Patents by Inventor Keiichi Nakazawa

Keiichi Nakazawa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240006448
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including: a first semiconductor substrate provided with a photoelectric conversion element, a second semiconductor substrate stacked on the first semiconductor substrate with an interlayer insulating film interposed therebetween and provided with a pixel circuit that reads out charges generated in the photoelectric conversion element as a pixel signal, and a via that penetrates the interlayer insulating film and electrically connects a first surface of the first semiconductor substrate facing the second semiconductor substrate and at least a part of a second surface of the second semiconductor substrate facing the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeya MOCHIZUKI, Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Shinichi YOSHIDA, Kenya NISHIO, Nobutoshi FUJII, Suguru SAITO, Masaki OKAMOTO, Ryosuke KAMATANI, Yuichi YAMAMOTO, Kazutaka IZUKASHI, Yuki MIYANAMI, Hirotaka YOSHIOKA, Hiroshi HORIKOSHI, Takuya KUROTORI, Shunsuke FURUSE, Takayoshi HONDA
  • Publication number: 20230420478
    Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate that are stacked in this order. The first substrate including a sensor pixel that performs photoelectric conversion and the second substrate including a readout circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a first through wiring line provided in an interlayer insulating film. The second substrate and the third substrate including a logic circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a junction between pad electrodes or a second through wiring line penetrating through a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Yoshiaki KITANO, Hirofumi YAMASHITA, Minoru ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230411429
    Abstract: An imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first semiconductor layer including, for each pixel, a photoelectric conversion section and a charge accumulation section that accumulates signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion section; a second semiconductor layer stacked on the first semiconductor layer and having a first surface provided with a pixel transistor, in which the pixel transistor has a three-dimensional structure and reads the signal charge from the charge accumulation section; and a through-wiring line that directly couples the charge accumulation section and a gate electrode of the pixel transistor to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Takashi KOJIMA, Shinichi IMAI, Tokihisa KANEGUCHI, Koichiro SAGA, Kai TOKUHIRO, Takaaki HIRANO
  • Patent number: 11798972
    Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate that are stacked in this order. The first substrate including a sensor pixel that performs photoelectric conversion and the second substrate including a readout circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a first through wiring line provided in an interlayer insulating film. The second substrate and the third substrate including a logic circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a junction between pad electrodes or a second through wiring line penetrating through a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakazawa, Yoshiaki Kitano, Hirofumi Yamashita, Minoru Ishida
  • Publication number: 20230154964
    Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate that are stacked in this order. The first substrate including a sensor pixel that performs photoelectric conversion and the second substrate including a readout circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a first through wiring line provided in an interlayer insulating film. The second substrate and the third substrate including a logic circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a junction between pad electrodes or a second through wiring line penetrating through a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Yoshiaki KITANO, Hirofumi YAMASHITA, Minoru ISHIDA
  • Patent number: 11600651
    Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate that are stacked in this order. The first substrate including a sensor pixel that performs photoelectric conversion and the second substrate including a readout circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a first through wiring line provided in an interlayer insulating film. The second substrate and the third substrate including a logic circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a junction between pad electrodes or a second through wiring line penetrating through a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakazawa, Yoshiaki Kitano, Hirofumi Yamashita, Minoru Ishida
  • Publication number: 20220344386
    Abstract: To realize miniaturization of a pixel, reduction in noise, and high quantum efficiency, and to improve short-wavelength sensitivity while suppressing inter-pixel interference and variations for each pixel. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a pixel separation unit which defines a pixel region including the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode which is connected to the first semiconductor layer from one surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a second electrode which is connected to the second semiconductor layer from a light irradiation surface side that is the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is formed to correspond to a position of the pixel separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun OGI, Yoshiaki TASHIRO, Takahiro TOYOSHIMA, Yorito SAKANO, Yusuke OIKE, Hongbo ZHU, Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Yukari TAKEYA, Atsushi OKUYAMA, Yasufumi MIYOSHI, Ryosuke MATSUMOTO, Atsushi HORIUCHI
  • Publication number: 20220271070
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer including a photoelectric converter and an electric charge accumulation section for each pixel, the electric charge accumulation section in which a signal electric charge generated in the photoelectric converter is accumulated; a pixel separation section that is provided in the first semiconductor layer, and partitions a plurality of the pixels from each other; a second semiconductor layer that is provided with a pixel transistor and is stacked on the first semiconductor layer, the pixel transistor that reads the signal electric charge of the electric charge accumulation section; and a first shared coupling section that is provided between the second semiconductor layer and the first semiconductor layer, and is provided to straddle the pixel separation section and is electrically coupled to a plurality of the electric charge accumulation sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Koichiro ZAITSU, Nobutoshi FUJII, Yohei HIURA, Shigetaka MORI, Shintaro OKAMOTO, Keiji OHSHIMA, Shuji MANDA, Junpei YAMAMOTO, Yui YUGA, Shinichi MIYAKE, Tomoki KAMBE, Ryo OGATA, Tatsuki MIYAJI, Shinji NAKAGAWA, Hirofumi YAMASHITA, Yasushi HAMAMOTO, Naohiko KIMIZUKA
