CMOS sensor

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention generally relates to a CMOS image device, and more particularly to an image sensor device with photo-diode on CMOS transistors.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Semiconductor image sensors are categorized into two kinds: CMOS sensor and charged-coupled device (CCD). Traditionally, CCD-based image devices are relatively expensive and have high power dissipation levels; thus, there is much interest in building single chip image device using standard CMOS process, which would promote integration and low power consumption.

[0006] A general photocell, that can be used in an active pixel sensor array, consists of a photodiode acting as a light sensor, a reset MOS acting as resetting a storage node and the photodiode potential, a source follower MOS and a row select MOS.

[0007] FIG. 1A is a cross sectional view showing a structure of a CMOS image sensor according to the prior art. A general photocell, that can be used in an active pixel sensor array, consists of a photodiode acting as a light sensor, a reset MOS device acting as resetting a storage node and the photodiode potential, a source follower MOS device and a row select MOS device. An epitaxial layer 110 is on a semiconductor substrate 100. The P-well 210 is in the semiconductor substrate 100. A reset MOS device comprises a first source terminal 240, a first drain terminal 520 and a first gate substrate 300 in and on a P-well 210. The first drain terminal 520 acts as an area collecting incident light. A source follower MOS device is adjacent to a row select MOS device. The source follower MOS device comprises a second source 260 and a second gate structure 310 in and on the P-well 210. The row select MOS device comprises a third gate 320 and a third drain terminal 280 on and in the P-well 210. A drain/source region 270 comprises a drain terminal of the source follower MOS device and a source terminal of the row select MOS device.

[0008] A first isolation device 430 is between the first drain terminal 520 of the reset MOS device and the second source terminal 260 of the source follower MOS device. And a second isolation device 440 is between the third drain terminal 280 of the row select MOS device and outside device. A dielectric layer 410 covers all surfaces of the semiconductor substrate 100 and all MOS devices except the portions of the first drain terminal 520 and the second gate structure 310. The conductor 730 covers the portion surface of the semiconductor substrate 100 and electrically contacts the first drain terminal 520 and the second gate structure 310.

[0009] FIG. 1B is a top view showing a layout of a unit pixel of a CMOS image sensor according to the prior art. A first region 500 represents the reset MOS device. A second region 330 represents the source follower MOS device and a third region 700 is the row select MOS device. A fourth region 900 is the conductor connecting the source follower 330. A discharged voltage Vdd connects a fifth region 400. A dielectric region 410 covers all surfaces of the CMOS image sensor.

[0010] FIG. 1C depicts a generic realization of a photocell that can be used in an active pixel array in the prior art. Initially, a positive reset signal is applied to a gate of a reset MOS 500, which turns on as a result and resets the voltage across the photodiode to some preset value near the discharged voltage. The measurement of light energy is accomplished by turning off the reset MOS 500 and letting the voltage change across the photodiode discharge in response to the light energy failing on it. The actual signal due to the amount of illumination falling on the photodiode during the integration period is the difference between the voltage measured at the end of the integration period and the output voltage obtained after turning on the reset MOS 500 to reset the photodiode voltage to the preset value. After a predetermined integration time the voltage level across the photodiode is amplified by a source follower MOS 330 and sampled at an output node 800 of row select MOS 700.

[0011] Moreover, the prior photocell is formed by building the photodiode and three MOS devices on a horizontal level area, and all source and drain regions in the P-well results in large consumption of dimensions. Furthermore, the photodiode resetting potential in the prior photocell is not more than the discharged voltage and restricts the quantum efficiency of photodiode.

[0012] In accordance with the present invention, a CMOS image device comprised a photocell and two transistors.

[0013] It is further object of this invention that a structure of amorphous silicon is used as the area of a photocell for collecting incident light.

[0014] It is another object of this invention that a CMOS image sensor is arranged in a modified area that can both reduce the pixel size and maintain sensitivity of the image sensor.

