Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including: a first substrate including a first semiconductor substrate and a first wiring layer, the first semiconductor substrate having a pixel unit with pixels; a second substrate including a second semiconductor substrate and a second wiring layer, the second semiconductor substrate having a circuit with a predetermined function; and a third substrate including a third semiconductor substrate and a third wiring layer, the third semiconductor substrate having a circuit with a predetermined function, the first, second, and third substrates being stacked in this order, the first substrate and the second substrate being bonded together with the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer opposed to each other, a first coupling structure on bonding surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate, and including an electrode junction structure with electrodes formed on the respective bonding surfaces in direct contact with each other.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device, including: a first substrate including a first electrode, and a first insulating film configured from a diffusion preventing material for the first electrode and covering a periphery of the first electrode, the first electrode and the first insulating film cooperating with each other to configure a bonding face; and a second substrate bonded to and provided on the first substrate and including a second electrode joined to the first electrode, and a second insulating film configured from a diffusion preventing material for the second electrode and covering a periphery of the second electrode, the second electrode and the second insulating film cooperating with each other to configure a bonding face to the first substrate.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate includes forming a support structure by providing a polycrystalline ceramic core, encapsulating the polycrystalline ceramic core in a first adhesion shell, encapsulating the first adhesion shell in a conductive shell, encapsulating the conductive shell in a second adhesion shell, and encapsulating the second adhesion shell in a barrier shell. The method also includes joining a bonding layer to the support structure, joining a substantially single crystalline silicon layer to the bonding layer, forming an epitaxial silicon layer by epitaxial growth on the substantially single crystalline silicon layer, and forming one or more epitaxial layers by epitaxial growth on the epitaxial silicon layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a metal layer, a buffer structure, and a barrier structure. The first substrate has a landing pad. The second substrate is disposed over the first substrate. The metal layer is disposed in the second substrate and extends from the landing pad to a top surface of the second substrate. The buffer structure is disposed in the second substrate and surrounded by the metal layer, in which a top surface of the buffer structure is below a top surface of the metal layer. The barrier structure is disposed over the metal layer and the buffer structure.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate including a sensor array area, a pad area, and a circuit area, a wiring layer on the pad area, and a light-shielding pattern on the sensor array area. The sensor array area includes a first area including active pixels and a second area including optical back pixels. The wiring layer is apart from the substrate by a first distance on the pad area. The light-shielding pattern includes a first portion spaced apart from the substrate by a second distance less than the first distance, a second portion disposed between the first portion and the wiring layer and extending on the same level as the wiring layer, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion and integrally formed with the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A method for forming a sensor with increased overhang to prevent passivation stress fractures is provided. Embodiments include forming a first passivation layer over a dielectric layer patterned over a first top metal layer of a logic region of a sensor and a second top metal layer of an array region of the sensor; planarizing the first passivation layer and the dielectric layer to form a level surface above the first top metal layer and the second top metal layer; etching the dielectric layer to form a pad opening in the array region of the sensor based on a predetermined overhang value, the pad opening exposing a portion of the surface of the second top metal layer; and forming a second passivation layer over the level surface and the pad opening in the array region.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer has a semiconductor body, an insulation layer on the semiconductor body, an active region with a power semiconductor die, the active region forming a part of the semiconductor body, a scribeline region arranged adjacent to the active region, and a passivation structure arranged above the insulation layer and exposing a section of the insulation layer. The exposed section of the insulation layer is terminated by a termination edge of the passivation structure. The semiconductor wafer also has an optically detectable reference feature configured to serve as a reference position during a wafer separation processing stage. The optically detectable reference feature is included in the active region, spatially displaced from the termination edge, and exposed by the passivation structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate includes forming a support structure by providing a polycrystalline ceramic core, encapsulating the polycrystalline ceramic core in a first adhesion shell, encapsulating the first adhesion shell in a conductive shell, encapsulating the conductive shell in a second adhesion shell, and encapsulating the second adhesion shell in a barrier shell. The method also includes joining a bonding layer to the support structure, joining a substantially single crystalline silicon layer to the bonding layer, forming an epitaxial silicon layer by epitaxial growth on the substantially single crystalline silicon layer, and forming one or more epitaxial III-V layers by epitaxial growth on the epitaxial silicon layer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprises a semiconductor substrate including a photoelectric conversion portion, a silicon oxide film arranged above the photoelectric conversion portion, and an insulating film arranged between the photoelectric conversion portion and the silicon oxide film. An n-type first impurity region constituting part of the photoelectric conversion portion and a p-type second impurity region arranged between the insulating film and the first impurity region are provided in the semiconductor substrate. A portion of the insulating film above the second impurity region, and the second impurity region contain boron. An integrated value of a boron concentration from the surface of the semiconductor substrate to a first position where a boron concentration takes a minimal value in the second impurity region is larger than that from the surface of the semiconductor substrate to an upper surface of the silicon oxide film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a solar cell comprising a selective emitter, the method comprising the steps of: forming an electrode pattern and an alignment mark by performing a first impurity doping locally on one surface of a substrate; and performing a second impurity doping on the entire surface of the first doped substrate, wherein, as a result of the first and second doping, the alignment mark is formed on a first emitter or a second emitter, and the electrode pattern is formed on the second emitter. When manufacturing the selective emitter, the alignment mark is formed by doping processes. The use of the alignment mark may increase the matching of the electrode pattern formed in the selective emitter and the resulting electrode line. Further, a solar cell having the selective emitter has excellent conversion efficiency and a high fill factor value.

