Phototransistor Patents (Class 257/462)
  • Patent number: 8716719
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device including: a first-conductivity-type substrate; a second-conductivity-type well formed in a surface side of the first-conductivity-type substrate; a photoelectric conversion area configured with a first-conductivity-type-impurity area formed in the second-conductivity-type well to convert incident light to charges; a first-conductivity-type-charge retaining area configured with the first-conductivity-type-impurity area formed in the second-conductivity-type well to retain the charges converted by the photoelectric conversion area until the charges are read out; a charge voltage conversion area configured with the first-conductivity-type-impurity area formed in the second-conductivity-type well to convert the charges retained in the charge retaining area to a voltage; and a first-conductivity-type-layer area configured by forming a first-conductivity-type-in a convex shape from a boundary between the first-conductivity-type substrate and the second-conductivity-type wel
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Matsumura, Takashi Machida
  • Patent number: 8716722
    Abstract: A photosensor chip package structure comprises a substrate, a light-emitting chip and a photosensor chip including an ambient light sensing unit and a proximity sensing unit. The substrate has a first basin, a second basin and a light-guiding channel. The openings of the first and second basins respectively face different directions. One opening of the light-guiding channel and the opening of the first basin face the same direction. The other opening of the light-guiding channel interconnects with the second basin. The light-emitting chip is arranged in the first basin. The photosensor chip is arranged in the second basin. The light-guiding channel conducts the light generated by the light-emitting chip and the ambient light to the photosensor chip. The photosensor chip operates as soon as it receives the light generated by the light-emitting chip and/or the ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: TXC Corporation
    Inventor: Yin-Ming Peng
  • Patent number: 8692347
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a gate electrode arranged over an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate; a photoelectric conversion portion formed over the semiconductor substrate to position under the gate electrode; an overflow barrier formed over the semiconductor substrate to position in a portion other than a position facing the gate electrode in a planar direction and adjoin a side face of the photoelectric conversion portion; and a drain formed over the semiconductor substrate to adjoin a side face of the overflow barrier opposite to a side face adjoining the photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Sosuke Narisawa
  • Patent number: 8680640
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes semiconductor substrate; a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections of n-type that are formed at an upper part of semiconductor substrate and arranged in a matrix; output circuit that is formed on a charge detection surface that is one surface of semiconductor substrate and detects charges stored in photoelectric conversion sections; a plurality of isolating diffusion layers of a p-type that are formed under output circuit and include high concentration p-type layers adjacent to respective photoelectric conversion sections; and color filters formed on a light incident surface that is the other surface opposing the one surface of semiconductor substrate and transmit light with different wavelengths. Shapes of respective photoelectric conversion sections correspond to color filters and differ depending on the high concentration p-type layer configuring isolating diffusion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Mori, Toru Okino, Yutaka Hirose, Yoshihisa Kato
  • Patent number: 8669626
    Abstract: An optical sensor that is a transistor which includes a gate electrode including a semiconductor material where the carrier concentration is 1.0×1014/cm3 to 1.0×1017/cm3, an active layer including a semiconductor layer to form a channel by carriers of the same type as the gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate insulating film, wherein intensity of irradiated light is detected by a change in a value of current flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode when the light is irradiated onto a depletion layer formed in the gate electrode; an optical sensor array, an optical sensor driving method, and an optical sensor array driving method are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Tanaka, Takeshi Hama
  • Patent number: 8664739
    Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an improved image sensor includes an array of germanium photosensitive elements integrated with a silicon substrate and integrated with silicon readout circuits. The silicon transistors are formed first on a silicon substrate, using well known silicon wafer fabrication techniques. The germanium elements are subsequently formed overlying the silicon by epitaxial growth. The germanium elements are advantageously grown within surface openings of a dielectric cladding. Wafer fabrication techniques are applied to the elements to form isolated germanium photodiodes. Since temperatures needed for germanium processing are lower than those for silicon processing, the formation of the germanium devices need not affect the previously formed silicon devices. Insulating and metallic layers are then deposited and patterned to interconnect the silicon devices and to connect the germanium devices to the silicon circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Infrared Newco, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford A. King, Conor S. Rafferty
  • Patent number: 8653618
