Antireflection Coating Patents (Class 257/437)
  • Patent number: 8164151
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a detector structure, detector arrays, and a method of detecting incident radiation. The present invention comprises a photodiode array and method of manufacturing a photodiode array that provides for reduced radiation damage susceptibility, decreased affects of crosstalk, reduced dark current (current leakage) and increased flexibility in application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: OSI Optoelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Publication number: 20120061786
    Abstract: An integrated circuit for use, for example, in a backside illuminated imager device includes circuitry provided on a first side of a substrate, a first conductive pad connected to the circuitry and spaced from the first side of the substrate, a second conductive pad spaced from a second side of the substrate, an electrically conductive interconnect formed through the substrate to interconnect the first and second conductive pads, and a dielectric surrounding the second conductive pad and at least a portion of the interconnect. Methods of forming the integrated circuit are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Kevin Hutto, Ross Dando, Swarnal Borthakur, Richard Mauritzson
  • Publication number: 20120061788
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a dual junction photodiode semiconductor device. The photodiode has a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first impurity region of a second conductivity type shallowly diffused on the front side of the semiconductor substrate, a second impurity region of the second conductivity type shallowly diffused on the back side of the semiconductor substrate, a first PN junction formed between the first impurity region and the semiconductor substrate, and a second PN junction formed between the second impurity region and the semiconductor substrate. Since light beams of a shorter wavelength are absorbed near the surface of a semiconductor, while light beams of a longer wavelength reach deeper sections, the two PN junctions at front and back sides of the photodiode allow the device to be used as an adjustable low pass or high pass wavelength filter detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja, Manoocher Mansouri Aliabadi
  • Patent number: 8125034
    Abstract: A method of forming a device using a graded anti-reflective coating is provided. One or more amorphous carbon layers are formed on a substrate. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) is formed on the one or more amorphous carbon layers wherein the ARC layer has an absorption coefficient that varies across the thickness of the ARC layer. An energy sensitive resist material is formed on the ARC layer. An image of a pattern is introduced into the layer of energy sensitive resist material by exposing the energy sensitive resist material to patterned radiation. The image of the pattern introduced into the layer of energy sensitive resist material is developed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendy H. Yeh, Martin J. Seamons, Matthew Spuller, Sum-Yee Betty Tang, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Sudha Rathi
  • Patent number: 8120130
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a solid-state imaging device that can achieve a high sensitivity, finer pixels for increasing the number of pixels, a high-speed operation, and high image quality, and a method for manufacturing the same. There are provided a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions arranged in a matrix on a substrate, a vertical transfer channel arranged between vertical columns of the photoelectric conversion portions, a plurality of vertical transfer electrodes for transferring a charge of the photoelectric conversion portions to the vertical transfer channel, a light-shielding film that is laminated on the vertical transfer electrodes via a first insulating film and has a plurality of window portions, each defining a light-receiving portion of each of the photoelectric conversion portions, and a shunt wiring that is arranged in a region overlapping the vertical transfer channel and is insulated from the light-shielding film by a second insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiro Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 8120027
    Abstract: The absorption coefficient of silicon for infrared light is very low and most solar cells absorb very little of the infrared light energy in sunlight. Very thick cells of crystalline silicon can be used to increase the absorption of infrared light energy but the cost of thick crystalline cells is prohibitive. The present invention relates to the use of less expensive microcrystalline silicon solar cells and the use of backside texturing with diffusive scattering to give a very large increase in the absorption of infrared light. Backside texturing with diffusive scattering and with a smooth front surface of the solar cell results in multiple internal reflections, light trapping, and a large enhancement of the absorption of infrared solar energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Inventor: Leonard Forbes
  • Publication number: 20120038014
    Abstract: A backside illuminated (“BSI”) complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensor includes a photosensitive region disposed within a semiconductor layer and a stress adjusting layer. The photosensitive region is sensitive to light incident on a backside of the BSI CMOS image sensor to collect an image charge. The stress adjusting layer is disposed on a backside of the semiconductor layer to establish a stress characteristic that encourages photo-generated charge carriers to migrate towards the photosensitive region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chih Tai, Howard E. Rhodes, Wei Zheng, Vincent Venezia, Yin Qian, Duli Mao
  • Publication number: 20120038015
