IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,991,746
Granted Patent B2
US 10,991,746 · App. 16/352,164 · Granted Apr 27, 2021

High performance image sensor

Inventors: Tung-Ting Wu (Taipei, TW); Jhy-Jyi Sze (Hsin-Chu, TW); Yimin Huang (Hsinchu, TW)
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
H01L27/14636H01L27/14607H01L27/14643H01L27/14689H01L31/036
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,991,746
App. No.
16/352,164
Granted
Apr 27, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure, in some embodiments, relates to an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes an image sensing element disposed within a pixel region of a substrate. A plurality of conductive interconnect layers are disposed within a dielectric structure arranged along a first side of the substrate. A second side of the substrate includes a plurality of interior surfaces arranged directly over the image sensing element. The plurality of interior surfaces respectively include a substantially flat surface that extends along a plane.

Claims (38)

1. An integrated chip, comprising:

an image sensing element disposed within a pixel region of a substrate;

a plurality of conductive interconnect layers disposed within a dielectric structure arranged along a first side of the substrate;

wherein a second side of the substrate comprises a plurality of interior surfaces arranged directly over the image sensing element, the plurality of interior surfaces respectively comprising a substantially flat surface that extends along a plane; and

an isolation region disposed between the pixel region and an adjacent pixel region, the isolation region defined by an upper surface of the substrate that extends in an unbroken loop surrounding the pixel region and arranged along a horizontal plane that is vertically separated from tops of the plurality of interior surfaces by one or more non-zero distances.

2. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interior surfaces comprise a group of substantially flat surfaces that extend along planes that intersect at a point that is between the plurality of interior surfaces.

3. The integrated chip of claim 2 , wherein the point is arranged over the substrate and is separated from the substrate by an additional non-zero distance.

4. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interior surfaces respectively comprise a triangular shape.

5. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interior surfaces define a first pyramidal shaped cavity separated from a second pyramidal shaped cavity by a ridge, the ridge vertically below the upper surface of the substrate.

6. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the upper surface is defined by jagged edges of the substrate as viewed from a top-view.

7. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interior surfaces define a first pyramidal shaped cavity separated from a second pyramidal shaped cavity by a ridge, the ridge extending along a line between outer edges of the pixel region.

8. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of interior surfaces define a first pyramidal shaped protrusion separated from a second pyramidal shaped protrusion by a channel extending along a line between outer edges of the pixel region.

9. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of conductive interconnect layers comprise alternating layers of conductive vias and conductive wires.

10. The integrated chip of claim 1 , wherein one or more dielectric layers are arranged over the second side of the substrate between the plurality of interior surfaces.

11. The integrated chip of claim 10 , wherein the one or more dielectric layers comprise an oxide, a nitride, or a carbide.

12. An integrated chip, comprising:

an image sensing element disposed within a substrate;

a plurality of conductive interconnect layers disposed within a dielectric structure arranged along a first side of the substrate;

wherein a second side of the substrate comprises a plurality of interior surfaces arranged directly over the image sensing element and defining a plurality of topographical features, the plurality of interior surfaces comprising triangular shaped surfaces;

wherein the plurality of topographical features respectively comprise a pyramidal shaped cavity; and

wherein the plurality of interior surfaces defining adjacent ones of the plurality of topographical features meet at a point that is a non-zero distance below a surface of the substrate that continuously extends around the plurality of topographical features.

13. The integrated chip of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of topographical features laterally extend past outer edges of the image sensing element along a first pair of opposing directions and along a second pair of opposing directions that are perpendicular to the first pair of opposing directions.

14. The integrated chip of claim 12 , wherein the substrate comprises silicon and the triangular shaped surfaces respectively extend along a (111) crystal plane of the silicon.

15. The integrated chip of claim 12 , wherein a group of four of the plurality of interior surfaces extend along four planes that intersect at an additional point that is at or under a bottom of the group of four of the plurality of interior surfaces.

16. The integrated chip of claim 12 , wherein the pyramidal shaped cavity has a rounded bottom.

17. The integrated chip of claim 12 , further comprising:

an isolation region comprising a deep trench isolation structure including one or more dielectric materials arranged within a trench in a substantially planar upper surface of the substrate, wherein the deep trench isolation structure continuously extends around a pixel region comprising the image sensing element.

18. The integrated chip of claim 12 ,

wherein the plurality of topographical features are arranged in rows and columns within a pixel region comprising the image sensing element; and

wherein a first row has a first number of topographical features and a second row has a second number of topographical features that is different than the first number of topographical features.

19. A method of forming an integrated chip, comprising:

forming an image sensing element within a substrate;

forming a masking layer on a first side of the substrate;

performing a first wet etching process on the first side of the substrate with the masking layer in place;

removing the masking layer; and

performing a second wet etching process on the first side of the substrate, wherein the first wet etching process and the second wet etching process collectively form a plurality of topographical features respectively defined by a plurality of substantially flat interior surfaces that extend along planes that intersect at a point.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

forming one or more dielectric materials on the first side of the substrate and laterally between adjacent ones of the plurality of topographical features.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2019
From: WU, TUNG-TING; SZE, JHY-JYI; HUANG, YIMIN
To: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048817/0617 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62751761 · Oct 29, 2018
Related Publication 20200135792A1 · Apr 30, 2020
Cited By (2)
US 12,414,400 US 12,720,889