JP2977975B2 - Solid-state imaging device and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to a solid-state image pickup apparatus using a photoelectric conversion element such as a semiconductor photodiode and a charge-coupled device (CCD) and a driving method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a solid-state imaging device, a CCD transfer system is known, and is used in electronic cameras, copying machines, and other video equipment. A large number of photodiodes are vertically and horizontally arranged to form a pixel matrix. further,
A vertical charge transfer path (VCC) adjacent to each photodiode row
D), and a horizontal charge transfer path (HCCD) is formed adjacent to the end of each VCCD.

In an electronic still camera or the like using such a solid-state imaging device, there is a demand that all photodiodes (PDs) be exposed at the same time and signals be read independently. 2. Description of the Related Art Conventional imaging devices such as an interline (IT) type, a frame transfer (FT) type, and a frame interline transfer (FIT) type use a mechanical shutter for exposure. When a mechanical shutter is used, the accuracy of exposure time (shutter speed) and the accuracy and control of exposure time depend on the accuracy of the mechanical shutter. Further, when a focal plane shutter is used, a time lag occurs due to a location in the screen.

In order to simultaneously read out and transfer the charges accumulated in the photodiode, transfer pulses of three or more phases are usually required for one pixel or one row. 3 per pixel
In order to realize transfer pulses of more than one phase, three or more electrodes are required per pixel, which is a disadvantageous condition in terms of miniaturization.

It is conceivable to form a well portion and a barrier portion under one electrode and perform two-phase driving. However, there is also a problem that a self-alignment cannot be used in a process for forming the well portion and the barrier portion. Occurs.

As a transfer method which does not have these disadvantages,
An accordion transfer method has been proposed (PHILI
PS TECHNICAL REVIEW VOL. 4
3, No. 1 / 2,1986, A. J. P. Theu
Wissen and C.I. H. L. Weijtens).

In the accordion transfer method, ITCD, FTC having two electrodes per pixel or one row are used.
With the same number of electrodes as for a CD, FIT, etc., all pixels can be read simultaneously, and an electronic shutter of the same time exposure using an electronic shutter, such as a substrate cutout, is possible.

FIG. 9 shows an accordion transfer system.
FIG. 9A is a potential diagram showing how the potential under the electrode of the transfer path changes over time. FIG. 9B is a conceptual plan view showing how charges move by the accordion transfer method.

In FIG. 9A, the electrodes of the transfer path are classified into odd-numbered electrodes Od and even-numbered electrodes Ev.
A well or barrier of a charge transfer path is formed below each of these electrodes. The electron energy in the charge transfer path is schematically shown by a solid broken line. Height indicates electron energy.

First, the electron energy below the odd-numbered electrodes is reduced, a potential well is formed, and the charges qa, qb, q
c is accumulated. If the potential barrier disposed between the potential wells is lowered in this state, charge mixing occurs.

Therefore, first, the electron energy below the rightmost even-numbered electrode is lowered, and the potential well is extended to two electrodes. Then, the electric charge qa is distributed on the right side by one electrode. Next, when the electron energy in the left portion of the potential well storing the charge qa is increased and the electron energy in the right potential barrier portion is decreased at the same time, the charge qa moves to the right by one electrode while being distributed over two electrodes.

Then, a potential barrier for two electrodes is formed between the charges qa and qb. Thereafter, the charge qa is sequentially transferred to the right by sequentially increasing the electron energy in the left portion of the charge qa and decreasing the electron energy in the right portion.

When a potential barrier corresponding to two electrodes is generated between the electric charges qa and qb, if the electron energy of the electric potential barrier on the right side of the electric charge qb is lowered, the electric charge qb spreads and distributes over the two electrodes. Become like At this time, since there is a potential barrier for at least one electrode, usually two electrodes, between the charges qa and qb, charge mixing does not occur. In this manner, by transferring the electric charges accumulated in every other electrode to a double pitch and distributing them, electric charges can be transferred.

FIG. 9B schematically shows the distribution of charges transferred in this manner. In the figure, the horizontal axis indicates a time change, and the vertical axis indicates the electrodes of the transfer path. In the leftmost state, charges qa, qb,
qc and qd are accumulated. Among these charges, the charges are transferred downward while sequentially forming a two-electrode-length potential well and a two-electrode-length potential barrier from the lower charge.

That is, the charge during the transfer is 2
A potential barrier for two electrodes is formed between the charges during the transfer and distributed between the electrodes. In this way, it is possible to transfer the charges accumulated every other electrode while preventing charge mixing. In the rightmost state where the transfer is completed, the electric charges qa, qb, qc, and qd are distributed again every other electrode.

Since the appearance of the potential well and the potential barrier at the time of transfer is similar to the case where the accordion of the musical instrument is gradually widened and then closed again, this charge transfer method is an accordion transfer method. Called. In this system, one signal can be transferred per photodiode row.

