Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080246063 | PHOTODIODE WITH MULTI-EPI FILMS FOR IMAGE SENSOR - The present disclosure provides an image sensor semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a first epitaxy semiconductor layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate and having a first type of dopant and a first doping concentration; a second epitaxy semiconductor layer disposed over the first epitaxy semiconductor layer and having the first type of dopant and a second doping concentration less than the first doping concentration; and an image sensor on the second epitaxy semiconductor layer. | 10-09-2008 |
20080303932 | ISOLATION STRUCTURE FOR IMAGE SENSOR DEVICE - Provided is an image sensor device including a substrate with a pixel region and a peripheral region. A first isolation structure is formed on the substrate in the pixel region. The first isolation structure includes a trench having a first depth. A second isolation structure is formed on the substrate in the peripheral region. The second isolation structure includes a trench having a second depth. The first depth is greater than the second depth. | 12-11-2008 |
20090315131 | SENSOR STRUCTURE FOR OPTICAL PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT - The present disclosure provides an image sensor semiconductor device. The image sensor semiconductor device includes an image sensor disposed in a semiconductor substrate, an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate, inter-metal-dielectric (IMD) layers and multi-layer interconnects (MLI) formed on the ILD layer, and a color filter formed in at least one of the IMD layers and overlying the image sensor. | 12-24-2009 |
20100181283 | DUAL METAL FOR A BACKSIDE PACKAGE OF BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device with improved bonding ability is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; forming one or more sensor elements on the front surface of the substrate; forming one or more metallization layers over the front surface of the substrate, wherein forming a first metallization layer comprises forming a first conductive layer over the front surface of the substrate; removing the first conductive layer from a first region of the substrate; forming a second conductive layer over the front surface of the substrate; and removing portions of the second conductive layer from the first region and a second region of the substrate, wherein the first metallization layer in the first region comprises the second conductive layer and the first metallization layer in the second region comprises the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. | 07-22-2010 |
20100184242 | METHOD OF IMPLANTATION - Provided is a method of implanting dopant ions to an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a first pixel and a second pixel in a substrate, forming an etch stop layer over the substrate, forming a hard mask layer over the etch stop layer, patterning the hard mask layer to include an opening between the first pixel and the second pixel, and implanting a plurality of dopants through the opening to form an isolation feature. | 07-22-2010 |
20100213560 | PAD DESIGN FOR BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR - A semiconductor image sensor device includes first and second semiconductor substrates. A pixel array and a control circuit are formed in a first surface of the first substrate. An interconnect layer is formed over the first surface of the first substrate and electrically connects the control circuit to the pixel array. A top conducting layer is formed over the interconnect layer to have electrical connectivity with at least one of the control circuit or the pixel array via the interconnect layer. A surface of a second substrate is bonded to the top conducting layer. A conductive through-silicon-via (TSV) passes through the second substrate, and has electrical connectivity with the top conducting layer. A terminal is formed on an opposite surface of the second substrate, and electrically connected to the TSV. | 08-26-2010 |
20100220226 | FRONT SIDE IMPLANTED GUARD RING STRUCTURE FOR BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR - An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a guard ring structure in the substrate, and at least one pixel surrounded by the guard ring structure. The guard ring structure is implanted in the substrate by high-energy implantation. | 09-02-2010 |
20100233871 | METHOD FOR GENERATING TWO DIMENSIONS FOR DIFFERENT IMPLANT ENERGIES - A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate; forming a first hard mask layer over the substrate; patterning the first hard mask layer to form one or more first openings having a first critical dimension; performing a first implantation process on the substrate; forming a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer to form one or more second openings having a second critical dimension; and performing a second implantation process. | 09-16-2010 |
20100243868 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF AN IMAGE SENSOR - Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a device substrate having a front side and a back side. The device substrate has a radiation-sensing region that can sense radiation that has a corresponding wavelength. The image sensor also includes a first layer formed over the front side of the device substrate. The first layer has a first refractive index and a first thickness that is a function of the first refractive index. The image sensor also has a second layer formed over the first layer. The second layer is different from the first layer and has a second refractive index and a second thickness that is a function of the second refractive index. | 09-30-2010 |
