In A Repetitive Configuration (epo) Patents (Class 257/E27.129)
  • Patent number: 11901378
    Abstract: A problem to be solved is to prevent deterioration of a signal-to-noise ratio. A photodetector according to the present invention is a germanium photodetector (Ge PD) that uses germanium or a germanium compound in a light absorption layer, the photodetector including a resistor connected in series with a cathode or an anode of the Ge PD; and a capacitor connected at one end to a connection point between the resistor and a cathode or anode of the Ge PD and grounded at another end, another connection point of the resistor being connected to a bias power supply, wherein to withstand maximum operating optical input power, the value of the resistor is determined such that electric power applied to the Ge PD will be lower than a breakdown threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kotaro Takeda
  • Patent number: 11830452
    Abstract: A display panel, a display panel driving method, and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a display panel. The display panel includes a display region, source drive circuits, and a gate drive circuit. The display region includes a plurality of sub-pixels. By reducing the charging time of the sub-pixels close to the gate drive circuit and increasing the charging time of the sub-pixels away from the gate drive circuit, the voltage difference between the sub-pixels in different regions is reduced, thereby solving the problem of uneven brightness of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TCL CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGYCO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinfeng Liu, Fengcheng Xu
  • Patent number: 11768163
    Abstract: The present application discloses a CT system and a detection apparatus for the CT system. The detection apparatus includes: a high-energy detector assembly including a plurality of rows of high-energy detectors arranged along a predetermined trajectory; a low-energy detector assembly including a plurality of rows of low-energy detectors arranged at intervals along the predetermined trajectory, the low-energy detector assembly and the high-energy detector assembly being disposed in a stack; a number of rows of the low-energy detectors is smaller than a number or rows of the high-energy detectors; and each row of the low-energy detectors covers a row of high-energy detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Li Zhang, Zhiqiang Chen, Qingping Huang, Yunda Sun, Xin Jin, Le Shen, Liang Li, Tiao Zhao
  • Patent number: 11761817
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement includes a photodiode, a dummy photodiode, an analog-to-digital converter, a first switch which couples the photodiode to an input of the analog-to-digital converter, and a second switch which couples the dummy photodiode to the input of the analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventor: Gonggui Xu
  • Patent number: 11579317
    Abstract: The invention refers to a detector based on 3D geometry made from a hydrogenated amorphous silicon substrate. This detector finds application in the detection of ionizing radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEARE
    Inventor: Mauro Menichelli
  • Patent number: 11442183
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radiation detector comprising: an electronics layer comprising a first set of electric contacts and a second set of electric contacts; a radiation absorption layer configured to absorb radiation; a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are interdigitated and extend into the radiation absorption layer in a direction of thickness thereof; wherein the electronics layer and the radiation absorption layer are bonded such that the first set of electrodes are electrically connected to the first set of electric contacts and the second set of electrodes are electrically connected to the second set of electric contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu
  • Patent number: 11402519
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a radiation detector comprising: an electronics layer comprising a first set of electric contacts and a second set of electric contacts; a radiation absorption layer configured to absorb radiation; a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes, wherein the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes are interdigitated and extend into the radiation absorption layer in a direction of thickness thereof; wherein the electronics layer and the radiation absorption layer are bonded such that the first set of electrodes are electrically connected to the first set of electric contacts and the second set of electrodes are electrically connected to the second set of electric contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu
  • Patent number: 11251581
    Abstract: A device that is capable of eliminating a power trace that can be analyzed in a power analysis attack and serves as a highly effective countermeasure against power analysis attacks. The device comprising an optical source providing optical energy to an integrated circuit. An optical detector optically linked to the optical source and converts the optical energy from the optical source into electrical energy to power a secure circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventors: Jennifer Lynn Dworak, Ping Gui, Scott McWilliams, Gary Alan Evans
