Patents by Inventor Yasushi Maruyama

Yasushi Maruyama 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: 20090311820
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a high sensitivity and a structure in which a miniaturized pixel is obtained, and a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging device in which an interface is stable, a spectroscopic characteristic is excellent and which can be manufactured with a high yield ratio are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes at least a silicon layer formed with a photo sensor portion and a wiring layer formed on the front-surface side of the silicon layer, and in which light L is made to enter from the rear-surface side opposite to the front-surface side of the silicon layer and the thickness of the silicon layer 4 is 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Hideshi Abe, Hiroyuki Mori
  • Publication number: 20090153708
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes pixel cells that are formed on a substrate having a first substrate surface side, on which light is irradiated, and a second substrate surface side, on which elements are formed, and separated by an adjacent cell group and an element separation layer for each of the pixel cells or with plural pixel cells as a unit. Each of the pixel cells has a first conductive well formed on the first substrate surface side and a second conductive well formed on the second substrate surface side. The first conductive well receives light from the first substrate surface side and has a photoelectric conversion function and a charge accumulation function for the received light. A transistor that detects accumulated charges in the first conductive well and has a threshold modulation function is formed in the second conductive well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Hirota, Kouichi Harada, Nobuhiro Karasawa, Yasushi Maruyama, Yoshikazu Nitta, Hiroyuki Terakago, Hajime Takashima, Hideo Nomura
  • Publication number: 20090065681
    Abstract: A back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup device (1041) includes read circuits (Tr1, Tr2) formed on one surface of a semiconductor substrate (1042) to read a signal from a photo-electric conversion element (PD) formed on the semiconductor substrate (1042), in which electric charges (e) generated in a photo-electric conversion region (1052c1) formed under at least one portion of the read circuits (Tr1, Tr2) are collected to an electric charge accumulation region (1052a) formed on one surface side of the semiconductor substrate (1042) of the photo-electric conversion element (PD) by electric field formed within the photo-electric conversion element (PD). Thus, the solid-state image pickup device and the camera are able to make the size of pixel become very small without lowering a saturation electric charge amount (Qs) and sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shin IWABUCHI, Kazuhide Yokota, Takeshi Yanagita, Yasushi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20090057539
    Abstract: A back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup device (1041) includes read circuits (Tr1, Tr2) formed on one surface of a semiconductor substrate (1042) to read a signal from a photo-electric conversion element (PD) formed on the semiconductor substrate (1042), in which electric charges (e) generated in a photo-electric conversion region (1052c1) formed under at least one portion of the read circuits (Tr1, Tr2) are collected to an electric charge accumulation region (1052a) formed on one surface side of the semiconductor substrate (1042) of the photo-electric conversion element (PD) by electric field formed within the photo-electric conversion element (PD). Thus, the solid-state image pickup device and the camera are able to make the size of pixel become very small without lowering a saturation electric charge amount (Qs) and sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Iwabuchi, Kazuhide Yokota, Takeshi Yanagita, Yasushi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7468289
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a high sensitivity and a structure in which a miniaturized pixel is obtained, and a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging device in which an interface is stable, a spectroscopic characteristic is excellent and which can be manufactured with a high yield ratio are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes at least a silicon layer formed with a photo sensor portion and a wiring layer formed on the front-surface side of the silicon layer, and in which light L is made to enter from the rear-surface side opposite to the front-surface side of the silicon layer and the thickness of the silicon layer 4 is 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Hideshi Abe, Hiroyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 7420231
    Abstract: A proper incident state can be obtained in each pixel in accordance with a distance between an optical system and a sensor photoreceptive portion, and improved photoreceptive efficiency and even sensitivity of pixels can be attempted. Since a main light beam a launches on pixels in a screen peripheral part at an angle of incidence ?, a microlens (260), color filter (250), wires (220, 230 and 240), photodiode (110) and so on are disposed along the direction of incidence in accordance with the angle of incidence ? in a positional relationship. The angle of incidence ? here is determined in consideration of a distance from the microlens (260) to the surface of the silicon substrate (100) and a position in depth of the photoelectric converting portion of the photodiode (110) from the surface of the silicon substrate (100). The photoelectric converting portion (n-type region) of the photodiode (110) tilts in a pixel in the screen peripheral part in accordance with the angle of incidence ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20080169491
