Patent ID: 7619196
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An imaging device comprising: a carrier storage portion for storing carriers generated by photoelectric conversion, having a photoelectric conversion function; a multiplier section including a multiplier electrode applying a voltage for generating an electric field for multiplying carriers due to impact ionization by an electric field; and one first transfer electrode so provided between said carrier storage portion and said multiplier electrode as to be adjacent to said carrier storage portion and said multiplier electrode, wherein a voltage of said first transfer electrode is so controlled as to transfer carriers from said carrier storage portion to said multiplier section after a voltage enabling multiplication of carriers due to impact ionization is applied to said multiplier electrode, voltages of said first transfer electrode and said multiplier electrode are so controlled as to return said carrier multiplied due to impact ionization to said carrier storage portion, and a voltage of said first transfer electrode is so controlled as to transfer said carrier returned from said multiplier section to said carrier storage portion to said multiplier section again.