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image sensor device that exhibits improved quantum efficiency. For example, a backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor device is provided that includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; a light sensing region disposed at the front surface of the substrate; and an antireflective layer disposed over the back surface of the substrate. The antireflective layer has an index of refraction greater than or equal to about 2.2 and an extinction coefficient less than or equal to about 0.05 when measured at a wavelength less than 700 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chih-Hui Huang, Cheng-Yuan Tsai, Yeur-Luen Tu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu
  • Patent number: 8115097
    Abstract: Electrical contact to the front side of a photovoltaic cell is provided by an array of conductive through-substrate vias, and optionally, an array of conductive blocks located on the front side of the photovoltaic cell. A dielectric liner provides electrical isolation of each conductive through-substrate via from the semiconductor material of the photovoltaic cell. A dielectric layer on the backside of the photovoltaic cell is patterned to cover a contiguous region including all of the conductive through-substrate vias, while exposing a portion of the backside of the photovoltaic cell. A conductive material layer is deposited on the back surface of the photovoltaic cell, and is patterned to form a first conductive wiring structure that electrically connects the conductive through-substrate vias and a second conductive wiring structure that provides electrical connection to the backside of the photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Supratik Guha, Yves Martin, Naim Moumen, Robert L. Sandstrom, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • Publication number: 20120033116
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes first-color pixels and second-color pixels, each of the first-color pixels including a first antireflection film and a first color filter, and each of the second-color pixels including a second antireflection film and a second color filter, wherein the solid-state image sensor satisfies T1(?12)?0.95·Tmax1, and T2(?12)?0.95·Tmax2 where ?1 represents a wavelength at which a transmittance of the first color filter is maximized, ?2 represents a wavelength at which a transmittance of the second color filter is maximized, and ?12 represents a central wavelength between wavelengths ?1 and ?2, T1(?) and T2(?) respectively represent transmittances of the first antireflection film and the second antireflection film when a wavelength is represented by ?, and Tmax1 and Tmax2 represent maximum values of the transmittances T1(?) and T2(?), respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taro Kato
  • Patent number: 8110885
    Abstract: Provided is a MOS type solid state imaging device, including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pixels arranged on the semiconductor substrate, each pixel having a light receiving element for generating a signal charge due to incident light, and a MOS transistor for reading the signal charge, and a hydrogen supply film arranged on the semiconductor substrate over the plurality of pixels and having a region corresponding to the light receiving element at least a part of which has a film thickness greater than the other part of the region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoko Iida, Takanori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8110859
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units each generating charges corresponding to light, an element isolation portion which electrically isolates the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and an antireflection portion which is arranged to prevent reflection of light, which has entered the element isolation portion from above the element isolation portion, only on a bottom face of the element isolation portion or only on the bottom face and a lower part of a side face of the element isolation portion. In addition, a first semiconductor region is arranged below the element isolation portion. A refractive index of the antireflection portion takes a value between a refractive index of the element isolation portion and a refractive index of the first semiconductor region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoko Iida
  • Patent number: 8101454
    Abstract: A pixel cell having a photosensor within a silicon substrate; and an oxide layer provided over the photosensor, the oxide layer having a grated interface with said silicon substrate, and a method of fabricating the pixel cell having a grated interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Baggenstoss
  • Publication number: 20110316110
    Abstract: A back-illuminated silicon photodetector has a layer of Al2O3 deposited on a silicon oxide surface that receives electromagnetic radiation to be detected. The Al2O3 layer has an antireflection coating deposited thereon. The Al2O3 layer provides a chemically resistant separation layer between the silicon oxide surface and the antireflection coating. The Al2O3 layer is thin enough that it is optically innocuous. Under deep ultraviolet radiation, the silicon oxide layer and the antireflection coating do not interact chemically. In one embodiment, the silicon photodetector has a delta-doped layer near (within a few nanometers of) the silicon oxide surface. The Al2O3 layer is expected to provide similar protection for doped layers fabricated using other methods, such as MBE, ion implantation and CVD deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael E. Hoenk, Frank Greer, Shouleh Nikzad
  • Patent number: 8072041
    Abstract: In one example, an optoelectronic transducer includes a first contact, a second contact, a passivation layer, and a protection layer. The passivation layer is formed on top of the first contact and the second contact and is configured to substantially minimize dark current in the optoelectronic transducer. The protection layer is formed on top of the passivation layer and substantially covers the passivation layer. The protection layer is configured to protect the passivation layer from external factors and prevent degradation of the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Roman Dimitrov
