Patent · US Expired

Active pixel having reduced dark current in a CMOS image sensor

US6649950B2 · kind B2 · utility

15Cited by
1References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 14, 2002
Grant dateNov 18, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10F39/807

Abstract

The active pixel includes a photodiode, a transfer gate, and a reset transistor. The photodiode is substantially covered with an overlying structure, thus protecting the entire surface of the photodiode from damage. This substantially eliminates potential leakage current sources, which result in dark current. In one embodiment, the photodiode is covered by a FOX region in combination with the transfer gate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.