Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
280 words
A solid-state image sensor comprising: a photoconductive film (15) for converting incident light rays to electrical charges; a semiconductor substrate (1) having storage sections (2) corresponding to pixels for storing charges and a transfer section (3) for transferring the charges from the storage sections in the form of output image signals; first electrodes (5) each having one end connected to the corresponding storage section (2) and insulated from the transfer section (3), said first electrodes (5) being arranged at predetermined intervals and extending above a semiconductor substrate (1); an insulating film (6, 8) formed on the first electrodes (7) and having a flat surface; second electrodes (11) formed on the flat surface of the first insulating film (6, 8), arranged at predetermined intervals and electrically connected to the first electrodes (5), said photoconductive film (15) being formed on these second electrodes (11); and a barrier layer formed on the photoconductive film (15), forming a barrier protecting the photoconductive film (15); a transparent third electrode (16) formed on the barrier layer; characterized by further comprising: fourth electrodes (9) formed on the first insulating film (6, 8), electrically connected to one another and electrically insulated from the second electrodes (12), each of fourth electrodes (9) having a peripheral region facing the adjacent second electrodes (12); and semiconductor layer (10) formed on the fourth electrodes (9) for preventing one of electrons and holes from passing through the semiconductor layer (10) from the fourth electrode (9) to the photoconductive film (15), allowing the one to pass through the semiconductor layer (10) from the photoconductive film (15) to the fourth electrode (9), said semiconductor layer (10) and said photoconductive film (15) forming a diode structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
280 words
A solid-state image sensor comprising: a photoconductive film (15) for converting incident light rays to electrical charges; a semiconductor substrate (1) having storage sections (2) corresponding to pixels for storing charges and a transfer section (3) for transferring the charges from the storage sections in the form of output image signals; first electrodes (5) each having one end connected to the corresponding storage section (2) and insulated from the transfer section (3), said first electrodes (5) being arranged at predetermined intervals and extending above a semiconductor substrate (1); an insulating film (6, 8) formed on the first electrodes (7) and having a flat surface; second electrodes (11) formed on the flat surface of the first insulating film (6, 8), arranged at predetermined intervals and electrically connected to the first electrodes (5), said photoconductive film (15) being formed on these second electrodes (11); and a barrier layer formed on the photoconductive film (15), forming a barrier protecting the photoconductive film (15); a transparent third electrode (16) formed on the barrier layer; characterized by further comprising: fourth electrodes (9) formed on the first insulating film (6, 8), electrically connected to one another and electrically insulated from the second electrodes (12), each of fourth electrodes (9) having a peripheral region facing the adjacent second electrodes (12); and semiconductor layer (10) formed on the fourth electrodes (9) for preventing one of electrons and holes from passing through the semiconductor layer (10) from the fourth electrode (9) to the photoconductive film (15), allowing the one to pass through the semiconductor layer (10) from the photoconductive film (15) to the fourth electrode (9), said semiconductor layer (10) and said photoconductive film (15) forming a diode structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A solid-state image sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that said photoconductive film (15) and said semiconductor layer (10) are made of the same semiconductor material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A solid-state image sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that said photoconductive film (15) and said semiconductor layer (10) have different conductivity types.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A solid-state image sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that said fourth electrodes (9) and said semiconductor layer (10) are partly embedded in said insulating film (8), and said semiconductor layer (10) has a portion directly connected to said photoconductive film (15).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
5 . A solid-state image sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that said insulating film (6, 8, 20) comprises first and second insulating layers (6, 8, 20) formed one upon the other, each of said second electrodes (11) is formed on the first insulating layer (6, 8) and has a peripheral region embedded in the second insulating layer (20), and said fourth electrode (9) and said semiconductor layers (10) are formed on the second insulating layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A solid-state image sensor according to claim 1, characterized by further comprising a voltage source (13) for applying a drive voltage to said fourth electrodes (9).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A solid-state image sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that said semiconductor layer (10) and said photoconductive film (15) are made of a hydrogenated amorphous silicon.