Semiconductor imaging device having ligth transmission layers formed relative to a guard ring structure in a predetermined manner

A method for manufacturing a solid-state imaging device comprising:

• forming a photodiode for each pixel in a pixel area in which plural pixels are integrated on a light receiving side of a semiconductor substrate;
• forming an insulator film over the semiconductor substrate to cover the photodiode;
• forming a recessed part with respect to each of the pixels in the insulator film above the photodiode;
• forming a first light transmission layer of a siloxane resin to fill the recessed part and formed as an optical waveguide in the pixel area;
• forming a second light transmission layer as an on-chip lens with respect to each of the pixels in the pixel area;
• forming a guard ring to surround an outer circumference of the pixel area to partition an inner area containing the pixel area and an outer dicing area;
• and
• dicing the device within the dicing area,
• wherein the first light transmission layer and the second light transmission layer are formed of different materials extending to the guard ring and in the dicing area such that a top surface height of the first light transmission layer is lower than a highest portion of the guard ring near the guard ring and in the dicing area and an interface between the first light transmission layer and the second light transmission layer is below a top of the guard ring, the guard ring extending at least partially into the second light transmission layer, and further wherein the first light transmission layer forming the optical waveguide covers sides of the guard ring at its base and the second light transmission layer is in direct contact with the guard ring at a top and upper sides of the guard ring and entirely covers a top surface thereof and the guard ring protrusion into the second light transmission layer provides a barrier which prevents separation of the dissimilar first and second light transmission materials from extending inward from the guard ring toward the pixel area.

A method for manufacturing a solid-state imaging device comprising:

• forming a photodiode for each pixel in a pixel area in which plural pixels are integrated on a light receiving side of a semiconductor substrate;
• forming an insulator film over the semiconductor substrate to cover the photodiode;
• forming a recessed part with respect to each of the pixels in the insulator film above the photodiode;
• forming a first light transmission layer of a siloxane resin to fill the recessed part and form an optical waveguide in the pixel area;
• forming a second light transmission layer as an on-chip lens for each of the pixels in the pixel area and wherein the first and second light transmission layers are formed of different materials;
• forming a guard ring to surround an outer circumference of the pixel area to partition an inner area containing the pixel area and an outer dicing area, the guard ring extending at least partially into the second light transmission layer;
• and
• dicing the device within the dicing area, wherein the step of forming the first light transmission layer includes the step of removing the first light transmission layer at least in a part of the dicing area, and, at the step of dicing, the device is diced in an area where the first light transmission layer has been removed, and further wherein the first light transmission layer forming the optical waveguide covers sides of the guard ring at its base and the second light transmission layer is in direct contact with the guard ring at a top and upper sides of the guard ring and entirely covers a top surface thereof and the guard ring protrusion into the second light transmission layer provides a barrier which prevents separation of the dissimilar first and second light transmission materials from extending inward from the guard ring toward the pixel area.

Electronic equipment comprising:

• a solid-state imaging device in which plural pixels are integrated on a light receiving surface side of a substrate;
• an optical system that guides incident light to an imaging part of the solid-state imaging device;
• and
• a signal processing circuit that processes an output signal of the solid-state imaging device,
• the solid-state imaging device including
• a photodiode formed at each pixel in a pixel area in which plural pixels are integrated on a light receiving surface of the substrate,
• an insulator film formed on the semiconductor substrate to cover the photodiode,
• a recessed part formed with respect to each of the pixels in the insulator film above the photodiode,
• a first light transmission layer of a siloxane resin formed to fill the recessed part and form an optical waveguide in the pixel area,
• a second light transmission layer formed as an on-chip lens for each of the pixels in the pixel area, and
• a guard ring formed to surround an outer circumference of the pixel area to partition an inner area containing the pixel area and an outer dicing area,
• wherein the first light transmission layer and the second light transmission layer are also formed of different materials extending to the guard ring and in the dicing area such that a top surface height of the first light transmission layer is lower than a highest part of the guard ring near the guard ring and in the dicing area and an interface between the first light transmission layer and the second light transmission layer is below a top of the guard ring, the guard ring extending at least partially into the second light transmission layer, and
• further wherein the first light transmission layer forming the optical waveguide covers sides of the guard ring at its base and the second light transmission layer is in direct contact with the guard ring at a top and upper sides of the guard ring and entirely covers a top surface thereof and the guard ring protrusion into the second light transmission layer provides a barrier which prevents separation of the dissimilar first and second light transmission materials from extending inward from the guard ring toward the pixel area.

A semiconductor device comprising:

• a semiconductor substrate having an activated area;
• a resin layer containing a siloxane resin formed over the semiconductor substrate;
• and
• a guard ring formed to surround an outer circumference of the activated area to partition an inner area containing the activated area and an outer dicing area,
• wherein the resin layer is also formed near the guard ring and in the dicing area such that a surface height of the resin layer is lower than a highest portion of the guard ring near the guard ring and in the dicing area, the guard ring extending at least partially into the resin layer and
• further wherein a light transmission layer is in direct contact with the guard ring at a top and upper sides of the guard ring and entirely covers a top surface thereof and the guard ring protrusion into the second light transmission layer provides a barrier which prevents separation of the light transmission later from extending inward from the guard ring toward the pixel area.