An image sensor may include a plurality of pixels that each contain a photodiode. The pixels may include deep photodiodes for near infrared applications. The photodiodes may be formed by growing doped epitaxial silicon in trenches formed in a substrate. The doped epitaxial silicon may be doped with phosphorus or arsenic. The pixel may include additional n-wells formed by implanting ions in the substrate. Isolation regions formed by implanting boron ions may isolate the n-wells and doped epitaxial silicon. The doped epitaxial silicon may be formed at temperatures between 500 C. and 550 C. After forming the doped epitaxial silicon, laser annealing may be used to activate the ions. Chemical mechanical planarization may also be performed to ensure that the doped epitaxial silicon has a flat and planar surface for subsequent processing.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a solid-state image sensor and a camera system capable of reducing the influence of noise at a connection between chips without a special circuit for communication and reducing the cost as a result. The semiconductor device includes: a first chip 11; and a second chip 12, wherein the first chip 11 and the second chip 12 are bonded to have a stacked structure, the first chip 11 has a high-voltage transistor circuit mounted thereon, the second chip 12 has mounted thereon a low-voltage transistor circuit having lower breakdown voltage than the high-voltage transistor circuit, and wiring between the first chip and the second chip is connected through a via formed in the first chip.

A curved image sensor chip has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The second side includes light sensors configured to generate electrical signals in response to receiving light. A substrate is in contact with the first side of the curved image sensor chip and is configured to increase in volume so as to apply a bending force to form the curved image sensor chip.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a solid-state image sensor and a camera system capable of reducing the influence of noise at a connection between chips without a special circuit for communication and reducing the cost as a result. The semiconductor device includes: a first chip; and a second chip, wherein the first chip and the second chip are bonded to have a stacked structure, the first chip has a high-voltage transistor circuit mounted thereon, the second chip has mounted thereon a low-voltage transistor circuit having lower breakdown voltage than the high-voltage transistor circuit, and wiring between the first chip and the second chip is connected through a via formed in the first chip.

A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die including an active region formed on a surface of the first semiconductor die. The active region of the first semiconductor die can include a sensor. An encapsulant is deposited over the first semiconductor die. A conductive layer is formed over the encapsulant and first semiconductor die. An insulating layer can be formed over the first semiconductor die. An opening is formed in the insulating layer over the active region. A transmissive layer is formed over the first semiconductor die including the active region. The transmissive layer includes an optical dielectric material or an optical transparent or translucent material. The active region is responsive to an external stimulus passing through the transmissive layer. A plurality of bumps is formed through the encapsulant and electrically connected to the conductive layer. A second semiconductor die is disposed adjacent to the first semiconductor die.

Disclosed embodiments include external gettering provided by electronic packaging. An external gettering element for a semiconductor substrate, which may be incorporated as part of an electronic packaging for the structure, is disclosed. Semiconductor structures and stacked semiconductor structures including an external gettering element are also disclosed. An encapsulation mold compound providing external gettering is also disclosed. Methods of fabricating such devices are also disclosed.

A Ge-on-Si photodetector constructed without doping or contacting Germanium by metal is described. Despite the simplified fabrication process, the device has responsivity of 1.24 A/W, corresponding to 99.2% quantum efficiency. Dark current is 40 nA at 4 V reverse bias. 3-dB bandwidth is 30 GHz.

A method for manufacturing a multi-spectral photodiode array in a Cd.sub.xHg.sub.1-xTe semiconductor layer constituted of pixels, the method including a step of producing a PN junction in each pixel and further includes producing a cadmium-rich structure on the semiconductor layer, structured so that all the pixels are not surmounted by a same quantity of cadmium atoms, this quantity being able to be zero; and inter-diffusion annealing, realising the diffusion of cadmium atoms from the cadmium-rich structure to the semiconductor layer. Pixels that do not all have the same cutoff wavelength are thereby obtained.

A method of manufacturing an optical apparatus is provided. The method includes arranging a photo device above a substrate with an adhesive located between the photo device and the substrate, forming a bonding member that bonds the substrate and the photo device by curing the adhesive, and arranging, above the photo device, a transparent plate and a sealing member. The sealing member covers the photo device and is located between the transparent plate and the substrate. An elastic modulus of the bonding member is 1 GPa or less.

An apparatus for crystallizing an active layer of a thin film transistor, the apparatus includes a first laser irradiating a first beam toward a substrate, an amorphous layer on the substrate being crystallizable into the active layer of the thin film transistor by the first beam, and a second laser irradiating a second beam toward the substrate to heat the active layer, the second beam having an asymmetric intensity profile in a scanning direction of the first and second beams.