Multiple-frame CCD image sensor with overlying photosensitive layer

Claim 1

Apparatus for generating and storing charge in response to an incidence of electromagnetic energy, comprising: a photosensitive region for generating electrical charge in response to the incidence of electromagnetic energy; a transparent electrode layer overlying the photosensitive region; a charge-carrying region, disposed beneath and along said photosensitive region and arranged in columns and rows, with said columns separated by channel stop columns, said charge-carrying region comprising: a plurality of first storage regions, disposed in spaced rows in said columns, for storing respective charge packets corresponding to the charge generated in adjacent portions of said photosensitive region; a plurality of second storage regions, disposed in rows between said spaced rows in said columns, for receiving charge packets stored in said first storage regions; a plurality of source regions, respectively disposed in said channel stop columns in rows next to the rows containing said first storage regions; a plurality of barrier regions, respectively disposed between said plurality of source regions and said plurality of first storage regions in the next rows, for forming diodes including a source region and a first storage region; a plurality of pixel electrodes, disposed between said photosensitive region and said charge-carrying region and each contacting said photosensitive region and connected to one of said plurality of source regions, for respectively coupling each first storage region to the corresponding adjacent portion of said photosensitive region to produce a charge packet in each first storage region corresponding to the charge in said corresponding adjacent portion of said photosensitive region; a plurality of sets of gate electrodes, disposed between said plurality of pixel electrodes and said charge-carrying region, with each electrode set having one electrode with a portion in a row containing a source region and a portion in a column adjacent said second storage regions, and having the other electrodes respectively in rows adjacent the rows of second storage regions, for coupling a phased voltage to said first and second storage regions; and a source of a plurality of independently controllable clock voltage phases coupled to said gate electrodes for controlling the potential profiles of said first and second storage regions to move a number of charge packets successively formed in said first storage regions along the columns of rows of said second storage regions for storage therein until read-out of said number of charge packets.

Claim 12

A method for fabricating a device for generating and storing charge in response to an incidence of electromagnetic energy, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; forming columns containing first storage regions in the substrate; forming second storage regions in the substrate, in rows between said first storage regions; forming channel stop columns in said substrate, separating said columns containing rows of said first and second storage regions; forming source regions in said channel stop columns in rows next to the rows containing first storage regions; forming barrier regions in the substrate between said source regions and said first storage regions in the next rows to form diodes by which a charge packet may be formed in each first storage region corresponding to a potential in the corresponding first source region; forming gate electrodes over said first and second storage regions, with a dielectric layer in between, for controlling the potential profiles of said first and second storage regions; forming pixel electrodes over said gate electrodes, each pixel electrode being coupled to one of said source regions through openings in said gate electrodes; forming a photosensitive layer over and in contact with said pixel electrodes; and forming a transparent electrode layer over the photosensitive layer.

Claim 13

A method for fabricating a device for generating and storing charge in response to an incidence of electromagnetic energy, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; forming columns containing first storage regions in the substrate; forming second storage regions in the substrate, in rows between said first storage regions; forming channel stop columns in said substrate, separating said columns containing rows of said first and second storage regions; forming source regions in said channel stop columns in rows next to the rows containing first storage regions; forming barrier regions in the substrate between said source regions and said first storage regions in the next rows to form diodes by which a charge packet may be formed in each first storage region corresponding to a potential in the corresponding first source region; forming gate electrodes over said first and second storage regions, with a dielectric layer in between, for controlling the potential profiles of said first and second storage regions; forming pixel electrodes over said gate electrodes, each pixel electrode being coupled to one of said source regions through openings in said gate electrodes; forming a photosensitive layer over and in contact with said pixel electrodes; and forming a transparent electrode layer over the photosensitive layer.