    Abstract: A unit pixel of an image sensor and a photo detector are disclosed. The photo detector of the present invention can include: a light-absorbing part configured to absorb light by being formed in a floated structure; an oxide film having one surface thereof being in contact with the light-absorbing part; a source being in contact with one side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; a drain facing the source so as to be in contact with the other side of the other surface of the oxide film and separated from the light-absorbing part with the oxide film therebetween; and a channel formed between the source and the drain and configured to form flow of an electric current between the source and drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8625017
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor has a pixel array provided with a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix shape of rows and columns. Each of the unit pixel includes a photocharge generation means for generating photocharges by absorbing an external light; and a sensing node for receiving the photocharges transferred from the photocharge generation means, wherein the sensing node of the unit pixel in a previous scan line is shared with a sensing node of a unit pixel in a current scan line in response to a line select signal of the current line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventor: Oh-Bong Kwon
  • Patent number: 8610228
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor having a configuration which reduces increases in light-collection loss and light mixing due to an increase in the angle of light entering into a waveguide path during oblique incidence and which is effective for sensitivity improvement includes: an Si substrate; unit-pixels arranged on the Si substrate; a wiring layer formed on the unit-pixels; optical waveguide regions each formed on a photoelectric conversion region included in a corresponding one of the unit-pixels, and penetrating the wiring layer; and light-collecting elements each formed above a corresponding one of the optical waveguide regions, wherein each of the light-collecting elements is a gradient index microlens having an effective refractive index distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Saitou, Keisuke Tanaka, Kimiaki Toshikiyo, Yutaka Hirose, Motonori Ishii
  • Patent number: 8610234
    Abstract: A unit pixel of an image sensor and a photo detector are disclosed. The photo detector can include: a substrate in which a V-shaped groove having a predetermined angle is formed; a light-absorbing part formed in a floated structure above the V-shaped groove and to which light is incident; an oxide film formed between the light-absorbing part and the V-shaped groove and in which tunneling occurs; a source formed adjacent to the oxide film on a slope of one side of the V-shaped groove and separated from the light-absorbing part by the oxide film; a drain formed adjacent to the oxide film on a slope of the other side of the V-shaped groove and separated from the light-absorbing part by the oxide film; and a channel interposed between the source and the drain along the V-shaped groove to form flow of an electric current between the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 8592934
    Abstract: On the front side of an n-type semiconductor substrate 5, p-type regions 7 are two-dimensionally arranged in an array. A high-concentration n-type region 9 and a p-type region 11 are disposed between the p-type regions 7 adjacent each other. The high-concentration n-type region 9 is formed by diffusing an n-type impurity from the front side of the substrate 5 so as to surround the p-type region 7 as seen from the front side. The p-type region 11 is formed by diffusing a p-type impurity from the front side of the substrate 5 so as to surround the p-type region 7 and high-concentration n-type region 9 as seen from the front side. Formed on the front side of the n-type semiconductor substrate 5 are an electrode 15 electrically connected to the p-type region 7 and an electrode 19 electrically connected to the high-concentration n-type region 9 and the p-type region 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Tatsumi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8587041
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes an imaging region including unit pixels which are two-dimensionally arranged on a semiconductor layer and each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit and a signal scanning circuit unit. The unit pixel includes a transfer gate provided on the semiconductor layer, a photogate provided on the semiconductor layer, a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, which is provided in the semiconductor layer below the photogate, and a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, which is adjacent to the first semiconductor layer and provided in the semiconductor layer between the transfer gate and the photogate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ai Mochizuki, Takeshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8558335
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion unit that is formed on a semiconductor substrate, a reading unit that reads signal charges of the photoelectric conversion unit, a gate insulating film and an electrode disposed thereon that constitute the reading unit, a light shielding film that covers the electrode, and an antireflection film that is formed on the photoelectric conversion unit and is constituted by films of four or more layers. The film of the lower layer of the antireflection film is also used as a stopper film during patterning, and a gap between the end of the light shielding film and the semiconductor substrate which is defined by interposing a plurality of films of the lower layer of the antireflection film is set so as to be smaller than the thickness of the gate insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Nagano
