PIXEL SENSOR STRUCTURE INCLUDING LIGHT PIPE AND METHOD FOR FABRICATION THEREOF
First Claim
1. An image sensor pixel comprising:
- a photosensitive element located within a substrate;
a patterned dielectric layer located over the substrate, the patterned dielectric layer having an aperture therein registered with the photosensitive element;
a liner material located upon a sidewall of the aperture; and
a lens structure located over the aperture and also registered with the photosensitive element, where the lens structure is designed to direct at least a portion of an electromagnetic radiation beam incident on the image sensor pixel to the liner material at an angle such that substantially all of the portion of the incident electromagnetic radiation beam is reflected off of the liner layer to the photosensitive element.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pixel for an image sensor includes a photosensor located within a substrate. A patterned dielectric layer having an aperture registered with the photosensor is located over the substrate. A lens structure is located over the dielectric layer and also registered with the photosensor. A liner layer is located contiguously upon a top surface of the dielectric layer, and the sidewalls and bottom of the aperture. The liner layer provides for enhanced reflection for off-axis incoming light and enhanced capture thereof by the photosensor. When the aperture does not provide a dielectric layer border for a metallization layer embedded within the dielectric layer, an exposed edge of the metallization layer may be chamfered.
108 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An image sensor pixel comprising:
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a photosensitive element located within a substrate;
a patterned dielectric layer located over the substrate, the patterned dielectric layer having an aperture therein registered with the photosensitive element;
a liner material located upon a sidewall of the aperture; and
a lens structure located over the aperture and also registered with the photosensitive element, where the lens structure is designed to direct at least a portion of an electromagnetic radiation beam incident on the image sensor pixel to the liner material at an angle such that substantially all of the portion of the incident electromagnetic radiation beam is reflected off of the liner layer to the photosensitive element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An image sensor pixel comprising:
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a photosensitive element located within a substrate;
a patterned dielectric layer located over the substrate, the patterned dielectric layer having an aperture therein registered with the photosensitive element;
a liner layer located conformally and contiguously upon the top surface of the patterned dielectric layer, the sidewalls of the aperture and the bottom of the aperture; and
a lens structure located over the aperture and also registered with the photosensitive element. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An image sensor pixel comprising:
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a photosensitive element located within a substrate;
a patterned dielectric and metallization layer located over the substrate, the patterned dielectric and metallization layer having an aperture therein registered with the photosensitive element, where a metallization layer within the patterned dielectric and metallization layer protrudes into the aperture;
a liner layer located conformally and contiguously upon the top surface of the patterned dielectric layer, the sidewalls of the aperture including the metallization layer that protrudes into the aperture, and the bottom of the aperture; and
a lens structure located over the aperture and also registered with the photosensitive element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for fabricating an image sensor pixel comprising:
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forming a photosensitive element within a substrate;
forming a patterned dielectric layer over the substrate, the patterned dielectric layer having an aperture therein registered with the photosensitive element;
forming a liner layer conformally and contiguously upon the top surface of the patterned dielectric layer, the sidewalls of the aperture and the bottom of the aperture; and
forming a lens structure over the aperture and also registered with the photosensitive element. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for fabricating an image sensor pixel comprising:
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forming a photosensitive element within a substrate;
forming a patterned dielectric and metallization layer over the substrate, the patterned dielectric and metallization layer having an aperture therein registered with the photosensitive element, where a metallization layer within the patterned dielectric and metallization layer protrudes into the aperture;
forming a liner layer conformally and contiguously upon the top surface of the patterned dielectric layer, the sidewalls of the aperture including the metallization layer that protrudes into the aperture, and the bottom of the aperture; and
forming a lens structure over the aperture and also registered with the photosensitive element. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification