Samsung patents image sensor with new conductive layer for pixel connections
Samsung has filed a patent for an image sensor design that places a specific conductive material layer on top of the pixel storage areas. This layer includes source and drain regions that connect different pixel areas, with a gate electrode positioned between them to control the flow of electrical signals.
In the filing’s own words
An image sensor includes a substrate including pixel regions each including a photodiode; a floating diffusion region disposed in each of the pixel regions on one surface of the substrate and configured to store electric charge transferred from the photodiode; circuit elements configured to transmit a photoelectric signal according to the electric charge of the floating diffusion region; and a first interlayer insulating layer covering the floating diffusion region on the one surface of the substrate, wherein at least one of the circuit elements includes a conductive material layer disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer and including a source region and a drain region; and a gate electrode disposed between the source region and the drain region on the conductive material layer, and wherein the source region is connected to one pixel region among the pixel regions, and the drain region is connected to another pixel region.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An image sensor, comprising: a substrate including pixel regions each including a photodiode; a floating diffusion region disposed in each of the pixel regions on one surface of the substrate and configured to store electric charge transferred from the photodiode; circuit elements configured to transmit a photoelectric signal according to the electric charge of the floating diffusion region; and a first interlayer insulating layer covering the floating diffusion region on the one surface of the substrate, wherein at least one of the circuit elements includes: a conductive material layer disposed on the first interlayer insulating layer and including a source region and a drain region; and a gate electrode disposed between the source region and the drain region on the conductive material layer, and wherein the source region is connected to one pixel region among the pixel regions, and the drain region is connected to another pixel region among the pixel regions.
Facts
- Company
- Samsung (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.)
- Official title
- IMAGE SENSOR HAVING A CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL LAYER
- Publication number
- US20260293338A1
- Application number
- 19551304
- Filed
- Feb 26, 2026
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H10F 39/8037 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/014 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/182 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/807 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/809 Electricity & electronicsH10F 39/811 Electricity & electronicsMore from Samsung 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.