Imec has made a major breakthrough in thin-film image sensors.

Imec has made a major breakthrough in thin-film image sensors. By integrating a pinned photodiode structure along with a pinned-photogate and a transfer gate, they have unleashed the true potential of these imagers. Now, they can detect light beyond the visible spectrum, going beyond one µm wavelength and reaching into the realm of infrared light.

This technological advancement opens up a world of possibilities, especially in the fields of autonomous vehicles and smartphone technology. Imagine having cameras that can "see" through smoke or fog, enhancing safety and navigation for self-driving cars. And let's not forget the convenience of unlocking your smartphone using facial recognition capabilities!

Traditionally, silicon-based imagers are limited to capturing visible light. But for longer wavelengths like short-wave infrared (SWIR), different semiconductors are required. Enter III-V materials, which offer a solution to this detection limitation.  However, there's a catch: manufacturing these absorbers is an expensive affair, hindering their widespread use.

Fortunately, a promising alternative has emerged: thin-film absorbers, including quantum dots. These sensors not only demonstrate superior absorption qualities but also possess the potential to be seamlessly integrated with conventional (CMOS) readout circuits. It's an exciting development that paves the way for more efficient, cost-effective, and versatile imaging solutions.

Nevertheless, it's important to address one shortcoming of these infrared sensors—their subpar noise performance, which can result in lower image quality.  But fear not! Imec has found a way to tackle this challenge. Their team processed the array on a CMOS readout circuit, crafting a thin-film SWIR image sensor of exceptional quality.

Imec's Nikolas Papadopoulos expressed his enthusiasm regarding the prototype 4T image sensor's remarkable achievement. The sensor boasted an impressively low read-out noise of 6.1e-, compared to the conventional 3T sensor's over 100e-. This outstanding noise performance further establishes the superiority of Imec's innovation.

With Imec's groundbreaking integration of pinned photodiodes and their continuous pursuit of excellence, we can anticipate even more exciting advancements in imaging technology in the near future.