Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
257458000 | PIN detector, including combinations with non-light responsive active devices | 50 |
20080217722 | Image Sensor and Method for Manufacturing the Same - Disclosed are an image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. The image sensor includes a substrate provided with a transistor circuit, first and second interconnections separated from each other on the substrate, a first conductive-type conductive layer formed at side surfaces of the first interconnection, a second conductive-type conductive layer formed at side surfaces of the second interconnection, and an intrinsic layer formed between the first and second conductive-type conductive layers thereby forming a P-I-N structure. | 09-11-2008 |
20080230865 | Image Sensor and Method for Manufacturing the Same - An image sensor and method of manufacturing the same are provided. According to an embodiment, the image sensor comprises: a circuit including an interconnection on a substrate; a lower electrode on the interconnection; a separated intrinsic layer on the lower electrode; a second conductive type conduction layer on the separated intrinsic layer; and an upper electrode on the second conductive type conduction layer. The separated intrinsic layer can have an inwardly sloping sidewall to focus light incident the photodiode for the unit pixel. | 09-25-2008 |
20080237771 | IMAGING SYSTEM - A viewing system configured to combine multiple spectral images of a scene, the system includes a spectral beam separator configured to split an incoming beam of radiation into a first and a second beam of radiation, the first beam of radiation including radiations substantially in a first spectral band and the second beam of radiation including radiations substantially in a second spectral band; an image intensifier configured to intensify the second beam of radiation, the image intensifier including a photocathode configured to produce a flux of photoelectrons with substantially increased efficiency when exposed to the second beam of radiation, the photocathode constructed and arranged to substantially absorb all the radiations in the second beam of radiation; a current amplifier configured to amplify the flux of photoelectrons; and a display system configured to display an image of the scene in the second spectral band based on the amplified flux of electrons simultaneously with an image of the scene in the first spectral band. | 10-02-2008 |
20080258251 | IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor including a second line formed at an upper part of a photodiode region as a transparent electrode for passing light. The second line is composed of a polymeric material having transparency and conductivity. | 10-23-2008 |
20090115014 | Image Sensor and Method for Manufacturing The Same - Provided is an image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. The image sensor includes a substrate on which a circuitry including a first lower metal line and a second lower metal line is formed. A lower electrode is formed on the first lower metal line. A separation metal pattern surrounds the lower electrode and connected to the second lower metal line. An intrinsic layer is formed on the lower electrode. A second conductive type conduction layer is formed on the intrinsic layer. An upper electrode is formed on the second conductive type conduction layer. A bias can be applied to the second lower metal line such that the separation metal pattern can provide a Schottky Barrier, directing electrons to the lower electrode and inhibiting crosstalk between pixels. | 05-07-2009 |
20090160006 | Systems and methods for biasing high fill-factor sensor arrays and the like - A high fill-factor photosensor array is formed comprising a P-layer, an I-layer, one or more semiconductor structures adjacent to the I-layer and each coupled to a N-layer, an electrically conductive electrode formed on top of the P-layer, and an additional semiconductor structure, adjacent to the N-layer and which is electrically connected to a voltage bias source. The bias voltage applied to the additional semiconductor structure charges the additional semiconductor structure, thereby creating a tunneling effect between the N-layer and the P-layer, wherein electrons leave the N-layer and reach the P-layer and the electrically conductive layer. The electrons then migrate and distribute uniformly throughout the electrically conductive layer, which ensures a uniform bias voltage across to the entire photosensor array. The biasing scheme in this invention allows to achieve mass production of photosensors without the use of wire bonding. | 06-25-2009 |
