Light Responsive Or Combined With Light Responsive Device Patents (Class 257/290)
  • Patent number: 8076741
    Abstract: A photo sensing element array substrate is provided. The photo sensing element array substrate includes a flexible substrate and a plurality of photo sensing elements. The photo sensing elements are disposed in array on the flexible substrate. Each of the photo sensing elements includes a photo sensing thin film transistor (TFT), an oxide semiconductor TFT and a capacitor. The photo sensing TFT is disposed on the flexible substrate. The oxide semiconductor TFT is disposed on the flexible substrate. The oxide semiconductor TFT is electrically connected to the photo sensing TFT. The capacitor is disposed on the flexible substrate and electrically connected between the photo sensing TFT and the oxide semiconductor TFT. When the photo sensing element array substrate is bent, it remains unaffected from normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Lai, Yung-Hui Yeh
  • Patent number: 8076669
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display includes an organic light emitting diode formed on a substrate, coupled to a transistor; a photodiode formed on the substrate and including a semiconductor layer including a high-concentration P doping region, an intrinsic region with defects and a high-concentration N doping region; and a controller that uniformly controls the luminance of light emitted from the organic light emitting diode by controlling a voltage applied to the first electrode and the second electrode according to the voltage outputted from the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Mobile Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chul-kyu Kang, Byoung-keon Park
  • Patent number: 8071180
    Abstract: A method for forming an electronic device having a semiconducting active layer comprising a polymer, the method comprising aligning the chains of the polymer parallel to each other by bringing the polymer into a liquid-crystalline phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Cambridge University Technical Services Limited
    Inventors: Henning Sirringhaus, Richard Henry Friend, Richard John Wilson
  • Publication number: 20110291164
    Abstract: A CMOS-implementable TOF detector promptly collects charge whose creation time can be precisely known, while rejecting collection of potentially late arriving charge whose creation time may not be precisely known. Charges created in upper regions of the detector structure are ensured to be rapidly collected, while charges created in the lower regions of the detector structure, potentially late arriving charges, are inhibiting from being collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: CANESTA, INC.
    Inventors: Cyrus Bamji, Swati Mehta, Tamer Ahmed Taha Elkhatib
  • Patent number: 8063421
    Abstract: Provided are a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same. The thin film transistor may include a gate; a channel layer; a source and a drain, the source and the drain being formed of metal; and a metal oxide layer, the metal oxide layer being formed between the channel layer and the source and the drain. The metal oxide layer may have a gradually changing metal content between the channel layer and the source and the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-hun Kang, Stefanovich Genrikh, I-hun Song, Young-soo Park, Chang-jung Kim
  • Patent number: 8058675
    Abstract: To provide a semiconductor device which can detect low illuminance. A photoelectric conversion element, a diode-connected first transistor, and a second transistor are included. A gate of the first transistor is electrically connected to a gate of the second transistor. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor through the photoelectric conversion element. The other of the source and the drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor. By using transistors which have different threshold voltages for the first transistor and the second transistor, a semiconductor device which can perform detecting of low illuminance can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Kimura
  • Publication number: 20110272749
    Abstract: Provided is a light receiving circuit for detecting a change in amount of light, in which an input circuit at a subsequent stage is compact and inexpensive and current consumption is low. The light receiving circuit includes: a photoelectric conversion element for supplying a current corresponding to an amount of incident light; an N-channel MOS transistor including a drain supplied with the current from the photoelectric conversion element; and a control circuit for controlling a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor via a low pass filter so that a drain voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor becomes a desired voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Fumiyasu UTSUNOMIYA, Taro YAMASAKI, Isamu FUJII
  • Patent number: 8054371
    Abstract: An image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface, pixels formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, and grid arrays aligned with one of the pixels. One of the grid arrays is configured to allow a wavelength of light to pass through to the corresponding one of the pixels. The grid arrays are disposed overlying the front or back surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Chun Wang, Dun-Nian Yaung, Chien-Hsien Tseng, Shou-Gwo Wuu
  • Patent number: 8054359
    Abstract: Provided is an image sensor including a sensing transistor having two gates and a method of operating the image sensor. The image sensor may include a photoelectric conversion device, a sensing transistor which may have a first gate connected to a floating diffusion region in which charges generated from the photoelectric conversion region are stored and a second gate separated from the first gate, a reset transistor that may be connected to the floating diffusion region and may reset a potential of the floating diffusion region, a control voltage source that may supply a control applied to the second gate, and a column output line which may be connected to a source of the sensing transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwang-soo Seol, Sung-il Park
