Patent Abstract:
A barrier for isolating the dark correction pixels from spurious charges within an image sensor. The barrier comprises a charge absorbing region in a substrate electrically connected to a voltage source terminal. The charge absorbing region completely surrounds the dark correction region of a pixel array. The charge absorbing region absorbs carriers generated by lateral diffusion, near-infrared and infrared light reflected from the bottom of the silicon substrate, and other sources. This absorbing region prevents carriers from being absorbed into the dark correction pixel cells and causing image correction distorting effects.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor devices, and particularly to improved charge isolation techniques for image sensors.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An image sensor generally includes an array of pixel cells. Each pixel cell includes a photo-conversion device for converting light incident on the array into electrical signals. An image sensor also typically includes peripheral circuitry for controlling devices of the array and for converting the electrical signals into a digital image.  
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view block diagram of a portion of a typical CMOS image sensor  10 . The image sensor  10  includes an array  11  of pixel cells arranged in columns and rows (not shown). The array  11  includes pixel cells  20  ( FIG. 2A ) in an active array region  12  and pixel cells  20 ′ ( FIG. 3 ) in a dark correction region  13  that are used for noise or dark correction.  FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of typical pixel cells  20  and  FIG. 2B  is a top plan view of a pixel cell  20 . The dark correction pixel cells  20 ′ have the same structure and operate in a similar manner to the active array pixel cells  20 . Accordingly, dark correction pixel cells  20 ′ can be configured as shown in  FIG. 2A .  
         [0004]     The dark correction region  13  is similar to the active array region  12 , except that light is prevented from reaching the photo-conversion devices of the dark correction pixel cells  20 ′ by, for example, a metal layer, a black color filter array, or any opaque material, depicted as  14  in  FIG. 3 . Signals from dark correction pixel cells  20 ′ can be used to determine the dark correction level for the array  11 , which is used to adjust the resulting image produced by the image sensor  10 , by subtracting the signal generated by the dark correction pixel cells  20 ′ from the signal from the pixel cells  20 , which are used for image capture.  
         [0005]     The pixel cells  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B  are typical CMOS four-transistor (4T) pixel cells. Typically, the pixel cells  20  are formed at a surface of a substrate, as generally shown in  FIG. 3 . As is known in the art, a pixel cell  20  functions by receiving photons of light and converting those photons into electron charges. For this operation, each one of the pixel cells  20  includes a photo-conversion device  21 , which may be a pinned photodiode, but can be a photogate, photoconductor, or other photosensitive device. The photodiode photo-conversion device  21  typically includes an n-type photodiode charge accumulation region  22  and a p-type surface layer.  
         [0006]     Each pixel cell  20  also includes a transfer transistor  27 , which receives a transfer control signal TX at its gate  27   a . The transfer transistor  27  is connected between the photodiode photo-conversion device  21  and a floating diffusion region  25 . During operation, the TX signal activates the transfer transistor  27  to transfer charge from the charge accumulation region  22  to the floating diffusion region  25 .  
         [0007]     The pixel cell  20  further includes a reset transistor  28 , which receives a reset control signal RST at its gate  28   a . The reset transistor  28  is connected to the floating diffusion region  25  and includes a source/drain region  60  coupled to a voltage supply, V aa pix ) through a contact  23 . In response to the RST signal the reset transistor  28  is activated and resets the diffusion region  25  to a predetermined charge level through a supply voltage, e.g., V aa pix .  
         [0008]     A source follower transistor  29 , having a gate  29   a  coupled to the floating diffusion region  25  through a contact  23 , receives and amplifies a charge level from the diffusion region  25 . The source follower transistor  29  also includes a first source/drain region  60  coupled to the power supply voltage V aa pix , and a second source/drain region  60  connected to a row select transistor  26 . The row select transistor  26  receives a row select control signal ROW_SEL at its gate  26   a . In response to the ROW_SEL signal, the row select transistor  26  couples the pixel cell  20  to a column line  22 , which is coupled to a source/drain region  60  of the row select transistor  26 . When the row select gate  26   a  is activated, an output voltage is output from the pixel cell  20  through the column line  22 .  