20100244173 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME - Provided is a method of fabricating an image sensor device. The method includes providing a device substrate having a front side and a back side. The method includes forming first and second radiation-sensing regions in the device substrate, the first and second radiation-sensing regions being separated by an isolation structure. The method also includes forming a transparent layer over the back side of the device substrate. The method further includes forming an opening in the transparent layer, the opening being aligned with the isolation structure. The method also includes filling the opening with an opaque material. | 09-30-2010 |
20100252870 | DUAL SHALLOW TRENCH ISOLATION AND RELATED APPLICATIONS - Embodiments of the invention relate to dual shallow trench isolations (STI). In various embodiments related to CMOS Image Sensor (CIS) technologies, the dual STI refers to one STI structure in the pixel region and another STI structure in the periphery or logic region. The depth of each STI structure depends on the need and/or isolation tolerance of devices in each region. In an embodiment, the pixel region uses NMOS devices and the STI in this region is shallower than that of in the periphery region that includes both NMOS and PMOS device having different P- and N-wells and that desire more protective isolation (i.e., deeper STI). Depending on implementations, different numbers of masks (e.g., two, three) are used to generate the dual STI, and are disclosed in various method embodiments. | 10-07-2010 |
20110049589 | BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR HAVING CAPACITOR ON PIXEL REGION - A backside illuminated image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and backside, a sensor element formed overlying the frontside of the semiconductor substrate, and a capacitor formed overlying the sensor element. | 03-03-2011 |
20110260280 | Back Side Defect Reduction For Back Side Illuminated Image Sensor - Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side. The image sensor also includes a radiation-detection device that is formed in the substrate. The radiation-detection device is operable to detect a radiation wave that enters the substrate through the back side. The image sensor further includes a recrystallized silicon layer. The recrystalized silicon layer is formed on the back side of the substrate. The recrystalized silicon layer has different photoluminescence intensity than the substrate. | 10-27-2011 |
20110298072 | RIDGE STRUCTURE FOR BACK SIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR - Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side. The image sensor includes first and second radiation-detection devices that are disposed in the substrate. The first and second radiation-detection devices are operable to detect radiation waves that enter the substrate through the back side. The image sensor also includes an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer. The ARC layer is disposed over the back side of the substrate. The ARC layer has first and second ridges that are disposed over the first and second radiation-detection devices, respectively. The first and second ridges each have a first refractive index value. The first and second ridges are separated by a substance having a second refractive index value that is less than the first refractive index value. | 12-08-2011 |
20120025199 | Image Sensor with Deep Trench Isolation Structure - Provided is a back side illuminated image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side opposite the front side. The image sensor also includes a radiation-detection device that is formed in the substrate. The radiation-detection device is operable to detect a radiation wave that enters the substrate through the back side. The image sensor further includes a deep trench isolation feature that is disposed adjacent to the radiation-detection device. The image sensor device further includes a doped layer that at least partially surrounds the deep trench isolation feature in a conformal manner. | 02-02-2012 |
20120273914 | Image Sensor and Method of Fabricating Same - Provided is a method of fabricating an image sensor device. The method includes providing a device substrate having a front side and a back side. The method includes forming first and second radiation-sensing regions in the device substrate, the first and second radiation-sensing regions being separated by an isolation structure. The method also includes forming a transparent layer over the back side of the device substrate. The method further includes forming an opening in the transparent layer, the opening being aligned with the isolation structure. The method also includes filling the opening with an opaque material. | 11-01-2012 |
20120280346 | SENSOR STRUCTURE FOR OPTICAL PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT - The present disclosure provides various embodiments of an image sensor device. An exemplary image sensor device includes an image sensing region disposed in a substrate; a multilayer interconnection structure disposed over the substrate; and a color filter formed in the multilayer interconnection structure and aligned with the image sensing region. The color filter has a length and a width, where the length is greater than the width. | 11-08-2012 |
20120280348 | BACK SIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR WITH IMPROVED STRESS IMMUNITY - Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side opposite the first side. The substrate has a pixel region and a periphery region. The image sensor device includes a plurality of radiation-sensing regions disposed in the pixel region of the substrate. Each of the radiation-sensing regions is operable to sense radiation projected toward the radiation-sensing region through the back side. The image sensor device includes a reference pixel disposed in the periphery region. The image sensor device includes an interconnect structure that is coupled to the front side of the substrate. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of interconnect layers. The image sensor device includes a film formed over the back side of the substrate. The film causes the substrate to experience a tensile stress. The image sensor device includes a radiation-blocking device disposed over the film. | 11-08-2012 |
