Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090008730 | Integrated optical filter - The disclosure relates to an integrated circuit comprising at least one photosensitive cell. The cell includes a photosensitive element, an input face associated with the said photosensitive element, an optical filter situated in at least one optical path leading to the photosensitive element and an interconnection part situated between the photosensitive element and the input face. The optical filter is disposed between the photosensitive element and the surface of the interconnection part closest to the input face. In particular, the optical filter can be disposed within the interconnection part. The disclosure also proposes that the filter be formed using a glass comprising cerium sulphide or at least one metal oxide. | 01-08-2009 |
20090140363 | Optical semiconductor device having photosensitive diodes and process for fabricating such a device - An optical semiconductor device includes, in a zone ( | 06-04-2009 |
20090266973 | VERY SMALL IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor formed in a semiconductor stack of a lower region of a first conductivity type and of an upper region of a second conductivity type, including: a photodiode formed of a first portion of the stack; a read area formed of a second portion of the stack; a trench with insulated walls filled with a conductive material, the trench surrounding the photodiode and the read area and being interrupted, all along its height, on a portion facing the photodiode and the read area; and first connection mechanism associated with the conductive material of the trench and capable of being connected to a reference bias voltage. | 10-29-2009 |
20090309232 | METHOD OF MAKING CONNECTIONS IN A BACK-LIT CIRCUIT - A method for forming, on a surface of a thinned-down semiconductor substrate, a contact connected to a metal track of an interconnect stack formed on the opposite surface of the thinned-down substrate, including the steps of: forming, on the side of a first surface of a substrate, an insulating region penetrating into the substrate and coated with a conductive region and with an insulating layer crossed by conductive vias, the vias connecting a metal track of the interconnect stack to the conductive region; gluing the external surface of the interconnect stack on a support and thinning down the substrate; etching the external surface of the thinned-down substrate and stopping on the insulating region; etching the insulating region and stopping on the conductive region; and filling the etched opening with a metal. | 12-17-2009 |
20100032734 | MINIATURE IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor including at least one photodiode and at least one transistor formed in and on a silicon substrate, the assembly of the photodiode and of the transistor being surrounded with a heavily-doped insulating wall, wherein the silicon substrate has a crystal orientation (110). | 02-11-2010 |
20100061139 | RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY CIRCUIT - A random access memory circuit includes a plurality of pixels, each having a light sensitive area and a light blocking layer arranged over at least each of the light sensitive areas. In an alternative embodiment, the circuit includes a plurality of memory elements for storing data. Each memory element may comprise a bit node formed between a photodiode, having a light arranged over the photodiode, and a switching element, where data may be stored. The circuit may also include a plurality of reading and writing circuits for reading and writing data to and from the memory cells. | 03-11-2010 |
20100144388 | MONOLITHIC PHOTODETECTOR - A photodetector including a photodiode formed in a semiconductor substrate and a waveguide element formed of a block of a high-index material extending above the photodiode in a thick layer of a dielectric superposed to the substrate, the thick layer being at least as a majority formed of silicon oxide and the block being formed of a polymer of the general formula R | 06-10-2010 |
20100182474 | IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE COMPRISING PIXEL COMBINATION MEANS - An image capture device includes n image sensors arranged to capture images respectively of a same scene according to at least three different colors, each of the sensors comprising a pixel array, each pixel being associated with a MOS transfer transistor, the transfer transistors of n neighboring pixels being associated with a same output; and a read circuit associated with control circuitry for reading separately, the output of each transfer transistor, or cumulatively, the outputs of from two to n neighboring transfer transistors. | 07-22-2010 |
20100193845 | BACKSIDE ILLUMINATION SEMICONDUCTOR IMAGE SENSOR - A backside illumination semiconductor image sensor, wherein each photodetection cell includes a semiconductor body of a first conductivity type of a first doping level delimited by an insulation wall, electron-hole pairs being capable in said body after a backside illumination; on the front surface side of said body, a ring-shaped well of the second conductivity type, this well delimiting a substantially central region having its upper portion of the first conductivity type of a second doping level greater than the first doping level; and means for controlling the transfer of charge carriers from said body to said upper portion. | 08-05-2010 |
20100200943 | Photosensitive cell with light guide - An integrated circuit having a photosensitive cell with an entry face, a photosensitive element and at least two elements forming a light guide and placed between the entry face and the photosensitive element. The second element is located between the first element and the entry face such that the two elements guide the light coming from the entry face onto the photosensitive element and each element forms a light guide. The inner volume has a first surface located on the same side as the photosensitive element, a second surface located on the same side as the entry face, and a lateral surface joining said first surface to said second surface and separating the inner volume from the outer volume. The first surface of the inner volume of the second element has a smaller area than that of the second surface of the inner volume of the first element. | 08-12-2010 |
