Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method. In the method, a semiconductor substrate is received. A photodetector is formed in the semiconductor substrate. An interconnect structure is formed over the photodetector and over a frontside of the semiconductor substrate. A backside of the semiconductor substrate is thinned, the backside being furthest from the interconnect structure. A ring-shaped structure is formed so as to extend into the thinned backside of the semiconductor substrate to laterally surround the photodetector. A series of trench structures are formed to extend into the thinned backside of the semiconductor substrate. The series of trench structures are laterally surrounded by the ring-shaped structure and extend into the photodetector.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for forming a light blocking material layer on a back side illuminated image sensor device. The light blocking material layer can block or absorb light rays incoming to the back side illuminated image sensor device at grazing incident angles. The light blocking material layer can be formed using a self-aligned process that does not require the use of a photolithography mask or photolithography operations. For example, the light blocking material layer can be formed over an image sensor device and subsequently etched so that the light blocking material layer remains in areas where light rays incoming at grazing incident angles enter the back side illuminated image sensor device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for reducing the surface deformation of a color filter after a baking process in an image sensor device. Surface deformation can be reduced by increasing the surface area of the color filter prior to baking. For example, forming a grid structure over a semiconductor layer of an image sensor device, where the grid structure includes a first region with one or more cells having a common sidewall; disposing one or more color filters in a second region of the grid structure; recessing the common sidewall in the first region of the grid structure to form a group of cells with the recessed common sidewall; and disposing another color filter in the group of cells.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method. In the method, a semiconductor substrate is received. A photodetector is formed in the semiconductor substrate. An interconnect structure is formed over the photodetector and over a frontside of the semiconductor substrate. A backside of the semiconductor substrate is thinned, the backside being furthest from the interconnect structure. A ring-shaped structure is formed so as to extend into the thinned backside of the semiconductor substrate to laterally surround the photodetector. A series of trench structures are formed to extend into the thinned backside of the semiconductor substrate. The series of trench structures are laterally surrounded by the ring-shaped structure and extend into the photodetector.

Abstract: An image sensor device is provided. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front surface, a back surface, and a light-sensing region. The image sensor device includes a first isolation structure extending from the front surface into the substrate. The first isolation structure includes a first insulating layer and an etch stop layer, the first insulating layer extends from the front surface into the substrate, the etch stop layer is between the first insulating layer and the substrate, and the etch stop layer, the first insulating layer, and the substrate are made of different materials. The image sensor device includes a second isolation structure extending from the back surface into the substrate. The second isolation structure is in direct contact with the etch stop layer, the second isolation structure surrounds the light-sensing region, and the second isolation structure includes a light-blocking structure.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to a device array including a plurality of devices arranged in a semiconductor substrate. A protection ring circumscribes an outer perimeter of the device array. The protection ring includes a first ring neighboring the device array, a second ring circumscribing the first ring and meeting the first ring at a first p-n junction, and a third ring circumscribing the second ring and meeting the second ring at a second p-n junction. The first ring has a first width, the second ring has a second width, and the third ring has a third width. At least two of the first width, the second width, and the third width are different from one another.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a radiation-sensing region, at least one isolation structure, and a doped passivation layer. The radiation-sensing region is present in the semiconductor substrate. The isolation structure is present in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the radiation-sensing region. The doped passivation layer at least partially surrounds the isolation structure in a substantially conformal manner.

Abstract: Among other things, one or more support structures for integrated circuitry and techniques for forming such support structures are provided. A support structure comprises one or more trench structures, such as a first trench structure and a second trench structure formed around a periphery of integrated circuitry. In some embodiments, one or more trench structures are formed according to partial substrate etching, such that respective trench structures are formed into a region of a substrate. In some embodiments, one or more trench structures are formed according to discontinued substrate etching, such that respective trench structures comprise one or more trench portions separated by separation regions of the substrate. The support structure mitigates stress energy from reaching the integrated circuitry, and facilitates process-induced charge release from the integrated circuitry.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image sensor with a pad structure formed during a front-end-of-line process. The pad structure can be formed prior to formation of back side deep trench isolation structures and metal grid structures. An opening is formed on a back side of the image sensor device to expose the embedded pad structure and to form electrical connections.

Abstract: A back side illumination (BSI) image sensor with a dielectric grid opening having a planar lower surface is provided. A pixel sensor is arranged within a semiconductor substrate. A metallic grid is arranged over the pixel sensor and defines a sidewall of a metallic grid opening. A dielectric grid is arranged over the metallic grid and defines a sidewall of the dielectric grid opening. A capping layer is arranged over the metallic grid, and defines the planar lower surface of the dielectric grid opening.