[0015] In the present invention, a CMOS image device has a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity whereon comprises an epitaxial layer formed. A first MOS device acting as a source follower of an active pixel has a source terminal connected to supply voltage, a drain terminal, and a gate structure in and on the semiconductor substrate. A second MOS device acting as a row select of the active pixel has a source terminal, a drain terminal connected to an output device and a gate structure in and on the semiconductor substrate, and the source terminal is adjacent to the drain terminal of the first MOS device. A first dielectric layer such as a silicon nitride layer covers all the upper surfaces of the first MOS device, the second MOS device and the semiconductor substrate except the portion of the surface of the gate structure of the first MOS device. A polysilicon layer is on the first dielectric layer and electrically contacts the gate structure of the first MOS device. An amorphous silicon layer acting as a photo-diode area for collecting incident light is on the polysilicon layer. Near the surface of the polysilicon layer, the amorphous silicon layer has the dopants of a second conductivity opposite to the first conductivity, while has dopants of the first conductivity near the upper surface thereof. Furthermore, an electric node is on the amorphous silicon layer. A second dielectric layer such as an oxide layer covers the amorphous silicon layer and the electric node. A via plug structure is in a via hole through the second dielectric layer and the via plug structure electrically connects the electric node and ground or bias voltage outside. A contact plug structure is in a contact window through the second dielectric layer, the amorphous silicon layer, the polysilicon layer and the first dielectric layer. The contact plug structure connects electrically the gate structure of the second MOS device. Besides, the CMOS image device further comprises a first well and a second well of the second conductivity in the semiconductor substrate, and the all MOS devices between the first well and the second well. A first diffusion region is both in the first well and under the surface of the semiconductor substrate and contacts electrically the polysilicon layer. A second diffusion region is both in the second well and under the surface of the semiconductor substrate and contacts electrically the polysilicon layer. Then a first isolation device is between the first diffusion region and the first source terminal. A second isolation device is between the diffusion region and the second drain terminal.

[0016] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1A is a cross sectional view showing a structure of a CMOS image sensor according to the prior art;

[0018] FIG. 1B is a top view showing a layout of a unit pixel of a CMOS image sensor according to the prior art;

[0019] FIG. 1C depicts a generic realization of a photocell that can be used in an active pixel sensor array in the prior art;

[0020] FIGS. 2A-2I are the cross sectional views showing a structure of the CMOS image sensor in fabrication according to the invention; and

[0021] FIG. 3 is a top view showing a layout of a unit pixel of the CMOS image sensor according to the invention.

[0022] The semiconductor devices of the present invention are applicable to a broad range of semiconductor devices and can be fabricated from a variety of semiconductor materials. While the invention is described in terms of a single preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that many steps described below can be altered and that species and types of substrate and dopant as well as other materials substitutions can be freely made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0023] Furthermore, the invention allows ease of use and compatibility with bulk CMOS, and it has advantages over SOI in material quality. While the present invention is illustrated herein with CMOS, it is to be understood that the present invention is also applicable to high-performance logic, stand-alone SRAMs, and BiCMOS devices.

[0024] Furthermore, there is shown a representative portion of a semiconductor structure of the present invention in enlarged, cross-sections of two dimensional views at several stages of fabrication. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, as the thickness of the various layers are shown for clarify of illustration and should not be interpreted in a limiting sense. Accordingly, these regions will have dimensions, including length, width and depth, when fabricated in an actual device.

[0025] In the present invention, a CMOS image device has a P-type semiconductor substrate whereon comprises a P-epitaxial layer formed. A P-well and a first N-well and a second N-well are in the semiconductor substrate. The P-well is between the first N-well and the second N-well. A first NMOS device acting as a source follower of an active pixel has a source terminal connected to supply voltage, a drain terminal, and a gate structure in and on the semiconductor substrate. A second NMOS device acting as a row select of the active pixel has a source terminal, a drain terminal connected to an output device and a gate structure in and on the semiconductor substrate, and the source terminal is adjacent to the drain terminal of the first NMOS device. An N-type first diffusion region, which is connected to another supply voltage and has a heavier dopants than the first N-well does, is on the surface of the semiconductor substrate and in the first N-well. An N-type second diffusion region, which has a heavier dopants than the second N-well does, is on the surface of the semiconductor substrate and in the second N-well. A first isolation device contacts the N-type first diffusion region and the source terminal of the first NMOS device, and is on the upper surface between the P-well and the first N-well. A second isolation device contacts with the second diffusion region and the drain terminal of the second NMOS device, and is on the upper surface between the P-well and the second N-well. A layer of silicon nitride covers all upper surfaces of the first NMOS device, the second NMOS device and the semiconductor substrate except the portions of the surface of the gate structure of the first NMOS, the N-type first diffusion region and the N-type second diffusion region. Next, a polysilicon layer is on the layer of silicon nitride and electrically contacts the gate structure of the first NMOS device, the N-type first diffusion region and the N-type second diffusion region. An amorphous silicon layer acting as a photo-diode area for collecting incident light is on the polysilicon layer. Near the surface of the polysilicon layer, the amorphous silicon layer has the N-type dopants such as arsenic, and has P-type dopants such as boron fluoride near the upper surface thereof. Next, an electric node comprising polysilicon is on the amorphous silicon layer and an oxide layer covers the amorphous silicon layer and the electric node. A via plug structure is in a via hole through the oxide layer and the via plug structure electrically connects the electric node and ground or bias voltage outside. A contact plug structure is in a contact window through the oxide layer, the amorphous silicon layer, the polysilicon layer and the layer of silicon nitride. The contact plug structure connects electrically the gate structure of the second NMOS device.