  • Patent number: 8044445
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a thin film transistor that is placed on a substrate, a photodiode that is connected to a drain electrode of the thin film transistor and includes an upper electrode, a lower electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer placed between the upper and lower electrodes, a first interlayer insulating film that covers at least the upper electrode, a second interlayer insulating film that is placed in an upper layer of the first interlayer insulating film and covers the thin film transistor and the photodiode, and a line that is connected to the upper electrode through a contact hole disposed in the first interlayer insulating film and the second interlayer insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Hayashi, Takashi Miyayama
  • Patent number: 8044443
    Abstract: A method for producing a photosensitive integrated circuit including producing circuit control transistors, producing, above the control transistors, and between at least one upper electrode and at least one lower electrode, at least one photodiode, by amorphous silicon layers into which photons from incident electromagnetic radiation are absorbed, producing at least one passivation layer, between the lower electrode and the control transistors, and producing, between the control transistors and the external surface of the integrated circuit, a reflective layer capable of reflecting photons not absorbed by the amorphous silicon layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.
    Inventors: Jérôme Alieu, Simon Guillaumet, Christophe Legendre, Hugues Leininger, Jean-Pierre Oddou, Marc Vincent
  • Patent number: 8045028
    Abstract: A pixel having a high voltage DC supply being replaced by a pulsed signal high voltage supply that is coupled to one of the plates of a memory capacitor in the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: On Semiconductor Trading Ltd.
    Inventor: Yannick De Wit
  • Patent number: 8044478
    Abstract: Provided is an image sensor. The image sensor can include a readout circuitry on a first substrate. An interlayer dielectric is formed on the first substrate, and comprises a lower line therein. A crystalline semiconductor layer is bonded to the interlayer dielectric. A photodiode can be formed in the crystalline semiconductor layer, and comprises a first impurity region and a second impurity region. A via hole can be formed passing through the crystalline semiconductor layer and the interlayer dielectric to expose the lower line. A plug is formed inside the first via hole to connect with only the lower line and the first impurity region. A device isolation region can be formed in the crystalline semiconductor layer to separate the photodiode according to unit pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon Hwang
  • Patent number: 8039881
    Abstract: A pixel cell with a photo-conversion device and at least one structure includes a deuterated material adjacent the photo-conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 8039917
    Abstract: A photodiode includes a first silicon semiconductor layer formed over an insulating layer, a second silicon semiconductor layer formed over the insulating layer, having a thickness ranging from greater than or equal to 3 nm to less than or equal to 36 nm, a low-concentration diffusion layer which is formed in the second silicon semiconductor layer and in which an impurity of either one of a P type and an N type is diffused in a low concentration, a P-type high-concentration diffusion layer which is formed in the first silicon semiconductor layer and in which the P-type impurity is diffused in a high concentration, and an N-type high-concentration diffusion layer which is opposite to the P-type high-concentration diffusion layer with the low-concentration diffusion layer interposed therebetween and in which the N-type impurity is diffused in a high concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriyuki Miura
  • Patent number: 8039916
    Abstract: An active pixel sensor in a p-type semiconductor body includes an n-type common node formed below a pinning region. A plurality of n-type blue detectors more lightly doped than the common node are disposed below pinning regions and are spaced apart from the common node forming channels below blue color-select gates. A buried green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a first deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a green color-select gate. A red photocollector buried deeper than the green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a second deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a red color-select gate. A reset-transistor has a source disposed over and in contact with the common node. A source-follower transistor has gate coupled to the common node, a drain coupled to a power-supply node, and a source forming a pixel-sensor output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Foveon, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Merrill, Shri Ramaswami, Glenn J. Keller
  • Patent number: 8035710
