Having Blooming Suppression Structure (e.g., Antiblooming Drain, Etc.) Patents (Class 438/79)
  • Patent number: 10501853
    Abstract: Embodiments provide an etchant composition including (A) a copper ion source, (B) a source of an organic acid ion having one or more carboxyl groups in a molecule, (C) a fluoride ion source, (D) an etching controller, a surface oxidizing power enhancer or a combination thereof as a first additive, and (E) a surfactant as a second additive; a method for etching a multilayered film; and a method for preparing a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignees: SAMYOUNG PURE CHEMICALS CO., LTD., MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung-Ig Jeon, Chi-Sung Ihn, Mi-Soon Lee, Hyun-Eok Shin, Joon-Woo Bae
  • Patent number: 9024361
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device including: a photodiode which converts an optical signal to signal charges; a transfer gate which transfers the signal charges from the photodiode; an impurity diffusion layer to which the signal charges are transferred by the transfer gate; and a MOS transistor of which a gate is connected to the impurity diffusion layer. The impurity diffusion layer has a first conduction type semiconductor layer and a second conduction type semiconductor layer which is formed in the first conduction type semiconductor layer and under an end portion of the transfer gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ohri, Yasunori Sogoh
  • Patent number: 8993373
    Abstract: Methods of doping a solar cell, particularly a point contact solar cell, are disclosed. One surface of a solar cell may require portions to be n-doped, while other portions are p-doped. At least one lithography step can be eliminated by the use of a blanket doping of species having one conductivity and a patterned counterdoping process of species having the opposite conductivity. The areas doped during the patterned implant receive a sufficient dose so as to completely reverse the effect of the blanket doping and achieve a conductivity that is opposite the blanket doping. In some embodiments, counterdoped lines are also used to reduce lateral series resistance of the majority carriers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Bateman, John Graff
  • Patent number: 8994139
    Abstract: A lateral overflow drain and a channel stop are fabricated using a double mask process. Each lateral overflow drain is formed within a respective channel stop. Due to the use of two mask layers, one edge of each lateral overflow drain is aligned, or substantially aligned, with an edge of a respective channel stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Edmund K. Banghart, Eric G. Stevens, Hung Q. Doan
  • Patent number: 8936962
    Abstract: An optical modulator according to the present invention is configured at least by a semiconductor layer subjected to a doping process so as to exhibit a first conductivity type, and a semiconductor layer subjected to a doping process so as to exhibit a second conductivity type. Further, in the optical modulator, at least the first conductivity type semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer, the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and a transparent electrode optically transparent in at least a near-infrared wavelength region are laminated in order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Fujikata, Toshio Baba, Jun Ushida
  • Patent number: 8927348
    Abstract: Provided are a method of manufacturing a group-III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device in which a light-emitting device excellent in the internal quantum efficiency and the light extraction efficiency can be obtained, a group-III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device and a lamp. Included are an epitaxial step of forming a semiconductor layer (30) so as to a main surface (20) of a substrate (2), a masking step of forming a protective film on the semiconductor layer (30), a semiconductor layer removal step of removing the protective film and the semiconductor layer (30) by laser irradiation to expose the substrate (2), a grinding step of reducing the thickness of the substrate (2), a polishing step of polishing the substrate (2), a laser processing step of providing processing marks to the inside of the substrate (2), a division step of creating a plurality of light-emitting devices (1) while forming a division surface of the substrate (2) to have a rough surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Susumu Sugano, Hisayuki Miki, Hironao Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8916869
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which holds a potential for a long time and includes a thin film transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. When the off-state current of a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is set to 1×10?13 A or less and the thin film transistor is used as a reset transistor and a transfer transistor of the solid-state image sensor, the potential of the signal charge storage portion is kept constant, so that a dynamic range can be improved. When a silicon semiconductor which can be used for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor is used for a peripheral circuit, a high-speed semiconductor device with low power consumption can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8822255