  • Patent number: 11158751
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a photoelectric conversion element includes a photoelectric conversion layer that converts light to charges. The photoelectric conversion layer contains oligothiophene and fullerene selected from a group including a fullerene and derivatives thereof. A content ratio of the oligothiophene and the fullerene is 500:1 to 5:1 by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Atsushi Wada, Rei Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 11011656
    Abstract: A photodiode device and a photodiode detector are provided. According to an embodiment, the photodiode device may include a first type lightly doped semiconductor base including a first surface and a second surfaces opposite to each other, a first electrode region being first type heavily doped and disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor base, a second electrode region being second type heavily doped and disposed on the second surface of the semiconductor base, wherein the first surface is a light incident surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NUCTECH COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lan Zhang, Haifan Hu, Xuepeng Cao, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 10481975
    Abstract: A memory system has a non-volatile memory, an error corrector, an error information storage, and an access controller. The non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of memory cells. The error corrector to correct an error included in data read from the non-volatile memory. The error information storage, based on an error rate when a predetermined number or more of data is written in the non-volatile memory and read therefrom, to store first information on whether there is an error in the written data, on whether there is an error correctable by the error corrector in the written data, and on whether there is an error uncorrectable by the error corrector in the written data. The access controller, based on the first information, to control at least one of reading from or writing to the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Saida, Hiroki Noguchi, Keiko Abe, Shinobu Fujita
  • Patent number: 10460647
    Abstract: A display device with a narrow bezel is provided. The display device includes a pixel circuit and a driver circuit provided on one plane. The driver circuit includes a selection circuit and a buffer circuit. The buffer circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor. Sources of the first and second transistors are electrically connected with each other. Drains of the first and second transistors are electrically connected with each other. Gates of the first and second transistors are electrically connected with each other. The first transistor and the second transistor are stacked so that the direction of the current flow in the first transistor is parallel to that in the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Shishido
  • Patent number: 9691624
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a fin structure. The method may include forming an initial fin on a substrate, forming a dielectric layer on the substrate to cover the initial fin, planarizing the dielectric layer by sputtering, and further etching the dielectric layer back to expose a portion of the initial fin, wherein the exposed portion serves as a fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Huilong Zhu, Miao Xu, Jun Luo, Chunlong Li, Guilei Wang
  • Patent number: 9460331
    Abstract: A color filter substrate, an array substrate, and a display device are disclosed. The color filter substrate, array substrate, and the display device include a substrate having a display region and a non-display region, a color filter layer located in the display region and configured to filter light, and a fingerprint sensing layer located in the non-display region and configured to sense and identify a fingerprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: Shanghai Tianma Micro-Electronics Co., Ltd., Tianma Micro-Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lingxiao Du, Jun Ma, Qijun Yao
  • Patent number: 8916917
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a first element formation region surrounded by an element isolation region in a semiconductor substrate having a first and a second surface, an upper element isolation layer on the first surface in the element formation region, a lower element isolation layer between the second surface and the upper element isolation layer, a first photodiode in the element formation region, a floating diffusion in the element formation region, and a first transistor disposed between the first photodiode and the floating diffusion. A side surface of the lower element isolation layer protrudes closer to the transistor than a side surface of the upper element isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shogo Furuya, Hirofumi Yamashita, Tetsuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8878265