Abstract: An input device includes a first substrate, a light-emitting element, and a third electrode unit. The first substrate has first and second surfaces. The light-emitting element unit includes: a first conductive electrode unit including first conductive layers; a second conductive electrode unit including second conductive layers each having a size overlapping with the first conductive layer in planar view; and luminescent layers conducted with at least a part of the first electrode unit, each provided between the first and second electrode units and conducted with the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer overlapping with the first conductive layer in planar view. The third electrode unit is insulated from the first conductive layers and detects a change in an electric field between the first conductive layers and the third electrode unit depending on coordinates of a proximity object at a position overlapping with the first surface in planar view.

Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) element includes at least one DSC. The DSC includes a first base material having a transparent substrate, a second base material facing the first base material, an oxide semiconductor layer provided between the first and second base materials, and a sealing portion connecting the first and second base materials. One transparent substrate is provided for the at least one DSC, and a coating layer covering a light receiving surface, which is opposite to the second base material, of the transparent substrate and transmitting light is provided on the first base material. The coating layer includes an annular peripheral portion, and a center portion provided at the inner side of the peripheral portion. An average thickness of the peripheral portion is smaller than a maximum thickness of the center portion, and the coating layer has a refractive index higher than that of the transparent substrate.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor is provided. The sensor includes a first transistor including a first diffusion region, a second transistor including a second diffusion region and an insulation film arranged over these transistors. The insulation film includes a first and a second film. A first portion of the first diffusion region covered with the insulation film includes a second portion covered with only the second film. A third portion of the second diffusion region covered with the insulation film includes a fourth portion covered with the first and second film. A stress in the fourth portion is larger than the second portion. A proportion of an area of the first portion except the second portion to an area of the first portion is lower than a proportion of an area of the fourth portion to an area of the third portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle (1), in which energy is recovered in overrun and/or braking phases (T2) of the vehicle (1) and stored in an energy store (4, 5) within the vehicle, wherein the environment (E) of the vehicle (1) is detected by means of a detector (6, 13) and, depending on detection of an object (2, 11) in the vehicle environment (E), at least one object characteristic (v2, ?v, L) is evaluated and, depending on the evaluation of the object characteristic (v2, ?v, L), the overrun and/or braking phase (T2) is performed automatically in a manner adapted to at least one parameter characterizing the energy store (4, 5). The invention also relates to a driver assistance device (7) for a vehicle (1).

