Disclosed herein is a method comprising: forming a first electrically conductive layer on a first surface of a substrate of semiconductor, wherein the first electrically conductive layer is in electrical contact with the semiconductor; bonding, at the first electrically conductive layer, a support wafer to the substrate of semiconductor; thinning the substrate of semiconductor.

A depth sensor includes a first pixel including a plurality of first photo transistors each receiving a first photo gate signal, a second pixel including a plurality of second photo transistors each receiving a second photo gate signal, a third pixel including a plurality of third photo transistors each receiving a third photo gate signal, a fourth pixel including a plurality of fourth photo transistors each receiving a fourth photo gate signal, and a photoelectric conversion element shared by first to fourth photo transistors of the plurality of first to fourth photo transistors.

A curved FPA comprises an array of detectors, with mesas etched between the detectors such that they are electrically and physically isolated from each other. Metallization deposited at the bottom of the mesas reconnects the detectors electrically and thereby provides a common ground between them. Strain induced by bending the FPA into a curved shape is across the metallization and any backfill epoxy, rather than across the detectors. Indium bumps are evaporated onto respective detectors for connection to a readout integrated circuit (ROIC). An ROIC coupled to the detectors is preferably thinned, and the backside of the ROIC may also include mesas such that the ROIC is reticulated.

Photosensors may be formed on a front side of a semiconductor substrate. An optical refraction layer having a first refractive index may be formed on a backside of the semiconductor substrate. A grid structure including openings is formed over the optical refraction layer. A masking material layer is formed over the grid structure and the optical refraction layer. The masking material layer may be anisotropically etched using an anisotropic etch process that collaterally etches a material of the optical refraction layer and forms non-planar distal surface portions including random protrusions on physically exposed portions of the optical refraction layer. An optically transparent layer having a second refractive index that is different from the first refractive index may be formed on the non-planar distal surface portions of the optical refraction layer. A refractive interface refracts incident light in random directions, and improves quantum efficiency of the photosensors.

An apparatus including a semiconductor substrate; an absorption layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate, the absorption layer including a photodiode region configured to absorb photons and to generate photo-carriers from the absorbed photons; one or more first switches controlled by a first control signal, the one or more first switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the first control signal; and one or more second switches controlled by a second control signal, the one or more second switches configured to collect at least a portion of the photo-carriers based on the second control signal, where the second control signal is different from the first control signal.

A hybrid sensor shift platform for an optical image stabilization (OIS) actuator mechanism in compact camera modules includes two or more substrates. A top substrate is composed of an organic material (e.g., a resin) to reduce mass, reduce magnetic interaction with permanent magnets, and improve reliability. One or more lower substrates of the hybrid sensor shift platform are ceramic substrates that provide the benefits of ceramics for connection to the image sensor. The organic substrate is connected via a solder bond process to the lower ceramic substrate(s). The connection between the substrates is reinforced with an under-fill of epoxy that surrounds the solder bonds, thus creating a full interface between the substrates within the overlap.

A photoelectric conversion element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first electrode including a plurality of electrodes independent from each other; a second electrode disposed to be opposed to the first electrode; an n-type photoelectric conversion layer including a semiconductor nanoparticle, the n-type photoelectric conversion layer being provided between the first electrode and the second electrode; and a semiconductor layer including an oxide semiconductor material, the semiconductor layer being provided between the first electrode and the n-type photoelectric conversion layer.

A method for fabricating an image sensor, comprising: providing a receiver substrate comprising a base substrate and an active layer comprising pixels, each pixel comprising a doped region for collecting the electric charges generated in the pixel, the receiver substrate being devoid of metal interconnections, providing a donor substrate comprising a weakened zone limiting a monocrystalline semiconductor layer, bonding the donor substrate to the receiver substrate, detaching the donor substrate along the weakened zone, so as to transfer the semiconductor layer to the receiver substrate, implementing a finishing treatment on the transferred monocrystalline semiconductor layer, the finishing treatment comprising (i) thinning of the transferred monocrystalline semiconductor layer by sacrificial oxidation followed by chemical etching and (ii) smoothing of the transferred monocrystalline semiconductor layer by means of at least one rapid anneal.

A photodetector including: an amplification region that includes a PN junction provided in a depth direction in a semiconductor layer and that is to be electrically coupled to a cathode; a separation region that defines a pixel region including the amplification region; a hole accumulation region that is provided along a side surface of the separation region and that is to be electrically coupled to an anode; and a gate electrode provided in a region between the amplification region and the hole accumulation region and stacked over the semiconductor layer with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween.

A method for manufacturing a back-illuminated solid-state imaging device includes a first step of preparing a first conduction-type semiconductor layer having a front surface and a back surface, a second step of forming a first asperity region on the front surface of the semiconductor layer by selectively etching the front surface of the semiconductor layer, a third step of forming a second asperity region on the front surface of the semiconductor layer by smoothening asperities of the first asperity region, and a fourth step of forming an insulating layer along the second asperity region and forming a plurality of charge transfer electrodes on the insulating layer.