20090160007 | Systems and Methods for biasing high fill-factor sensor arrays and the like - A high fill-factor photosensor array is formed comprising a P-layer, an I-layer, one or more semiconductor structures adjacent to the I-layer and each coupled to a N-layer, an electrically conductive electrode formed on top of the P-layer, and an additional semiconductor structure, adjacent to the N-layer and which is electrically connected to a voltage bias source. The bias voltage applied to the additional semiconductor structure charges the additional semiconductor structure, thereby creating a tunneling effect between the N-layer and the P-layer, wherein electrons leave the N-layer and reach the P-layer and the electrically conductive layer. The electrons then migrate and distribute uniformly throughout the electrically conductive layer, which ensures a uniform bias voltage across to the entire photosensor array. The biasing scheme in this invention allows to achieve mass production of photosensors without the use of wire bonding. | 06-25-2009 |
20090166787 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a circuitry, a substrate, an electrical junction region, a high concentration first conduction type region, and a photodiode. The circuitry includes a transistor and is formed on and/or over the substrate. The electrical junction region is formed in one side of the transistor. The high concentration first conduction type region is formed on and/or over the electrical junction region. The photodiode is formed over the circuitry. | 07-02-2009 |
20090174023 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor element is formed on a first surface of the substrate. A resin layer is formed over a second surface of the substrate which is opposite to the first surface of the substrate and on a part of the side surface of the substrate. A step is formed on the side surface of the substrate. The width of the upper section of the substrate with a step is narrower than the lower section of the substrate with a step. Therefore, the substrate can also be a protrusion. | 07-09-2009 |
20090218650 | IMAGE SENSOR DEVICE WITH SUBMICRON STRUCTURE - An image sensor device is disclosed. The image sensor device comprises a substrate having a pixel region and at least one integrated circuit in the substrate of the pixel region. A photodiode is disposed on the substrate of the pixel region, comprising a lower electrode, a transparent upper electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer. The lower electrode is disposed on the substrate and is electrically connected to the integrated circuit. The photoelectric conversion layer is disposed on the lower electrode and has a submicron structure therein. The transparent upper electrode is disposed on the photoelectric conversion layer. | 09-03-2009 |
20090230497 | Pin Diode Structure with Zinc Diffusion Region - A PIN photodiode having a substrate, a first type electrode layer disposed on the substrate, a first layer of intrinsic material disposed over a portion of the first-type electrode layer, a first type window layer disposed over said intrinsic layer. An island shaped region of intrinsic material is disposed over the window layer and a dielectric layer disposed over the island region and at least the peripheral portion of said island shaped region whereby an opening is formed in the island shaped region. A dopant is diffused through the opening so as to form a PN junction that extends into the first layer of intrinsic material. | 09-17-2009 |
20090243023 | DUAL SEED SEMICONDUCTOR PHOTODETECTORS - Dual seed semiconductor photodetectors and methods to fabricate thereof are described. A dual seed semiconductor photodetector is formed directly on an insulating layer on a substrate. The dual seed semiconductor photodetector includes an optical layer formed on a dual seed semiconductor layer. The dual seed semiconductor layer includes a seed layer and a buffer layer. The seed layer of a first material is formed on an insulating layer over a substrate. The buffer layer is formed on the seed layer. Next, an optical layer of a second material is formed on the buffer layer. The buffer layer includes the first material and the second material. In one embodiment, the first material is silicon. In one embodiment, the second material is germanium. | 10-01-2009 |
20090278221 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A semiconductor device that attenuates light to the circuit element area is provided. The semiconductor device includes light-sensitive element area formed on substrate and a circuit element area formed on the substrate. Additionally, a multilayer wiring area is formed on circuit element area. A Tantalum film (which is generally made of tantalum or a tantalum compound) is formed on the surface of the multilayer wiring area to attenuate incident light on circuit element area. | 11-12-2009 |
20090283849 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - Disclosed are an image sensor and a method for manufacturing the same. The image sensor includes a substrate provided with a transistor circuit, first and second interconnections separated from each other on the substrate, a first conductive-type conductive layer formed at side surfaces of the first interconnection, a second conductive-type conductive layer formed at side surfaces of the second interconnection, and an intrinsic layer formed between the first and second conductive-type conductive layers thereby forming a P-I-N structure. | 11-19-2009 |
