Imager Including Structural Or Functional Details Of The Device (epo) Patents (Class 257/E27.13)

  • Patent number: 8357984
    Abstract: An array of pixels is formed using a substrate, where each pixel has a substrate having a backside and a frontside that includes metalization layers, a photodiode formed in the substrate, frontside P-wells formed using frontside processing that are adjacent to the photosensitive region, and an N-type region formed in the substrate below the photodiode. The N-type region is formed in a region of the substrate below the photodiode and is formed at least in part in a region of the substrate that is deeper than the depth of the frontside P-wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Duli Mao, Sohei Manabe, Vincent Venezia, Hsin-Chih Tai, Hidetoshi Nozaki, Yin Qian, Howard E. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20130009267
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to decrease light saturation in a photosensor array and increase detection efficiency uses a light distribution profile from a scintillator-photodetector geometry to configure the photosensor array to have a non-uniform sensor cell pattern, with varying cell density and/or varying cell size and shape. A solid-state photosensor such as a SiPM sensor having such a non-uniform cell structure realizes improved energy resolution, higher efficiency and increased signal linearity. In addition the non-uniform sensor cell array can have improved timing resolution due to improvements in statistical fluctuations. A particular embodiment for such photosensors is in PET medical imaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicants: SIEMENS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS USA, INC., SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Debora Henseler, Ronald Grazioso, Nan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130009268
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an imager integrated circuit with frontside components such as imaging pixels and backside components such as color filters and microlenses. The imager integrated circuit may be mounted to a carrier wafer with alignment marks. Bonding marks on the carrier wafer and the imager integrated circuit may be used to align the carrier wafer accurately to the imager integrated circuit. The alignment marks on the carrier wafer may be read, by fabrication equipment, to align backside components of the imager integrated circuit, such as color filters and microlenses, with backside components of the imager integrated circuit, such as photodiodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Gianluca Testa, Giovanni De Amicis
  • Publication number: 20130009039
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: a photoelectric conversion section configured to have a charge accumulating region of a first conductivity type formed in a semiconductor layer; a pixel having the photoelectric conversion section and a pixel transistor; a pixel region in which a plurality of the pixels are arranged; an epitaxially grown semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type formed on an inner wall part of a trench disposed in the semiconductor layer at least between adjacent ones of the pixels within the pixel region; and a pixel separating section configured to separate the charge accumulating regions of the adjacent ones of the pixels from each other, the pixel separating section being formed on the inside of the semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoyuki Sato, Yuki Miyanami
  • Publication number: 20130009263
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions stacked at different depths within a semiconductor substrate of each pixel to photoelectrically convert light of different wavelength bands, and a discharge region formed between the photoelectric conversion regions adjacent to each other in a depth direction of the semiconductor substrate to discharge charges generated by photoelectric conversion in regions between the photoelectric conversion regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Atsushi Toda
  • Publication number: 20130001730
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a connection portion, and one or more first photoelectric conversion units formed in the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a back side and a front side. The back side is a light incident surface, and the front side is a circuit-forming surface. The connection portion is connected to a contact plug that transfers signal charges generated on the back side of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate. The connection portion has a peak of an impurity concentration distribution near an interface of the semiconductor substrate on the back side of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Miyanami
  • Publication number: 20130001733
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a solid-state imaging apparatus is provided. The method for manufacturing a solid-state imaging apparatus includes forming an element separating area separating photoelectric converting elements therebetween by epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; and forming a charge accumulating area in the photoelectric converting element by epitaxially growing a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Ryota WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20120326257
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion layer stack-type solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric conversion portion, a conductive light shield film, and a dielectric layer. A signal reading portion is formed on a semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric conversion portion is stacked above a light incidence side of the semiconductor substrate and includes a photoelectric conversion layer formed between a first electrode film and a second electrode film which is divided into a plurality of regions corresponding to pixels respectively. The conductive light shield film is stacked above the light incidence side of the photoelectric conversion portion outside an effective pixel region. The dielectric layer is disposed between the conductive light shield and the first electrode film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuya Takata