  • Patent number: 11424281
    Abstract: To realize miniaturization of a pixel, reduction in noise, and high quantum efficiency, and to improve short-wavelength sensitivity while suppressing inter-pixel interference and variations for each pixel. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a pixel separation unit which defines a pixel region including the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode which is connected to the first semiconductor layer from one surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a second electrode which is connected to the second semiconductor layer from a light irradiation surface side that is the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is formed to correspond to a position of the pixel separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ogi, Yoshiaki Tashiro, Takahiro Toyoshima, Yorito Sakano, Yusuke Oike, Hongbo Zhu, Keiichi Nakazawa, Yukari Takeya, Atsushi Okuyama, Yasufumi Miyoshi, Ryosuke Matsumoto, Atsushi Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20220165767
    Abstract: An imaging device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first substrate including, in a first semiconductor substrate, a sensor pixel that performs photoelectric conversion; a second substrate including, in a second semiconductor substrate, a readout circuit that outputs a pixel signal based on electric charges outputted from the sensor pixel, the second substrate being stacked on the first substrate; a first insulating layer provided between the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate; and a second insulating layer provided between the first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate, and having lower film density than the first insulating layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: NOBUTOSHI FUJII, KATSUNORI HIRAMATSU, KEIICHI NAKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 11127771
    Abstract: Solid-state imaging devices, methods of producing a solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatuses are provided. More particularly, a solid-state image device includes a silicon substrate, and at least a first photodiode formed in the silicon substrate. The device also includes an epitaxial layer with a first surface adjacent a surface of the silicon substrate, and a transfer transistor with a gate electrode that extends from the at least a first photodiode to a second surface of the epitaxial layer opposite the first surface. In further embodiments, a solid-state imaging device with a plurality of pixels formed in a second semiconductor substrate wherein the pixels are symmetrical with respect to a center point is provided. A floating diffusion is formed in an epitaxial layer, and a plurality of transfer gate electrodes that are each electrically connected to the floating diffusion by one of the transfer gate electrodes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Tanaka, Toshifumi Wakano, Keiji Tatani, Takashi Nagano, Hayato Iwamoto, Keiichi Nakazawa, Tomoyuki Hirano, Shinpei Yamaguchi, Shunsuke Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11094725
    Abstract: Solid-state imaging devices, methods of producing a solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatuses are provided. More particularly, a solid-state image device includes a silicon substrate, and at least a first photodiode formed in the silicon substrate. The device also includes an epitaxial layer with a first surface adjacent a surface of the silicon substrate, and a transfer transistor with a gate electrode that extends from the at least a first photodiode to a second surface of the epitaxial layer opposite the first surface. In further embodiments, a solid-state imaging device with a plurality of pixels formed in a second semiconductor substrate wherein the pixels are symmetrical with respect to a center point is provided. A floating diffusion is formed in an epitaxial layer, and a plurality of transfer gate electrodes that are each electrically connected to the floating diffusion by one of the transfer gate electrodes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Tanaka, Toshifumi Wakano, Keiji Tatani, Takashi Nagano, Hayato Iwamoto, Keiichi Nakazawa, Tomoyuki Hirano, Shinpei Yamaguchi, Shunsuke Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20210084249
    Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate that are stacked in this order. The first substrate including a sensor pixel that performs photoelectric conversion and the second substrate including a readout circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a first through wiring line provided in an interlayer insulating film. The second substrate and the third substrate including a logic circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a junction between pad electrodes or a second through wiring line penetrating through a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Yoshiaki KITANO, Hirofumi YAMASHITA, Minoru ISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20200365629
    Abstract: To realize miniaturization of a pixel, reduction in noise, and high quantum efficiency, and to improve short-wavelength sensitivity while suppressing inter-pixel interference and variations for each pixel. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a pixel separation unit which defines a pixel region including the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode which is connected to the first semiconductor layer from one surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a second electrode which is connected to the second semiconductor layer from a light irradiation surface side that is the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is formed to correspond to a position of the pixel separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun OGI, Yoshiaki TASHIRO, Takahiro TOYOSHIMA, Yorito SAKANO, Yusuke OIKE, Hongbo ZHU, Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Yukari TAKEYA, Atsushi OKUYAMA, Yasufumi MIYOSHI, Ryosuke MATSUMOTO, Atsushi HORIUCHI