20090289320 | FAST P-I-N PHOTODETECTOR WITH HIGH RESPONSITIVITY - A lateral p-i-n photodetector is provided that includes an array of vertical semiconductor nanowires of a first conductivity type that are grown over a semiconductor substrate also of the first conductivity type. Each vertically grown semiconductor nanowires of the first conductivity type is surrounded by a thick epitaxial intrinsic semiconductor film. The gap between the now formed vertically grown semiconductor nanowires-intrinsic semiconductor film columns (comprised of the semiconductor nanowire core surrounded by intrinsic semiconductor film) is then filled by forming an epitaxial semiconductor material of a second conductivity type which is different from the first conductivity type. In a preferred embodiment, the vertically grown semiconductor nanowires of the first conductivity type are n+ silicon nanowires, the intrinsic epitaxial semiconductor layer is comprised of intrinsic epitaxial silicon, and the epitaxial semiconductor material of the second conductivity type is comprised of p+ silicon. | 11-26-2009 |
20090321868 | WAVEGUIDE PHOTODETECTOR - A waveguide photodetector detecting light incident on a light detecting end face includes: a substrate; and a layer stack structure on the substrate and including a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, an undoped semiconductor layer, and a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type. The undoped semiconductor layer includes two or more undoped light absorbing layers and undoped non-light-absorbing layers. One non-light-absorbing layer is disposed between adjacent undoped light absorbing layers. The non-light-absorbing layers have a bandgap wavelength shorter than the wavelength of the incident light that is detected. | 12-31-2009 |
20100001359 | TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE LAYER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A transparent conductive layer includes a substrate, a first conductive layer disposed on the substrate, and a second conductive layer disposed on the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer comprises a textured surface and an opening which exposes the first conductive layer, wherein the opening comprises a diameter of about 1 micrometer to about 3 micrometers. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the transparent conductive layer and a photoelectric device. | 01-07-2010 |
20100013042 | CMOS image sensor including tunable read amplifier - CMOS image sensor is realized, wherein a pre-amp amplifies the voltage of a photo detector, and a main amp amplifies the output of the pre-amp. And the pre-amp is adjustable for receiving the output of the photo detector, and also the main amp is adjustable for optimizing the output swing. With the adjustable amps, low sensitivity photo detector can be amplified more, and high sensitivity photo detector can be amplified less, which enables to adjust the gain of each amp from the low-sensitive to high-sensitive photo detector. The information for adjusting the amps is stored in the latches of the chip, wherein include laser-blown fuses or electric fuses. In doing so, the photo detector can be stacked over the access device. In particular, photo detector is repairable, wherein failed photo detector is replaced with non-failed photo detector. | 01-21-2010 |
20100032786 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE DEVICE - A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the device include connecting a second wafer to a first wafer, forming a hard mask layer on and/or over a backside of the second wafer, forming a hard mask pattern over the second layer and then forming a via hole by etching the first and the second wafers to a predetermined depth using the hard mask pattern as an etching mask. | 02-11-2010 |
20100052089 | Photoelectric Structure and Method of Manufacturing Thereof - A photoelectric structure is presented, comprising one or more PiN cells. The PiN cell is formed by an intrinsic semiconductor bulk having front and rear surfaces enclosed between p- and n-type regions extending along side surfaces of said semiconductor bulk. The front and rear surfaces of the intrinsic semiconductor bulk are active surfaces of the PiN cell and said side surfaces of said semiconductor bulk formed with said p- and n-type regions are configured and operable for collecting excess charged carriers generated in said semiconductor bulk in response to collected electromagnetic radiation to which at least one of the active surfaces is exposed during the PiN cell operation. | 03-04-2010 |
20100059847 | STACKED PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - To provide a stacked photoelectric conversion device and a method for producing the same, in which an interlayer is provided between photoelectric conversion layers to obtain an effect of controlling the amount of incidence light, and carrier recombination at an interface between the interlayer and a semiconductor layer is decreased to enhance photoelectric conversion efficiency. | 03-11-2010 |
