Abstract: An object is to provide a solid state image pickup device and a camera which do not worsen a sensor performance in terms of an optical property, a saturated charge amount and the like. A solid state image sensor including a pixel region having a plurality of pixels includes at least a photodiode and an amplifying portion amplifying photocharges outputted from the photodiode in the pixel region, and further includes a well electrode for taking well potential of a well region in which the amplifying portion is arranged. Between the well electrode and the photodiode, no element isolation regions by an insulation film are arranged. Moreover, on the surface of a first semiconductor region in which the photodiode stores the charges, a second semiconductor layer of a conductivity type reverse to that of the first semiconductor region is arranged.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes a photo-transistor capable of performing photo-sensing and active amplification. The photo-transistor is installed to improve low illustration characteristics while maintaining an existing pixel operation. The CMOS image sensor also includes a reset transistor connected to the photo-transistor and adapted to perform a reset function, a drive transistor for acting as a source follower buffer amplifier in response to an output signal from the photo-transistor, and a switching transistor connected to the drive transistor and adapted to perform an addressing function.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device has a pixel that includes a photodiode that generates an electrical charge according to an amount of incoming light, a floating diffusion portion, a charge transfer transistor that transfers the electrical charge to the floating diffusion portion from the photoelectric conversion portion, a reading circuit that outputs an signal on the basis of said electrical charge held in said floating diffusion portion, and a light-shielding member disposed so as to cover a side wall of a gate electrode of the charge transfer transistor on the photoelectric conversion portion side.

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.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent a sensitivity difference between pixels. There are disposed plural unit cells each including plural photodiodes 101A and 101B, plural transfer MOSFETs 102A and 102B arranged corresponding to the plural photodiodes, respectively, and a common MOSFET 104 which amplifies and outputs signals read from the plural photodiodes. Each pair within the unit cell, composed of the photodiode and the transfer MOSFET provided corresponding to the photodiode, has translational symmetry with respect to one another. Within the unit cell, there are included a reset MOSFET and selecting MOSFET.

Abstract: A well region of a first conductivity type located in a substrate of the first conductivity type and below about half the channel length of an electrically active portion of a transistor gate is disclosed. The well region is laterally displaced from a charge collection region of a second conductivity type of a pinned photodiode.

Abstract: A light-emitting element has a property that a resistance value (internal resistance) changes in accordance with an environmental temperature. It is an object to downsize a monitoring element which corrects an influence of variations in current value of the light-emitting element, which are caused by an environmental temperature change and a change with time. A pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels, areas of light-emitting elements provided in the individual sub-pixels are made to be different from each other, and an area of a monitoring element is made to be the same as an area of the light-emitting element in any of the sub-pixels, thereby correcting light-emission of the pixel by the monitoring element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light shield for shielding the floating diffusion of a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imager. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a pixel sensor cell including: a device region formed on a substrate; and a first layer of material forming a sidewall adjacent to a side of the device region for blocking electromagnetic radiation from the device region.

Abstract: A current storing circuit capable of having a small area, a simple structure with the small number of devices, a low consumption current operation and high yield in manufacturing is provided. Applying the current storing circuit to the current-driving type of display device such as an OLED display device can improve the aperture rate of pixels and reliability of the display device as well as highly functionalize the display device. The invention is characterized by using a new semiconductor element in a shape of a transistor having plural drains or sources. When the semiconductor elements is used for both of a writing element and a driving element, reading in and storing a current value and outputting the current can be performed by only the two semiconductor elements, so that the area occupied by the devices would be easily reduced significantly.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and a fabricating method thereof for securing aperture ratio are disclosed. In the liquid crystal display device, a gate line is formed. A data line crosses the gate line. A thin film transistor is provided at an intersection of the gate line and the data line. A semiconductor pattern is overlapped with the data line under the data line, and includes an active layer of the thin film transistor. A step coverage does not exist between an etched edge surface of the semiconductor pattern disposed at a lower portion of the data line and an etched edge surface of the data line.

Abstract: An image sensor device having a pixel cell with a pinned photodiode, which utilizes the fixed charge of an high K dielectric layer over the n-type region for the pinning effect without implanting a p-type layer over the n-type region, and methods of forming such a device.

