External Physical Configuration Of Semiconductor (e.g., Mesas, Grooves) Patents (Class 257/466)
  • Patent number: 8338903
    Abstract: The surrounding length of a junction separation portion can be shortened to improve an insulating resistance in order to provide a solar cell with highly efficiency. In a photoelectric transducer of the type where a light-receiving surface electrode is wired to another electrode on a back surface via a through electrode passing through a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type, the photoelectric transducer comprises: a junction separation portion made around the through electrode on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer formed for covering the junction separation portion, the through electrode penetrating the dielectric layer; and a back electrode provided on the dielectric layer and coupled to the through electrode which is connected to the light-receiving surface electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yamazaki, Satoshi Okamoto, Jumpei Imoto
  • Patent number: 8338902
    Abstract: An uncooled infrared image sensor according to an embodiments includes: a plurality of pixel cells formed in a first region on a semiconductor substrate; a reference pixel cell formed in a second region on the semiconductor substrate and corresponding to each row or each column of the pixel cells; a supporting unit formed for each of the pixel cell and supporting a corresponding pixel cell; and an interconnect unit formed for each reference pixel cell. Each of the pixel cells includes: a first infrared absorption film and a first heat sensitive element. The reference pixel cell includes: a second infrared absorption film and a second heat sensitive element, the second heat sensitive element having the same characteristics as characteristics of the first heat sensitive element. The third and fourth interconnects of the interconnect unit have the same electrical resistance as electrical resistance of the first and second interconnects of the supporting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Honam Kwon, Hideyuki Funaki, Hiroto Honda, Hitoshi Yagi, Ikuo Fujiwara, Masaki Atsuta, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Keita Sasaki, Koichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 8330243
    Abstract: A semiconductor light-detecting element includes: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having a band gap energy, a first principal surface, and a second principal surface opposed to the first principal surface; a first semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type on the first principal surface and having a band gap energy smaller than the band gap energy of the semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type on the first semiconductor layer; an area of a second conductivity type on a part of the second semiconductor layer; a first electrode connected to the second semiconductor layer; a second electrode connected to the area; and a low-reflection film on the second principal surface. The second principal surface is a light-detecting surface detecting incident light, and no substance or structure having a higher reflection factor, with respect to the incident light, than the low-reflection film, is located on the second principal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Matobu Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8320037
    Abstract: An electro-optic device is provided. The electro-optic device includes a junction layer disposed between a first conductivity type semiconductor layer and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer to which a reverse vias voltage is applied. The first conductivity type semiconductor layer and the second conductivity type semiconductor layer have an about 2 to 4-time doping concentration difference therebetween, thus making it possible to provide the electro-optic device optimized for high speed, low power consumption and high integration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeong Woo Park, Jongbum You, Gyungock Kim
  • Publication number: 20120286389
    Abstract: Photovoltaic devices conformally deposited on a nano-structured substrate having hills and valleys have corresponding hills and valleys in the device layers. We have found that disposing an insulator in the valleys of the device layers such that the top electrode of the device is insulated from the device layer valleys provides beneficial results. In particular, this insulator prevents electrical shorts that otherwise tend to occur in such devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Anjia Gu, Yijie Huo, Dong Liang, Yangsen Kang, James S. Harris, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120280352
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided and a method for manufacturing said structure. The semiconductor structure includes a thin film semiconductor having an active region and placed on a diamond substrate. The thin film semiconductor is preferably directly bonded to the diamond layer, or may be adhered thereto by a dielectric adhesion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: NOVATRANS GROUP SA
    Inventors: Eran Hochstadter, John F. Roulston
  • Patent number: 8294213
    Abstract: A semiconductor photodiode device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first buffer layer containing a material different from that of the semiconductor substrate in a portion thereof, a first semiconductor layer formed above the buffer layer and having a lattice constant different from that of the semiconductor substrate, a second buffer layer formed above the first semiconductor layer and containing an element identical with that of the first semiconductor layer in a portion thereof, and a second semiconductor layer formed above the buffer layer in which a portion of the first semiconductor layer is formed of a plurality of island shape portions each surrounded with an insulating film, and the second buffer layer allows adjacent islands of the first semiconductor layer to coalesce with each other and is in contact with the insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Miura, Shinichi Saito, Youngkun Lee, Katsuya Oda
