Abstract: An image sensor device has a first number of first pixels disposed in a substrate and a second number of second pixels disposed in the substrate. The first number is substantially equal to the second number. A light-blocking structure disposed over the first pixels and the second pixels. The light-blocking structure defines a plurality of first openings and second openings through which light can pass. The first openings are disposed over the first pixels. The second openings are disposed over the second pixels. The second openings are smaller than the first openings. A microcontroller is configured to turn on different ones of the second pixels at different points in time.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an imaging device including a first image sensor element and a second image sensor element respectively comprising a pixel unit disposed within a semiconductor substrate. The first image sensor element is adjacent to the second image sensor element. A first micro-lens overlies the first image sensor element and is laterally shifted from a center of the pixel unit of the first image sensor element by a first lens shift amount. A second micro-lens overlies the second image sensor element and is laterally shifted from a center of the pixel unit of the second image sensor element by a second lens shift amount different from the first lens shift amount.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes PDAF pixels distributed in an array of image pixels in plan view. Each PDAF pixel includes m×m binned photodiodes, a PDAF color filter overlying the binned photodiodes and laterally surrounded by a first isolation structure, and a PDAF micro-lens overlying the PDAF color filter. A first horizontal distance between a center of the PDAF color filter and a center of the binned photodiodes varies depending on a location of the PDAF pixel in plan view in the CMOS image sensor. Additionally, the first isolation structure includes a first low-n dielectric grid, a second low-n dielectric grid underlying the first low-n dielectric grid, and a metal grid enclosed by the second low-n dielectric grid. The second low-n dielectric grid includes a filler dielectric material different from a second low-n dielectric grid material. Thus, quantum efficiency and uniformity of the CMOS image sensor are improved.

Abstract: A memory circuit includes a non-volatile memory cell, a comparator and a detection circuit. The comparator is coupled to the non-volatile memory cell, and configured to generate a first output signal. The comparator including a first input terminal and a first output terminal. The first input terminal is coupled to the non-volatile memory cell by a first node, and configured to receive a first voltage. The first output terminal is configured to output the first output signal. The detection circuit is coupled to the comparator and the non-volatile memory cell. The detection circuit is configured to latch the first output signal and disrupt a current path between at least the non-volatile memory cell and the comparator. The detection circuit includes a first inverter coupled to the first output terminal of the comparator and configured to generate an inverted first output signal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a photodetector disposed in a semiconductor substrate. A wave guide filter having a substantially planar upper surface is disposed over the photodetector. The wave guide filter includes a light filter disposed in a light filter grid structure. The light filter includes a first material that is translucent and has a first refractive index. The light filter grid structure includes a second material that is translucent and has a second refractive index less than the first refractive index.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate and a wafer disposed on the substrate. The wafer includes a p-doped layer disposed on the substrate; a first diode disposed on the p-doped layer; a second diode disposed on the p-doped layer; a third diode disposed on the p-doped layer; and a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate and covering the first, second, and third diodes. The first, second, and third diodes are disposed side by side.

Abstract: A bonding tool includes a gas supply line that may extend directly between valves associated with one or more gas supply tanks and a processing chamber such that gas supply line is uninterrupted without any intervening valves or other types of structures that might otherwise cause a pressure buildup in the gas supply line between the processing chamber and the valves associated with the one or more gas supply tanks. The pressure in the gas supply line may be maintained at or near the pressure in the processing chamber so that gas provided to the processing chamber through the gas supply line does not cause a pressure imbalance in the processing chamber, which might otherwise cause early or premature contact between semiconductor substrates that are to be bonded in the processing chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes an image sensing element disposed within a substrate. A gate structure is disposed along a front-side of the substrate. A back-side of the substrate includes one or more first angled surfaces defining a central diffuser disposed over the image sensing element. The back-side of the substrate further includes second angled surfaces defining a plurality of peripheral diffusers laterally surrounding the central diffuser. The plurality of peripheral diffusers are a smaller size than the central diffuser.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a first photodetector disposed in a first pixel region of a semiconductor substrate and a second photodetector disposed in a second pixel region of the semiconductor substrate. The second photodetector is laterally separated from the first photodetector. A first diffuser is disposed along a back-side of the semiconductor substrate and over the first photodetector. A second diffuser is disposed along the back-side of the semiconductor substrate and over the second photodetector. A first midline of the first pixel region and a second midline of the second pixel region are both disposed laterally between the first diffuser and the second diffuser.