  • Patent number: 8552520
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first insulating layer. The first insulating layer includes a first lower layer and a first upper layer on the first lower layer. The first insulating layer has a first opening through the first lower layer and the first upper layer. A maximum width of the first opening at the first lower layer is different from a maximum width of the first opening at the first upper layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventors: Yoonsil Jin, Goohwan Shim, Youngho Choe, Changseo Park
  • Patent number: 8546901
    Abstract: A high sensitivity image sensor including a pixel, the pixel including a single electron field effect transistor (SEFET), the SEFET including a first conductive type well in a second conductive type substrate, second conductive type source and drain regions in the well and a first conductive type gate region in the well between the source and the drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Dae-Kil Cha, Young-Gu Jin, Yoon-Dong Park, Soo-Jung Hwang
  • Patent number: 8546859
    Abstract: The invention relates to a semiconductor device with a semiconductor body comprising a CMOS image sensor with a plurality of active pixels arranged in rows and columns each pixel comprising a pinned photodiode and a plurality of transistors for operating the pixel in the image forming process and including reset means. According to the invention the semiconductor device comprises also precharge means by which the photodiode can be precharged by a fixed amount of charge carriers after it has been reset by the reset means. In this way the sensors has a highly linear response, in particular at low light/radiation level, and a very low noise. The sensor is very suitable for X-ray/medical applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Teledyne Dalsa B.V.
    Inventors: Willem Hendrik Maes, Alouisius Wilhelmus Marinus Korthout
  • Patent number: 8502324
    Abstract: A wafer including at least a first die and at least a second die, wherein the first die and the second die are separated from each other by an area located between the first die and the second die, is provided. The wafer further includes an alignment mark group used for aligning the wafer to a tool used for patterning the wafer. The alignment mark group is located entirely within the area between the first die and the second die and the alignment mark group includes a plurality of alignment lines, and wherein each line of the plurality of alignment lines is formed using a plurality of segments separated from each other by a plurality of gaps filled with an insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Pol, Chong-Cheng Fu
  • Patent number: 8471313
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate, a plurality of photodiodes arranged in the substrate in a depth direction of the substrate, a vertical readout gate electrode for reading signal charges in the photodiodes, the vertical readout gate electrode being embedded in the substrate such that the readout gate electrode extends in the depth direction of the substrate, a dark-current suppressing area which covers a bottom portion and a side surface of the readout gate electrode, the dark-current suppressing area including a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area having a uniform thickness on the side surface of the readout gate electrode, and a reading channel area disposed between the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area and the photodiodes, the reading channel area including a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8450672
    Abstract: An integrated circuit structure includes an image sensor cell, which further includes a photo transistor configured to sense light and to generate a current from the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shine Chung, Tao-Wen Chung, Fu-Lung Hsueh
  • Patent number: 8440489
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell includes providing a semiconductor substrate; disposing a reflection layer on one side of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the disposing the reflection layer comprises implanting gas into a surface of the one side of the semiconductor substrate and heating the gas; disposing an n+ region and a p+ region separated from each other on the other opposite facing side of the semiconductor substrate; disposing a first electrode connected to the n+ region; and disposing a second electrode connected to the p+ region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Kyun Kim, Yun-Gi Kim, Jin-Wook Lee, Hwa-Young Ko
  • Patent number: 8436406
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel has a photodiode, a first transistor, and a second transistor. The photodiode is constituted by a first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and a second-conductivity-type semiconductor region. The first and second conductivity types are opposite to each other. The first transistor has a first-conductivity-type drain region formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region to transfer signal charge to the drain region. The second transistor has a source region and a drain region which are formed in the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region and which have the first conductivity type. At least one second-conductivity-type potential barrier is provided under the drain region of the first transistor and the source region and/or the drain region of the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mahito Shinohara, Shunsuke Inoue
  • Patent number: 8436442
