Abstract: A method includes forming elongate structures on a first substrate, such that the material composition of each elongate structure varies along its length so as to define first and second physically different sections in the elongate structures. First and second physically different devices are then defined in the elongate structures. Alternatively, the first and second physically different sections may be defined in the elongate structures after they have been fabricated. The elongate structures may be encapsulated and transferred to a second substrate. The invention provides an improved method for the formation of a circuit structure that requires first and second physically different devices to be provided on a common substrate. In particular, only one transfer step is necessary.

Abstract: A graphene substrate is doped with one or more functional groups to form an electronic device.

Abstract: A graphene-based field effect transistor includes source and drain electrodes that are self-aligned to a gate electrode. A stack of a seed layer and a dielectric metal oxide layer is deposited over a patterned graphene layer. A conductive material stack of a first metal portion and a second metal portion is formed above the dielectric metal oxide layer. The first metal portion is laterally etched employing the second metal portion, and exposed portions of the dielectric metal oxide layer are removed to form a gate structure in which the second metal portion overhangs the first metal portion. The seed layer is removed and the overhang is employed to shadow proximal regions around the gate structure during a directional deposition process to form source and drain electrodes that are self-aligned and minimally laterally spaced from edges of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an integrated circuit having an active side and a non-active side; forming a channel through the integrated circuit; forming an indent, having a flange and an indent side, from a peripheral region of the non-active side; and forming a conformal interconnect, having an offset segment, a sloped segment, and a flange segment, under the indent.

Abstract: When forming sophisticated gate electrode structures requiring a threshold adjusting semiconductor alloy for one type of transistor, a recess is formed in the corresponding active region, thereby providing superior process uniformity during the deposition of the semiconductor material. Due to the recess, any exposed sidewall surface areas of the active region may be avoided during the selective epitaxial growth process, thereby significantly contributing to enhanced threshold stability of the resulting transistor including the high-k metal gate stack.

Abstract: A semiconductor component having a semiconductor body having a first and a second side, an edge and an edge region adjacent to the edge in a lateral direction is described.

Abstract: At present, a forming process of a base film through an amorphous silicon film is conducted in respective film forming chambers in order to obtain satisfactory films. When continuous formation of the base film through the amorphous silicon film is performed in a single film forming chamber with the above film formation condition, crystallization is not sufficiently attained in a crystallization process. By forming the amorphous silicon film using silane gas diluted with hydrogen, crystallization is sufficiently attained in the crystallization process even with the continuous formation of the base film through the amorphous silicon film in the single film forming chamber.

Abstract: There is a need for providing a technology capable of decreasing on-resistance of a power transistor in a semiconductor device that integrates the power transistor and a control integrated circuit into a single semiconductor chip. There is another need for providing a technology capable of reducing a chip size of a semiconductor device. A semiconductor chip includes a power transistor formation region to form a power transistor, a logic circuit formation region to form a logic circuit, and an analog circuit formation region to form an analog circuit. A pad is formed in the power transistor formation region. The pad and a lead are connected through a clip whose cross section is larger than that of a wire. On the other hand, a bonding pad is connected through the wire.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a buried insulator layer formed on a bulk substrate; a first type semiconductor material formed on the buried insulator layer, and corresponding to a body region of a field effect transistor (FET); a second type of semiconductor material formed over the buried insulator layer, adjacent opposing sides of the body region, and corresponding to source and drain regions of the FET; the second type of semiconductor material having a different bandgap than the first type of semiconductor material; wherein a source side p/n junction of the FET is located substantially within whichever of the first and the second type of semiconductor material having a lower bandgap, and a drain side p/n junction of the FET is located substantially entirely within whichever of the first and the second type of semiconductor material having a higher bandgap.

Abstract: A laser annealing method for executing laser annealing by irradiating a semiconductor film formed on a surface of a substrate with a laser beam, the method including the steps of, generating a linearly polarized rectangular laser beam whose cross section perpendicular to an advancing direction is a rectangle with an electric field directed toward a long-side direction of the rectangle or an elliptically polarized rectangular laser beam having a major axis directed toward a long-side direction, causing the rectangular laser beam to be introduced to the surface of the substrate, and setting a wavelength of the rectangular laser beam to a length which is about a desired size of a crystal grain in a standing wave direction.

