Patents by Inventor Yi-Tae Kim

Yi-Tae Kim 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).

  • Patent number: 10573682
    Abstract: A pixel array in an image sensor includes a first pixel group. The first pixel group includes unit pixels that include photoelectric conversion units and a first signal generation unit shared by the photoelectric conversion units. The first signal generation unit includes transfer transistors connected to the photoelectric conversion units, respectively, a first floating diffusion node connected to the transfer transistors, a plurality of driving transistors connected to the first floating diffusion node and connected in parallel with one another, and a plurality of selection transistors connected in parallel between a first output terminal and the plurality of driving transistors. The first output terminal outputs pixel signals that correspond to photo charges collected by the photoelectric conversion units, respectively. A number of the plurality of selection transistors is equal to a number of the plurality of driving transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Sun Oh, Yi-Tae Kim, Yu-Jung Choi
  • Patent number: 10411052
    Abstract: An image sensor according to inventive concepts includes a substrate including a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a unit pixel having four sides; a photoelectric conversion device formed in the unit pixel; a floating diffusion region formed contacting the first surface in the unit pixel and overlapping with a center region of the photoelectric conversion device in a first direction perpendicular to the first surface; a gate electrode, in the unit pixel, overlapping with some portions of the floating diffusion region and formed along a first set of sides that comprises at least one side of the four sides; and a set of transistors, in the unit pixel, overlapping with some portions of the floating diffusion region and formed along a second set of sides that comprises at least two sides of the four sides, which are different from the first set of sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-young Jang, Sung-hoon Oh, Yi-tae Kim
  • Publication number: 20190221600
    Abstract: A pixel array in an image sensor includes a first pixel group. The first pixel group includes unit pixels that include photoelectric conversion units and a first signal generation unit shared by the photoelectric conversion units. The first signal generation unit includes transfer transistors connected to the photoelectric conversion units, respectively, a first floating diffusion node connected to the transfer transistors, a plurality of driving transistors connected to the first floating diffusion node and connected in parallel with one another, and a plurality of selection transistors connected in parallel between a first output terminal and the plurality of driving transistors. The first output terminal outputs pixel signals that correspond to photo charges collected by the photoelectric conversion units, respectively. A number of the plurality of selection transistors is equal to a number of the plurality of driving transistors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Young-Sun Oh, Yi-Tae Kim, Yu-Jung Choi
  • Publication number: 20180190695
    Abstract: An image sensor according to inventive concepts includes a substrate including a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a unit pixel having four sides; a photoelectric conversion device formed in the unit pixel; a floating diffusion region formed contacting the first surface in the unit pixel and overlapping with a center region of the photoelectric conversion device in a first direction perpendicular to the first surface; a gate electrode, in the unit pixel, overlapping with some portions of the floating diffusion region and formed along a first set of sides that comprises at least one side of the four sides; and a set of transistors, in the unit pixel, overlapping with some portions of the floating diffusion region and formed along a second set of sides that comprises at least two sides of the four sides, which are different from the first set of sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-young Jang, Sung-hoon Oh, Yi-tae Kim
  • Patent number: 9609250
    Abstract: Provided are unit pixels for image sensors and pixel arrays including the same. The unit pixels include a first pixel including first and second photo diodes which are adjacent to each other, and a first deep trench isolation (DTI) fully surrounding sides of the first and second photo diodes and electrically separating the first pixel from other pixels adjacent to the first pixel. The first pixel includes a second DTI positioned between the first photo diode and the second photo diode and having one side formed to be spaced apart from the first DTI. The first pixel also includes a color filter positioned on the first and second photo diodes and fully overlapping the first and second photo diodes. The first pixel further includes a floating diffusion node electrically connected with the first and second photo diodes. The first and second photo diodes share one floating diffusion node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Wook Lee, Yi-Tae Kim, Jung-Chak Ahn, Young-Woo Jung
  • Patent number: 9559138
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first substrate, a photodiode array, a first wiring structure, a second wiring structure, a third wiring structure and a light blocking layer pattern. The photodiode array is disposed in the first substrate. The photodiode array includes first photodiodes in a first region, second photodiodes in a second region and third photodiodes in a third region. The first wiring structure is disposed in the first region. The first wiring structure is electrically connected to the first photodiodes. The second wiring structure is disposed in the second region. The second wiring structure includes power supply wiring. The third wiring structure is disposed in the third region. The third wiring structure is electrically connected to the third photodiodes. The light blocking layer pattern is disposed on the first substrate. The light blocking layer pattern covers the third region and the fourth region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yi-Tae Kim, Kyung-Ho Lee, Dong-Young Jang, Sung-Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 9443898