The present applicant has proposed a domino type transfer system for performing similar charge transfer in a solid-state imaging device including a photodiode matrix, a vertical charge transfer path, and a horizontal charge transfer path. The drive signal was also transferred by four-phase drive similar to the interline CCD. Also in this method, one signal can be transferred per photodiode row.

FIG. 10 shows the FIT proposed earlier by the present applicant.
It is a figure explaining a pseudo frame electronic shutter. FIG.
10A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration, and FIG. 10B is a conceptual diagram showing the operation.

In FIG. 10A, for example, by doping a p-type silicon substrate with an n-type impurity, a large number of photodiodes P are arranged in a matrix, and a plurality of photodiodes P are arranged adjacent to each column of the photodiodes. Is formed.

A transfer gate G is formed between the photodiode P and the charge transfer path L. In the charge transfer path L, two electrodes are formed for each row of photodiodes.

The charge transfer path L extends from a region where photodiodes are distributed to a region where photodiodes are not distributed, and has a light receiving portion R and a storage portion S. At the end of the storage section of each charge transfer path L,
One HCCD is connected, and the output of the HCCD is taken out via an output amplifier.

The photodiodes P distributed in a matrix are classified into odd-numbered photodiodes PA and even-numbered photodiodes PB. Odd-numbered photodiode P
A forms the A field, and the even-numbered photodiodes PB form the B field, and these two fields constitute a screen of one frame.

Since the charge transfer path L includes only two electrodes per row of photodiodes, if charges are read from all photodiodes and transferred at the same time, charge mixing occurs.

Therefore, the following operation is performed in order to read out the charges accumulated in all the photodiodes without causing charge mixing. FIG. 10B schematically shows an operation for reading out charges from the photodiode in FIG.

First, the charges accumulated in the odd-numbered photodiodes PA are read out to the light receiving portion L (R) of the charge transfer path L. In this state, one charge signal is read out to four electrodes in the charge transfer path L.

Next, the charge read out to the charge transfer path L (R) of the light receiving section is transferred to the charge transfer path L (S) of the storage section S. This transfer can be performed by, for example, four-phase driving,
At this time, no charge mixing occurs.

After the charges accumulated in the odd-numbered photodiodes are stored in the charge transfer path L (S) of the storage section, the charges accumulated in the even-numbered photodiodes PB are stored in the charge transfer path L (R) of the light receiving section. read out. In this way, in the charge transfer path L, the charge signal of the A field is stored in the storage portion, and the charge signal of the B field is stored in the light receiving portion.

Next, the charge in the charge transfer path L (R) in the light receiving section is held as it is, and the charge in the charge transfer path L (S) in the storage section is transferred to the HCCD one line at a time. And take it out of the output amplifier.

After all the electric signals of the field A stored in the storage section are read out in this way, the electric charge signals stored in the electric charge transfer path L (R) of the light receiving section are transferred downward, and
The data is transferred to the HCCD line by line, and then transferred in the HCCD in the horizontal direction and taken out from the output amplifier.

By the above operation, the charge signals accumulated in all the photodiodes PA and PB can be read. The charge transfer in the charge transfer path L is performed by a four-phase drive similar to an interline CCD. This method enables the configuration of two electrodes per pixel, which is advantageous for miniaturization.

[0031]

In accordion type charge transfer or domino type charge transfer, since the charge signal in the transfer path is extended and transferred, the charges stored in the transfer path are output from the transfer path. It is necessary to hold the charge at a certain position in the charge transfer path for a long time as compared with the charge stored at the end. At this time, in order to prevent charge mixing, a middle-level voltage for forming a potential well is applied to the packet portion where the charges are retained, and a potential barrier for forming a potential barrier in a region between the charges. A low level is applied.

In the FIT pseudo-frame electronic shutter system, after the charges in the A field and the charges in the B field are read, first, only the charges in the A field are transferred. During that time, the charge signal in the B field is transferred to the charge transfer path. It is kept in the same place. To stop the charge,
A middle level voltage is applied.

Meanwhile, a dark current is generated in the charge transfer path. The electric charge read out from the photodiode to the charge transfer path is held at a certain position in the charge transfer path for a different time depending on the position, and then transferred. Then, the magnitude of the dark current differs depending on the position where the charge signal is held. On average, a charge signal held in the charge transfer path for a longer period receives a larger dark current.

Further, the magnitude of the dark current is not uniform in the charge transfer path but has a distribution (variation) in place. For this reason, the variation of the dark current received by the charge signal is further increased. Due to the influence of such a dark current, the reproduced screen has a fixed pattern noise (FPN).
Or flicker occurs in the FIT pseudo frame operation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a driving method of a solid-state imaging device capable of reducing generation of dark current. Another object of the present invention is to provide a solid-state imaging device capable of reducing the influence of dark current.