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including a color filter having a filter characteristic more approaching to a human visual sensitivity is provided. The color filter including a group of dielectric layers has high-refractive-index-material films and low-refractive-index-material films, the high-refractive-index-material film and the low-refractive-index-material film being n films and (n?1) films, respectively, which are laminated alternately, n being an integer equal to or larger than 4. The color filter includes at least a red-transmission filter, a green-transmission filter, and a blue-transmission filter. The group of dielectric layers is common in the color filter and includes two of the high-refractive-index-material films and one of the low-refractive-index-material films positioned between and in contact with the two of high-refractive-index-material films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Shinzo Koyama
  • Patent number: 8035142
    Abstract: A pixel cell with a photo-conversion device and at least one structure includes a deuterated material adjacent the photo-conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Chandra Mouli
  • Publication number: 20110241090
    Abstract: Embodiments of a process for forming a photodetector region in a CMOS pixel by dopant implantation, the process comprising masking a photodetector area of a surface of a substrate for formation of the photodetector region, positioning the substrate at a plurality of twist angles, and at each of the plurality of twist angles, directing dopants at the photodetector area at a selected tilt angle. Embodiments of a CMOS pixel comprising a photodetector region formed in a substrate, the photodetector region comprising overlapping first and second dopant implants, wherein the overlap region has a different dopant concentration than the non-overlapping parts of the first and second implants, a floating diffusion formed in the substrate, and a transfer gate formed on the substrate between the photodetector and the transfer gate. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Duli Mao, Hsin-Chih Tai, Vincent Venezia, Yin Qian, Howard E. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20110233620
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate on which a photoelectric conversion element and a transistor are arranged and a plurality of wiring layers including a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer above the first wiring layer, in which a connection between the semiconductor substrate and any of the plurality of wiring layers, between a gate electrode of the transistor and any of the plurality of wiring layers, or between the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer, has a stacked contact structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Naruse, Kenji Togo, Masatsugu Itahashi
  • Patent number: 8026540
    Abstract: A system is provided for determining a color using a CMOS image sensor. The system includes an input port for receiving a user command. The system further includes an image sensor, an optical device that forms an image on the image sensor, and a processor. The image sensor includes an n-type substrate and a p-type epitaxy layer overlying the n-type substrate. The image sensor includes a control circuit that applies a first voltage on the n-type substrate to obtain a first output. The control circuit applies a second voltage on the n-type substrate to obtain a second output. The control circuit also applies a third voltage on the n-type substrate to obtain a third output. The p-type epitaxy layer includes a silicon germanium material. The image sensor additionally includes an epitaxy layer interposed between the n-type substrate and the p-type epitaxy layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Zhu, Jim Yang
  • Publication number: 20110227137
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device including a memory that has a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a control circuit that controls the memory, and an antenna, where the memory cell array has a plurality of bit lines extending in a first direction and a plurality of word lines extending in a second direction different from the first direction, and each of the plurality of memory cells has an organic compound layer provided between the bit line and the word line. Data is written by applying optical or electric action to the organic compound layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ryoji NOMURA, Hiroko ABE, Yuji IWAKI, Shunpei YAMAZAKI
  • Publication number: 20110227138
    Abstract: Photosensitive devices and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a photosensitive imager device can include a semiconductor substrate having multiple doped regions forming at least one junction, a textured region coupled to the semiconductor substrate and positioned to interact with electromagnetic radiation, and an electrical transfer element coupled to the semiconductor substrate and operable to transfer an electrical signal from the at least one junction. In one aspect, the textured region is operable to facilitate generation of an electrical signal from the detection of infrared electromagnetic radiation. In another aspect, interacting with electromagnetic radiation further includes increasing the semiconductor substrate's effective absorption wavelength as compared to a semiconductor substrate lacking a textured region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Homayoon Haddad, Jutao Jiang, Jeffrey McKee, Drake Miller, Leonard Forbes, Chintamani Palsule
  • Patent number: 8022492
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for performing photoelectric conversion has a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and a well region of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type and formed in a predetermined region of the semiconductor substrate. A pair of trenches are formed directly adjacent to respective opposite sides of the well region and have widths greater than those of respective depletion layers generated on the respective opposite sides so as to remove junction interfaces on the respective opposite sides. A depth of each trench from a surface of the semiconductor substrate is greater than that of a depletion layer generated on a bottom side of the well region. An insulating layer is buried in each of the trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Atsushi Iwasaki, Hiroaki Takasu