Abstract: Prototype semiconductor structures each including a semiconductor link portion and two adjoined pad portions are formed by lithographic patterning of a semiconductor layer on a dielectric material layer. The sidewalls of the semiconductor link portions are oriented to maximize hole mobility for a first-type semiconductor structures, and to maximize electron mobility for a second-type semiconductor structures. Thinning by oxidation of the semiconductor structures reduces the width of the semiconductor link portions at different rates for different crystallographic orientations. The widths of the semiconductor link portions are predetermined so that the different amount of thinning on the sidewalls of the semiconductor link portions result in target sublithographic dimensions for the resulting semiconductor nanowires after thinning.

Abstract: System and method for reducing contact resistance and improving barrier properties is provided. An embodiment includes a dielectric layer and contacts extending through the dielectric layer to connect to conductive regions. A contact barrier layer is formed between the conductive regions and the contacts by electroless plating the conductive regions after openings have been formed through the dielectric layer for the contact. The contact barrier layer is then treated to fill the grain boundary of the contact barrier layer, thereby improving the contact resistance. In another embodiment, the contact barrier layer is formed on the conductive regions by electroless plating prior to the formation of the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A production method for producing a semiconductor device capable of improving surface flatness and suppressing a variation in electrical characteristics of the semiconductor chip, and improving production yield. The production method includes the steps of: forming a first insulating film on a semiconductor substrate and on a conductive pattern film formed on the semiconductor substrate and reducing a thickness of the first insulating film in a region where the conductive pattern film is arranged by patterning; forming a second insulating film and polishing the second insulating film, thereby forming a flattening film; implanting a substance for cleavage into the semiconductor substrate through the flattening film, thereby forming a cleavage layer; transferring the semiconductor chip onto a substrate with an insulating surface so that the chip surface on the side opposite to the semiconductor substrate is attached thereto; and separating the semiconductor substrate from the cleavage layer.

Abstract: A field effect transistor device includes a gate stack portion disposed on a substrate, and a channel region in the substrate having a depth partially defined by the gate stack portion and a silicon region of the substrate, the silicon region having a sloped profile such that a distal regions of the channel region have greater depth than a medial region of the channel region.

Abstract: A suite of novel structures and methods is provided to reduce power consumption in a wide array of electronic devices and systems. Some of these structures and methods can be implemented largely by reusing existing bulk CMOS process flows and manufacturing technology, allowing the semiconductor industry as well as the broader electronics industry to avoid a costly and risky switch to alternative technologies. As will be discussed, some of the structures and methods relate to a Deeply Depleted Channel (DDC) design, allowing CMOS based devices to have a reduced ?VT compared to conventional bulk CMOS and can allow the threshold voltage VT of FETs having dopants in the channel region to be set much more precisely. The DDC design also can have a strong body effect compared to conventional bulk CMOS transistors, which can allow for significant dynamic control of power consumption in DDC transistors.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices that contain a system in package and methods for making such packages are described. The semiconductor device with a system in package (SIP) contains a first IC die, passive components, and discrete devices that are contained in a lower level of the package. The SIP also contains a second IC die that is vertically separated from the first IC die by an array of metal interposers, thereby isolating the components of the first IC die from the components of the second IC die. Such a configuration provides more functionality within a single semiconductor package while also reducing or eliminating local heating in the package. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An object is to provide a manufacturing method of a microcrystalline semiconductor film with favorable quality over a large-area substrate. After forming a gate insulating film over a gate electrode, in order to improve quality of a microcrystalline semiconductor film formed in an initial stage, glow discharge plasma is generated by supplying high-frequency powers with different frequencies, and a lower part of the film near an interface with the gate insulating film is formed under a first film formation condition, which is low in film formation rate but results in a good quality film. Thereafter, an upper part of the film is deposited under a second film formation condition with higher film formation rate, and further, a buffer layer is stacked on the microcrystalline semiconductor film.

