Photodiodes Accessed By Fets Patents (Class 257/292)
  • Patent number: 11665451
    Abstract: An operating method of an image sensor, including performing a first sampling operation corresponding to first illumination in at least one pixel; performing a second sampling operation corresponding to second illumination in the at least one pixel; and outputting a first pixel voltage corresponding to the first sampling operation, or outputting a second pixel voltage corresponding to the second sampling operation, in the at least one pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minwoong Seo, Daehoon Kim, Seungsik Kim, Dongmo Im
  • Patent number: 11658192
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: an accumulation unit that accumulates an electric charge generated by a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light transmitted through a microlens; and a readout unit that reads out a signal based on a voltage of the accumulation unit, wherein the accumulation unit and the readout unit are included along an optical axis direction of the microlens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Osamu Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 11658031
    Abstract: Implantation mask formation techniques described herein include increasing an initial aspect ratio of a pattern in an implantation mask by non-lithography techniques, which may include forming a resist hardening layer on the implantation mask. The pattern may be formed by photolithography techniques to the initial aspect ratio that reduces or minimizes the likelihood of pattern collapse during formation of the pattern. Then, the resist hardening layer is formed on the implantation mask to increase the height of the pattern and reduce the width of the pattern, which increases the aspect ratio between the height of the openings or trenches and the width of the openings or trenches of the pattern. In this way, the pattern in the implantation mask may be formed to an ultra-high aspect ratio in a manner that reduces or minimizes the likelihood of pattern collapse during formation of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei-Chao Chiu, Yong-Jin Liou, Yu-Wen Chen, Chun-Wei Chang, Ching-Sen Kuo, Feng-Jia Shiu
  • Patent number: 11652123
    Abstract: An image sensing device is disclosed. The image sensing device includes a semiconductor substrate configured to generate charge carriers in response to light incident, a plurality of control regions supported by the semiconductor substrate and configured to cause majority carrier currents in the semiconductor substrate to control movement of minority carriers, and a plurality of detection regions formed adjacent to the control regions and configured to capture the minority carriers moving in the semiconductor substrate. Each of the control regions includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a middle portion disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion. The middle portion has a smaller horizontal cross-sectional profile than each of the upper portion and the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Ho Young Kwak
  • Patent number: 11646342
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging device and an electronic device that make it possible to obtain a better pixel signal. A photoelectric conversion part that converts received light into a charge; a holding part that holds a charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion part; and a light shielding part that shields light between the photoelectric conversion part and the holding part are provided. The photoelectric conversion part, the holding part, and the light shielding part are formed in a semiconductor substrate. The light shielding part of a transfer region that transfers the charge from the photoelectric conversion part to the holding part is formed as a non-penetrating light shielding part that does not penetrate the semiconductor substrate. The light shielding part other than the transfer region is formed as a penetrating light shielding part that penetrates the semiconductor substrate. The present technology is applicable to an imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimichi Kumagai, Takashi Abe, Ryoto Yoshita
  • Patent number: 11641532
    Abstract: A time-of-flight device comprises a pixel array including an array of pixel circuits, wherein a column of the array includes: a first pixel circuit including a first photodiode, a first capacitor and a second capacitor coupled to the first photodiode, and a second pixel circuit including a second photodiode, a third capacitor and a fourth capacitor coupled to the second photodiode, a first signal line coupled to the first capacitor, a second signal line coupled to the second capacitor, a third signal line coupled to the third capacitor, a fourth signal line coupled to the fourth capacitor, a first switch circuitry, a second switch circuitry, a first comparator coupled to the first signal line and the third signal line through the first switch circuitry, and a second comparator coupled to the second signal line and the fourth signal line through the second switch circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Zvika Veig, Golan Zeituni, Kei Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11637215
    Abstract: A photodetection film includes at least one lower photodiode and upper photodiode layered members. The at least one lower photodiode layered member includes lower first-type, intrinsic and second-type semiconductor layers. The at least one upper photodiode layered member is disposed on the at least one lower photodiode layered member and includes upper first-type, intrinsic and second-type semiconductor layers. The upper intrinsic semiconductor layer has an amorphous silicon structure. The lower intrinsic semiconductor layer has a structure selected from one of a microcrystalline silicon structure, a microcrystalline silicon-germanium structure, and a non-crystalline silicon-germanium structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SHANGHAI HARVEST INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY CO, LTD.