  • Patent number: 8294234
    Abstract: A mesa photodiode which includes a mesa, the sidewall of the mesa is a surface that is inclined in the direction in which the bottom of the mesa becomes wider. At least the sidewall of the mesa is covered with a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second conductivity type, a semi-insulating type, or an undoped type. The semiconductor layer is grown on at least the sidewall of the mesa. The inclined angle of the inclined surface of the mesa at the upper end portion is smaller than the inclined angle of the inclined surface of the mesa at the lower end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Watanabe, Tomoaki Koi
  • Patent number: 8283709
    Abstract: A semiconductor device is disclosed which includes a silicide substrate, a nitride layer, two STIs, and a strain nitride. The silicide substrate has two doping areas. The nitride layer is deposited on the silicide substrate. The silicide substrate and the nitride layer have a recess running through. The two doping areas are at two sides of the recess. The end of the recess has an etching space bigger than the recess. The top of the silicide substrate has a fin-shaped structure. The two STIs are at the two opposite sides of the silicide substrate (recess). The strain nitride is spacer-formed in the recess and attached to the side wall of the silicide substrate, nitride layer, two STIs. The two doping areas cover the strain nitride. As a result, the efficiency of semiconductor is improved, and the drive current is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Inotera Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Tzung Han Lee, Chung-Lin Huang, Hsien-Wen Liu
  • Patent number: 8274127
    Abstract: A photodiode array includes a substrate of a common read-out control circuit; and a plurality of photodiodes arrayed on the substrate and each including an absorption layer, and a pair of a first conductive-side electrode and a second conductive-side electrode. In this photodiode array, each of the photodiodes is isolated from adjacent photodiodes, the first conductive-side electrodes are provided on first conductivity-type regions and electrically connected in common across all the photodiodes, and the second conductive-side electrodes are provided on second conductivity-type regions and individually electrically connected to read-out electrodes of the read-out control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Youichi Nagai, Yasuhiro Iguchi
  • Publication number: 20120235272
    Abstract: A range image sensor 1 is provided with a semiconductor substrate 1A having a light incident surface 1BK and a surface 1FT opposite to the light incident surface 1BK, a photogate electrode PG, first and second gate electrodes TX1, TX2, first and second semiconductor regions FD1, FD2, and a third semiconductor region SR1. The photogate electrode PG is provided on the surface 1FT. The first and second gate electrodes TX1, TX2 are provided next to the photogate electrode PG. The first and second semiconductor regions FD1, FD2 accumulate respective charges flowing into regions immediately below the respective gate electrodes TX1, TX2. The third semiconductor region SR1 is located away from the first and second semiconductor regions FD1, FD2 and on the light incident surface 1BK side and has the conductivity type opposite to that of the first and second semiconductor regions FD1, FD2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Mitsuhito MASE, Takashi SUZUKI, Tomohiro YAMAZAKI
  • Patent number: 8269303
    Abstract: The lattice mismatching between a Ge layer and a Si layer is as large as about 4%. Thus, when the Ge layer is grown on the Si layer, penetration dislocation is introduced to cause leakage current at the p-i-n junction. Thereby, the photo-detection sensitivity is reduced, and the reliability of the element is also lowered. Further, in the connection with a Si waveguide, there are also problems of the reflection loss due to the difference in refractive index between Si and Ge, and of the absorption loss caused by a metal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Fujikata, Toru Tatsumi, Akihito Tanabe, Jun Ushida, Daisuke Okamoto, Kenichi Nishi
  • Patent number: 8263855
    Abstract: Apparatus and Method for Optimizing the Efficiency of a Bypass Diode in Solar Cells. In a preferred embodiment, a layer of TiAu is placed in an etch in a solar cell with a contact at a doped layer of GaAs. Electric current is conducted through a diode and away from the main cell by passing through the contact point at the GaAs and traversing a lateral conduction layer. These means of activating, or “turning on” the diode, and passing the current through the circuit results in greater efficiencies than in prior art devices. The diode is created during the manufacture of the other layers of the cell and does not require additional manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Emcore Solar Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul R. Sharps, Marvin Brad Clevenger, Mark A Stan
  • Patent number: 8207562
