Method of forming barrier regions for image sensors
First Claim
1. A method of forming an image sensor, the method comprising:
- providing a substrate;
providing an array of pixel cells on the substrate, the array comprising an active region of pixels having a first configuration for sensing an image and providing signals representing a sensed image and a black region of pixels having a second configuration which does not provide signals representing the sensed image; and
forming at least one barrier region by forming a charge accumulation region of a particular conductivity type on the substrate and non-switchably electrically connecting the charge accumulation region to a voltage source terminal, the barrier region completely surrounding at least the pixels in the active region and separating the pixels in the active and black regions.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide an image sensor that includes a barrier region for isolating devices. The image sensor comprises a substrate and an array of pixel cells formed on the substrate. Each pixel cell comprises a photo-conversion device. The array comprises a first pixel cell having a first configuration, a second pixel cell having a second configuration, and at least one barrier region formed between the first and second pixel cells for capturing and removing charge. The barrier region comprises a charge accumulation region of a particular conductivity type in a substrate electrically connected to a voltage source terminal. The charge accumulation region accumulates charge and prevents charge transference from a pixel cell or peripheral circuitry on one side of the barrier region to a pixel cell on another side of the barrier region.
41 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of forming an image sensor, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; providing an array of pixel cells on the substrate, the array comprising an active region of pixels having a first configuration for sensing an image and providing signals representing a sensed image and a black region of pixels having a second configuration which does not provide signals representing the sensed image; and forming at least one barrier region by forming a charge accumulation region of a particular conductivity type on the substrate and non-switchably electrically connecting the charge accumulation region to a voltage source terminal, the barrier region completely surrounding at least the pixels in the active region and separating the pixels in the active and black regions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of forming an image sensor, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; forming an array of pixel cells on the substrate, the array comprising an active region of pixels having a first configuration for sensing an image and providing a signal representing a sensed image and a black region of pixels having a second configuration and which does not provide signals representing the sensed image; and forming at least one barrier region of pixels on the substrate of the image sensor having a third configuration that is different than the first configuration and second configuration, the at least one barrier region completely surrounding at least the pixels in the active region and black regions and separating the pixels in the active and black regions such that charge transference between them is prevented, and comprising a charge accumulation region electrically connected to a voltage source at a terminal arranged at a location that is different than a location at which the first pixel cells and the second pixel cells are connected to the voltage source.
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21. A method of forming an image processor, the method comprising:
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providing a processor; and coupling an image sensor to the processor, the image sensor comprising; a substrate, an array of pixel cells arranged on the substrate, the array comprising a first pixel cell having a first configuration and a black region of pixels having a second configuration, and at least one barrier region arranged on the substrate completely surrounding at least the pixels in the active and black regions and separating the pixels in the active and black regions such that charge transference between them is prevented, the barrier region comprising a contiguous charge accumulation region on the substrate and non-switchably electrically connected to a voltage source terminal.
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Specification