    Inventor: Jiandong Huang
  • Patent number: 11636800
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes: a charge storage circuit with first and second terminals thereof electrically coupled to first and second nodes, respectively; a reset circuit with first, second and third control terminals thereof electrically coupled to a reference signal line, a first initialization signal line, and a second initialization signal line, respectively, with fourth, fifth and sixth terminals thereof electrically coupled to the first node, a cathode of a photodiode and the second node, respectively; a photosensitive control circuit with first, second and third terminals thereof electrically coupled to an anode of the photodiode, the first node and the second node, respectively; an output circuit with first and second terminals thereof electrically coupled to a first level terminal and a fourth terminal of the photosensitive control circuit, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lubin Shi, Fuqiang Li, Tingting Zhou
  • Patent number: 11631707
    Abstract: An imaging device including: a photoelectric converter that generates a signal charge by photoelectric conversion of light; a semiconductor substrate; a charge accumulation region that is an impurity region of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate, the charge accumulation region being configured to receive the signal charge; a first transistor that includes, as a source or a drain, a first impurity region of the first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate; and a blocking structure that is located between the charge accumulation region and the first transistor. The blocking structure includes a second impurity region of a second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate, the second conductivity type being different from the first conductivity type, and a first electrode that is located above the semiconductor substrate, the first electrode being configured to be applied with a first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Patent number: 11626433
    Abstract: Image sensors include a photodiode disposed in a semiconductor substrate and a transistor operatively coupled to the photodiode. At least three substrate trench structures are formed in the semiconductor substrate, defining two nonplanar structures, each having a plurality of sidewall portions. An isolation layer includes at least three isolation layer trench structures, each being disposed in a respective one of the three substrate trench structures. A gate includes three fingers, each being disposed in a respective one of the three isolation layer trench structures. An electron channel of the transistor extends along the plurality of sidewall portions of the two nonplanar structures in a channel width plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sing-Chung Hu, Seong Yeol Mun, Bill Phan
  • Patent number: 11627277
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged along rows and columns; and a row driver which drives the plurality of pixels for each of the rows, wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels, each of the plurality of sub-pixels includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements sharing a floating diffusion area with each other, and a micro lens disposed to overlap the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a readout area is defined on the pixel array in accordance with a preset readout mode, and the row driver generates a drive signal for reading out signals provided from a photoelectric conversion element included in the readout area from among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and provides the drive signal to the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun Sub Shim, Kyung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11626439
    Abstract: An imaging device having a three-dimensional integration structure is provided. A first structure including a transistor including silicon in an active layer or an active region and a second structure including an oxide semiconductor in an active layer are fabricated. After that, the first and second structures are bonded to each other so that metal layers included in the first and second structures are bonded to each other; thus, an imaging device having a three-dimensional integration structure is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ikeda, Naoto Kusumoto
  • Patent number: 11621284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device. In a pixel array section in the solid-state imaging device, a vertical signal line is provided right under power supply wiring apart from a floating diffusion region in order to reduce load capacitance of the vertical signal line. Furthermore, the power supply wiring is wired to make a cover rate of each vertical signal line with respect to the power supply wiring nearly uniform. As a result, it is possible to suppress variation of load capacitance of the vertical signal line for each pixel. It becomes possible to suppress deviation in a black level, variation of charge transfer, and variation of settling. It becomes possible to obtain an image with higher quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Uesaka, Atsuhiko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11604497
    Abstract: An electronic device, including a substrate, a transistor, a data line, a first transparent conductive layer, an insulating layer, and a metal layer, is provided. The transistor is disposed on the substrate. The data line is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the transistor. The first transparent conductive layer is disposed on the data line. The insulating layer is disposed on the first transparent conductive layer. The metal layer is disposed on the data line and overlapped with the data line. The electronic device of the disclosure may reduce an impedance of the transparent conductive layer, mitigate a problem of visual visibility caused by metal reflection, reduce a probability of light entering a semiconductor layer of the transistor, or increase an aperture ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Jou Tai, Chia-Hao Tsai
  • Patent number: 11594564