[0036]

According to the present invention, there is provided a solid-state imaging device comprising: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements formed on a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type region and arranged in rows or columns; Embedded CCD including one or more rows of second conductivity type regions arranged corresponding to each row of elements
Wherein the second conductivity type region has a well portion for forming a potential well for each photoelectric conversion element and accumulating charges, and a barrier for forming a potential barrier and confining charges in the well portion. And a CCD having different impurity concentrations, and a corresponding CC from all photoelectric conversion elements.
A read control circuit for reading the electric charges into the wells in D and accumulating the electric charges in all the wells in the CCD; and applying a two-phase drive voltage to a range in the CCD gradually expanding from the side near the output end. A transfer control circuit for transferring charges in the CCD, wherein one driving voltage and one potential well corresponding to each photoelectric conversion element can be simultaneously controlled by one driving voltage, and each pixel or row of the CCD is controlled by one driving voltage; And a transfer control circuit for applying a charge holding voltage for realizing a pinning state to the CCD in a range within the CCD to which the two-phase drive voltage is not applied.

[0037]

In the buried charge transfer path, the magnitude of the dark current changes depending on the applied voltage. That is, the charge generation center (generation center) that causes the dark current is mainly distributed on the semiconductor surface. When the bias voltage of the charge transfer path is changed to bring the transfer path surface into an accumulation state or an inversion state, free charge carriers are present on the semiconductor surface and occupy the charge generation center.
Therefore, generation of dark current from the charge generation center is reduced.

During the period in which the charges are held at the same position on the vertical CCD, the charge generation center is occupied by the free charge carriers by keeping the potential in the transfer channel in a pinning state, and the influence thereof is significantly reduced. Therefore, the dark current decreases.

[0039]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a charge transfer path of a solid-state imaging device according to a basic embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1A schematically shows the configuration of the charge transfer path and its channel potential Vm. Electron energy is reversed. The VCCD, which is a charge transfer path, is formed by forming an n-type charge transfer path on the surface of, for example, a p-type semiconductor substrate 14, as shown on the right side in the figure. The charge transfer path includes n ⁺ -type well portions 15 and n ⁻ -type barrier portions 16 alternately.

Above the charge transfer path, gate electrodes 17 and 18 made of polycrystalline silicon or the like are arranged via an insulating film. In the configuration shown in the figure, a gate electrode 17 made of first polysilicon is arranged above the well portion 15, and a gate electrode 18 made of second polysilicon is arranged above the barrier portion 16.

When the gate voltage Vg applied to the gate electrodes 17 and 18 is changed, the channel potential Vm in the charge transfer path changes as shown in the left graph in FIG.
In the graph of FIG. 1A, the upward direction on the vertical axis indicates the electron energy for electrons, and the horizontal axis indicates the gate voltage.
The electron energy is a stable low electron energy on the lower side.
Since it is for electrons, applying a positive gate voltage lowers the electron energy.

The channel potential Vm (15) of the well portion 15 in the n ⁺ type region is in a state where electron energy for electrons is lower than the channel potential Vm (16) of the barrier portion 16 in the n ⁻ type region. When the charge transfer path is in the depletion state, changing the gate voltage Vg also changes the channel potential.

However, when the gate voltage Vg is increased in the reverse bias direction, an inversion state occurs in the charge transfer path with a reverse bias deeper than a certain value, and the channel potential Vm takes a constant value. The gate voltage at which the channel potential does not change is defined as the pinning voltage Vgp.
Call.

Since the well portion 15 and the barrier portion 16 have different impurity concentrations, the pinning voltage and the corresponding pinning potential also differ. When the gate voltage Vg is the low level voltage _VL , if the electron energy of the well portion 15 and the electron energy of the barrier portion 16 are selected so as to be in the pinning state, the electron energy of the well portion 15 depends on the difference between the pinning voltages. A potential well is formed surrounded by the potential barrier.

The barrier adjacent to the well part 15 for holding the electric charge is
One of the rear part 16 has a middle level V_MGate voltage
When applied, the electron energy of the barrier section 16 becomes low level.
Le V _LLower than the electron energy of the well portion 15 of
The charge can be transferred.

In order to hold the electric charge in the pinning state, it is necessary that the well section 15 and the barrier section 16 have sufficiently different pinning voltages. In the above configuration, the impurity concentration of the charge transfer path is changed. This was achieved. The pinning voltage can be changed by changing the depth or the like of the pn junction in addition to the impurity concentration.

FIG. 1B schematically shows a change in dark current due to a change in gate voltage. In the figure, the horizontal axis is the gate voltage V
g, and the vertical axis indicates the dark current _ID . As the gate voltage is changed from a reverse bias to a forward bias, the embedded charge transfer path takes an inversion state, a depletion state, and an accumulation state.

In the inversion state and the accumulation state, the charge generation center on the semiconductor surface is occupied by free charge carriers, so that the dark current _ID is significantly reduced. Therefore, the dark current _ID changes depending on the gate voltage as shown in the figure. By maintaining the gate voltage Vg at or below the pinning voltage Vgp (deep reverse bias), if an inversion state occurs on the semiconductor surface, the dark current _ID can be reduced.

