Patent US4962744A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4630090A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4630090A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Mercury cadmium telluride infrared focal plane devices having step insulator and process for making same

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1984-09-25
•
Granted: 1986-12-16
•
Expires: 2004-09-25
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The disclosure relates to a stepped insulator process for HgCdTe infared focal plane devices, the insulator being a combination of two insulator materials, ZnS and SiO, which differ in dielectric constant and chemical reactivity. The structure is patterned on HgCdTe which has an accumulated surface region. The resulting configuration significantly reduces pin hole short circuits introduced during via etching and improves the operating range (channel stopping action) for a given step height over that of ZnS alone.

Inventors

  • 👤 Arturo Simmons
  • 👤 Michael A. Kinch

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 20:45
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10D; H10D62/00; H10D62/80; H10D62/86

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 108 words
A charge transfer device which comprises, in combination: (a) a semiconductor substrate of predetermined conductivity type; (b) an oxide layer on said substrate having a predetermined amount of fixed charge opposite to said predetermined conductivity type; (c) a first insulating layer of relatively high dielectric constant disposed over a surface of said oxide layer; (d) a second insulating layer of relatively low dielectric constant selectively disposed over portions of said first insulating layer to expose regions of said first insulating layer therethrough; and (e) a first electrically conductive layer disposed over said second insulating layer and following the contour onto the exposed regions of said first insulating layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 108 words
A charge transfer device which comprises, in combination: (a) a semiconductor substrate of predetermined conductivity type; (b) an oxide layer on said substrate having a predetermined amount of fixed charge opposite to said predetermined conductivity type; (c) a first insulating layer of relatively high dielectric constant disposed over a surface of said oxide layer; (d) a second insulating layer of relatively low dielectric constant selectively disposed over portions of said first insulating layer to expose regions of said first insulating layer therethrough; and (e) a first electrically conductive layer disposed over said second insulating layer and following the contour onto the exposed regions of said first insulating layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 34 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second insulating layers are each of substantially uniform thickness, whereby a step is formed at each of said exposed regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 58 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 1 further including a third insulating layer disposed over said first conductive layer, a via in said third insulating layer extending to said first conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer disposed on said third insulating layer and extending into said via to contact said first conductive layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 58 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 2 further including a third insulating layer disposed over said first conductive layer, a via in said third insulating layer extending to said first conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer disposed on said third insulating layer and extending into said via to contact said first conductive layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first insulating layer is zinc sulfide and said second insulating layer is silicon oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first insulating layer is zinc sulfide and said second insulating layer is silicon oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first insulating layer is zinc sulfide and said second insulating layer is silicon oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first insulating layer is zinc sulfide and said second insulating layer is silicon oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 15 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said substrate is HgCdTe.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 6 wherein said substrate is HgCdTe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 7 wherein said substrate is HgCdTe.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 15 words
A charge transfer device as set forth in claim 8 wherein said substrate is HgCdTe.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3663277A Cited
US3728784A Cited
US3865652A Cited
US4197552A Cited
US4286278A Cited
US4273596A Cited
US4231149A Cited
US4360732A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-12-15 1990-06-16 1990-12-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-12-15 1994-06-16 1994-12-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-12-15 1998-06-16 1998-12-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag