Optical Element Associated With Device (epo) Patents (Class 257/E31.127)
  • Patent number: 8772893
    Abstract: A pixel structure including an active device, a capacitor electrode line, a light shielding layer, a color filter pattern and a pixel electrode is provided. The active device and the capacitor electrode line are disposed on a substrate. The light shielding layer is disposed on the substrate, and the dielectric constant of the light shielding layer is less than 6. The light shielding layer defines a unit area on the substrate, and a contact hole is formed in the light shielding layer above the active device. A color filter pattern is disposed in the unit area, wherein the dielectric constant of the color filter pattern is less than 6, and the color filter pattern does not fill into the contact hole. The pixel electrode is disposed on the color filter pattern, in which the pixel electrode fills into the contact hole so as to electrically connect with the active device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yen-Heng Huang, Chung-Kai Chen, Chia-Hui Pai
  • Patent number: 8772073
    Abstract: A method of providing a dielectric material (18) having regions (18?, 18?) with a varying thickness in an IC manufacturing process is disclosed. The method comprises forming a plurality of patterns in respective regions (20?, 20?) of the dielectric material (18), each pattern increasing the susceptibility of the dielectric material (18) to a dielectric material removal step by a predefined amount and exposing the dielectric material (18) to the dielectric material removal step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: NXP, B.V.
    Inventors: Viet Nguyen Hoang, Radu Surdeanu, Benoit Bataillou
  • Patent number: 8772898
    Abstract: A backside illuminated image sensor includes a semiconductor layer and a trench disposed in the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer has a frontside surface and a backside surface. The semiconductor layer includes a light sensing element of a pixel array disposed in a sensor array region of the semiconductor layer. The pixel array is positioned to receive external incoming light through the backside surface of the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer also includes a light emitting element disposed in a periphery circuit region of the semiconductor layer external to the sensor array region. The trench is disposed in the semiconductor layer between the light sensing element and the light emitting element. The trench is positioned to impede a light path between the light emitting element and the light sensing element when the light path is internal to the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Duli Mao, Hsin-Chih Tai, Vincent Venezia, Yin Qian, Gang Chen, Howard E. Rhodes
  • 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: 8766387
    Abstract: A device includes a Backside Illumination (BSI) image sensor chip, which includes an image sensor disposed on a front side of a first semiconductor substrate, and a first interconnect structure including a plurality of metal layers on the front side of the first semiconductor substrate. A device chip is bonded to the image sensor chip. The device chip includes an active device on a front side of a second semiconductor substrate, and a second interconnect structure including a plurality of metal layers on the front side of the second semiconductor substrate. A first via penetrates through the BSI image sensor chip to connect to a first metal pad in the second interconnect structure. A second via penetrates through a dielectric layer in the first interconnect structure to connect to a second metal pad in the first interconnect structure, wherein the first via and the second via are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeng-Shyan Lin, Feng-Chi Hung, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Szu-Ying Chen, Wen-De Wang, Tzu-Hsuan Hsu
  • Patent number: 8766391
    Abstract: Photodetector arrays, image sensors, and other apparatus are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus may include a surface to receive light, a plurality of photosensitive regions disposed within a substrate, and a material coupled between the surface and the plurality of photosensitive regions. The material may receive the light. At least some of the light may free electrons in the material. The apparatus may also include a plurality of discrete electron repulsive elements. The discrete electron repulsive elements may be coupled between the surface and the material. Each of the discrete electron repulsive elements may correspond to a different photosensitive region. Each of the discrete electron repulsive elements may repel electrons in the material toward a corresponding photosensitive region. Other apparatus are also disclosed, as are methods of use, methods of fabrication, and systems incorporating such apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8766385
    Abstract: Filtering matrix structure comprising at least three color filters and a plurality of near Infrared filters, each one of the color filters and the near Infrared filters having an optimum transmission frequency, wherein the filtering matrix structure is made of n metal layers (m1, m2, m3) and n substantially transparent layers (d1, d2, d3) which alternate between a first metal layer (m1) and an nth substantially transparent layer (d3), each of the n metal layers (m1, m2, m3) having a constant thickness and at least one substantially transparent layer having a variable thickness which sets the optimum transmission frequency of each color filter and each near Infrared filter, n being an integer larger than or equal to 2. Application to 3D mapping and imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Pierre Gidon, Gilles Grand, Laurent Frey, Pascale Parrein
  • Patent number: 8765517
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an image sensor device includes forming an insulating layer on a substrate including a photodiode therein, and forming a wiring structure on the insulating layer. The wiring structure includes at least one wiring layer and at least one insulating interlayer. A cavity is formed extending into the wiring structure over the photodiode to expose a surface of the at least one insulating interlayer. The surface of the at least one insulating interlayer exposed by the cavity is modified to define a hydrophobic surface. Related systems and devices are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-jin Ahn, Min-young Jung
  • Patent number: 8759933
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including: a semiconductor substrate; a pixel portion which is formed on the semiconductor substrate and in which a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion portion are arranged; an insulating layer formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to cover the photoelectric conversion portion; a hole portion formed in the insulating layer and above the photoelectric conversion portion; a silicon nitride layer formed so as to cover a bottom surface and a side surface of the hole portion; and a buried layer formed on the silicon nitride layer, wherein the silicon nitride layer is formed so as to contain a silicon nitride formed by utilizing an atomic layer deposition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Toumiya, Kiyotaka Tabuchi, Yasuyuki Shiga, Iwao Sugiura, Naoyuki Miyashita, Masanori Iwasaki, Katsunori Kokubun, Tomohiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8759929
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a substrate including a plurality of light receiving sections; and a color filter including a guided-mode resonant grating provided immediately above each of the plurality of light receiving sections, at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the guided-mode resonant grating being covered with a layer having a lower refractive index than the guided-mode resonant grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazufumi Shiozawa, Yusaku Konno, Naotada Okada
  • Patent number: 8759931
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of pixel cells; and column signal lines. Each of the pixel cells includes: a photoelectric conversion film, a pixel electrode, a transparent electrode, an amplifier transistor, a reset transistor, and an address transistor. The solid-state imaging device further includes: a lower-refractive-index transparent layer formed above the transparent electrode; and higher-refractive-index transparent parts embedded in the lower-refractive-index transparent layer and each having a refractive index higher than a refractive index of the lower-refractive-index transparent layer. Each of the higher-refractive-index transparent parts separates light passing through the higher-refractive-index transparent part into zero-order diffracted light, first-order diffracted light, and negative-first-order diffracted light which exit the higher-refractive-index transparent part and travel toward the photoelectric conversion film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kimiaki Toshikiyo, Keijirou Itakura
  • Patent number: 8759771
    Abstract: An optical element includes a semiconductor layer having an energy band gap larger than a photon energy of light, and a plurality of electrodes in electrical contact with the semiconductor layer. At least one of the electrodes forms a Schottky junction between the electrode and the semiconductor layer; the Schottky junction has a barrier height smaller than the photon energy of the light. At least part of a junction surface between the electrode that forms the Schottky junction and the semiconductor layer includes a light irradiation surface arranged to be irradiated with the light from a surface of the semiconductor layer without the electrodes, and a portion of a coupling structure arranged to be coupled to a terahertz wave that is generated or detected through the irradiation with the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihiko Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8759849
    Abstract: A driving substrate includes: a protective layer including an etching surface; and a film layer including one or more convex portions on a surface thereof, the film layer being in contact with a rear surface of the protective layer, the one or more convex portions each having a surface being flush with the etching surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Masuda, Keiichi Akamatsu, Yuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 8753914
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device. The method includes: forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming a first unit cell on the first electrode; forming a portion of an intermediate reflector on the first unit cell in a first manufacturing system, the intermediate reflector including a plurality of first and second sub-layers alternately stacked; exposing to the air the substrate on which the portion of the intermediate reflector is formed; forming the rest of the intermediate reflector in a second manufacturing system, the intermediate reflector including the plurality of the first and second sub-layers alternately stacked; forming a second unit cell on the intermediate reflector; and forming a second electrode on the second unit cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Yeop Myong