20130020662 | NOVEL CMOS IMAGE SENSOR STRUCTURE - Provided is a method of fabricating an image sensor device. The method includes providing a first substrate having a radiation-sensing region disposed therein. The method includes providing a second substrate having a hydrogen implant layer, the hydrogen implant layer dividing the second substrate into a first portion and a second portion. The method includes bonding the first portion of the second substrate to the first substrate. The method includes after the bonding, removing the second portion of the second substrate. The method includes after the removing, forming one or more microelectronic devices in the first portion of the second substrate. The method includes forming an interconnect structure over the first portion of the second substrate, the interconnect structure containing interconnect features that are electrically coupled to the microelectronic devices. | 01-24-2013 |
20130026467 | DUAL METAL FOR A BACKSIDE PACKAGE OF BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR - A method for fabricating a semiconductor device with improved bonding ability is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; forming one or more sensor elements on the front surface of the substrate; forming one or more metallization layers over the front surface of the substrate, wherein forming a first metallization layer comprises forming a first conductive layer over the front surface of the substrate; removing the first conductive layer from a first region of the substrate; forming a second conductive layer over the front surface of the substrate; and removing portions of the second conductive layer from the first region and a second region of the substrate, wherein the first metallization layer in the first region comprises the second conductive layer and the first metallization layer in the second region comprises the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. | 01-31-2013 |
20130299886 | Backside Structure and Methods for BSI Image Sensors - BSI image sensors and methods. In an embodiment, a substrate is provided having a sensor array and a periphery region and having a front side and a back side surface; a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is formed over the back side to a first thickness, over the sensor array region and the periphery region; forming a first dielectric layer over the BARC; a metal shield is formed; selectively removing the metal shield from over the sensor array region; selectively removing the first dielectric layer from over the sensor array region, wherein a portion of the first thickness of the BARC is also removed and a remainder of the first thickness of the BARC remains during the process of selectively removing the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the remainder of the BARC and over the metal shield; and forming a passivation layer over the second dielectric layer. | 11-14-2013 |
20130299931 | Backside Structure for BSI Image Sensor - An embodiment method for forming an image sensor includes forming an anti-reflective coating over a surface of a semiconductor supporting a photodiode, forming an etching stop layer over the anti-reflective coating, forming a buffer oxide over the etching stop layer, and selectively removing a portion of the buffer oxide through etching, the etching stop layer protecting the anti-reflective coating during the etching. An embodiment image sensor includes a semiconductor disposed in an array region and in a periphery region, the semiconductor supporting a photodiode in the array region, an anti-reflective coating disposed over a surface of the semiconductor, an etching stop layer disposed over the anti-reflective coating, a thickness of the etching stop layer over the photodiode in the array region less than a thickness of the etching stop layer in the periphery region, and a buffer oxide disposed over the etching stop layer in the periphery region. | 11-14-2013 |
20130320420 | CMOS Image Sensors and Methods for Forming the Same - A device includes a diode, which includes a first, a second, and a third doped region in a semiconductor substrate. The first doped region is of a first conductivity type, and has a first impurity concentration. The second doped region is of the first conductivity type, and has a second impurity concentration lower than the first impurity concentration. The second doped region encircles the first doped region. The third doped region is of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, wherein the third doped region overlaps a portion of the first doped region and a portion of the second doped region. | 12-05-2013 |
20130334645 | FRONT SIDE IMPLANTED GUARD RING STRUCTURE FOR BACKSIDE - A method of forming a backside illuminated image sensor includes forming a guard ring structure of a predetermined depth in a front-side surface of a semiconductor substrate, the guard ring structure outlining a two-dimensional array of pixels, each pixel of the array of pixels separated from an adjacent pixel by the guard ring structure. The method further includes forming at least one image sensing element on the front-side surface of the semiconductor substrate, the at least one image sensing element being formed in a pixel of the array of pixels and surrounded by the guard ring structure. The method further includes reducing a thickness of the semiconductor substrate until the guard ring structure is co-planar with a back-side surface of the semiconductor substrate. | 12-19-2013 |