  • Publication number: 20110291217
    Abstract: A photoelectric converter includes a substrate, photoelectric converting elements formed in the substrate and each having a light-receiving surface, an antireflection film arranged above at least a part of the light-receiving surface of each photoelectric converting element, an element isolation region including an insulator, a plurality of transistors including read transistors configured to read electric charges of the photoelectric converting elements, an interlayer insulating film arranged above the photoelectric conversion elements and the read transistors, and contacts electrically connected to active regions of the transistors. The antireflection film is arranged above the element isolation region and the active region connected to each contact. The antireflection film serves as an etch stop film when the interlayer insulating film is etched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Aiko Furuichi
  • Patent number: 8063465
    Abstract: A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a vertical stacked sensor that reduces cross talk by using different silicon layers to form photodiodes at separate levels within a stack (or separate stacks) to detect different colors. Blue light-, green light-, and red light-detection silicon layers are formed, with the blue light detection layer positioned closest to the backside of the sensor and the red light detection layer positioned farthest from the backside of the sensor. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer can be inserted in between the red and green light detection layers to reduce the optical cross talk captured by the red light detection layer. Amorphous polysilicon can be used to form the red light detection layer to boost the efficiency of detecting red light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yin Qian, Hsin-Chih Tai, Duli Mao, Vincent Venezia, Howard E. Rhodes
  • Publication number: 20110272774
    Abstract: A semiconductor device which has a low-profile laminate structure including an interlayer insulating film and includes an easily formed alignment mark, and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a photoelectric transducer formed in a semiconductor substrate, a stopper film in a mark area, a first interlayer insulating film formed over the stopper film and photoelectric transducer, a first metal interconnect, and a second interlayer insulating film. A through hole which penetrates the first and second interlayer insulating films and reaches the stopper film is made and a first concave is made in the upper surface of a conductive layer in the through hole. A second concave to serve as an alignment mark is made in a second metal interconnect above the first concave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Keiichi ITAGAKI
  • Patent number: 8053783
    Abstract: A high voltage diamond based switching device capable of sustaining high currents in the on state with a relatively low impedance and a relatively low optical switching flux, and capable of being switched off in the presence of the high voltage being switched. The device includes a diamond body having a Schottky barrier contact, held in reverse bias by the applied voltage to be switched, to an essentially intrinsic diamond layer or portion in the diamond body, a second metal contact, and an optical source or other illuminating or irradiating device such that when the depletion region formed by the Schottky contact to the intrinsic diamond layer is exposed to its radiation charge carriers are generated. Cain in the total number of charge carriers then occurs as a result of these charge carriers accelerating under the field within the intrinsic diamond layer and generating further carriers by assisted avalanche breakdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Element Six Limited
    Inventors: Gehan Anil Joseph Amaratunga, Mihai Brezeanu, Jeremy Suhail Rashid, Nalin Lalith Rupesinghe, Antonella Tajani, Daniel James Twitchen, Florin Udrea, Christopher John Howard Wort
  • Publication number: 20110248370
    Abstract: The invention relates to semiconductor electronics and can be used for producing high-efficient broad-band electromagnetic radiation converters for directly converting incident radiation into electromotive force in both, the optically visible and optically invisible ranges. The inventive electromagnetic radiation converter comprises a semiconductor substrate with N=1 discrete local domains of a first conductivity type formed thereon, and since said substrate is of a second conductivity type, the above-mentioned domains of a first conductivity type form together with the substrate N=1 p-n junctions combined into a current node. Furthermore, isotype junctions generating repulsive isotype barriers to the minority charge carriers are formed on the face side of the substrate beyond the domains of a first conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Bronya Tsoi, Jury Dmitrievich Budishevsky, Valerian Eduardovich Tsoi, Tatyana Sergeevna Tsoi
  • Patent number: 8035181
    Abstract: A semiconductor photodetector comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a first multilayer reflective layer on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate and including semiconductor layers; a first optically-resonant layer on the first multilayer reflective layer; a second multilayer reflective layer on the first optically-resonant layer and including semiconductor layers; a light absorbing layer on the second multilayer reflective layer; a reflective film on the light absorbing layer; and an antireflective film on a second surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first optically-resonant layer has a larger thickness than the semiconductor layers of the first and second multilayer reflective layers. The combined optical thickness of the layers between the second multilayer reflective layer and the reflective film is not equal to the optical thickness of the first optically-resonant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Eitaro Ishimura, Masaharu Nakaji