Abstract: A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body having a first surface and a second surface, and having an inner region and an edge region. The semiconductor component further includes a pn-junction between a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, the pn-junction extending in a lateral direction of the semiconductor body in the inner region. A first trench extends from the first side in the edge region into the semiconductor body. The trench has sidewalls that are arranged opposite to another and that are beveled relative to a horizontal direction of the semiconductor body.

Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a nanotube region using a thin epitaxial layer formed on the sidewall of a trench in the semiconductor body. The thin epitaxial layer has uniform doping concentration. In another embodiment, a first thin epitaxial layer of the same conductivity type as the semiconductor body is formed on the sidewall of a trench in the semiconductor body and a second thin epitaxial layer of the opposite conductivity type is formed on the first epitaxial layer. The first and second epitaxial layers have uniform doping concentration. The thickness and doping concentrations of the first and second epitaxial layers and the semiconductor body are selected to achieve charge balance. In one embodiment, the semiconductor body is a lightly doped P-type substrate. A vertical trench MOSFET, an IGBT, a Schottky diode and a P-N junction diode can be formed using the same N-Epi/P-Epi nanotube structure.

Abstract: In a conventional diamond semiconductor element, because of high density of crystal defects, it is impossible to reflect the natural physical properties peculiar to a diamond, such as high thermal conductivity, high breakdown field strength, high-frequency characteristics and the like, in the transistor characteristics. By slightly shifting surface orientation of a diamond substrate in a [001] direction, a significant reduction in crystal defects peculiar to a diamond is possible. The equivalent effects are also provided by shifting surface orientation of a single-crystal diamond thin-film or channel slightly from a [001] direction. It is possible to obtain a significantly high transconductance gm as compared with that in a transistor produced using conventional surface orientation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) by controlled unzipping of structures such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by etching (e.g., argon plasma etching) of nanotubes partly embedded in a polymer film. The GNRs have smooth edges and a narrow width distribution (2-20 nm). Raman spectroscopy and electrical transport measurements reveal the high quality of the GNRs. Such a method of unzipping CNTs with well-defined structures in an array will allow the production of GNRs with controlled widths, edge structures, placement and alignment in a scalable fashion for device integration. GNRs may be formed from nanostructures in a controlled array to form arrays of parallel or overlapping structures. Also disclosed is a method in which the CNTs are in a predetermined pattern that is carried over and transferred to a substrate for forming into a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device has forming a ferroelectric film over a substrate, placing the substrate having the ferroelectric film in a chamber substantially held in vacuum, introducing oxygen and an inert gas into the chamber, annealing the ferroelectric film in the chamber, and containing oxygen and the inert gas while the chamber is maintained sealed.

Abstract: Sophisticated gate electrode structures may be formed by providing a cap layer including a desired species that may diffuse into the gate dielectric material prior to performing a treatment for stabilizing the sensitive gate dielectric material. In this manner, complex high-k metal gate electrode structures may be formed on the basis of reduced temperatures and doses for a threshold adjusting species compared to conventional strategies. Moreover, a single metal-containing electrode material may be deposited for both types of transistors.

Abstract: Methods of forming p-channel MOSFETs use halo-implant steps that are performed relatively early in the fabrication process. These methods include forming a gate electrode having first sidewall spacers thereon, on a semiconductor substrate, and then forming a sacrificial sidewall spacer layer on the gate electrode. A mask layer then patterned on the gate electrode. The sacrificial sidewall spacer layer is selectively etched to define sacrificial sidewall spacers on the first sidewall spacers, using the patterned mask layer as an etching mask. A PFET halo-implant of dopants is then performed into portions of the semiconductor substrate that extend adjacent the gate electrode, using the sacrificial sidewall spacers as an implant mask. Following this implant step, source and drain region trenches are etched into the semiconductor substrate, on opposite sides of the gate electrode. These source and drain region trenches are then filled by epitaxially growing SiGe source and drain regions therein.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device on a semiconductor substrate, includes the steps of forming a first metal film on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate; forming a second metal film on the surface of the first metal film; activating a surface of the second metal film to provide an activated surface; and forming a plated film on the activated surface by a wet plating method in a plating bath that includes a reducing agent that is oxidized during plating and that has a rate of oxidation, wherein the second metal film is a metal film mainly composed of a first substance that enhances the rate of oxidation of the reducing agent in the plating bath. Wet plating is preferably an electroless process.

Abstract: A method and system for the preferential growth of semiconducting vertically-aligned single-walled carbon nanotubes (VA-SWNTs) is provided. The method combines the use of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition at low pressure with rapid heating. The method provides a high yield of up to approximately 96% semiconducting SWNTs in the VA-SWNT array. The as-synthesized semiconducting SWNTs can be used directly for fabricating field effect transistor (FET) devices without the need for any post-synthesis purification or separation.

Abstract: By recessing portions of the drain and source areas on the basis of a spacer structure, the subsequent implantation process for forming the deep drain and source regions may result in a moderately high dopant concentration extending down to the buried insulating layer of an SOI transistor. Furthermore, the spacer structure maintains a significant amount of a strained semiconductor alloy with its original thickness, thereby providing an efficient strain-inducing mechanism. By using sophisticated anneal techniques, undue lateral diffusion may be avoided, thereby allowing a reduction of the lateral width of the respective spacers and thus a reduction of the length of the transistor devices. Hence, enhanced charge carrier mobility in combination with reduced junction capacitance may be accomplished on the basis of reduced lateral dimensions.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabrication method includes depositing a dummy gate layer onto a substrate, patterning the dummy gate layer, depositing a hardmask layer over the dummy gate layer, patterning the hardmask layer, etching a recess into the substrate, adjacent the dummy gate layer, depositing a semiconductor material into the recess, removing the hardmask layer, depositing replacement spacers onto the dummy gate layer, performing an oxide deposition over the dummy gate layer and replacement spacers, removing the dummy gate and replacement spacers, thereby forming a gate recess in the oxide and depositing a gate stack into the recess.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an N type well region in a P type substrate. A source region of a MOSFET is laterally separated from a boundary of the well region, which includes the drain of the MOSFET. An insulated gate of the MOSFET extends laterally from the source region to at least just past the boundary of the well region. A polysilicon layer, which forms a first plate of a capacitive anti-fuse, is insulated from an area of the well region, which forms the second plate of the anti-fuse. The anti-fuse is programmed by application of a voltage across the first and second capacitive plates sufficient to destroy at least a portion of the second dielectric layer, thereby electrically shorting the polysilicon layer to the drain of the HVFET.

Abstract: A method of forming an inverted T shaped channel structure having a vertical channel portion and a horizontal channel portion for an Inverted T channel Field Effect Transistor ITFET device comprises providing a semiconductor substrate, providing a first layer of a first semiconductor material over the semiconductor substrate, and providing a second layer of a second semiconductor material over the first layer. The first and the second semiconductor materials are selected such that the first semiconductor material has a rate of removal which is less than a rate of removal of the second semiconductor material. The method further comprises removing a portion of the first layer and a portion of the second layer selectively according to the different rates of removal so as to provide a lateral layer and the vertical channel portion of the inverted T shaped channel structure and removing a portion of the lateral layer so as to provide the horizontal channel portion of the inverted T shaped channel structure.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a biosensor includes forming a laminate of a first silicon oxide film and a polysilicon film on one surface of a silicon substrate; forming a second silicon oxide film on the other surface of the silicon substrate; forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a channel on the first silicon oxide film, the channel connecting the source electrode and the drain electrode; and removing the polysilicon film.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an SOI substrate, to improve planarity of a surface of a single crystal semiconductor layer after separation by favorably separating a single crystal semiconductor substrate even in the case where a non-mass-separation type ion irradiation method is used, and to improve planarity of a surface of a single crystal semiconductor layer after separation as well as to improve throughput.

Abstract: A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device, e.g., a field effect transistor (FET), that includes at least one one-dimensional nanostructure that is typically a carbon-based nanomaterial, as the device channel, and a metal carbide contact that is self-aligned with the gate region of the device is described. The present invention also provides a method of fabricating such a CMOS device.