  • Publication number: 20120329201
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide method for manufacturing a solid-state imaging device, including forming an electrode and forming a second impurity layer. The electrode is formed on a semiconductor substrate including a first impurity layer of a first conductivity type on a surface. The second impurity layer is a second conductivity type and is formed by implanting an impurity of a second conductivity type into the first impurity layer in an oblique direction with respect to the surface of the semiconductor substrate on the condition that the impurity penetrates an end portion of the electrode, based on a position of the electrode. The second impurity layer is bonded to the first impurity layer to constitute a photodiode, and a portion of the second impurity layer is disposed under the electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Ken TOMITA, Atsushi SASAKI
  • Patent number: 8338901
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a solid-state imaging device including: a photoelectric converting unit that includes a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, converts incident light entering a first surface of the semiconductor substrate into signal charges, and stores the signal charges; a readout circuit that reads the signal charges stored by the photoelectric converting unit; an antireflection structure that is provided on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate to cover the semiconductor layer of the photoelectric converting unit, includes a fixed charge film that retains fixed charges being non-signal charges, and prevents reflection of the incident light; and a hole storage region that is provided between the photoelectric converting unit and the antireflection structure, and stores holes being non-signal charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Risako Ueno, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Hideyuki Funaki, Yoshinori Iida, Tatsuo Shimizu, Masamichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8334555
    Abstract: A pixel area for generating an image signal corresponding to incident light is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A light-shielding layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate around the pixel area. The light-shielding layer has a slit near the pixel area and shields the incident light. A passivation film is formed in the pixel area, on the light-shielding layer, and in the slit. A coating layer is formed in the slit of the light-shielding layer and on the passivation film in the pixel area. Microlenses are formed on the coating layer in the pixel area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Koike
  • Publication number: 20120313197
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe providing high dynamic range imaging (HDRI or simply HDR) to an imaging pixel by coupling a floating diffusion node of the imaging pixel to a plurality of metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitance regions. It is understood that a MOS capacitance region only turns “on” (i.e., changes the overall capacitance of the floating diffusion node) when the voltage at the floating diffusion node (or a voltage difference between a gate node and the floating diffusion node) is greater than its threshold voltage; before the MOS capacitance region is “on” it does not contribute to the overall capacitance or conversion gain of the floating diffusion node. Each of the MOS capacitance regions will have different threshold voltages, thereby turning “on” at different illumination conditions. This increases the dynamic range of the imaging pixel, thereby providing HDR for the host imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Duli Mao, Hsin-Chih Tai, Howard E. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20120313211
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes: a silicon layer; a pixel portion formed in the silicon layer for processing and outputting signal charges obtained by carrying out photoelectric conversion for incident lights; an alignment mark formed in a periphery of the pixel portion and in the silicon layer; and a contact portion through which a first electrode within a wiring layer formed on a first surface of the silicon layer, and a second electrode formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the silicon layer through an insulating film are connected, wherein the alignment mark and the contact portion are formed from conductive layers made of the same conductive material and formed within respective holes each extending completely through the silicon layer through respective insulating layers made of the same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Takayuki ENOMOTO
  • Publication number: 20120313208
    Abstract: An image sensor and a method of forming the same, where the image sensor may include a substrate including a pixel region and a pad region, a through via configured to penetrate the substrate in the pad region, a plurality of unit pixels in the pixel region, and a light shielding pattern between the plurality of unit pixels. The through via and the light shielding pattern include a same material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon KIM, Byungjun PARK, Junemo KOO, Seung-Hun SHIN, Gil-Sang YOO
  • Publication number: 20120299070
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a photoelectric conversion element including: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type provided above a substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided in a higher layer than the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer of a third conductivity type provided between the first and second semiconductor layers and lower in electrical conductivity than the first and second semiconductor layers; and a light-shielding layer provided between the substrate and first semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Yamada, Tsutomu Tanaka, Makoto Takatoku, Ryoichi Ito, Michiru Senda