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell, which includes an edge deletion step using a laser beam, and a manufacturing apparatus which is used in such a method, the method and the apparatus being capable of preventing a shunt and cracks from being generated are provided. By radiating a first laser beam to a multilayer body, which includes a transparent electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a back electrode layer sequentially formed on a transparent substrate, from a side of the transparent substrate, the photoelectric conversion layer and the back electrode layer in a first region are removed, and by radiating a second laser beam into the region such that the second laser beam is spaced from a peripheral rim of the region, the transparent electrode layer in a second region is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Yamamoto, Hitoshi Ikeda, Tomoki Ohnishi, Kouichi Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 8785991
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion portion in which the shape of potential is provided such that charge is mainly accumulated in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Mabuchi
  • Patent number: 8717556
    Abstract: A microfluidic system may include an image sensor integrated circuit containing image sensor pixels. A channel containing a fluid with particles such as cells may be formed on top of the image sensor. Flow control components may be mounted to the image sensor integrated circuit for controlling the flow of fluids through the channel. The flow control components may include a chemically powered pump. The chemical pump may include one or more chambers and a valve between the chambers. The valve may be operable to allow chemical reactants stored in the chambers to be mixed to produce gasses for generating pressure in the channel. The pressure in the channel may be used to control the flow of the fluid. As the fluid and particles flow through the channel, the image sensor pixels may be used to capture images of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth Edward Salsman
  • Patent number: 8679891
    Abstract: A heterostructure containing IC and LED and a method of fabricating. An IC and an LED are established with the IC having a first electric-conduction block and a first connection block. The IC electrically connects to the first electric-conduction block. A first face of the LED has a second electric-conduction block and a second connection block. The LED is electrically connected to the second electric-conduction block. The first electric-conduction block and the first connection block are respectively joined to the second electric-conduction block and the second connection block, and the first electric-conduction block are electrically connected with the second electric-conduction block to form a heterostructure. The heterostructure provides functions of heat radiation and electric communication for IC and LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Kuan-Neng Chen, Cheng-Ta Ko, Wei-Chung Lo
  • Patent number: 8570418
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus (100) comprises: multiple photoelectric converting units (PD) disposed in a semiconductor substrate; (SB) and isolation portions (103,104,105,106) disposed in the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takanori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8546174
    Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device according to an embodiment, an epitaxial semiconductor layer is epitaxially grown on a semiconductor substrate, a photoelectric converting portion is formed on the epitaxial semiconductor layer, a wiring layer is formed on the epitaxial semiconductor layer after forming the photoelectric converting portion, a support substrate is bonded onto the wiring layer, and the semiconductor substrate is etched from an opposite surface side to a side for the bonding after the bonding. In the method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, an amorphous Si layer is formed on the opposite surface side of the epitaxial semiconductor layer after the etching and an antireflection film and a color filter are formed on the amorphous Si layer in sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tadashi Iijima
  • Patent number: 8520210
    Abstract: Methods for increasing the amount of cenospheres in a fly ash sample are disclosed. The cenospheres are obtained in a dry state by using air as the “fluid” media for separation. In one version, the invention is a two step process, that is, screen by size followed by density separation such as in a fluidizing vertical column by density. In another version of the invention, the separation by density is followed by screening by size. Additional cycles can improve purity as defined by concentration of cenospheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Wisconsin Electric Power Company
    Inventors: Bruce W. Ramme, John J. Noegel, Pradeep K. Rohatgi
  • Patent number: 8471351
    Abstract: Each of pixels 10 arranged in an array pattern includes a photoelectric conversion element 11, a transfer transistor 13 for transferring charges to a floating diffusion layer 12, and an amplifier transistor 14 for outputting the transferred charges to an output line. An insulating isolation part 22 isolates the adjacent photoelectric conversion elements 11, and isolates the photoelectric conversion element 11 and the amplifier transistor 14. The insulating isolation part 22 constitutes a first region A between the photoelectric conversion elements 11 where the amplifier transistor 14 is not arranged, and a second region B between the photoelectric conversion elements 11 where the amplifier transistor 14 is arranged. First and second isolation diffusion layers 23 and 24 are formed below the insulating isolation part 22, and the second isolation diffusion layer 24 is wider than the first isolation diffusion layer 23 in the first region A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Mori, Toru Okino, Yusuke Otake, Hitomi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8455291