FIG. 1C shows the electron energy distribution in the depth direction of the semiconductor substrate. In the p-type region, the electron energy of the conduction band cb and the electron energy of the valence band vb have constant values, and holes 41 exist in the valence band vb. In the n-type region forming the charge transfer path, the electron energy is reduced by the built-in potential of the pn junction, the electron energy on the semiconductor surface is lifted by the gate voltage, and a potential well is formed therein. Electrons 42 are accumulated in this potential well.

Further, since the gate voltage is reverse-biased sufficiently deep, an inversion state occurs on the semiconductor surface, and holes 43 are generated on the surface portion. The holes occupy the charge generation center on the semiconductor surface, and significantly reduce the influence thereof. For this reason, generation of electron-hole pairs on the semiconductor surface is prevented, and a change in accumulated charge due to dark current is prevented.

In the charge transfer path, even if the stored charges are held for different periods of time, the dark current is significantly reduced, so that the change in the stored charges is reduced. In this manner, fixed pattern noise in the domino type solid-state imaging device, flicker in the FIT pseudo frame electronic shutter type solid-state imaging device, and the like are reduced.

FIG. 2 shows a main part of the solid-state imaging device. FIG. 2A is a schematic top view of the solid-state imaging device, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the electron energy in the VCCD.
In FIG. 2A, a large number of photodiodes P are distributed in a matrix in a semiconductor substrate. VCCDs 1, 2, and 3 are arranged adjacent to each row of photodiodes. One HCC adjacent to one end of each of these VCCDs 1, 2, and 3
D6 is formed.

On the VCCDs 1, 2, and 3, one electrode E1, E2, E3,... Per row of photodiodes is arranged, and each is driven by a two-phase drive signal. VC
The drive electrodes E1, E2, E3,... Of the CD are connected to the drive circuit 8 on the right side in the figure and to the potential holding circuit 9 on the left side.

The drive circuit 8 includes a switch circuit 10 including a switch for each row. HCC matrix of photodiodes
When numbering the first row, the second row, the third row... From the side closer to D6, the switch SW1 is disposed in the switch circuit 10 corresponding to the first row, and the switch SW2 is disposed corresponding to the second row.
Are arranged, and thus one switch SW per row is provided.
Is arranged.

Each of these switches SW is connected to VCC
Are connected one by one to the D drive electrodes E1, E2, E3.
The phase signal φ1 is applied to the odd-numbered switches SW1, SW3, SW5,.
The phase signal φ2 is applied to 2, SW4, SW6,.

The switches SW1 and SW2 are simultaneously driven by the scanning signal S1, and the switches SW3 and SW4
Are simultaneously driven by the scanning signal S2, and thus the switches SW are driven by the scanning signal S two by two.

The switches SW1 and S are activated by the scanning signal S1.
When W2 is turned on, the phase signals φ1 and φ1 are applied to the electrodes E1 and E2.
2 is applied. Next, when the switches SW1 to SW4 are turned on by the scanning signals S1 and S2, the phase signal φ1 is applied to the electrodes E1 and E3, and the phase signal φ is applied to the electrodes E2 and E4.
2 is applied. As described above, the scanning signal S is applied to the application range thereof sequentially from the lower side.

When the switch SW is off, the electrode E connected to the switch is in a floating state. In order to prevent this floating state, a charge holding potential _VL is applied to each electrode E via a potential holding transistor T on the left side. Charge holding potential V _L
Is selected to be equal to or lower than the VCCD pinning voltage Vgp.

The electrode E to which the phase signals φ1 and φ2 are not applied
In, the charge holding potential _VL is applied via the potential holding transistor T. When the phase signals φ1 and φ2 are applied to the electrode E via the switch SW, the potential relationship of the potential holding transistor T changes, and the charge holding potential _VL becomes
Electrically isolated from

FIG. 2B shows the electron energy in the VCCD. When the same voltage is applied to each electrode E, one potential barrier B and one potential well W are formed below each electrode E due to the difference in impurity concentration.

In a state after a high-level gate voltage is applied to each gate electrode E of the VCCD and charges are read out from the photodiode to the VCCD, a low-level voltage is applied to each electrode E, and a voltage below each electrode is applied. Has accumulated therein the charge Q.

For example, if the electron energy on the HCCD side is reduced by applying a middle-level voltage, the charge Q1 accumulated under the electrode E1 is sucked out to the HCCD. When the electron energy on the HCCD side is returned to the original state, a potential barrier is formed again on the right side of the potential well W1 below the electrode E1.

Next, when the gate voltage of the electrode E1 is increased and the electron energy is reduced, the potential barrier B1 and the potential well W1 are reduced.
, The charge Q2 stored in the potential well W2 moves to the potential well W1 below the electrode E1.
When the driving voltage is returned to the original state, the potential well W2 becomes empty, and the electric charge Q2 is accumulated in the potential well W1.