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging element, a manufacturing method, and an electronic apparatus which are capable of further improving a light-blocking effect. The solid-state imaging element has a laminated structure in which a memory substrate, a logic substrate, and a sensor substrate are laminated. The solid-state imaging element includes a through electrode that connects the memory substrate and the sensor substrate in a manner passing through a semiconductor layer of the logic substrate, and a light-blocking metal film arranged in a wiring layer included in the logic substrate and provided on the sensor substrate side, where the light-blocking metal film has an opening opened so as to allow the through electrode to pass through. The solid-state imaging element further includes a contact electrode formed on a bonded surface between the logic substrate and the sensor substrate and used to connect the through electrode to the sensor substrate side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobutoshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11594577
    Abstract: A color filter is disposed on a substrate. An organic photodiode is disposed on the color filter. The organic photodiode includes an electrode insulating layer having a recess region on the substrate, a first electrode on the color filter, the first electrode filling the recess region of the electrode insulating layer, a second electrode on the first electrode, and an organic photoelectric conversion layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a seam extending at a first angle from a side surface of the recess region of the electrode insulating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventors: Gwi-Deok Ryan Lee, Jung Hun Kim, Chang Hwa Kim, Sang Su Park, Sang Hoon Uhm, Beom Suk Lee, Tae Yon Lee, Dong Mo Im
  • Patent number: 11587963
    Abstract: To enhance a charge transfer efficiency in a transfer gate having a vertical gate electrode. A solid-state imaging element includes a photoelectric conversion section, a charge accumulating section, and a transfer gate. The photoelectric conversion section is formed in a depth direction of a semiconductor substrate, and generates charges corresponding to a quantity of received light. The charge accumulating section accumulates the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion section. The transfer gate transfers the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion section to the charge accumulating section. The transfer gate includes a plurality of vertical gate electrodes which is filled to a predetermined depth from an interface of the semiconductor substrate, and at least a part of a diameter is different in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11582416
    Abstract: To improve image quality of image data in a solid-state image sensor that detects an address event. The solid-state image sensor includes a photodiode, a pixel signal generation unit, and a detection unit. In the solid-state image sensor, the photodiode generates electrons and holes by photoelectric conversion. The pixel signal generation unit generates a pixel signal having a voltage according to an amount of one of the electrons and the holes. The detection unit detects whether or not a change amount in the other of the electrons and the holes has exceeded a predetermined threshold and outputs a detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin Kitano
  • Patent number: 11581346
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including a substrate having a surface over which a plurality of photodiodes are formed, and a protection film that is transparent, has a water-proofing property, and includes a side wall part vertical to the surface of the substrate and a ceiling part covering a region surrounded by the side wall part, the side wall part and the ceiling part surrounding a region where the plurality of photodiodes are arranged over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Miyazawa, Yutaka Ooka
  • Patent number: 11581352
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Wei Cheng, Chun-Hao Chou, Kuo-Cheng Lee
  • Patent number: 11581344
    Abstract: Image sensors are provided. The image sensors may include a substrate including first, second, third and fourth regions, a first photoelectric conversion element in the first region, a second photoelectric conversion element in the second region, a third photoelectric conversion element in the third region, a fourth photoelectric conversion element in the fourth region, a first microlens at least partially overlapping both the first and second photoelectric conversion elements, and a second microlens at least partially overlapping both the third and fourth photoelectric conversion elements. The image sensors may also include a floating diffusion region and first, second and third pixel transistors configured to perform different functions from each other. Each of the first, second and third pixel transistors may be disposed in at least one of first, second, third and fourth pixel regions. The first pixel transistor may include multiple first pixel transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Bin Yun, Eun Sub Shim, Kyung Ho Lee, Sung Ho Choi, Jung Hoon Park, Jung Wook Lim, Min Ji Jung
  • Patent number: 11573320
    Abstract: A light receiving element includes: a first tap; a second tap; a first photoelectric conversion unit configured to detect a charge generated by photoelectric conversion according to a light amount of incident light in accordance with a voltage applied to the first tap; a second photoelectric conversion unit configured to detect a charge generated by photoelectric conversion according to a light amount of the incident light in accordance with a voltage applied to the second tap; a plurality of accumulation units configured to accumulate the charges generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit; a plurality of transmission units configured to transmit the charges generated by the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit to the plurality of accumulation units; and a calculation unit configured to execute calculation based on the charges accumulated in the plurality of accumulation units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick Brady, Sungin Hwang, Ward van der Tempel, Timmermans Michiel, Sozo Yokogawa, Taisuke Suwa
  • Patent number: 11574947
