Methods for producing image sensors having multi-purpose architecture
AssigneeTruesense Imaging, Inc.
InventorsAntonio S. Ciccarelli, Eric J. Meisenzahl
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Abstract
A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes multiple vertical charge-coupled device (VCCD) shift registers and independently-controllable gate electrodes disposed over the VCCD shift registers and arranged into physically separate and distinct sections that are non-continuous across the plurality of VCCD shift registers. The CCD image sensor can be configured to operate in two or more operating modes, including a full resolution charge multiplication mode.
Claims6
A method for producing an image sensor comprising an array of pixels that includes vertical charge-coupled device (VCCD) shift registers, the method comprising:
- forming a first layer of gate electrodes over the VCCD shift registers;
- forming a physical gap in the first layer of gate electrodes such that first and second sections of gate electrodes in the first layer of gate electrodes are produced and are physically separated and electrically isolated from each other;
- forming a second layer of gate electrodes over the first and second sections of gate electrodes in the first layer;
- and
- forming another physical gap in the second layer of gate electrodes such that first and second sections of gate electrodes in the second layer of gate electrodes are produced and are physically separated and electrically isolated from each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.