Next, if the gate voltage of the electrode E2 is raised and the electron energy is lowered, the potential barrier B2 disappears and the charge Q3 moves to the potential well W2. At this time, the potential barrier B1
Is kept as it is, the charge Q3 is prevented from moving to the right side of the potential well W2. At this time, simultaneously increasing the voltage of the HCCD and depressing the electron energy,
The charge Q2 moves from the potential well W1 to the HCCD. When the applied voltage is returned to the original state, charges are accumulated in the potential wells W2, W4, and W5, and W1 and W3 become empty.

Next, if the voltage of the electrodes E1 and E3 is increased to lower the electron energy, the charges Q3 and Q4 move from the potential wells W2 and W4 to the potential wells W1 and W3, respectively.
In this manner, the domino or accordion type charge transfer can be performed.

While the electric charge is held at the same position, the transfer channel is kept in the pinning state by the low-level voltage _VL . Therefore, the amount of dark current generated is low. FIG. 3-
FIG. 8 shows a solid-state imaging device and a driving method thereof according to a more specific embodiment of the present invention.

Are arranged in a matrix, and are connected to VCCDs 1, 2,... Arranged in the column direction via transfer gates Tg (displayed only at the position of photodiode P61). These regions are formed, for example, by n-type regions formed in a p-well. Photodiode P, transfer gate T
The surface of the region excluding g, VCCD1, 2,... is a region having a high p-type impurity concentration.
Is formed. The photodiode Pij represents a photodiode on the i-th row and j-th column.

Are connected to the transfer gates Tg of the VCCDs 1, 2, 3,...
53, a well region W having a low potential is formed, and a barrier region B having a high potential is formed between the well regions W.
Is formed. The well region W and the barrier region B have different impurity concentrations (and junction depths) so as to realize a pinning state having a sufficient potential difference by a low-level gate voltage.

Further, two insulating electrodes G are formed on the semiconductor surface corresponding to each row, and control the well region W and the barrier region B of the VCCD, respectively. For example, in terms of arrangement, insulating electrodes G1a and G1b are arranged corresponding to the first row of the matrix, and electrodes G2a and G2b are arranged corresponding to the second row. However, functionally, the electrodes G1b and G2a correspond to the first row as described below.

The shift register 12 has a timing signal φ
A, φB, and φIN are input, and scanning signals S1, S2, S
3,... Are generated. These scanning signals S generate drive signals φ11, φ21, φ12, φ22,... Via the switching MOS transistors U1, U2,. The odd-numbered switch transistors U1, U3,
U5,... Are supplied with the phase signal φ1, and the scanning signals S1,
The gates thereof are controlled by S2,.
1, φ12, φ13,...

For example, drive signal φ12 is phase signal φ
1 indicates the one controlled by the scanning signal S2. That is, when the phase signals φ1 and φ2 change, the scanning signal S1
Rises, the drive signals φ11 and φ21 also change. If the scanning signal S1 is “0”, the driving signal φ11,
φ21 does not occur.

The shift register 12 first receives the scanning signal S1.
Only at the next timing, and at the next timing, the scanning signal S1
And S2 rise, and at the next timing, the scanning signal S
1, S2 and S3 are started. As described above, the number of the scanning signals S output from the shift register is sequentially increased. Therefore, the number of the switching transistors U which are turned on is sequentially increased by two to supply the driving signal.

The drive signal φ11 is transmitted to the electrode G1a closest to the HCCD 6, and the next drive signal φ21 is commonly applied to the other electrode G1b in the first row and the electrode G2a in the barrier area in the second row. Thereafter, similarly, drive signal φ12 is applied to electrode G2b corresponding to the well region in the second row and electrode G3a corresponding to the barrier region in the third row, and drive signal φ22 is applied to electrode G3b corresponding to the well region in the third row. And the electrode G4a corresponding to the barrier region in the fourth row.

As described above, each drive signal gives a common control signal to the well region in the lower row and the barrier region in the upper row. In the VCCDs 1, 2, and 3, when a common signal is applied to two adjacent set electrodes, a pair of well regions and a barrier region are formed.

The electrode G1a is connected to the substrate voltage Vsub via the transistor V1 as shown on the left side of the figure, and has the charge holding potential Vsub via the potential holding transistor T1.
Connected to _L. Electrode G corresponding to well region in first row
The electrodes 1b and the electrodes G2a corresponding to the second row barrier regions are commonly connected to the substrate voltage Vsub via the transistor V2 and to the charge holding potential _VL via the potential holding transistor T2.

Similarly, the electrode corresponding to the well region in the lower row and the electrode corresponding to the barrier region in the upper row are commonly connected to the substrate potential Vsub via the transistor V, and the potential holding transistor T Via the charge holding potential V _L
Connected to.

The transistor V is controlled by the field shift signal φFS, and reads out the charges accumulated in the photodiodes P into the well regions W of the VCCDs 1, 2, 3,...

The potential holding transistor T is controlled by the gate voltage φG, and applies a charge holding potential _VL to each electrode when the switching transistor U is off. However, when the driving voltage φij is applied to the electrode G, the transistor T is turned off, and the potential of the electrode becomes the driving voltage.