20100133639 | Photosensitive Semiconductor Component - A semiconductor component that includes a photosensitive doped semiconductor layer, in which electrical charge carriers are released during absorption of electromagnetic radiation is disclosed. The photosensitive semiconductor layer has a structured interface and at least one layer which generates an electric field for separating the released charge carriers disposed downstream of the structured interface. The electric field extends over the structured interface. The photosensitive semiconductor component is distinguished by a high efficiency of the charge carrier separation, in particular, for generating an electric current. | 06-03-2010 |
20100164047 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, an interconnection and an interlayer dielectric, an image sensing device, a trench, a buffer layer, a barrier pattern, a via hole, and a metal contact. The semiconductor substrate includes a readout circuitry. The interconnection and an interlayer dielectric layer are formed on and/or over the semiconductor substrate while the interconnection is connected to the readout circuitry. The image sensing device may be formed on and/or over the interlayer dielectric and a trench may be formed in the image sensing device, the trench corresponding to the interconnection. The buffer layer may be formed on a sidewall of the trench. The barrier pattern may be formed on the buffer layer with the via hole penetrating through the image sensing device and the interlayer dielectric under the barrier pattern and exposing the interconnection. The metal contact may be formed in the via hole. | 07-01-2010 |
20100164048 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING A SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE AND SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE - The disclosure provides a method for fabricating a semiconductor substrate comprising the steps of: providing a semiconductor on insulator type substrate, providing a diffusion barrier layer and providing a second semiconductor layer. By providing the diffusion barrier layer, it becomes possible to suppress diffusion from the highly doped first semiconductor layer into the second semiconductor layer. The invention also relates to a corresponding semiconductor substrate and opto-electronic devices comprising such a substrate. | 07-01-2010 |
20100213566 | REDUCED-CROSSTALK WIREBONDING IN AN OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Wirebonds are formed to couple an opto-electronic device chip having two or more opto-electronic devices to a signal processing chip. Two or more mutually adjacent wirebond groups, each corresponding to one of the opto-electronic devices, are formed. For example, each wirebond group can include a first wirebond coupling a P-terminal of the opto-electronic device of the wirebond group to the signal processing chip, a second wirebond coupling an N-terminal of the opto-electronic device of the wirebond group to the signal processing chip, and a third wirebond coupling the opto-electronic device chip to the signal processing chip. | 08-26-2010 |
20100258895 | PHOTODIODE SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD - The invention provides a semiconductor device manufactured with a plurality of photodiodes so that it does not short circuit, and includes an opening without leakage. A second semiconductor layer ( | 10-14-2010 |
20100276777 | LOW CAPACITANCE PHOTODIODE ELEMENT AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY DETECTOR - A photodiode element includes a first layer of a first diffusion type and a second layer. The second layer defines a charge-collecting area. The charge-collecting area includes an active region of a second diffusion type and an inactive region. The active region surrounds the inactive region. The photodiode element also includes an intrinsic semiconductor layer between the first layer and the second layer. | 11-04-2010 |
20100289103 | PIN Photodiode and Light Reception Device - Among photodiodes used in an optical system for applying light to the entire chip, the conventional PIN photodiode has a problem that light should be applied only to a light reception surface in order to prevent degradation of light response and that positioning of the optical system is difficult. Moreover, in the mesa type PIN photodiode not requiring positioning of an optical system, disconnection failure is often caused by the mesa step. The present invention is made to solve the aforementioned problems, and its object is to provide a PIN photodiode having an improved light response and causing less disconnection failure of metal wiring and a light reception device using the PIN photodiode. The PIN photodiode of the present invention has a structure that the light reception surface is surrounded by a groove of a predetermined depth. | 11-18-2010 |
