Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating an image sensor device, such as a BSI image sensor, and so-fabricated image sensor, in which undesired neutralization of charges in BARC layers caused by opposite charges in metal shield grounds is prevented to reduce dark current and enhance device performance. The image sensor comprises a substrate having a plurality of radiation sensors formed adjacent its front surface, a first insulation layer formed over the back surface of the substrate, a BARC layer formed over the first insulation layer, a metal grid disposed over the BARC layer, one or more metal grounds extending from the metal ground into the substrate for grounding purpose, and a sidewall insulating layer disposed between the sidewall of each metal ground and the surrounding BARC layer. The sidewall insulating layer electrically insulates the metal grounds from the surrounding BARC layer.

Abstract: A system and method for fabricating a 3D image sensor structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing an image sensor with a backside illuminated photosensitive region on a substrate, applying a first dielectric layer to the first side of the substrate opposite the substrate side where image data is gathered, and applying a semiconductor layer that is optionally polysilicon, to the first dielectric layer. A least one control transistor may be created on the first dielectric layer, within the semiconductor layer and may optionally be a row select, reset or source follower transistor. An intermetal dielectric may be applied over the first dielectric layer; and may have at least one metal interconnect disposed therein. A second interlevel dielectric layer may be disposed on the control transistors. The dielectric layers and semiconductor layer may be applied by bonding a wafer to the substrate or via deposition.

Abstract: BSI image sensors and methods. In an embodiment, a substrate is provided having a sensor array and a periphery region and having a front side and a back side surface; a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is formed over the back side to a first thickness, over the sensor array region and the periphery region; forming a first dielectric layer over the BARC; a metal shield is formed; selectively removing the metal shield from over the sensor array region; selectively removing the first dielectric layer from over the sensor array region, wherein a portion of the first thickness of the BARC is also removed and a remainder of the first thickness of the BARC remains during the process of selectively removing the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the remainder of the BARC and over the metal shield; and forming a passivation layer over the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating an image sensor device. The method includes providing a device substrate having a front side and a back side. The method includes forming first and second radiation-sensing regions in the device substrate, the first and second radiation-sensing regions being separated by an isolation structure. The method also includes forming a transparent layer over the back side of the device substrate. The method further includes forming an opening in the transparent layer, the opening being aligned with the isolation structure. The method also includes filling the opening with an opaque material.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side. The image sensor also includes a radiation-detection device that is formed in the substrate. The radiation-detection device is operable to detect a radiation wave that enters the substrate through the back side. The image sensor further includes a recrystallized silicon layer. The recrystallized silicon layer is formed on the back side of the substrate. The recrystallized silicon layer has different photoluminescence intensity than the substrate.

Abstract: A system and method for fabricating a 3D image sensor structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing an image sensor with a backside illuminated photosensitive region on a substrate, applying a first dielectric layer to the first side of the substrate opposite the substrate side where image data is gathered, and applying a semiconductor layer that is optionally polysilicon, to the first dielectric layer. A least one control transistor may be created on the first dielectric layer, within the semiconductor layer and may optionally be a row select, reset or source follower transistor. An intermetal dielectric may be applied over the first dielectric layer; and may have at least one metal interconnect disposed therein. A second interlevel dielectric layer may be disposed on the control transistors. The dielectric layers and semiconductor layer may be applied by bonding a wafer to the substrate or via deposition.

Abstract: A system and method for fabricating a 3D image sensor structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing an image sensor with a backside illuminated photosensitive region on a substrate, applying a first dielectric layer to the first side of the substrate opposite the substrate side where image data is gathered, and applying a semiconductor layer that is optionally polysilicon, to the first dielectric layer. A least one control transistor may be created on the first dielectric layer, within the semiconductor layer and may optionally be a row select, reset or source follower transistor. An intermetal dielectric may be applied over the first dielectric layer; and may have at least one metal interconnect disposed therein. A second interlevel dielectric layer may be disposed on the control transistors. The dielectric layers and semiconductor layer may be applied by bonding a wafer to the substrate or via deposition.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating an image sensor device. The method includes providing a first substrate having a radiation-sensing region disposed therein. The method includes providing a second substrate having a hydrogen implant layer, the hydrogen implant layer dividing the second substrate into a first portion and a second portion. The method includes bonding the first portion of the second substrate to the first substrate. The method includes after the bonding, removing the second portion of the second substrate. The method includes after the removing, forming one or more microelectronic devices in the first portion of the second substrate. The method includes forming an interconnect structure over the first portion of the second substrate, the interconnect structure containing interconnect features that are electrically coupled to the microelectronic devices.