As is clear from the figure, VCCDs 1, 2,.
3, two regions (electrodes) are formed per row, and the electrodes for controlling these regions are wired in groups of two, and the control circuits on the right and left sides respectively control each line. One control signal is connected.

The HCCD 6 is provided with four electrodes per column, and is driven in two phases by drive signals H1 and H2. FIG. 4 shows the creation of a VCCD that can hold a charge in the pinning state and simultaneously form a well region and a barrier region with the same applied potential. The semiconductor region changes its built-in potential depending on the conductivity type and impurity concentration of the impurity to be doped.

By utilizing this phenomenon, a well region and a barrier region can be formed. The pinning potential of the barrier region is selected to be lower than the pinning potential of the well region so as to form a sufficiently high barrier against accumulated charges at the operating temperature.

FIG. 4A shows a step of forming a transfer channel to be a barrier region. An SiO ₂ layer 23 is formed on the surface of the p-type silicon region 21 and an n-type impurity is ion-implanted. The ion-implanted n-type impurity forms an n ⁻ -type region 22 on the surface of the p-type silicon region 21. This n
^The mold region 22 will form the barrier region.

[0084] Next, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), SiO ₂
A one-poly gate 24 is formed by forming a polycrystalline silicon (poly Si) layer on the layer 23 and patterning the same. Next, using the one-poly gate 24 as a mask, an n-type impurity is ion-implanted.

The n-type impurity does not reach below the 1-poly gate 24, and the n-type impurity is ion-implanted only into the region without the 1-poly gate 24 to form the n-type region 25. Since the n-type region 25 has a higher n-type impurity concentration than the n ⁻ -type region 22, the electron energy with respect to the electrons is reduced to form a well region. Since the formation of the region 25 is self-aligned with the 1-poly gate 24, the position accuracy is high.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, the surface of the one poly gate 24 is oxidized to form an oxide film 30, on which polycrystalline silicon (poly Si) is deposited and patterned. A two-poly gate 26 is formed. This 2
Poly gate 26 is automatically aligned with n-type region 25 serving as a well region.

In this manner, two electrodes are formed per row by the set of one poly gate 24 and two poly gates 26. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the adjacent one-poly gate and two-poly gate are commonly wired and connected to the drive circuit.

When the same voltage is applied to the adjacent one-poly gate 24 and two-poly gate 26, the barrier region 22 and the well region 25 have different impurity concentrations in the transfer channel region, and thus have different electron energies for electrons. Thus, a potential barrier and a potential well for electrons can be formed.

FIG. 4D shows that the barrier portion is formed of an n-type region having a surface impurity concentration of 1.0 × 10 ¹⁷ cm ^-3 and a junction depth of 0.4 μm, and the well portion has a surface impurity concentration of 5 × 10 ¹⁷ 10
Vg− when ¹⁶ cm ⁻³ and 0.8 μm depth are formed in layers
Vm characteristics are shown. The thickness of the gate oxide film is 900Å
And The horizontal axis shows the gate voltage Vg, and the vertical axis shows the channel potential Vm. Since the potential is shown with respect to the positive charge, the electron energy of the electrons is lower on the upper side.

FIG. 5 shows another construction of the VCCD. FIG.
In this method, ion implantation of an n-type impurity was performed twice. In this method, ion implantation of an n-type impurity and ion implantation of a p-type impurity are used.

First, as shown in FIG.
The surfaces of the regions 21, to form a SiO ₂ layer 23, SiO ₂
An n-type impurity is ion-implanted through the layer 23. An n-type region 27 is formed by ion implantation of an n-type impurity. This n-type region 27 forms a well region of the transfer channel.

[0092] Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), SiO ₂
On the layer 23, a polycrystalline silicon layer is formed and patterned to form a one-poly gate 28. Next, using this one-poly gate 28 as a mask, a p-type impurity is ion-implanted.

In the region where one poly gate 28 exists, p
The type impurity is not ion-implanted, and the p-type impurity is ion-implanted only in a region where the 1-poly gate 28 does not exist and the SiO ₂ layer 23 is exposed. In this manner, in the region into which the p-type impurity has been ion-implanted, the n-type impurity concentration is compensated by the p-type impurity concentration, and the region becomes the n ⁻ -type region 29.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG.
The surface of the gate 28 is oxidized to form SiO _TwoForming a layer 31;
Depositing a poly-Si layer on it and patterning it
Therefore, a two-poly gate 32 is formed.

In this structure, a well region is formed below one poly gate 28, and a barrier region 29 is formed below two poly gates 32. Although an example in which regions having different impurity concentrations are formed in order to form a potential well and a potential barrier has been described, other means may be used in combination. For example, if the thickness of the insulating layer over the transfer channel is changed, the same potential affects the transfer channel differently, and a potential difference can be generated.