20100295145 | PHOTODIODE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING PHOTODIODE - A light-absorbing layer is composed of a compound-semiconductor film of charcopyrite structure, a surface layer is disposed on the light-absorbing layer, the surface layer having a higher band gap energy than the compound-semiconductor film, an upper electrode layer is disposed on the surface layer, and a lower electrode layer is disposed on a backside of the light-absorbing layer in opposition to the upper electrode layer, the upper electrode layer and the lower electrode layer having a reverse bias voltage applied in between to detect electric charges produced by photoelectric conversion in the compound-semiconductor film, as electric charges due to photoelectric conversion are multiplied by impact ionization, while the multiplication by impact ionization of electric charges is induced by application of a high-intensity electric field to a semiconductor of charcopyrite structure, allowing for an improved dark-current property, and an enhanced efficiency even in detection of low illumination intensities, with an enhanced S/N ratio. | 11-25-2010 |
20110012221 | SiGe PHOTODIODE - The lattice mismatching between a Ge layer and a Si layer is as large as about 4%. Thus, when the Ge layer is grown on the Si layer, penetration dislocation is introduced to cause leakage current at the p-i-n junction. Thereby, the photo-detection sensitivity is reduced, and the reliability of the element is also lowered. Further, in the connection with a Si waveguide, there are also problems of the reflection loss due to the difference in refractive index between Si and Ge, and of the absorption loss caused by a metal electrode. In order to solve said problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a vertical type pin-SiGe photodiode having a structure which is embedded in a groove formed in a part of a Si layer, in which a p-type or n-type doped layer is formed in a lower section of the groove, and in which a i-SiGe layer having a rectangular shape or a reverse tapered shape is formed on a layered structure formed by laminating a i-Si layer and a SiGe buffer layer on the lower section and the side wall of the groove. Further, in an optical connection section with a Si waveguide, impedance matching is effected by the layered structure composed of the i-Si layer and the SiGe buffer layer, and an upper metal layer is separated therefrom so that a poly-Si bridge structure is employed to electrically connect the upper metal layer therewith. | 01-20-2011 |
20110024865 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT RECEIVING DEVICE - According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, at least a semiconductor mesa and a semiconductor layer covering at least the side wall of the mesa and a semiconductor mesa are formed on an n-type semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor mesa includes at least a light absorption layer and a p-type contact layer. The principal surface of the semiconductor substrate tilts at an angle θ to the (100) plane. The angle θ is 0.1 degree≦|θ|≦10 degrees. | 02-03-2011 |
20110073979 | DETECTION ELEMENT - The present invention provides a detection element that can suppress leak current from an end face of a semiconductor layer. That is, of an n | 03-31-2011 |
20110121424 | LOW OXYGEN CONTENT SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIAL FOR SURFACE ENHANCED PHOTONIC DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Radiation-absorbing semiconductor devices and associated methods of making and using are provided. In one aspect, for example, a method for making a radiation-absorbing semiconductor device having enhanced photoresponse can include forming an active region on a surface of a low oxygen content semiconductor, and annealing the low oxygen content semiconductor to a temperature of from about 300° C. to about 1100° C., wherein the forming of the active region and the annealing of the low oxygen content semiconductor are performed in a substantially oxygen-depleted environment. | 05-26-2011 |
20110147878 | High Quantum Efficiency Optical Detectors - An optical detector includes a detector surface operable to receive light, a depleted field region coupled to the underside of the detector surface, a charge collection node underlying the depleted field region, an active pixel area that includes the portion of the depleted field region above the charge collection node and below the detector surface, and two or more guard regions coupled to the underside of the detector surface and outside of the active pixel area. The depleted field region includes an intrinsic or a near-intrinsic material. The charge collection node has a first width, and the guard regions are separated by a second width that is greater than the first width of the charge collection node. The guard regions are operable to prevent crosstalk to an adjacent optical detector. | 06-23-2011 |
20120038018 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A photoelectric conversion element includes a first semiconductor layer that exhibits a first conductivity type and is provided in a selective area over a substrate, a second semiconductor layer that exhibits a second conductivity type and is disposed opposed to the first semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer that is provided between the first and second semiconductor layers and exhibits a substantially intrinsic conductivity type. The third semiconductor layer has at least one corner part that is not in contact with the first semiconductor layer. | 02-16-2012 |
