Patent · US Expired

Image sensor with performance enhancing structures

US6710370B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 7, 2002
Grant dateMar 23, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 18, 2022

Classification

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

Abstract

An image sensor is disclosed including passivation walls extending above the pixel contact pads into a photosensor layer (e.g., amorphous silicon) such that the pixel contact pads are isolated to reduce cross-talk. The passivation walls are formed from SiO2 or SiON to further reduce cross-talk. An embodiment includes metal structures provided under interface regions (e.g., under the passivation walls) separating adjacent pixels that are negatively biased to prevent cross-talk, and optionally extend under the contact pad to increase pixel capacitance. One embodiment omits p-type dopant from the lower amorphous silicon photodiode layer, and additional photodiode material layers are disclosed. Another disclosed sensor structure utilizes a textured surface to increase light absorption. A color filter structure for image sensors is also disclosed.

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