Further, by changing the material of the gate voltage, it is possible to make the influence different. These means can be used alone or in combination. Thus, in the configuration of FIG. 3 in which the potential well and the potential barrier are automatically generated in the VCCD,
The following describes how charges are transferred.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are timing charts of control signals. 6, the shift register 12 shown in FIG.
, Have the waveforms shown in the third to fifth stages, and generate scanning signals S1 to Sn as shown below.

After φIN rises, in the next horizontal blanking period HBK, only S1 rises,
In the next horizontal blanking period HBK, the scanning signals S1 and S2 rise, and the next horizontal portion blanking period H
In BK, the scanning signals S1, S2, S3 rise, and the number of rising of the scanning signal S sequentially increases in this way.

The transfer transistor U supplied with the scanning signal S is applied with the phase signal φ1 or φ2. Therefore, the transistor U supplied with the rising scanning signal S is turned on, and forms a driving signal φij from the phase signal φ1 or φ2 and supplies the driving signal φij to the electrode G.

FIG. 7 shows the waveforms of the drive signals φ11, φ21, φ12, φ22,... Formed in this way.
The control circuit section shown on the left side of FIG. 3 is supplied with a control signal φFS shown in the upper part of FIG. 6, and performs a field shift for taking in an image signal. The control signal φG is the drive signal φi
The electrode to which j is not applied is kept at the predetermined potential _VL .

The lower part of FIG. 6 shows the waveforms of the two-phase drive signals H1 and H2 applied to the electrodes of the HCCD 6. The horizontal drive signals H1 and H2 have waveforms that alternately change during the horizontal scanning period, and sequentially transfer the charges transferred from the VCCD to the HCCD 6 in the horizontal direction. Note that the vertical blanking period VB
At K, the image signal is fetched from the pixel matrix.

FIG. 8 shows a state of charge transfer in the VCCD. The upper part of the figure shows the electrode arrangement in the VCCD. The HCCD is arranged on the left side in the figure, and the VCCD is arranged on the right side. Each electrode of the VCCD is indicated by an applied drive electrode. Time t is taken in the vertical direction in the figure, and V
The potential and the charge in CCD and HCCD are shown typically.

First, a state in which electric charges are taken in from the photodiode to the VCCD is indicated by time t0. The electric charge accumulated in the photodiode is taken into the well region W corresponding to each row. These charges are separated from each other by the barrier region B. In this state, a low-level voltage is applied to all the electrodes, and the transfer channel is in a pinning state.

At the next timing t1, the drive voltage φ11 is changed in the plus direction (middle level), and the electron energy is reduced. As a result, the barrier B1 disappears, and the charge Q1 stored in the well region W1 becomes HC
Transferred to CD. When the drive voltage φ11 returns to the original state, the barrier B1 is restored.

Next, at the timing t2, when the drive voltage φ21 changes in the plus direction, the electron energies of the well W1 and the barrier B2 are both pushed down, and the charge Q2 stored in the well W2 is transferred to the well W1. Thereafter, when the drive voltage φ21 is returned to the original state, the electron energy of the well W1 and the barrier B2 returns to the original state, and the state shown at t3 is formed.

In the state of t3, charge transfer is performed in the HCCD. The well W2 does not accumulate charges, and the charges Q2 and Q3 are separated by one row. Next, at a timing t4, the two drive signals φ11 and φ12 simultaneously change in the positive direction, thereby depressing the electron energy in the corresponding area in the VCCD. Barriers B1 and B3
Disappears, the charge Q2 is transferred to the HCCD, and the charge Q3 is transferred to the well W2. Note that even in this state, the barriers B2 and B4 maintain the electron energy for preventing charge transfer.

Thereafter, when the drive voltages φ11 and φ12 return to the original state, the state at the timing t5 is realized, and the barriers B1 and B3 are restored. In this state, the transferred charge Q3 and the next charge Q4 are separated by the two barriers B3 and B4.

At the next timing t6, the driving voltages φ21 and φ22 change in the positive direction, and the electron energy in the VCCD is reduced. Therefore, the barriers B2 and B
4 disappears and the charges Q3 and Q4 are transferred to the wells W1 and W3.

Thereafter, when the drive voltages φ21 and φ22 return to the original state, the barriers B2 and B4 are restored and the timing t
State 7 is realized. In this state, the transferred charges Q3 and Q4 are separated from adjacent charges by two barriers. The charge in the HCCD is transferred during this time.

In this way, the charges read from all the pixels at once by the domino transfer method are transferred from the VCCD to the HCCD.
And read out via the HCCD. VCCD
Although the charge retention time varies depending on the position, the influence of dark current is reduced by setting _VL to be equal to or less than the pinning voltage (deep reverse bias).

By automatically forming a potential barrier and a potential well in the VCCD and supplying one control signal per row, charges can be transferred through the VCCD by two-phase driving.