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a first element formation region surrounded by an element isolation region in a semiconductor substrate having a first and a second surface, an upper element isolation layer on the first surface in the element formation region, a lower element isolation layer between the second surface and the upper element isolation layer, a first photodiode in the element formation region, a floating diffusion in the element formation region, and a first transistor disposed between the first photodiode and the floating diffusion. A side surface of the lower element isolation layer protrudes closer to the transistor than a side surface of the upper element isolation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shogo Furuya, Hirofumi Yamashita, Tetsuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8835906
    Abstract: A sensor includes: a base wafer containing silicon; a seed member provided directly or indirectly on the base wafer; and a photothermal absorber that is made of a Group 3-5 compound semiconductor lattice-matching or pseudo lattice-matching the seed member and being capable of generating a carrier upon absorbing light or heat, where the photothermal absorber outputs an electric signal in response to incident light to be introduced into the photothermal absorber or heat to be applied to the photothermal absorber. A semiconductor wafer includes: a base wafer containing silicon; a seed member provided directly or indirectly on the base wafer; and a photothermal absorber that is made of a Group 3-5 compound semiconductor lattice-matching or pseudo lattice-matching the seed member and being capable of generating a carrier upon absorbing light or heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Masahiko Hata, Tomoyuki Takada, Sadanori Yamanaka, Taro Itatani
  • Patent number: 8809923
    Abstract: A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface. The semiconductor substrate has at least one imaging array formed on the front surface. The imaging sensor also includes a carrier substrate to provide structural support to the semiconductor substrate, where the carrier substrate has a first surface coupled to the front surface of the semiconductor substrate. A re-distribution layer is formed between the front surface of the semiconductor substrate and the second surface of the carrier substrate to route electrical signals between the imaging array and a second surface of the carrier substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Chih Tai, Howard E. Rhodes, Duli Mao, Vincent Venezia, Yin Qian
  • Patent number: 8772892
    Abstract: A CCD image sensor is provided with a pixel set. The pixel set is composed of first and second pixels and a microlens. The pixels are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction. The microlens has a hemispheric shape. A diameter of the microlens is larger than a length of a rectangular region, being an external shape of the first and second pixels, in a height direction. The rectangular region has a height and width ratio of approximately 1:2. The pixel sets are arranged in a width direction of the rectangular region to constitute a pixel row. In the CCD image sensor, the pixel rows are arranged in the height direction of the rectangular region, with the adjacent pixel rows shifted from each other in the horizontal direction by half pitch of the rectangular region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuru Okigawa
  • Patent number: 8716745
    Abstract: A diode is defined on a die. The diode includes a substrate of P conductivity having an upper surface and a lower surface, the substrate having first and second ends corresponding to first and second edges of the die. An anode contacts the lower surface of the substrate. A layer of N conductivity is provided on the upper surface of the substrate, the layer having an upper surface and a lower surface. A doped region of N conductivity is formed at an upper portion of the layer. A cathode contacts the doped region. A passivation layer is provided on the upper surface of the layer and proximate to the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: IXYS Corporation
    Inventor: Subhas Chandra Bose Jayappa Veeramma
  • Patent number: 8710558
    Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric conversion apparatus which is characterized by comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions of a first conductivity type, and a plurality of semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type; and in that the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions of the first conductivity type and the plurality of semiconductor regions are alternately arranged, and a voltage controlling unit is further provided to change a width of a depletion layer formed in a semiconductor substrate by controlling a voltage to be applied to the semiconductor region of the second conductivity type provided between the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions of the first conductivity type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Daisuke Inoue, Tetsunobu Kochi, Yukihiro Kuroda, Hideo Kobayashi, Kouji Maeda
  • Patent number: 8610231
    Abstract: A photodiode array 1 has a plurality of photodetector channels 10 which are formed on an n-type substrate 2 having an n-type semiconductor layer 12, with a light to be detected being incident to the plurality of photodetector channels 10. The photodiode array 1 comprises: a p?-type semiconductor layer 13 formed on the n-type semiconductor layer 12 of the substrate 2; resistors 4 each of which is provided to each of the photodetector channels 10 and is connected to a signal conductor 3 at one end thereof; and an n-type separating part 20 formed between the plurality of photodetector channels 10. The p?-type semiconductor layer 13 forms a pn junction at the interface between the substrate 2, and comprises a plurality of multiplication regions AM for avalanche multiplication of carriers produced by the incidence of the light to be detected so that each of the multiplication regions corresponds to each of the photodetector channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Yamamura, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8513759
