Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an image sensor integrated chip. The integrated chip has an image sensing element arranged within a pixel region of a substrate. A first dielectric is disposed in trenches within a first side of the substrate. The trenches are defined by first sidewalls disposed on opposing sides of the pixel region. An internal reflection enhancement structure is arranged along the first side of the substrate and is configured to reflect radiation exiting from the substrate back into the substrate.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a color filter array and a light receiving element. The color filter array includes plural repeating unit cells, and at least one of the unit cells includes at least a yellow filter, at least one green filter, and at least one blue filter. The yellow filter is configured to transmit a green component and a red component of incident light. The green filter is configured to transmit the green component of the incident light. The blue filter is configured to transmit a blue component of the incident light. Each of the unit cells does not comprise a red filter configured to transmit the red component of the incident light. The light receiving element is configured to convert the incident light transmitted by the color filter array into electric signals.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor integrated chip having a deep trench isolation (DTI) structure having a reflective element. In some embodiments, the image sensor integrated chip includes an image sensing element arranged within a substrate. A plurality of protrusions are arranged along a first side of the substrate over the image sensing element and one or more absorption enhancement layers are arranged over and between the plurality of protrusions. A plurality of DTI structures are arranged within trenches disposed on opposing sides of the image sensing element and extend from the first side of the substrate to within the substrate. The plurality of DTI structures respectively include a reflective element having one or more reflective regions configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation. By reflecting electromagnetic radiation using the reflective elements, cross-talk between adjacent pixel regions is reduced, thereby improving performance of the image sensor integrated chip.

Abstract: A BSI image sensor includes a substrate including a front side and a back side opposite to the front side, a plurality of pixel sensors arranged in an array, an isolation grid disposed in the substrate and separating the plurality of pixel sensors from each other, and a reflective grid disposed over the isolation grid on the back side of the substrate. A depth of the reflective grid is less than a depth of the isolation grid.

Abstract: A BSI image sensor includes a substrate including a front side and a back side opposite to the front side, a pixel sensor disposed in the substrate, and a color filter disposed over the pixel sensor. The pixel sensor includes a plurality of first micro structures disposed over the back side of the substrate, and the color filter includes a plurality of second micro structures disposed over the back side of the substrate.

Abstract: A BSI image sensor includes a substrate including a front side and a back side opposite to the front side, a pixel sensor disposed in the substrate, an isolation structure surrounding the pixel sensor and disposed in the substrate, a dielectric layer disposed over the pixel sensor on the front side of the substrate, and a plurality of conductive structures disposed in the dielectric layer and arranged to aligned with the isolation structure.

Abstract: A photo diode includes a pixel unit, a photo conversion layer, and a dielectric layer. The pixel unit includes a pair of pixels. The photo conversion layer is above the pixel unit and has a pair of portions, each of which corresponds to a respective one of the pixels. The dielectric layer is between the portions of the photo conversion layer. A method of manufacturing the photo diode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A BSI image sensor includes a substrate including a front side and a back side opposite to the front side, and a plurality of pixel sensors arranged in an array. Each of the pixel sensors includes a photo-sensing device in the substrate, a color filter over the pixel sensor on the back side, and an optical structure over the color filter on the back side. The optical structure includes a first sidewall, and the first sidewall and a plane substantially parallel with a front surface of the substrate form an included angel greater than 0°.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor integrated chip having a deep trench isolation (DTI) structure having a reflective element. In some embodiments, the image sensor integrated chip includes an image sensing element arranged within a substrate. A plurality of protrusions are arranged along a first side of the substrate over the image sensing element and one or more absorption enhancement layers are arranged over and between the plurality of protrusions. A plurality of DTI structures are arranged within trenches disposed on opposing sides of the image sensing element and extend from the first side of the substrate to within the substrate. The plurality of DTI structures respectively include a reflective element having one or more reflective regions configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation. By reflecting electromagnetic radiation using the reflective elements, cross-talk between adjacent pixel regions is reduced, thereby improving performance of the image sensor integrated chip.

