IP Library Granted Patent US 11,012,645
Granted Patent B2
US 11,012,645 · App. 16/441,489 · Granted May 18, 2021

Solid-state image sensor

Inventor: Masafumi Tsutsui (Toyama, JP)
Assignee: Tower Partners Semicoductor Co., Ltd.
H04N5/3559H01L27/146H01L27/1463H01L27/14603H04N5/2254H04N5/341H04N5/359H04N5/369H04N5/374
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,012,645
App. No.
16/441,489
Granted
May 18, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A solid-state image sensor includes pixels, each of which is provided with a light receiving portion, a charge storage portion, a gate electrode, a first trench formed in a region between the light receiving portion and the charge storage portion, a first insulating film provided in the first trench, a transmitting portion, and a light-shielding film covering the charge storage portion, the transmitting portion, and the gate electrode. In a plan view, a distance from an end of the light-shielding film through the transmitting portion to the charge storage portion in a direction from the light receiving portion toward the charge storage portion is longer than a distance from the end of the light-shielding film through the first trench to the charge storage portion.

Claims (46)

1. A solid-state image sensor comprising an image region in which a plurality pixels are arranged, wherein

each of the pixels includes:

a light receiving portion provided in a semiconductor substrate and generating a charge by photoelectric conversion;

a charge storage portion provided in the semiconductor substrate and storing the charge generated in the light receiving portion;

a gate electrode provided on the charge storage portion and transferring the charge generated in the light receiving portion to the charge storage portion;

a first trench formed in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the light receiving portion and the charge storage portion;

a first insulating film provided in the first trench;

a second trench formed in a region of the semiconductor substrate between the light receiving portions of adjacent ones of the pixels;

a second insulating film provided in the second trench;

a transmitting portion provided at an end of a boundary between the light receiving portion and the charge storage portion so as to be in contact with the first insulating film, and serving as a transfer path of the charge from the light receiving portion to the charge storage portion; and

a light-shielding film covering the charge storage portion, the transmitting portion, and the gate electrode, and

in a plan view, a distance from an end of the light-shielding film through the transmitting portion to the charge storage portion in a direction from the light receiving portion toward the charge storage portion is longer than a distance from the end of the light-shielding film through the first trench to the charge storage portion.

2. The solid-state image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

a portion of the light receiving portion, which is in contact with the transmitting portion, protrudes beyond another portion facing the charge storage portion.

3. The solid-state image sensor of claim 2 , wherein

a portion of the light-shielding film which is provided in an upper portion of the transmitting portion protrudes toward the light receiving portion as compared to a portion provided above the first trench.

4. The solid-state image sensor of claim 3 , wherein

a portion of the charge storage portion which is in contact with the transmitting portion has a higher n-type impurity concentration than the other portion of the charge storage portion.

5. The solid-state image sensor of claim 3 , wherein

the first and second insulating films have a lower refractive index than the semiconductor substrate.

6. The solid-state image sensor of claim 3 , wherein

the charge storage portion is an n-type impurity region formed on a first p-type impurity region, and

the transmitting portion is a second p-type impurity region having a lower p-type impurity concentration than the first p-type impurity region.

7. The solid-state image sensor of claim 2 , wherein

a portion of the charge storage portion which is in contact with the transmitting portion has a higher n-type impurity concentration than the other portion of the charge storage portion.

8. The solid-state image sensor of claim 2 , wherein

the first and second insulating films have a lower refractive index than the semiconductor substrate.

9. The solid-state image sensor of claim 2 , wherein

the charge storage portion is an n-type impurity region formed on a first p-type impurity region, and

the transmitting portion is a second p-type impurity region having a lower p-type impurity concentration than the first p-type impurity region.

10. The solid-state image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

a portion of the light-shielding film which is provided in an upper portion of the transmitting portion protrudes toward the light receiving portion as compared to a portion provided above the first trench.

11. The solid-state image sensor of claim 10 , wherein

a portion of the charge storage portion which is in contact with the transmitting portion has a higher n-type impurity concentration than the other portion of the charge storage portion.

12. The solid-state image sensor of claim 10 , wherein

the first and second insulating films have a lower refractive index than the semiconductor substrate.

13. The solid-state image sensor of claim 10 , wherein

the charge storage portion is an n-type impurity region formed on a first p-type impurity region, and

the transmitting portion is a second p-type impurity region having a lower p-type impurity concentration than the first p-type impurity region.

14. The solid-state image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

a portion of the charge storage portion which is in contact with the transmitting portion has a higher n-type impurity concentration than the other portion of the charge storage portion.

15. The solid-state image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

the first and second insulating films have a lower refractive index than the semiconductor substrate.

16. The solid-state image sensor of claim 1 , wherein

the charge storage portion is an n-type impurity region formed on a first p-type impurity region, and

the transmitting portion is a second p-type impurity region having a lower p-type impurity concentration than the first p-type impurity region.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 27, 2020
From: TOWERJAZZ PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
To: TOWER PARTNERS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053615/0518 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2019
From: TSUTSUI, MASAFUMI
To: TOWERJAZZ PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 049476/0943 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2016-243353 · Dec 15, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2017042400 · Nov 27, 2017
Related Publication 20190297282A1 · Sep 26, 2019