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including an imaging area formed of a plurality of pixels arrayed in a two-dimensional matrix is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion portion including a charge accumulation region provided on a semiconductor substrate; a read transistor for reading electric charges from the photoelectric conversion portion; and a gettering site for separating metal impurities within the semiconductor substrate from at least the photoelectric conversion portion. The photoelectric conversion portion is provided on the surface side of the semiconductor substrate, and the gettering site is provided on the rear side away from the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasushi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7352013
    Abstract: There is a demand of a solid-state imaging device capable of being driven at a high speed and in which the shading of sensitivity and illuminance defect can be prevented from being caused. A solid-state imaging device (20) comprises a light-receiving sensor section disposed on the surface layer portion of a substrate (21) for performing a photoelectric conversion, a charge transfer section for transferring a signal charge read out from the light-receiving sensor section, a transfer electrode (27) (28) made of polysilicon formed on a substrate (21) at its position approximately above the charge transfer section through an insulating film (26), and an interconnection made of polysilicon and interconnected to the transfer electrode (27) (28). At least one of the polysilicon transfer electrode (27)(28) and the interconnection is formed on a polysilicon layer (27a) (28a) by selectively depositing a high-melting point metal having a resistance value lower than that of polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Hideshi Abe
  • Publication number: 20070235781
    Abstract: P type semiconductor well regions 8 and 9 for device separation are provided in an upper and lower two layer structure in conformity with the position of a high sensitivity type photodiode PD, and the first P type semiconductor well region 8 at the upper layer is provided in the state of being closer to the pixel side than an end portion of a LOCOS layer 1A, for limiting a dark current generated at the end portion of the LOCOS layer 1A. In addition, the second P type semiconductor well region 9 at the lower layer is formed in a narrow region receding from the photodiode PD, so that the depletion layer of the photodiode PD is prevented from being obstructed, and the depletion is secured in a sufficiently broad region, whereby enhancement of the sensitivity of the photodiode PD can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujita, Ryoji Suzuki, Nobuo Nakamura, Yasushi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20070210395
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, light being incident on the second surface side; a wiring layer disposed on the first surface side; a photodetector formed in the substrate and including a first region of a first conductivity type; a transfer gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the photodetector, the transfer gate transferring a signal charge accumulated in the photodetector; and at least one control gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and superposed on the photodetector, the control gate controlling the potential of the photodetector in the vicinity of the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Takashi Ando, Susumu Hiyama, Yuko Ohgishi
  • Publication number: 20070164384
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a high sensitivity and a structure in which a miniaturized pixel is obtained, and a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging device in which an interface is stable, a spectroscopic characteristic is excellent and which can be manufactured with a high yield ratio are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes at least a silicon layer formed with a photo sensor portion and a wiring layer formed on the front-surface side of the silicon layer, and in which light L is made to enter from the rear-surface side opposite to the front-surface side of the silicon layer and the thickness of the silicon layer 4 is 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Hideshi Abe, Hiroyuki Mori
  • Patent number: 7187019
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state image pickup device including a Si substrate, a conductive pattern such as transfer-accumulation electrodes and a buffer wiring formed above the Si substrate, an insulating film provided above the Si substrate in the state of covering the conductive pattern, and a shunt wiring composed of a metallic pattern formed above the insulating film in the state of being connected to the buffer wiring via a contact window formed in the insulating film. The portion of the shunt wiring in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the contact window contains at least one of silicon metal oxide or silicon metal nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20060281215
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a high sensitivity and a structure in which a miniaturized pixel is obtained, and a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging device in which an interface is stable, a spectroscopic characteristic is excellent and which can be manufactured with a high yield ratio are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes at least a silicon layer formed with a photo sensor portion and a wiring layer formed on the front-surface side of the silicon layer, and in which light L is made to enter from the rear-surface side opposite to the front-surface side of the silicon layer and the thickness of the silicon layer 4 is 10 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Hideshi Abe, Hiroyuki Mori
  • Publication number: 20060261369
