IP Library Granted Patent US 7,235,833
Granted Patent B2
US 7,235,833 · App. 10/839,524 · Granted Jun 26, 2007

Image sensor device and manufacturing method thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,235,833
App. No.
10/839,524
Granted
Jun 26, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

An image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The image sensor includes a plurality of sensors, an inter-layer dielectric layer formed over the sensors, a first inter-metal dielectric layer formed over the inter-layer dielectric layer, and a plurality of first via walls formed in the first inter-metal dielectric layer, wherein each of the first via walls is formed around each of the sensors. In addition, the image sensor further includes a second inter-metal dielectric layer formed over the first inter-metal dielectric layer and a plurality of second via walls formed in the second inter-metal dielectric layer, wherein each of the second via walls is formed around each of the sensors. Therefore, the light leakage between different pixels and the problem of crosstalk are solved, and the spatial resolution and the photo sensitivity of the image sensor are enhanced.

Claims (20)

1. An image sensor, comprising:

a plurality of sensors;

an inter-layer dielectric layer, formed over the sensors;

a first inter-metal dielectric layer, formed over the inter-layer dielectric layer;

a plurality of first metal layers, formed in the first inter-metal dielectric layer;

a plurality of non-transparent first via walls formed in the first inter-metal dielectric layer, wherein each of the non-transparent first via walls is solid in structure and non-transparent for all incident angles and disposed around each of the sensors, and wherein a depth of the non-transparent first via walls is substantially deeper than that of the metal layers;

a second inter-metal dielectric layer, formed directly on the non-transparent first via walls and the first inter-metal dielectric layer; and

a plurality of second metal layers, formed in the second inter-metal dielectric layer.

2. The image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of non-transparent second via walls, being solid in structure and non-transparent for all incident angles and formed in the second inter-metal dielectric layer, wherein each of the non-transparent second via walls is disposed around each of the sensors.

3. The image sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cover layer, formed over the inter-metal dielectric layer.

4. The image sensor of claim 3 , wherein the cover layer comprises a plurality of color filters, wherein each of the color filter is formed over each of the sensors.

5. The image sensor of claim 3 , further comprising:

a plurality of micro lenses, formed over the cover layer, wherein each of the micro lenses is formed over each of the sensors.

6. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor comprises a CMOS image sensor.

7. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein the sensors comprise photo sensors.

8. The image sensor of claim 1 , wherein a material of the non-transparent first via walls and/or a material of the non-transparent second via walls comprise a reflective material.

9. The image sensor of claim 8 , wherein the reflective material comprises metal.

10. The image sensor of claim 9 , wherein the metal comprises aluminum or copper.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2021
From: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: MARLIN SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 056991/0292 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2004
From: CHEN, ANCHOR
To: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
Reel/Frame 015307/0050 →