20100327325 | MULTIDIRECTIONAL TWO-PHASE CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICE - A charge transfer device formed in a semiconductor substrate and including an array of electrodes distributed in rows and columns, wherein: each electrode is formed in a cavity with insulated walls formed of a groove which generally extends in the row direction, having a first end closer to an upper row and a second end closer to a lower row; and the electrodes of two adjacent rows are symmetrical with respect to a plane orthogonal to the sensor and comprising the direction of a row. | 12-30-2010 |
20100327326 | TWO-PHASE CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICE - A charge-coupled unit formed in a semiconductor substrate and including an array of identical electrodes forming rows and columns, wherein: each electrode extends in a cavity with insulated walls formed of a groove, oriented along a row, dug into the substrate thickness, and including, at one of its ends, a protrusion extending towards at least one adjacent row. | 12-30-2010 |
20100327327 | PHOTOSENSITIVE CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICE COMPRISING VERTICAL ELECTRODES - A charge transfer device formed in a semiconductor substrate and including an array of electrodes forming rows and columns, wherein: the electrodes extend, in rows, in successive grooves with insulated walls, disposed in the substrate thickness and parallel to the charge transfer direction. | 12-30-2010 |
20110068381 | IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL CIRCUIT - A pixel circuit of an image sensor includes a sense node for storing a charge transferred from one or more photodiodes, a source follower transistor having its gate coupled to the sense node and its source node coupled to an output line of the pixel circuit via a read transistor, wherein a body contact of the source follower transistor is connected to the output line. | 03-24-2011 |
20110096208 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH VERTICAL TRANSFER GATE - An image sensor including a first pixel positioned between second and third pixels, each of the first, second and third pixels comprising a photodiode region surrounded by an isolation trench; a first charge transfer gate comprising a first column electrode surrounded by an insulating layer and positioned in an opening of the isolation trench between the first and second pixels, the first column electrode being configured to receive a first transfer voltage signal; and a second charge transfer gate including a second column electrode surrounded by an insulating layer and positioned in an opening of the isolation trench between the first and third pixels, the second column electrode being configured to receive a second transfer voltage signal. | 04-28-2011 |
20110140220 | MICROELECTRONIC DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR BACK SIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR, AND PRODUCTION PROCESS - A process for producing a microelectronic device includes producing a first semiconductor substrate which includes a first layer and a second layer present between a first side and a second side of the substrate. First electronic components and an interconnecting part are produced on and above the second side. The substrate is then thinned by a first selective etch applied from the first side and stopping on the first layer followed by a second selective etch stopping on the second layer. A second substrate is attached over the interconnecting part. The electronic components may comprise optoelectronic devices which are illuminated through the second layer. | 06-16-2011 |
20120153128 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH REDUCED OPTICAL CROSSTALK - A method of fabricating an image sensor includes the steps of: forming at least two photosites in a semiconductor substrate; forming a trench between the photosites; forming a thin liner on at least the sidewalls of the trench; depositing a conductive material having a first refractive index in the trench; and forming a region surrounded by the conductive material and having a second refractive index lower than the first index of refraction within the conductive material in the trench. | 06-21-2012 |
20120161213 | MATRIX IMAGING DEVICE HAVING PHOTOSITES WITH GLOBAL SHUTTER CHARGE TRANSFER - An imaging device is formed in a semiconductor substrate. The device includes a matrix array of photosites. Each photosite is formed of a semiconductor region for storing charge, a semiconductor region for reading charge specific to said photosite, and a charge transfer circuit configured so as to permit a transfer of charge between the charge storage region and the charge reading region. Each photosite further includes at least one buried first electrode. At least one part of that buried first electrode bounds at least one part of the charge storage region. The charge transfer circuit for each photosite includes at least one second buried electrode. | 06-28-2012 |
20120211804 | CHARGE TRANSFER PHOTOSITE - A photosite may include, in a semi-conductor substrate, a photodiode pinched in the direction of the depth of the substrate including a charge storage zone, and a charge transfer transistor to transfer the stored charge. The charge storage zone may include a pinching in a first direction passing through the charge transfer transistor defining a constriction zone adjacent to the charge transfer transistor. | 08-23-2012 |
20120306035 | PROCESS FOR FABRICATING A BACKSIDE-ILLUMINATED IMAGING DEVICE AND CORRESPONDING DEVICE - An integrated imaging device includes a silicon layer provided over a dielectric multilayer. The dielectric multilayer includes a top silicon-dioxide layer, an intermediate silicon-nitride layer and a bottom silicon-dioxide layer. Imaging circuitry is formed at a frontside of the silicon layer. An isolating structure surrounds the imaging circuitry and extends from the frontside through the silicon layer and top silicon-dioxide layer into and terminating within the intermediate silicon-nitride layer. A filter for the imaging circuitry is mounted to a backside of the bottom silicon-dioxide layer. The isolating structure is formed by a trench filled with a dielectric material. | 12-06-2012 |