         [0009]     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , after pixel cells of array  11  generate charge in response to incident light, electrical signals indicating charge levels are read out and processed by circuitry  15  peripheral to array  11 . Peripheral circuitry  15  typically includes row select circuitry  16  and column select circuitry  17  for activating particular rows and columns of the array  11 ; and other peripheral circuitry  18 , which can include analog signal processing circuitry, analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, and digital logic processing circuitry. Peripheral circuitry  15  can be located adjacent to the array  11 , as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]     In order to obtain a high quality image, it is important to obtain an accurate dark correction level for the array  11 . One problem encountered in the conventional image sensor  10  is interference to the signal produced by dark current pixel cells  20 ′ caused by photons entering the area  12  of the array containing active array pixel cells  20 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , which is a cross-section taken across line X-X of  FIG. 1 . Dark correction region  13  is shielded from incident light by a shield  14 . Longer wavelength light, such as near-infrared or infrared light at 800-1500 μm, may be reflected off the bottom  9  of the substrate  5  and generate carriers B that may also be absorbed by dark correction pixel cells  20 ′. In addition, when very bright light is incident on active array pixel cells  20  adjacent the dark correction region  13 , blooming can occur and excess charge from the active array pixel cells  20 , represented by carriers A, can travel to and be absorbed by dark correction pixel cells  20 ′ in the adjacent dark correction region  13 . In addition, excess charge from adjacent circuitry, e.g., peripheral circuitry  15 , can travel to and interfere with pixel cells  20 ′ in the adjacent dark correction region  13 .  
         [0011]     These sources, and others, cause inaccurate dark correction levels. When enough carriers are absorbed by the dark correction pixel cells  20 ′, the signal generated by the dark correction pixel cells  20 ′ will be artificially high, such that the row in active array region  12  corresponding to each of these pixels  20 ′ will be over-corrected. The row in active array region  12  corresponding to each of the pixels  20 ′ will have a signal subtracted by a greater amount than actually needed for noise or dark correction. This causes inaccurate dark correction levels, resulting in row banding and distortion of the resultant image. Dark rows may appear in the image, even though they should appear bright in response to a bright subject.  
         [0012]     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an improved image sensor with reduced interference on dark correction pixel cells.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a barrier for isolating the dark correction pixels of an image sensor. The barrier comprises a charge absorbing region in a substrate electrically connected to a voltage source terminal. The charge absorbing region is completely surrounds the dark correction region of a pixel array. The charge absorbing region absorbs carriers generated by lateral diffusion, near-infrared and infrared light reflected from the bottom of the silicon substrate, and charges from other sources that may diffuse into dark correction pixels. This absorbing region prevents carriers from being absorbed into the dark correction pixel cells and causing row banding and other image distorting effects. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view block diagram of a conventional image sensor;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of conventional CMOS pixel cells;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2B  is a top plan view of a pixel cell of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the image sensor of  FIG. 1 , taken across line X-X;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view block diagram of an image sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of an embodiment of the image sensor of  FIG. 4 , taken across line Y-Y;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section of another embodiment of the image sensor of  FIG. 4 , taken across line Y-Y;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section of another embodiment of the image sensor of  FIG. 4 , taken across line Y-Y;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section of another embodiment of the image sensor of  FIG. 4 , taken across line Y-Y;  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section of another embodiment of the image sensor of  FIG. 4 , taken across line Y-Y;  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram of a processor system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  is a processor-based system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like reference numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0028]     The terms “wafer” and “substrate” are to be understood as including silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), or silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) technology, doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures. Furthermore, when reference is made to a “wafer” or “substrate” in the following description, previous process steps may have been utilized to form regions or junctions in the base semiconductor structure or foundation. In addition, the semiconductor need not be silicon-based, but could be based on silicon-germanium, germanium, or gallium-arsenide.  