Abstract: A graphene field effect transistor includes a gate stack, the gate stack including a seed layer, a gate oxide formed over the seed layer, and a gate metal formed over the gate oxide; an insulating layer; and a graphene sheet displaced between the seed layer and the insulating layer.

Abstract: Provided is a graphene device and a method of manufacturing the same. The graphene device may include an upper oxide layer on at least one embedded gate, and a graphene channel and a plurality of electrodes on the upper oxide layer. The at least one embedded gate may be formed on the substrate. The graphene channel may be formed on the plurality of electrodes, or the plurality of electrodes may be formed on the graphene channel.

Abstract: A method for fabricating the MEMS device includes providing a substrate. Then, a structural dielectric layer is formed over the substrate at a first side, wherein a diaphragm is embedded in the structural dielectric layer. The substrate is patterned from a second side to form a cavity in corresponding to the diaphragm and a plurality of venting holes in the substrate. An isotropic etching process is performed from the first side and the second side of the substrate via vent holes to remove a dielectric portion of the structural dielectric layer for exposing a central portion of the diaphragm while an end portion is held by a residue portion of the structural dielectric layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor containing an channel layer 11 having indium oxide, including forming an indium oxide film as an channel layer and subjecting the formed indium oxide film to an annealing in an oxidizing atmosphere.

Abstract: A transistor is fabricated upon a semiconductor substrate, where the yield strength or elasticity of the substrate is enhanced or otherwise adapted. A strain inducing layer is formed over the transistor to apply a strain thereto to alter transistor operating characteristics, and more particularly to enhance the mobility of carriers within the transistor. Enhancing carrier mobility allows transistor dimensions to be reduced while also allowing the transistor to operate as desired. However, high strain and temperature associated with fabricating the transistor result in deleterious plastic deformation. The yield strength of the silicon substrate is therefore adapted by incorporating nitrogen into the substrate, and more particularly into source/drain extension regions and/or source/drain regions of the transistor. The nitrogen can be readily incorporated during transistor fabrication by adding it as part of source/drain extension region formation and/or source/drain region formation.

Abstract: An apparatus for annealing a substrate includes a substrate stage having a substrate mounting portion configured to mount the substrate; a heat source having a plurality of heaters disposed under the substrate mounting portion, the heaters individually preheating a plurality areas defined laterally in the substrate through a bottom surface of the substrate; and a light source facing a top surface of the substrate, configured to irradiate a pulsed light at a pulse width of about 0.1 ms to about 100 ms on the entire top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has a conductive via formed through in a first side of the substrate. A first interconnect structure is formed over the first side of the substrate. A semiconductor die or component is mounted to the first interconnect structure. An encapsulant is deposited over the first interconnect structure and semiconductor die or component. A portion of a second side of the substrate is removed to reduce its thickness and expose the TSV. A second interconnect structure is formed over the second side of the substrate. The encapsulant provides structural support while removing the portion of the second side of the substrate. The second interconnect structure is electrically connected to the conductive via. The second interconnect structure can include a redistribution layer to extend the conductivity of the conductive via. The semiconductor device is mounted to a printed circuit board through the second interconnect structure.

Abstract: An active matrix pixel device is provided, for example an electroluminescent display device, the device comprising circuitry supported by a substrate and including a polysilicon TFT (10) and an amorphous silicon thin film PIN diode (12). Polysilicon islands are formed before an amorphous silicon layer is deposited for the PIN diode. This avoids the exposure of the amorphous silicon to high temperature processing. The TFT comprises doped source/drain regions (16a,17a), one of which (17a) may also provide the n-type or p-type doped region for the diode. Advantageously, the requirement to provide a separate doped region for the photodiode is removed, thereby saving processing costs. A second TFT (10b) having a doped source/drain region (16b,17b) of the opposite conductivity type may provide the other doped region (16b) for the diode, wherein the intrinsic region (25) is disposed laterally between the two TFTs, overlying each of the respective polysilicon islands.

