Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a first wafer including a first metal structure within a body of the first wafer. The semiconductor structure also includes a second wafer including a second metal structure within a body of the second wafer, where the first wafer is coupled to the second wafer at an interface. The semiconductor structure further includes a metal bonding structure coupled to the first metal structure and the second metal structure and extending through the interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip including a substrate and a pixel. The pixel includes a photodetector. The photodetector is in the substrate. The integrated chip further includes a first inner trench isolation structure and an outer trench isolation structure that extend into the substrate. The first inner trench isolation structure laterally surrounds the photodetector in a first closed loop. The outer trench isolation structure laterally surrounds the first inner trench isolation structure along a boundary of the pixel in a second closed loop and is laterally separated from the first inner trench isolation structure. Further, the integrated chip includes a scattering structure that is defined, at least in part, by the first inner trench isolation structure and that is configured to increase an angle at which radiation impinges on the outer trench isolation structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a CMOS image sensor disposed on a substrate. A plurality of pixel regions comprising a plurality of photodiodes, respectively, are configured to receive radiation that enters a back-side of the substrate. A boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure is disposed at boundary regions of the pixel regions, and includes a first set of BDTI segments extending in a first direction and a second set of BDTI segments extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to laterally surround the photodiode. The BDTI structure comprises a first material. A pixel deep trench isolation (PDTI) structure is disposed within the BDTI structure and overlies the photodiode. The PDTI structure comprises a second material that differs from the first material, and includes a first PDTI segment extending in the first direction such that the first PDTI segment is surrounded by the BDTI structure.

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: A method for forming an image sensor package is provided. An image sensor chip is formed over a package substrate. A protection layer is formed overlying the image sensor chip. The protection layer has a planar top surface and a bottom surface lining and contacting structures under the protection layer. An opening is formed into the protection layer and spaced around a periphery of the image sensor chip. A light shielding material is filled in the opening to form an on-wafer shield structure having a sidewall directly contact the protection layer.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes at least one device on a front side of a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of grating layers are under the at least one device. The plurality of grating layers include at least a first material having a first refractive index alternating with a second material having a second refractive index. Contacts extend through an interlevel dielectric material, and further extend through the semiconductor substrate, to directly contact at least one of the first material and the second material below the at least one device and below the semiconductor substrate underlying the interlevel dielectric material.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes a unit pixel array including a photodiode array, a color filter array, a micro-lens array, and a grid isolation structure laterally separating adjacent color filters. The grid isolation structure includes a first low-n grid, a second low-n grid underlying the first low-n grid, and a metal grid within the second low-n grid, the first low-n grid being narrower than the second low-n grid. The color filter array includes color filter matrixes, all color filter matrixes have the same arrangement pattern. Sizes of color filters in each color filter matrix vary depending on locations of the color filters in the color filter matrix. In an edge portion, a distance between a center of a color filter matrix and a center of a corresponding unit pixel matrix in plan view varies depending on a location of the unit pixel matrix in the CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a first wafer including a first metal structure within a body of the first wafer. The semiconductor structure also includes a second wafer including a second metal structure within a body of the second wafer, where the first wafer is coupled to the second wafer at an interface. The semiconductor structure further includes a metal bonding structure coupled to the first metal structure and the second metal structure and extending through the interface.

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 optical system applied to an optical biometer is disclosed. The optical system includes a light source, first and second switchable reflectors, and first and second fixed reflectors. The first switchable reflector is disposed corresponding to the light source. The second switchable reflector is disposed corresponding to an eye. In a first mode, the first and second switchable reflectors are switched to a first state, and the incident light emitted by the light source is reflected by the first fixed reflector along a first optical path and then emitted to a first position of the eye. In a second mode, the first and second switchable reflectors are switched to a second state, and the incident light is sequentially reflected by the first switchable reflector, the second fixed reflector and the second switchable reflector along a second optical path and then emitted to a second position of the eye.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes heat dissipation structures formed in functional or non-functional areas of a three-dimensional chip structure. These heat dissipation structures are configured to route the heat generated within the three-dimensional chip structure to designated areas on or outside the three-dimensional chip structure. For example, the three-dimensional chip structure can include a plurality of chips vertically stacked on a substrate, a first passivation layer interposed between a first chip and a second chip of the plurality of chips, and a heat dissipation layer embedded in the first passivation layer and configured to allow conductive structures to pass through.