  • Patent number: 8022449
    Abstract: A photodiode array includes a p-side electrode provided on each p-type region formed by selective diffusion and an n-side electrode connected to a non-growth part of an InP substrate and extends to the top surface side of an epitaxial multilayer. A wall surface of an edge at the non-growth part side of the epitaxial multilayer is a smooth surface. A lattice defect density in a portion of the edge of the epitaxial multilayer is higher than a lattice defect density in the inside of the epitaxial multilayer. Furthermore, the non-growth part of the InP substrate to which the n-side electrode is connected has a flat surface continuous from the inside of the InP substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Youichi Nagai
  • Patent number: 8018013
    Abstract: A pixel structure including a scan line, a data line, an active device, a shielding electrode, and a pixel electrode is provided on a substrate. The data line includes an upper conductive wire and a bottom conductive wire. The upper conductive wire is disposed over and across the scan line. The bottom conductive wire is electrically connected to the upper conductive wire. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the upper conductive wire. The shielding electrode is disposed over the bottom conductive wire. The pixel electrode disposed over the shielding electrode is electrically connected to the active device. In addition, parts of the pixel electrode and parts of the shielding electrode form a storage capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hsiang-Lin Lin, Ching-Yu Tsai, Yi-Sheng Cheng, Kuo-Yu Huang
  • Publication number: 20110215226
    Abstract: Presented invention describes the approach for manufacturing of the pixels for solid state imaging devices possessing a photon detection efficiency superior to those currently available. Formation of a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in close vicinity of the photodiode in such a way that accumulation area of the photodiode also represents its collector region allows for conversion of the photo carriers which cannot be accumulated in a regular 4T pixel, usually holes, into complimentary type carriers, usually electrons, that can be stored, read out and converted to electric signal. This transistor can be formed, for example, by creating a n+ region inside the surface p layer of the pinned photodiode. In the described structure the accumulation region is isolated from the surface and operation of the new pixel is otherwise similar to the 4T pixel operation. As a result, both main advantages of 4T pixel: low dark current and kTC noise cancellation are, therefore, preserved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Dmitri Jerdev
  • Patent number: 8013369
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion unit with a semiconductor region of a first conduction type, an amplifying transistor, and a contact. The contact supplies, via a semiconductor region of a second conduction type arranged along a side surface and a bottom surface of an element isolation region, a reference voltage to the semiconductor region of the second conduction-type arranged below source and drain regions of the amplifying transistor in a region below a gate electrode of the amplifying transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Iwata, Hidekazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8013324
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a semiconductor nanowire having a monotonically increasing width with distance from a middle portion toward adjoining semiconductor pads is provided. A semiconductor link portion having tapered end portions is lithographically patterned. During the thinning process that forms a semiconductor nanowire, the taper at the end portions of the semiconductor nanowire provides enhanced mechanical strength to prevent structural buckling or bending. In another embodiment, a semiconductor nanowire having bulge portions are formed by preventing the thinning of a semiconductor link portion at pre-selected positions. The bulge portions having a greater width than a middle portion of the semiconductor nanowire provides enhanced mechanical strength during thinning of the semiconductor link portion so that structural damage to the semiconductor nanowire is avoided during thinning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dureseti Chidambarrao, Lidija Sekaric
  • Patent number: 8009217
    Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device, provided is a solid-state imaging device in which a first gate insulation film 22 for the readout transistor 12 in a pixel is formed so as to be thicker than a second gate insulation film 23 for an amplification transistor 14 in the pixel, and the second gate insulation film 23 for the amplification transistor 14 in the pixel is formed so as to be thicker than a third gate insulation film 24 for an n-type micro transistor 17 and a p-type micro transistor 18 in a peripheral region outside the pixel, whereby it is possible to suppress a 1/f noise of the amplification transistor 14 and also possible to increase a saturated charge amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Ryohei Miyagawa
  • Patent number: 8008694
    Abstract: A light source with enhanced brightness includes an angle-selective optical filter and a light emitting diode (LED) having a high reflective layer. The angle-selective filter is located on the top surface of emitting diode to pass lights at specified angles. According to one embodiment, the angle-selective filter includes index-alternating layers. With a reflective polarizer, the light source can produce polarized light with enhanced brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: YLX, Ltd.