  • Publication number: 20110221025
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a detector includes an AlzIn(1-x)Sb passivation/etch stop layer, an AlxIn(1-x)Sb absorber layer disposed above the Alzn(1-x)Sb passivation/etch stop layer, and an AlIn(1-y)Sb passivation layer disposed above the AlxIn(1-x)Sb absorber layer, wherein x<z and x<y. The detector further includes a junction formed in a region of the AlxIn(1?x)Sb absorber layer, and a metal contact disposed above the junction and through the AlyIn(1-y)Sb passivation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard E. Bornfreund, Jeffrey B. Barton
  • Publication number: 20110221024
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a detector includes an AlxIn(1-x)Sb absorber layer, and an AlyIn(1-y)Sb passivation layer disposed above the AlxIn(1-x)Sb absorber layer, wherein x<y. The detector further includes a junction formed in a region of the AlxIn(1-x)Sb absorber layer, and a metal contact disposed above the junction and through the AlyIn(1-y)Sb passivation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: FLIR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Richard E. Bornfreund, Jeffrey B. Barton
  • Patent number: 8018012
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion region formed in an upper part of a semiconductor substrate, for generating charges by photoelectric conversion; a transfer region formed in the upper part of the semiconductor substrate and located on a side of the photoelectric conversion region, for transferring the charges; and a transfer electrode formed over the semiconductor substrate and located above the transfer region. The solid-state image sensor further includes: a first insulating film which covers the photoelectric conversion region and the transfer electrode; an antireflection film which covers the first insulating film; and a first light-shielding film which is formed on the antireflection film and covers at least the transfer electrode. The antireflection film and the first light-shielding film have an opening above the transfer electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuo Nakagawa, Ichiroh Murakami, Masanori Murakami, legal representative
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110198717
    Abstract: An image sensor and a method of fabricating the same are provided. A pad region is disposed on a substrate. The pad region has a higher concentration of impurity ions than the substrate. The pad region is selectively removed using the substrate as an etch mask, thereby forming a hole. A conductive pad is formed in the hole of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: YUN-KI LEE
  • Patent number: 7994420
    Abstract: A photovoltaic solar cell including an upper electrode, a layer with light scattering and/or reflection properties, and a lower electrode. The layer with light scattering and/or reflection properties is located between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Nils-Peter Harder, Paul Mogensen, Ulf Blieske
  • Patent number: 7994600
    Abstract: Device and method for an antireflective coating to improve image quality in an image display system. A preferred embodiment comprises a first high refractive index layer overlying a reflective surface of an integrated circuit, a first low refractive index layer overlying the first high refractive index layer, a second high refractive index layer overlying the first low refractive index layer, and a second low refractive index layer overlying the second high refractive index layer. The alternating layers of high refractive index material and low refractive index material form an optical trap, allowing light to readily pass through in one direction, but not so easily in a reverse direction. The dual alternating layer topology improves the antireflective properties of the antireflective layer and permits a wide range of adjustments for manipulating reflectivity and color point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Simon Joshua Jacobs, Duane Scott Dewald, Leigh A. Files, Terry A. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 7986021
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device that solves a problem of reflection of a pattern of a wiring formed on a back surface of a semiconductor substrate on an output image. A reflection layer is formed between a light receiving element and a wiring layer, that reflects an infrared ray toward a light receiving element the without transmitting it to the wiring layer, the infrared ray entering from a light transparent substrate toward the wiring layer through a semiconductor substrate. The reflection layer is formed at least in a region under the light receiving element uniformly or only under the light receiving element. Alternatively, an anti-reflection layer having a function of absorbing the entering infrared ray to prevent transmission thereof may be formed instead of the reflection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Okada, Katsuhiko Kitagawa, Takashi Noma, Shigeki Otsuka, Hiroshi Yamada, Shinzo Ishibe, Yuichi Morita, Noboru Okubo, Hiroyuki Shinogi, Mitsuru Okigawa
  • Patent number: 7985947
    Abstract: It is a main object of the present invention to suppress the differences of color ratios of B/G and R/G when the film thicknesses of antireflective films and insulation films vary at a processing process. The present invention is a photoelectric conversion apparatus including a plurality of light receiving portions arranged on a semiconductor substrate, antireflective films formed on the light receiving portions with insulation films put between them, and color filter layers of a plurality of colors formed on the antireflective films, wherein film thicknesses of the insulation films and/or the antireflective films are changed such that changing directions of spectral transmittances at peak wavelengths of color filters on sides of the shortest wavelengths and at peak wavelengths of color filters on sides of the longest wavelengths after transmission of infrared cutting filters may be the same before and after changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Noda
