An integrated circuit system, structure and/or component is provided that includes an integrated electrical power source in a form of a unique, environmentally-friendly energy harvesting element or component. The energy harvesting component provides a mechanism for generating autonomous renewable energy, or a renewable energy supplement, in the integrated circuit system, structure and/or component. The energy harvesting element includes a first conductor layer, a low work function layer, a dielectric layer, and a second conductor layer that are particularly configured to promote electron migration from the low work function layer, through the dielectric layer, to the facing surface of the second conductor layer in a manner that develops an electric potential between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer. An energy harvesting component includes a plurality of energy harvesting elements electrically connected to one another to increase a power output of the electric harvesting component.

Techniques for shielding an optical sensor are described. An example of an electronic device includes an optical sensor and a combined light-focusing and electrical-shielding unit disposed over the optical sensor. The light-focusing and electrical-shielding unit has two portions. The first portion gathers light and focuses the light on the electrical sensor. The second portion encloses sides of the first portion and is coated with an electrically conductive material to shield the optical sensor from electromagnetic interference.

The invention describes a device which enables MWIR photodetectors to operate at zero bias and deliver low dark current performance. The performance is achieved by incorporating a p-n junction in the barrier. The device consists of a p-type contact layer, a p-n junction in the compound barrier (CB) with graded composition and/or doping profiles, and an n-type absorber (p-CB-n) device.

The invention describes a device which enables MWIR photodetectors to operate at zero bias and deliver low dark current performance. The performance is achieved by incorporating a p-n junction in the barrier. The device consists of a p-type contact layer, a p-n junction in the compound barrier (CB) with graded composition and/or doping profiles, and an n-type absorber (p-CB-n) device.

A photodetector structure includes a substrate including a semiconductor film, a light absorption layer which is in contact with the semiconductor film and includes germanium (Ge), on the substrate, a first coating layer which wraps at least a part of a side surface of the light absorption layer, on the substrate, and an optical waveguide which is in contact with the light absorption layer and includes silicon nitride (SiN), on the first coating layer, wherein a lower surface of the optical waveguide is higher than a lower surface of the light absorption layer.

The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging element and an electronic device capable of improving image quality of the solid-state imaging element. The solid-state imaging element includes a photoelectric conversion unit adapted to photoelectrically convert incident light incident from a predetermined incident surface. Also, the solid-state imaging element includes a wire arranged on a bottom surface side that is an opposite surface of the incident surface of the photoelectric conversion unit, and formed with a protruding pattern on a surface facing the photoelectric conversion unit. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging element such as a CMOS image sensor, and an electronic device including the solid-state imaging element.

The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging element and an electronic device capable of improving image quality of the solid-state imaging element. The solid-state imaging element includes a photoelectric conversion unit adapted to photoelectrically convert incident light incident from a predetermined incident surface. Also, the solid-state imaging element includes a wire arranged on a bottom surface side that is an opposite surface of the incident surface of the photoelectric conversion unit, and formed with a protruding pattern on a surface facing the photoelectric conversion unit. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging element such as a CMOS image sensor, and an electronic device including the solid-state imaging element.

An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of pixel regions, a first surface, and a second surface opposing the first surface, a plurality of transistors adjacent to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in each of the plurality of pixel regions, a microlens on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of conductive patterns in contact with the semiconductor substrate and closer to the second surface of the semiconductor substrate than to the first surface of the semiconductor substrate in each of the plurality of pixel regions.

The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an isolation feature, a photodiode and a transistor gate. The isolation feature is disposed in the semiconductor substrate. The photodiode is disposed in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent to the isolation feature. The photodiode includes a first pinned photodiode (PPD) with a first dopant type and a second PPD with a second dopant type. The second PPD is embedded in the first PPD, and is different from the first dopant type. The transistor gate is disposed over the photodiode and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion with the first dopant type is used for controlling the operation of the semiconductor device. The second portion with the second dopant type is adjacent to the first portion. The second portion covers the photodiode and extends toward the isolation feature.

A current-voltage converter, comprising an operational amplifier having an input terminal and an output terminal, a first resistor portion connected to the input terminal, and a second resistor portion provided between the input and output terminals, the input terminal and the first and second resistor portions being connected to each other, the first resistor portion being connected to a current source on a side opposite to the input terminal, the second resistor portion including a diode, the first resistor portion having a first resistance value when a current of a first current amount is supplied to the first resistor portion, and having a second resistance value smaller than the first resistance value when a current of a second current amount larger than the first current amount is supplied to the first resistor portion.