  • Publication number: 20120298841
    Abstract: Provided is a back-illuminated solid-state image pickup apparatus having an improved color separation characteristic. A photo detector includes a first photo detector unit and a second photo detector unit disposed deeper than the first photo detector unit with respect to a back surface of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the first photo detector unit includes a first-conductivity-type first semiconductor region where carriers generated through photo-electric conversion are collected as signal carriers. A readout portion includes a first-conductivity-type second semiconductor region extending in a depth direction such that the carriers collected in the first semiconductor region are read out to a front surface of the semiconductor substrate. A unit that reduces the amount of light incident on the second semiconductor region is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Yamashita, Masaya Ogino, Junji Iwata, Kentarou Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120292726
    Abstract: An entry slit panel for a push-broom hyperspectral camera is formed at least partly from a silicon wafer on which at least one companion sensor is fabricated, whereby the companion sensor is co-planar with the slit and detects light imaged on the panel but not on the slit. In embodiments, the companion sensor is a panchromatic sensor or a sensor that detects light outside the wavelength range of the camera. At least a region of the wafer is back-thinned to a thickness appropriate for a diffraction slit. The slit can be etched or laser cut through the thinned region, or formed between the wafer and another wafer or a conventional blade. The wafer can be back-coated or metalized to ensure its opacity across the camera's wavelength range. The companion sensor can be located relative to the slit to detect scene features immediately before or after the hyperspectral camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Wallace
  • Publication number: 20120292730
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a device substrate having a front side and a back side. The semiconductor device further includes an interconnect structure disposed on the front side of the device substrate, the interconnect structure having a n-number of metal layers. The semiconductor device also includes a bonding pad disposed on the back side of the device substrate, the bonding pad extending through the interconnect structure and directly contacting the nth metal layer of the n-number of metal layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shuang-Ji Tsai, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Jeng-Shyan Lin, Wen-De Wang, Yueh-Chiou Lin
  • Publication number: 20120286294
    Abstract: An organic EL element includes: an organic EL layer including a transparent electrode, a reflective electrode, and a light-emitting layer; a transparent layer disposed on a light-exiting side of the transparent electrode; and a light extraction structure disposed on a light-exiting side of the transparent layer and having a protruding shape with inclined portions. The transparent layer and the light extraction structure have a larger refractive index than the light-emitting layer. The inclined portions of the light extraction structure satisfy Condition 1 or 2 for extracting guided wave light emitted from the light-emitting layer and incident on the light extraction structure from the light extraction structure to the outside of the organic EL element, in a cross section taken along a plane perpendicular to the reflective electrode, where two inclination angles ?1 and ?2 formed between the reflective electrode and the inclined portions are the largest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Ishizuya
  • Publication number: 20120286388
    Abstract: Forming a back-illuminated type CMOS image sensor, includes process for formation of a registration mark on the wiring side of a silicon substrate during formation of an active region or a gate electrode. A silicide film using an active region may also be used for the registration mark. Thereafter, the registration mark is read from the back side by use of red light or near infrared rays, and registration of the stepper is accomplished. It is also possible to form a registration mark in a silicon oxide film on the back side (illuminated side) in registry with the registration mark on the wiring side, and to achieve the desired registration by use of the registration mark thus formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Keiji Mabuchi, Tomoyuki Umeda, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Publication number: 20120280348
    Abstract: Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side opposite the first side. The substrate has a pixel region and a periphery region. The image sensor device includes a plurality of radiation-sensing regions disposed in the pixel region of the substrate. Each of the radiation-sensing regions is operable to sense radiation projected toward the radiation-sensing region through the back side. The image sensor device includes a reference pixel disposed in the periphery region. The image sensor device includes an interconnect structure that is coupled to the front side of the substrate. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of interconnect layers. The image sensor device includes a film formed over the back side of the substrate. The film causes the substrate to experience a tensile stress. The image sensor device includes a radiation-blocking device disposed over the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Keng-Yu CHOU, Dun-Nian YAUNG, Jen-Cheng LIU, Pao-Tung CHEN, Wen-De WANG, Chun-Chieh CHUANG, Min-Feng KAO
  • Publication number: 20120280350
