Abstract: An integrated chip including a first semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor substrate includes a doped region. A first photodetector and a second photodetector are in the first semiconductor substrate. A trench isolation layer at least partially surrounds the first photodetector and the second photodetector and extends between the first photodetector and the second photodetector. The trench isolation layer has a first pair of sidewalls. The first semiconductor substrate extends from the first photodetector, between the first pair of sidewalls, to the second photodetector. The doped region is between the first pair of sidewalls. The first photodetector and a first gate partially form a first transistor. The second photodetector and a second gate partially form a second transistor. A second semiconductor substrate is over the first gate and the second gate. A third transistor is along the second semiconductor substrate. The third transistor is coupled to the first transistor.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to method for forming an image sensor integrated chip. The method includes forming a first photodetector region in a substrate and forming a second photodetector region in the substrate. A floating diffusion node is formed in the substrate between the first photodetector region and the second photodetector region. A pick-up well contact region is formed in the substrate. A first line intersects the floating diffusion node and the pick-up well contact region. One or more transistor gates are formed on the substrate. A second line that is perpendicular to the first line intersects the pick-up well contact region and the one or more transistor gates.

Abstract: Structures with doping free connections and methods of fabrication are provided. An exemplary structure includes a substrate; a first region of a first conductivity type formed in the substrate; an overlying layer located over the substrate; a well region of a second conductivity type formed in the overlying layer; a conductive plug laterally adjacent to the well region and extending through the overlying layer to electrically contact with the first region; and a passivation layer located between the conductive plug and the well region.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated chip including a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The integrated chip further includes a first photodetector positioned in a first pixel region within the substrate. A floating diffusion region with a first doping concentration of a first polarity is positioned on the first side of the substrate in the first pixel region. A first body contact region with a second doping concentration of a second polarity different from the first polarity is positioned on the second side of the substrate in the first pixel region.

Abstract: A bonding structure that may be used to form 3D-IC devices is formed using first oblong bonding pads on a first substrate and second oblong bonding pads one a second substrate. The first and second oblong bonding pads are laid crosswise, and the bond is formed. Viewed in a first cross-section, the first bonding pad is wider than the second bonding pad. Viewed in a second cross-section at a right angle to the first, the second bonding pad is wider than the first bonding pad. Making the bonding pads oblong and angling them relative to one another reduces variations in bonding area due to shifts in alignment between the first substrate and the second substrate. The oblong shape in a suitable orientation may also be used to reduce capacitive coupling between one of the bonding pads and nearby wires.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor including first chip and a second chip. The first chip includes a first substrate, a plurality of photodetectors disposed in the first substrate, a first interconnect structure disposed on a front side of the first substrate, and a first bond structure disposed on the first interconnect structure. The second chip underlies the first chip. The second chip includes a second substrate, a plurality of semiconductor devices disposed on the second substrate, a second interconnect structure disposed on a front side of the second substrate, and a second bond structure disposed on the second interconnect structure. A first bonding interface is disposed between the second bond structure and the first bond structure. The second interconnect structure is electrically coupled to the first interconnect structure by way of the first and second bond structures.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a stacked complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor in which a pixel sensor spans multiple integrated circuit (IC) chips and is devoid of a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure at a photodetector of the pixel sensor. The photodetector and a first transistor form a first portion of the pixel sensor at a first IC chip. A plurality of second transistors forms a second portion of the pixel sensor at a second IC chip. By omitting the STI structure at the photodetector, a doped well surrounding and demarcating the pixel sensor may have a lesser width than it would otherwise have. Hence, the doped well may consume less area of the photodetector. This, in turn, allows enhanced scaling down of the pixel sensor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor. The image sensor includes a first chip bonded to a second chip. The first chip includes a semiconductor substrate. The first chip includes a first transistor cell and a second transistor cell. The second transistor cell is laterally spaced from the first transistor cell. A first through-substrate via (TSV) extends vertically through the semiconductor substrate. The first transistor cell is electrically coupled to the first TSV. A second TSV extends vertically through the first semiconductor substrate. The second transistor cell is electrically coupled to the second TSV. The second chip comprises a first readout circuit that is electrically coupled to the first TSV and the second TSV. The first readout circuit is disposed laterally between the first TSV and the second TSV. The first readout circuit is configured to receive a first signal from the first transistor cell.

Abstract: A semiconductor arrangement includes a logic region and a memory region. The memory region has an active region that includes a semiconductor device. The memory region also has a capacitor within one or more dielectric layers over the active region, where the capacitor is over the semiconductor device. The semiconductor arrangement also includes a protective ring within at least one of the logic region or the memory region and that separates the logic region from the memory region. The capacitor has a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulating layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the first electrode is substantially larger than other portions of the capacitor.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a stacked complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor with a high full well capacity (FWC). A first integrated circuit (IC) chip and a second IC chip are stacked with each other. The first IC chip comprises a first semiconductor substrate, and the second IC chip comprises a second semiconductor substrate. A pixel sensor is in and spans the first and second IC chips. The pixel sensor comprises a transfer transistor and a pinned photodiode adjoining the transfer transistor at the first semiconductor substrate, and further comprises a plurality of additional transistors (e.g., a reset transistor, a source-follower transistor, etc.) at the second semiconductor substrate. A bulk of the first semiconductor substrate and a bulk of the second semiconductor substrate are electrically isolated from each other and are configured to be biased with different voltages (e.g., a negative voltage and ground).