Abstract: An image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a plurality of sensors, an inter-layer dielectric layer formed over the sensors, a first inter-metal dielectric layer formed over the inter-layer dielectric layer, and a plurality of first via walls formed in the first inter-metal dielectric layer, wherein each of the first via walls is formed around each of the sensors. In addition, the image sensor further includes a second inter-metal dielectric layer formed over the first inter-metal dielectric layer and a plurality of second via walls formed in the second inter-metal dielectric layer, wherein each of the second via walls is formed around each of the sensors. Therefore, the light leakage between different pixels and the problem of crosstalk are solved, and the spatial resolution and the photo sensitivity of the image sensor are enhanced.

Abstract: A pixel cell including a substrate having a top surface. A photo-conversion device is at a surface of the substrate and a trench is in the substrate adjacent the photo-conversion device. The trench has sidewalls and a bottom. At least one sidewall is angled less than approximately 85 degrees from the plane of the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A solid image pick-up element comprises: a photoelectric converting portion; a charge transmitting portion comprising a charge transmitting electrode that transmits a charge generated by the photoelectric converting portion; and a peripheral circuit portion connected to the charge transmitting portion, wherein a surface level of a field oxide film provided at the peripheral circuit portion and the charge transmitting portion to surround an effective image pick-up region of the photoelectric converting portion is to a degree the same as a surface level of the photoelectric converting portion.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel section, a peripheral circuit section, a silicide blocking layer formed in the pixel section except for part or whole of an area above an isolation portion in the pixel section, and a metal-silicided transistor formed in the peripheral circuit section.

Abstract: An image sensor may include a semiconductor substrate having a pixel array region and a logic region. A first gate electrode may be formed on the pixel array region of the semiconductor substrate. A lower electrode may be formed on a portion of the logic region of the semiconductor substrate. A first capping layer may be formed on at least a portion of the lower electrode. A dielectric layer may be formed on the first capping layer. An upper electrode may be formed on the dielectric layer. The first gate electrode and the lower electrode may include a polysilicon layer, and the first capping layer may include at least one of a metal layer and a metal silicide layer.

Abstract: In an image sensor in which a vertical length from a photoelectric conversion element to an uppermost micro-lens is minimal, and a method of manufacturing the same, the image sensor includes a substrate, a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and first to n-level (where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2) metal wires. In the substrate, a sensor region and a peripheral circuit region are defined. The plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are formed in or on the substrate within the sensor region. The first to n-level metal wires are sequentially formed on the substrate. The n-level metal wires within the sensor region are of a thickness that is less than the n-level metal wires within the peripheral circuit region.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor may include at least one of: a semiconductor substrate over which a photodiode and transistors are formed; passivation layers formed over a semiconductor substrate; and color PRs buried in trenches formed in the passivation layers and formed to be higher than the trenches.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor is provided. The method can include the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate having an active region and an isolation region defined thereon; forming a photodiode at a photodiode area of the active region; forming first and second gate polys on a transistor region of the active region; forming a floating diffusion region on the semiconductor substrate between the first and second gate polys for receiving electrons transferred from the photodiode; and forming a floating diffusion node region at a part of the floating diffusion region for forming a metal contact. The floating diffusion region can be formed independently of the floating diffusion node region, so that a junction leakage current generated from the floating diffusion node region can be controlled.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a CMOS image sensor and a method of manufacturing the same, which can reduce current leakage through a plug connecting a photodiode and a transfer transistor to each other, and thereby provide low dark current levels. The CMOS image sensor includes a first epitaxial layer on or in a substrate. A photodiode PD is in the first epitaxial layer. A second epitaxial layer is on or in the substrate (e.g., on the first epitaxial layer). A shallow trench isolation region is in an area of the substrate. A plug is in the substrate (e.g., the second epitaxial layer) connected with the photodiode and spaced apart from the shallow trench isolation region. A transfer transistor having a gate electrode and source/drain regions is connected with the plug.

Abstract: An image sensor that can include a photodiode formed on one side of a substrate to receive light and then generate signal charges based on the light; and a transistor converting the signal charges into predetermined voltage and transmitting the voltage to an output terminal, whereby the transistor directly contact and surrounds the photodiode.

Abstract: A thin film transistor has a semiconductor thin film including zinc oxide, a protection film formed on entirely the upper surface of the semiconductor thin film, a gate insulating film formed on the protection film, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film above the semiconductor thin film, and a source electrode and drain electrode formed under the semiconductor thin film so as to be electrically connected to the semiconductor thin film.

Abstract: There is provided a method for selectively transferring pixel control devices onto a planar display substrate, which method enables prepared pixel control devices to be easily, reliably and inexpensively mounted without inducing any loss of pixel control devices. The pixel control devices (1) are formed in a large number at pitches (5, 6) obtained respectively by dividing pitches (105, 106) on the planar display substrate (100) by natural numbers. The pixel control devices corresponding to the number of the pitches (105, 106) on the planar display substrate (100) are picked up, retained on a transparent thermoplastic resin film (101) formed on the planar display substrate (100) utilizing the plastic deformation of the film and fixed at the peripheries thereof with a transparent ultraviolet curing resin film (104).