    Abstract: A photodiode array has buried photodiodes and vertical selection transistors. Trenches are lined with gate oxide and metallic plugs of first material lie within the trenches. Gate contacts of second material contact the metallic plugs, with photodiode diffusion regions adjacent the trenches as sources of vertical transistors, the metallic plugs form gates of the vertical transistors, and buried photodiode regions form sources of the vertical transistors. In embodiments, the first conductive material is tungsten, titanium nitride, titanium carbide, or aluminum and the second conductive material is polysilicon. The array is formed by trenching, growing gate oxide, and depositing first material in the trenches. The first material is etched to define metallic plugs, the second material is deposited onto the metallic plugs then masked and etched; and drain regions implanted. Etching the second material is performed by a reactive ion etch that stops upon reaching the metallic plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Gang Chen
  • Patent number: 11563200
    Abstract: A display device includes a first semiconductor pattern on a substrate, a first insulating layer on the first semiconductor pattern, a first gate electrode on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the first gate electrode, a second semiconductor pattern on the second insulating layer, a material of the second semiconductor pattern being different from that of the first semiconductor pattern, a third insulating layer on the second semiconductor pattern, a second gate electrode on the third insulating layer, a first planarization layer overlapping the second gate electrode, a second planarization layer on the first planarization layer and including a light blocking portion, and a pixel definition layer on the second planarization layer, wherein at least a portion of the pixel definition layer directly contacts the light blocking portion of the second planarization layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 11563906
    Abstract: A TDI sensor which is capable of controlling the exposure according to the present disclosure includes a pixel unit which includes a plurality of line sensors; a light blocking unit which blocks light from being incident into some of the plurality of line sensors; a scan controller which generates an exposure control signal based on an external line trigger signal, generates an internal line trigger signal based on the external line trigger signal and the exposure control signal, and controls the movement of charges of the plurality of line sensors based on the internal line trigger signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: VIEWORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Ho Kim, Young Young Sim
  • Patent number: 11563058
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a first electrode, a charge accumulating electrode arranged with a space from the first electrode, an isolation electrode arranged with a space from the first electrode and the charge accumulating electrode and surrounding the charge accumulating electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer formed in contact with the first electrode and above the charge accumulating electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and a second electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion layer. The isolation electrode includes a first isolation electrode and a second isolation electrode arranged with a space from the first isolation electrode, and the first isolation electrode is positioned between the first electrode and the second isolation electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Kaneda, Fumihiko Koga
  • Patent number: 11557616
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes a photoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion (FD) region, and a transfer gate. The photoelectric conversion element is disposed in a substrate, and generates photocharges in response to incident light. The floating diffusion (FD) region is disposed over the photoelectric conversion element, and stores the photocharges generated by the photoelectric conversion element. The transfer gate transfer the photocharges generated by the photoelectric conversion element to the floating diffusion (FD) region in response to a transmission signal. The transfer gate includes a horizontal gate disposed over the photoelectric conversion element, and a vertical gate coupled to the horizontal gate. The vertical gate is positioned at a side of the photoelectric conversion element, and surrounds the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Ryeong Lee, Dong Hyun Woo
  • Patent number: 11552114
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element of a pixel sharing type with improved driving of transistors is disclosed. A first electric charge accumulating section and a second electric charge accumulating section are arranged in a predetermined direction. A first transfer section transfers electric charge from first photoelectric conversion elements to the first electric charge accumulating section, causing it to accumulate the electric charge. A second transfer section transfers electric charge from second photoelectric conversion elements to the second electric charge accumulating section, causing it to accumulate the electric charge. A first transistor is configured to output a signal corresponding to an amount of the electric charge accumulated in each of the first electric charge accumulating section and the second electric charge accumulating section. A second transistor is arranged with the first transistor in the predetermined direction and connected in parallel to the first transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nakadate, Toshifumi Wakano, Masahiko Nakamizo
  • Patent number: 11552118
    Abstract: An image sensor including: a substrate which has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface and pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein each of the pixels includes a photodiode; a multi-wiring layer arranged on the first surface of the substrate; a color filter layer arranged on the second surface of the substrate and including color filters that respectively correspond to the pixels; and a lens layer arranged on the color filter layer and including a double-sided spherical lens, wherein the double-sided spherical lens includes at least two material layers having different refractive indexes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sanghoon Kim, Yunki Lee, Hyeongdong Jo