Abstract: An image sensor structure that further includes a first substrate having a front side and a back side; a photodetector disposed on the front side of the first substrate and spanning a dimension Dp along a first direction; a gate electrode formed on the front side of the first substrate and partially overlapping the photodetector; a doped region as a floating diffusion region formed on the front side of the first substrate and disposed next to the photodetector; and an interconnect structure disposed on the front surface of the first substrate and overlying the gate electrode. The interconnect structure includes a second metal layer over a first metal layer, the second metal layer further includes a first and second metal features distanced a distance Ds along the first direction, the first metal feature is electrically connected to the doped feature, and a first ratio Ds/Dp is greater than 0.3.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first chip comprising a plurality of photo-sensitive devices, wherein the plurality of photo-sensitive devices are formed as a first array. The semiconductor device includes a second chip bonded to the first chip and comprising: a plurality of groups of pixel transistors, wherein the plurality of groups of pixel transistors are formed as a second array; and a plurality of input/output transistors, wherein the plurality of input/output transistors are disposed outside the second array. The semiconductor device includes a third chip bonded to the second chip and comprising a plurality of logic transistors.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an image sensor. The image sensor includes a deep trench isolation (DTI) structure disposed in a substrate. A pixel region of the substrate is disposed within an inner perimeter of the DTI structure. A photodetector is disposed in the pixel region of the substrate. A gate electrode structure overlies, at least partially, the pixel region of the substrate. A first gate dielectric structure partially overlies the pixel region of the substrate. A second gate dielectric structure partially overlies the pixel region of the substrate. The gate electrode structure overlies both a portion of the first gate dielectric structure and a portion of the second gate dielectric structure. The first gate dielectric structure has a first thickness. The second gate dielectric structure has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a single-photon avalanche detector (SPAD) device including a silicon substrate including a recess in an upper surface of the silicon substrate. A p-type region is arranged in the silicon substrate below a lower surface of the recess. An n-type avalanche region is arranged in the silicon substrate below the p-type region and meets the p-type region at a p-n junction. A germanium region is disposed within the recess over the p-n junction.

Abstract: A BSI image sensor includes a substrate including a front side and a back side opposite to the front side, a plurality of pixel sensors, an isolation grid disposed in the substrate and separating the plurality of pixel sensors from each other, a reflective grid disposed over the isolation grid on the back side of the substrate, an a low-n grid disposed over the back side of the substrate and overlapping the reflective grid from a top view. A width of the low-n grid is greater than a width of the reflective grid.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated circuit on a semiconductor substrate. First and second gate electrode structures are disposed over the substrate and are spaced laterally from one another. A common source/drain region is disposed in the semiconductor substrate between the first and second gate electrode structures. An insulator layer overlies the first and second gate electrode structures. A source/drain contact extends through the insulator layer between the first and second gate electrode structures to contact the common source/drain region. First and second sidewall spacer structures are disposed along outer sidewalls of the first and second gate electrode structures, respectively, and have first and second outer sidewalls, respectively, adjacent to the source/drain contact.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to method for forming an image sensor integrated chip. The method includes forming a first photodetector region in a substrate and forming a second photodetector region in the substrate. A floating diffusion node is formed in the substrate between the first photodetector region and the second photodetector region. A pick-up well contact region is formed in the substrate. A first line intersects the floating diffusion node and the pick-up well contact region. One or more transistor gates are formed on the substrate. A second line that is perpendicular to the first line intersects the pick-up well contact region and the one or more transistor gates.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a pixel sensor is provided. The pixel sensor includes a first photodetector arranged in a semiconductor substrate. A second photodetector is arranged in the semiconductor substrate, where a first substantially straight line axis intersects a center point of the first photodetector and a center point of the second photodetector. A floating diffusion node is arranged in the semiconductor substrate at a point that is a substantially equal distance from the first photodetector and the second photodetector. A pick-up well contact region is arranged in the semiconductor substrate, where a second substantially straight line axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first substantially straight line axis intersects a center point of the floating diffusion node and a center point of the pick-up well contact region.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for forming a semiconductor device, the method including forming a plurality of photodetectors in a substrate. A device isolation structure is formed within the substrate. The device isolation structure laterally wraps around the plurality of photodetectors. An outer isolation structure is formed within the substrate. The device isolation structure is spaced between sidewalls of the outer isolation structure. The device isolation structure and the outer isolation structure comprise a dielectric material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a CMOS image sensor having a doped isolation structure separating a photodiode and a pixel device, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the CMOS image sensor has a vertical transfer gate extending vertically from a front-side of a substrate to a first position within the substrate and a photodiode doped region disposed under and extending laterally toward one side of the vertical transfer gate. A doped lateral isolation region disposed along a top surface of the photodiode doped region, and a doped vertical isolation region disposed along a sidewall of the vertical transfer gate. A doped pixel device well is vertically above the doped lateral isolation region and separated from the vertical transfer gate by the doped vertical isolation region. A pixel device is disposed within the doped pixel device well at the front-side of the substrate.