  • Patent number: 7985612
    Abstract: A method and resulting device for reducing crosstalk in a back-illuminated imager is disclosed, comprising providing a substrate comprising an insulator layer and a seed layer substantially overlying the insulator layer, an interface being formed where the seed layer comes in contact with the insulator layer; forming an epitaxial layer substantially overlying the seed layer, the epitaxial layer defining plurality of pixel regions, each pixel region outlining a collection well for collecting charge carriers; and forming one of an electrical, optical, and electrical and optical barrier about the outlined collection well extending into the epitaxial layer to the interface between the seed layer and the insulator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Pradyumna Kumar Swain, Mahalingam Bhaskaran
  • Publication number: 20110175187
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a solid-state imaging device including: a photoelectric converting unit that includes a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided on a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, converts incident light entering a first surface of the semiconductor substrate into signal charges, and stores the signal charges; a readout circuit that reads the signal charges stored by the photoelectric converting unit; an antireflection structure that is provided on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate to cover the semiconductor layer of the photoelectric converting unit, includes a fixed charge film that retains fixed charges being non-signal charges, and prevents reflection of the incident light; and a hole storage region that is provided between the photoelectric converting unit and the antireflection structure, and stores holes being non-signal charges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Risako Ueno, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Hideyuki Funaki, Yoshinori Iida, Tatsuo Shimizu, Masamichi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110169121
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a detector structure, detector arrays, and a method of detecting incident radiation. The present invention comprises several embodiments that provide for reduced radiation damage susceptibility, decreased affects of crosstalk, reduced dark current (current leakage) and increased flexibility in application. In one embodiment, a photodiode array comprises a substrate having at least a front side and a back side, a plurality of diode elements integrally formed in the substrate forming the array, wherein each diode element has a p+ fishbone pattern on the front side, and wherein the p+ fishbone pattern substantially reduces capacitance and crosstalk between adjacent photodiodes, a plurality of front surface cathode and anode contacts, and wire interconnects between diode elements made through a plurality of back surface contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Patent number: 7973378
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device that realizes sensitivity improvement while maintaining flare prevention effect even when miniaturization of cell is advanced. The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: light receiving units formed on a semiconductor substrate; an antireflection film arranged above the semiconductor substrate, except above the light receiving units; and microlenses arranged above the light receiving units, in which the antireflection film is formed at a position equal to or higher than a position of the microlenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sakoh, Yoshiaki Nishi, Yasuo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7964936
    Abstract: Electronic device packages with electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) coating thereon are presented. An electronic device package includes a chip scale package having a CMOS image sensor (CIS) array chip and a set of lenses configured with an aperture. An encapsulation is molded overlying the chip scale package. A shield is atop the encapsulation. A frame fixes the set of lenses to the encapsulation. An electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) coating is formed on the encapsulation to prevent electromagnetic interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: VisEra Technologies Company Limited
    Inventors: Shin-Chang Shiung, Tzu-Han Lin, Chieh-Yuan Cheng, Li-Hsin Tseng
  • Patent number: 7956432
    Abstract: A photodiode includes a substrate having a first semiconductor type surface region on at least a portion thereof, and a second semiconductor type surface layer formed in a portion of the surface region. A multi-layer anti-reflective coating (ARC) is on the second semiconductor type surface layer, wherein the multi-layer ARC comprises at least two different dielectric layers. A layer resistant to oxide etch is above a peripheral portion the multi-layer ARC. Further layers are above the layer resistant to oxide etch, and thereby above the peripheral portion the multi-layer ARC. A window extends down to the multi-layer ARC. A photodiode region is formed by a pn-junction of the first semiconductor type surface region and the second semiconductor type surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Intersil Americas Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Zheng, Phillip J. Benzel, Joy Jones, Alexander Kalnitsky, Perumal Ratnam
  • Patent number: 7943417
