Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a pixel array, including: a substrate including a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a plurality of photodetectors in the substrate, the plurality of photodetectors symmetrically disposed around a middle axis between the plurality of photodetectors, where the middle axis is perpendicular to the first side and the second side; a first doped region at the middle axis between the plurality of photodetectors and on the first side of the substrate; a frontside deep trench isolation (DTI) structure on the first side of the substrate and extending directly between photodetectors of the plurality of photodetectors; and a backside DTI structure on the second side of the substrate and spacing the frontside DTI structure from the middle axis.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to A deep trench isolation (DTI) structure, including: a DTI core extending into a substrate; a first film surrounding the DTI core and having a first material with a first conduction band at a first band energy; a second film between the first film and the DTI core, the second film having a second material with a second conduction band at a second band energy less than the first band energy; and a third film between the second film and the DTI core, the third film having a third material with a third conduction band at a third band energy greater than the second band energy.

Abstract: The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to a method of forming an integrated chip structure. The method includes forming a first dielectric bonding layer over a first dielectric structure, which is disposed on a first substrate and surrounds a first plurality of interconnects. The first dielectric bonding layer is patterned to form a first recess exposing one of the first plurality of interconnects. A first conductive bonding segment is formed within the first recess. A second dielectric bonding layer is formed over a TSV extending through a second substrate. The second dielectric bonding layer is patterned to form a second recess exposing the TSV. A second conductive bonding segment is formed within the second recess. The first substrate is bonded to the second substrate along an interface comprising dielectric and conductive regions. The conductive region includes a conductive interface between the first and second conductive bonding segments.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated device, including a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the substrate being a first material; a first wire level on the first side of the substrate and having a first wire; a second wire level on the second side of the substrate and having a second wire; a through-substrate via (TSV) extending from the first wire to the second wire through the substrate; a shallow trench isolation (STI) region surrounding the TSV at the second side of the substrate; and a semiconductor region between the STI region and the TSV, the semiconductor region comprising the first material.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A semiconductor structure includes top, bottom, and middle tiers. The bottom tier includes a first interconnect structure overlying a first semiconductor substrate, and a first front-side bonding structure overlying the first interconnect structure. The middle tier interposed between and electrically coupled to the top and bottom tiers includes a second interconnect structure overlying a second semiconductor substrate, a second front-side bonding structure interposed between the top tier and the second interconnect structure, and a back-side bonding structure interposed between the second semiconductor substrate and the first front-side bonding structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor integrated chip (IC) structure. The image sensor IC structure includes a plurality of image sensing elements respectively disposed within a plurality of pixel regions of a pixel array within a substrate. An inter-level dielectric (ILD) structure is disposed on a surface of the substrate and surrounds one or more interconnects. A plurality of three-dimensional (3D) capacitors are arranged within respective ones of the plurality of pixel regions and are coupled to one of the plurality of image sensing elements by the one or more interconnects. The plurality of 3D capacitors include a base region extending in parallel to the surface of the substrate and one or more fingers extending outward from the base region along a direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated device, including a first contact wire comprising an upper surface over a substrate; a plurality of shielding wires level with the first contact wire and having upper surfaces that are level with the upper surface of the first contact wire; and a first capacitor having an upper layer and a plurality of protrusions including a first protrusion and a second protrusion extending from the upper layer in a first direction towards the shielding wires; wherein the first protrusion extends to the upper surface of the first contact wire; and wherein the second protrusion is over and separated from the shielding wires in the first direction.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to an integrated circuit device including upper and lower layers. The upper layer includes pixel cells that each include a photodetector and a transfer transistor to transfer electrical charge collected at the photodetector. The upper layer also includes first conductive pads at a lower surface of the upper layer, each of the first pads carrying an indication of the electrical charge transferred by the transfer transistor of one or more of the pixel cells. The lower layer includes second conductive pads at an upper surface of the lower layer, the upper surface of the lower layer lying adjacent the lower surface of the upper layer. Each of the second pads directly contact a corresponding one of the first pads. The lower layer also includes a processing circuit conductively coupled to the second pads and configured to process signals carried via the first and second pads.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed towards an image sensor device. A photodetector is disposed in a semiconductor substrate, and a transfer transistor is disposed over photodetector. The transfer transistor includes a transfer gate having a lateral portion extending over a frontside of the semiconductor substrate and a vertical portion extending to a first depth below the frontside of the semiconductor substrate. A gate dielectric separates the lateral portion and the vertical portion from the semiconductor substrate. A backside trench isolation structure extends from a backside of the semiconductor substrate to a second depth below the frontside of the semiconductor substrate. The backside trench isolation structure laterally surrounds the photodetector, and the second depth is less than the first depth such that a lowermost portion of the vertical portion of the transfer transistor has a vertical overlap with an uppermost portion of the backside trench isolation structure.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards an integrated chip (IC). The IC includes a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate. A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) device is disposed over the first IMD structure. The MIM device includes at least three metal plates that are spaced from one another. The MIM device further includes a plurality of capacitor insulator structures. Each of the plurality of capacitor insulator structures are disposed between and electrically isolate neighboring metal plates of the at least three metal plates.

Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC) is provided. In some embodiments, the 3D IC comprises a first IC die comprising a first substrate, a first interconnect structure disposed over the first substrate, and a first through substrate via (TSV) disposed through the first substrate. The 3D IC further comprises a second IC die comprising a second substrate, a second interconnect structure disposed over the second substrate, and a second TSV disposed through the second substrate. The 3D IC further comprises a bonding structure arranged between back sides of the first IC die and the second IC die opposite to corresponding interconnect structures and bonding the first IC die and the second IC die. The bonding structure comprises conductive features disposed between and electrically connecting the first TSV and the second TSV.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a first integrated chip (IC) tier and a second IC tier. The second IC tier comprises a second plurality of conductors within a second insulating structure disposed on the second semiconductor body. A conductive pad is electrically coupled to the second plurality of conductors and has a conductive surface available to a side of the second semiconductor body facing away from the first semiconductor body. The IC first tier contacts the second IC tier along a bonding interface including one or more conductive regions and one or more insulating regions. The one or more conductive regions laterally outside of a bottom surface of the conductive pad.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a 3D integrated circuit (IC) stack that includes a first IC die bonded to a second IC die. The first IC die includes a first semiconductor substrate, a first interconnect structure arranged on a frontside of the first semiconductor substrate, and a first bonding structure arranged over the first interconnect structure. The second IC die includes a second semiconductor substrate, a second interconnect structure arranged on a frontside of the second semiconductor substrate, and a second bonding structure arranged on a backside of the second semiconductor substrate. The first bonding structure faces the second bonding structure. Further, the 3D IC stack includes a first backside contact that extends from the second bonding structure to the backside of the second semiconductor substrate and is thermally coupled to at least one of the first or second interconnect structures.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards an integrated circuit (IC) in which a shield structure blocks the migration of charge to a semiconductor device from proximate a through substrate via (TSV). In some embodiments, the IC comprises a substrate, an interconnect structure, the semiconductor device, the TSV, and the shield structure. The interconnect structure is on a frontside of the substrate and comprises a wire. The semiconductor device is on the frontside of the substrate, between the substrate and the interconnect structure. The TSV extends completely through the substrate, from a backside of the substrate to the wire, and comprises metal. The shield structure comprises a PN junction extending completely through the substrate and directly between the semiconductor device and the TSV.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a plurality of pixel sensors disposed in the substrate, a sensor isolation feature disposed in the substrate defining an active region, and a dielectric layer between the sensor isolation feature and the substrate, wherein the sensor isolation feature comprises a conductive material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multi-dimensional image sensor integrated chip (IC) structure. The multi-dimensional image sensor IC structure includes a plurality of image sensing elements disposed within a plurality of pixel regions arranged in a pixel array of a first integrated chip (IC) tier. The plurality of pixel regions include a plurality of active pixel regions and one or more dummy pixel regions. A plurality of pixel support devices are disposed on a second substrate within a second IC tier that is bonded to the first IC tier. A plurality of logic devices are disposed within a third IC tier that is bonded to the second IC tier. A through substrate via (TSV) extends vertically through the second substrate laterally outside of the plurality of pixel support devices and directly below the pixel array.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a stacked complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. A first integrated circuit (IC) chip and a second IC chip are vertically stacked. A pixel sensor spans the first and second IC chips. The pixel sensor comprises a first transfer transistor and a photodetector that are at the first IC chip, and further comprises a source-follower transistor, a transistor capacitor, and a second transfer transistor that are at the second IC chip. The transistor capacitor and the second transfer transistor are electrically coupled in series from a source/drain region of the first transfer transistor to a gate electrode of the source-follower transistor.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A semiconductor structure includes top, bottom, and middle tiers. The bottom tier includes a first interconnect structure overlying a first semiconductor substrate, and a first front-side bonding structure overlying the first interconnect structure. The middle tier interposed between and electrically coupled to the top and bottom tiers includes a second interconnect structure overlying a second semiconductor substrate, a second front-side bonding structure interposed between the top tier and the second interconnect structure, and a back-side bonding structure interposed between the second semiconductor substrate and the first front-side bonding structure.

Abstract: A p-type doping region around an isolation structure provides additional electrical isolation between pixel sensors of a pixel array. As a result, current leakage from a floating node of one pixel sensor into another is reduced. Therefore, dark current is reduced, and performance of the pixel array is improved. Additionally, pixel noise caused by electrons trapped in the isolation structure may be reduced.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a method that includes depositing a first layer of hard mask material over a layer of dielectric material; etching the first layer of the hard mask material, the etched first layer of hard mask material including an etched portion having a first lateral dimension; depositing a second layer of the hard mask material over the first layer of the hard mask material; etching at least a portion of the second layer of the hard mask material, while allowing a remaining portion of the hard mask material, to expose a portion of the layer of the dielectric material that has a second lateral dimension less than the first lateral dimension; and etching a trench into the layer of the dielectric material at the exposed portion of the layer of the dielectric material.