The case where two electrodes are formed per row of photodiodes on the VCCD, a well part is formed on one electrode, and a barrier part is formed on the other electrode, and control is performed by the same gate voltage has been described. However, it goes without saying that one electrode may be formed in the VCCD per row of photodiodes, a barrier and a well may be formed below the electrodes, and adjacent gates may be controlled by different gate voltages.

Although the case of the domino type charge transfer device has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a solid-state image pickup device of the FIT pseudo-frame electronic shutter system can be manufactured by using the same VCCD.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments,
The present invention is not limited to these. For example,
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, improvements, combinations, and the like can be made.

[0115]

As described above, according to the present invention,
During the period in which charges are held in the charge transfer path, the occurrence of dark current is significantly reduced, so that the dark current is reduced both as an average level and as a variation, and the influence of the dark current on the signal obtained from the charge transfer path is significantly reduced. Is done.

Even if the retention time of the charge in the charge transfer path changes, the influence of the dark current is significantly reduced, so that the influence of the difference in the retention time in the reproduced image is reduced.

Therefore, fixed pattern noise and flicker on the reproduction screen are also reduced. In the case where one potential well and one potential barrier are formed by one gate voltage, in a VCCD that reads out charges from photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix, one charge per row is used to transfer charges. Since the control signal is sufficient, the number of elements required for the VCCD control circuit is almost halved.

By simplifying the structure of the control circuit,
High integration of the solid-state imaging device is facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 (A) is a VCCD
FIG. 1B is a graph showing the relationship between the gate voltage and dark current, and FIG. 1C is a graph showing the electron energy distribution in the depth direction. This is a diagram.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view showing the configuration, and FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the electron energy in the VCCD.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the preparation of a VCCD and a graph showing a relationship between a channel potential and a gate electrode.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining creation of a VCCD.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of a control signal in the circuit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart of a control signal in the circuit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a schematic electron energy diagram for explaining charge transfer in the VCCD and the HCCD.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an accordion transfer method according to the related art. FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a change in electron energy, and FIG. 9B is a schematic plan view showing a charge transfer pattern.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a FIT pseudo frame electronic shutter system according to the related art. FIG. 10 (A)
Is a schematic plan view showing the configuration, and FIG. 10B is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2, 3 VCCD 6 HCCD 8 Drive circuit 9 Potential holding circuit 10 Switch circuit 12 Shift register 14 Substrate 15 Well section 16 Barrier section 17, 18 Gate electrode 21 p-type Si region 22 n ^- type region 23 SiO ₂ layer 24 1 Polygate 25 n-type region 26 2 polygate 27 n-type region 28 1 polygate 29 n ^- type region 30, 31 SiO ₂ layer 32 2 polygate P photodiode E VCCD electrode SW switch S scan signal T potential holding transistor φ phase signal _VL charge Holding potential Vm Channel potential Vg Gate voltage Vgp Pinning voltage

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-33274 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 5/30-5/335

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of photoelectric conversion elements formed on a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type region and arranged in a row or a matrix, and one photoelectric conversion element arranged corresponding to each row of the photoelectric conversion elements. An embedded CCD including a row or a plurality of rows of a second conductivity type region, wherein the second conductivity type region forms a potential well for each photoelectric conversion element and stores a charge in a well. And a barrier section for forming a potential barrier to confine charges in the well section. These have CCDs having different impurity concentrations, and read charges from all photoelectric conversion elements to corresponding well sections in the CCD. A read control circuit for accumulating electric charges in all the wells in the CCD, and a transfer for transferring electric charges in the CCD by applying a two-phase drive voltage to a range in the CCD gradually expanding from a side near an output end. Control times A single driving voltage for simultaneously controlling one potential well and one potential barrier corresponding to each photoelectric conversion element, and applying one driving voltage to each pixel or each row of the CCD. ,
A solid-state imaging device having a transfer control circuit for applying a charge holding voltage for realizing a pinning state to the CCD in a range within the CCD to which the two-phase drive voltage is not applied. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the well portion and the barrier portion are the first portion.
2. The solid-state imaging device according to claim 1, wherein a junction is formed with the conductivity type region, and the junction has a different depth. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric charges accumulated in the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a row or a matrix are embedded in one or more rows of an embedded type arranged corresponding to each row of the photoelectric conversion elements. A method of driving a solid-state imaging device having one potential well and one potential barrier for each photoelectric conversion element, wherein the solid-state imaging device sequentially transfers signal charges to a CCD and reads out signal charges. A read control step of reading charges from the photoelectric conversion elements into corresponding wells in the CCD and accumulating the charges in all the wells in the CCD; and a two-phase drive in a range in the CCD that gradually expands from the side closer to the output end. A transfer control step of transferring a charge in the CCD by applying a voltage, wherein one potential well and one potential barrier corresponding to each photoelectric conversion element can be simultaneously controlled by one drive voltage; Serial applies an individual pixel or row per one driving voltage of CCD,
A transfer control step of applying a charge holding voltage for realizing a pinning state to the CCD in a range within the CCD to which the two-phase drive voltage is not applied.