    Abstract: An image sensor can include a gate insulation layer, a gate electrode, a photodiode, and a floating diffusion region. The gate insulation layer can be formed on and/or over a semiconductor substrate for a transfer transistor. The gate insulation layer includes a first gate insulation layer having a central opening and a second gate insulation layer formed on and/or over an uppermost surface of the first gate insulation layer including the opening. The gate electrode can be formed on and/or over the gate insulation layer. The photodiode can be formed in the semiconductor substrate at one side of the gate electrode so as to generate an optical charge. The floating diffusion region can be formed in the semiconductor at the other side of the gate electrode opposite to the photodiode. The floating diffusion region can be electrically connected to the photodiode through a channel so as to store the optical charge generated from the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji-Hoon Hong
  • Patent number: 8207010
    Abstract: It is an object to form a high-quality crystalline semiconductor layer directly over a large-sized substrate with high productivity without reducing the deposition rate and to provide a photoelectric conversion device in which the crystalline semiconductor layer is used as a photoelectric conversion layer. A photoelectric conversion layer formed of a semi-amorphous semiconductor is formed over a substrate as follows: a reaction gas is introduced into a treatment chamber where the substrate is placed; and a microwave is introduced into the treatment chamber through a slit provided for a waveguide that is disposed in approximately parallel to and opposed to the substrate, thereby generating plasma. By forming a photoelectric conversion layer using such a semi-amorphous semiconductor, a rate of deterioration in characteristics by light deterioration is decreased from one-fifth to one-tenth, and thus a photoelectric conversion device that has almost no problems for practical use can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yasuyuki Arai
  • Patent number: 8198693
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes: a substrate in which a charge generation portion that generates a signal charge is formed on a surface layer; a layer covering an upper surface of the substrate; a waveguide formed on the layer covering the upper surface of the substrate at a position corresponding to the charge generation portion; a hollow portion formed on the layer covering the upper surface of the substrate at a position on an outer side of the waveguide; and an optically-transparent layer formed on the layer covering the upper surface of the substrate such that at least the hollow portion becomes airtight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Ikue Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8183074
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a light emitting element includes the steps of (A) forming sequentially a first compound semiconductor layer having a first conduction type, an active layer, and a second compound semiconductor layer having a second conduction type on a substrate, (B) forming a plurality of point-like hole portions in a thickness direction in at least a region of the second compound semiconductor layer located outside a region to be provided with a current confinement region, and (C) forming an insulating region by subjecting a part of the second compound semiconductor layer to an insulation treatment from side walls of the hole portions so as to produce the current confinement region surrounded by the insulating region in the second compound semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Masui, Takahiro Arakida, Rintaro Koda, Tomoyuki Oki
  • Publication number: 20120112305
    Abstract: Coil units are disclosed for use in electrical circuits. An exemplary coil unit comprises a rigid substrate having an electrically non-conductive three-dimensional (3-D) surface. At least one 3-D coil (shaped, for example, as a helical coil) of semiconductor material is formed on the substrate surface. Disposed on the at least one coil of semiconductor material is a 3-D coil of a conductive metal. The coil of conductive metal is situated sufficiently closely to the at least one coil of semiconductor material for the coil of conductive metal to produce Coulombic drag in the at least one coil of semiconductor material when the coils are conductive of low-mass electrons. The semiconductor material can be a photoconductor or other material that has conductive low-mass electrons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Inventor: William N. Barbat
  • Patent number: 8154096
    Abstract: An object is to provide a photoelectric conversion element having a side surface with different taper angles by conducting etching of a photoelectric conversion layer step-by-step. A pin photodiode has a high response speed compared with a pn photodiode but has a disadvantage of large dark current. One cause of the dark current is considered to be conduction through an etching residue which is generated in etching and deposited on a side surface of the photoelectric conversion layer. Leakage current of the photoelectric conversion element is reduced by forming a structure in which a side surface has two different tapered shapes, which conventionally has a uniform surface, so that the photoelectric conversion layer has a side surface of a p-layer and a side surface of an n-layer, which are not in the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Sasagawa, Shinya Hasegawa, Hidekazu Takahashi, Tatsuya Arao
  • Publication number: 20120070738
    Abstract: A needle-like structure of silicon is provided. A crystalline silicon region is formed over a metal substrate by an LPCVD method, whereby whisker-like crystalline silicon which is a polycrystalline body and grows in the <110> direction or the <211> direction with {111} the plane as a twin boundary can be obtained. Whisker-like crystalline silicon grows while forming a twin crystal (introducing stacking faults), and an initial nucleus is provided so that the normal direction <111> of the twin boundary is always included in the plane perpendicular to the growth direction of whisker-like crystalline silicon (in a transverse cross section). Such a material is used as a negative electrode active material of a lithium-ion secondary battery and for a photoelectric conversion device such as a solar battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasunori YOSHIDA
