The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 16, 2026

Filed:

Aug. 27, 2021
Applicant:

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited, Hsinchu, TW;

Inventors:

Yeh-Hsun Fang, Taipei City, TW;

Zhi-Wei Zhuang, Hsinchu, TW;

Li-Hsin Chu, New Taipei City, TW;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 7/4861 (2020.01); G01S 7/4865 (2020.01); G01S 17/08 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01S 7/4865 (2013.01); G01S 7/4861 (2013.01); G01S 17/08 (2013.01);
Abstract

An image sensor for a Time-of-Flight imaging system is disclosed that includes at least one primary sensor having a photodetector that includes a photovoltaic junction formed at least partially in a germanium-containing material that includes germanium at an atomic percentage greater than 50%, and at least one secondary sensor having a photodetector that includes a photovoltaic junction formed in a second material, such as a silicon-containing material, that includes germanium at an atomic percentage between 0% and 50%. The primary sensor may detect Time-of-Flight measurement signals and the secondary sensor may detect background light, such as sunlight, to correct for background light interference.


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