  • Patent number: 8754492
    Abstract: An entry slit panel for a push-broom hyperspectral camera is formed at least partly from a silicon wafer on which at least one companion sensor is fabricated, whereby the companion sensor is co-planar with the slit and detects light imaged on the panel but not on the slit. In embodiments, the companion sensor is a panchromatic sensor or a sensor that detects light outside the wavelength range of the camera. At least a region of the wafer is back-thinned to a thickness appropriate for a diffraction slit. The slit can be etched or laser cut through the thinned region, or formed between the wafer and another wafer or a conventional blade. The wafer can be back-coated or metalized to ensure its opacity across the camera's wavelength range. The companion sensor can be located relative to the slit to detect scene features immediately before or after the hyperspectral camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H Wallace
  • Patent number: 8749007
    Abstract: A light sensor is described that includes a glass substrate having a diffuser formed therein and at least one color filter integrated on-chip (i.e., integrated on the die of the light sensor). In one or more implementations, the light sensor comprises a semiconductor device (e.g., a die) that includes a semiconductor substrate. At least one photodetector (e.g., photodiode, phototransistor, etc.) is formed in the substrate proximate to the surface of the substrate. The color filter is configured to filter light received by the light sensor to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths (e.g., light having wavelengths between a first wavelength and a second wavelength) to the photodetector. A glass substrate is positioned over the substrate and includes a diffuser. The diffuser is configured to diffuse light incident on the diffuser and to pass the diffused light to the at least one color filter for further filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole D. Kerness, Arkadii V. Samoilov, Zhihai Wang, Joy T. Jones
  • Patent number: 8748953
    Abstract: Methods and devices that incorporate microlens arrays are disclosed. An image sensor includes a pixel layer and a dielectric layer. The pixel layer has a photodetector portion configured to convert light absorbed by the pixel layer into an electrical signal. The dielectric layer is formed on a surface of the pixel layer. The dielectric layer has a refractive index that varies along a length of the dielectric layer. A method for fabricating an image sensor includes forming an array of microlenses on a surface of the dielectric layer, emitting ions through the array of microlenses to implant the ions in the dielectric layer, and removing the array of microlenses from the surface of the dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Giovanni Margutti, Andrea Del Monte
  • Patent number: 8749006
    Abstract: An improved image sensor, e.g., CCD, CID, CMOS. The image sensor includes a substrate, e.g., silicon wafer. The sensor also includes a plurality of photo diode regions, where each of the photo diode regions is spatially disposed on the substrate. The sensor has an interlayer dielectric layer overlying the plurality of photo diode regions and a shielding layer formed overlying the interlayer dielectric layer. A silicon dioxide bearing material is overlying the shielding layer. A plurality of lens structures are formed on the silicon dioxide bearing material. The sensor also has a color filter layer overlying the lens structures and a plurality of second lens structures overlying the color filter layer according to a preferred embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventors: Herb Huang, Mieno Fumitake
  • Patent number: 8742560
    Abstract: Optical structures having an array of protuberances between two layers having different refractive indices are provided. The array of protuberances has vertical and lateral dimensions less than the wavelength range of lights detectable by a photodiode of a CMOS image sensor. The array of protuberances provides high transmission of light with little reflection. The array of protuberances may be provided over a photodiode, in a back-end-of-line interconnect structure, over a lens for a photodiode, on a backside of a photodiode, or on a window of a chip package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Adkisson, John J. Ellis-Monaghan, Jeffrey P. Gambino, Charles F. Musante
  • Patent number: 8729650
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a layer including an on-chip lens above a sensor section, and the layer including the on-chip lens is composed of an inorganic film which transmits ultraviolet light. The layer including the on-chip lens may further include a planarizing film located below the on-chip lens. A method of fabricating a solid-state imaging device includes the steps of forming a planarizing film composed of a first inorganic film, forming a second inorganic film on the planarizing film, forming a lens-shaped resist layer on the second inorganic film, and etching back the resist layer to form an on-chip lens composed of the second inorganic film. The first inorganic film constituting the planarizing film and the second inorganic film constituting the on-chip lens preferably transmit ultraviolet light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kouichi Harada, Yasuhiro Ueda, Nobuhiko Umezu, Kazushi Wada, Yoshinori Toumiya, Takeshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8722449