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an electromagnetic wave detecting element that can prevent a decrease in light utilization efficiency at sensor portions. The sensor portions are provided so as to correspond to respective intersection portions of scan lines and signal lines, and have semiconductor layer that generate charges due to electromagnetic waves being irradiated, and at whose electromagnetic wave irradiation surface sides upper electrodes are formed, and at whose electromagnetic wave non-irradiation surface sides lower electrodes are formed. Bias voltage is supplied to the respective upper electrodes via respective contact holes by a common electrode line that is formed further toward an electromagnetic wave downstream side than the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Publication number: 20130056807
    Abstract: A photoelectric converting apparatus has first and third semiconductor layers of a first conductivity type which respectively output signals obtained by photoelectric conversion, and second and fourth semiconductor layers of a second conductivity type supplied with potentials from a potential supplying unit. In the photoelectric converting apparatus, the first, second, third and fourth semiconductor layers are arranged in sequence, the second and fourth semiconductor layers are electrically separated from each other, and the potential to be supplied to the second semiconductor layer and the potential to be supplied to the fourth semiconductor layer are controlled independently from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Tetsunobu Kochi
  • Patent number: 8368122
    Abstract: A multiple-junction photoelectric device includes a substrate with a first conducting layer thereon, at least two elementary photoelectric devices of p-i-n or p-n configuration, with a second conducting layer thereon, and at least one intermediate layer between two adjacent elementary photoelectric devices. The intermediate layer has, on the incoming light side, opposite top and bottom faces, the top and bottom faces having respectively a surface morphology including inclined elementary surfaces so ?90bottom is smaller than ?90top by at least 3°, preferably 6°, more preferably 10°, and even more preferably 15°; where ?90top is the angle for which 90% of the elementary surfaces of the top face of the intermediate layer have an inclination equal to or less than this angle, and ?90bottom is the angle for which 90% of the elementary surfaces of the bottom face of the intermediate layer have an inclination equal to or less than this angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Universite de Neuchatel
    Inventors: Didier Domine, Peter Cuony, Julien Bailat
  • Patent number: 8368164
    Abstract: A phototransistor used for an image sensor is provided. The phototransistor can reduce a dark current that occurs in the phototransistor and improve sensitivity at low luminance without crosstalk with a neighboring pixel or an image lag by including a buried collector. In the phototransistor including the buried collector, since the collector is not directly connected to outside, the phototransistor has a low dark current and a high photosensitive characteristic at low luminance. Since each image sensor is isolated, crosstalk between pixels or an image lag does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Siliconfile Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Byoung-Su Lee
  • Patent number: 8358167
    Abstract: A photo sensing unit used in a photo sensor includes a photo sensing transistor, a storage capacitor, and a switching transistor. The photo sensing transistor receives a light signal for inducing a photo current correspondingly, and a source and a gate thereof are respectively coupled to the first signal source and the second signal source. The storage capacitor stores electrical charges induced by the light signal, one terminal thereof is coupled to drain of the photo sensing transistor, and another terminal thereof is coupled to a low voltage. The switching transistor is controlled by the second signal source for outputting a readout signal from the storage capacitor to the signal readout line. The threshold voltage of the photo transistor is higher than that of the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Chou Lan, Sung-Hui Huang, Chia-Chun Yeh, Ted-Hong Shinn
  • Patent number: 8357980
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to photonic devices that can be used to collect and convert incident ER into surface plasmons that can be used to enhance the operation of microelectronic devices. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic device comprises a dielectric layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a planar nanowire network covering at least a portion of the top surface of the dielectric layer. The bottom surface of the dielectric layer is positioned on the top surface of a substrate, and the planar nanowire network is configured to convert incident electromagnetic radiation into surface plasmons that penetrate through the dielectric layer and into at least a portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: R. Stanley Williams, David Fattal
  • Patent number: 8350301
    Abstract: A semiconductor photodiode includes a semiconductor substrate; a first conduction type first semiconductor layer formed above the semiconductor substrate; a high resistance second semiconductor layer formed above the first semiconductor layer; a first conduction type third semiconductor layer formed above the second semiconductor layer; and a second conduction type fourth semiconductor layer buried in the second semiconductor layer, in which the fourth semiconductor layer is separated at a predetermined distance in a direction horizontal to the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Miura, Shinichi Saito, Youngkun Lee, Katsuya Oda
  • Patent number: 8319305