20120211854 | PIXEL SENSOR CELL WITH A DUAL WORK FUNCTION GATE ELECTODE - Pixel sensor cells, methods of fabricating pixel sensor cells, and design structures for a pixel sensor cell. The pixel sensor cell has a gate structure that includes a gate dielectric and a gate electrode on the gate dielectric. The gate electrode includes a layer with first and second sections that have a juxtaposed relationship on the gate dielectric. The second section of the gate electrode is comprised of a conductor, such as doped polysilicon or a metal. The first section of the gate electrode is comprised of a metal having a higher work function than the conductor comprising the second section so that the gate structure has an asymmetric threshold voltage. | 08-23-2012 |
20120273915 | ELECTRODE AND FABRICATING METHOD THEREOF - An electrode includes a substantially planar metallic thin film layer with a patterned structure including a plurality of parallel lines or a plurality of crossed lines, the metallic thin film layer configured to transmit an incident light through the metallic thin film layer. | 11-01-2012 |
20130113066 | UTBB CMOS IMAGER - An image sensor device comprising at least one transistor lying on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, the substrate comprising a thin semi-conducting layer wherein a channel area of said transistor is made, an insulating layer separating the thin semi-conducting layer with a semi-conducting support layer, the device being characterized in that the semi-conducting support layer comprises at least one photosensitive area including at least one P-doped region and at least one N-doped region forming a junction provided facing the channel area of said transistor. | 05-09-2013 |
20130127005 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A photovoltaic device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device includes i) a semiconductor substrate, ii) a first conductive semiconductor layer formed on a first region of the semiconductor substrate and iii) a first transparent conductive layer formed on the first conductive semiconductor layer. The device may further include i) a second conductive semiconductor layer formed on a second region of the semiconductor substrate, ii) a second transparent conductive layer formed on the second conductive semiconductor layer and iii) a gap passivation layer interposed between i) the first layers and ii) the second layers, wherein the gap passivation layer has a thickness greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the first layers. | 05-23-2013 |
20130299936 | AVALANCHE PHOTODIODE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An avalanche photodiode includes a substrate; an avalanche multiplying layer, a p-type electric field controlling layer, a light-absorbing layer, and a window layer sequentially laminated on the substrate. A p-type region is present in parts of the window layer and the light-absorbing layer. Carbon is the dopant of the electric field controlling layer. Zn is the dopant of the p-type region. A bottom face of the p-type region is closer to the substrate than is an interface between the light-absorbing layer and the window layer. | 11-14-2013 |
20140015087 | PHOTOELECTRIC DEVICE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A photoelectric device is disclosed. The photoelectric device includes a semiconductor substrate, first and second semiconductor stacks having opposite conductive types and alternately arranged on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a gap insulation layer formed between the first and second semiconductor stacks. An undercut may be formed in the gap insulation layer. A method of manufacturing a photoelectric device is also disclosed. | 01-16-2014 |
20140077327 | MONOLITHIC THREE TERMINAL PHOTODETECTOR - Photodetectors operable to achieve multiplication of photogenerated carriers at ultralow voltages. Embodiments include a first p-i-n semiconductor junction combined with a second p-i-n semiconductor junction to form a monolithic photodetector having at least three terminals. The two p-i-n structures may share either the p-type region or the n-type region as a first terminal. Regions of the two p-i-n structures doped complementary to that of the shared terminal form second and third terminals so that the first and second p-i-n structures are operable in parallel. A multiplication region of the first p-i-n structure is to multiply charge carriers photogenerated within an absorption region of the second p-i-n structure with voltage drops between the shared first terminal and each of the second and third terminals being noncumulative. | 03-20-2014 |
20140138789 | P-I-N PHOTODIODE - According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pin photodetector comprising a dopant diffusion barrier layer disposed within an active light absorbing region of the pin photodetector. | 05-22-2014 |