    Abstract: An optical component is fixed precisely on a sensor chip. After a sensor chip including a front surface having a sensor plane with a plurality of light receiving elements is mounted face-up over a wiring substrate, an adhesive is disposed on the front surface of the sensor chip at a plurality of positions, and a plurality of spacers having adherence is formed by curing this adhesive. Then, an adhesive paste is disposed on the front surface of the sensor chip. Then, an optical component held by a bonding tool is disposed on the front surface via the spacer and the adhesive. After that, the bonding tool is separated from the optical component and the optical component is fixed by curing the adhesive in a state in which a load is not applied to the optical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Wada
  • Publication number: 20140117479
    Abstract: The present invention provides a chip module structure for particles protection. The structure includes a substrate. A chip is configured on the substrate, with a sensing area. A holder is disposed on the substrate, wherein the holder has a first rib. A transparent material is disposed on the holder, substantially aligning to the sensing area. A lens holder is disposed on the holder, and a lens is configured on the lens holder, substantially aligning to the transparent material and the sensing area. The lens has a second rib, wherein the second rib is disposed corresponding to the first rib for blocking particles entering into the chip module structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: LARVIEW TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin-Dar JAN
  • Publication number: 20140117480
    Abstract: The present invention provides a holder on chip module structure including a substrate. A chip is configured on the substrate, with a sensing area. A holder is disposed on the substrate, wherein a portion of the holder is directly contacted to the chip to reduce the tilt between the chip and the holder. A transparent material is disposed on the holder, substantially aligning to the sensing area. A lens holder is disposed on the holder, and a lens is configured on the lens holder, substantially aligning to the transparent material and the sensing area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: LARVIEW TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shin-Dar JAN
  • Publication number: 20140120653
    Abstract: A backside illumination (BSI) CMOS image sensing process includes the following steps. A substrate having an active side is provided. A curving process is performed to curve the active side. A reflective layer is formed on the active side, so that at least a curved mirror is formed on the active side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventor: Xin Zhao
  • Patent number: 8710606
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes an impurity region for a photodiode and an angle limiting filter limiting the incidence angle of incidence light incident to a light receiving area of the photodiode, which are formed on a semiconductor substrate. The angle limiting filter is formed by at least a first plug corresponding to a first insulating layer and a second plug corresponding to a second insulating layer located in an upper layer of the first insulating layer. Between the first plug and the second plug, there is a gap area having a gap space that is equal to or less than ?/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Uematsu, Yoshiyuki Terashima, Yoichi Sato, Atsushi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8710607
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for packaging a backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor or a BSI sensor device with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) are disclosed. A bond pad array may be formed in a bond pad area of a BSI sensor where the bond pad array comprises a plurality of bond pads electrically interconnected, wherein each bond pad of the bond pad array is of a small size which can reduce the dishing effect of a big bond pad. The plurality of bond pads of a bond pad array may be interconnected at the same layer of the pad or at a different metal layer. The BSI sensor may be bonded to an ASIC in a face-to-face fashion where the bond pad arrays are aligned and bonded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Szu-Ying Chen, Tzu-Jui Wang, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu
  • Patent number: 8710608
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device having good focusing properties, a method for manufacturing such a solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus. The solid-state imaging device has a semiconductor substrate 11 and a photoelectric conversion part formed in the semiconductor substrate 11. In the solid-state imaging device, a laminate including an organic material layer and an inorganic material layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate with at least one stress relaxation layer 22 interposed between the organic and inorganic material layers. This technology is applicable to, for example, solid-state imaging devices having pixels and microlenses placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Maeda, Hiroyasu Matsugai, Yusuke Moriya
  • Patent number: 8709958
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a solid-state image pickup element, including: a semiconductor layer having a photodiode, photoelectric conversion being carried out in the photodiode; a silicon oxide film formed on the semiconductor layer in a region having at least the photodiode by using plasma; and a film formed on the silicon oxide film and having negative fixed charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Itaru Oshiyama, Susumu Hiyama