    Abstract: A photodiode array for near infrared rays that includes photodiodes having a uniform size and a uniform shape, has high selectivity for the wavelength of received light between the photodiodes, and has high sensitivity with the aid of a high-quality semiconducting crystal containing a large amount of nitrogen, a method for manufacturing the photodiode array, and an optical measurement system are provided. The steps of forming a mask layer 2 having a plurality of openings on a first-conductive-type or semi-insulating semiconductor substrate 1, the openings being arranged in one dimension or two dimensions, and selectively growing a plurality of semiconductor layers 3a, 3b, and 3c including an absorption layer 3b in the openings are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Iguchi, Hiroshi Inada, Youichi Nagai
  • Patent number: 8441091
    Abstract: A photodiode assembly includes a semiconductor substrate, a photodiode cell, a ground diffusion region, and a guard band. The photodiode cell includes a first volume of the substrate doped with a first type of dopant. The diffusion region includes a second volume of the substrate that is doped with a second, opposite type of dopant. The guard band is disposed in the substrate and at least partially extends around an outer periphery of the photodiode cell. The guard band includes a third volume of the substrate that is doped with the first type of dopant. At least one of the ground diffusion region or the guard band is conductively coupled with a ground reference to conduct one or more of electrons or holes that drift from the photodiode cell through the substrate. The guard band is disposed closer to the photodiode cell than the ground diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Zeman, Jeffrey Kautzer, Faisal Saeed
  • Publication number: 20130058452
    Abstract: A scintillator element (114) comprising uncured scintillator material (112) is formed and optically cured to generate a cured scintillator element (122, 122?). The uncured scintillator material suitably combines at least a scintillator material powder and an uncured polymeric host. In a reel to reel process, a flexible array of optical detectors is transferred from a source reel (100) to a take-up reel (106) and the uncured scintillator material (112) is disposed on the flexible array and optically cured during said transfer. Such detector layers (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) are stackable to define a multi-layer computed tomography (CT) detector array (20). Detector element channels (50, 50?, 50?) include a preamplifier (52) and switching circuitry (54, 54?, 54?) having a first mode connecting the preamplifier with at least first detector array layers (31, 32) and a second mode connecting the preamplifier with at least second detector array layers (33, 34, 35).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Simha Levene, Naor Wainer, Amiaz Altman, Rafael Goshen, Cornelis Reinder Ronda
  • Publication number: 20130016035
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided which is capable of holding data for one frame period or longer and conducting a difference operation with a small number of elements. A photosensor is provided in each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel accumulates electric charge in a data holding portion for one frame period or longer, and an output of the photosensor changes in accordance with the electric charge accumulated in the data holding portion. As a writing switch element for the data holding portion, a transistor with small leakage current (sufficiently smaller than 1×10?14 A) is used. As an example of the transistor with small leakage current, there is a transistor having a channel formed in an oxide semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki IKEDA
  • Publication number: 20120319225
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to photovoltaic cells. Specifically, the present invention relates to photovoltaic (PV) cells configurable for energy conversion and imaging. In a typical embodiment, each photovoltaic cell (PV) in the photovoltaic array is divided into a pixel-based array. Each photovoltaic cell is coupled to a set of switches and the photovoltaic cell is dynamically configured for energy conversion or imaging based on the settings of at least one of the switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Moon J. Kim
  • Publication number: 20120261785
    Abstract: A thermopile sensor array is provided. The thermopile sensor array may include multiple pixels formed by multiple thermopiles arranged on a single common shared support membrane. A separation between the edge of the shared support membrane and the outermost thermopile(s) may be included to provide additional thermal isolation between the thermopile and an underlying silicon substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Arthur J. BARLOW, Hermann Karagoezoglu, Jin H. Ju, Fred Plotz, Radu M. Marinescu