  • Patent number: 8120080
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate, a first reflection part formed in the trench and having an inclined, curved surface, a second reflection part formed on the first reflection part such that a remaining space of the trench is filled with the second reflection part, and a vertical type photodiode formed on a region of the substrate between trenches. A method for forming the image sensor includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a first reflection part having an inclined, curved surface in the trench, forming a second reflection part on the first reflection part such that a remaining space of the trench is filled with the second reflection part, and forming a vertical type photodiode on a region of the substrate between trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Dongbu HiTek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-Su Park
  • Patent number: 8120070
    Abstract: A wiring board with an electronic device comprising a plurality of trenches arranged in parallel on a substrate, a common trench communicating the plurality of trenches with each other at one of their ends on the substrate, a metal layer formed at the bottom of the plurality of trenches, and an electrode layer connected with the metal layer and formed on a bottom of the common trench, wherein the electrode layer on the bottom of the common trench constitutes a source electrode or a drain electrode of a field effect transistor, whereby the wiring board and an electronic circuit having a good fine wire pattern and a good narrow gap between the patterns using a coating material can be formed, and a reduction for a cost of an organic thin film electronic device and the electronic circuit can be attained since they can be realized through a development of a printing technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norio Nakazato, Nobuo Fujieda, Masayoshi Ishibashi, Midori Kato, Tadashi Arai, Takeo Shiba
  • Patent number: 8120016
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device, a line sensor and an optical sensor for enhancing a wide dynamic range while keeping high sensitivity with a high S/N ratio, and a method of operating a solid-state imaging device for enhancing a wide dynamic range while keeping high sensitivity with a high S/N ratio are provided. The solid-state imaging device comprises an integrated array of a plurality of pixels, each of which comprises a photodiode PD for receiving light and generating photoelectric charges, a transfer transistor Tr1 for transferring the photoelectric charges, and a storage capacitor element C connected to the photodiode PD at least through the transfer transistor Tr1 for accumulating, at least through the transfer transistor Tr1, the photoelectric charge overflowing from the photodiode PD during accumulating operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: National University Corporation Tohoku University
    Inventor: Shigetoshi Sugawa
  • Patent number: 8120079
    Abstract: A method of fabricating multi-spectral photo-sensors including photo-diodes incorporating stacked epitaxial superlattices monolithically integrated with CMOS devices on a common semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Quantum Semiconductor LLC
    Inventor: Carlos J. R. P. Augusto
  • Patent number: 8105861
    Abstract: A carbon-containing semiconductor layer is formed on exposed surfaces of a p? doped semiconductor layer abutting sidewalls of a shallow trench. Following formation of a dielectric layer on the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, a surface pinning layer having a p-type doping is formed underneath the carbon-containing semiconductor layer. A shallow trench isolation structure and a photodiode are subsequently formed. Diffusion of defects directly beneath the shallow trench isolation structure, now contained in the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, is suppressed. Further, boron diffusion into the shallow trench isolation structure and into the photodiode is also suppressed by the carbon-containing semiconductor layer, providing reduction in dark current and enhancement of performance of the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, Rajendran Krishnasamy
  • Patent number: 8093617
    Abstract: A microelectronic chip comprises two parallel main faces and side faces. At least one of the faces comprises a recess provided with at least one electrical connection element and forming a housing for a wire element. The wire element simultaneously constitutes both an electrical connection between the chip and the outside via said connection element and a flexible mechanical support for said chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Dominique Vicard, Bruno Mourey, Jean Brun
  • Patent number: 8072134
    Abstract: Light-emitting devices, and related components, systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Luminus Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexei A. Erchak, Elefterios Lidorikis, Chiyan Luo
  • Publication number: 20110278690
    Abstract: The present invention is a front-side contact, back-side illuminated (FSC-BSL) photodiode arrays and front-side illuminated, back-side contact (FSL-BSC) photodiode arrays having improved characteristics, including high production throughput, low-cost manufacturing via implementation of batch processing techniques; uniform, as well as high, photocurrent density owing to presence of a large continuous homogeneous, heavily doped layer; and back to front intrachip connections via the homogenous, heavily doped layers on the front and back sides of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Patent number: 8059973