Abstract: A photo diode includes a pixel unit, a photo conversion layer, and a dielectric layer. The pixel unit includes a pair of pixels. The photo conversion layer is above the pixel unit and has a pair of portions, each of which corresponds to a respective one of the pixels. The dielectric layer is between the portions of the photo conversion layer. A method of manufacturing the photo diode is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for forming an FSI image sensor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a pixel region in a substrate and forming a dielectric layer over the substrate. The method includes forming a trench through the dielectric layer, and the trench includes a top portion and a bottom portion, and the trench is directly above the pixel region. The method includes forming a protection layer in the bottom portion of the trench and enlarging a top width of the top portion of the trench, and the trench has a wide top portion and a narrow bottom portion. The wide top portion has top sidewall surfaces, the narrow bottom portion has bottom sidewall surfaces, and the top sidewall surfaces taper gradually toward the bottom sidewall surfaces. The method includes filling a transparent dielectric layer in the trench to form a light pipe.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a color filter array and a light receiving element. The color filter array includes plural repeating unit cells, and at least one of the unit cells includes at least a yellow filter, at least one green filter, and at least one blue filter. The yellow filter is configured to transmit a green component and a red component of incident light. The green filter is configured to transmit the green component of the incident light. The blue filter is configured to transmit a blue component of the incident light. Each of the unit cells does not comprise a red filter configured to transmit the red component of the incident light. The light receiving element is configured to convert the incident light transmitted by the color filter array into electric signals.

Abstract: A method for forming an FSI image sensor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a pixel region in a substrate and forming a dielectric layer over the substrate. The method includes forming a trench through the dielectric layer, and the trench includes a top portion and a bottom portion, and the trench is directly above the pixel region. The method includes forming a protection layer in the bottom portion of the trench and enlarging a top width of the top portion of the trench, and the trench has a wide top portion and a narrow bottom portion. The wide top portion has top sidewall surfaces, the narrow bottom portion has bottom sidewall surfaces, and the top sidewall surfaces taper gradually toward the bottom sidewall surfaces. The method includes filling a transparent dielectric layer in the trench to form a light pipe.

Abstract: An image sensor for high angular response discrimination is provided. A plurality of pixels comprises a phase detection autofocus (PDAF) pixel and an image capture pixel. Pixel sensors of the pixels are arranged in a semiconductor substrate. A grid structure is arranged over the semiconductor substrate, laterally surrounding color filters of the pixels. Microlenses of the pixels are arranged over the grid structure, and comprise a PDAF microlens of the PDAF pixel and an image capture microlens of the image capture pixel. The PDAF microlens comprises a larger optical power than the image capture microlens, or comprises a location or shape so a PDAF receiving surface of the PDAF pixel has an asymmetric profile. A method for manufacturing the image sensor is also provided.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate, dual-waveband photosensitive devices, at least one infrared photosensitive device, a transparent dielectric layer, at least one infrared band-pass filter, a color filter layer and a micro-lens layer. The dual-waveband photosensitive devices are disposed in the substrate, and each dual-waveband photosensitive device is configured to sense an infrared light and one visible light. The infrared photosensitive device is disposed in the substrate, in which the dual-waveband photosensitive devices and the infrared photosensitive device are arranged in an array. The transparent dielectric layer is disposed over the dual-waveband photosensitive devices and the infrared photosensitive device. The infrared band-pass filter is disposed in the transparent dielectric layer and corresponds to the infrared photosensitive device. The color filter layer is disposed to cover the transparent dielectric layer and the infrared band-pass filter.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor having autofocus function and associated methods. In some embodiments, the integrated circuit has a photodiode array with a plurality of photodiodes disposed within a semiconductor substrate and a composite grid overlying the photodiode array and having a first plurality of openings and a second plurality of openings extending vertically through the composite grid. The integrated circuit further has an image sensing pixel array with a plurality of color filters disposed in the first plurality of openings. The integrated circuit further has a phase detection pixel array having a plurality of phase detection components that are smaller than the plurality of color filters and that have a low refractive index (low-n) material with a refractive index (n) smaller than a refractive index of the plurality of color filters, wherein the phase detection components are disposed in the second plurality of openings.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor having autofocus function and associated methods. In some embodiments, the image sensor has first and second image sensing pixels arranged one next to another in a row. Each of the first and second image sensing pixels respectively have a left PD (phase detection) pixel including a left photodiode operably coupled to a left transfer gate, and a right PD pixel including a right photodiode operably coupled to a right transfer gate. The right transfer gate of the second image sensing pixel is a mirror image of the left transfer gate of the first image sensing pixel along a boundary line between the first and second image sensing pixels. The left transfer gate of the second image sensing pixel is a mirror image of the right transfer gate of the first image sensing pixel along the boundary line.

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: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor having autofocus function and associated methods. In some embodiments, the image sensor has first and second image sensing pixels arranged one next to another in a row. Each of the first and second image sensing pixels respectively have a left PD (phase detection) pixel including a left photodiode operably coupled to a left transfer gate, and a right PD pixel including a right photodiode operably coupled to a right transfer gate. The right transfer gate of the second image sensing pixel is a mirror image of the left transfer gate of the first image sensing pixel along a boundary line between the first and second image sensing pixels. The left transfer gate of the second image sensing pixel is a mirror image of the right transfer gate of the first image sensing pixel along the boundary line.

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.