  • Patent number: 10777597
    Abstract: To realize miniaturization of a pixel, reduction in noise, and high quantum efficiency, and to improve short-wavelength sensitivity while suppressing inter-pixel interference and variations for each pixel. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a pixel separation unit which defines a pixel region including the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode which is connected to the first semiconductor layer from one surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a second electrode which is connected to the second semiconductor layer from a light irradiation surface side that is the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is formed to correspond to a position of the pixel separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ogi, Yoshiaki Tashiro, Takahiro Toyoshima, Yorito Sakano, Yusuke Oike, Hongbo Zhu, Keiichi Nakazawa, Yukari Takeya, Atsushi Okuyama, Yasufumi Miyoshi, Ryosuke Matsumoto, Atsushi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 10438983
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device which includes a pixel section, a peripheral circuit section, a first isolation region formed with a STI structure on a semiconductor substrate in the peripheral circuit section, and a second isolation region formed with the STI structure on the semiconductor substrate in the pixel section. The portion of the second isolation region buried into the semiconductor substrate is shallower than the portion buried into the semiconductor substrate of the first isolation region, and the height of the upper face of the second isolation region is equal to that of the first isolation region. A method of producing the solid-state imaging device and an electronic device provided with the solid-state imaging devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Tatani, Takuji Matsumoto, Yasushi Tateshita, Fumihiko Koga, Takashi Nagano, Takahiro Toyoshima, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Keiichi Nakazawa, Naoyuki Miyashita, Yoshihiko Nagahama
  • Publication number: 20190157323
    Abstract: To realize miniaturization of a pixel, reduction in noise, and high quantum efficiency, and to improve short-wavelength sensitivity while suppressing inter-pixel interference and variations for each pixel. According to the present disclosure, there is provided an imaging device including: a first semiconductor layer formed in a semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type opposite to a conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer; a pixel separation unit which defines a pixel region including the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode which is connected to the first semiconductor layer from one surface side of the semiconductor substrate; and a second electrode which is connected to the second semiconductor layer from a light irradiation surface side that is the other surface of the semiconductor substrate, and is formed to correspond to a position of the pixel separation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun OGI, Yoshiaki TASHIRO, Takahiro TOYOSHIMA, Yorito SAKANO, Yusuke OIKE, Hongbo ZHU, Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Yukari TAKEYA, Atsushi OKUYAMA, Yasufumi MIYOSHI, Ryosuke MATSUMOTO, Atsushi HORIUCHI
  • Publication number: 20190057990
    Abstract: Solid-state imaging devices, methods of producing a solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatuses are provided. More particularly, a solid-state image device includes a silicon substrate, and at least a first photodiode formed in the silicon substrate. The device also includes an epitaxial layer with a first surface adjacent a surface of the silicon substrate, and a transfer transistor with a gate electrode that extends from the at least a first photodiode to a second surface of the epitaxial layer opposite the first surface. In further embodiments, a solid-state imaging device with a plurality of pixels formed in a second semiconductor substrate wherein the pixels are symmetrical with respect to a center point is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke TANAKA, Toshifumi WAKANO, Keiji TATANI, Takashi NAGANO, Hayato IWAMOTO, Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Tomoyuki HIRANO, Shinpei YAMAGUCHI, Shunsuke MARUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20190019824
    Abstract: Solid-state imaging devices, methods of producing a solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatuses are provided. More particularly, a solid-state image device includes a silicon substrate, and at least a first photodiode formed in the silicon substrate. The device also includes an epitaxial layer with a first surface adjacent a surface of the silicon substrate, and a transfer transistor with a gate electrode that extends from the at least a first photodiode to a second surface of the epitaxial layer opposite the first surface. In further embodiments, a solid-state imaging device with a plurality of pixels formed in a second semiconductor substrate wherein the pixels are symmetrical with respect to a center point is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke TANAKA, Toshifumi WAKANO, Keiji TATANI, Takashi NAGANO, Hayato IWAMOTO, Keiichi NAKAZAWA, Tomoyuki HIRANO, Shinpei YAMAGUCHI, Shunsuke MARUYAMA
  • Publication number: 20160197109
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solid-state imaging device which includes a pixel section, a peripheral circuit section, a first isolation region formed with a STI structure on a semiconductor substrate in the peripheral circuit section, and a second isolation region formed with the STI structure on the semiconductor substrate in the pixel section. The portion of the second isolation region buried into the semiconductor substrate is shallower than the portion buried into the semiconductor substrate of the first isolation region, and the height of the upper face of the second isolation region is equal to that of the first isolation region. A method of producing the solid-state imaging device and an electronic device provided with the solid-state imaging devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Keiji Tatani, Takuji Matsumoto, Yasushi Tateshita, Fumihiko Koga, Takashi Nagano, Takahiro Toyoshima, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Keiichi Nakazawa, Naoyuki Miyashita, Yoshihiko Nagahama