20140030842 | BACKSIDE ILLUMINATED IMAGE SENSOR HAVING CAPACITOR ON PIXEL REGION - An approach is provided for forming a backside illuminated image sensor that includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and backside, a sensor element formed overlying the frontside of the semiconductor substrate, and a capacitor formed overlying the sensor element. | 01-30-2014 |
20140035013 | Novel CMOS Image Sensor Structure - Provided is a method of fabricating an image sensor device. The method includes providing a first substrate having a radiation-sensing region disposed therein. The method includes providing a second substrate having a hydrogen implant layer, the hydrogen implant layer dividing the second substrate into a first portion and a second portion. The method includes bonding the first portion of the second substrate to the first substrate. The method includes after the bonding, removing the second portion of the second substrate. The method includes after the removing, forming one or more microelectronic devices in the first portion of the second substrate. The method includes forming an interconnect structure over the first portion of the second substrate, the interconnect structure containing interconnect features that are electrically coupled to the microelectronic devices. | 02-06-2014 |
20140042445 | System and Method for Fabricating a 3D Image Sensor Structure - A system and method for fabricating a 3D image sensor structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing an image sensor with a backside illuminated photosensitive region on a substrate, applying a first dielectric layer to the first side of the substrate opposite the substrate side where image data is gathered, and applying a semiconductor layer that is optionally polysilicon, to the first dielectric layer. A least one control transistor may be created on the first dielectric layer, within the semiconductor layer and may optionally be a row select, reset or source follower transistor. An intermetal dielectric may be applied over the first dielectric layer; and may have at least one metal interconnect disposed therein. A second interlevel dielectric layer may be disposed on the control transistors. The dielectric layers and semiconductor layer may be applied by bonding a wafer to the substrate or via deposition. | 02-13-2014 |
20140073080 | Back Side Defect Reduction for Back Side Illuminated Image Sensor - Provided is an image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a substrate having a front side and a back side. The image sensor also includes a radiation-detection device that is formed in the substrate. The radiation-detection device is operable to detect a radiation wave that enters the substrate through the back side. The image sensor further includes a recrystallized silicon layer. The recrystallized silicon layer is formed on the back side of the substrate. The recrystallized silicon layer has different photoluminescence intensity than the substrate. | 03-13-2014 |
20140138752 | System and Method for Fabricating a 3D Image Sensor Structure - A system and method for fabricating a 3D image sensor structure is disclosed. The method comprises providing an image sensor with a backside illuminated photosensitive region on a substrate, applying a first dielectric layer to the first side of the substrate opposite the substrate side where image data is gathered, and applying a semiconductor layer that is optionally polysilicon, to the first dielectric layer. A least one control transistor may be created on the first dielectric layer, within the semiconductor layer and may optionally be a row select, reset or source follower transistor. An intermetal dielectric may be applied over the first dielectric layer; and may have at least one metal interconnect disposed therein. A second interlevel dielectric layer may be disposed on the control transistors. The dielectric layers and semiconductor layer may be applied by bonding a wafer to the substrate or via deposition. | 05-22-2014 |
20140159190 | Backside Structure and Methods for BSI Image Sensors - BSI image sensors and methods. In an embodiment, a substrate is provided having a sensor array and a periphery region and having a front side and a back side surface; a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is formed over the back side to a first thickness, over the sensor array region and the periphery region; forming a first dielectric layer over the BARC; a metal shield is formed; selectively removing the metal shield from over the sensor array region; selectively removing the first dielectric layer from over the sensor array region, wherein a portion of the first thickness of the BARC is also removed and a remainder of the first thickness of the BARC remains during the process of selectively removing the first dielectric layer; forming a second dielectric layer over the remainder of the BARC and over the metal shield; and forming a passivation layer over the second dielectric layer. | 06-12-2014 |
20140248734 | CMOS Image Sensors and Methods for Forming the Same - A method includes forming a first implantation mask comprising a first opening, implanting a first portion of a semiconductor substrate through the first opening to form a first doped region, forming a second implantation mask comprising a second opening, and implanting a second portion of the semiconductor substrate to form a second doped region. The first portion of the semiconductor substrate is encircled by the second portion of the semiconductor substrate. A surface layer of the semiconductor substrate is implanted to form a third doped region of an opposite conductivity type than the first and the second doped regions. The third doped region forms a diode with the first and the second doped regions. | 09-04-2014 |