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a position sensitive detector (PSD) comprises a plurality of layers, including a substrate layer, an absorber layer, a barrier layer, a sheet layer, and a contact layer. The absorber layer absorbs incident photons such that the absorbed photons excite positive charges and negative charges in the absorber layer. The barrier layer collects a photocurrent from the absorber layer, the photocurrent comprising either the positive charges or the negative charges. The sheet layer provides resistance to control the flow of the photocurrent between a point of incidence of the photons and a plurality of interconnect contacts. The contact layer comprises the interconnect contacts, each interconnect contact operable to conduct the photocurrent to one or more electrical components external to the PSD. The position sensitive detector facilitates determining the point of incidence of the photons according to a relative amount of photocurrent associated with each interconnect contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Edward Peter Gordon Smith, Borys Kolasa
  • Publication number: 20120280346
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments of an image sensor device. An exemplary image sensor device includes an image sensing region disposed in a substrate; a multilayer interconnection structure disposed over the substrate; and a color filter formed in the multilayer interconnection structure and aligned with the image sensing region. The color filter has a length and a width, where the length is greater than the width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD
    Inventors: Jhy-Ming Hung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Dun-Nian Yaung, Chun-Chieh Chuang
  • Publication number: 20120280351
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus that includes an integrated circuit located in a first region of a substrate having first and second opposing major surfaces and an alignment mark located in a second region of the substrate and extending through the substrate between the first and second surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jen-Cheng Liu, Dun-Nian Yaung, Shou-Gwo Wuu
  • Publication number: 20120273910
    Abstract: The finding that with a reasonable effort a layer thickness and/or refractive index variation may be acquired which realizes different internal optical path lengths for impinging radiation whereby fluctuation of spectral sensitivity of the photodetector is reduced is used to provide image sensors with a less fluctuating spectral sensitivity with respect to different wavelengths, or photodetectors with a small fluctuation of the spectral sensitivity from photodetector to photodetector with respect to defined wavelengths, with a reasonable effort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Frank Hochschulz, Stefan Dreiner, Uwe Paschen, Holger Vogt
  • Publication number: 20120273907
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a substrate having a plurality of unit pixel region; a light receiving element formed in the substrate at the unit pixel region; an interlayer dielectric layer formed over the substrate; a lightguide formed in the interlayer dielectric layer for the light receiving element; a light focusing pattern formed over the interlayer dielectric layer at the pixel region; a planarization layer formed over the substrate and covering the light focusing pattern; and a lens formed over the planarization layer at the pixel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Youn-Sub LIM
  • Publication number: 20120273837
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid state imaging device includes a photoelectric converting portion including a semiconductor region and a semiconductor film. The semiconductor region has a first region and a second region. The first region is of a second conductivity type. The first region is provided in a semiconductor substrate. The second region is of a first conductivity type. The first conductivity type is a different conductivity type from the second conductivity type. The second region is provided on the first region. The semiconductor film is of the second conductivity type. The semiconductor film is provided on the semiconductor region. An absorption coefficient of a material of the semiconductor film to a visible light is higher than an absorption coefficient of a material of the semiconductor substrate to the visible light. A thickness of the semiconductor film is smaller than a thickness of the semiconductor region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Koichi KOKUBUN
  • Publication number: 20120267743
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes a structure that provides a high sensitivity and high resolution without variations in spectral sensitivity and without halation of colors, and prevents light from penetrating into an adjacent pixel portion. A plurality of photodiodes are formed inside a semiconductor substrate. A wiring layer includes a laminated structure of an insulating film and a wire and is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of color filters are formed individually in a manner corresponding to the plurality of photodiodes above the wiring layer. A planarized film and a microlens are sequentially laminated on each of the color filters. In the solid-state imaging device, each of the color filters has an refraction index higher than that of the planarized film and has, in a Z-axis direction, an upper surface in a concave shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: TETSUYA NAKAMURA, MOTONARI KATSUNO, MASAYUKI TAKASE, MASAO KATAOKA
  • Publication number: 20120267745
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate having a photodiode formed therein, and a lamination structure of an insulating film and a wiring. The solid-state imaging device includes a partition wall formed on a wiring layer, constituted by an inorganic material and formed in a portion corresponding to a portion provided between the adjacent photodiodes, and a color filter constituted by an organic material and formed between the adjacent partition walls. The solid-state imaging device includes an adhesion layer constituted by an organic material and formed between a side surface of the partition wall and the color filter. An adhesive property of the adhesion layer to the color filter is higher than that of the partition wall to the color filter, and an adhesive property of the adhesion layer to the partition wall is higher than an adhesive property of the color filter to the partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: SHOICHIRO TSUJI