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solid state imaging device having a photo-electric conversion portion array and a transfer electrode array, these arrays being provided in parallel to each other, upper surfaces and side wall surfaces of the transfer electrode array being covered with a light-shielding layer, and a transparent layer showing an oxidizing property at the time of film formation, the transparent layer being formed on the photo-electric conversion parts and the light-shielding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Takeda, Tadayuki Dofuku, Kenji Takeo
  • Patent number: 8378391
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which holds a potential for a long time and includes a thin film transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. When the off-state current of a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer is set to 1×10?13 A or less and the thin film transistor is used as a reset transistor and a transfer transistor of the solid-state image sensor, the potential of the signal charge storage portion is kept constant, so that a dynamic range can be improved. When a silicon semiconductor which can be used for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor is used for a peripheral circuit, a high-speed semiconductor device with low power consumption can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8216905
    Abstract: The active pixel cell structures and methods of preparing such structures described above enable reduction of dark current and white cell counts for active pixel cells. The process of preparing active pixel cell structures introduces stress on the substrate, which could lead to increased dark current and white cell counts of active pixel cells. By depositing a stress layer as part of a pre-metal dielectric layer with a stress that counters the stress induced, both the dark current and the white cell counts can be reduced. If the transistors of the active pixel cells are NMOS, the carrier mobility can also be increased by a tensile stress layer. Raman Spectroscopy can be used to measure the stress exerted on the substrate prior to the deposition of the stress layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventors: Ru-Shang Hsiao, Nai-Wen Cheng, Chung-Te Lin, Chien-Hsien Tseng, Shou-Gwo Wuu
  • Patent number: 8124440
    Abstract: A method for making a solid-state imaging device includes forming a pinning layer, which is a P-type semiconductor layer or an N-type semiconductor layer, on a first substrate by deposition; forming a semiconductor layer on the pinning layer; forming a photoelectric conversion unit in the semiconductor layer, the photoelectric conversion unit being configured to convert incident light into an electrical signal; forming, on the semiconductor layer, a transistor of a pixel unit and a transistor of a peripheral circuit unit disposed in the periphery of the pixel unit, and then forming a wiring section on the semiconductor layer; bonding a second substrate on the wiring section; and removing the first substrate after the second substrate is bonded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ikuta, Yuki Miyanami
  • Patent number: 8105864
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an image sensor that includes a barrier region for isolating devices. The image sensor comprises a substrate and an array of pixel cells formed on the substrate. Each pixel cell comprises a photo-conversion device. The array comprises a first pixel cell having a first configuration, a second pixel cell having a second configuration, and at least one barrier region formed between the first and second pixel cells for capturing and removing charge. The barrier region comprises a charge accumulation region of a particular conductivity type in a substrate electrically connected to a voltage source terminal. The charge accumulation region accumulates charge and prevents charge transference from a pixel cell or peripheral circuitry on one side of the barrier region to a pixel cell on another side of the barrier region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Howard E. Rhodes, Richard A. Mauritzson, William T. Quinlin
  • Patent number: 8084727
    Abstract: This device for detecting an electromagnetic radiation, comprises a matrix of juxtaposed elementary sensors (1), each associated with a common substrate in which a sequential addressing read circuit is prepared, specific to each of the sensors, thereby constituting as many pixels, the interaction of the radiation with the sensors generating electric charges to be converted to voltage for their subsequent processing, each of the said sensors being biased via an injection transistor (2), of which one of the terminals is connected to an integration capacitance (3), storing the electric charges generated by the sensor during an integration phase, and whereof the quantity of charges is then processed for conversion to voltage. Each of the pixels of the said matrix is associated with a current limiting device (5), for limiting the current generated by each of the elementary sensors to a maximum called reference current, regardless of the radiation flux received by the pixel concerned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Rostaing, Fabrice Guellec, Michaël Tchagaspanian
  • Patent number: 8003506