  • Patent number: 11552119
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and electronic equipment to suppress degradation of Dark characteristics. A photoelectric converting unit configured to perform photoelectric conversion, and a PN junction region including a P-type region and an N-type region on a side of a light incident surface of the photoelectric converting unit are included. Further, on a vertical cross-section, the PN junction region is formed at three sides including a side of the light incident surface among four sides enclosing the photoelectric converting unit. Further, a trench which penetrates through a semiconductor substrate in a depth direction and which is formed between the photoelectric converting units each formed at adjacent pixels is included, and the PN junction region is also provided on a side wall of the trench. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a backside irradiation type CMOS image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuuki Kobayashi, Atsushi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 11538942
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a light receiving element and a ranging module that can improve characteristics. A light receiving element includes: light receiving regions each including a first voltage application unit to which a first voltage is applied, a first charge detection unit provided around the first voltage application unit, a second voltage application unit to which a second voltage different from the first voltage is applied, and a second charge detection unit provided around the second voltage application unit; and an isolation portion that is arranged at a boundary between the light receiving regions adjacent to each other, and isolates the light receiving regions from each other. The present technology can be applied to a light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Neya, Takuya Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11532672
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a first electrode, a charge accumulating electrode arranged with a space from the first electrode, an isolation electrode arranged with a space from the first electrode and the charge accumulating electrode and surrounding the charge accumulating electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer formed in contact with the first electrode and above the charge accumulating electrode with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, and a second electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion layer. The isolation electrode includes a first isolation electrode and a second isolation electrode arranged with a space from the first isolation electrode, and the first isolation electrode is positioned between the first electrode and the second isolation electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukio Kaneda, Fumihiko Koga
  • Patent number: 11532515
    Abstract: A method includes forming a bottom source/drain contact plug in a bottom inter-layer dielectric. The bottom source/drain contact plug is electrically coupled to a source/drain region of a transistor. The method further includes forming an inter-layer dielectric overlying the bottom source/drain contact plug. A source/drain contact opening is formed in the inter-layer dielectric, with the bottom source/drain contact plug exposed through the source/drain contact opening. A dielectric spacer layer is formed to have a first portion extending into the source/drain contact opening and a second portion over the inter-layer dielectric. An anisotropic etching is performed on the dielectric spacer layer, and a remaining vertical portion of the dielectric spacer layer forms a source/drain contact spacer. The remaining portion of the source/drain contact opening is filled to form an upper source/drain contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Tsang Hsieh, Cha-Hsin Chao, Yi-Wei Chiu, Li-Te Hsu, Ying Ting Hsia
  • Patent number: 11531221
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a first switching element, a second switching element, a first organic insulating layer, a second organic insulating layer, a third organic insulating layer, a first connection electrode electrically connected to the first switching element, a second connection electrode electrically connected to the first connection electrode, a pixel electrode electrically connected to the second connection electrode, and a photoelectric conversion element electrically connected to the second switching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Japan Display Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Mochizuki, Makoto Uchida
  • Patent number: 11525922
    Abstract: An image sensor may include a first photo gate and a second photo gate each extending substantially in parallel in a first direction, the first photo gate and the second photo gate isolated from direct contact with each other in a second direction, the second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, a first overflow gate between the first photo gate and the second photo gate, the first overflow gate extending in the first direction, a first charge collection region on the first photo gate, a second charge collection region on the second photo gate and isolated from direct contact with the first charge collection region in the second direction, a first floating diffusion region that may receive first charge from the first charge collection region and output the first charge, and a second floating diffusion region that may receive second charge from the second charge collection region and output the second charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Gu Jin, Young Chan Kim, Tae Sub Jung, Yong Hun Kwon, Sung Young Seo, Moo Sup Lim, Sung Ho Choi
  • Patent number: 11523070
