IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,324,260
Granted Patent B2
US 12,324,260 · App. 17/787,981 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Multiplying image sensor

Inventors: Mitsuhito Mase (Hamamatsu, JP); Jun Hiramitsu (Hamamatsu, JP); Hiroaki Ishii (Hamamatsu, JP); Yuma Tanaka (Hamamatsu, JP); Toshinori Ito (Hamamatsu, JP)
Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
H10F39/8033H10F39/807H10F39/811
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,324,260
App. No.
17/787,981
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multiplying image sensor includes a semiconductor layer having a first surface and a second surface and a wiring layer provided on the second surface. The semiconductor layer includes a plurality of pixels arranged along the first surface. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region formed on the second surface side with respect to at least a part of the first semiconductor region and divided for each of the plurality of pixels, and a well region formed in the second semiconductor region so as to be separated from the first semiconductor region and forming a part of a pixel circuit. At least a part of the first semiconductor region and at least a part of the second semiconductor region form an avalanche multiplication region.

Claims (23)

1. A multiplying image sensor, comprising:

a semiconductor layer having a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface and including a plurality of pixels arranged along the first surface; and

a wiring layer provided on the second surface,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes:

a first conductive type first semiconductor region;

a second conductive type second semiconductor region formed on the second surface side with respect to at least a part of the first semiconductor region and divided for each of the plurality of pixels; and

a first conductive type well region formed in the second semiconductor region so as to be separated from the first semiconductor region and forming a part of a pixel circuit,

at least a part of the first semiconductor region and at least a part of the second semiconductor region form an avalanche multiplication region, and

a part of the second semiconductor region where the well region is formed is continuous with a part of the second semiconductor region forming the avalanche multiplication region.

2. The multiplying image sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second semiconductor region is divided for each of the plurality of pixels by a portion other than the part of the first semiconductor region.

3. The multiplying image sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second semiconductor region is divided for each of the plurality of pixels by a trench formed in the semiconductor layer so as to open on the second surface side.

4. The multiplying image sensor according to claim 3 ,

wherein the well region is formed in the second semiconductor region so as to be separated from the trench.

5. The multiplying image sensor according to claim 3 ,

wherein the well region is formed in the second semiconductor region so as to be in contact with the trench.

6. The multiplying image sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the second semiconductor region is electrically connected to the wiring layer in a central portion of the second semiconductor region when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first surface.

7. The multiplying image sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes, as the well region, a plurality of well regions divided from each other in the second semiconductor region.

8. The multiplying image sensor according to claim 1 ,

wherein the well region overlaps with the avalanche multiplication region when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the first surface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2022
From: MASE, MITSUHITO; HIRAMITSU, JUN; ISHII, HIROAKI; TANAKA, YUMA; ITO, TOSHINORI
To: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
Reel/Frame 060649/0945 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2019-239493 · Dec 27, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230022384A1 · Jan 26, 2023
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