Patent ID: 8183516
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An imaging device comprising a pixel matrix monolithically integrated with CMOS devices on a single-crystalline silicon-based semiconductor substrate, wherein: the pixel matrix comprises a plurality of pixel cells, each cell consisting of one row-select transistor and one photonic device, said photonic device being disposed to alternatively absorb and emit light, depending on biasing conditions, in each pixel the row-select transistor and photonic device are formed on active areas, surrounded by isolation regions, on said substrate, each photonic device, comprising a plurality of epitaxial photonic device layers, a top electrode and a bottom electrode, is fabricated either on the same active area of the row-select transistor, or on an active area adjacent to, but separated from, the active area of the row-select transistor, in each pixel the row-select transistor comprises a source region connected to the photonic device and a drain region connected to metal interconnects, in each pixel the photonic device's top electrode is contacted through metal interconnects made over the entire pixel matrix, and the bottom electrode is connected to the source region of the row-select transistor, wherein the source region of the row-select transistor has the same doping polarity of the bottom electrode region of the photonic device, and said two regions are connected through a portion of the semiconductor substrate having the same doping polarity and which is electrically isolated from other pixels.