  • Publication number: 20120193690
    Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric conversion apparatus which is characterized by comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions of a first conductivity type, and a plurality of semiconductor regions of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type; and in that the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions of the first conductivity type and the plurality of semiconductor regions are alternately arranged, and a voltage controlling unit is further provided to change a width of a depletion layer formed in a semiconductor substrate by controlling a voltage to be applied to the semiconductor region of the second conductivity type provided between the plurality of photoelectric conversion regions of the first conductivity type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Inoue, Tetsunobu Kochi, Yukihiro Kuroda, Hideo Kobayashi, Kouji Maeda
  • Publication number: 20120146174
    Abstract: A photodiode assembly includes a semiconductor substrate, a photodiode cell, a ground diffusion region, and a guard band. The photodiode cell includes a first volume of the substrate doped with a first type of dopant. The diffusion region includes a second volume of the substrate that is doped with a second, opposite type of dopant. The guard band is disposed in the substrate and at least partially extends around an outer periphery of the photodiode cell. The guard band includes a third volume of the substrate that is doped with the first type of dopant. At least one of the ground diffusion region or the guard band is conductively coupled with a ground reference to conduct one or more of electrons or holes that drift from the photodiode cell through the substrate. The guard band is disposed closer to the photodiode cell than the ground diffusion region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gregory Scott Zeman, Jeffrey Kautzer, Faisal Saeed
  • 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: 20120049242
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device, including a semiconductor body having a surface to receive photons and a plurality of doped regions of opposite doping polarities, the doped regions extending substantially from the surface of the semiconductor body and into the semiconductor body, and being arranged in one or more pairs of opposite doping polarities such that each pair of doped regions forms a corresponding space charge region having a corresponding electric field therein, the space charge region extending substantially from the surface of the semiconductor body and into the semiconductor body such that photons entering the semiconductor body through the surface and travelling along paths within the space charge region generate electron-hole pairs in the space charge region that are separated in opposing directions substantially orthogonal to the photon paths by the electric field and collected by the corresponding pair of doped regions, thereby providing an electrical current to be conducted from the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: THE SILANNA GROUP PTY LTD
    Inventors: Petar Branko Atanackovic, Steven Grant Duvall
  • Patent number: 8120023
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to novel front side illuminated, back side contact photodiodes and arrays thereof. In one embodiment, the photodiode has a substrate with at least a first and a second side and a plurality of electrical contacts physically confined to the second side. The electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the first side through a doped region of a first type and a doped region of a second type, each of the regions substantially extending from the first side through to the second side. In another embodiment, the photodiode comprises a wafer with at least a first and a second side; and a plurality of electrical contacts physically confined to the second side, where the electrical contacts are in electrical communication with the first side through a diffusion of a p+ region through the wafer and a diffusion of an n+ region through the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: UDT Sensors, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Steven Bui, Narayan Dass Taneja
  • Publication number: 20110309240
    Abstract: Described herein is a device operable to detect polarized light comprising: a substrate; a first subpixel; a second subpixel adjacent to the first subpixel; a first plurality of features in the first subpixel and a second plurality of features in the second subpixel, wherein the first plurality of features extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate and extend essentially in parallel in a first direction parallel to the substrate and the second plurality of features extend essentially perpendicularly from the substrate and extend essentially in parallel in a second direction parallel to the substrate; wherein the first direction and the second direction are different; the first plurality of features and the second plurality of features react differently to the polarized light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: ZENA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Young-June YU, Munib Wober
  • Patent number: 8026559
