Provided is an opto-electronic device having low dark noise and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The opto-electronic device may include: a first semiconductor layer doped to have a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer disposed on an upper surface of the first semiconductor layer and doped to have a second conductivity type electrically opposite to the first conductivity type; a transparent matrix layer disposed on an upper surface of the second semiconductor layer; a plurality of quantum dots arranged to be in contact with the transparent matrix layer; and a first electrode provided on a first side of the transparent matrix layer and a second electrode provided on a second side of the transparent matrix layer opposite to the first side, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer.

Provided is an opto-electronic device having low dark noise and a high signal-to-noise ratio. The opto-electronic device may include: a first semiconductor layer doped to have a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer disposed on an upper surface of the first semiconductor layer and doped to have a second conductivity type electrically opposite to the first conductivity type; a transparent matrix layer disposed on an upper surface of the second semiconductor layer; a plurality of quantum dots arranged to be in contact with the transparent matrix layer; and a first electrode provided on a first side of the transparent matrix layer and a second electrode provided on a second side of the transparent matrix layer opposite to the first side, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer.

An image capturing device is provided. The device comprises a photodiode including a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type, an insulator arranged between the photodiode and the third semiconductor region and a channel stop region of the first conductivity type which covers a side and a bottom surface of the insulator. The channel stop region includes a fourth semiconductor region arranged between the insulator and the second semiconductor region and a fifth semiconductor region arranged between the insulator and the third semiconductor region. An impurity concentration in the fourth semiconductor region is higher than an impurity concentration in the fifth semiconductor region and the impurity concentration in the fifth semiconductor region is not less than an impurity concentration in the first semiconductor region.

Provided are opto-electronic devices with low dark noise and high signal-to-noise ratio and methods of manufacturing the same. An opto-electronic device may include: a semiconductor substrate; a light receiving unit formed in the semiconductor substrate; and a driving circuit arranged on a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The light receiving unit may include: a first semiconductor layer partially arranged in an upper region of the semiconductor substrate and doped with a first conductivity type impurity; a second semiconductor layer arranged on the first semiconductor layer and doped with a second conductivity type impurity; a transparent matrix layer arranged on an upper surface of the second semiconductor layer; a plurality of quantum dots arranged to contact the transparent matrix layer; and a first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer and respectively arranged on both sides of the transparent matrix layer.

Optoelectronic retinal prostheses transduce light into electrical current for neural stimulation. A novel optoelectronic pixel architecture is presented comprising a vertically integrated photo junction field-effect-transistor (Photo-JFET) and neural stimulating electrode. Experimental measurements demonstrate that optically addressed Photo-JFET pixels utilize phototransistive gain to produce a broad range of neural stimulation current and can effectively stimulate retinal neurons in vitro. The compact nature of the Photo-JFET pixel can enable high resolution retinal prostheses with a theoretical visual acuity ˜20/60 to help restore vision in patients with degenerative retinal diseases.

Image sensors may include backside illuminated global shutter pixels that are implemented using stacked substrates. To provide high dynamic range in the pixels, only a predetermined portion of charge that has been generated in the pixel photodiodes is kept and stored in the pixel photodiodes when the pixels are illuminated by high light levels. In the low light level illumination conditions, all of the accumulated charge is stored in the pixel photodiodes, thereby preserving high sensitivity and low noise. Dynamic charge overflow may be used to increase the high dynamic range. To achieve low noise operation in a global shutter scanning mode, dynamic charge overflow may be combined with correlated double sampling techniques. Dynamic charge overflow may be achieved using a transistor-based overflow device or using an n-p-n based overflow device.

Provided are a light-receiving element which has more capability of detecting wavelengths than that of existing silicon light-receiving elements and a unit pixel of an image sensor by using it. The light-receiving element includes: a light-receiving unit which is s floated or connected to external voltage and absorbs light; an oxide film which is formed to come in contact with a side of the light-receiving unit; a source and a drain which stand off the light-receiving unit with the oxide film in between and face each other; a channel which is formed between the source and the drain and forms an electric current between the source and the drain; and a wavelength expanding layer which is formed in at least one among the light-receiving unit, the oxide film and the channel and forms a plurality of local energy levels by using strained silicon.

An energy harvesting imaging sensor includes an array of pixel structures each formed from a semiconductor having a photodiode overlying a photovoltaic diode. The photodiode and photovoltaic diode are implemented as a vertically stacked P+/N.sub.WELL/P.sub.SUB junction. This structure enables simultaneous imaging and energy harvesting by generating charge in the photodiode that is indicative of light impinging on the photodiode and simultaneously generating charge from the light in the photovoltaic diode located underneath the photodiode.

Germanium-based sensors are disclosed herein. An exemplary germanium-based sensor includes a germanium photodiode and a junction field effect transistor (JFET) formed from a germanium layer disposed on and/or in a silicon substrate. A doped silicon layer, which can be formed by in-situ doping epitaxially grown silicon, is disposed between the germanium layer and the silicon substrate. In embodiments where the germanium layer is on the silicon substrate, the doped silicon layer is disposed between the germanium layer and an oxide layer. The JFET has a doped polysilicon gate, and in some embodiments, a gate diffusion region is disposed in the germanium layer under the doped polysilicon gate. In some embodiments, a pinned photodiode passivation layer is disposed in the germanium layer. In some embodiments, a pair of doped regions in the germanium layer is configured as an e-lens of the germanium-based sensor.

An opto-electronic device includes a base portion, a first electrode and a second electrode formed on an upper surface of the base portion apart from each other, a quantum dot layer, and a bank structure. The quantum dot layer is between the first electrode and the second electrode on the base portion and includes a plurality of quantum dots. The bank structure covers at least partial regions of the first electrode and the second electrode, defines a region where the quantum dot layer is formed, and is formed of an inorganic material.