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor is provided. The CMOS image sensor can include: a plurality of photodiodes formed on a semiconductor substrate; an interlayer dielectric layer formed on an entire surface of the semiconductor substrate having the plurality of photodiodes; color filter layers including multi-layered blue color filter layers formed on the interlayer dielectric layer corresponding to respective photodiodes of the plurality of photodiodes; a planarization layer formed on the semiconductor substrate having the color filter layers; and microlenses formed on the planarization layer.

Abstract: A display panel includes a plurality of sets of transistors which are formed on an upper side of a substrate. An insulating film is formed to cover upper surfaces of the transistors and has a plurality of trenches formed in an upper surface thereof. A plurality of first interconnections are buried in the trenches. An interconnection insulating film covers upper surfaces of the first interconnections. A plurality of second interconnections are provided on an upper side of the interconnection insulating film. Each of a plurality of pixel electrodes is provided between two adjacent interconnections of the second interconnections. Each of a plurality of light-emitting layers is provided on one of the pixel electrodes. A counter electrode is provided on the light-emitting layers.

Abstract: A thin film transistor has a semiconductor thin film including zinc oxide, a protection film formed on entirely the upper surface of the semiconductor thin film, a gate insulating film formed on the protection film, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film above the semiconductor thin film, and a source electrode and drain electrode formed under the semiconductor thin film so as to be electrically connected to the semiconductor thin film.

Abstract: A thin film transistor array panel is provided, which includes a substrate; a gate line formed on the substrate and including a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line; a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer; a plurality of ohmic contacts formed on the semiconductor layer; source and drain electrodes formed on the ohmic contacts; a passivation layer formed on the source and the drain electrodes and having a first contact hole exposing a portion of the drain electrode and an opening exposing a first portion of the semiconductor layer and having edges that coincide with edges of the source and the drain electrodes; and a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer and contacting the drain electrode through the first contact hole.

Abstract: A method for time-gating the sensitivity of an imager structure having a plurality of photodiodes comprises applying an electric field over the photodiodes, the electric field having an amplitude and a polarity so as to reverse bias or slightly forward bias the photodiodes at a bias voltage below 0.5 Volts, and varying the photodiodes between high and low charge collection efficiency or sensitivity by changing the amplitude of the electric field over the photodiodes. A corresponding imager structure is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is a pixel sensor cell and method of making the same. The pixel sensor cell approximately doubles the available signal for a given quanta of light. The device of the present invention utilizes the holes produced by impinging photons in a pixel sensor cell circuit. A pixel sensor cell having reduced complexity includes an n-type collection well region formed beneath a surface of a substrate for collecting electrons generated by electromagnetic radiation impinging on the pixel sensor cell and a p-type collection well region formed beneath the surface of the substrate for collecting holes generated by the impinging photons. A circuit structure having a first input is coupled to the n-type collection well region and a second input is coupled to the p-type collection well region, wherein an output signal of the pixel sensor cell is the magnitude of the difference of a signal of the first input and a signal of the second input.

Abstract: Disclosed are a CMOS image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same, capable of improving the characteristics of the image sensor by increasing junction capacitance of a floating diffusion area. The CMOS image sensor generally includes a photodiode and a plurality of transistors (e.g., transfer, reset, drive, and select transistors), a first conductive type semiconductor substrate, having an active area including a photodiode area, a floating diffusion area, and a voltage input/output area, a gate electrode of each transistor on the active area, a first conductive type first well area in the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the voltage input/output area, a first conductive type second well area in the semiconductor substrate corresponding to the floating diffusion area, and a second conductive type diffusion area in the semiconductor substrate at opposed sides of each gate electrode.

Abstract: Active devices in a thin film diode (TFD) liquid crystal display (LCD) panel used to control liquid crystal are formed by a metal layer, a transparent conductive layer, and an insulating layer sequentially on a substrate, wherein the metal layer is used as transmitting signal and the transparent conductive layer is used as bottom metal layer of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) thin film diode. The metal layer, the transparent conductive layer, and the insulating layer are defined with desired patterns. Further, a dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, metal layer, the transparent conductive layer, and the insulating layer, and defined to form the locations of electrode terminal and MIM thin film diode by using lithographic process. Next, another transparent conductive layer is formed on the dielectric layer and defined to form a pixel electrode and top metal layer of the MIM thin film diode by using lithographic process.