  • Publication number: 20120261782
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solid-state image pickup device that includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units disposed in a semiconductor substrate, a first planarizing layer disposed at a first principal surface side of the semiconductor substrate where light enters, a color filter layer disposed on the first planarizing layer and including color filters each of which is provided for a corresponding photoelectric conversion unit, and a second planarizing layer disposed on the color filter layer for reducing a level difference between the color filters. In the solid-state image pickup device, a gap is disposed in a position corresponding to a boundary between the neighboring color filters in the color filter layer, the gap extending to the second planarizing layer, and a sealing layer for sealing the gap is disposed on the gap and the second planarizing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Masatsugu Itahashi, Tetsuya Fudaba, Hideo Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120261781
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image sensor device and a method for manufacturing the image sensor device. An exemplary image sensor device includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; a plurality of sensor elements disposed at the front surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of sensor elements being operable to sense radiation projected towards the back surface of the substrate; a radiation-shielding feature disposed over the back surface of the substrate and horizontally disposed between each of the plurality of sensor elements; a dielectric feature disposed between the back surface of the substrate and the radiation-shielding feature; and a metal layer disposed along sidewalls of the dielectric feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hung-Wen Hsu, Shih-Chang Liu, Yeur-Luen Tu
  • Patent number: 8288807
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device which can detect low illuminance. A photoelectric conversion element, a diode-connected first transistor, and a second transistor are included. A gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to a gate of the second transistor. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor through the photoelectric conversion element. The other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor. By using transistors which have different threshold voltages for the first transistor and the second transistor, a semiconductor device which can perform detecting of low illuminance can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Kimura
  • Publication number: 20120249847
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a solid-state image pickup element, including: a semiconductor layer having a photodiode, photoelectric conversion being carried out in the photodiode; a silicon oxide film formed on the semiconductor layer in a region having at least the photodiode by using plasma; and a film formed on the silicon oxide film and having negative fixed charges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: ITARU OSHIYAMA, SUSUMU HIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20120241769
    Abstract: A third semiconductor layer 14 is formed on a light receiving surface 13a of a second semiconductor layer 13 so as to cover the light receiving surface 13a of the second semiconductor layer 13 at least partially in a plan view. A first semiconductor layer 10 is formed on an opposite surface of the light receiving surface 13a of the second semiconductor layer 13 so as to overlap the light receiving surface 13a and the third semiconductor layer 14 at least partially in a plan view. In the second semiconductor layer 13, the relative light receiving sensitivity to respective wavelengths of light has the highest value at a wavelength in an infrared region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Sumio Katoh
  • Publication number: 20120242876
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state image sensing device includes a semiconductor substrate which includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a pixel which is provided in the semiconductor substrate and which photoelectrically converts light emitted via a lens on the second surface, a support substrate which is provided on a first insulating layer covering an element on the first surface and which includes a trench, and a first device which is provided on the first insulating layer and which is accommodated in the trench of the support substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Kenichiro Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20120241895
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including: an opto-electrical conversion section provided inside a semiconductor substrate to receive incident light coming from one surface of the semiconductor substrate; a wiring layer provided on the other surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a light absorption layer provided between the other surface of the semiconductor substrate and the wiring layer to absorb transmitted light passing through the opto-electrical conversion section as part of the incident light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Syogo Kurogi
  • Patent number: 8274100