    Inventors: Li Xu, Yi Li
  • Patent number: 8004025
    Abstract: In a light sensing element having simplified structure, an array substrate having the light sensing element and an LCD apparatus having the light sensing element, the light sensing element includes a first electrode, a control electrode and a second electrode. An alternating bias voltage is applied to the first electrode. An off voltage is applied to the control electrode. The second electrode outputs a light-induced leakage current based on an externally provided light and the bias voltage. Therefore, the array substrate includes one light sensing switching element corresponding to one pixel so that structure of the array substrate is simplified and opening ratio is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Jin Pak, Hyung-Guel Kim, Kee-Han Uh, Jong-Whan Cho, Jin Jeon, Young-Bae Jung
  • Patent number: 8004027
    Abstract: Provided is an image sensor. The image sensor comprises an interlayer dielectric, lines, and a crystalline semiconductor layer including photodiodes and a device isolation region. The interlayer dielectric can be formed on a first substrate comprising a readout circuitry. The lines pass through the interlayer dielectric to connect with the readout circuitry, and each line is formed according to unit pixel. The crystalline semiconductor layer can be bonded on the interlayer dielectric including the lines. The photodiodes, formed inside the crystalline semiconductor layer, are electrically connected with the lines. The device isolation region comprises conductive impurities and is formed inside the crystalline semiconductor layer so that the photodiodes can be separated according to unit pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joon Hwang
  • Patent number: 8002412
    Abstract: A projection system includes a light source module illuminating a plurality of monochromic lights, at least one optical modulator modulating the lights illuminated by the light source module according to each of color signals, a color combining prism combining the monochromic lights modulated by the optical modulator to form an image, and a projection lens projecting the image formed by the color combining prism toward a screen. A semiconductor diode including a P type semiconductor layer, an intrinsic semiconductor layer, and an N type semiconductor layer to absorb or transmit the monochromic lights according to the value of a reverse bias voltage is arranged in units of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung LED Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-hee Cho
  • Patent number: 7998780
    Abstract: The invention relates to the fabrication of thinned substrate image sensors, and notably color image sensors. After the fabrication steps carried out from the front face of a silicon substrate the front face is transferred onto a substrate. The silicon is thinned, and the connection terminals are produced by the rear face. A multiplicity of localized contact holes are opened through the thinning silicon, in the location of a connection terminal. The holes exposing a first conductive layer (24) are formed during the front face steps. Aluminum (42) is deposited on the rear face, in contact with the silicon, with the aluminum penetrating into the openings and coming into contact with the first layer. The aluminum is etched to delimit the connection terminal. Finally, a peripheral trench is opened through the entire thickness of the silicon layer, and this trench completely surrounds the connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: E2V Semiconductors
    Inventor: Pierre Blanchard
  • Patent number: 7999875
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes column amplifiers that are each provided for a different one of column signal lines. Each column amplifier includes: a constant current circuit that supplies a constant current; an amplifier circuit that is connected in series with the constant current circuit, and amplifies a pixel signal from a corresponding column signal line and outputs the amplified signal from a point of connection with the constant current circuit; and a resistor circuit that is connected in parallel with the amplifier circuit and has a constant resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: PANASONIC Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toya, Hiroshi Kubo
  • Patent number: 7999290
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device includes first and second substrates facing each other and spaced apart from each other; a gate line on an inner surface of the first substrate; a data line and a power line crossing the gate line and spaced apart from each other; a switching thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a driving thin film transistor connected to the switching thin film transistor and the power line, the driving thin film transistor including a channel region having a ring shape; an electric connection pattern connected to the driving thin film transistor, the connection pattern being disposed over the driving thin film transistor; and an organic electroluminescent diode on an inner surface of the second substrate, the organic electroluminescent diode being connected to the electric connection pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Yong Park
  • Patent number: 7994552
