Pixel Sensor Blocking Layer Transmittance via Oxidation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing manufacturing processes for image sensors require frequent reconfiguration to accommodate different use cases, leading to inefficiencies, downtime, and resource wastage due to the need for modifying the blocking layer's transmittance, which affects the sensitivity to various wavelengths of light.

Innovation Solution

An electrode is used to control the oxidation of the blocking layer over a photodiode, allowing for voltage adjustments to modify the transmittance without changing the manufacturing process, thereby enabling the production of pixel sensors for different applications using a single process, conserving resources and reducing production time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manufacturing processes are reconfigured frequently to accommodate different use cases, then adaptability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to downtime and resource wastage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking layer's transmittance is made dynamically adjustable through electrochromic materials that change optical properties in response to applied voltage, allowing the same manufacturing process to produce sensors adapted to different wavelength sensitivities without physical reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the optical parameter (transmittance) of the blocking layer by controlling the oxidation state of electrochromic materials through voltage application, enabling a single manufacturing process to produce sensors with different spectral responses by adjusting electrical parameters rather than physical structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the blocking layer's transmittance is modified to affect sensitivity to various wavelengths, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to manufacturing reconfiguration

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidproduction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electrochromic materials are pre-integrated into the blocking layer during a single manufacturing process, allowing post-production adjustment of transmittance characteristics through voltage application rather than requiring time-consuming manufacturing reconfiguration for different use cases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manufacturing processes are reconfigured frequently, then adaptability is improved, but use of energy increases due to resource wastage

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A single manufacturing process is designed to produce blocking layers with electrochromic materials that can serve multiple functions and adapt to different wavelength sensitivities through electrical control, eliminating the need for separate production lines and reducing overall energy consumption associated with frequent reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for the production of pixel sensors with adjustable transmittance without reconfiguring manufacturing processes, saving power, processing resources, and time, while maintaining efficiency across various use cases.

Implementation Method 1

An electrode is used to control the oxidation of the blocking layer over a photodiode, allowing for voltage adjustments to modify the transmittance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS12170301B2Pixel sensors and methods of forming the same

Publication Date: 2024.12.17 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO LTD

AI summary

An electrode controls transmittance of a blocking layer over a photodiode of a pixel sensor (e.g., a photodiode of a small pixel detector) by changing oxidation of a metal material included in the blocking layer. By using the electrode to adjust transmittance of the blocking layer, pixel sensors for different uses and/or products may be produced using a single manufacturing process. As a result, power and processing resources are conserved that otherwise would have been expended in switching manufacturing processes. Additionally, production time is decreased (e.g., by eliminating downtime that would otherwise have been used to reconfigure fabrication machines.