         [0029]     The term “pixel” or “pixel cell” refers to a picture element unit cell containing a photo-conversion device for converting electromagnetic radiation to an electrical signal.  
         [0030]     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 4  depicts a top plan view of an image sensor  400  constructed according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The image sensor  400  includes an array  411  of pixel cells arranged in columns and rows. The array  411  includes pixel cells  420  ( FIG. 5 ) in an active array region  412  and pixel cells  420 ′ in a dark correction region  413  that are used for row-wise noise or dark correction while having additional protection against noise.  
         [0031]     After pixel cells of array  411  generate charge in response to incident light, electrical signals indicating charge levels are read out and processed by circuitry  415  peripheral to array  411 . Peripheral circuitry  415  typically includes row select circuitry  416  and column select circuitry  417  for activating particular rows and columns of the array  411 ; and other peripheral circuitry  418 , which can include analog signal processing circuitry, analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, and digital logic processing circuitry. Peripheral circuitry  415  can be located adjacent to the array  411 . The configuration of image sensor  400  is exemplary only. Accordingly, image sensor  400  need not include peripheral circuitry  415  adjacent to the array  411 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of the array  411  taken across line Y-Y of  FIG. 4 . The figure depicts a portion of the dark correction region  413  and a portion of the active array region  412 . Like dark correction region  13  ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ), the illustrated dark correction region  413  includes dark correction pixel cells  420 ′. Incident light is prevented from reaching the photo-conversion devices of the pixel cells  420 ′ in the dark correction region  413  by a shield  414  comprising, for example, a metal layer, a black color filter array, or any opaque material. While the dark correction region  413  is shown as having three dark correction pixels  420 ′ and active array region  412  is shown as having three pixels  420 , it should be noted that the illustration is a simplified cross-section and that the invention is not limited to having three pixels in each region. Both dark corrective region  413  and active array region  412  may have more or fewer pixels, as desired or suitable for the image sensor.  
         [0033]     Protection against temporal noise caused by loose charge carriers described above is provided for the dark correction pixel cells  420 ′ by forming a structure or structures to absorb the carriers generated by lateral diffusion caused by blooming in active array pixel cells  420  or near-infrared or infrared light reflected off the bottom  409  of the silicon substrate  405 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 5 , there are two sets of structures for absorbing carriers. A first n-type implant  9  is formed under the dark correction pixels  420 ′ to provide an effective carrier absorbing region below the dark correction pixels  420 ′. The first n-type implant  9  will protect the dark correction pixels from being affected by the carriers that are generated by light that gets reflected off the silicon bottom  409  of the silicon substrate and by other sources. A second n-type implant  7  is formed on either side of (or around the perimeter of) the dark correction pixels  420 ′. An n-well  8  is also formed around the second n-type implant  7  so that the n-well  8  makes contact with the implant  7 . This configuration provides a continuous n-type region surrounding the dark correction pixels  420 ′ to provide an effective carrier absorbing region around the dark correction pixels  420 ′.  
         [0034]     The second n-type implants  7  may be of higher doping concentration than the n-well  8  and the first n-type implant  9  and the n-well  8  may have higher doping concentration than the first n-type implant  9 . The first n-type implant  9  provides low-energy storage for carriers that are generated in the epitaxial layer beneath the dark correction pixels  420 ′. Since the second n-type implants  7  and n-wells  8  have a higher doping concentration than the first n-type implant  9 , the carriers will overflow from the first n-type implant  9  into the n-wells  8 , and into the second n-type implants  7 . From the second n-type implants  7 , the carriers are drawn out through a power source V cc  that is connected to the second n-type implant  7 . The doping concentration of the first n-type implant  9  may be from about 1×10 15  atoms per cm 3  to about 1×10 17  atoms per cm 3 . The doping concentration of the n-well  8  may be from about 1×10 16  atoms per cm 3  to about 1×10 17  atoms per cm 3 . The doping concentration of the second n-type implant  7  may be from about 1×10 17  atoms per cm 3  to about 1×10 18  atoms per cm 3 . The doping concentrations may be modified and optimized to any concentration suitable for the configuration of the pixel array.  