    Abstract: More complete charge transfer is achieved in a CMOS or CCD imager by reducing the spacing in the gaps between gates in each pixel cell, and/or by providing a lightly doped region between adjacent gates in each pixel cell, and particularly at least between the charge collecting gate and the gate downstream to the charge collecting gate. To reduce the gaps between gates, an insulator cap with spacers on its sidewalls is formed for each gate over a conductive layer. The gates are then etched from the conductive layer using the insulator caps and spacers as hard masks, enabling the gates to be formed significantly closer together than previously possible, which, in turn increases charge transfer efficiency. By providing a lightly doped region on between adjacent gates, a more complete charge transfer is effected from the charge collecting gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7985691
    Abstract: An organic/inorganic hybrid film represented by SiCxHyOz (x>0, y?0, z>0) is plasma-etched with an etching gas containing fluorine, carbon and nitrogen. During the etching, a carbon component is eliminated from the surface portion of the organic/inorganic hybrid film due to the existence of the nitrogen in the etching gas, to thereby reform the surface portion. The reformed surface portion is nicely plasma-etched with the etching gas containing fluorine and carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenshi Kanegae, Shinichi Imai, Hideo Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 7910394
    Abstract: A method for forming a photodiode cathode in an integrated circuit imager includes defining and implanting a photodiode cathode region with a photodiode cathode implant dose of a dopant species and defining and implanting an edge region of the photodiode cathode region with a photodiode cathode edge implant dose of a dopant species to form a region of higher impurity concentration than the photodiode cathode impurity concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Foveon, Inc.
    Inventor: Maxim Ershov
  • Patent number: 7902624
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an image sensor that includes a barrier region for isolating devices. The image sensor comprises a substrate and an array of pixel cells formed on the substrate. Each pixel cell comprises a photo-conversion device. The array comprises a first pixel cell having a first configuration, a second pixel cell having a second configuration, and at least one barrier region formed between the first and second pixel cells for capturing and removing charge. The barrier region comprises a charge accumulation region of a particular conductivity type in a substrate electrically connected to a voltage source terminal. The charge accumulation region accumulates charge and prevents charge transference from a pixel cell or peripheral circuitry on one side of the barrier region to a pixel cell on another side of the barrier region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Howard E. Rhodes, Richard A. Mauritzson, William T. Quinlin
  • Patent number: 7879642
    Abstract: A sensor having photodiodes whose sensitivity and storage capacity can be increased is provided. The sensor is formed by arranging the photodiodes in an array with first region of second conductivity type is formed on the principal surface of a substrate of a first conductivity type. A pixel separating region of the first conductivity type is formed to penetrate through the first semiconductor region to separate the regions of the adjacent photodiodes. A second region of the second conductivity type used to drain excess charge is formed in substrate at a position away from the junction surface between substrate and the first region and below the junction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Shimada, Karuya Mori
  • Patent number: 7871850
    Abstract: Disclosed are a light emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes a substrate having a lead frame, a light emitting diode mounted on the substrate, a mold member formed on the substrate and the light emitting diode, and a reflecting member having an opening portion at one side thereof and being inclined at an outer portion of the mold member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Bo Geun Park
  • Patent number: 7833819
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for an imager that improve the quality of a captured image. The imager includes a pixel having a photosensor that generates charge in response to receiving electromagnetic radiation and a storage region that stores the generated charge. A protection region assists in keeping undesirable charge from reaching the storage region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Sergey Velichko, Hong-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 7776643
    Abstract: A solid state image pickup device is provided which includes: charge accumulation regions disposed in a semiconductor substrate in a matrix shape; a plurality of vertical transfer channels formed in the semiconductor substrate each in a close proximity to each column of the charge accumulation regions; vertical transfer electrodes formed above the vertical transfer channels; a channel protective impurity layer formed just under the vertical transfer channel and surrounding the charge accumulation region; one or more pixel separation impurity layers formed under the channel protective impurity layer and at a position facing the channel protective impurity layer; an overflow barrier region having a peak position of an impurity concentration at a position deeper than the pixel separation impurity layer, the peak position of the impurity concentration being at a depth of 3 ?m or deeper from a surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a horizontal CCD for transferring signal charges transferred from the vertical
