Sony patents camera sensor design with buried gates for better light control
Sony describes a photodetection device that uses a specific type of transistor to move electrical charge from a light sensor to a storage area. These transistors have their control gates buried inside the semiconductor material, which the filing says improves the device's ability to handle signal modulation.
In the filing’s own words
The present disclosure relates to a photodetection device capable of providing a photodetection device with improved modulation power. A photodetection device includes a photogate electrode provided above a photodiode and one or more transfer transistors that transfer charge obtained as a result of photoelectric conversion performed by the photodiode to a charge storage unit. The transfer transistors are vertical transistors each including a buried gate electrode portion in which a gate electrode is buried in a semiconductor substrate. The technology of the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a distance measuring module that measures a distance to a subject.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A photodetection device comprising: a photogate electrode provided above a photodiode; and one or more transfer transistors that transfer charge obtained as a result of photoelectric conversion performed by the photodiode to a charge storage unit, wherein the transfer transistors are vertical transistors each including a buried gate electrode portion in which a gate electrode is buried in a semiconductor substrate.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION)
- Official title
- PHOTODETECTION DEVICE
- Publication number
- US20260333903A1
- Application number
- 18880572
- Filed
- Jul 10, 2023
- Published
- Oct 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 1
- Claims
- 18
Classified under
H10F 39/8037 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/709 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.