         [0035]     In one exemplary embodiment, the first n-type implant  9  is formed to a depth d of from about 0.8 μm to about 1.2 μm, more preferably 1.0 μm, and has a thickness t of about 0.5 μm. The n-well  8  may have a width w of about 0.5 μm. However, the first n-type implant  9  may have any depth and the n-well  8  may have any width suitable for the configuration of the pixel array.  
         [0036]     In another embodiment of the invention, a first n-type implant  59  is formed under the dark correction pixel cells  520 ′ of image sensor  500 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . As with  FIG. 5 , it should be noted that the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6  is not limited having three pixels in each region. Both dark corrective region  513  and active array region  512  may have more or fewer pixels, as desired or suitable for the image sensor. The first n-type implant  59  is formed under the dark correction pixels  520 ′. A second n-type implant  57  is formed on either side of (or around the perimeter of) the dark correction pixels  520 ′. An n-well  58  is formed under the second n-type implant  57  so that it makes contact with the second n-type implant  57  as well as the first n-type implant  59 . This provides a continuous n-type region surrounding the dark correction pixel cells  520 ′. The implants  57 ,  58 , and  59  may be formed with a different doping concentrations as described above with respect to  FIG. 6 , such that the second n-type implants  57  and n-wells  58  have a higher doping concentration than the first n-type implant  59 . Alternatively, they may be formed such that they have equal or lower doping concentrations. Because the implants  57 ,  58 , and  59  are electrically connected, the carriers will flow from the first n-type implant  59  into the n-wells  58 , and into the second n-type implants  57  and from the second n-type implants  57 , since the carriers are drawn out through a power source V cc  that is connected to the second n-type implant  57 .  
         [0037]     Other exemplary embodiments are illustrated in  FIGS. 7-9 .  FIG. 7  illustrates an n-well region  68  being formed such that its bottom extends to the upper-most portion of a first n-type implant  69 . Unlike the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , there is the n-well  68  does not have a surface that contacts a surface of the first n-type implant  69 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates an n-well region  78  being formed such that its bottom extends to the lower-most portion of a first n-type implant  79  and the lower portion of n-well region  78  is in contact with the outer edge of n-type implant  79 . This forms a continuous n-type region around the dark correction pixel cells  720 ′ with an n-well  78  that has a surface that contacts a surface of the first n-type implant  79 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 9  illustrates an n-well region  88  that intersects with a first n-type implant  89  in an intersecting n-type region  80 . This forms a continuous n-type region around the side and below the dark correction pixel cells  820 ′. The doping concentration of intersecting n-type region  80  may be the sum of the doping concentrations of n-well region  88  and first n-type implant  89 .  
         [0040]     It is also possible to have spaced openings in the n-type region between the dark correction pixel cells and the bottom of the substrate. However, it should be noted that the dark correction pixel cells will be completely surrounded by a depletion region in spaces between n-type regions due to the power source V cc  drawing carriers out through adjacent regions.  
         [0041]     Because the dark correction pixels  420 ′,  520 ′,  620 ′,  720 ′,  820 ′ of  FIGS. 5-9 , respectively, are completely surrounded by depletion regions and/or n-wells and n-type implant regions, they are isolated from any ground source since they are no longer in communication with the rest of the p-type substrate  405 ,  505 ,  605 ,  705 ,  805 . Therefore, a p+ contact  4  is provided to connect the dark correction regions  413 ,  513 ,  613 ,  713 ,  813 , to ground.  
