Sony patents camera sensor design that saves space for transistors
Sony has filed a patent for a light detection device, commonly known as a camera sensor, that arranges electronic components to save space. The design allows a control wire, called a gate electrode, to stretch across the gap between two neighboring light-sensing pixels. This layout helps keep the pixels small while still leaving enough room for the necessary circuitry.
In the filing’s own words
A light detection device capable of securing an arrangement space of pixel transistors, even when pixels are miniaturized, is provided. The light detection device includes a semiconductor layer, an inter-pixel separation part, and a plurality of pixel transistors. The semiconductor layer has a first surface part and a second surface part positioned on sides opposite to each other in a thickness direction, and plurality of pixels generating electric charge through photoelectric conversion based on light incident in the first surface part are formed in a matrix pattern in a plan view. The inter-pixel separation part has an upper surface port positioned on the second surface part side of the semiconductor layer, extends in the thickness direction of the semiconductor layer, and separates the pixels adjacent to each other. At least one of the plurality of pixel transistors has a gate electrode crossing two or more pixels adjacent to each other across an upper surface part of the inter-pixel separation part in a plan view.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A light detection device comprising: a semiconductor layer that has a first surface part and a second surface part positioned on sides opposite to each other in a thickness direction and in which a plurality of pixels generating electric charge through photoelectric conversion based on light incident in the first surface part are formed in a matrix pattern in a plan view; an inter-pixel separation part that extends in the thickness direction of the semiconductor layer and separates the pixels adjacent to each other; and a plurality of pixel transistors that are formed on the second surface part of the semiconductor layer and configure a reading circuit that outputs a pixel signal based on the electric charge, wherein the inter-pixel separation part has an upper surface part positioned on the second surface part side of the semiconductor layer, and wherein at least one of the plurality of pixel transistors has a gate electrode crossing two or more adjacent pixels across an upper surface part of the inter-pixel separation part in a plan view.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- LIGHT DETECTION DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
- Publication number
- US20260282572A1
- Application number
- 19167433
- Filed
- Jan 31, 2024
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Inventors
- 8
- Claims
- 58
Classified under
H10F 39/80373 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/778 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/014 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/18 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/807 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/811 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.