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The substrate has a sensor region proximate the first side. The semiconductor device also includes a first compressive layer over the second side of the substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a light blocking element over the first compressive layer. The semiconductor device additionally includes a second compressive layer over the first compressive layer and covering a portion of the light blocking element. The semiconductor device also includes a third compressive layer between the second compressive layer and the portion of the light blocking element.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a semiconductor substrate; a pixel formation region in the substrate and including a pixel made of a photoelectric conversion element; and an element isolation portion in the substrate and including an element isolation insulating layer and an impurity element isolation region. The element isolation insulating layer is positioned in a surface of the substrate. The impurity element isolation region is positioned under the element isolation insulating layer and within the substrate. The impurity element isolation region has at least a portion with a width that is narrower than that of the element isolation insulating layer. The photoelectric conversion element extends to a position under the element isolation insulating layer of the element isolation portion.

Abstract: An image sensor device including a semiconductor substrate that includes an array region and a black level correction region. The array region contains a plurality of radiation-sensitive pixels. The black level correction region contains one or more reference pixels. The substrate has a front side and a back side. The image sensor device includes a first compressively-stressed layer formed on the back side of the substrate. The first compressively-stressed layer contains silicon oxide, and is negatively charged. The second compressively-stressed layer contains silicon nitride, and is negatively charged. A metal shield is formed over at least a portion of the black level correction region. The image sensor device includes a third compressively-stressed layer formed on the metal shield and the second compressively-stressed layer. The third compressively-stressed layer contains silicon oxide. A sidewall of the metal shield is protected by the third compressively-stressed layer.

Abstract: A device includes a first pull-up transistor, a second pull-up transistor, and a dummy gate electrode between the first and the second pull-up transistors. The first and the second pull-up transistors are included in a first Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell.

Abstract: In image sensors and methods of manufacturing the same, a substrate has a photoelectric conversion area, a floating diffusion area and a recess between the photoelectric conversion area and the floating diffusion area. A plurality of photodiodes is vertically arranged inside the substrate in the photoelectric conversion area. A transfer transistor is arranged along a surface profile of the substrate having the recess and configured to transfer electric charges generated from the plurality of photodiodes to the floating diffusion area. The transfer transistor includes a gate insulation pattern on a sidewall and a bottom of the recess and on a surface of the substrate around the recess, and a gate conductive pattern including polysilicon doped with impurities and positioned on the gate insulation pattern along the surface profile of the substrate having the recess, wherein a cavity is in an upper surface of the gate conductive pattern.

Abstract: A technology capable of simplifying a process and securing a misalignment margin when bonding two wafers to manufacture an image sensor using backside illumination photodiodes. When manufacturing an image sensor through a 3D CIS (CMOS image sensor) manufacturing process, two wafers, that is, a first wafer and a second wafer are electrically connected using the vias of one wafer and the bonding pads of the other wafer. Also, when manufacturing an image sensor through a 3D CIS manufacturing process, two wafers are electrically connected using the vias of both the two wafers.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a pixel array including a plurality of pixels formed in a substrate having a front surface and a back surface, each pixel including a photosensitive region formed at or near the front surface and extending into the substrate a selected depth from the front surface. A filter array is coupled to the pixel array, the filter array including a plurality of individual filters each optically coupled to a corresponding photosensitive region, and a vertical overflow drain (VOD) is positioned in the substrate between the back surface and the photosensitive region of at least one pixel in the array.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a pixel structure of a CMOS transistor. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate doped with first type doping ions; and forming a trench in the semiconductor substrate by etching the semiconductor substrate. The method also includes forming isolation layers on side surfaces of the trench to prevent dark current from laterally transferring; and forming an epitaxial layer doped with second type doping ions with a doping type opposite to a doping type of the first type doping ions in the trench. Further, the method includes forming a pinning layer on a top surface of the epitaxial layer; and forming a gate structure on a surface of the semiconductor substrate at one side of the epitaxial layer. Further, the method also includes forming a floating diffusion region in the semiconductor substrate at one side of the gate structure far from the epitaxial layer.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a microelectronic device from a first substrate (10), including the production of at least one electronic component in the semi-conductor substrate after transferring the first substrate (10) onto a second substrate (20), characterized in that it comprises: a first phase carried out prior to the transfer, and including forming at least one pattern made of a sacrificial material in a layer of the first substrate (10), a second phase carried out after the transfer and including the substitution of the electronic component for the pattern.

