Controlling of photo-generated charge carriers

A device, comprising:

• a substrate comprising a first main surface and a second main surface,
• the substrate further comprising:
• a photo-conversion region to convert incoming light into photo-generated charge carriers, and the device being configured to receive the incoming light at the second main surface,
• the photo-conversion region having:
• a doped layer that causes a net doping concentration to vary in a lateral direction such that the photo-conversion region has a non-uniform doping profile,
• the doped layer being a single layer comprising a first section, a second section horizontally adjacent to the first section, and a third section horizontally adjacent to the second section,
• the first section and the third section being doped to a higher net doping concentration than the second section,
• the non-uniform doping profile causing the photo-generated charge carriers to be directed in the lateral direction toward a predefined section of a control electrode structure with respect to the lateral direction,
• the non-uniform doping profile causing a first set of the photo-generated charge carriers to be directed from the doped layer in a first vertical direction towards the control electrode structure, and
• the non-uniform doping profile causing a second set of the photo-generated charge carriers to be directed from the doped layer in a second vertical direction away from the control electrode structure,
• a first region to accumulate the first set of the photo-generated charge carriers, and
• a second region to accumulate the second set of the photo-generated charge carriers,
• the second region having a net doping concentration that decreases from the doped layer in the second vertical direction away from the control electrode structure;
• and
• the control electrode structure, arranged at the first main surface, to generate a potential distribution in the substrate such that the photo-generated charge carriers are guided towards the first region or the second region based on signals applied to the control electrode structure.

A device, comprising:

• a substrate including:
• a photo-conversion region to convert incoming light into photo-generated charge carriers,
• the photo-conversion region having:
• a doped layer that causes a net doping concentration to vary in a lateral direction such that the photo-conversion region has a non-uniform doping profile,
• the doped layer being a single layer comprising a first section, a second section, and a third section,
• the first section and the third section being doped to a higher net doping concentration than the second section,
• the non-uniform doping profile causing the photo-generated charge carriers to be directed in the lateral direction toward a predefined section of a control electrode structure with respect to the lateral direction,
• the non-uniform doping profile causing a first set of the photo-generated charge carriers to be directed from the doped layer in a first vertical direction towards the control electrode structure, and
• the non-uniform doping profile causing a second set of the photo-generated charge carriers to be directed from the doped layer in a second vertical direction away from the control electrode structure,
• a first accumulation region to accumulate the first set of the photo-generated charge carriers, and
• a second accumulation region to accumulate the second set of the photo-generated charge carriers,
• the second accumulation region having a net doping concentration that decreases from the doped layer in the second
• vertical direction away from the control electrode structure;
• and
• the control electrode structure to generate a potential distribution, the potential distribution to be generated such that the photo-generated charge carriers are guided towards the first accumulation region or the second accumulation region based on a signal applied to the control electrode structure.