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yuko Nomura, Shinji Uya
  • Publication number: 20090298272
    Abstract: More complete charge transfer is achieved in a CMOS or CCD imager by reducing the spacing in the gaps between gates in each pixel cell, and/or by providing a lightly doped region between adjacent gates in each pixel cell, and particularly at least between the charge collecting gate and the gate downstream to the charge collecting gate. To reduce the gaps between gates, an insulator cap with spacers on its sidewalls is formed for each gate over a conductive layer. The gates are then etched from the conductive layer using the insulator caps and spacers as hard masks, enabling the gates to be formed significantly closer together than previously possible, which, in turn increases charge transfer efficiency. By providing a lightly doped region on between adjacent gates, a more complete charge transfer is effected from the charge collecting gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7595519
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first type semiconductor layer, a second type semiconductor layer and a first type well. The first type semiconductor layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of pixels which receive external light and convert optical charges into an electrical signal. The second type semiconductor layer is supplied with a drain voltage to have a potential different from that of the first semiconductor layer, and the first type well controls a power source voltage (VDD) using the drain voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Jin Lee, Yo-Han Sun, Tae-Seok Oh, Sung-Jae Joo, Bum-Suk Kim, Yun-Ho Jang, Sae-Young Kim, Keun-Chan Yuk
  • Patent number: 7557024
    Abstract: More complete charge transfer is achieved in a CMOS or CCD imager by reducing the spacing in the gaps between gates in each pixel cell, and/or by providing a lightly doped region between adjacent gates in each pixel cell, and particularly at least between the charge collecting gate and the gate downstream to the charge collecting gate. To reduce the gaps between gates, an insulator cap with spacers on its sidewalls is formed for each gate over a conductive layer. The gates are then etched from the conductive layer using the insulator caps and spacers as hard masks, enabling the gates to be formed significantly closer together than previously possible, which, in turn increases charge transfer efficiency. By providing a lightly doped region between adjacent gates, a more complete charge transfer is effected from the charge collecting gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 7521113
    Abstract: The present invention provides a layered structure including a fullerene layer exhibiting Ohmic behavior. The layered device includes a layer of fullerenes and a layer of a fluoride compound of pre-selected thickness. The layered structure includes a third layer of an electrically conductive material located on the second layer to which electrical contact can be made. The thickness of the second layer is selected so that the layered structure exhibits substantially Ohmic contact across the first, second and third layers. The present invention also provides a light-emitting device which includes a substrate and a first electrically conductive layer defining an anode electrode layer on the substrate. The device includes an electron transport layer which includes fullerenes, and a second electrically conductive layer defining a cathode electrode layer on the electron transport layer. The device includes a layer of light-emissive material between the anode electrode layer and the electron transport layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Inventors: Zheng-Hong Lu, Xiaodong Feng
  • Patent number: 7517717
    Abstract: A pixel cell has controlled photosensor anti-blooming leakage by having dual pinned voltage regions, one of which is used to set the anti-blooming characteristics of the photosensor. Additional exemplary embodiments also employ an anti-blooming transistor in conjunction with the dual pinned photosensor. Other exemplary embodiments provide a pixel with two pinned voltage regions and two anti-blooming transistors. Methods of fabricating the exemplary pixel cells are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Sungkwon C. Hong, Alex Krymski
  • Patent number: 7508432
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels for converting incident photons into electrical charge; an overflow drain to draw off excess charge from at one or more of the pixels; a mechanism for summing charge from two or more of the pixels; a first network of resistive devices generating a first overflow drain voltage where at least one of the resistive devices has, in parallel, a fuse that can be opened in response to an external stimulus to provide the optimum overflow drain voltage for pixel anti-blooming protection and saturation signal level for when a plurality of pixels are summed together; and a second network of resistive devices connected to the first network of resistive devices generating a second overflow drain voltage where the second overflow drain voltage is a fraction of the first overflow drain voltage and the second overflow drain voltage provides the optimum overflow drain voltage for pixel anti-blooming and saturation signal level for when none or substantially none of the plurality o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Christopher Parks, John P. McCarten