Abstract: An imager having a pixel cell having an associated strained silicon layer. The strained silicon layer increases charge transfer efficiency, decreases image lag, and improves blue response in imaging devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are a CMOS image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof.

Abstract: A photo-detector, in which metal wiring for connecting electrodes is arranged on a planarized surface and thus the metal wiring arrangement is simplified, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The photo-detector includes a multi-layer compound semiconductor layer formed on a compound semiconductor substrate. A number of p-n junction diodes are arranged in a regular order in a selected region of the compound semiconductor layer, and an isolation region for individually isolated the p-n junction diodes is formed by implanting impurity ions in the multi-layer compound semiconductor layer. The isolation region and the surface of the compound semiconductor layer are positioned on the same level. The isolation region may be a Fe-impurity region.

Abstract: The invention describes in detail the structure of a CMOS image sensor pixel that senses color of impinging light without having absorbing filters placed on its surface. The color sensing is accomplished by having a vertical stack of three-charge detection nodes placed in the silicon bulk, which collect electrons depending on the depth of their generation. The small charge detection node capacitance and thus high sensitivity with low noise is achieved by using fully depleted, potential well forming, buried layers instead of undepleted junction electrodes. Two embodiments of contacting the buried layers without substantially increasing the node capacitances are presented.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor. According to embodiments, the subject image sensor can include a photodiode for converting incident light into electrical signals, a reset transistor for resetting a voltage value of a unit pixel, a drive transistor for providing an output voltage, a select transistor for selecting the unit pixel, a storage capacitor for storing electrons leaking from the photodiode, and a switching transistor for controlling the flow of charge to and from the storage capacitor. The switching transistor can be disposed connected to a node between the photodiode and the reset transistor, and the storage capacitor can be disposed at a side of the switching transistor.

Abstract: An MOS type solid-state image pickup device including pixels each of which comprises a photodiode PD, a detection portion N and a transfer transistor QT for transferring the charges accumulated in the photodiode PD to the detection portion N, wherein the gate voltage of the transfer transistor QT when the charges are accumulated in the photodiode PD is set to a negative.

Abstract: The area occupied by a photo-sensor element may be reduced and multiple elements may be integrated in a limited area so that the sensor element can have higher output and smaller size. Higher output and miniaturization are achieved by uniting a sensor element using an amorphous semiconductor film (typically an amorphous silicon film) and an output amplifier circuit including a TFT with a semiconductor film having a crystal structure (typically a poly-crystalline silicon film) used as an active layer over a plastic film substrate that can resist the temperature in the process for mounting such as a solder reflow process. A sensor element that can resist bending stress can be obtained.

Abstract: An N-channel TFT and OLED display apparatus and electronic device using the same are disclosed. The N-channel TFT comprises a a substrate; an active layer on the substrate, wherein the active layer comprises an N type source region and an N type drain region; a gate dielectric layer on the active layer; and a gate region on the gate dielectric layer. At least a part of the highly-doped source region is located under the gate region, and at least a part of the lightly-doped drain region is located under the gate region.

Abstract: A display device having a source line formed over a substrate; a gate line formed over the substrate extending across the source line; a pixel formed over the substrate at an intersection of the source and gate lines, the pixel having: first and second thin film transistors where a source or drain of the first thin film transistor is electrically connected to the source line; a pixel electrode electrically connected to a source or drain of the second thin film transistor where the first and second thin film transistors are electrically connected between the pixel electrode and the source line; where a portion of the source line covers a portion of the first thin film transistor, where a width of the source line is larger than a width of a channel region of the first thin film transistor, and where the pixel electrode does not overlap the source line.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device has a pixel that includes a photodiode that generates an electrical charge according to an amount of incoming light, a floating diffusion portion, a charge transfer transistor that transfers the electrical charge to the floating diffusion portion from the photoelectric conversion portion, a reading circuit that outputs an signal on the basis of said electrical charge held in said floating diffusion portion, and a light-shielding member disposed so as to cover a side wall of a gate electrode of the charge transfer transistor on the photoelectric conversion portion side.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor and a method for fabricating the same prevent a lifting effect of microlenses. Also, a diffused reflection of microlenses is prevented. The CMOS image sensor includes photodiodes, an interlayer insulating layer, metal lines formed in the interlayer insulating layer to electrically connect the respective photodiodes with each other, an oxide layer, a passivation layer to protect the CMOS image sensor from external sources, and microlenses formed to pass through the passivation layer at portions corresponding to the photodiodes.

