Patent ID: 9025139
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: G01S,H01L

Abstract:
1. A photoelectric conversion element for detecting light and converting the light into photoelectrons, comprising: one first MOS diode having a first electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate with an insulator therebetween; and plural second MOS diodes each having a second electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate with the insulator therebetween, wherein the first electrode of the first MOS diode has a shape when viewed from an upper surface thereof, in which plural branch portions are branched from one electrode portion, each of the second electrodes of the second MOS diodes are separated from the first electrode, and are nested, respectively, between the plural branch portions of the first electrode when viewed from the upper surface thereof, a potential under the first electrode of the first MOS diode, and potentials under the second electrodes of the second MOS diodes are controlled respectively and independently, such that at least the photoelectrons generated by photoelectric conversion at the second MOS diodes migrate toward the first MOS diode, and within the first MOS diode, a portion corresponding to a base of the one electrode portion of the first electrode is constituted as a charge accumulating unit.