  • Patent number: 7449732
    Abstract: The substrate with electrodes is formed of a transparent material onto which is deposited a film (1) of a transparent conductive material of thickness e1 and of refractive index n1, said film being structured to form a set of electrodes (1a) whose contours (8) delimit insulating spaces (3), wherein the insulating spaces (3) are filled with a transparent dielectric material of thickness e2 and of refractive index n2 so that the respective thicknesses of the conductive material and the dielectric material are inversely proportional to the values of the refractive indices of said materials and said dielectric material forms neither depressions nor beads at the contour (8) of the electrodes. A hardcoating layer (7) may be disposed between the substrate (5) and the electrodes and a protective film (9) added. The substrate with electrodes is obtained by UV irradiation through a single mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Joachim Grupp, Gian-Carlo Poli, Pierre-Yves Baroni, Estelle Wagner, Patrik Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20080217659
    Abstract: An image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first type of conductivity, a first layer overlying the semiconductor substrate and having the first type of conductivity, a second layer overlying the first layer and having a second type of conductivity different than the first type of conductivity, and a plurality of pixels formed in the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Jyh-Ming Hung, Dun-Nian Yaung
  • Patent number: 7385272
    Abstract: An improved CMOS sensor integrated circuit is disclosed, along with methods of making the circuit and computer readable descriptions of the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: ESS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zeynep Toros, Richard Mann, Selim Bencuya
  • Patent number: 7338833
    Abstract: A structure and method for suppressing lateral leakage current in full fill factor image arrays includes dual dielectric passivation layer. A first passivation layer includes a material that is an insulator, has a low dielectric constant to minimize capacitive coupling between the contacts, and is low stress to prevent cracking. A second passivation layer includes a thin oxide or nitride layer over the first passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Jeng Ping Lu, Ping Mei, Francesco Lemmi, Robert A. Street, James B. Boyce
  • Patent number: 7285438
    Abstract: A plurality of optical sensors (4) are arranged in a surface region of a semiconductor substrate (6) in a matrix pattern, and electric charge generated by the optical sensors (4) is transferred by first and second transfer electrodes (12 and 14) embedded under the optical sensors (4). The semiconductor substrate (6) is constructed by laminating a support substrate (16) composed of silicon, a buffer layer (18), and a thin silicon layer (20) composed of single-crystal silicon. p? regions (26) (overflow barrier) and n-type regions (28) which function as transfer paths are formed under the optical sensors (4). The first and the second transfer electrodes (12 and 14) are disposed between the buffer layer (18) and the n-type regions (28), and an insulating film (30) is interposed between the n-type regions (28) and the first and the second transfer electrodes (12 and 14). In this structure, the light-receiving area is large since the transfer electrodes are not disposed in the front region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kasuga
  • Patent number: 7271836
    Abstract: A drain region is formed along a horizontal charge transfer channel constituting a horizontal charge transfer element, and a barrier region for charges is formed between the horizontal charge transfer channel and drain region. A two-electrode element is formed by using the horizontal charge transfer channel, barrier region and drain region. A solid state image pickup device can be manufactured with high productivity, which device can drain charges in the horizontal charge transfer element at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Wako, Katsumi Ikeda, Tetsuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 7198976
    Abstract: Channel stop sections are formed by multiple times of impurity ion implanting processes. Four-layer impurity regions are formed across the depth of a semiconductor substrate (across the depth of the bulk), so that a P-type impurity region is formed deep in the semiconductor substrate; thus, incorrect movement of electric charges is prevented. Other four-layer impurity regions of another channel stop section are decreased in width step by step across the depth of the substrate, so that the reduction of a charge storage region of a light receiving section due to the dispersion of P-type impurity in the channel stop section is prevented in the depth of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Hirata
  • Patent number: 7186583
    Abstract: A pixel of a semiconductor-based image detector includes a photodetector, at least one switching device serially connected to the photodetector and a bypass device interposed between the photodetector and a power supply voltage. Accordingly, even though excess charges may be generated in the photodetector, the excess charges flow into the power supply through the bypass device. Blooming can thereby be reduced or suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok-Ha Lee
  • Patent number: 7074639
