling the potential of the photodetector in the vicinity of the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Yasushi Maruyama, Takashi Ando, Susumu Hiyama, Yuko Ohgishi
  • Patent number: 8482040
    Abstract: A solid-state image capturing device includes: a substrate; a substrate voltage source which applies a first potential to the substrate during a light reception period and applies a second potential to the substrate during a non-light reception period; and a plurality of pixels which each includes a light receiver which is formed on a front surface of the substrate and generates signal charges in accordance with received light, a storage capacitor which is formed adjacent to the light receiver and accumulates and stores signal charges generated by the light receiver, dark-current suppressors which are formed in the light receiver and the storage capacitor, an electronic shutter adjusting layer which is formed in an area facing the light receiver in the substrate and distant from the storage capacitor and which adjusts potential distribution, and a floating diffusion portion to which the signal charges accumulated in the storage capacitor are transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Kanbe
  • Patent number: 8471310
    Abstract: Image sensor arrays may include image sensor pixels each having at least one back-gate-modulated vertical transistor. The back-gate-modulated vertical transistor may be used as a source follower amplifier. An image sensor pixel need not include an address transistor. The image sensor pixel with the back-gate-modulated vertical source follower transistor may exhibit high fill factor, large charge storage capacity, and has as few as two row control lines and two column control lines per pixel. This can be accomplished without pixel circuit sharing. The pixel may also provide direct photo-current sensing capabilities. The ability to directly sense photo-current may facilitate fast adjustment of sensor integration time. Fast adjustment of sensor integration time may be advantageous in automotive and endoscopic applications in which the time available for the correction of integration time is limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Jaroslav Hynecek
  • Patent number: 8471314
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, light being incident on the second surface side; a wiring layer disposed on the first surface side; a photodetector formed in the substrate and including a first region of a first conductivity type; a transfer gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the photodetector, the transfer gate transferring a signal charge accumulated in the photodetector; and at least one control gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and superposed on the photodetector, the control gate controlling the potential of the photodetector in the vicinity of the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Takashi Ando, Susumu Hiyama, Yuko Ohgishi
  • Patent number: 8466498
    Abstract: In a solid state imaging device with an electron multiplying function, in a section normal to an electron transfer direction of a multiplication register EM, an insulating layer 2 is thicker at both side portions than in a central region. A pair of overflow drains 1N is formed at a boundary between a central region and both side portions of an N-type semiconductor region 1C. Each overflow drain 1N extends along the electron transfer direction of the multiplication register EM. Overflow gate electrodes G extend from the thin portion to the thick portion of the insulating layer 2. The overflow gate electrodes G are disposed between both ends of each transfer electrode 8 in a longitudinal direction and the insulating layer 2, and they also function as shield electrodes for each electrode 8 (8A and 8B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Hisanori Suzuki, Yasuhito Yoneta, Shin-ichiro Takagi, Kentaro Maeta, Masaharu Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 8466469
    Abstract: A pair of substrates forming the active matrix liquid crystal display are fabricated from resinous substrates having transparency and flexibility. A thin-film transistor has a semiconductor film formed on a resinous layer formed on one resinous substrate. The resinous layer is formed to prevent generation of oligomers on the surface of the resinous substrate during formation of the film and to planarize the surface of the resinous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yasuyuki Arai, Satoshi Teramoto
  • Patent number: 8426896
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device in which ? characteristic is obtained and enlargement of dynamic range is provided. The solid state imaging device of the present invention includes a vertical overflow function and has a feature in which potential of a semiconductor substrate is changed from a high potential to a low potential in a stepwise manner during a period from an exposure start to an exposure end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuro Kumesawa
  • 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: 8395194
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present invention is of a MOS type and includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and includes: a semiconductor substrate; a photodiode which is formed in the semiconductor substrate and converts, into a signal charge, light that is incident from a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; a transfer transistor which is formed in a second main surface of the semiconductor substrate and transfers the signal charge converted by the photodiode; a light shielding film which is conductive and formed on a boundary between the pixels, above the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; an overflow drain region electrically connected to the light shielding film and formed in the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an overflow barrier region formed between the overflow drain region and the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhisa Yokoyama, Hiroshi Sakoh, Kazuhiro Yamashita, Mitsuo Yasuhira, Yuichi Hirofuji