    Abstract: This invention provides a solid-state image sensing apparatus in which a sensor portion that performs photo-electric conversion and plural layers of wiring lines including a signal line for the sensor portion are formed on a semiconductor substrate; which includes an effective pixel portion configured such that light enters the sensor portion, and an optical black portion shielded so that the light does not enter the sensor portion; and which has a light-receiving surface on the back surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The optical black portion includes the sensor portion, a first light-shielding film formed closer to the back surface side of the semiconductor substrate than the sensor portion, and a second light-shielding film formed closer to the front surface side of the semiconductor substrate than the sensor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiji Nagata
  • Patent number: 8299484
    Abstract: An optoelectronic semiconductor chip including a radiation passage area, where a contact metallization is applied to the radiation passage area, and a first reflective layer sequence is applied to that surface of the contact metallization which is remote from the radiation passage area, and an optoelectronic component that includes such a chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Grötsch, Norbert Linder
  • Patent number: 8288780
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display device. The organic light emitting display device includes a substrate having a pixel region in which pixels are formed and a non-pixel region in which a light sensor is formed, an insulating film formed on the substrate, a first electrode formed on the insulating film and formed of a reflective material reflecting light, the first electrode being formed on the entire surface of the insulating film except for a region between the pixels and a region over the light sensor, a pixel defining film exposing a region of the first electrode and formed on the insulating film, an organic light emitting layer formed on the exposed region of the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic light emitting layer. The first electrode is formed to have a greater area than that of the organic light emitting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam-Choul Yang, Byoung-Deog Choi, Ki-Ju Im, Do-Youb Kim
  • Patent number: 8264013
    Abstract: A device separation insulating film and a device separation semiconductor layer are provided for a device separation section for separating adjacent devices from each other, end portions of the device separation insulating film and end portions of the device separation semiconductor layer are provided to overlap each other in order to surround two sides of an outer-periphery of the voltage conversion section and also to surround a channel section of the charge transfer device and the light receiving devices and an end portion of the device separation insulating film facing an end face of the light receiving device is arranged inwardly below a control electrode with respect to an end face of the control electrode on the light receiving device side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8253215
    Abstract: A two-terminal mesa phototransistor and a method for making it are disclosed. The photo transistor has a mesa structure having a substantially planar semiconductor surface. In the mesa structure is a first semiconductor region of a first doping type, and a second semiconductor region of a second doping type opposite to that of the first semiconductor region, forming a first semiconductor junction with the first region. In addition, a third semiconductor region of the first doping type forms a second semiconductor junction with the second region. The structure also includes a dielectric layer. The second semiconductor region, first semiconductor junction, and second semiconductor junction each has an intersection with the substantially planar semiconductor surface. The dielectric covers, and is in physical contact with, all of the intersections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Wavefront Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jie Yao
  • Patent number: 8253213
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element of the present invention comprises: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a first electrode arranged on the back side of the first semiconductor layer a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, the second semiconductor layer on the light-receiving side of the first semiconductor layer; a light-receiving face-side electrode provided on the light-receiving side of the second semiconductor layer; a second electrode arranged on the back side of the first semiconductor layer, and electrically separated from the first semiconductor layer, but connected to the second semiconductor layer; and a penetrating-connecting section penetrating the first semiconductor layer, and connecting the light-receiving face-side electrode with the second electrode, wherein the photoelectric conversion element is characterized in that the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged equidistantly apart from a central axis passing through a center of the ph
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiko Tsunemi, Satoshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8232586
    Abstract: A silicon photon detector device and methodology are provided for detecting incident photons in a partially depleted floating body SOI field-effect transistor (310) which traps charges created by visible and mid infrared light in a floating body region (304) when the silicon photon detector is configured in a detect mode, and then measures or reads the resulting enhanced drain current with a current detector in a read mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Potok, Rama R. Goruganthu, Michael R. Bruce
  • Patent number: 8227882
    Abstract: A light-sensitive component which has a semiconductor junction between a thin relatively highly doped epitaxial layer and a relatively lightly doped semiconductor substrate. Outside a light incidence window, an insulating layer is arranged between epitaxial layer and semiconductor substrate. In this case, the thickness of the epitaxial layer is less than 50 nm, with the result that a large proportion of the light quanta incident in the light incidence window can be absorbed in the lightly doped semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: austriamicrosystems AG
    Inventors: Hubert Enichlmair, Jochen Kraft, Bernhard Löffler, Gerald Meinhardt, Georg Röhrer, Ewald Wachmann
  • Patent number: 8207562
    Abstract: An image sensor can include a gate insulation layer, a gate electrode, a photodiode, and a floating diffusion region. The gate insulation layer can be formed on and/or over a semiconductor substrate for a transfer transistor. The gate insulation layer includes a first gate insulation layer having a central opening and a second gate insulation layer formed on and/or over an uppermost surface of the first gate insulation layer including the opening. The gate electrode can be formed on and/or over the gate insulation layer. The photodiode can be formed in the semiconductor substrate at one side of the gate electrode so as to generate an optical charge. The floating diffusion region can be formed in the semiconductor at the other side of the gate electrode opposite to the photodiode. The floating diffusion region can be electrically connected to the photodiode through a channel so as to store the optical charge generated from the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji-Hoon Hong
  • Patent number: 8193600
    Abstract: A shared-pixel-type image sensor including a shared floating diffusion region formed in a semiconductor substrate; first and second adjacent photoelectric conversion regions sharing the floating diffusion region; two transmission elements that alternately transfer electric charges accumulated in the first and second photoelectric conversion regions to the shared floating diffusion region, respectively; a drive element for outputting the electric charges of the shared floating diffusion region; a first contact formed on the floating diffusion region; a second contact formed on the drive element; and a local wire that connects the first and second contacts to electrically connect the floating diffusion region and the drive element, wherein the local wire is formed at a level lower than respective top surfaces of the first and second contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Pil Noh, Duck-Hyung Lee, Doo-Cheol Park
  • Patent number: 8184191
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels stored in one-dimensional or two-dimensional array, each of the plurality of pixels including a photodiode receiving light and producing photocharges, an overflow gate coupled to the photodiode and transferring photocharges that overflow the photodiode during a storage operation, and a storage capacitor element that stores the photocharges transferred by the overflow gate during the storage operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Tohoku University
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Nana Akahane, Satoru Adachi
  • Patent number: 8174087
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an electromagnetic wave detecting element that can prevent a decrease in light utilization efficiency at sensor portions. The sensor portions are provided so as to correspond to respective intersection portions of scan lines and signal lines, and have semiconductor layer that generate charges due to electromagnetic waves being irradiated, and at whose electromagnetic wave irradiation surface sides upper electrodes are formed, and at whose electromagnetic wave non-irradiation surface sides lower electrodes are formed. Bias voltage is supplied to the respective upper electrodes via respective contact holes by a common electrode line that is formed further toward an electromagnetic wave downstream side than the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 8158921
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising a plurality of photosensors, a shared diffusion region for receiving charge generated by the photosensors, and a dual conversion gain element that can be selectively coupled to the shared diffusion region to increase a conversion gain of the shared diffusion region. A method of operating such an imaging device is also described, comprising resetting a shared diffusion region, sampling a reset voltage level at the shared diffusion region, transferring charge accumulated in one of a plurality of photosensors to the shared diffusion region, sampling a pixel signal voltage level at the shared diffusion region, and activating a dual conversion gain element to increase a conversion gain of the shared diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. McKee
  • Patent number: 8159049
    Abstract: There is disclosed a photo-detector array including a plurality of sub-arrays of photo-detectors, the photo-detectors of each sub-array being formed on a substrate with an active area of each photo-detector being formed on a surface of the substrate, there further being formed for each photo-detector a conductive via through the substrate from an upper surface thereof to a lower surface thereof to connect the active area of each photo-detector to the lower surface of the substrate, wherein a plurality of said sub-arrays of photo-detectors are placed adjacent to each other in a matrix to form the photo-detector array. An imaging system comprising: a radiation detector including such a photo detector array, a radiation source facing the radiation detector, and means for controlling the radiation detector and the radiation source is also disclosed. A method for making such an array is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Detection Technology Oy
    Inventor: Iiro Hietanen
  • Patent number: 8149312