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a photoelectric conversion device, wherein improvement of charge transfer properties when charge is output from a charge storage region and suppression of dark current generation during charge storage are compatible with each other. This object is achieved by forming a depletion voltage of a charge storage region in the range from zero to one half of a power source voltage (V), forming a gate voltage of a transfer MOS transistor during a charge transfer period in the range from one half of the power source voltage to the power source voltage (V) and forming a gate voltage of the transfer MOS transistor during a charge storage period in the range from minus one half of the power source voltage to zero (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yuzurihara, Seiichi Tamura, Ryuichi Mishima
  • Patent number: 7994551
    Abstract: An image sensor according to an example embodiment may include a plurality of photoelectric transformation active regions, a plurality of read active regions, and/or at least one read gate. The plurality of photoelectric transformation active regions may be formed on a substrate. Each read active region may be formed adjacent to one of the plurality of photoelectric transformation active regions. Each read gate may be formed on one of the read active regions and partially overlap at least one of the adjacent photoelectric transformation active regions. Each read gate may be electrically isolated from the overlapping portion of the photoelectric transformation active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-je Park, Duk-min Yi
  • Publication number: 20110183709
    Abstract: An image sensor including a plurality of pixels each including a charge collection region including an N-type region bounded by P-type regions and having an overlying P-type layer; and an insulated gate electrode positioned over the P-type layer and arranged to receive a gate voltage for conveying charges stored in the charge collection region through the P-type layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventor: François Roy
  • Patent number: 7982251
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for detecting and storing electromagnetic beams, an imager incorporating same, a method for making said device and use thereof. The inventive device comprises a field-effect phototransistor including: two source and drain contact electrodes, an electrical conduction unit which is connected to the two contact electrodes and which is coated with a photosensitive polymeric coating capable of absorbing the beams, of detecting, of generating in response the loads detected by said unit and of storing said loads, and a gate electrode which is capable of controlling the electric current in the unit as well as spatially distributing the loads in said coating and which is separated from said unit by a gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Bourgoin, Vincent Derycke, Julien Borghetti
  • Patent number: 7981705
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a vertical type light-emitting diode, a multilayered structure of group III nitride semiconductor compounds is epitaxy deposited on an irregular surface of a substrate. The substrate is then removed to expose an irregular surface of the multilayered structure corresponding to the irregular surface of the substrate. A portion of the exposed irregular surface of the multilayered structure is then etched for forming an electrode contact surface on which an electrode layer is subsequently formed. With this method, no specific planarized region is required on the irregular surface of the substrate. As a result, planarization treatment of the substrate is not necessary. The same substrate with the irregular surface can be reused for fabricating vertical and horizontal light-emitting diodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Tekcore Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Jung Chung, Shih-Hung Lee, Cheng-Hsien Li, Wen-Hsien Lin, Nien-Tze Yeh
  • Publication number: 20110169794
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photodetector includes a substrate, a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region, a third semiconductor region, an insulating film, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a shield film. The first semiconductor region is provided on a major surface of the substrate. The second semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region are provided in a substantially identical plane to the first semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region is contacted with the first semiconductor region and has an impurity concentration higher than the first semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region is contacted with the second semiconductor region. The shield film is provided on the insulating film and electrically connected to the first electrode. A periphery of the shield film is disposed to cover an interface between the second semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region in a planar view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yujiro HARA, Yuki Kudo, Jiro Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7977718
