Method of inspecting image sensors
    1.
    发明授权
    Method of inspecting image sensors 失效
    检查图像传感器的方法

    公开(公告)号:US5426060A

    公开(公告)日:1995-06-20

    申请号:US939090

    申请日:1992-09-02

    IPC分类号: H01L27/146 H04N1/03 H01L21/66

    摘要: A method of inspecting and a method of manufacturing image sensors formed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer. A semiconductor wafer is provided having image sensors formed on its surface. Grooves are cut at boundaries between image sensors to be inspected, so that each groove has a depth that is smaller than the thickness of the semiconductor wafer. The grooves are cut in the boundaries between the image sensors so that photoN sensing carriers generated in the boundary regions, that are not generated by the image sensor being inspected, do not affect the inspection of the image sensor. The characteristics of the image sensors are inspected before cutting through the semiconductor wafer to form individual image sensors. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, the electrical characteristics of the image sensors can be accurately ascertained either before or after separation from the semiconductor wafer.

    摘要翻译: 一种检查方法和形成在半导体晶片的表面上的图像传感器的制造方法。 提供了在其表面上形成有图像传感器的半导体晶片。 在要检查的图像传感器之间的边界处切割凹槽,使得每个凹槽的深度小于半导体晶片的厚度。 在图像传感器之间的边界处切割凹槽,使得在边界区域中产生的不被图像传感器产生的光感测载流子不影响图像传感器的检查。 在切割半导体晶片之前检查图像传感器的特性以形成单独的图像传感器。 因此,根据本发明,可以在与半导体晶片分离之前或之后准确地确定图像传感器的电特性。

    Image sensor with non-light-transmissive layer having photosensing
windows
    2.
    发明授权
    Image sensor with non-light-transmissive layer having photosensing windows 失效
    具有光敏窗口的非透光层的图像传感器

    公开(公告)号:US5329149A

    公开(公告)日:1994-07-12

    申请号:US775824

    申请日:1991-10-11

    摘要: An improved image sensor comprises a plurality of photo-sensing elements each comprising an impurity diffusion layer formed in a surface of a semiconductor substrate and arrayed linearly. The photo-sensing elements are of an opposite conductivity type than that of the semiconductor substrate. A transparent insulating film is formed on the photo-sensing elements and the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A non-light transmitting shading film is formed over the transparent insulating film and has photo-sensing windows which overlay a part of each of the photo-sensing elements. The shape and area of each of the photo-sensing elements is equal. The area of each of the photo-sensing windows is equal, but the shape of the first and last photosensing windows is different from that of the remaining photosensing windows. By this arrangement, the amount of photoexcited carriers generated is uniform at all photo-sensing regions, since the area of all photo-sensing windows is equal. Also, since the area and shape of all photo-sensing elements is the same, the amount of photo-excited carriers stored by all the photo-sensing elements is equal, and thus an output current read out from the elements is uniform.

    摘要翻译: 改进的图像传感器包括多个光敏元件,每个光敏元件包括形成在半导体衬底的表面中的线性排列的杂质扩散层。 光敏元件与半导体衬底的导电类型相反。 在感光元件和半导体衬底的表面上形成透明绝缘膜。 在透明绝缘膜之上形成非透光遮光膜,并且具有覆盖每个光敏元件的一部分的光敏窗口。 每个感光元件的形状和面积相等。 每个感光窗口的面积相等,但是第一个和最后一个光敏窗口的形状与剩余的光敏窗口的形状不同。 通过这种布置,由于所有感光窗口的面积相等,所以在所有感光区域产生的光激发载流子的量是均匀的。 此外,由于所有感光元件的面积和形状相同,因此所有感光元件所存储的光激发载体的量相等,因此从元件读出的输出电流是均匀的。

    Image reading apparatus for converting optical image information into an
electrical image signal
    5.
    发明授权
    Image reading apparatus for converting optical image information into an electrical image signal 失效
    用于将光学图像信息转换成电子图像信号的图像读取装置