  • Patent number: 8378391
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which holds a potential for a long time and includes a thin film transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. When the off-state current of a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is set to 1×10?13 A or less and the thin film transistor is used as a reset transistor and a transfer transistor of the solid-state image sensor, the potential of the signal charge storage portion is kept constant, so that a dynamic range can be improved. When a silicon semiconductor which can be used for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor is used for a peripheral circuit, a high-speed semiconductor device with low power consumption can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8378401
    Abstract: A solid state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells each including a plurality of photoelectric sections arranged in an array of at least two rows and two columns; a plurality of floating diffusion sections each being connected to each of ones of the photoelectric sections which are included in the same row of each said photoelectric conversion cell via each of a plurality of transfer transistors, and being shared by said ones of the photoelectric sections; a plurality of read-out lines each being selectively connected to at least two of the transfer transistors; and a plurality of pixel amplifier transistors each detecting and outputting the potential of each said the floating diffusion section. Charges of the photoelectric conversion sections each being connected to one of the read-out lines and being read out by the transfer transistors are read out by different floating diffusion sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Mori, Takumi Yamaguchi, Takahiko Murata
  • Patent number: 8373781
    Abstract: A pixel of an image sensor includes only two signal lines per pixel, a pinned photodiode for sensing light, a floating base bipolar transistor, and no reset and address transistors. The floating base bipolar transistor provides the pixel with a gain, which can increase pixel sensitivity and reduce noise. The pixel also incorporates a vertical blooming control structure for an efficient blooming suppression. The output terminals of the pixel are coupled to a common column output line terminated by a special current sensing correlated double sampling circuit, which is used for subtraction of emitter leakage current. Based on this structure, the pixel has high sensitivity, high response uniformity, low noise, reduced size, and efficient layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventor: Jaroslav Hynecek
  • Patent number: 8373780
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes: a transfer control section configured to control charge transfer from the vertical transfer section to the horizontal transfer section. The transfer control section has a plurality of unit control sections corresponding to the transfer packets. The unit control section has a vertical transfer channel and a plurality of control section electrodes formed over the vertical transfer channel. The control section electrodes include a signal charge accumulating electrode and a transfer inhibiting electrode, which are sequentially formed from a side of the vertical transfer section. The vertical transfer channels are independently connected to a horizontal transfer channel. When stopping the charge transfer from the vertical transfer section to the horizontal transfer section, a high-level voltage is applied to the signal charge accumulating electrode, and a low-level voltage is applied to the transfer inhibiting electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Yonemura, Sei Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8367508
    Abstract: A method for forming a field effect transistor includes forming a gate stack, a spacer adjacent to opposing sides of the gate stack, a silicide source region and a silicide drain region on opposing sides of the spacer, epitaxially growing silicon on the source region and the drain region; forming a liner layer on the gate stack and the spacer, removing a portion of the liner layer to expose a portion of the hardmask layer, removing the exposed portions of the hardmask layer to expose a silicon layer of the gate stack, removing exposed silicon to expose a portion of a metal layer of the gate stack, the source region, and the drain region; and depositing a conductive material on the metal layer of the gate stack, the silicide source region, and the silicide drain region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dechao Guo, Wilfried E. Haensch, Xinhui Wang, Keith Kwong Hon Wong
  • Patent number: RE45891
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having an arrangement in which well contact is achieved for each pixel is provided. In the solid-state imaging device, a well contact part is formed in an activation region of a photoelectric conversion portion. The well contact part fixes a well in which the photoelectric conversion portion and transistors of the pixel are provided at a predetermined potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Ryoji Suzuki, Keiji Mabuchi, Tetsuya Iizuka, Takahisa Ueno, Tsutomu Haruta