    Abstract: An image sensor includes first pixels and a first source follower transistor, which are disposed adjacent to each other in a first pixel area in a column direction, and second pixels and a second source follower transistor, which are formed in a second pixel area adjacent to the first pixel area in a row direction by the same number of the first pixels, wherein when the first pixels share the first source follower transistor and the second pixels share the second source follower transistor, while pixels selected from the same row are activated, the first source follower transistor and the second source follower transistor being activated are disposed so that locations thereof have a diagonal symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Young-Sun Oh, Yi-Tae Kim, Jung-Chak Ahn, Kyung-Ho Lee, Jun-Suk Lee
  • Publication number: 20160104740
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first substrate, a photodiode array, a first wiring structure, a second wiring structure, a third wiring structure and a light blocking layer pattern. The photodiode array is disposed in the first substrate. The photodiode array includes first photodiodes in a first region, second photodiodes in a second region and third photodiodes in a third region. The first wiring structure is disposed in the first region. The first wiring structure is electrically connected to the first photodiodes. The second wiring structure is disposed in the second region. The second wiring structure includes power supply wiring. The third wiring structure is disposed in the third region. The third wiring structure is electrically connected to the third photodiodes. The light blocking layer pattern is disposed on the first substrate. The light blocking layer pattern covers the third region and the fourth region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: YI-TAE KIM, KYUNG-HO LEE, DONG-YOUNG JANG, SUNG-HO CHOI
  • Publication number: 20160056200
    Abstract: Provided are unit pixels for image sensors and pixel arrays including the same. The unit pixels include a first pixel including first and second photo diodes which are adjacent to each other, and a first deep trench isolation (DTI) fully surrounding sides of the first and second photo diodes and electrically separating the first pixel from other pixels adjacent to the first pixel. The first pixel includes a second DTI positioned between the first photo diode and the second photo diode and having one side formed to be spaced apart from the first DTI. The first pixel also includes a color filter positioned on the first and second photo diodes and fully overlapping the first and second photo diodes. The first pixel further includes a floating diffusion node electrically connected with the first and second photo diodes. The first and second photo diodes share one floating diffusion node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Seung-Wook Lee, Yi-Tae Kim, Jung-Chak Ahn, Young-Woo Jung
  • Publication number: 20150333091
    Abstract: An image sensor includes first pixels and a first source follower transistor, which are disposed adjacent to each other in a first pixel area in a column direction, and second pixels and a second source follower transistor, which are formed in a second pixel area adjacent to the first pixel area in a row direction by the same number of the first pixels, wherein when the first pixels share the first source follower transistor and the second pixels share the second source follower transistor, while pixels selected from the same row are activated, the first source follower transistor and the second source follower transistor being activated are disposed so that locations thereof have a diagonal symmetry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Young-Sun Oh, Yi-Tae Kim, Jung-Chak Ahn, Kyung-Ho Lee, Jun-Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 9159751
    Abstract: A unit pixel of an image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion region, a floating diffusion region, and a transfer gate. The photoelectric conversion region is in an active region defined by an isolation region of a semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric conversion region generates electric charges corresponding to incident light. The transfer gate transfers the electric charges to the floating diffusion region, which is located in the active region. The transfer gate includes first and second portions divided relative to a reference line, and at least one of the first or second portions does not overlap the isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-Taek Lee, Sang-Il Jung, Yi-Tae Kim, Woon-Phil Yang
  • Publication number: 20140327051
    Abstract: An image sensor and a method of manufacturing the image sensor are provided. The image sensor may include a photo detecting device and a charge storage device. The image sensor may further include a trench and a shield which blocks light from being absorbed by the charge storage device. The charge storage device may temporarily store accumulated charges by the photo detecting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-chak AHN, Yi-tae KIM, Eun-sub SHIM, Kyung-ho LEE
  • Publication number: 20140217474
    Abstract: A unit pixel of an image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion region, a floating diffusion region, and a transfer gate. The photoelectric conversion region is in an active region defined by an isolation region of a semiconductor substrate. The photoelectric conversion region generates electric charges corresponding to incident light. The transfer gate transfers the electric charges to the floating diffusion region, which is located in the active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Jun-Taek Lee, Sang-Il Jung, Yi-Tae Kim, Woon-Phil Yang
  • Patent number: 8624309