    公开(公告)号:US5198654A

    公开(公告)日:1993-03-30

    申请号:US666864

    申请日:1991-03-08

    IPC分类号: H04N1/028

    CPC分类号: H04N3/1581 H04N3/1512

    摘要: The image reading apparatus is of the multi-chip line sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements connected through corresponding switching elements commonly to every one another. Each group of the commonly connected photoelectric conversion elements outputs on a common line an image signal which is then fed to a sample hold circuit and is thereafter outputted from a single output terminal. By such construction, the image signal from the photoelectric conversion elements is sequentially outputted externally from the single output terminal in the form of output waveshape as held in the sample hold circuit in such manner as to prolong output duration of each bit image signal to thereby enable fast operation of the line sensor.

    Solid state imaging device
    6.
    发明授权
    Solid state imaging device 失效
    固态成像装置

    公开(公告)号:US5146074A

    公开(公告)日:1992-09-08

    申请号:US741997

    申请日:1991-08-08

    CPC分类号: H04N3/1518 H04N3/1512

    摘要: The solid state imaging device having an array of bit units formed in a semiconductor substrate. Each bit unit is comprised of a phototransistor having a collector formed of the semiconductor substrate an emitter and a base, a switching transistor of the MOS type having a drain connected to the emitter of the phototransistor, an initializing transistor of the MOS type having a drain connected to the base of the phototransistor, a source receptive of a first reference voltage, and a gate connected to the emitter of the phototransistor, and a resetting transistor of the MOS type having a drain connected to the emitter of the phototransistor, a source receptive of a second reference voltage, and a gate receptive of a reset signal. The resetting transistor operates in the reset signal to enable the initializing transistor to initialize the phototransistor. The switching transistor drives the initialized phototransistor to effect reading of image.

    Image sensing apparatus
    7.
    发明授权
    Image sensing apparatus 失效
    图像感应装置

    公开(公告)号:US5109440A

    公开(公告)日:1992-04-28

    申请号:US358153

    申请日:1989-05-26

    CPC分类号: H04N1/193 H04N3/1581

    摘要: A plurality of opto-electro conversion elements are arranged integrally in a row to constitute a line image sensor to produce respective image bit signals. A plurality of switching elements are connected to the corresponding conversion elements and switchable between on and off states to read out the corresponding bit image signals. A scanning circuit scans sequentially the switching elements to successively turn on them to thereby effect the sequential reading of bit image signals. An initiating circuit is connected to the scanning circuit for generating an initiating signal effective to initiate the scanning circuit. An ending circuit is also connected to the scanning circuit and operates after the switching element of last stage is turned off for generating an ending signal indicative of the ending of scanning operation for one line. A control circuit receives the initiating and ending signals and produces a control signal. A gate circuit is commonly connected to the switching elements and made open according to the control signal to output the series of image bit signals.

    Linear image sensor
    8.
    发明授权
    Linear image sensor 失效
    线性图像传感器

    公开(公告)号:US4992653A

    公开(公告)日:1991-02-12

    申请号:US510158

    申请日:1990-04-16

    IPC分类号: H04N1/028

    CPC分类号: H04N3/1575

    摘要: The image sensor of the linear type includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, switching elements each having an input terminal connected to each photoelectric conversion element and an output terminal for reading out a detection signal produced from the corresponding photoelectric conversion element, and a scanning circuit for sequentially driving the switching elements. A first common line is connected to output terminals of odd-numbered switching elements. A second common line is connected to output terminals of even-numbered switching elements. A first reading gate has an output terminal and an input terminal connected to the first common line. A first reset gate has an output terminal and an input terminal connected to the first common line. A second reading gate has an output terminal and an input terminal connected to the second common line. A second reset gate has an output terminal and an input terminal connected to the second common line. A third common connecting line is connected between the output terminals of first and second reading gates and a signal output terminal for outputting the detection signals. A reset power source terminal is connected to the output terminals of the first and second reset gates. A control circuit operates with the sequential driving of the switching elements for controlling the first and second reading gates and the first and second reset gates so as to output the detection signals while sequentially resetting the photoelectric conversion elements.