Patent · US Expired

Active pixel having reduced dark current in a CMOS image sensor

US7368772B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
22References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 7, 2003
Grant dateMay 6, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 18, 2025

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.