Image sensor comprising isolated germanium photodetectors integrated with a silicon substrate and silicon circuitry

Abstract

In accordance with the invention, an improved image sensor comprises an array of germanium photosensitive elements integrated with a silicon substrate and integrated with silicon readout circuits. The silicon transistors are formed first on a silicon substrate, using well known silicon wafer fabrication techniques. The germanium elements are subsequently formed overlying the silicon by epitaxial growth. The germanium elements are advantageously grown within surface openings of a dielectric cladding. Wafer fabrication techniques are applied to the elements to form isolated germanium photodiodes. Since temperatures needed for germanium processing are lower than those for silicon processing, the formation of the germanium devices need not affect the previously formed silicon devices. Insulating and metallic layers are then deposited and patterned to interconnect the silicon devices and to connect the germanium devices to the silicon circuits. The germanium elements are thus integrated to the silicon by epitaxial growth and integrated to the silicon circuitry by common metal layers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a silicon substrate;   an array of photodectectors including a first photodetector and a second photodetector, each of the first and second photodetectors formed on the silicon substrate and formed of monocrystalline material comprising germanium, wherein each of the first and second photodetectors has a double-cavity structure; and   integrated silicon circuitry connected to the array of photodetectors including the first and second photodetectors and configured to individually address and read a first photoresponse of the first photodetector and a second photoresponse of the second photodetector, the integrated silicon circuitry comprising at least one circuit feature formed in the silicon substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated silicon circuitry includes row addressing circuitry and column readout circuitry.