Abstract: The present disclosure relates to semiconductor structures and, more particularly, to photodetectors and methods of manufacture. The structure includes: a trench structure in a semiconductor substrate; at least one fin structure comprising semiconductor material which extends from a bottom of the trench structure; a photodetector material within the trench structure and extends from the at least one fin structure; a first contact connected to and on a first side of the photodetector material; and a second contact connected to the semiconductor substrate on a second side of the photodetector material.

Abstract: One illustrative device disclosed herein includes a semiconductor substrate, a channel that is at least partially defined by at least a portion of the semiconductor substrate, an input fluid reservoir and an output fluid reservoir, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the input fluid reservoir and the output fluid reservoir. In this example, the device further includes a first radiation source operatively coupled to the substrate, wherein the first radiation source is adapted to generate radiation in a direction toward the channel, and at least one photodiode positioned adjacent the channel.

Abstract: One illustrative transistor device disclosed herein includes a gate structure positioned above a semiconductor substrate and a source region and a drain region, each of which comprise an epi cavity with a bottom surface and a side surface. The transistor further includes an interface layer positioned on at least one of the side surface and the bottom surface of the epi cavity in each of the source/drain regions, wherein the interface layer comprises a non-semiconductor material and an epi semiconductor material positioned on at least an upper surface of the interface layer in the epi cavity in each of the source region and the drain region.

Abstract: One illustrative transistor device disclosed herein includes a gate structure positioned above a semiconductor substrate and a source region and a drain region, each of which comprise an epi cavity with a bottom surface and a side surface. The transistor further includes an interface layer positioned on at least one of the side surface and the bottom surface of the epi cavity in each of the source/drain regions, wherein the interface layer comprises a non-semiconductor material and an epi semiconductor material positioned on at least an upper surface of the interface layer in the epi cavity in each of the source region and the drain region.

Abstract: CMOS image sensor pixel sensor cells, methods for fabricating the pixel sensor cells and design structures for fabricating the pixel sensor cells are designed to allow for back side illumination in global shutter mode by providing light shielding from back side illumination of at least one transistor within the pixel sensor cells. In a first particular generalized embodiment, a light shielding layer is located and formed interposed between a first semiconductor layer that includes a photoactive region and a second semiconductor layer that includes the at least a second transistor, or a floating diffusion, that is shielded by the light blocking layer. In a second generalized embodiment, a thin film transistor and a metal-insulator-metal capacitor are used in place of a floating diffusion, and located shielded in a dielectric isolated metallization stack over a carrier substrate.

Abstract: A solid-state battery structure having a plurality of battery cells formed in a substrate. The plurality of battery cells includes a first current collector layer overlying a first insulating layer and a first electrode layer overlying the first current collector layer. The battery structure further includes a second current collector layer overlying a patterned second electrode layer. The patterned second electrode layer overlies the substrate and forms a plurality of sub-arrays of the battery cells. The battery structure further includes a second insulating layer overlying the second current collector layer. The second insulating layer substantially laterally surrounds first and second contact pads. The first pad is electrically connected to the first current collector layer and the second pad is electrically connected to the second current collector layer. The first and second contact pads are in electrical communication, through at least two electrical wires, with a circuit located upon the substrate.

Abstract: A wrapped gate junction field effect transistor (JFET) with at least one semiconductor channel having a first conductivity type doping is provided. Both sidewalls of each of the at least one semiconductor channel laterally abuts a side gate region having a second conductivity type doping, which is the opposite of the first conductivity doping. Further, the at least one semiconductor channel vertically abuts a top gate region and at least one bottom gate region, both having the second conductivity type doping. The gate electrode, which comprises side gate region, the top gate region, and at least one bottom gate regions, wraps around each of the at least one semiconductor channel to provide tight control of the current, i.e., a low off-current, through the at least one semiconductor channel. By employing multiple channels, the JFET may provide a high on-current.

Abstract: A novel CMOS image sensor Active Pixel Sensor (APS) cell structure and method of manufacture. Particularly, a CMOS image sensor APS cell having a predoped transfer gate is formed that avoids the variations of Vt as a result of subsequent manufacturing steps. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the CMOS image sensor APS cell structure includes a doped p-type pinning layer and an n-type doped gate. There is additionally provided a method of forming the CMOS image sensor APS cell having a predoped transfer gate and a doped pinning layer. The predoped transfer gate prevents part of the gate from becoming p-type doped.

Abstract: CMOS image sensor pixel sensor cells, methods for fabricating the pixel sensor cells and design structures for fabricating the pixel sensor cells are designed to allow for back side illumination in global shutter mode by providing light shielding from back side illumination of at least one transistor within the pixel sensor cells. In a first particular generalized embodiment, a light shielding layer is located and formed interposed between a first semiconductor layer that includes a photoactive region and a second semiconductor layer that includes the at least a second transistor, or a floating diffusion, that is shielded by the light blocking layer.