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.

Abstract: The performances of a semiconductor device are improved. A semiconductor device has a photodiode and a transfer transistor formed in a pixel region. Further, the semiconductor device has a second transistor formed in a peripheral circuit region. The transfer transistor includes a first gate electrode, and a film part formed of a thick hard mask film formed over the first gate electrode. The second transistor includes a second gate electrode, source/drain regions, silicide layers formed at the upper surface of the second gate electrode, and the upper surfaces of the source/drain regions.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel having a photoelectric conversion element which generates a charge in response to incident light, a first transfer gate which transfers the charge from the photoelectric conversion element to a charge holding section, and a second transfer gate which transfers the charge from the charge holding section to a floating diffusion. The first transfer gate includes a trench gate structure having at least two trench gate sections embedded in a depth direction of a semiconductor substrate, and the charge holding section includes a semiconductor region positioned between adjacent trench gate sections.

Abstract: Embodiments of a pixel including a photosensitive region formed in a surface of a substrate and an overflow drain formed in the surface of the substrate at a distance from the photosensitive area, an electrical bias of the overflow drain being variable and controllable. Embodiments of a pixel including a photosensitive region formed in a surface of a substrate, a source-follower transistor coupled to the photosensitive region, the source-follower transistor including a drain, and a doped bridge coupling the photosensitive region to the drain of the source-follower transistor.

Abstract: A sensor and its fabrication method are provided. The sensor comprises: a base substrate, a group of gate lines and a group of data lines arranged as crossing each other, and a plurality of sensing elements arranged in an array and defined by the group of gate lines and the group of data lines, each sensing element comprising a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) device and a photodiode sensing device, wherein the photodiode sensor device comprises: a bias line disposed on the base substrate; a transparent electrode disposed on the bias line and being electrically contacted with the bias line; a photodiode disposed on the transparent electrode; and a receiving electrode disposed on the photodiode; the TFT device is located above the photodiode. When the sensor is functioning, light is directly transmitted onto the photodiode sensor device through the base substrate. In comparison with conventional technologies, the light loss is largely reduced and the light absorption usage ratio is improved.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, a semiconductor device having a CMOS image sensor is provided. The CMOS image sensor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units adapted to photoelectrically convert an incident light into signal charges; and a transfer unit adapted to transfer the signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to a floating diffusion unit from the photoelectric conversion unit. A channel portion of a transfer gate transistor of the transfer unit has at least one SiGe layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a process including depositing a sacrificial layer on the surface of a substrate over a photosensitive region, over the top surface of a transfer gate, and over at least the sidewall of the transfer gate closest to the photosensitive region, the sacrificial layer having a selected thickness. A layer of photoresist is deposited over the sacrificial layer, which is patterned and etched to expose the surface of the substrate over the photosensitive region and at least part of the transfer gate top surface, leaving a sacrificial spacer on the sidewall of the transfer gate closest to the photosensitive region. The substrate is plasma doped to form a pinning layer between the photosensitive region and the surface of the substrate. The spacing between the pinning layer and the sidewall of the transfer gate substantially corresponds to a thickness of the sacrificial spacer. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: An image sensor includes at least one pixel with a transfer gate that is controllable among at least three biasing conditions, including a first biasing condition in which electrons are transferable from a photodiode to a potential well under the transfer gate, a second biasing condition in which the electrons are confined in the potential well under the transfer gate, and a third biasing condition in which the electrons are transferable out of the potential well under the transfer gate. The pixel includes a p+ type doped barrier implant located at least partially under a portion of the transfer gate, and a pinned charge transfer barrier located on the opposite side of the transfer gate from the photodiode that includes a p+ type doped region and an n-type doped region. The image sensor can operate in a global shutter mode and/or a rolling shutter mode.