    Abstract: A pixel array in an image sensor includes multiple pixels. The pixel array includes vertical shift registers for shifting charge out of the pixel array. The vertical shift registers can be interspersed between the pixels, such as in an interline image sensor, or the photosensitive areas in the pixels can operate as vertical shift registers. The pixels are divided into blocks of pixels. One or more electrodes are disposed over each pixel. Conductive strips are disposed over the electrodes. Contacts are used to connect selected electrodes to respective conductive strips. The contacts in at least one block of pixels are positioned according to one contact pattern while the contacts in one or more other blocks are positioned according to a different contact pattern. The different contact patterns reduce or eliminate visible patterns in the contact locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Truesense Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Shen Wang
  • Patent number: 8274101
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a device wafer substrate of a device wafer, a device layer of the device wafer, and optionally a heat control structure and/or a heat sink. The device layer is disposed on a frontside of the device wafer substrate and includes a plurality of photosensitive elements disposed within a pixel array region and peripheral circuitry disposed within a peripheral circuits region. The photosensitive elements are sensitive to light incident on a backside of the device wafer substrate. The heat control structure is disposed within the device wafer substrate and thermally isolates the pixel array region from the peripheral circuits region to reduce heat transfer between the peripheral circuits region and the pixel array region. The heat sink conducts heat away from the device layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Venezia, Duli Mao, Hsin-Chih Tai, Yin Qian, Howard E. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20120236145
    Abstract: A photogate electrode PG has first and second sides opposed to each other. First and second semiconductor regions FD1, FD2 are arranged as spatially separated from each other on the side where the first side of the photogate electrode PG exists and along the first side. Third and fourth semiconductor regions FD3, FD4 are arranged as spatially separated from each other on the side where the second side of the photogate electrode PG exists and along the second side. First gate electrodes TX1 are provided between the photogate electrode PG and the first and third semiconductor regions FD1, FD3. Second gate electrodes TX2 are provided between the photogate electrode PG and the second and fourth semiconductor regions FD2, FD4. The first to fourth semiconductor regions FD1-FD4 are formed so as to overlap with respective p-type well regions W1-W4 and so as to be surrounded by the respective well regions W1-W4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Mitsuhito Mase
  • Publication number: 20120228473
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a semiconductor substrate having an effective region in which a photodiode performing a photoelectric conversion is formed and, an optical black region shielded by a light shielding film; a first film which is formed on the effective region and in which at least one layer or more of layers having a negative fixed charge are laminated; and a second film which is formed on the light shielding region and in which at least one layer or more of layers having a negative fixed charge are laminated, in which the number of layers formed in the first film is different from the number of layers formed in the second film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kai Yoshitsugu
  • Publication number: 20120217606
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging element includes: manufacturing an element chip in which photoelectric conversion units are arranged on a main surface side; preparing a base configured using a material with an expansion coefficient greater than the element chip and having an opening of which the periphery of the opening is shaped as a flat surface; expanding the base by heating, mounting the element chip on the flat surface of the base in a state where the opening of the base is covered; and three-dimensionally curving a portion corresponding to the opening in the element chip by cooling and contracting the base in a state where the element chip is fixed to the flat surface of the expanded base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuichiro ITONAGA
  • Publication number: 20120211852
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a solid-state imaging device photoelectrically converting light taken by a lens; and a light shielding member shielding part of light incident on the solid-state imaging device from the lens, wherein an angle made between an edge surface of the light shielding member and an optical axis direction of the lens is larger than an incident angle of light to be incident on an edge portion of the light shielding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Iwafuchi, Masahiko Shimizu, Hirotaka Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120205766
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an optical filter in which a filter layer is formed on a transparent substrate; a solid-state imaging component that is arranged to be opposed to the optical filter and in which plural pixels that receive light made incident via the filter layer are arrayed in a pixel area of a semiconductor substrate; and a bonding layer that is provided between the optical filter and the solid-state imaging component and sticks the optical filter and the solid-state imaging component together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Taizo TAKACHI
  • Publication number: 20120205768
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus including an insulating structural body having a through opening, a wiring part formed on a front surface of the structural body, a solid-state imaging element which is connected to the wiring part and also is attached to the structural body so as to close the through opening, a translucent member which is opposed to the solid-state imaging element and is attached to the structural body through an adhesive inside an adhesion region R so as to close the through opening, and a solder resist film with which at least a part of the front surface of the structural body is covered, and is characterized in that a region R0 in which the solder resist film is selectively removed is had in the adhesion region R and the removed region R0 is filled with the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ken SUGAHARA, Satoru TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8241936