    Abstract: Color mixing between pixels is prevented in a solid-state imaging element in which a pair of pixels for detecting the phase difference of a pair of light rays are arranged. A pair of photoelectric conversion elements receive a pair of light rays made by pupil-splitting. A floating diffusion layer generates a pair of pixel signals from electric charge transferred from each of the pair of photoelectric conversion elements. A pair of transfer transistors transfer the electric charge from the pair of photoelectric conversion elements to the floating diffusion layer. In a case of detecting the phase difference of the pair of light rays from the pair of pixel signals, the control unit takes control so that back gate voltages that include the back gate potentials of both of the pair of transfer transistors with respect to the potential barrier between the pair of photoelectric conversion elements have values different from values in a case of synthesizing the pair of pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hisao Yoshimura, Ryoji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11521999
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes a photoelectric conversion element, a floating diffusion (FD) region, and a transfer gate. The photoelectric conversion element is disposed in a substrate, and generates photocharges in response to incident light. The floating diffusion (FD) region is disposed over the photoelectric conversion element, and stores the photocharges generated by the photoelectric conversion element. The transfer gate transfer the photocharges generated by the photoelectric conversion element to the floating diffusion (FD) region in response to a transmission signal. The transfer gate includes a horizontal gate disposed over the photoelectric conversion element, and a vertical gate coupled to the horizontal gate. The vertical gate is positioned at a side of the photoelectric conversion element, and surrounds the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Ryeong Lee, Dong Hyun Woo
  • Patent number: 11509848
    Abstract: A photodiode assembly comprises a photoconductive substrate, including a P-doped region coupled with a controllable voltage biasing source, and an adjacent N-doped well. The photodiode assembly further comprises first and second capacitors coupled with the photoconductive substrate on first and second sides of the N-doped well. First and second control inputs are also coupled with the photoconductive substrate, wherein activation of the first control input causes electrons to flow through a first multiplication region of the N-doped well toward the first capacitor in response to photons striking the photoconductive substrate, and activation of the second control input causes electrons to flow through a second multiplication region of the N-doped well toward the second capacitor in response to photons striking the photoconductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Minseok Oh
  • Patent number: 11502120
    Abstract: Backside illuminated sensor pixel structure. In one embodiment, and image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array that are disposed in a semiconductor substrate. Individual photodiodes of the pixel array are configured to receive an incoming light through a backside of the semiconductor substrate. A front side of the semiconductor substrate is opposite from the backside. A plurality of transistors disposed proximate to the front side of the semiconductor substrate, are arranged in a row along an outer perimeter of the photodiodes of the respective pixel; and a plurality of isolation structures arranged to bracket the row of transistors along the outer perimeter of the photodiodes. A plurality of contacts electrically contacting the plurality of isolation structures, and the contacts are configured to voltage-bias the plurality of isolation structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Watanabe, Chih-Wei Hsiung, Vincent Venezia, Young Woo Jung, Geunsook Park, Lindsay Alexander Grant
  • Patent number: 11502122
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging element and an electronic device enabling suppression of generation of noise. Provided with a substrate, a first photoelectric conversion region provided on the substrate, a second photoelectric conversion region provided on the substrate and adjacent to the first photoelectric conversion region, a trench provided on the substrate and between the first photoelectric conversion region and the second photoelectric conversion region, a first impurity region including a first impurity provided on the substrate and on a sidewall of the trench, and a second impurity region including a second impurity provided on the substrate and between the first photoelectric conversion region or the second photoelectric conversion region and the first impurity region. The present technology can be applied to an imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruyuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11502752
    Abstract: The present disclosure related to a visible light communication apparatus, comprising a substrate; a TFT structure layer on the substrate; a photoelectric conversion component on a source or a drain of the TFT structure layer; and a light-emitting component on the substrate. The photoelectric conversion component may be configured to receive an optical signal and convert the optical signal into an electrical signal; and the light-emitting component may be configured to emit an optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dapeng Xue
  • Patent number: 11496703
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are image apparatuses comprising a frontside surface, a backside surface, a storage region (e.g., a storage node or a floating diffusion node), the storage region being situated closer to the frontside surface than to the backside surface, a storage well situated between the backside surface and the storage region, and a doping region situated between the storage region and the storage well. An impurity type of the doping region is opposite an impurity type of the storage well. A lateral area of the storage well is greater than or equal to a lateral area of the storage region, and no portion of a lateral perimeter of the storage region extends outside of a lateral perimeter of the storage well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Eric R. Fossum
  • Patent number: 11496705
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit includes a reference signal line, a processing circuit that processes a potential of the reference signal line and a potential of an input signal, a first reference voltage supplying circuit that outputs a predetermined potential to one end of the reference signal line, and a second reference voltage supplying circuit that outputs a predetermined potential to the other end of the reference signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11489085