Abstract: A process of forming a back side illumination (BSI) image sensor is disclosed. An n-type implant is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a p-type implant region, surrounding n-type in each pixel, is formed in the n-type implant such that in cross sectional view an n-type implant region is sandwiched between the two p-type implant regions. A transfer gate is formed on the semiconductor substrate such that the transfer gate entirely covers the n-type implant region and at least partially covers each of the p-type implant regions. A floating diffusion is formed in one of the p-type implant regions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a photodiode includes an N-type region and a P-type region, a floating diffusion region, and a transfer transistor. The N-type diffusion region of the photodiode comprises a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region formed shallower than the first semiconductor region. An end portion of the first semiconductor region is positioned on the floating diffusion region side rather than an end portion of a gate electrode of the transfer transistor. An end portion of the second semiconductor region is set in substantially the same position as that of the end portion of the gate electrode of the transfer transistor.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device capable of reducing an eclipse (blocking) of an incident light at a circumferential portion of a light receiving portion and realizing a larger angle of view and high-speed driving. A single-layer transfer electrode configuration of forming first transfer electrodes and second transfer electrodes by one polysilicon layer is adopted. Two shunt wirings extending in a horizontal direction are formed on the first transfer electrodes connected in a horizontal direction and, for example, four-phase transfer pulses are supplied to first transfer electrodes and second transfer electrodes on transfer channels through low-resistance shunt wirings extending in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: In various embodiments, image sensors incorporate multiple output structures by including multiple sub-arrays, at least one of which includes a region of active pixels, a dark pixel region that is fanned and/or slanted, a dark pixel region that is unfanned and unslanted, a horizontal CCD, and an output structure for conversion of charge to voltage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a semiconductor device including: a semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film formed on surfaces of the semiconductor substrate including an internal surface of a hole formed in the semiconductor substrate and formed by radical oxidation or plasma oxidation; and a gate electrode formed as buried in the hole. The gate insulating film and the gate electrode form a vertical MOS.

Abstract: In various embodiments, image sensors incorporate multiple output structures by including multiple sub-arrays, at least one of which includes a region of active pixels, a dark pixel region that is fanned and/or slanted, a dark pixel region that is unfanned and unslanted, a horizontal CCD, and an output structure for conversion of charge to voltage.

Abstract: Ultraviolet or Extreme Ultraviolet and/or visible detector apparatus and fabrication processes are presented, in which the detector includes a thin graphene electrode structure disposed over a semiconductor surface to provide establish a potential in the semiconductor material surface and to collect photogenerated carriers, with a first contact providing a top side or bottom side connection for the semiconductor structure and a second contact for connection to the graphene layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including: forming a wiring layer on a surface side of a first semiconductor wafer; forming a buried film so as to fill in a level difference on the wiring layer, the level difference being formed at a boundary between a peripheral region of the first semiconductor wafer and an inside region being on an inside of the peripheral region, and the level difference being formed as a result of a surface over the wiring layer in the peripheral region being formed lower than a surface over the wiring layer in the inside region, and making the surfaces over the wiring layer in the peripheral region and the inside region substantially flush with each other; and opposing and laminating the surfaces over the wiring layer formed in the first semiconductor wafer to a desired surface of a second semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for inhibiting the electric crosstalk of back illuminated CMOS image sensor. This invention comprises, two ion implanting layers are implanted at the different area of the backside of the pixel unit after the thickness of the backside of CMOS image sensor is reduced. The ion concentrations implanted into the two layers are controlled to decrease progressively from top to bottom. An electric field is formed from top to bottom inside the epitaxial layer. The said electric field absorbs the incident light which arrives at the substrate region outside of the space charge of the photodiode. It reduces the electron diffuses in different pixels. Consequently, it reduces the electric crosstalk of pixels, improves the manufacture process and improve the image quality of the of CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: In a semiconductor device 100, it is possible to prevent C from piling up at a boundary face between an epitaxial layer 22 and a group III nitride semiconductor substrate 10 by the presence of 30×1010 pieces/cm2 to 2000×1010 pieces/cm2 of sulfide in terms of S and 2 at % to 20 at % of oxide in terms of O in a surface layer 12 with a front surface 10a having a specific plane orientation. Accordingly, a high-resistivity layer is prevented from being formed at the boundary face between the epitaxial layer 22 and the group III nitride semiconductor substrate 10. Consequently, it is possible to improve the emission intensity of the semiconductor device 100.