    Abstract: Provided is a method of fabrication of a blooming control structure for an imager. The structure is produced in a semiconductor substrate in which is configured an electrical charge collection region. The electrical charge collection region is configured to accumulate electrical charge that is photogenerated in the substrate, up to a characteristic charge collection capacity. A blooming drain region is configured in the substrate laterally spaced from the charge collection region. The blooming drain region includes an extended path of a conductivity type and level that are selected for conducting charge in excess of the characteristic charge collection capacity away from the charge collection region. A blooming barrier region is configured in the substrate to be adjacent to and laterally spacing the charge collection and blooming drain regions by a blooming barrier width. This barrier width corresponds to an acute blooming barrier impurity implantation angle with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Barry E. Burke, Eugene D. Savoye
  • Patent number: 7075128
    Abstract: A charge transfer element comprising a reverse conductive type well formed on the surface of one conductive type semiconductor substrate, the one conductive type channel region extending in one direction relative to the well, a transfer electrode formed intersecting the channel region, a floating diffusion region formed continuous from the channel region, and an output transistor having a gate connected to the floating diffusion region. In a region where the output transistor is formed, the dopant density profile in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate exhibits the maximum value relative to a middle region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Okada
  • Patent number: 7050101
    Abstract: A drain region is formed along a horizontal charge transfer channel constituting a horizontal charge transfer element, and a barrier region for charges is formed between the horizontal charge transfer channel and drain region. A two-electrode element is formed by using the horizontal charge transfer channel, barrier region and drain region. A solid state image pickup device can be manufactured with high productivity, which device can drain charges in the horizontal charge transfer element at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Wako, Katsumi Ikeda, Tetsuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 7026185
    Abstract: A pixel of a semiconductor-based image detector includes a photodetector, at least one switching device serially connected to the photodetector and a bypass device interposed between the photodetector and a power supply voltage. Accordingly, even though excess charges may be generated in the photodetector, the excess charges flow into the power supply through the bypass device. Blooming can thereby be reduced or suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok-Ha Lee
  • Patent number: 7002626
    Abstract: An image sensor includes pixels formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel includes a photoactive region in the semiconductor substrate, a sense node, and a power supply node. A first electrode is disposed near a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal on the first electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the sense node. A second electrode is disposed near the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A bias signal on the second electrode sets a potential in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the photoactive region and the power supply node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Bedabrata Pain, Chris Wrigley, Guang Yang, Orly Yadid-Pecht
  • Patent number: 6927091
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fabricating a solid-state imaging device including a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a plurality of light-receiving sections provided at a distance in the surface region of the semiconductor substrate, and channel stop regions of a second conductivity type provided between the adjacent light-receiving sections in the surface region and in the internal region of the semiconductor substrate. The method includes the steps of forming a first photoresist layer having openings corresponding to positions at which the channel stop regions are formed; ion-implanting an impurity of a second conductivity type into the semiconductor substrate at a first energy through the first photoresist layer as a mask; forming a second photoresist layer having openings; and ion-implanting an impurity of a second conductivity type into the semiconductor substrate at a second energy through the second photoresist layer as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kouichi Harada
  • Patent number: 6869820
    Abstract: A high efficiency light emitting diode (LED) with metal reflector and the method of making the same is disclosed. The metal reflector is composed of at least two layers with one transparent conductive layer and the other highly reflective metal layer. The transparent conductive layer allows most of the light passing through without absorption and then reflected back by the highly reflective metal layer. The transparent conductive layer is selected from one of the materials that have very little reaction with highly reflective metal layer even in high temperature to avoid the reflectivity degradation during the chip processing. With this at least two layer metal reflector structure, the light emitting diode with vertical current injection can be fabricated with very high yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: United Epitaxy Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tzer-Perng Chen