Patent ID: 7671392
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a photoreceiver cell for generating electrical current responsive to light incident on a surface area of a semiconductor substrate from above the semiconductor substrate, the photoreceiver cell comprising: a plurality of first regions of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate, each first region being present underneath said surface area to receive the incident light and generate minority charge carriers in response to the incident light, wherein underneath said surface area, the first regions are spaced from each other and overlie one another; one or more second regions of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, each second region connected to the photoreceiver cell's output, wherein each first region forms a p-n junction with the one or more second regions; wherein underneath said surface area, in at least one vertical cross section passing through said surface area, for at least two first regions R the method comprising: connecting the one or more second regions to a first potential through one or more readout circuits; and connecting the semiconductor substrate to a second potential to reverse-bias the p-n junctions.