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Samsung patents image sensor with vertical gate in pixel center

Samsung describes an image sensor design where a vertical gate electrode is placed in the middle of the pixel area. Below this gate is a specific region for holding electrical charge, surrounded by other doped areas to control how light is converted into a signal.

Why it mattersThis internal structural change aims to improve how the sensor captures light, which could lead to better photo quality in future cameras.

In the filing’s own words

An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate including a pixel region; a vertical gate electrode disposed in the semiconductor substrate at a center of the pixel region; a charge pocket region provided under the vertical gate electrode in the semiconductor substrate, and doped with a first impurity having a first conductivity type; a first impurity region which is spaced apart from the charge pocket region in a vertical direction, doped with a second impurity having a second conductivity type, and surrounded by the vertical gate electrode; and a second impurity region which is provided around the vertical gate electrode and doped with the second impurity

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An image sensor comprising: a semiconductor substrate comprising a pixel region; a vertical gate electrode disposed in the semiconductor substrate at a center of the pixel region; a charge pocket region which is provided under the vertical gate electrode in the semiconductor substrate and doped with a first impurity having a first conductivity type; a first impurity region which is spaced apart from the charge pocket region in a vertical direction, doped with a second impurity having a second conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate, and disposed at one side of the vertical gate electrode; and a second impurity region which is doped with the second impurity in the semiconductor substrate and disposed at the other side of the vertical gate electrode.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
IMAGE SENSOR INCLUDING VERTICAL GATE ELECTRODE AT CENTER OF PIXEL REGION AND CHARGE POCKET REGION UNDER VERTICAL GATE ELECTRODE
Publication number
US20260282570A1
Application number
19676447
Filed
May 13, 2026
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
12

Classified under

H10F 39/802 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/18 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/8037 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/8063 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/807 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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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.