    Abstract: A biosensor device is provided, including a first semiconductor layer formed over an interconnect structure. A plurality of detection elements are formed in the first semiconductor layer. An optical filter layer is formed over and physically contacts the first semiconductor layer. A second semiconductor layer is formed over the optical filter layer, having opposing first and second surfaces, wherein the first surface physically contacts the optical filter layer. A plurality of isolation walls are formed over the second semiconductor layer from the second surface thereof, defining a plurality of micro-wells over the second semiconductor layer, wherein the isolation walls and the second semiconductor layer comprises the same material, and the micro-wells are correspondingly arranged with the detection elements. An immobilization layer is formed over the second semiconductor layer exposed by the micro-wells and a plurality of capture molecules are formed over the immobilization layer in the micro-wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: VisEra Technologies Company Limited
    Inventors: I-Hsiu Chen, Chung-Jung Hsu
  • Patent number: 8004031
    Abstract: Method and device embodiments are described for fabricating MOSFET transistors in a semiconductor also containing non-volatile floating gate transistors. MOSFET transistor gate dielectric smiling, or bird's beaks, are adjustable by re-oxidation processing. An additional re-oxidation process is performed by opening a poly-silicon layer prior to forming an inter-poly oxide dielectric provided for the floating gate transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Seiichi Aritome
  • Publication number: 20110147760
    Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a substrate having at least one terminal, a thin semiconductor film including at least one semiconductor device, the thin semiconductor film being disposed and bonded on the substrate; and an individual interconnecting line formed as a thin conductive film extending from the semiconductor device in the thin semiconductor film to the terminal in the substrate, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the terminal. Compared with conventional semiconductor apparatus, the invented apparatus is smaller and has a reduced material cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Mitsuhiko Ogihara, Hiroyuki Fujiwara, Masaaki Sakuta, Ichimatsu Abiko
  • Patent number: 7897417
    Abstract: Hybrid semiconductor materials have an inorganic semiconductor incorporated into a hole-conductive fluorene copolymer film. Nanometer-sized particles of the inorganic semiconductor may be prepared by mixing inorganic semiconductor precursors with a steric-hindering coordinating solvent and heating the mixture with microwaves to a temperature below the boiling point of the solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: National Research Council of Canada
    Inventors: Farid Bensebaa, Pascal L'Ecuyer, Jianfu Ding, Andrea Firth
  • Patent number: 7863062
    Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device 1 in which a hollow section 9 is formed between a solid-state imaging element 2 and a covering section 4 and an air path 7 extending from the hollow section 9 to the outside is formed in an adhesive section 5, a shielding section 11 for shielding the air path 7 is formed on the air path 7 so as to be positioned on a portion exposed from the covering section 4. This makes it possible to reduce noises occurring in a signal processing section of a semiconductor element while preventing condensation in the covering section for covering the semiconductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kumata, Kazuya Fujita
  • Publication number: 20100200731
    Abstract: It is intended to provide a CMOS image sensor with a high degree of pixel integration. A solid-state imaging device comprises a signal line (256) formed on a Si substrate, an island-shaped semiconductor formed on the signal line, and a pixel selection line (255). The island-shaped semiconductor includes: a first semiconductor layer (252) connected to the signal line; a second semiconductor layer (251) located above and adjacent to the first semiconductor layer; a gate (253) connected to the second semiconductor layer through an insulating film; and a charge storage section comprised of a third semiconductor layer (254) connected to the second semiconductor layer and adapted, in response to receiving light, to undergo a change in amount of electric charges therein; a fourth semiconductor layer (250) located above and adjacent to the second and third semiconductor layers. The pixel selection line (255) is connected to the fourth semiconductor layer formed as a top portion of the island-shaped semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Fujio Masuoka, Hiroki NAKAMURA
  • Publication number: 20100155602
    Abstract: Photodetection devices and methods are described. The photodetection devices comprise semiconductor tapered pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Axel Scherer, Michael D. Henry, Harold Hager
  • Publication number: 20100148040