Abstract: Graphene-channel based devices and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes a first wafer having at least one graphene channel formed on a first substrate, a first oxide layer surrounding the graphene channel and source and drain contacts to the graphene channel that extend through the first oxide layer; and a second wafer having a CMOS device layer formed in a second substrate, a second oxide layer surrounding the CMOS device layer and a plurality of contacts to the CMOS device layer that extend through the second oxide layer, the wafers being bonded together by way of an oxide-to-oxide bond between the oxide layers. One or more of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are in contact with the source and drain contacts. One or more other of the contacts to the CMOS device layer are gate contacts for the graphene channel.

Abstract: A channel layer (40) for forming a portion of a carrier path between a source electrode (100) and a drain electrode (110) is formed on a drift layer (30). The channel layer (40) includes Ge granular crystals formed on the drift layer (30), and a cap layer covering the Ge granular crystals.

Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. The method may include forming a gate dielectric layer including a plurality of elements on a substrate; supplying a specific element to the gate dielectric layer; forming a product though reacting the specific element with at least one of the plurality of elements; and removing the product.

Abstract: Shallow trench isolation silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices are formed with improved charge protection. Embodiments include an SOI film diode and a P+ substrate junction as a charging protection device. Embodiments also include a conductive path from the SOI transistor drain, through a conductive contact, a metal line, a second conductive contact, an SOI diode, isolated from the transistor, a third conductive contact, a second conductive line, and a fourth conductive contact to a P+-doped substrate contact in the bulk silicon layer of the SOI substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for making graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) by controlled unzipping of structures such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by etching (e.g., argon plasma etching) of nanotubes partly embedded in a polymer film. The GNRs have smooth edges and a narrow width distribution (2-20 nm). Raman spectroscopy and electrical transport measurements reveal the high quality of the GNRs. Such a method of unzipping CNTs with well-defined structures in an array will allow the production of GNRs with controlled widths, edge structures, placement and alignment in a scalable fashion for device integration. GNRs may be formed from nanostructures in a controlled array to form arrays of parallel or overlapping structures. Also disclosed is a method in which the CNTs are in a predetermined pattern that is carried over and transferred to a substrate for forming into a semiconductor device.

Abstract: A method for forming a nitride semiconductor laminated structure includes forming a first layer that is an n-type or i-type first layer composed of a group III nitride semiconductor using an H2 carrier gas; forming a second layer by laminating a p-type second layer composed of a group III nitride semiconductor and containing Mg on the first layer using an H2 carrier gas; and forming a third layer that is an n-type or i-type third layer composed of a group III nitride semiconductor on the second layer using an H2 carrier gas after forming the second layer. A method for manufacturing a nitride semiconductor device includes the method steps for forming the nitride semiconductor laminated structure.

Abstract: A method of producing a thin film transistor includes a gate electrode formation step that forms a gate electrode on a substrate, a gate insulating layer formation step that forms a gate insulating layer on the substrate in such a manner as to cover the gate electrode formed in the gate electrode formation step, a source/drain electrodes formation step that forms a source electrode and a drain electrode on the gate insulating layer, and a semiconductor layer formation step that applies an aqueous solution for semiconductor layer formation which is an aqueous solution comprising at least a single wall carbon nanotube and a surfactant between the source electrode and the drain electrode formed in the source/drain electrodes formation step by a coating process to form a semiconductor layer comprising the single wall carbon nanotube.

Abstract: Semiconductor structures and electronic devices are provided that includes at least one layer of an interfacial dielectric material located on an upper surface of a carbon-based material. The at least one layer of interfacial dielectric material has a short-range crystallographic bonding structure, typically hexagonal, that is the same as that of the carbon-based material and, as such, the at least one layer of interfacial dielectric material does not change the electronic structure of the carbon-based material. The presence of the at least one layer of interfacial dielectric material having the same short-range crystallographic bonding structure as that of the carbon-based material improves the interfacial bonding between the carbon-based material and any overlying material layer, including a dielectric material, a conductive material or a combination of a dielectric material and a conductive material.

Abstract: Disclosed are an image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. The image sensor includes a first pixel having a first photodiode and a first readout circuit and a second pixel having a second photodiode and a second readout circuit. The second pixel is aligned at one side of the first pixel, and a light receiving area of the first photodiode is different from a light receiving area of the second photodiode.