IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,419,126
Granted Patent B2
US 12,419,126 · App. 18/378,504 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Photodetector

Inventors: Yusuke Otake (Kanagawa, JP); Akira Matsumoto (Kanagawa, JP); Junpei Yamamoto (Kanagawa, JP); Ryusei Naito (Nagasaki, JP); Masahiko Nakamizo (Kanagawa, JP); Toshifumi Wakano (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
H10F39/807H10F30/225H10F39/199H10F39/8027H10F39/803H10F39/8033H10F39/8057H10F39/809H10F39/811H10F77/331H10F77/413H10F39/8037H10F39/8063
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,419,126
App. No.
18/378,504
Granted
Sep 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sensor includes a first substrate including at least a first pixel. The first pixel includes an avalanche photodiode to convert incident light into electric charge and includes an anode and a cathode. The cathode is in a well region of the first substrate. The first pixel includes an isolation region that isolates the well region from at least a second pixel that is adjacent to the first pixel. The first pixel includes a hole accumulation region between the isolation region and the well region. The hole accumulation region is electrically connected to the anode.

Claims (36)

1. A light detecting device, comprising:

a first semiconductor layer, including:

a first avalanche photodiode, including:

a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; and

a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, wherein the first avalanche photodiode is disposed in a pixel region of the light detecting device;

a first isolation region;

a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type, wherein the third semiconductor region is disposed in a peripheral region; and

a light shielding film,

wherein the first isolation region is disposed between the pixel region and the peripheral region,

wherein a first portion of the light shielding film is disposed in the first isolation region and a second portion of the light shielding film is disposed on the third semiconductor region, and

wherein a portion of the light shielding film is in direct contact with at least a portion of a surface of the third semiconductor region.

2. The light detecting device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wiring layer, the wiring layer including:

a first wiring, wherein the first wiring is coupled to the first semiconductor region;

a second wiring, wherein the second wiring is coupled to the second semiconductor region; and

a third wiring, wherein the third wiring is coupled to the third semiconductor region.

3. The light detecting device of claim 2 , wherein a first voltage applied to the second wiring is same as a second voltage applied to the third wiring.

4. The light detecting device of claim 2 , wherein the wiring layer is on a side of the first semiconductor layer opposite a light incident surface side of the first semiconductor layer.

5. The light detecting device of claim 1 , wherein the light shielding film includes at least one of tungsten, aluminum, copper, or polysilicon.

6. The light detecting device of claim 1 , wherein the first conductivity type is opposite the second conductivity type.

7. The light detecting device of claim 2 , wherein the first semiconductor layer is part of a first chip, the light detecting device further comprising:

a second chip.

8. The light detecting device of claim 7 , wherein the second chip includes a fourth wiring, and a fifth wiring, wherein the fourth wiring is electrically connected to the first wiring, and wherein the fifth wiring is electrically connected to the second wiring.

9. The light detecting device of claim 8 , wherein the second chip is stacked on the first chip.

10. The light detecting device of claim 8 , wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth wirings are one of copper or aluminum.

11. The light detecting device of claim 8 , wherein the first wiring is directly bonded to the fourth wiring, and wherein the second wiring is directly bonded to the fifth wiring.

12. The light detecting device of claim 2 , wherein the first, second, and third wirings are in a same layer of the wiring layer.

13. The light detecting device of claim 1 , wherein the first isolation region extends from a light incident surface of the first semiconductor layer to a surface of the first semiconductor layer opposite the light incident surface.

14. The light detecting device of claim 1 , wherein the light shielding film is electrically conductive.

15. The light detecting device of claim 14 , wherein the light shielding film is formed from a metal.

16. The light detecting device of claim 14 , wherein the light shielding film electrically connects the first isolation region and the third semiconductor region.

17. The light detecting device of claim 1 , wherein the first isolation region includes a trench filled with an electrically conductive material.

18. The light detecting device of claim 1 , wherein the first isolation region surrounds the first semiconductor region.

19. The light detecting device of claim 18 , further comprising:

an on-chip lens, wherein the on-chip lens is disposed on a light incident surface side of the first semiconductor layer, and wherein the on-chip lens is adjacent an area encompassing the first avalanche photodiode.

20. The light detecting device of claim 1 , wherein a third portion of the light shielding film is disposed on a planarizing film.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: OTAKE, YUSUKE; MATSUMOTO, AKIRA; YAMAMOTO, JUNPEI; NAITO, RYUSEI; NAKAMIZO, MASAHIKO; WAKANO, TOSHIFUMI
To: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066148/0037 →
Priority Claims (4)
JP 2016-204475 · Oct 18, 2016 · national
JP 2017-039336 · Mar 2, 2017 · national
JP 2017-114380 · Jun 9, 2017 · national
JP 2017-152060 · Aug 4, 2017 · national
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17490829 · Sep 30, 2021
Continuation 16905485 · Jun 18, 2020
Continuation 16694195 · Nov 25, 2019
Continuation 16409494 · May 10, 2019
Continuation 16060509
Related Publication 20240038810A1 · Feb 1, 2024
References Cited (64)
US 10446601B2 · Otake et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10580817B2 · Otake et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10804309B2 · Otake et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20090200625A1 · Venezia et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100148040A1 · Sanfilippo · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100247403A1 · Hancock · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20110272561A1 · Sanfilippo · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20130193546A1 · Webster et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140291481A1 · Zhang et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140291793A1 · Tanaka · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150076649A1 · Kim · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150200314A1 · Webster · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150255495A1 · Park · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150285625A1 · Deane · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150333210A1 · Teva et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160020239A1 · Liu et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160204150A1 · Oh et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160218236A1 · Dhulla et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160353084A1 · Sun et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170031010A1 · Suzuki et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170062501A1 · Velichko et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170263798A1 · Suzuki et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180090526A1 · Mandai · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20200321369A1 · Otake et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220020789A1 · Otake et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 104576667A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 104620385 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 104779317 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 105374834A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 105593995 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
EP 2787531 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009525619 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010219339 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012015274 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013048278 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013118345A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013175494 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014192348 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014192348A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014225647 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015032663 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015041746 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016054478 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018201005 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020140119648 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020140141823 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
KR 20150135265A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2008048694 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2008129433 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 17/490,829, dated Dec. 22, 2023, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Jackson et al., “Towards integrated single photon counting microarrays,” Optical Engineering, vol. 42, No. 1, Jan. 2003, pp. 112-118. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion prepared by the European Patent Office on Jan. 8, 2018, for International Application No. PCT/JP2017/037748. [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/060,509, dated Jan. 11, 2019, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance for U.S. Appl. No. 16/060,509, dated May 28, 2019, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/409,494, dated Jul. 11, 2019, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance for U.S. Appl. No. 16/409,494, dated Oct. 18, 2019, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance for U.S. Appl. No. 16/409,494, dated Jan. 15, 2020, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/694,195, dated Apr. 8, 2020, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance for U.S. Appl. No. 16/694,195, dated Jun. 8, 2020, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/905,485, dated Jul. 13, 2020, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/905,485, dated Dec. 11, 2020, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/905,485, dated Mar. 23, 2021, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 16/905,485, dated Jul. 1, 2021 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Official Action for U.S. Appl. No. 17/490,829, dated Nov. 18, 2022, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]