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor includes a pixel. The pixel includes a first substrate; and a photodiode in the first substrate. The semiconductor image sensor further includes an interconnect structure electrically connected to the pixel. The semiconductor image sensor further includes a reflection structure between the interconnect and the photodiode, wherein the reflection structure is configured to reflect light passing through the photodiode back toward the photodiode.

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensing structure includes a substrate, an isolation structure, an anti-reflection structure, at least one optical element and a transistor. The substrate has at least one photodiode region. The isolation structure is disposed in the substrate and surrounds the photodiode region. The anti-reflection structure covers the photodiode region. The optical element is disposed over the anti-reflection structure and corresponds to the photodiode region. The transistor is disposed under the photodiode region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method are provided. The semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor component, a bonding layer and a second semiconductor component. The first semiconductor component includes a first transistor formed on a substrate and a second transistor formed on the substrate and separated from the first transistor. The bonding layer is provided on the first semiconductor component. The second semiconductor component is provided on the bonding layer and includes an acoustic transducer. The acoustic transducer is controlled by the first transistor and the second transistor to execute a photoacoustic sensing. The acoustic transducer comprises a space gap and a least a portion of the space gap is surrounded by the bonding layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor image-sensing structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a back side, a photo-sensing element disposed in the semiconductor substrate, a color filter disposed over the back side of the semiconductor substrate, and an electric-optical modulator disposed between the color filter and the photo-sensing element. The electric-optical modulator includes a first electrode, a second electrode over the first electrode, and a micro-lens between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: An optical device includes a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a first lens. The first electrode and the second electrode are over the substrate and configured to generate a first electric field. The first lens is between the first electrode and the second electrode and has a focal length that varies in response to the first electric field applied to the first lens.

Abstract: An image sensor device is provided. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and a light-sensing region. The image sensor device includes a first isolation structure extending from the front surface into the substrate. The first isolation structure surrounds a first portion of the light-sensing region, the first isolation structure has an etch stop layer, the etch stop layer has an end portion, and the end portion has an H-like shape. The image sensor device includes a second isolation structure extending into the substrate from the back surface to the end portion. The second isolation structure surrounds a second portion of the light-sensing region.

Abstract: A semiconductor image sensing structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a back side, a pixel sensor disposed in the semiconductor substrate, a transistor disposed over the front side of the semiconductor substrate, and a reflective structure disposed over the front side of the semiconductor substrate. A gate structure of the transistor and the reflective structure include a same material. A top surface of the gate structure of the transistor and a top surface of the reflective structure are aligned with each other.

Abstract: A grid structure in a pixel array may be at least partially angled or tapered toward a top surface of the grid structure such that the width of the grid structure approaches a near-zero width near the top surface of the grid structure. This permits the spacing between color filter regions in between the grid structure to approach a near-zero spacing near the top surfaces of the color filter regions. The tight spacing of color filter regions provided by the angled or tapered grid structure provides a greater surface area and volume for incident light collection in the color filter regions. Moreover, the width of the grid structure may increase at least partially toward a bottom surface of the grid structure such that the wider dimension of the grid structure near the bottom surface of the grid structure provides optical crosstalk protection for the pixel sensors in the pixel array.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate having first and second surfaces opposite to each other, an image pixel area, and a black level calibration (BLC) area adjacent to the image pixel area. The BLC area includes a dark current sensing circuit including photo diodes disposed in the substrate, a first seal ring disposed over the second surface and surrounding the image pixel area in plan view, a second seal ring disposed over the second surface and surrounding the image pixel area in plan view such that the dark current sensing circuit is disposed between the first and second seal rings, an opaque cover disposed over the first surface and covering the dark current sensing circuit, the first and second seal rings, and one or more first trench isolation structures extending from the first surface to an inside the substrate and disposed between the first seal ring and the opaque cover.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for sensing long wavelength light are described herein. A semiconductor device includes: a carrier; a device layer on the carrier; a semiconductor layer on the device layer, and an insulation layer on the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer includes isolation regions and pixel regions. The isolation regions are or include a first semiconductor material. The pixel regions are or include a second semiconductor material that is different from the first semiconductor material.

Abstract: An image sensor device has a first number of first pixels disposed in a substrate and a second number of second pixels disposed in the substrate. The first number is substantially equal to the second number. A light-blocking structure disposed over the first pixels and the second pixels. The light-blocking structure defines a plurality of first openings and second openings through which light can pass. The first openings are disposed over the first pixels. The second openings are disposed over the second pixels. The second openings are smaller than the first openings. A microcontroller is configured to turn on different ones of the second pixels at different points in time.