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor has a pixel array provided with a plurality of unit pixels arranged in a matrix shape of rows and columns. Each of the unit pixel includes a photocharge generation means for generating photocharges by absorbing an external light; and a sensing node for receiving the photocharges transferred from the photocharge generation means, wherein the sensing node of the unit pixel in a previous scan line is shared with a sensing node of a unit pixel in a current scan line in response to a line select signal of the current line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
    Inventor: Oh-Bong Kwon
  • Patent number: 8138534
    Abstract: Optical structures having an array of protuberances between two layers having different refractive indices are provided. The array of protuberances has vertical and lateral dimensions less than the wavelength range of lights detectable by a photodiode of a CMOS image sensor. The array of protuberances provides high transmission of light with little reflection. The array of protuberances may be provided over a photodiode, in a back-end-of-line interconnect structure, over a lens for a photodiode, on a backside of a photodiode, or on a window of a chip package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Charles F. Musante
  • Patent number: 8134190
    Abstract: To provide a solid-state image pickup apparatus with little or no difference in the dark currents between adjacent photoelectric conversion elements and providing a high sensitivity and a low dark current even in a high-speed readout operation. A well 302 is formed on a wafer 301, and semiconductor layers 101a, 101b are formed in the well to constitute photodiodes. A well contact 306 is formed between the semiconductor layers 101a, 101b. Element isolation regions 303b, 303a are provided between the well contact and the semiconductor layers, and channel stop layers 307b, 307a are provided under the element isolation regions 303b, 303a. A conductive layer 304 is provided on the element isolation region 303b, and a side wall 308 is provided on a side face of the conductive layer 304. A distance a between an end of the element isolation region 303b and the conductive layer 304, a width b of the side wall 308 and a device isolation width c satisfy a relation c>a?b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Okita, Masanori Ogura, Seiichiro Sakai, Takanori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8115242
    Abstract: A multicolor CMOS pixel sensor formed in a p-type semiconductor region includes a first detector formed from an n-type region of semiconductor material located near the surface of the p-type region. A first pinned p-type region is formed at the surface of the p-type region over the first detector, and has a surface portion extending past an edge of the pinned p-type region. A second detector is formed from an n-type region located in the p-type semiconductor region below the first detector. A second-detector n-type deep contact plug is in contact with the second detector and extends to the surface of the p-type semiconductor region. A second pinned p-type region is formed at the surface of the p-type semiconductor region over the top of the second-detector n-type deep contact plug. A surface portion of the second-detector deep contact plug extends past an edge of the second pinned p-type region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Foveon, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard B. Merrill
  • Patent number: 8093675
    Abstract: To provide a photoelectric conversion element that allows connection between adjacent photoelectric conversion elements by use of an inexpensive wiring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiko Tsunemi, Satoshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8084836
    Abstract: A photodiode array PD1 comprises an n-type semiconductor substrate one face of which is an incident surface of light to be detected; a plurality of pn junction-type photosensitive regions 3 as photodiodes formed on the side of a detecting surface that is opposite to the incident surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a carrier capturing portion 12 formed between adjacent photosensitive regions 3 from among the plurality of photosensitive regions 3 on the detecting surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The carrier capturing portion 12 has one or plurality of carrier capturing regions 13 respectively including pn-junctions, arranged at intervals. Thereby can be realized a semiconductor photodetector and a radiation detecting apparatus which can favorably restrain crosstalk from occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Tatsumi Yamanaka, Masanori Sahara, Hideki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8076172
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging device, where a signal circuit is formed on an insulating interlayer on a first side of a semiconductor substrate in which a photoelectric conversion part is formed and light is incident on the photoelectric conversion part from a second side thereof. The method includes the steps of: forming an on-chip color filter and an on-chip microlens on the second side where light is incident; and forming an opening in a pad part on the second side where light is incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8072041
    Abstract: In one example, an optoelectronic transducer includes a first contact, a second contact, a passivation layer, and a protection layer. The passivation layer is formed on top of the first contact and the second contact and is configured to substantially minimize dark current in the optoelectronic transducer. The protection layer is formed on top of the passivation layer and substantially covers the passivation layer. The protection layer is configured to protect the passivation layer from external factors and prevent degradation of the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Roman Dimitrov