         [0042]     It should be noted that the configuration of the pixel cells  20 ,  20 ′,  420 ,  420 ′,  520 ,  520 ′,  620 ,  620 ′,  720 ,  720 ′,  820 ,  820 ′ is only exemplary and that various changes may be made as are known in the art and pixel cells of the image sensor may have other configurations. For example, although the invention is described in connection with four-transistor (4T) pixel cells  20 ,  20 ′, the invention may also be incorporated into other pixel circuits having different numbers of transistors. Without being limiting, such a circuit may include five-transistor (5T) pixel cells, six-transistor (6T) pixel cells, and seven-transistor (7T) or more pixel cells. The 5T, 6T, and 7T pixel cells would differ from the 4T pixel cell by the addition of one, two, or three transistors, respectively, such as one or more of a shutter transistor, a conversion gain transistor, and an anti-blooming transistor. The circuit may also include three-transistor (3T) pixel cells.  
         [0043]     Also, while the above embodiments are described in connection with p-n-p-type photodiodes as photosensors, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. The invention also has applicability to imagers employing other types of photo-conversion devices. In addition, while the above embodiments are described and illustrated has having p-type substrates and n-type implants, the invention is not limited to p-type substrates. The invention is applicable to n-type substrates having p-type implants as well.  
         [0044]      FIG. 10  illustrates a block diagram for a CMOS imager  400 . The imager  400  includes a pixel array  411 , having an active array region  412  and dark correction region  413 . The pixels of each row in array  411  are all turned on at the same time by a row select line and the pixels of each column are selectively output by a column select line. A plurality of row and column lines are provided for the entire array  411 .  
         [0045]     The row lines are selectively activated by the row driver  32  in response to row address decoder  30  and the column select lines are selectively activated by the column driver  36  in response to column address decoder  34 . Thus, a row and column address is provided for each pixel. The CMOS imager  400  is operated by the control circuit  40 , which controls address decoders  30 ,  34  for selecting the appropriate row and column lines for pixel readout, and row and column driver circuitry  32 ,  36 , which apply driving voltage to the drive transistors of the selected row and column lines.  
         [0046]     Each column contains sampling capacitors and switches in a sample and hold (S/H) circuit  38  associated with the column driver  36  reads a pixel reset signal V rst  and a pixel image signal V sig  for each selected pixel. A differential signal (V rst −V sig ) is produced by differential amplifier  42  for each pixel. The signal is digitized by analog-to-digital converter  45  (ADC). The analog-to-digital converter  45  supplies the digitized pixel signals to an image processor  50 , which forms a digital image output.  
         [0047]      FIG. 11  illustrates a processor-based system  1000  including an image sensor  400  of  FIG. 4  having shielded dark correction pixel cells according to an embodiment of the invention. The processor-based system  1000  is exemplary of a system having digital circuits that could include image sensor devices. Without being limiting, such a system could include a computer system, camera system, scanner, machine vision, vehicle navigation, video phone, surveillance system, auto focus system, star tracker system, motion detection system, image stabilization system, and other system employing an imager.  
         [0048]     The processor-based system  1000 , for example a camera system, generally comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  1060 , such as a microprocessor, that communicates with an input/output (I/O) device  1061  over a bus  1063 . Image sensor  400  also communicates with the CPU  1060  over bus  1063 . The processor-based system  1000  also includes random access memory (RAM)  1062 , and can include removable memory  1064 , such as flash memory, which also communicate with CPU  1060  over the bus  1063 . Image sensor  400  may be combined with a processor, such as a CPU, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, with or without memory storage on a single integrated circuit or on a different chip than the processor.  
         [0049]     It is again noted that the above description and drawings are exemplary and illustrate preferred embodiments that achieve the objects, features and advantages of the present invention. It is not intended that the present invention be limited to the illustrated embodiments. Any modification of the present invention which comes within the spirit and scope of the following claims should be considered part of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7