20140210035 | DIGITAL SILICON PHOTOMULTIPLIER DETECTOR CELLS - A silicon photomultiplier detector cell may include a photodiode region and a readout circuit region formed on a same substrate. The photodiode region may include a first semiconductor layer exposed on a surface of the silicon photomultiplier detector cell and doped with first type impurities; a second semiconductor layer doped with second type impurities; and/or a first epitaxial layer between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The first epitaxial layer may contact the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The first epitaxial layer may be doped with the first type impurities at a concentration lower than a concentration of the first type impurities of the first semiconductor layer. | 07-31-2014 |
20140264708 | Optical Absorbers - Optical absorbers, solar cells comprising the absorbers, and methods for making the absorbers are disclosed. The optical absorber comprises a semiconductor layer having a bandgap of between about 1.0 eV and about 1.6 eV disposed on a substrate, wherein the semiconductor comprises two or more earth abundant elements. The bandgap of the optical absorber is graded through the thickness of the layer by partial substitution of at least one grading element from the same group in the periodic table as the at least one of the two or more earth abundant elements. | 09-18-2014 |
20140319640 | Photodiode for Topside and Backside Illumination - A photodiode structure provides light sensitivity to both front side and backside illumination. The photodiode may include a deep N well (DNW) that extends over a Psub substrate. The DNW may be discontinuous, or may extend continuously over the Psub substrate. Additional DNW area under the diode area proportionally increases the sensitivity to backside illumination. In addition, the photodiode may use a lightly doped anode region to increase the depletion region between the anode region and the deep N well. The anode region may be lightly doped Psub, as opposed to Pwell, in order to increase the topside light sensitive area percentage of the total area. One highly sensitive implementation uses Psub doping in the anode region, and a deep N well under the entire diode. This provides maximum areal density of the diode intrinsic regions nearest the wafer backside. | 10-30-2014 |
20140361396 | HOT-CARRIER PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides a hot-carrier photoelectric conversion method. The method includes a hot-carrier photoelectric conversion device having a P-type semiconductor layer, an N-type semiconductor layer, and an inorganic conducting light-absorbing layer. The inorganic conducting light-absorbing layer is formed between the P-type semiconductor layer and the N-type semiconductor layer, and an electric field is formed between the P-type semiconductor layer and the N-type semiconductor layer. Moreover, photons are absorbed by the inorganic conducting light-absorbing layer to create electrons and holes. The electrons and holes are respectively shifted by the electric field or diffusion effect to the N-type semiconductor layer and the P-type semiconductor layer, so that the electrons and the holes are respectively conducted outside to create electric energy. Further, the present invention increases the quantity of photons absorbed, and makes electrons and holes be quickly conducted outside, thereby increasing photoelectric conversion efficiency, and creating electric energy with a high open-circuit voltage and a high current. | 12-11-2014 |
20150069566 | PHOTODIODE - According to one embodiment, a photodiode includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type, and a film. The second semiconductor layer is provided in the first semiconductor layer. The third semiconductor layer is provided in the first semiconductor layer so as to surround the second semiconductor layer. Each of one ends of the second and third semiconductor layers is located at an upper surface of the first semiconductor layer. The first to third semiconductor layers include first to third impurity concentrations respectively. The second and third impurity concentrations are higher than the first impurity concentration. The film is provided above the third semiconductor layer, and blocks light to enter into a neighborhood of the third semiconductor layer. | 03-12-2015 |
20160043261 | PHOTOVOLTAIC ELEMENT - Disclosed is a photovoltaic device comprising a substrate composed of an oriented polycrystalline zinc oxide sintered body in a plate shape, a photovoltaic layer provided on the substrate, and an electrode provided on the photovoltaic layer. According to the present invention, a photovoltaic device having high photoelectric conversion efficiency can be inexpensively provided. | 02-11-2016 |
20160141329 | LIGHT ABSORPTION APPARATUS - A light absorption apparatus includes a substrate, a light absorption layer above the substrate on a first selected area, a silicon layer above the light absorption layer, a spacer surrounding at least part of the sidewall of the light absorption layer, an isolation layer surrounding at least part of the spacer, wherein the light absorption apparatus can achieve high bandwidth and low dark current. | 05-19-2016 |