US 12,089,427 B2
Imaging element and electronic apparatus including a stepped structure
Nanako Kawaguchi, Kanagawa (JP); Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Kanagawa (JP); and Masashi Nakata, Tokyo (JP)
Assigned to SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, Kanagawa (JP)
Appl. No. 17/250,415
Filed by SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION, Kanagawa (JP)
PCT Filed Jul. 12, 2019, PCT No. PCT/JP2019/027641
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 19, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/022100, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-140946 (JP), filed on Jul. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0288113 A1, Sep. 16, 2021
Int. Cl. H10K 39/32 (2023.01); H10K 30/80 (2023.01)
CPC H10K 39/32 (2023.02) [H10K 30/80 (2023.02)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An imaging element, comprising:
an organic photoelectric conversion film that has a light-transmitting property, wherein
the organic photoelectric conversion film is configured to generate an electric charge based on an incident light,
an orientation of the organic photoelectric conversion film is in a specific axial direction,
the organic photoelectric conversion film includes a step, and
the step includes a protrusion and a recess;
an upper electrode on a light incident surface side of the organic photoelectric conversion film;
a lower electrode on a side of the organic photoelectric conversion film that faces the upper electrode; and
a first portion and a second portion, wherein
the first portion and the second portion are along a same plane and between the organic photoelectric conversion film and the lower electrode,
the first portion includes a transparent semiconductor layer having a first thickness,
the second portion is a portion that includes the transparent semiconductor layer having a second thickness,
the second thickness is lower than the first thickness,
the transparent semiconductor layer is configured to accumulate the generated electric charge,
the protrusion of the organic photoelectric conversion film is above the first portion, and
the recess of the organic photoelectric conversion film is above the second portion.