20140252521 | Image Sensor with Improved Dark Current Performance - Provided is a semiconductor image sensor device. The image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The semiconductor substrate contains a radiation-sensing region configured to sense radiation projected toward the substrate from the second side. A first layer is disposed over the second side of the semiconductor substrate. The first layer has a first energy band gap. A second layer is disposed over the first layer. The second layer has a second energy band gap. A third layer is disposed over the second layer. The third layer has a third energy band gap. The second energy band gap is smaller than the first energy band gap and the third energy band gap. | 09-11-2014 |
20140252523 | Backside Structure and Methods for BSI Image Sensors - A back side image sensor and method of manufacture are provided. In an embodiment a bottom anti-reflective coating is formed over a substrate, and a metal shield layer is formed over the bottom anti-reflective coating. The metal shield layer is patterned to form a grid pattern over a sensor array region of the substrate, and a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer are formed to at least partially fill in openings within the grid pattern. | 09-11-2014 |
20140264504 | Method and Apparatus for Low Resistance Image Sensor Contact - A method and apparatus for a low resistance image sensor contact, the apparatus comprising a photosensor disposed in a substrate, a first ground well disposed in a first region of the substrate, the first ground well having a resistance lower than the substrate, and a ground line disposed in a region adjacent to the first ground well. The first ground well is configured to provide a low resistance path to the ground line from the substrate for excess free carriers in the first region of the substrate. The apparatus may optionally comprise a second ground well having a lower resistance than the first ground well and disposed between the first ground well and the ground line, and may further optionally comprise a third ground well having a lower resistance than the second ground well and disposed between the second ground well and the ground line. | 09-18-2014 |
20140264508 | Structure and Method for 3D Image Sensor - The present disclosure provides an embodiment of an image sensor structure that includes a first semiconductor substrate having a plurality of imaging sensors; a first interconnect structure formed on the first semiconductor substrate; a second semiconductor substrate having a logic circuit; a second interconnect structure formed on the second semiconductor substrate, wherein the first and the second semiconductor substrates are bonded together in a configuration that the first and second interconnect structures are sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor substrates; and a backside deep contact (BDCT) feature extended from the first interconnect structure to the second interconnect structure, thereby electrically coupling the logic circuit to the image sensors. | 09-18-2014 |
20140264682 | Interconnect Sructure for Stacked Device and Method - A stacked integrated circuit (IC) device and a method are disclosed. The stacked IC device includes a first semiconductor element and a second semiconductor element bonded on the first semiconductor element. The first semiconductor element includes a first substrate, a common conductive feature in the first substrate, a first inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer, a first interconnection feature and a conductive plug connecting the first interconnection feature to the common conductive feature. The second semiconductor element includes a second substrate, a second ILD layers over the second substrate and a second interconnection feature in second ILD layers. The device also includes a conductive deep plug connecting to the common conductive feature in the first semiconductor element and the second interconnection feature. The conductive deep plug is separated with the conductive plug by the first ILD layer. | 09-18-2014 |
20140264683 | Imaging Sensor Structure and Method - The present disclosure provides an embodiment of a method for fabricating a three dimensional (3D) image sensor structure. The method includes providing to an image sensor substrate having image sensors formed therein and a first interconnect structure formed thereon, and a logic substrate having a logic circuit formed therein and a first interconnect structure formed thereon; bonding the logic substrate to the image sensor substrate in a configuration that the first and second interconnect structures are sandwiched between the logic substrate and the image sensor substrate; and forming a conductive feature extending from the logic substrate to the first interconnect structure, thereby electrically coupling the logic circuit to the image sensors. | 09-18-2014 |
20140264883 | Interconnect Structure and Method of Forming Same - A semiconductor device comprises a first chip bonded on a second chip. The first chip comprises a first substrate and first interconnection components formed in first IMD layers. The second chip comprises a second substrate and second interconnection components formed in second IMD layers. The device further comprises a first conductive plug formed within the first substrate and the first IMD layers, wherein the first conductive plug is coupled to a first interconnection component and a second conductive plug formed through the first substrate and the first IMD layers and formed partially through the second IMD layers, wherein the second conductive plug is coupled to a second interconnection component. | 09-18-2014 |