    Abstract: An optical receiver assembly that is configured to avoid the introduction of feedback in an electrical signal converted by the assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical receiver assembly is disclosed, comprising a capacitor, an optical detector provided with a power supply being mounted on a top electrode of the capacitor, and an amplifier mounted on the reference surface. The assembly further includes an isolator interposed between the reference surface and the capacitor, wherein the isolator includes a bottom layer of dielectric material that is affixed to a portion of the reference surface, and a metallic top plate that is electrically coupled both to a ground of the amplifier and to the capacitor. This configuration bootstraps the amplifier ground to the amplifier input via the photodiode top electrode of the capacitor to cancel out feedback signals present at the amplifier ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Darin James Douma
  • Patent number: 8044483
    Abstract: A photo detector having an electrically conductive thin film and a light-receiving unit. A coupling periodic structure is provided on a surface of the film and converts incidence light to surface plasmon. The coupling periodic structure has an opening that penetrates the obverse and reverse surfaces of the thin film. The light-receiving unit is provided at one end of the opening in the surface that is opposite to the surface on which the coupling periodic structure is provided. The opening is shaped like a slit and is broader than half (½) the wavelength of the surface plasmon in a direction that intersects at right angles with a polarization direction of the incidence light and is narrower than half (½) the wavelength of the surface plasmon in a direction parallel to the polarization direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hideto Furuyama
  • Patent number: 8039918
    Abstract: A semiconductor photo detector is provided that includes a layer structure deposited over a semiconductor substrate, and having a second mesa formed on the semiconductor substrate and a first mesa formed on the second mesa, wherein an outer periphery of the second mesa is located outside of the outer periphery of the first mesa in two-dimensional view, and wherein surfaces of the first mesa and the second mesa are covered by a passivation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 8035187
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor light receiving element capable of reducing capacity while minimizing increase in travel time of carriers. The semiconductor light receiving element includes a semiconductor stacked structure including a first conductivity type layer, a light absorbing layer, and a second conductivity type layer having a light incidence plane in order. The semiconductor light receiving element has an oxidation layer including a non-oxidation region and an oxidation region in a stacking in-plane direction in the light absorbing layer or between the first conductivity type layer and the light absorbing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Yamauchi, Takahiro Arakida, Rintaro Koda, Norihiko Yamaguchi, Yuji Masui, Tomoyuki Oki
  • Patent number: 8035143
    Abstract: Disclosed are an image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. The image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate formed on a first surface thereof with a readout circuitry and a photodiode area; a metal interconnection layer formed on the first surface; a connection via metal extending from the first surface to a second surface of the semiconductor substrate, the connection via metal having a projection part projecting from the second surface; an insulating layer formed on the first surface of the semiconductor substrate to expose the projection part while surrounding a portion of a lateral side of the projection part; and a metal pad formed on the insulating layer such that the metal pad covers the projection part, thereby shortening an optical path to reduce light loss and improve image sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Dongbu Hitek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hoon Jang
  • Patent number: 8021908
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an imager pixel that includes the act of applying a relatively small first polarity voltage and a plurality of pulses of a second polarity voltage on the gate of a transfer transistor during a charge integration period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John Ladd
  • Patent number: 8004035
    Abstract: A dual stress liner manufacturing method and device is described. Overlapping stress liner layers of opposite effect (e.g., tensile versus compression) may be deposited over portions of the device, and the uppermost overlapping layer may be polished down in a process that uses the bottom overlapping layer as a stopper. An insulating film may be deposited on the stress liner layers before the polishing, and another insulating film may be deposited above the first insulating film after the polishing. Contacts may be formed such that the contacts need only penetrate one stress liner layer to reach a transistor well or gate structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Gaku Sudo
  • Patent number: 7999340
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming optical black pixels having uniformly low dark current. Optical Black opacity is increased without having to increase Ti/TiN layer thickness. A hybrid approach is utilized combining a Ti/TiN OB layer in conjunction with in-pixel metal stubs that further occlude the focal radius of each pixel's incoming light beam. Additional metal layers can be used to increase the opacity into the infrared region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: AltaSens, Inc.