  • Publication number: 20140110565
    Abstract: An image sensor device may include a bottom interconnect layer, an image sensing IC above the bottom interconnect layer and coupled thereto, and an adhesive material on the image sensing IC. The image sensor device may include an IR filter layer above the lens layer, and an encapsulation material on the bottom interconnect layer and surrounding the image sensing IC, the lens layer, and the IR filter layer. The image sensor device may include a top contact layer above the encapsulation material and including a dielectric layer, and a contact thereon, the dielectric layer being flush with adjacent portions of the IR filter layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE LTD (SINGAPORE)
    Inventors: Jerome Teysseyre, Yonggang Jin
  • Publication number: 20140113401
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an image sensor device and a method for making an image sensor device. The image sensor device comprises an optical pixel and an electronic circuit, wherein the optical pixel includes: a substrate; an image sensor area formed in the substrate; a masking layer formed above the image sensor area, wherein the masking layer is formed during a process for forming the electronic circuit; and a light passage above the masking layer for increasing light sensing ability of the image sensor area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Jui-Kang Li, Yi-Fong Tseng, Chien-Hsien Tseng
  • Publication number: 20140110581
    Abstract: A photosensor device includes a plurality of first well structures, a light shielding layer, and a plurality of second well structures. The first well structures are disposed in a substrate. The light shielding layer disposed is on the substrate; it covers a portion of the first well structures and exposes the rest portion of the first well structures. The covered first well structures are adjacent to the exposed first well structures exposed. The exposed first well structures generate a first photocurrent according to incident light. The second well structures generate a second photocurrent according to incident light. A total surface area of the second well structures is substantially equal to a total surface area of the exposed first well structures. A method for determining the incident light is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: En-Feng Hsu, Chin-Poh Pang
  • Patent number: 8704326
    Abstract: A thin-film photoelectric conversion device includes a crystalline germanium photoelectric conversion layer having improved open circuit voltage, fill factor, and photoelectric conversion efficiency for light having a longer wavelength. The photoelectric conversion device comprises a first electrode layer, one or more photoelectric conversion units, and a second electrode layer sequentially stacked on a substrate, wherein each of the photoelectric conversion units comprises a photoelectric conversion layer arranged between a p-type semiconductor layer and an n-type semiconductor layer. At least one of the photoelectric conversion units includes a crystalline germanium photoelectric conversion layer comprising a crystalline germanium semiconductor that is substantially intrinsic or weak n-type and is essentially free of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kadota, Toshiaki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8704281
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate, a dielectric layer on the substrate, and an array of pixels, each of the pixels includes: a pixel electrode, an organic layer, a counter electrode, a sealing layer, a color filter, a readout circuit and a light-collecting unit as defined herein, the photoelectric layer contains an organic p-type semiconductor and an organic n-type semiconductor, the organic layer further includes a charge blocking layer as defined herein, an ionization potential of the charge blocking layer and an electron affinity of the organic n-type semiconductor present in the photoelectric layer have a difference of at least 1 eV, and a surface of the pixel electrodes on a side of the photoelectric layer and a surface of the dielectric layer on a side of the photoelectric layer are substantially coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Maehara, Takashi Goto, Hideyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8704321
    Abstract: Solid-state imaging device of the present invention is a backside-illumination-type solid-state imaging device including wiring layer formed on first surface side of semiconductor substrate; and light receiving section that photoelectrically converts light incident from second surface side that is opposite from first surface side, wherein spontaneous polarization film formed of a material having spontaneous polarization is formed on a light receiving surface of light receiving section. Accordingly, a hole accumulation layer can be formed on the light receiving surface of light receiving section, and a dark current can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Okino, Yoshihisa Kato, Yutaka Hirose, Mitsuyoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 8704322