    Abstract: Method for metallization of at least one photovoltaic cell comprising a substrate based on a semiconductor with a first type of conductivity, a layer doped with a second type of conductivity produced in the substrate and forming a front face of the substrate, an antireflection layer produced on the front face of the substrate and forming a front face of the photovoltaic cell. The method comprises at least the steps of: a) producing at least one metallization on the front face of the photovoltaic cell, b) a first annealing of the photovoltaic cell at a temperature between around 800° C. and 900° C., c) producing at least one metallization on the rear face of the substrate, d) a second annealing of the photovoltaic cell at a temperature between around 700° C. and 800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Pierre Jean Ribeyron, Sébastien Dubois, Nicolas Enjalbert
  • Publication number: 20110057279
    Abstract: An anti-reflective image sensor and method of fabrication are provided, the sensor including a substrate; first color sensing pixels disposed in the substrate; second color sensing pixels disposed in the substrate; third color sensing pixels disposed in the substrate; a first layer disposed directly on the first, second and third color sensing pixels; a second layer disposed directly on the first layer overlying the first, second and third color sensing pixels; and a third layer disposed directly on portions of the second layer overlying at least one of the first or second color sensing pixels, wherein the first layer has a first refractive index, the second layer has a second refractive index greater than the first refractive index, and the third layer has a third refractive index greater than the second refractive index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Jeong-Ho Lee, Sang-Il Jung
  • Patent number: 7902623
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion section which is provided for each pixel and which converts light incident on a first surface of a substrate into signal charges, a circuit region which reads signal charges accumulated by the photoelectric conversion section, a multilayer film including an insulating film and a wiring film, the multilayer film being disposed on a second surface of the substrate opposite to the first surface, and a transmission-preventing film disposed at least between the wiring film in the multilayer film and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masakazu Furukawa, Keiji Mabuchi
  • Publication number: 20110042771
    Abstract: A curable liquid formulation comprising: (i) one or more near-infrared absorbing polymethine dyes; (ii) one or more crosslinkable polymers; and (iii) one or more casting solvents. The invention is also directed to solid near-infrared absorbing films composed of crosslinked forms of the curable liquid formulation. The invention is also directed to a microelectronic substrate containing a coating of the solid near-infrared absorbing film as well as a method for patterning a photoresist layer coated on a microelectronic substrate in the case where the near-infrared absorbing film is between the microelectronic substrate and a photoresist film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wu-Song Huang, Martin Glodde, Dario L. Goldfarb, Wai-Kin Li, Sen Liu, Libor Vyklicky
  • Publication number: 20110042653
    Abstract: A curable liquid formulation containing at least (i) one or more near-infrared absorbing triphenylamine-based dyes, and (ii) one or more casting solvents. The invention is also directed to solid near-infrared absorbing films composed of crosslinked forms of the curable liquid formulation. The invention is also directed to a microelectronic substrate containing a coating of the solid near-infrared absorbing film as well as a method for patterning a photoresist layer coated on a microelectronic substrate in the case where the near-infrared absorbing film is between the microelectronic substrate and a photoresist film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Glodde, Dario L. Goldfarb, Wu-Song Huang, Wai-Kin Li, Sen Liu, Pushkara R. Varanasi, Libor Vyklicky
  • Patent number: 7893460
    Abstract: A semiconductor light detecting element comprises: a semiconductor substrate having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite each other; a first reflective layer, an absorptive layer, a phase adjusting layer, and a second reflective layer sequentially disposed, from the semiconductor substrate, on the first major surface of the semiconductor substrate; and an anti-reflection film on the second major surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first reflective layer is a multilayer reflective layer including laminated semiconductor layers having different refractive indices; the absorptive layer has a band gap energy smaller than band gap energy of the semiconductor substrate; the phase adjusting layer has a band gap energy larger than the band gap energy of the absorptive layer; and the first reflective layer contacts the absorptive layer, without intervention of other layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Eitaro Ishimura, Masaharu Nakaji
  • Patent number: 7893515
    Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor device including a photo receiving region having high photosensitivity by forming an antireflection film capable of both decreasing a reflectance and lowering a surface level density, and a manufacturing method of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes an antireflection film 8 comprised of a laminated film including a first insulating film 6 formed on the surface of a silicon substrate 1 and a second insulating film 7 having a refractive index different from that of the first insulating film 6 formed above the first insulating film in a light-receiving area 10 of a semiconductor photo receiving region PD, and in which the first insulating film 6 is comprised of a silicon oxide film formed by oxidizing silicon on the surface of the semiconductor photo receiving region PD. Further, the semiconductor photo receiving region PD has a configuration such that it may receive light having a wavelength 500 nm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tomotaka Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 7888161
