Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Wei Chuang Wu

Jen-Cheng Liu

Dun-Nian Yaung

Ching-Chun Wang

Feng-Chi Hung

Jhy-Jyi Sze

Yen-Ting Chiang

Shyh-Fann Ting

Chun-Yuan Chen

Yu-Jen Wang

Chen-Jong Wang

Hsiao-Hui Tseng

Yen-Yu Chen

Shen-Hui Hong

Chun-Wei Chang

Yimin Huang

Feng-Jia Shiu

Yen-Chang Chu

Seiji Takahashi

Wei-Cheng Hsu

Jiech-Fun Lu

Keng-Yu Chou

Sheng-Chan Li

Shih-Pei Chou

Tsun-Kai Tsao

Chun-Ming Su

Ming-Hsien Yang

Chih-Kuan Yu

Ming-Tsong Wang

Shih Kuang Yang

Chia Ching Liao

Kuan-Tsun Chen

Chung-Te Lin

Wei-Cheng Wu

Ru-Shang Hsiao

Hsing-Chih Lin

Wen-Tuo Huang

Hung-Ling Shih

Chung-Jen Huang

Harry-Hak-Lay Chuang

Yin-Kai Liao

Chia-Sheng Lin

Nai-Wen Cheng

Ping-Tzu Chen

Shun-Kuan Lin

Chien Lin Liu

Yung Chun Tu

A method of fabricating self-aligned grids in a BSI image sensor is provided. The method includes depositing a first dielectric layer over a back surface of a substrate that has a plurality of photodiodes formed therein, forming a grid of trenches, and filling in the trenches with dielectric material to create a trench isolation grid. Here, a trench passes through the first dielectric layer and extends into the substrate. The method further includes etching back dielectric material in the trenches to a level that is below an upper surface of the first dielectric layer to form recesses overlaying the trench isolation grid, and filling in the recesses with metallic material to create a metallic grid that is aligned with the trench isolation grid.

Self aligned grids in BSI image sensor

Some embodiments are directed towards an image sensor device. A photodetector is disposed in a semiconductor substrate, and a transfer transistor is disposed over photodetector. The transfer transistor includes a transfer gate having a lateral portion extending over a frontside of the semiconductor substrate and a vertical portion extending to a first depth below the frontside of the semiconductor substrate. A gate dielectric separates the lateral portion and the vertical portion from the semiconductor substrate. A backside trench isolation structure extends from a backside of the semiconductor substrate to a second depth below the frontside of the semiconductor substrate. The backside trench isolation structure laterally surrounds the photodetector, and the second depth is less than the first depth such that a lowermost portion of the vertical portion of the transfer transistor has a vertical overlap with an uppermost portion of the backside trench isolation structure.

Image sensor with overlap of backside trench isolation structure and vertical transfer gate

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a shared frontside pad/bridge layout for a three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC), as well as the 3D IC and a method for forming the 3D IC. A second IC die underlies the first IC die, and a third IC die underlies the second IC die. A first-die backside pad, a second-die backside pad, and a third die backside pad are in a row extending in a dimension and overlie the first, second, and third IC dies. Further, the first-die, second-die, and third-die backside pads are electrically coupled respectively to individual semiconductor devices of the first, second, and third IC dies. The second and third IC dies include individual pad/bridge structures at top metal (TM) layers of corresponding interconnect structures. The pad/bridge structures share the shared frontside pad/bridge layout and provide lateral routing in the dimension for the aforementioned electrical coupling.

Shared pad/bridge layout for a 3D IC

A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, an interconnection structure, a color filter, and a first isolation structure. The semiconductor substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The interconnection structure is disposed over the first surface, and the color filter is disposed over the second surface. The first isolation structure includes a bottom portion, an upper portion and a diffusion barrier layer surrounding a sidewall of the upper portion. A top surface of the upper portion of the first isolation structure extends into and is in contact with a dielectric layer of the interconnection structure.