    Abstract: An embodiment of a Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode includes a body of semiconductor material having a first conductivity type, a first surface and a second surface; a trench extending through the body from the first surface and surrounding an active region; a lateral-isolation region within the trench, formed by a conductive region and an insulating region of dielectric material, the insulating region surrounding the conductive region; an anode region having a second conductivity type, extending within the active region and facing the first surface. The active region forms a cathode region extending between the anode region and the second surface, and defines a quenching resistor. The photodiode has a contact region of conductive material, overlying the first surface and in contact with the conductive region for connection thereof to a circuit biasing the conductive region, thereby a depletion region is formed in the active region around the insulating region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Delfo Nunziato SANFILIPPO, Massimo Cataldo MAZZILLO
  • Publication number: 20100127153
    Abstract: A photosensitive device (100), the photosensitive device (100) comprising a substrate (101) and a plurality of vertically aligned nanowire diodes (102 to 105) provided on and/or in the substrate (101).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Prabhat Agarwal
  • Patent number: 7655965
    Abstract: A semiconductor light receiving device includes a plurality of photodiode units, each of which is configured to convert a received light into an electric signal; and a separating unit configured to electrically separates the plurality of photodiode units from each other. The impurity concentration of a surface portion of the separating unit is equal to or lower than a first concentration. The first concentration is a concentration at which the light receiving sensitivity of the separating unit to light is substantially equal to the light receiving sensitivity of each of the plurality of photodiode units of the light. A wavelength of the light is equal to or longer than that of blue-violet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 7601556
    Abstract: A photodiode includes a semiconductor having front and backside surfaces and first and second active layers of opposite conductivity, separated by an intrinsic layer. A plurality of isolation trenches filled with conductive material extend into the first active layer, dividing the photodiode into a plurality of cells and forming a central trench region in electrical communication with the first active layer beneath each of the cells. Sidewall active diffusion regions extend the trench depth along each sidewall and are formed by doping at least a portion of the sidewalls with a dopant of first conductivity. A first contact electrically communicates with the first active layer beneath each of the cells via the central trench region. A plurality of second contacts each electrically communicate with the second active layer of one of the plurality of cells. The first and second contacts are formed on the front surface of the photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Icemos Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Robin Wilson, Conor Brogan, Hugh J. Griffin, Cormac MacNamara
  • Patent number: 7592654
    Abstract: CMOS image sensor having high sensitivity and low crosstalk, particularly at far-red to infrared wavelengths, and a method for fabricating a CMOS image sensor. A CMOS image sensor has a substrate, an epitaxial layer above the substrate, and a plurality of pixels extending into the epitaxial layer for receiving light. The image sensor also includes at least one of a horizontal barrier layer between the substrate and the epitaxial layer for preventing carriers generated in the substrate from moving to the epitaxial layer, and a plurality of lateral barrier layers between adjacent ones of the plurality of pixels for preventing lateral diffusion of electrons in the epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Sandeep R. Bahl, Fredrick P. LaMaster, David W. Bigelow
  • Publication number: 20090045479
    Abstract: An image sensor includes an array of photo-detectors, a plurality of conductive line regions, and a conductive junction region. The array of photo-detectors is formed in a semiconductor substrate. Each conductive line region is formed under a respective line of photo-detectors along a first direction in the substrate. The conductive junction region is formed between the array of photo-detectors and the plurality of conductive line regions in the substrate. The conductive line regions and the conductive junction region form vertical drain structures for the photo-detectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Jeong-Hoon Bae, Tae-Seok Oh, Ki-Hong Kim, Won-Je Park
  • Patent number: 7307327
    Abstract: CMOS image sensor having high sensitivity and low crosstalk, particularly at far-red to infrared wavelengths, and a method for fabricating a CMOS image sensor. A CMOS image sensor has a substrate, an epitaxial layer above the substrate, and a plurality of pixels extending into the epitaxial layer for receiving light. The image sensor also includes at least one of a horizontal barrier layer between the substrate and the epitaxial layer for preventing carriers generated in the substrate from moving to the epitaxial layer, and a plurality of lateral barrier layers between adjacent ones of the plurality of pixels for preventing lateral diffusion of electrons in the epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep R. Bahl, Frederick P. LaMaster, David W. Bigelow