Abstract: An approach is provided for forming a backside illuminated image sensor that includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and backside, a sensor element formed overlying the frontside of the semiconductor substrate, and a capacitor formed overlying the sensor element.

Abstract: A method to fabricate an image sensor includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a pixel region and a periphery region, forming a light sensing element on the pixel region, and forming at least one transistor in the pixel region and at least one transistor in the periphery region. The step of forming the at least one transistor in the pixel region and periphery region includes forming a gate electrode in the pixel region and periphery region, depositing a dielectric layer over the pixel region and periphery region, partially etching the dielectric layer to form sidewall spacers on the gate electrode and leaving a portion of the dielectric layer overlying the pixel region, and forming source/drain (S/D) regions by ion implantation.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side. The image sensor also includes a radiation-detection device that is formed in the substrate. The radiation-detection device is operable to detect a radiation wave that enters the substrate through the back side. The image sensor further includes a recrystallized silicon layer. The recrystalized silicon layer is formed on the back side of the substrate. The recrystalized silicon layer has different photoluminescence intensity than the substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a backside illuminated image sensor includes forming a guard ring structure of a predetermined depth in a front-side surface of a semiconductor substrate, the guard ring structure outlining a two-dimensional array of pixels, each pixel of the array of pixels separated from an adjacent pixel by the guard ring structure. The method further includes forming at least one image sensing element on the front-side surface of the semiconductor substrate, the at least one image sensing element being formed in a pixel of the array of pixels and surrounded by the guard ring structure. The method further includes reducing a thickness of the semiconductor substrate until the guard ring structure is co-planar with a back-side surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a device substrate having a front side and a back side. The device substrate has a radiation-sensing region that can sense radiation that has a corresponding wavelength. The image sensor also includes a first layer formed over the front side of the device substrate. The first layer has a first refractive index and a first thickness that is a function of the first refractive index. The image sensor also has a second layer formed over the first layer. The second layer is different from the first layer and has a second refractive index and a second thickness that is a function of the second refractive index.

Abstract: A device includes a diode, which includes a first, a second, and a third doped region in a semiconductor substrate. The first doped region is of a first conductivity type, and has a first impurity concentration. The second doped region is of the first conductivity type, and has a second impurity concentration lower than the first impurity concentration. The second doped region encircles the first doped region. The third doped region is of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, wherein the third doped region overlaps a portion of the first doped region and a portion of the second doped region.

Abstract: An embodiment method for forming an image sensor includes forming an anti-reflective coating over a surface of a semiconductor supporting a photodiode, forming an etching stop layer over the anti-reflective coating, forming a buffer oxide over the etching stop layer, and selectively removing a portion of the buffer oxide through etching, the etching stop layer protecting the anti-reflective coating during the etching. An embodiment image sensor includes a semiconductor disposed in an array region and in a periphery region, the semiconductor supporting a photodiode in the array region, an anti-reflective coating disposed over a surface of the semiconductor, an etching stop layer disposed over the anti-reflective coating, a thickness of the etching stop layer over the photodiode in the array region less than a thickness of the etching stop layer in the periphery region, and a buffer oxide disposed over the etching stop layer in the periphery region.

Abstract: BSI image sensors and methods. In an embodiment, a substrate is provided having a sensor array and a periphery region and having a front side and a back side surface; a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is formed over the back side to a first thickness, over the sensor array region and the periphery region; forming a first dielectric layer over the BARC; a metal shield is formed; selectively removing the metal shield from over the sensor array region; selectively removing the first dielectric layer from over the sensor array region, wherein a portion of the first thickness of the BARC is also removed and a remainder of the first thickness of the BARC remains during the process of selectively removing the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the remainder of the BARC and over the metal shield; and forming a passivation layer over the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: A backside illuminated image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and backside, a sensor element formed overlying the frontside of the semiconductor substrate, and a capacitor formed overlying the sensor element.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating an image sensor device. The method includes providing a first substrate having a radiation-sensing region disposed therein. The method includes providing a second substrate having a hydrogen implant layer, the hydrogen implant layer dividing the second substrate into a first portion and a second portion. The method includes bonding the first portion of the second substrate to the first substrate. The method includes after the bonding, removing the second portion of the second substrate. The method includes after the removing, forming one or more microelectronic devices in the first portion of the second substrate. The method includes forming an interconnect structure over the first portion of the second substrate, the interconnect structure containing interconnect features that are electrically coupled to the microelectronic devices.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a guard ring structure in the substrate, and at least one pixel surrounded by the guard ring structure. The guard ring structure is implanted in the substrate by high-energy implantation.

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.