    Abstract: An improved display substrate is provided to reduce surface defects on insulating layers of organic thin film transistors. Related methods of manufacture are also provided. In one example, a display substrate includes a base, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines, a pixel defined by the data lines and the gate lines, an organic thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode. The data lines are on the base and are oriented in a first direction. The gate lines are oriented in a second direction that crosses the first direction. The organic thin film transistor includes a source electrode electrically connected to one of the data lines, a gate electrode electrically connected to one of the gate lines, and an organic semiconductor layer. The pixel electrode is disposed in the pixel and electrically connected to the organic thin film transistor. The pixel electrode comprises a transparent oxynitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Je-Hun Lee, Young-Min Kim, Bo-Sung Kim, Jun-Young Lee, Sung-Wook Kang
  • Publication number: 20120199926
    Abstract: A microelectronic image sensor assembly for backside illumination and method of making same are provided. The assembly includes a microelectronic element having contacts exposed at a front face and light sensing elements arranged to receive light of different wavelengths through a rear face. A semiconductor region has a first thickness between the first light sensing element and the rear face and a second thickness between the second light sensing element and the rear face such that the first and second light sensing elements receive light of substantially the same intensity. A dielectric region is provided at least substantially filling a space of the semiconductor region adjacent at least one of the light sensing elements. The dielectric region may include at least one light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: TESSERA NORTH AMERICA, INC
    Inventors: Vage Oganesian, Belgacem Haba, Ilyas Mohammed, Piyush Savalia, Craig Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20120199931
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes photoelectric conversion elements on an imaging surface of a substrate, receiving light incident on a light receiving surface and performing photoelectric conversion to produce a signal charge. Electrodes are interposed between the photoelectric conversion elements and light blocking portions are provided above the electrodes and interposed between the photoelectric conversion elements. The light blocking portions include an electrode light blocking portion formed to cover the corresponding electrode, and a pixel isolation and light blocking portion protruding convexly from the upper surface of the electrode light blocking portion. The photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at first pitches on the imaging surface. The electrode light blocking portions and the pixel isolation and light blocking portions are arranged at second and third pitches on the imaging surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Masuda
  • Publication number: 20120194714
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a semiconductor region including a plurality of photoelectric converters from which signals are allowed to be independently read out; a first microlens; and a second microlens which is arranged between the first microlens and the semiconductor region, wherein the second microlens includes a central portion and a peripheral portion that surrounds the central portion, and a power of the peripheral portion is a positive value and larger than a power of the central portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8232616
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes an array of pixels, each of the pixels includes: a pixel electrode; an organic layer; a counter electrode; a sealing layer; a color filter; and a readout circuit as defined herein, the photoelectric layer contains an organic p type semiconductor and an organic n type semiconductor, an ionization potential of the charge blocking layer and an electron affinity of the organic n type semiconductor in the photoelectric layer have a difference of at least 1 eV, and the solid-state imaging device further includes a transparent partition wall between adjacent color filters of adjacent pixels of the array of pixels, the partition wall being made from a transparent material having a lower refractive index than a material forming the color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Maehara, Takashi Goto, Hideyuki Suzuki, Daigo Sawaki
  • Patent number: 8228411
    Abstract: A method of operation of a backside illuminated (BSI) pixel array includes acquiring an image signal with a first photosensitive region of a first pixel within the BSI pixel array. The image signal is generated in response to light incident upon a backside of the first pixel. The image signal acquired by the first photosensitive region is transferred to pixel circuitry of the first pixel disposed on a frontside of the first pixel opposite the backside. The pixel circuitry at least partially overlaps the first photosensitive region of the first pixel and extends over die real estate above a second photosensitive region of a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel such that the second pixel donates die real estate unused by the second pixel to the first pixel to accommodate larger pixel circuitry than would fit within the first pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiejun Dai, Hsin-Chih Tai, Sohei Manabe, Hidetoshi Nozaki, Howard E. Rhodes