[0026] The embodiment of the present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, a semiconductor substrate 10 is provided having a heavily P type dopant. A P-type epitaxial layer 11 (“P-epi”), having less defects than conventional silicon, is deposited on the upper surface of the substrate 10 by any conventional vapor phase epitaxial techniques. A plurality of active regions patterned define an active pixel region by a first barrier 12, a first outside region by a second barrier 14 and a second outside region by a third barrier 13. Each said barrier comprises a pad oxide layer and an nitride layer. A P-type dopants 90 for forming a P-well (not shown) are ion-implanted in the portion of the P-epitaxial layer 11 patterned by a first photoresist mask 20, as shown in FIG. 2A.

[0028] The first photoresist mask 20 is then removed by any suitable methods. An N-type dopants 91 for forming a plurality of N-wells (not shown) are ion-implanted in the portion of the P-epitaxial layer 11 patterned by a second photoresist mask 30 as depicted in FIG. 2B.

[0029] Next, after the second photoresist mask 30 is removed by any suitable methods, the wafer is placed into furnace and the implanted ions will drive in the P-epitaxial layer 12 by high temperature diffusion. A P-well 21, a first N-well 22 and a second N-well 23 are formed in the P-epitaxial layer and profiled by this drive-in method mentioned above. The P-well 21 is between the first N-well 22 and the second N-well 22. Then, a first isolation device 43 and a second isolation device 44 are formed on the upper surface of the P-epitaxial layer 11 by any conventional thermal oxidation such as local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS). The amounts of isolation device depend on the layout rule and line width. The first isolation device 43 is on the upper surface between the P-well 21 and the first N-well 22. The second isolation device 44 is on the upper surface between the P-well 21 and the second N-well 23. All the barriers are thereafter removed by any conventional method such as cleaning by hot phosphoric acid solution, as shown in FIG. 2C.

[0030] A gate oxide layer is firstly formed on the upper surface of the P-epitaxial layer 11 by any conventional thermal oxidation, and thereafter a polysilicon layer is deposited on the gate oxide layer by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD). Then a first gate structure 31 and a second gate structure 32 are patterned and formed on the upper surface of the P-well 21. Each gate structure comprises a gate oxide layer and a polysilicon layer as depicted in FIG. 2D.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2E, an N-type dopants are ion-implanted in the P-well 21, the first N-well 22 and the second N-well 23 by any suitable methods.

[0032] An N-type first diffusion 24, which has a heavier dosage than the first N-well 22 has, is formed on the surface of the P-epitaxial layer 11 and in the first N-well 22. Besides, the N-type first diffusion 24 is connected to supply voltage Vdd1 (not shown). An N-type second diffusion 25, which also has a heavier dosage than the second N-well 23 has, is formed on the surface of the P-epitaxial layer 11 and in the second N-well 23.

[0033] A first source terminal 26, which is connected to another supply voltage Vdd2 (not shown), is formed in the P-well 21 and between the first isolation device 43 and the first gate structure 31. A drain/source region 27, which comprises a first drain terminal adjacent to a second source terminal, is formed in the P-well 21 and between the first gate structure 31 and the second gate structure 32. A second drain terminal 28, which is connected to an output device, is formed in the P-well 21 and between the second gate structure 32 and the second isolation device 44. The first source terminal 26, the drain/source region 27 and the second drain terminal 28 further have a plurality of lightly doped drain regions adjacent thereto.