Abstract: Structures and formation methods of a light-sensing device are provided. The light-sensing device includes a semiconductor substrate and a light-sensing region in the semiconductor substrate. The light-sensing device also includes a light-reflective element over the semiconductor substrate. The light-sensing region is between the light-reflective element and a light-receiving surface of the semiconductor substrate. The light-reflective element includes a stack of multiple pairs of dielectric layers. Each of the pairs has a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, and the first dielectric layer has a different refractive index than that of the second dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for forming a light blocking material layer on a back side illuminated image sensor device. The light blocking material layer can block or absorb light rays incoming to the back side illuminated image sensor device at grazing incident angles. The light blocking material layer can be formed using a self-aligned process that does not require the use of a photolithography mask or photolithography operations. For example, the light blocking material layer can be formed over an image sensor device and subsequently etched so that the light blocking material layer remains in areas where light rays incoming at grazing incident angles enter the back side illuminated image sensor device.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to an image sensor that includes a semiconductor substrate having a frontside and a backside. A photodetector is arranged in the semiconductor substrate between the frontside and the backside. An interconnect structure is arranged beneath the frontside of the semiconductor substrate such that the frontside of the semiconductor substrate is arranged between the interconnect structure and the backside of the semiconductor substrate. A lower ring structure extends into the backside of the semiconductor substrate and laterally surrounds the photodetector. A grating structure, which is surrounded by the lower ring structure, extends from the backside of the substrate to a position within the photodetector.

Abstract: An image sensor including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of color filters, a plurality of first lenses and a second lens is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of sensing pixels arranged in array, and each of the plurality of sensing pixels respectively includes a plurality of image sensing units and a plurality of phase detection units. The color filters at least cover the plurality of image sensing units. The first lenses are disposed on the plurality of color filters. Each of the plurality of first lenses respectively covers one of the plurality of image sensing units. The second lens is disposed on the plurality of color filters and the second lens covers the plurality of phase detection units.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of fabricating a semiconductor image sensor device. The method includes providing a substrate having a pixel region, a periphery region, and a bonding pad region. The substrate further has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The pixel region contains radiation-sensing regions. The method further includes forming a bonding pad in the bonding pad region; and forming light-blocking structures over the second side of the substrate, at least in the pixel region, after the bonding pad has been formed.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor structure includes a substrate and pixel portions. Each pixel portion includes intersection areas, the border areas each of which is located between any two adjacent ones of the intersection areas, and a central area surrounded by the intersection areas and the border areas. Each pixel portion includes a device layer, an anti-reflective coating layer, discrete reflective structures, discrete metal blocking structures, a passivation layer and a color filter. The device layer is disposed on the substrate. Trenches are formed in the device layer and the substrate corresponding to the border areas respectively. The anti-reflective coating layer conformally covers the device layer, the substrate and the trenches. The reflective structures are disposed in the trenches. The metal blocking structures overly the anti-reflective coating layer in the intersection areas. The passivation layer conformally covers the metal blocking structures. The color filter is disposed on the passivation layer.

Abstract: An isolation structure and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The isolation structure includes a reflective layer, a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer. A dielectric constant of the first dielectric layer is different from that of the second dielectric layer. In the method for fabricating the isolation structure, at first, a semiconductor substrate is provided. Then, a first reflective layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, the first dielectric layer is formed on the reflective layer. Thereafter, the second dielectric layer is on the first dielectric layer. Then, the first reflective layer, the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer are etched to form a grid structure. Thereafter, a passivation layer is formed to cover the etched first reflective layer, the etched first dielectric layer and the etched second dielectric layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of forming a polarization grating structure (e.g., polarizer) as part of a grid structure of a back side illuminated image sensor device. For example, the method includes forming a layer stack over a semiconductor layer with radiation-sensing regions. Further, the method includes forming grating elements of one or more polarization grating structures within a grid structure, where forming the grating elements includes (i) etching the layer stack to form the grid structure and (ii) etching the layer stack to form grating elements oriented to a polarization angle.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a radiation-sensing region, at least one isolation structure, and a doped passivation layer. The radiation-sensing region is present in the semiconductor substrate. The isolation structure is present in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the radiation-sensing region. The doped passivation layer at least partially surrounds the isolation structure in a substantially conformal manner.

Abstract: A method for forming an image sensor device is provided. The method includes forming a first trench in a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has a front surface and a back surface, and the first trench extends from the front surface into the semiconductor substrate. The method includes forming a first isolation structure in the first trench. The method includes forming a light-sensing region in the semiconductor substrate. The first isolation structure surrounds the light-sensing region. The method includes forming a second trench in the semiconductor substrate. The second trench extends from the back surface into the semiconductor substrate and exposes the first isolation structure. The method includes forming a second isolation structure in the second trench. The second isolation structure includes a light-blocking structure to absorb or reflect incident light.