    Abstract: A sensor includes a substrate, a floating diffusion node in the substrate, a photodiode in the substrate laterally spaced apart from the floating diffusion region and a transfer transistor coupling the photodiode and the floating diffusion region. The sensor further includes a photodiode control electrode disposed on the photodiode and configured to control a carrier distribution of the photodiode responsive to a control signal applied thereto. The floating diffusion region may have a first conductivity type, the photodiode may include a first semiconductor region of a second conductivity type disposed on a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, and the photodiode control electrode may be disposed on the first semiconductor region. The photodiode may be configured to receive incident light from a side of the substrate opposite the photodiode control electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-tae Kim, Jung-chak Ahn
  • Patent number: 8164127
    Abstract: A pixel cell includes a substrate, an epitaxial layer, and a photo converting device in the epitaxial layer. The epitaxial layer has a doping concentration profile of embossing shape, and includes a plurality of layers that are stacked on the substrate. The photo converting device does not include a neutral region that has a constant potential in the vertical direction. Therefore, the image sensor including the pixel cell has high quantization efficiency, and a crosstalk between photo-converting devices is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Ho Lee, Kwang-il Jung, Jung-Chak Ahn, Yi-Tae Kim, Kyoung-Sik Moon, Bum-Suk Kim, Young-Bae Kee, Dong-Young Lee, Tae-Sub Jung, Kang-Sun Lee
  • Publication number: 20120068051
    Abstract: In a method of driving an image sensor, incident light is converted into electric charges in a photoelectric conversion region during a first operation mode. At least one of collected electric charges and overflowed electric charges is accumulated in a floating diffusion region based on illuminance of the incident light. The collected electric charges indicate electric charges that are collected in the photoelectric conversion region. The overflowed electric charges indicate electric charges that have overflowed from the photoelectric conversion region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-chak Ahn, Yi-Tae Kim
  • Patent number: 8003424
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes a photosensitive device, a floating diffusion region, a transfer transistor, and a pocket photodiode formed in a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type. The floating diffusion region is of a second conductivity type. The transfer transistor has a channel region disposed between the photosensitive device and the floating diffusion region. The pocket photodiode is of the second conductivity type and is formed under a first portion of a bottom surface of the channel region such that a second portion of the bottom surface of the channel region abuts the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Ho Lee, Yi-Tae Kim, Jung-Chak Ahn, Sae-Young Kim
  • Patent number: 7989861
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate, an anti-reflection board and a light shielding film. The substrate includes first pixels to receive a light, and second pixels to provide a black level compensation. The first pixels are formed in an active region and the second pixels are formed in a first region spaced apart from the active region in a row direction. The anti-reflection board is formed in a second region above the substrate, and the second region is between the active region and the first region. The light shielding film is formed above the anti-reflection board, and the light shielding film covers an optical black region including the first and second regions. Therefore, the image sensor may be used in a CCD type image sensor and a CMOS type image sensor to provide a stabilized black level, thereby improving a quality of a displayed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Tae Kim, Sang-Il Jung, Yun-Ho Jang, Kyung-Ho Lee, Sae-Young Kim
  • Publication number: 20110156105
    Abstract: A sensor includes a substrate, a floating diffusion node in the substrate, a photodiode in the substrate laterally spaced apart from the floating diffusion region and a transfer transistor coupling the photodiode and the floating diffusion region. The sensor further includes a photodiode control electrode disposed on the photodiode and configured to control a carrier distribution of the photodiode responsive to a control signal applied thereto. The floating diffusion region may have a first conductivity type, the photodiode may include a first semiconductor region of a second conductivity type disposed on a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, and the photodiode control electrode may be disposed on the first semiconductor region. The photodiode may be configured to receive incident light from a side of the substrate opposite the photodiode control electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Yi-tae Kim, Jung-chak Ahn
  • Patent number: 7910872
    Abstract: A sensor includes a substrate, a floating diffusion node in the substrate, a photodiode in the substrate laterally spaced apart from the floating diffusion region and a transfer transistor coupling the photodiode and the floating diffusion region. The sensor further includes a photodiode control electrode disposed on the photodiode and configured to control a carrier distribution of the photodiode responsive to a control signal applied thereto. The photodiode may include a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type disposed on a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, the floating diffusion region may have the second conductivity type and the photodiode control electrode may be disposed on the first semiconductor region. The photodiode may be configured to receive incident light from a side of the substrate opposite the photodiode control electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-tae Kim, Jung-chak Ahn