Abstract: A radiation detecting apparatus according to the present invention includes: pixels including switching elements arranged on an insulating substrate and conversion elements arranged on the switching elements to convert a radiation into electric carriers, the switching elements and the conversion elements are connected with each other, the pixels two-dimensionally arranged on the insulating substrate in a matrix; gate wiring commonly connected with a plurality of switching elements arranged in a row direction on the insulating substrate; signal wiring commonly connected with a plurality of switching elements arranged in a column direction; and a plurality of insulating films arranged between the switching elements and the conversion elements, wherein at least one of the gate wiring and the signal wiring is arranged to be put between the plurality of insulating films.

Abstract: A solid state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells each including a plurality of photoelectric sections arranged in an array of at least two rows and two columns; a plurality of floating diffusion sections each being connected to each of ones of the photoelectric sections which are included in the same row of each said photoelectric conversion via each of a plurality of transfer transistors, and being shared by said ones of the photoelectric sections; a plurality of read-out lines each being selectively connected to at least two of the transfer transistors; and a plurality of pixel amplifier transistors each detecting and outputting the potential of each said the floating diffusion section. Charges of the photoelectric conversion sections each being connected to one of the read-out lines and being read out by the transfer transistors are read out by different floating diffusion sections.

Abstract: Active devices in a thin film diode (TFD) liquid crystal display (LCD) panel used to control liquid crystal are formed by a metal layer, a transparent conductive layer, and an insulating layer sequentially on a substrate, wherein the metal layer is used as transmitting signal and the transparent conductive layer is used as bottom metal layer of metal-insulator-metal (MIM) thin film diode. The metal layer, the transparent conductive layer, and the insulating layer are defined with desired patterns. Further, a dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, metal layer, the transparent conductive layer, and the insulating layer, and defined to form the locations of electrode terminal and MIM thin film diode by using lithographic process. Next, another transparent conductive layer is formed on the dielectric layer and defined to form a pixel electrode and top metal layer of the MIM thin film diode by using lithographic process.

Abstract: A pixel structure including a scan line, a gate pattern, a first dielectric layer, a channel layer, a source, a drain, a data line, a second dielectric layer and a pixel electrode is provided. The gate pattern is electrically connected with the scan line and has an opening therein. The first dielectric layer covers the scan line and the gate pattern and it fills up the opening. Besides, the channel layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer, and the source and the drain are disposed on the channel layer. The drain is disposed above the opening of the gate pattern. The source is electrically connected with the data line, and the pixel electrode is electrically connected with the drain. The overlapping area between the gate pattern that has an opening and the drain can be kept so that the gate-drain capacitor (Cgd) is not changed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of fabricating a thin-film transistor having excellent characteristics. Nickel element is held in contact with selected regions of an amorphous silicon film. Then, thermal processing is performed to crystallize the amorphous film. Subsequently, thermal processing is carried out in an oxidizing ambient containing a halogen element to form a thermal oxide film. At this time, the crystallinity is improved. Also, gettering of the nickel element proceeds. This crystalline silicon film consists of crystals grown radially from a number of points. Consequently, the thin-film transistor having excellent characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: Thin-film transistors constituting a liquid crystal module have a channel forming region that is a crystal structural body in which a plurality of rod-like or flat-rod-like crystals are arranged in a particular direction. In the thin-film transistors, deteriorations in device characteristics due to hot carrier injection or the like can be prevented effectively when the temperature is in a range of 80° C.-250° C. (preferably 100° C.-200° C.). Therefore, a projection TV that is very high in reliability can be realized.

Abstract: A channel forming region of a thin-film transistor is covered with an electrode and wiring line that extends from a source line. As a result, the channel forming region is prevented from being illuminated with light coming from above the thin-film transistor, whereby the characteristics of the thin-film transistor can be made stable.

Abstract: A pixel comprises a substrate comprising a first well region formed in a top portion of the substrate, having a first conductivity type. A plurality of shallow trench isolation (STI) structures is formed in the first well region of the substrate, defining a pixel region over the substrate. A second well region is formed in a potion of the first well region of the pixel region, having a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. A top surface region is formed in a top portion of the second well region, having the first conductivity type. A MOS transistor formed on portions the pixel region, having a pair of source/drain regions formed in the first well region, wherein the source/drain regions are formed of the second conductivity type and one thereof electrically connects the first and well doping regions and the first well region is formed with a depth greater than that of the adjacent STI structure.