    Abstract: A light sensing device includes a substrate, a gate electrode, a shielding electrode, a insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The gate electrode and the shielding electrode are disposed over the substrate and spaced apart from each other. The insulating layer is disposed over the gate electrode and the shielding electrode. The semiconductor layer is disposed over the insulating layer. The source and drain electrodes are respectively connected to the semiconductor layer, and the semiconductor layer has a channel region between the source and drain electrodes. The channel region is divided into a first region adjacent to the drain electrode and overlapping the gate electrode and a second region adjacent to the source electrode and not overlapping the gate electrode, and the second region partially overlaps the shielding electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: HANNSTOUCH SOLUTION INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Che-Yu Chuang, Ching-Feng Tsai
  • Patent number: 11482561
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a manufacturing method thereof, and an electronic apparatus, in which both oblique light characteristics and sensitivity can be improved. The solid-state imaging device includes pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixels is two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and multi-stage light shielding walls are provided between the pixels. The present disclosure is applicable to, for example, a back-illuminated type solid-state imaging device and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ippei Yoshiba, Yoichi Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 11476850
    Abstract: A semiconductor relay device includes a conversion circuit configured to receive an input signal from outside and pass a first current to a first node based on the input signal. A zener diode has an anode coupled to a second node and a cathode coupled to the first node. A resistor is coupled between the second node and a third node. A number n of diodes are serially coupled. A thyristor has an anode coupled to the first node, a cathode coupled to the second node, and a control terminal coupled to the third node. A transistor has a gate coupled to the first node. An anode of a diode at a first end of the n diodes is coupled to the first node, and a cathode of a diode at a second end of the n diodes is coupled to a third node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Takai, Yukihiro Takifuji, Keita Saito, Kazuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11467264
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for measuring a depth with a pseudo 4-tap pixel structure, the apparatus including a delta sigma circuit configured to calculate, through a delta sigma operation, a delta value of a first angle corresponding to a first row line of a pixel array for measuring a depth of an object and calculate, through a delta sigma operation, a delta value of a third angle corresponding to a second row line of the pixel array, a memory configured to store the calculated delta value of the first angle corresponding to the first row line, and an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) configured to compute depth information corresponding to the first row line by using the stored delta value of the first angle corresponding to the first row line and the calculated delta value of the third angle corresponding to the second row line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Research & Business Foundation Sungkyunkwan University
    Inventors: Jae Hyuk Choi, Dong Uk Kim, Jung Hoon Chun
  • Patent number: 11462582
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state image pickup device, a manufacturing method, and an electronic apparatus, which can obtain high charge transfer efficiency from a photoelectric conversion unit to a floating diffusion layer. The floating diffusion layer is arranged in a rectangular shape so as to surround a gate electrode of a vertical transistor whose groove portion is rectangular. A reset drain is formed so as to be adjacent to the floating diffusion layer through a reset gate. A potential of the floating diffusion layer is reset to the same potential as that of the reset drain by applying a predetermined voltage to the reset gate. It is possible to apply the present disclosure to, for example, a CMOS solid-state image pickup device used in an image pickup device such as a camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Hideaki Togashi
  • Patent number: 11463677
    Abstract: An image signal processor includes a register and a disparity correction unit. The register stores disparity data obtained from a pattern image data that an image senor generates, and the image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, and each of the pixel includes at least a first photoelectric conversion element and a second photoelectric conversion element. The image sensor generates the pattern image data in response to a pattern image located at a first distance from the image sensor. The disparity correction unit corrects a disparity distortion of an image data based on the disparity data to generate a result image data, and the image senor generates the image data by capturing an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hee Kang, Young-Jun Song, Dong-Ki Min, Jong-Min You, Jee-Hong Lee, Seok-Jae Kang, Taek-Sun Kim, Joon-Hyuk Im
  • Patent number: 11456327
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of pixel regions, a first surface, and a second surface opposing the first surface, a plurality of transistors adjacent to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in each of the plurality of pixel regions, a microlens on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of conductive patterns in contact with the semiconductor substrate and closer to the second surface of the semiconductor substrate than to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in each of the plurality of pixel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Gu Jin, Young Chan Kim, Yong Hun Kwon, Eung Kyu Lee, Chang Keun Lee, Moo Sup Lim, Tae Sub Jung