20130015910 | DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING PHOTOGENERATED CHARGES AT HIGH FREQUENCY AND APPLICATIONSAANM Tubert; CedricAACI SassenageAACO FRAAGP Tubert; Cedric Sassenage FRAANM Roy; FrancoisAACI SeyssinsAACO FRAAGP Roy; Francois Seyssins FRAANM Mellot; PascalAACI Lans en VercorsAACO FRAAGP Mellot; Pascal Lans en Vercors FR - A device for transferring charges photogenerated in a portion of a semiconductor layer delimited by at least two parallel trenches, each trench including, lengthwise, at least a first and a second conductive regions insulated from each other and from the semiconductor layer, including the repeating of a first step of biasing of the first conductive regions to a first voltage to form a volume accumulation of holes in the area of this portion located between the first regions, while the second conductive regions are biased to a second voltage greater than the first voltage, and of a second step of biasing of the first regions to the second voltage and of the second regions to the first voltage. | 01-17-2013 |
20130026546 | INTEGRATED CIRCUIT COMPRISING AN ISOLATING TRENCH AND CORRESPONDING METHOD - An integrated circuit including at least one isolating trench that delimits an active area made of a monocrystalline semiconductor material, the or each trench including an upper portion including an insulating layer that encapsulates a lower portion of the trench, the lower portion being at least partly buried in the active area and the encapsulation layer including nitrogen or carbon. | 01-31-2013 |
20130049155 | PHOTOSITE WITH PINNED PHOTODIODE - A photosite is formed in a semiconductor substrate and includes a photodiode confined in a direction orthogonal to the surface of the substrate. The photodiode includes a semiconductor zone for storing charge that is formed in an upper semiconductor region having a first conductivity type and includes a main well of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type and laterally pinned in a first direction parallel to the surface of the substrate. The photodiode further includes an additional semiconductor zone including an additional well having the second conductivity type that is buried under and makes contact with the main well. | 02-28-2013 |
20130155283 | HARDENED PHOTODIODE IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor including a pixel array, each pixel including, in a substrate of a doped semiconductor material of a first conductivity type, a first doped region of a second conductivity type at the surface of the substrate; an insulating trench surrounding the first region; a second doped region of the first conductivity type, more heavily doped than the substrate, at the surface of the substrate and surrounding the trench; a third doped region of the second conductivity type, forming with the substrate a photodiode junction, extending in depth into the substrate under the first and second regions and being connected to the first region; and a fourth region, more lightly doped than the second and third regions, interposed between the second and third regions and in contact with the first region and/or with the third region. | 06-20-2013 |
20130270662 | IMAGE SENSOR OF CURVED SURFACE - A method for manufacturing an image sensor, including the steps of: forming elementary structures of an image sensor on the first surface of a semiconductor substrate; installing a handle on the first surface; defining trenches in the handle, the trenches forming a pattern in the handle; and installing, on a hollow curved substrate, the obtained device on the free surface side of the handle, the pattern being selected according to the shape of the support surface. | 10-17-2013 |
20140004644 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH A CURVED SURFACE | 01-02-2014 |
20140145251 | METHOD FOR FORMING AN INSULATING TRENCH IN A SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE AND STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY CMOS IMAGE SENSOR, OBTAINED BY SAID METHOD - A structure comprising at least one DTI-type insulating trench in a substrate, the trench being at the periphery of at least one active area of the substrate forming a pixel, the insulating trench including a cavity filled with a dielectric material, the internal walls of the cavity being covered with a layer made of a boron-doped material. | 05-29-2014 |
20140183685 | IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor arranged inside and on top of a semiconductor substrate, having a plurality of pixels, each including: a photosensitive area, a read area, and a storage area extending between the photosensitive area and the read area; at least one first insulated vertical electrode extending in the substrate between the photosensitive area and the storage area; and at least one second insulated vertical electrode extending in the substrate between the storage area and the read area. | 07-03-2014 |
20140217541 | BACK-SIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR WITH A JUNCTION INSULATION - A method for forming a back-side illuminated image sensor, including the steps of: a) forming, from the front surface, doped polysilicon regions, of a conductivity type opposite to that of the substrate, extending in depth orthogonally to the front surface and emerging into the first layer; b) thinning the substrate from its rear surface to reach the polysilicon regions, while keeping a strip of the first layer; c) depositing, on the rear surface of the thinned substrate, a doped amorphous silicon layer, of a conductivity type opposite to that of the substrate; and d) annealing at a temperature capable of transforming the amorphous silicon layer into a crystallized layer. | 08-07-2014 |
20150021459 | DUAL CONVERSION GAIN IMAGE SENSOR CELL - An image sensor cell formed inside and on top of a substrate of a first conductivity type, including: a read region of the second conductivity type; and, adjacent to the read region, a storage region of the first conductivity type topped with a first insulated gate electrode. The first electrode is arranged to receive, in a first operating mode, a first voltage causing the inversion of the conductivity type of the storage region, so that the storage region behaves as an extension of the read region, and, in a second operating mode, a second voltage causing no inversion of the storage region. | 01-22-2015 |
20150021668 | PHOTOSENSITIVE CELL OF AN IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor cell formed inside and on top of a substrate of a first conductivity type includes: a storage region of the second conductivity type; a read region of the second conductivity type; a transfer region located between the storage region and the read region; and a transfer gate topping the transfer region and which does not or does not totally top the storage region. The transfer region comprises a first area of the first conductivity type in the vicinity of the storage region, and a second area of the second conductivity type extending between the first area and the read region. | 01-22-2015 |