Semiconductor structure

Various embodiments of the present application are directed towards image sensors including composite backside illuminated (CBSI) structures to enhance performance. In some embodiments, a first trench isolation structure extends into a backside of a substrate to a first depth and comprises a pair of first trench isolation segments. A photodetector is in the substrate, between and bordering the first trench isolation segments. A second trench isolation structure is between the first trench isolation segments and extends into the backside of the substrate to a second depth less than the first depth. The second trench isolation structure comprises a pair of second trench isolation segments. An absorption enhancement structure overlies the photodetector, between the second trench isolation segments, and is recessed into the backside of the semiconductor substrate. The absorption enhancement structure and the second trench isolation structure collectively define a CBSI structure.

Composite BSI structure and method of manufacturing the same

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to method for forming an image sensor integrated chip. The method includes forming a first photodetector region in a substrate and forming a second photodetector region in the substrate. A floating diffusion node is formed in the substrate between the first photodetector region and the second photodetector region. A pick-up well contact region is formed in the substrate. A first line intersects the floating diffusion node and the pick-up well contact region. One or more transistor gates are formed on the substrate. A second line that is perpendicular to the first line intersects the pick-up well contact region and the one or more transistor gates.

Semiconductor imaging device having improved dark current performance

The present disclosure relates to a CMOS image sensor having a multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the image sensor comprises a boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure disposed at boundary regions of a pixel region surrounding a photodiode. The BDTI structure has a ring shape from a top view and two columns surrounding the photodiode with the first depth from a cross-sectional view. A multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure is disposed at inner regions of the pixel region overlying the photodiode, the MDTI structure extending from the back-side of the substrate to a second depth within the substrate smaller than the first depth. The MDTI structure has three columns with the second depth between the two columns of the BDTI structure from the cross-sectional view. The MDTI structure is a continuous integral unit having a ring shape.

Multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure for CMOS image sensor

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a device having a semiconductor substrate including a frontside and a backside. On the frontside of the semiconductor substrate are a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. A gate electrode is arranged on the frontside of the semiconductor substrate and includes a horizontal portion, a first vertical portion, and a second vertical portion. The horizontal portion is arranged over the frontside of the semiconductor substrate and between the first and second source/drain regions. The first vertical portion extends from the frontside towards the backside of the semiconductor substrate and contacts the horizontal portion of the gate electrode structure. The second vertical portion extends from the frontside towards the backside of the semiconductor substrate, contacts the horizontal portion of the gate electrode structure, and is separated from the first vertical portion by a channel region of the substrate.

Vertical gate field effect transistor

The present disclosure relates an integrated chip. The integrated chip includes a semiconductor device arranged along a first side of a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate has one or more sidewalls extending from the first side of the semiconductor substrate to an opposing second side of the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric liner lines the one or more sidewalls of the semiconductor substrate. A through-substrate-via (TSV) is arranged between the one or more sidewalls and is separated from the semiconductor substrate by the dielectric liner. The TSV has a first width at a first distance from the second side and a second width at a second distance from the second side. The first width is smaller than the second width and the first distance is smaller than the second distance.

Through-substrate-via with reentrant profile

Method of forming self aligned grids in BSI image sensor

In some embodiments, a pixel sensor is provided. The pixel sensor includes a first photodetector arranged in a semiconductor substrate. A second photodetector is arranged in the semiconductor substrate, where a first substantially straight line axis intersects a center point of the first photodetector and a center point of the second photodetector. A floating diffusion node is arranged in the semiconductor substrate at a point that is a substantially equal distance from the first photodetector and the second photodetector. A pick-up well contact region is arranged in the semiconductor substrate, where a second substantially straight line axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first substantially straight line axis intersects a center point of the floating diffusion node and a center point of the pick-up well contact region.

The present disclosure relates to a CMOS image sensor having a multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure, and an associated method of formation. In some embodiments, the image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel regions disposed within a substrate and respectively comprising a photodiode configured to receive radiation that enters the substrate from a back-side. A boundary deep trench isolation (BDTI) structure is disposed at boundary regions of the pixel regions surrounding the photodiode. The BDTI structure extends from the back-side of the substrate to a first depth within the substrate. A multiple deep trench isolation (MDTI) structure is disposed at inner regions of the pixel regions overlying the photodiode. The MDTI structure extends from the back-side of the substrate to a second depth within the substrate smaller than the first depth. The MDTI structure is a continuous integral unit having a ring shape.

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Tainan, Taiwan

Wei Chuang Wu