Abstract: A novel CMOS image sensor cell structure and method of manufacture. The imaging sensor comprises a substrate having an upper surface, a gate comprising a dielectric layer formed on the substrate and a gate conductor formed on the gate dielectric layer, a collection well layer of a first conductivity type formed below a surface of the substrate adjacent a first side of the gate conductor, a pinning layer of a second conductivity type formed atop the collection well at the substrate surface, and a diffusion region of a first conductivity type formed adjacent a second side of the gate conductor, the gate conductor forming a channel region between the collection well layer and the diffusion region. A portion of the bottom of the gate conductor is recessed below the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A wrapped gate junction field effect transistor (JFET) with at least one semiconductor channel having a first conductivity type doping is provided. Both sidewalls of each of the at least one semiconductor channel laterally abuts a side gate region having a second conductivity type doping, which is the opposite of the first conductivity doping. Further, the at least one semiconductor channel vertically abuts a top gate region and at least one bottom gate region, both having the second conductivity type doping. The gate electrode, which comprises side gate region, the top gate region, and at least one bottom gate regions, wraps around each of the at least one semiconductor channel to provide tight control of the current, i.e., a low off-current, through the at least one semiconductor channel. By employing multiple channels, the JFET may provide a high on-current.

Abstract: A novel CMOS image sensor Active Pixel Sensor (APS) cell structure and method of manufacture. Particularly, a CMOS image sensor APS cell having a predoped transfer gate is formed that avoids the variations of Vt as a result of subsequent manufacturing steps. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the CMOS image sensor APS cell structure includes a doped p-type pinning layer and an n-type doped gate. There is additionally provided a method of forming the CMOS image sensor APS cell having a predoped transfer gate and a doped pinning layer. The predoped transfer gate prevents part of the gate from becoming p-type doped.

Abstract: A method of forming a pixel sensor cell structure. The method of forming the pixel cell comprises forming a doped layer adjacent to a first side of a transfer gate structure for coupling a collection well region and a channel region. Potential barrier interference to charge transfer caused by a pinning layer is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing dual orientation wafers. A trench is formed in a multi-layer wafer to a silicon substrate with a first crystalline orientation. The trench is filled with a silicon material (e.g., amorphous silicon or polysilicon trench). Isolation structures are formed to isolate the silicon material in the trench from a semiconductor layer with a second crystalline orientation. Additional isolation structures are formed within the silicon material in the trench and within the semiconductor layer. A patterned amorphization process is performed on the silicon material in the trench and followed by a recrystallization anneal such that the silicon material in the trench recrystallizes with the same crystalline orientation as the silicon substrate. The resulting structure is a semiconductor wafer with isolated semiconductor areas on the same plane having different crystalline orientations as well as isolated sections within each semiconductor area for device formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design structure for a pixel sensor cell. The pixel sensor cell approximately doubles the available signal for a given quanta of light. A design structure for a pixel sensor cell having reduced complexity includes an n-type collection well region formed beneath a surface of a substrate for collecting electrons generated by electromagnetic radiation impinging on the pixel sensor cell and a p-type collection well region formed beneath the surface of the substrate for collecting holes generated by the impinging photons. A circuit structure having a first input is coupled to the n-type collection well region and a second input is coupled to the p-type collection well region, wherein an output signal of the pixel sensor cell is the magnitude of the difference of a signal of the first input and a signal of the second input.

Abstract: A method of fabricating polysilicon lines and polysilicon gates, the method of including: forming a dielectric layer on a top surface of a substrate; forming a polysilicon layer on a top surface of the dielectric layer; implanting the polysilicon layer with N-dopant species, the N-dopant species essentially contained within the polysilicon layer; implanting the polysilicon layer with a nitrogen containing species, the nitrogen containing species essentially contained within the polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A novel Active Pixel Sensor (APS) cell structure and method of manufacture. Particularly, an image sensor APS cell having a predoped transfer gate is formed that avoids the variations of Vt as a result of subsequent manufacturing steps. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the image sensor APS cell structure includes a doped p-type pinning layer and an n-type doped gate. There is additionally provided a method of forming the image sensor APS cell having a predoped transfer gate and a doped pinning layer. The predoped transfer gate prevents part of the gate from becoming p-type doped.

Abstract: A structure and method for fabricating a transistor structure is provided. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a substrate including a semiconductor-on-insulator (“SOI”) layer separated from a bulk region of the substrate by a buried dielectric layer. (b) first implanting the SOI layer to achieve a predetermined dopant concentration at an interface of the SOI layer to the buried dielectric layer. and (c) second implanting said SOI layer to achieve predetermined dopant concentrations in a polycrystalline semiconductor gate conductor (“poly gate”) and in source and drain regions disposed adjacent to the poly gate, wherein a maximum depth of the first implanting is greater than a maximum depth of the second implanting.

Abstract: An imaging circuit, an imaging sensor, and a method of imaging. The imaging cell circuit including one or more imaging cell circuits, each imaging cell circuit comprising: a transistor having a floating body for holding charge generated in the floating body in response to exposure of the floating body to electromagnetic radiation; means for biasing the transistor wherein an output of the transistor is responsive to the electromagnetic radiation; and means for selectively connecting the floating body to a reset voltage supply.

Abstract: The present invention relates to semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate structures that contain surface semiconductor regions of different crystal orientations located directly on an insulator layer. The present invention also relates to methods for fabricating such SOI substrate structures, by growing an insulator layer directly on a multi-orientation bulk semiconductor substrate that comprises surface semiconductor regions of different crystal orientations located directly on a semiconductor base layer, and removing the semiconductor base layer, thereby forming a multi-orientation SOI substrate structure that comprises surface semiconductor regions of different crystal orientations located directly on the insulator layer.