Patent ID: 6985182
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A solid-state imaging device, comprising: a photoelectric conversion region including: a plurality of horizontal charge transfer paths for receiving signals from the respective vertical charge transfer paths; and a plurality of read-out amplifiers for receiving signals from the respective horizontal charge transfer path, wherein the plurality of vertical charge transfer paths is arranged at a horizontal pitch A within the photoelectric conversion region, and at a pitch B that is smaller than the pitch A in a portion where the signals are input into the horizontal charge transfer path, the pitch B reducing gradually from the photoelectric conversion region toward the horizontal charge transfer path so that the vertical charge transfer paths are squeezed together, the read-out amplifier and the horizontal charge transfer path are provided for each section into which the photoelectric conversion region is partitioned along the vertical direction, so as to be provide at a horizontal spacing that is not large than the width of the section, each of the readout amplifiers is placed in a space that results from the squeezing of the vertical charge transfer paths, so as to be placed directly adjacent to the last stage of the horizontal transfer path, and a plurality of transfer electrodes are arranged above the vertical charge transfer paths such that bent portions of the vertical charge transfer paths are positioned below locations between the adjacent transfer electrodes.