Patent ID: 8134690
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: G01S,H01L

Abstract:
1. A light detecting device comprising: a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type; an element forming region disposed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate and having the first conductivity type; a well region disposed in a surface portion of the element forming region and having a second conductivity type; a first holding region disposed in a surface portion of the well region, having the second conductivity type, and configured to hold a first carrier generated in the well region, the first carrier being one of an electron and a hole; a second holding region and a third holding region disposed in a surface portion of the first holding region, each of the second holding region and the third holding region having the first conductivity type, each of the second holding region and the third holding region configured to hold a second carrier generated in the well region, the second carrier being the other one of the electron and the hole; a storing region disposed in the surface portion of the element forming region, having the second conductivity type, and configured to store the first carrier; a discharging region disposed in the surface portion of the element forming region, having the second conductivity type, and configured to be used for discharging the first carrier; an insulating layer being light-permeable and disposed on the second holding region and the third holding region; a first control electrode being light-permeable, disposed on the second holding region through the insulating layer, and configured to control holding of the second carrier in the second holding region; a second control electrode being light-permeable, disposed on the third holding region through the insulating layer, and configured to control holding of the second carrier in the third holding region; a transferring electrode being in contact with the well region and the storing region and configured to control transferring of the first carrier or the second carrier between the well region and the storing region; a discharging electrode being in contact with the well region and the discharging region and configured to control transferring of the first carrier or the second carrier between the well region and the discharging region; and a resetting electrode being in contact with the storing region and the discharging region and configured to control transferring of the first carrier and the second carrier between the storing region and the discharging region.