    Inventors: Giuseppe Rossi, Lester Kozlowski, Henry Lin, John Richardson, Gregory Chow, Gaurang Patel
  • Patent number: 7999265
    Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes: a photoelectric conversion element in which a first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a second electrode are stacked in this order; and a thin film transistor (TFT) connected to the first electrode of the photoelectric conversion element via a contact hole, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer including a first photoelectric conversion layer disposed at a location which does not overlap with the contact hole and a second photoelectric conversion layer disposed at a location which overlaps with the contact hole, the first photoelectric conversion layer and the second photoelectric conversion layer are separated from each other by a separation groove, and the second electrode is selectively formed on the first photoelectric conversion layer, and the photoelectric conversion element is formed by the first electrode, the first photoelectric conversion layer, and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsukasa Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7982296
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and devices for fabricating printable semiconductor elements and assembling printable semiconductor elements onto substrate surfaces. Methods, devices and device components of the present invention are capable of generating a wide range of flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices and arrays of devices on substrates comprising polymeric materials. The present invention also provides stretchable semiconductor structures and stretchable electronic devices capable of good performance in stretched configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Ralph G. Nuzzo, John A. Rogers, Etienne Menard, Keon Jae Lee, Dahl-Young Khang, Yugang Sun, Matthew Meitl, Zhengtao Zhu
  • Publication number: 20110140226
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first insulating layer. The first insulating layer includes a first lower layer and a first upper layer on the first lower layer. The first insulating layer has a first opening through the first lower layer and the first upper layer. A maximum width of the first opening at the first lower layer is different from a maximum width of the first opening at the first upper layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Yoonsil JIN, Goohwan Shim, Youngho Choe, Changseo Park
  • Publication number: 20110133302
    Abstract: Methods for forming interconnects in microelectronic workpieces and microelectronic workpieces formed using such methods are disclosed herein. One embodiment, for example, is directed to a method of processing a microelectronic workpiece including a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of microelectronic dies. The individual dies include integrated circuitry and a terminal electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry. The method can include forming a first opening in the substrate from a back side of the substrate toward a front side and in alignment with the terminal. The first opening has a generally annular cross-sectional profile and separates an island of substrate material from the substrate. The method can also include depositing an insulating material into at least a portion of the first opening, and then removing the island of substrate material to form a second opening aligned with at least a portion of the terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Marc Sulfridge
  • Publication number: 20110127631
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate configured to include a solid-state imaging element that is provided with a photoelectric conversion region, and a scribe line region that is provided along a periphery of the solid-state imaging element, a wiring layer that is formed to be layered on the semiconductor substrate, a support substrate that is formed to be layered on the wiring layer, and a groove that is provided between a blade region in the scribe line region and the solid-state imaging element, in the semiconductor substrate and penetrates through the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kawashima
  • Patent number: 7932512
    Abstract: Fabrication of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) including active elements such as a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and passive elements such as a floating rib waveguide. Selective area doping through ion implantation or thermal diffusion before semiconductor epitaxial growth is used in order to define the contact and lateral current transport layers for each active device, while leaving areas corresponding to the passive devices undoped. InP wafers are used as the substrate which may be selectively doped with silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Yakov I. Royter, Rajesh D. Rajavel, Stanislav I. Ionov, Irina Ionova, legal representative, Sophi Ionova, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20110089519