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photodiode of an image sensor using a three-dimensional multi-layer substrate, and more particularly, to a method of implementing a buried type photodiode and a structure thereof, and a trench contact method for connecting a photodiode in a multi-layer substrate and a transistor for signal detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignees: Lumiense Photonics, Inc., Hanvision Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert Steven Hannebauer
  • Patent number: 7968890
    Abstract: By providing appropriate TFT structures arranged in various circuits of the semiconductor device in response to the functions required by the circuits, it is made possible to improve the operating performances and the reliability of a semiconductor device, reduce power consumption as well as realizing reduced manufacturing cost and increase in yield by lessening the number of processing steps. An LDD region of a TFT is formed to have a concentration gradient of an impurity element for controlling conductivity which becomes higher as the distance from a drain region decreases. In order to form such an LDD region having a concentration gradient of an impurity element, the present invention uses a method in which a gate electrode having a taper portion is provided to thereby dope an ionized impurity element for controlling conductivity accelerated in the electric field so that it penetrates through the gate electrode and a gate insulating film into a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Hideomi Suzawa, Koji Ono, Yasuyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 7968922
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor apparatus provided with at least one set of buried channel type first conductive type MOS transistor and surface channel type first conductive type MOS transistor on the same substrate, in which a first conductive type impurity region is provided below a gate electrode of the buried channel type and surface channel type MOS transistors and between source drain regions. Further, the invention provides a solid state image pickup device having a photoelectric conversion portion and a pixel including a plurality of transistors formed in correspondence to the photoelectric conversion portion, in a substrate, wherein the plurality of transistors includes a buried channel type first conductive type MOS transistor and a surface channel type first conductive type MOS transistor, and a first conductive type impurity region is provided below a gate electrode of the buried channel type and surface channel type MOS transistors and between source drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20110147760
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a substrate having at least one terminal, a thin semiconductor film including at least one semiconductor device, the thin semiconductor film being disposed and bonded on the substrate; and an individual interconnecting line formed as a thin conductive film extending from the semiconductor device in the thin semiconductor film to the terminal in the substrate, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the terminal. Compared with conventional semiconductor apparatus, the invented apparatus is smaller and has a reduced material cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Ogihara, Hiroyuki Fujiwara, Masaaki Sakuta, Ichimatsu Abiko
  • Patent number: 7960730
    Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductive oxide thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate. The method includes forming gate wiring on an insulation substrate; and forming a structure in which a semiconductive oxide film pattern and data wiring are stacked on the gate wiring, wherein the semiconductive oxide film pattern is selectively patterned to have channel regions of first thickness and source/drain regions of greater second thickness and where image data is coupled to the source regions by data wiring formed on the source regions. According to a 4-mask embodiment, the data wiring and semiconductive oxide film pattern are defined by a shared etch mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Je-hun Lee, Dong-ju Yang, Tae-hyung Ihn, Do-hyun Kim, Sun-young Hong, Seung-jae Jung, Chang-oh Jeong, Eun-guk Lee
  • Patent number: 7952096
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating an array of backside illuminated (“BSI”) image sensors is disclosed. Front side components of the BSI image sensors are formed into a front side of the array. A dopant layer is implanted into a backside of the array. The dopant layer establishes a dopant gradient to encourage photo-generated charge carriers to migrate towards the front side of the array. At least a portion of the dopant layer is annealed. A surface treatment is formed on the backside of the dopant layer to cure surface defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7952124
    Abstract: An image sensor and manufacturing method thereof are provided. An insulating layer having a wiring can be provided on a semiconductor substrate. A barrier wiring can be provided in the insulating layer between the wiring of a unit pixel and an adjacent wiring of an adjacent pixel. A device isolating pattern can be provided on the barrier wiring, and a lower electrode can be provided on the insulating layer and the wiring. A photodiode can be provided on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode can be provided on the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jong Min Kim