Sony patents camera sensor design that moves wiring away from pixel edges
Sony describes a photodetector design where the control wire for each pixel is placed away from the boundaries between neighboring pixels. This layout uses a transistor to move light-generated charge to a storage capacitor stacked directly above the light sensor.
In the filing’s own words
A photodetector according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of pixels and a separation part. The plurality of pixels includes a first pixel including a photoelectric converter provided in a semiconductor layer. The separation part is provided between the pixels adjacent to each other in the semiconductor layer. The first pixel includes a first transistor and a capacitor. The first transistor includes a first gate electrode, and is configured to transfer electric charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric converter. The first gate electrode is provided to reach the photoelectric converter in the semiconductor layer. The capacitor is provided to be stacked on the photoelectric converter, and is configured to accumulate the electric charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric converter. The first gate electrode is provided in a region away from the separation part in the semiconductor layer.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A photodetector comprising: a plurality of pixels including a first pixel including a photoelectric converter provided in a semiconductor layer; and a separation part provided between the pixels adjacent to each other in the semiconductor layer, wherein the first pixel includes a first transistor including a first gate electrode, and configured to transfer electric charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric converter, the first gate electrode being provided to reach the photoelectric converter in the semiconductor layer, and a capacitor provided to be stacked on the photoelectric converter, and configured to accumulate the electric charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric converter, and the first gate electrode is provided in a region away from the separation part in the semiconductor layer.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- PHOTODETECTOR AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS
- Publication number
- US20260262307A1
- Application number
- 19164737
- Filed
- Feb 16, 2024
- Published
- Sep 3, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H10F 39/8027 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/8057 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/807 Electricity & electronicsMore from Sony in Chips & hardware
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.