    Abstract: The invention discloses a chip lead frame and a photoelectric energy transducing module. The chip lead frame includes an insulator and a plurality of conductors. The insulator includes a first surface, a second surface, a first recess structure formed on the first surface, a through hole passing through the second surface and the first recess structure, and a venting structure. The first recess structure forms an accommodating space. The venting structure communicates with the accommodating space so that when a substrate is being bound to the first recess structure, the air in the accommodating space pressed by the substrate could flow through the venting structure out of the insulator without remaining between the substrate and the first recess structure. A photoelectric energy transducing semiconductor structure could be disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the conductors, so as to form the photoelectric energy transducing module of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: NEOBULB TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jen-Shyan Chen, Chun-Jen Lin, Yun-Lin Peng, Wei-Yeh Wen
  • Patent number: 7927898
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for packaging IC (integrated circuit) chips to enable both optical access to the back side of an IC chip and electrical access to the front side of the IC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alberto Tosi, Franco Stellari, Peilin Song
  • Publication number: 20110073979
    Abstract: The present invention provides a detection element that can suppress leak current from an end face of a semiconductor layer. That is, of an n+ layer and a p+ layer respectively disposed between an i layer, in which an electric charge is generated as a result of being illuminated with light, and a pair of electrodes, an edge portion of a formed face of the p+ layer is formed further inward than that of the i layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihiro OKADA
  • Publication number: 20110073983
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, there is provided a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a first surface on which an active layer having a light receiving portion is provided and a second surface to be a light receiving surface for the light receiving portion, a wiring layer provided on the active layer, an insulating layer provided to cover the wiring layer, and a supporting substrate joined to the semiconductor substrate via the insulating layer to face the first surface of the semiconductor substrate. A joined body of the semiconductor substrate and the supporting substrate includes an intercalated portion provided between its outer peripheral surface and the active surface. The intercalated portion is provided to penetrate the semiconductor substrate and the insulating layer from the second surface of the semiconductor substrate and to reach inside the supporting substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kazumasa Tanida, Chiaki Takubo, Hideo Numata, Yoshihisa Imori
  • Patent number: 7902540
    Abstract: A lateral p-i-n photodetector is provided that includes an array of vertical semiconductor nanowires of a first conductivity type that are grown over a semiconductor substrate also of the first conductivity type. Each vertically grown semiconductor nanowires of the first conductivity type is surrounded by a thick epitaxial intrinsic semiconductor film. The gap between the now formed vertically grown semiconductor nanowires-intrinsic semiconductor film columns (comprised of the semiconductor nanowire core surrounded by intrinsic semiconductor film) is then filled by forming an epitaxial semiconductor material of a second conductivity type which is different from the first conductivity type. In a preferred embodiment, the vertically grown semiconductor nanowires of the first conductivity type are n+ silicon nanowires, the intrinsic epitaxial semiconductor layer is comprised of intrinsic epitaxial silicon, and the epitaxial semiconductor material of the second conductivity type is comprised of p+ silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Guy M. Cohen
  • Patent number: 7893512
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device that includes a material having enhanced electronic transitions. The electronic transitions are enhanced by mixing electronic states at an interface. The interface may be formed by a nano-well, a nano-dot, or a nano-wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Marcie R. Black
  • Patent number: 7888766
    Abstract: A photodiode array 1 is provided with an n-type silicon substrate 3. A plurality of photodiodes 4 are formed in array on the opposites surface side to an incident surface of light L to be detected, in the n-type silicon substrate 3. A depression 6 with a predetermined depth more depressed than a region not corresponding to regions where the photodiodes 4 are formed is formed in regions corresponding to the regions where the photodiodes 4 are formed, on the incident surface side of the light L to be detected, in the n-type silicon substrate 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Katsumi Shibayama
  • Patent number: 7883998
    Abstract: It is to provide a vapor phase growth method in which an epitaxial layer consisting of a compound semiconductor such as InAlAs, can be grown, with superior reproducibility, on a semiconductor substrate such as Fe-doped InP. In vapor phase growth method for growing an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate, a resistivity of the semiconductor substrate at a room temperature is previously measured, a set temperature of the substrate is controlled depending on the resistivity at the room temperature such that a surface temperature of the substrate is a desired temperature regardless of the resistivity of the semiconductor substrate, and the epitaxial layer is grown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nippon Mining & Metals Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Nakamura, Suguru Oota, Ryuichi Hirano