Patent classifications
H01L27/14647
Multilevel semiconductor device and structure with image sensors and wafer bonding
An integrated device, the device including: a first level including a first mono-crystal layer, the first mono-crystal layer including a plurality of single crystal transistors; an overlaying oxide on top of the first level; a second level including a second mono-crystal layer, the second level overlaying the oxide, where the second mono-crystal layer includes a plurality of semiconductor devices; a third level overlaying the second level, where the third level includes a plurality of image sensors, where the second level is bonded to the first level, where the bonded includes an oxide to oxide bond; and an isolation layer disposed between the second mono-crystal layer and the third level.
Solid-state imaging device, method of manufacturing solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device including an imaging area where a plurality of unit pixels are disposed to capture a color image, wherein each of the unit pixels includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; a plurality of transfer gates, each of which is disposed in each of the photoelectric conversion portions to transfer signal charges from the photoelectric conversion portion; and a floating diffusion to which the signal charges are transferred from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions by the plurality of the transfer gates, wherein the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions receive light of the same color to generate the signal charges, and wherein the signal charges transferred from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion portions to the floating diffusion are added to be output as an electrical signal.
Imaging systems with stacked photodiodes and chroma-luma de-noising
An imaging system may include an image sensor having pixels with stacked photodiodes in which a first photodiode generates a first image signal in response to light of a first wavelength and a second photodiode generates a second image signal in response to light of a second wavelength. The imaging system may include processing circuitry that applies a color correction matrix to isolate components of the first and second signals that are generated in response to light of the first and second wavelengths while removing components of the first and second signals that are generated in response to light of other wavelengths. The processing circuitry may increase noise correlations between the signals to mitigate noise amplification generated by the color correction matrix. The processing circuitry may apply a point filter to increase luma fidelity of the signals.
Layout and operation of pixels for image sensors
Various embodiments include methods and apparatuses for forming and using pixels for image sensors. In one embodiment, an image sensor having at least two pixel electrodes per color region, and having at least two modes is disclosed. The example image sensor includes a first, unbinned, mode; and a second, binned, mode. In the first, unbinned mode, the at least two pixel electrodes per color region are to be reset to substantially similar levels. In the second, binned mode, a first pixel electrode of the at the least two pixel electrodes is to be reset to a high voltage that results in efficient collection of photocharge, and a second pixel electrode of the at the least two pixel electrodes is to be reset to a low voltage that results in less efficient collection of photocharge. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.
Unit pixel having an insulated contact penetrating a charge accumulation region, solid-state image pickup unit including the same, and method of manufacturing the unit pixel
A solid-state image pickup unit including a pixel section having a plurality of unit pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix formation, wherein a unit pixel includes a conductive region of a first conductivity type having a surface adjacent to a multilayer wiring layer, a charge accumulation region of a second conductivity type formed within the first conductive region, wherein the charge accumulation region is separated from the surface of the conductive region adjacent to the multilayer wiring layer by a separation section, and a contact disposed in the conductive region, the contact electrically connecting the charge accumulation region and an external wire of the multilayer wiring layer.
DETERMINING SPECTRAL EMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF INCIDENT RADIATION
The present disclosure describes optical radiation sensors and detection techniques that facilitate assigning a specific wavelength to a measured photocurrent. The techniques can be used to determine the spectral emission characteristics of a radiation source. In one aspect, a method of determining spectral emission characteristics of incident radiation includes sensing at least some of the incident radiation using a light detector having first and second photosensitive regions whose optical responsivity characteristics differ from one another. The method further includes identifying a wavelength of the incident radiation based on a ratio of a photocurrent from the first region and a photocurrent from the second region.
Imaging systems with stacked image sensors
An imaging system may include a first image sensor die stacked on top of a second image sensor die. A pixel array may include first pixels having photodiodes in the first image sensor die and second pixels having photodiodes in the second image sensor die. The first pixels may be optimized to detect a first type of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., visible light), whereas the second pixels may be optimized to detect a second type of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared light). Light guide channels may be formed in the first image sensor die to help guide incident light to the photodiodes in the second image sensor substrate. The first and second image sensor dies may be bonded at a wafer level. A first image sensor wafer may be a backside illumination image sensor wafer and a second image sensor wafer may be a front or backside illumination image sensor wafer.
SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSOR, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
A more preferable pixel for detecting a focal point may be formed by using a photoelectric converting film. A solid-state image sensor includes a first pixel including a photoelectric converting unit formed of a photoelectric converting film and first and second electrodes which interpose the same from above and below in which at least one of the first and second electrodes is a separated electrode separated for each pixel, and a second pixel including the photoelectric converting unit in which the separated electrode is formed to have a planar size smaller than that of the first pixel and a third electrode extending at least to a boundary of the pixel is formed in a region which is vacant due to a smaller planar size. The present disclosure is applicable to the solid-state image sensor and the like, for example.
IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME
An image sensor may include visible light detectors and a near-infrared light detector. The near-infrared light detector may contain a material highly sensitive to near-infrared rays, and thus the size of the near-infrared light detector may be reduced.
Photosensitive imaging devices and associated methods
A monolithic sensor for detecting infrared and visible light according to an example includes a semiconductor substrate and a semiconductor layer coupled to the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor layer includes a device surface opposite the semiconductor substrate. A visible light photodiode is formed at the device surface. An infrared photodiode is also formed at the device surface and in proximity to the visible light photodiode. A textured region is coupled to the infrared photodiode and positioned to interact with electromagnetic radiation.