[0034] A first NMOS device, wherein has the first source terminal 26 and the first gate structure 31 and the drain terminal (the portion of the drain/source region 27), acts as a source follower of an active pixel. A second NMOS device, which has the second source terminal (the portion of the drain/source region 27) and the second gate structure 32 and the second drain terminal 28, acts as a row select of the active pixel.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2F, a silicon nitride layer 41 is formed by any suitable methods such as chemical vapor deposition followed by patterning and etching method. The silicon nitride layer 41 covers all the upper surfaces of the first NMOS device, the second NMOS device and the P-epitaxial layer 11 except the portions of the surface of the first gate structure 31, the N-type first diffusion region 24 and the N-type second diffusion region 25. A polysilicon layer 51 is formed by any suitable methods such as chemical vapor deposition. The polysilicon layer 51 is formed on the silicon nitride layer 41 and electrically contacts the N-type first diffusion region 24, the first gate structure 31 and the N-type second diffusion region 25.

[0036] As a key step of this embodiment depicted in FIG. 2G, an amorphous silicon layer 52 acting as a photo-diode area for collecting incident light, is formed by also any suitable methods and on the polysilicon layer 51. An N-type dopants 92 such as Arsenic are ion-implanted in the amorphous silicon layer 52 near the surface of the polysilicon layer 51. And a P-type dopants such as boron fluoride are ion-implanted in the amorphous silicon layer 52 near the upper surface thereof.

[0037] Also as a key step of this embodiment shown in FIG. 2H, a polysilicon layer first is deposited on the amorphous silicon layer 52 by any suitable methods. A electric node 53 comprising the polysilicon layer is formed by any patterning and etching method on the polysilicon layer. Then an oxide layer 42 is deposited on the amorphous silicon layer 52 and the electric node 53. After patterning and etching methods, the electric node 53 and the second gate structure 32 are exposed to outside.

[0038] As depicted in FIG. 2I, a via plug structure 72 is formed in a via hole through the oxide layer 42 and electrically connects the electric node 53. Furthermore, the via plug structure 72 connects outside a bias voltage or ground. A contact plug structure 71 is formed in a contact window through the oxide layer 42, the amorphous layer 52, the polysilicon layer 51 and the silicon nitride layer 41. The contact plug structure 71 electrically connects the second gate structure 32.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a top view showing a layout of a unit pixel of a CMOS image sensor according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a dash-line region 5 represents the polysilicon layer and the amorphous silicon layer. A first supply voltage Vdd1 connects a first region 2 and a second region 6. A second supply voltage Vdd2 connects a third region 4. A fourth region 3 represents a source follow and a fifth region 4 represents a row select. A sixth region 9 represents a metal output.

[0040] When the preferred embodiment is at operation, the first supply voltage Vdd1 is on and the potential of the photo-diode is promoted to a discharged voltage Vdd. Next, the first supply voltage Vdd1 is floating and the CMOS image sensor is exposed to light. The voltage of the photo-diode is reduced to the value of subtracted delta voltage from Vdd because of the photoelectric effect. Then, the second supply voltage Vdd2 is applied to the row select so that the potential of the row select is high, and the potential value of subtracted delta voltage from Vdd is amplified by the source follower and sampled out. The response steps of the image sensor of the invention are then completed.

[0041] The CMOS image sensor of the present invention comprises a photo-diode device and only two transistors built in a vertical structure. The amorphous silicon layer 52, acting as an area collecting incident light, can reduce the size of a CMOS image sensor. Furthermore, when an negative bias voltage is applied to the via plug structure 72, the reverse bias voltage of the photo-diode is much than the voltage Vdd that represents the voltage discharged across the photo-diode during the integration period. Such an operation can add the width of the depletion layer and further add the quantum efficiency. Besides, the another supply voltage Vddl electrically connecting the first diffusion region 24 that in the region of the first N-well 22 can prevent a parasitic diode from breaking down.

[0042] While the present invention has been described herein in terms of preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations will occur to a person the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims encompass those modifications and variations.