Abstract: Embodiments related to a method of manufacturing of an imager and an imager device are shown and depicted.

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state image pickup device including a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of pixel portions that are provided on the semiconductor substrate. Each of the pixel portions includes a photoelectric converting unit that generates a charge on the basis of incident light, a memory unit that accumulates the charge generated by the photoelectric converting unit, a light shielding portion that shields at least the memory unit from light, a digging portion that digs into the semiconductor substrate between the photoelectric converting unit and the memory unit and is formed of a light shielding material, and a transmitting unit that transmits the charge from the photoelectric converting unit to the memory unit, by forming a channel for transmission in the digging portion.

Abstract: A backside illumination (BSI) CMOS image sensing process includes the following steps. A substrate having an active side is provided. A curving process is performed to curve the active side. A reflective layer is formed on the active side, so that at least a curved mirror is formed on the active side.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first implantation mask comprising a first opening, implanting a first portion of a semiconductor substrate through the first opening to form a first doped region, forming a second implantation mask comprising a second opening, and implanting a second portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a second doped region. The first portion of the semiconductor substrate is encircled by the second portion of the semiconductor substrate. A surface layer of the semiconductor substrate is implanted to form a third doped region of an opposite conductivity type than the first and the second doped regions. The third doped region forms a diode with the first and the second doped regions.

Abstract: Embodiments of a process including depositing a sacrificial layer on the surface of a substrate over a photosensitive region, over the top surface of a transfer gate, and over at least the sidewall of the transfer gate closest to the photosensitive region, the sacrificial layer having a selected thickness. A layer of photoresist is deposited over the sacrificial layer, which is patterned and etched to expose the surface of the substrate over the photosensitive region and at least part of the transfer gate top surface, leaving a sacrificial spacer on the sidewall of the transfer gate closest to the photosensitive region. The substrate is plasma doped to form a pinning layer between the photosensitive region and the surface of the substrate. The spacing between the pinning layer and the sidewall of the transfer gate substantially corresponds to a thickness of the sacrificial spacer. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Provided is a power device. The power device may include a two-dimensional electron gas (2-DEG) layer in a portion corresponding to a gate electrode pattern since a second nitride layer is further formed on a lower portion of the gate electrode pattern after a first nitride layer is formed and thus, may be capable of performing a normally-OFF operation. Accordingly, the power device may adjust generation of the 2-DEG layer based on a voltage of a gate, and may reduce power consumption. The power device may regrow only the portion corresponding to the gate electrode pattern or may etch a portion excluding the portion corresponding to the gate electrode pattern and thus, a recess process may be omissible, a reproducibility of the power device may be secured, and a manufacturing process may be simplified.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel includes a photodiode region having a first polarity doping type disposed in a semiconductor layer. A pinning surface layer having a second polarity doping type is disposed over the photodiode region in the semiconductor layer. The second polarity is opposite from the first polarity. A first polarity charge layer is disposed proximate to the pinning surface layer over the photodiode region. An contact etch stop layer is disposed over the photodiode region proximate to the first polarity charge layer. The first polarity charge layer is disposed between the pinning surface layer and the contact etch stop layer such that first polarity charge layer cancels out charge having a second polarity that is induced in the contact etch stop layer. A passivation layer is also disposed over the photodiode region between the pinning surface layer and the contact etch stop layer.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a charge-coupled device includes channel stops laterally spaced away from the channel by fully depleted regions.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel includes a photosensitive element, a floating diffusion (“FD”) region, and a transfer device. The photosensitive element is disposed in a substrate layer for accumulating an image charge in response to light. The FD region is disposed in the substrate layer to receive the image charge from the photosensitive element. The transfer device is disposed between the photosensitive element and the FD region to selectively transfer the image charge from the photosensitive element to the FD region. The transfer device includes a gate, a buried channel dopant region and a surface channel region. The gate is disposed between the photosensitive element and the FD region. The buried channel dopant region is disposed adjacent to the FD region and underneath the gate. The surface channel region is disposed between the buried channel dopant region and the photosensitive element and disposed underneath the gate.