Abstract: A method for forming an image sensor package is provided. An image sensor chip is formed over a package substrate. A protection layer is formed overlying the image sensor chip. The protection layer has a planar top surface and a bottom surface lining and contacting structures under the protection layer. An opening is formed into the protection layer and spaced around a periphery of the image sensor chip. A light shielding material is filled in the opening to form an on-wafer shield structure having a sidewall directly contact the protection layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device that includes a semiconductor fin disposed over a substrate, an isolation structure at least partially surrounding the fin, an epitaxial source/drain (S/D) feature disposed over the semiconductor fin, where an extended portion of the epitaxial S/D feature extends over the isolation structure, and a silicide layer disposed on the epitaxial S/D feature, where the silicide layer covers top, bottom, sidewall, front, and back surfaces of the extended portion of the S/D feature.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein provide an optoelectronic device and methods of formation. The optoelectronic device is fabricated using a series of operations that includes a patterning operation using a layer of a negative photoresist material, followed by a single dry etch operation, a single wet strip operation, and a single wet etch operation. The series of operations may include a reduced number of operations relative to another series of operations that include a patterning operation using a layer of a positive photoresist material. Through the reduced number of operations, handling-induced damage to the device may be reduced. Additionally, the high absorption structure may include a quantum efficiency that is greater relative to another quantum efficiency of another high absorption structure formed through the series of operations that include the patterning operation using the layer of the positive photoresist material.

Abstract: An image sensor including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of color filters, a plurality of first lenses and a second lens is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of sensing pixels arranged in array, and each of the plurality of sensing pixels respectively includes a plurality of image sensing units and a plurality of phase detection units. The color filters at least cover the plurality of image sensing units. The first lenses are disposed on the plurality of color filters. Each of the plurality of first lenses respectively covers one of the plurality of image sensing units. The second lens is disposed on the plurality of color filters and the second lens covers the plurality of phase detection units.

Abstract: Various solutions for tiered channel information feedback with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may determine a first tier channel state information (CSI) based on a first reference signal resource measurement. The apparatus may report the first tier CSI to a network node. The apparatus may determine a second tier CSI based on the first tier CSI and based on a second reference signal resource measurement. The apparatus may report the second tier CSI to the network node. The second tier CSI may be different from the first tier CSI.

Abstract: A pixel sensor array of an image sensor device described herein may include a deep trench isolation (DTI) structure that includes a plurality of DTI portions that extend into a substrate of the image sensor device. Two or more subsets of the plurality of DTI portions may extend around photodiodes of a pixel sensor of the pixel sensor array, and may extend into the substrate to different depths. The different depths enable the photocurrents generated by the photodiodes to be binned and used to generate unified photocurrent. In particular, the different depths enable photons to intermix in the photodiodes, which enables quadradic phase detection (QPD) binning for increased PDAF performance. The increased PDAF performance may include increased autofocus speed, increased high dynamic range, increased quantum efficiency (QE), and/or increased full well conversion (FWC), among other examples.

Abstract: An environment managing and monitoring system and a method using same are provided. The environment managing and monitoring system is configured to assist monitors to obtain real-time information of the monitoring field and control device in the monitoring field. The environmental managing and monitoring system includes at least one sub-system and a host system. The host system is configured to output a region of interest condition and a monitoring condition to the sub-system, wherein the sub-system is configured to generate monitoring results according to the monitoring conditions, and selects an image range from the captured wide-angle dynamic real-time images according to the region of interest condition.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes heat dissipation structures formed in functional or non-functional areas of a three-dimensional chip structure. These heat dissipation structures are configured to route the heat generated within the three-dimensional chip structure to designated areas on or outside the three-dimensional chip structure. For example, the three-dimensional chip structure can include a plurality of chips vertically stacked on a substrate, a first passivation layer interposed between a first chip and a second chip of the plurality of chips, and a heat dissipation layer embedded in the first passivation layer and configured to allow conductive structures to pass through.

Abstract: A method of making a semiconductor image sensor includes forming a photodiode in a substrate. The method further includes forming a recess in the substrate. The method further includes depositing a sacrificial material in the recess. The method further includes forming an interconnect structure over the sacrificial material. The method further includes etching a plurality of trenches in the interconnect structure. The method further includes removing the sacrificial material by passing an etchant through the plurality of trenches.