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a compact and simple optical semiconductor device that reduces crosstalk (leakage current) between light receiving elements. According to the present invention, since a back surface electrode is a mirror-like thin film, crosstalk to an adjacent light receiving element can be suppressed, thereby reducing a detection error of a light intensity. By disposing a patterned back surface electrode or by disposing an ohmic electrode at the bottom of an insulating film over the whole back surface, contact resistance on the back surface can be reduced. By using the optical semiconductor elements with a two-dimensional arrangement and by using a mirror-like thin film as the back surface electrode, crosstalk can be reduced. By accommodating the optical semiconductor elements in the housing in a highly hermetic condition, the optical semiconductor elements can be protected from an external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, NTT Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Doi, Yoshifumi Muramoto, Takaharu Ohyama
  • Patent number: 8703518
    Abstract: Microelectronic imagers, methods for packaging microelectronic imagers, and methods for forming electrically conductive through-wafer interconnects in microelectronic imagers are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a microelectronic imaging die can include a microelectronic substrate, an integrated circuit, and an image sensor electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. A bond-pad is carried by the substrate and electrically coupled to the integrated circuit. An electrically conductive through-wafer interconnect extends partially through the substrate and is in contact with the bond-pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Salman Akram, William M. Hiatt
  • Publication number: 20140102509
    Abstract: Manufacture for an improved stacked-layered thin film solar cell. Solar cell has reduced absorber thickness and an improved back contact for Copper Indium Gallium Selenide solar cells. The back contact provides improved reflectance particularly for infrared wavelengths while still maintaining ohmic contact to the semiconductor absorber. This reflectance is achieved by producing a back contact having a highly reflecting metal separated from an absorbing layer with a dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hans-Juergen Eickelmann, Michael Haag, Ruediger Kellmann, Markus Schmidt, Johannes Windeln
  • Publication number: 20140103476
    Abstract: A method of making image sensor devices may include forming a sensor layer including image sensor ICs in an encapsulation material, bonding a spacer layer to the sensor layer, the spacer layer having openings therein and aligned with the image sensor ICs, and bonding a lens layer to the spacer layer, the lens layer including lens in an encapsulation material and aligned with the openings and the image sensor ICs. The method may also include dicing the bonded-together sensor, spacer and lens layers to provide the image sensor devices. Helpfully, the method may use WLP to enhance production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yonggang JIN, Laurent Herard, WeeChinJudy Lim
  • Patent number: 8697474
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for fabricating a filter, for electromagnetic radiation, in at least three ways, including (1) fabricating integrated thin film filters directly on a detector; (2) fabricating a free standing thin film filter that may be used with a detector; and (3) treating an existing filter to improve the filter's properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Frank Greer, Shouleh Nikzad
  • Patent number: 8691613
    Abstract: A crystalline-based silicon photoelectric conversion device comprises: an intrinsic silicon-based layer and a silicon-based layer of a first conductivity type, on one surface of a single-crystal silicon substrate of the first conductivity type; and an intrinsic silicon-based and a silicon-based layer of an opposite conductivity type, in this order on the other surface of the silicon substrate. At least one of forming the intrinsic silicon-based layer of the first conductivity type layer-side forming the intrinsic silicon-based layer of the opposite conductivity type layer-side includes: forming a first intrinsic silicon-based thin-film layer having a thickness of 1-10 nm on the silicon substrate; plasma-treating the silicon substrate in a gas containing mainly hydrogen; and forming a second intrinsic silicon-based thin-film layer on the first intrinsic silicon-based thin-film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Kaneka Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Yoshimi, Mitsuru Ichikawa, Toshihiko Uto, Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8692304
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a substrate, at least a pixel, and at least a light shield is provided. Wherein the pixel includes a photodiode and at least a transistor, and the transistor is connected to a metal line via a contact. The light shield is positioned around at least one side of the pixel, wherein the light shield is made while forming the contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Himax Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Fang-Ming Huang, Chung-Wei Chang, Ping-Hung Yin
  • Publication number: 20140092576
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a stack device comprising a film interposer of a polyimide film material, for example, is assembled. In accordance with one embodiment of the present description, a front side of the film interposer is attached to a first element of the stack device, which may be an integrated circuit package, an integrated circuit die, a substrate such as a printed circuit board, or other structure used to fabricate electronic devices. In addition, a back side of the film interposer is attached to a second element which like the first element, may be an integrated circuit package, an integrated circuit die, a substrate such as a printed circuit board, or other structure used to fabricate electronic devices. Other aspects are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: Alan E. LUCERO, Alan E. JOHNSON
