US5614950A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
CCD image sensor and method of preventing a smear phenomenon in the sensor
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC
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Filing: 1995-08-02
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Granted: 1997-03-25
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Expires: 2015-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A charge coupled device image sensor which can prevent smear and improve sensitivity, including a substrate of a first conductive type, a first well of a second conductive type formed on one side of said substrate, a second well of the second conductive type formed on the other side of said substrate, a pair of photo-detecting areas formed adjoining in said first well, a pair of charge transfer areas formed close to each photo-detecting area and adjoining in said second well, a channel stop area formed between said adjoining photo-detecting areas and said charge transfer areas and for isolating each of the areas,.respectively, high-density impurities areas of the second conductive type being formed on the upper surface of said photo-detecting area, a gate insulation film formed on the whole substrate, a pair of transfer gates formed on said gate insulation film at the upper side of each charge transfer area, a insulation film for encompassing said transfer gate and being formed on said gate insulation film except said pair of photo-detecting areas, a light-shading film formed on said insulation film except said pair of photo-detecting areas, a leveling substrate formed on the whole substrate, and, a micro lens formed said leveling substrate at the upper side of said pair of photo-detecting areas.
Inventors
- 👤 Chul H. Park
- 👤 Kwang B. Song
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 12:40
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/15; H10F39/153
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A charge coupled device image sensor comprising: a substrate of a first conductive type; a first well of a second conductive type formed on one side of said substrate; a second well of the second conductive type formed on the other side of said substrate; a pair of photo-detecting areas formed adjoining in said first well; a pair of charge transfer areas formed close to each photo-detecting area and adjoining in said second well; a plurality of channel stop areas each formed between said adjoining photo-detecting areas and between said charge transfer areas, for isolating each of the areas; high-density impurities areas of the second conductive type being formed on the upper surface of said photo-detecting areas; a gate insulation film formed on the substrate; a pair of transfer gates formed on said gate insulation film at the upper side of each charge transfer area; an insulation film for encompassing said transfer gates and being formed on said gate insulation film except said pair of photo-detecting areas; a light-shading film formed on said insulation film except said pair of photo-detecting areas; a leveling substrate formed on the substrate; and a microlens formed on said leveling substrate and covering said pair of photo-detecting areas, one of said pair of charge areas, and one of another pair of charge transfer areas formed adjacent said pair of photo-detecting areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A charge coupled device image sensor comprising: a substrate of a first conductive type; a first well of a second conductive type formed on one side of said substrate; a second well of the second conductive type formed on the other side of said substrate; a pair of photo-detecting areas formed adjoining in said first well; a pair of charge transfer areas formed close to each photo-detecting area and adjoining in said second well; a plurality of channel stop areas each formed between said adjoining photo-detecting areas and between said charge transfer areas, for isolating each of the areas; high-density impurities areas of the second conductive type being formed on the upper surface of said photo-detecting areas; a gate insulation film formed on the substrate; a pair of transfer gates formed on said gate insulation film at the upper side of each charge transfer area; an insulation film for encompassing said transfer gates and being formed on said gate insulation film except said pair of photo-detecting areas; a light-shading film formed on said insulation film except said pair of photo-detecting areas; a leveling substrate formed on the substrate; and a microlens formed on said leveling substrate and covering said pair of photo-detecting areas, one of said pair of charge areas, and one of another pair of charge transfer areas formed adjacent said pair of photo-detecting areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A charge coupled device image sensor of claim 1, wherein said pair of charge transfer areas include a plurality of vertical CCDs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image sensing device comprising: pairs of photo-detecting areas formed in a well on a substrate, each pair including first and second photodetectors; a plurality of first stop areas each formed between the first and second photodetectors; pairs of charge transfer areas, each pair formed between the pairs of photo-detecting areas and including first and second charge transfer areas; a plurality of second stop areas each formed between the first and second charge transfer areas; and a plurality of microlenses, each microlens formed over the first charge transfer area of one pair of charge transfer areas, the second charge transfer area of another pair of charge transfer areas, and one of the pairs of photo-detecting areas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
An image sensing device comprising: pairs of photo-detecting areas formed in a well on a substrate, each pair including first and second photodetectors; a plurality of first stop areas each formed between the first and second photodetectors; pairs of charge transfer areas, each pair formed between the pairs of photo-detecting areas and including first and second charge transfer areas; a plurality of second stop areas each formed between the first and second charge transfer areas; and a plurality of microlenses, each microlens formed over the first charge transfer area of one pair of charge transfer areas, the second charge transfer area of another pair of charge transfer areas, and one of the pairs of photo-detecting areas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
An image sensing device of claim 3, further comprising: high-density impurities areas formed on the pairs of photo-detecting areas; and a gate insulation film formed on the high-density impurities areas and the pairs of charge transfer areas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
An image sensing device of claim 4, further comprising: pairs of transfer gates, each pair formed on the gate insulation film over one of the pairs of charge transfer areas; an insulation film formed on the pairs of transfer gates; a light-shading film formed on the insulation film; and a passivation layer formed on the light-shading film and portions of the gate insulation film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image sensing device of claim 5, further comprising: a leveling substrate formed on the passivation layer so as to provide a flat surface on which the plurality of microlenses are formed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An image sensing device of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second charge transfer areas includes a vertical CCD.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image sensing device of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second photodetectors includes a photodiode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
An image sensing device of claim 3, wherein each microlens concentrates light onto said one of the pairs of photo-detecting areas so as to prevent a smear phenomenon.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of preventing a smear phenomenon in an image sensing device, the method comprising the steps of: forming pairs of photo-detecting areas in a well on a substrate, each of the pairs of photo-detecting areas including first and second photodetectors; providing a plurality of first stop areas each formed between the first and second photodetectors; providing pairs of charge transfer areas, each pair formed between the pairs of photo-detecting areas and including first and second charge transfer areas; providing a plurality of second stop areas each formed between the first and second charge transfer areas; and providing a plurality of microlenses each formed over the first charge transfer area of one pair of charge transfer areas, the second charge transfer area of another pair of charge transfer areas, and one of the pairs of photo-detecting areas.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of preventing a smear phenomenon in an image sensing device, the method comprising the steps of: forming pairs of photo-detecting areas in a well on a substrate, each of the pairs of photo-detecting areas including first and second photodetectors; providing a plurality of first stop areas each formed between the first and second photodetectors; providing pairs of charge transfer areas, each pair formed between the pairs of photo-detecting areas and including first and second charge transfer areas; providing a plurality of second stop areas each formed between the first and second charge transfer areas; and providing a plurality of microlenses each formed over the first charge transfer area of one pair of charge transfer areas, the second charge transfer area of another pair of charge transfer areas, and one of the pairs of photo-detecting areas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: forming high-density impurities areas on the pairs of photo-detecting areas; and forming a gate insulation film on the high-density impurities areas and the pairs of charge transfer areas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: providing pairs of transfer gates, each pair formed on the gate insulation film over one of the pairs of charge transfer areas; forming an insulation film on the pairs of transfer gates; forming a light-shading film on the insulation film; and forming a passivation layer on the light-shading film and portions of the gate insulation film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of claim 12, further comprising the step of: forming a leveling substrate on the passivation layer so as to provide a flat surface on which the plurality of microlenses are formed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second charge transfer areas includes a vertical CCD.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second photodetectors includes a photodiode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of claim 10, wherein each microlens concentrates light onto said one of the pairs of photo-detecting areas so as to prevent a smear phenomenon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-24 | 2000-09-23 | 2001-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-24 | 2004-09-23 | 2005-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-24 | 2008-09-23 | 2009-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |