Patent ID: 6403963
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for use in detecting low-energy particles, the method comprising:providing a CCD having a back surface exposed to the low-energy particles, said CCD including an epilayer of heavily doped semiconductor material of same type as that of semiconductor core, a delta layer of highly concentrated dopant formed over a back surface of the semiconductor core and confined to less than one monolayer in the semiconductor core, and a protective layer of semiconductor material formed over the delta layer and having a thickness of approximately 1 nm; exposing the back surface of the CCD to low-energy particles, such that the CCD is configured such that low-energy particles falling on the back surface, including electrons with energy levels between about 50 eV-100 eV or protons with energy levels between about 1200 eV-1000 eV, or both, create sufficient charge in the CCD for detection; and detecting a presence of electric charge in the CCD that results from penetration of the low-energy particles through the back surface into the CCD.