    Abstract: A method for producing a solid-state imaging device, which including: a photoelectric conversion section; a charge transfer section having a charge transfer electrode; and an antireflection film covering a light-receiving region in the photoelectric conversion section, wherein forming the antireflection film includes: forming a sidewall on a lateral wall of the charge transfer electrode after forming the charge transfer electrode; forming an antireflection film on a substrate surface where the sidewall is formed; forming a resist on the antireflection film; melting and flattening the resist to expose the antireflection film on the charge transfer electrode; removing the antireflection film by using the resist as the mask; removing the sidewall; covering the charge transfer electrode with an insulating film; and forming a light-shielding film that reaches a level lower than the top surface of the antireflection film, and that surrounds the periphery of the antireflection film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Sato
  • Publication number: 20110024768
    Abstract: An avalanche photodiode semiconductor device (20) for converting an impinging photon (22) includes a base n+ doped material layer (52) formed having a window section (72) for passing the photon (22). An n? doped material layer (30) is formed on the n+ doped material layer (52) having a portion of a lower surface (74) suitably exposed. An n+ doped material layer (32) is formed on the n? doped material (30). A p+ layer (24) formed on top of the n+ doped layer (32). At least one guard ring (26) is formed in the n? doped layer (30).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: John V. Veliadis
  • Patent number: 7880204
    Abstract: A Silicon photodetector contains an insulating substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. A Silicon layer is located on the top surface of the insulating substrate, where the Silicon layer contains a center region, the center region being larger in thickness than the rest of the Silicon layer. A top Silicon dioxide layer is located on a top surface of the center region. A left wing of the center region and a right wing of the center region are doped. The Silicon photodetector also has an active region located within the center region, where the active region contains a tailored crystal defect-impurity combination and Oxygen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael W. Geis, Steven J. Spector, Donna M. Lennon, Matthew E. Grein, Robert T. Schulein, Jung U. Yoon, Franz Xaver Kaertner, Fuwan Gan, Theodore M. Lyszczarz
  • Patent number: 7880256
    Abstract: The invention provides a semiconductor device with a bonding pad made of a wiring layer including aluminum and its manufacturing method that enhance the yield of the semiconductor device. The method of manufacturing the semiconductor device of the invention includes removing a portion of an antireflection layer (e.g. made of a titanium alloy) formed on an uppermost second wiring layer (e.g. made of aluminum) on a semiconductor substrate by etching, forming a passivation layer covering the antireflection layer and a portion of the second wiring layer where the antireflection layer is not formed and having an opening exposing the other portion of the second wiring layer, and dividing the semiconductor substrate into a plurality of semiconductor dice by dicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Takai, Takuya Suzuki, Yuji Tsukada
  • Publication number: 20110018085
    Abstract: Disclosed is a silicon photoelectric multiplier having a cell structure, which includes a first type silicon substrate; a plurality of cells including a first type epitaxial layer formed on the substrate, a high concentration first type conductive layer formed on the epitaxial layer, and a high concentration second type conductive layer doped with a second type opposite the first type and formed on the high concentration first type conductive layer; a trench formed to optically separate the plurality of cells; and a guard ring formed on an outer wall of the trench so as to reach a bottom surface of the first type epitaxial layer, thus further increasing the degree of optical separation to thereby increase light detection efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Sung yong AN, Koung Soo Kwon, Chae Dong Go
  • Patent number: 7875510
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin-film device includes forming a separation layer on a substrate, forming a support layer of mainly clay containing silicate mineral having a layered crystal structure on the separation layer, forming a thin-film functional member on the support layer, applying an energy to the separation layer to reduce the adhesion between the substrate and the support layer, and removing the substrate from the support layer and the thin-film functional member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuyoshi Onodera
  • Patent number: 7868407
    Abstract: There is disclosed a substrate comprising at least an organic film, an antireflection silicone resin film over the organic film, and a photoresist film over the antireflection silicone resin film, wherein the antireflection silicone resin film includes a lower silicone resin film and an upper silicone resin film which has lower silicon content than the lower silicone resin film. There can be provided a substrate comprising at least an organic film, an antireflection silicone resin film over the organic film, and a photoresist film over the antireflection silicone resin film, in which the antireflection silicone resin film has both excellent resist compatibility and high etching resistance at the time of etching the organic film, whereby a pattern can be formed with higher precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Ogihara, Takafumi Ueda