    Abstract: There is a demand of a solid-state imaging device capable of being driven at a high speed and in which the shading of sensitivity and illuminance defect can be prevented from being caused. A solid-state imaging device (20) comprises a light-receiving sensor section disposed on the surface layer portion of a substrate (21) for performing a photoelectric conversion, a charge transfer section for transferring a signal charge read out from the light-receiving sensor section, a transfer electrode (27) (28) made of polysilicon formed on a substrate (21) at its position approximately above the charge transfer section through an insulating film (26), and an interconnection made of polysilicon and interconnected to the transfer electrode (27) (28). At least one of the polysilicon transfer electrode (27)(28) and the interconnection is formed on a polysilicon layer (27a) (28a) by selectively depositing a high-melting point metal having a resistance value lower than that of polysilicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Hideshi Abe
  • Patent number: 7109050
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solid state image pickup device including a Si substrate, a conductive pattern such as transfer-accumulation electrodes and a buffer wiring formed above the Si substrate, an insulating film provided above the Si substrate in the state of covering the conductive pattern, and a shunt wiring composed of a metallic pattern formed above the insulating film in the state of being connected to the buffer wiring via a contact window formed in the insulating film. The portion of the shunt wiring in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the contact window contains at least one of silicon metal oxide or silicon metal nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7105867
    Abstract: There is a demand of a solid-state imaging device capable of being driven at a high speed and in which the shading of sensitivity and illuminance defect can be prevented from being caused. A solid-state imaging device (20) comprises a light-receiving sensor section disposed on the surface layer portion of a substrate (21) for performing a photoelectric conversion, a charge transfer section for transferring a signal charge read out from the light-receiving sensor section, a transfer electrode (27) (28) made of polysilicon formed on a substrate (21) at its position approximately above the charge transfer section through an insulating film (26), and an interconnection made of polysilicon and interconnected to the transfer electrode (27) (28). At least one of the polysilicon transfer electrode (27)(28) and the interconnection is formed on a polysilicon layer (27a) (28a) by selectively depositing a high-melting point metal having a resistance value lower than that of polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Hideshi Abe
  • Publication number: 20060197007
    Abstract: A back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup device (1041) includes read circuits (Tr1, Tr2) formed on one surface of a semiconductor substrate (1042) to read a signal from a photo-electric conversion element (PD) formed on the semiconductor substrate (1042), in which electric charges (e) generated in a photo-electric conversion region (1052c1) formed under at least one portion of the read circuits (Tr1, Tr2) are collected to an electric charge accumulation region (1052a) formed on one surface side of the semiconductor substrate (1042) of the photo-electric conversion element (PD) by electric field formed within the photo-electric conversion element (PD). Thus, the solid-state image pickup device and the camera are able to make the size of pixel become very small without lowering a saturation electric charge amount (Qs) and sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Shin Iwabuchi, Kazuhide Yokota, Takeshi Yanagita, Yasushi Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20060192874
    Abstract: A CMOS solid state imaging device is capable of achieving a higher image quality while reducing the size and power consumption and increasing the number of pixels and speeds. According to the invention, in a CMOS solid state imaging device, including a light-receiving portion (11) that performs photoelectric conversion according to a quantity of received light, a transfer gate (12a) used to read out charges obtained through the photoelectric conversion in the light-receiving portion (11), and a peripheral transistor provided in a periphery of the light-receiving portion (11), and a driving method of the same, a voltage applied to the transfer gate (12a) is set higher than a voltage applied to the peripheral transistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 31, 2006
    Inventor: Yasushi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 7087939
    Abstract: There is a demand of a solid-state imaging device capable of being driven at a high speed and in which the shading of sensitivity and illuminance defect can be prevented from being caused. A solid-state imaging device (20) includes a light-receiving sensor section disposed on the surface layer portion of a substrate (21) that performs a photoelectric conversion, a charge transfer section that transfers a signal charge read out from the light-receiving sensor section, a transfer electrode (27) (28) made of polysilicon formed on a substrate (21) at a position approximately above the charge transfer section through an insulating film (26), and an interconnection made of polysilicon and interconnected to the transfer electrode (27) (28). At least one of the polysilicon transfer electrode (27)(28) and the interconnection is formed on a polysilicon layer (27a) (28a) by selectively depositing a high-melting point metal having a resistance value lower than that of polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Maruyama, Hideshi Abe
  • Publication number: 20060022932
    Abstract: A display panel drive circuit according to exemplary embodiments of the invention include a source driver that applies a drive voltage corresponding to a display level of gray to a source line of an active element to drive each pixel of a display panel in which the display level of gray of each pixel is determined depending on accumulated charge between electrodes of each pixel. Exemplary embodiments further include a control unit that controls the drive voltage to be applied to the source line by the source driver and a potential of a common electrode of the display panel at the same potential in a predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Sagawa, Fumio Koyama, Naganori Ito, Yasuyuki Kobayashi, Yasushi Maruyama, Ryosuke Higashi, Katsumi Okubo