  • Patent number: 8685856
    Abstract: A fabrication method of an anti-reflection structure includes the steps of: forming a resin film having micro-particles dispersed therein on a surface of a substrate; forming a protrusion dummy pattern on the resin film by etching the resin film using the micro-particles in the resin film as a mask while gradually etching the micro-particles; and forming a protrusion pattern on the surface of the substrate by etching back the surface of the substrate together with the resin film having the protrusion dummy pattern formed thereon, and transferring a surface shape of the protrusion dummy pattern formed on a surface of the resin film to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kensaku Maeda, Kaoru Koike, Tohru Sasaki, Tetsuya Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 8686454
    Abstract: There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device including a conductive substrate, a first electrode layer, an insulating layer, a second electrode layer, a second semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a first semiconductor layer that are sequentially stacked. The contact area between the first electrode layer and the first semiconductor layer is 3% to 13% of the total area of the semiconductor light emitting device, and thus high luminous efficiency is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pun Jae Choi, Yu Seung Kim, Jin Bock Lee
  • Patent number: 8686463
    Abstract: A capping system includes: a moving portion moving a stem, on which an optical semiconductor element is mounted, horizontally; a fixer fixing a cap having a window, on the stem; a camera taking an image of the cap and the stem from above the cap and the stem; a detector detecting whether the optical semiconductor element is present within a visual field of the camera; and a searching action controller controlling the moving portion to move the stem so the detector searches the optical semiconductor element. The searching action controller causes searching radially and outwardly from a search starting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kitajima
  • Patent number: 8680635
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a substrate having a bonding pad region and a non-bonding pad region. A relatively large via, called a “big via,” is formed on the substrate in the bonding region. The big via has a first dimension in a top view toward the substrate. The integrated circuit also includes a plurality of vias formed on the substrate in the non-bonding region. The plurality of vias each have a second dimension in the top view, the second dimension being substantially less than the first dimension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Uway Tseng, Lin-June Wu, Yu-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 8680638
    Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to a stack-type image sensor including resistance change elements. The stack-type image sensor includes at least two light-sensing layers that detect different color light stacked on different layers. The stack-type image sensor may not require a size of a unit pixel that detects a light color to be less than 1 ?m in order to generate a high resolution color image. As such, resolution saturation may be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 8674417
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including: a substrate; a light-receiving part; a second-conductivity-type isolation layer; a detection transistor; and a reset transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20140070348
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for integrating a CMOS image sensor and an image signal processor (ISP) together using an interposer to form a system in package device module are disclosed. The device module may comprise an interposer with a substrate. An interposer contact is formed within the substrate. A sensor device may be bonded to a surface of the interposer, wherein a sensor contact is bonded to a first end of the interposer contact. An ISP may be connected to the interposer, by bonding an ISP contact in the ISP to a second end of the interposer contact. An underfill layer may fill a gap between the interposer and the ISP. A printed circuit board (PCB) may further be connected to the interposer by way of a solder ball connected to another interposer contact. A thermal interface material may be in contact with the ISP and the PCB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kuo-Chung Yee, Chun Hui Yu
  • Patent number: 8669134
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a solid-state imaging device including: forming a first pattern having an independent island shape configured by an optical filter material on some of photoelectric conversion units among a plurality of photoelectric conversion units arranged on the surface of a substrate; forming a mixed color prevention layer on a side wall of the first pattern; and forming a second pattern having an independent island shape configured by an optical filter material on the rest of the photoelectric conversion units among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units while the mixed color prevention layer is closely disposed between the first pattern and the second pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomomi Ito, Ryoji Suzuki, Taichi Natori