Patent ID: 6541836
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A radiation detector formed on a semiconductor material having first and second surfaces, the radiation detector being used to receive radiation and to generate a detector signal, the radiation detector comprising:a first electrode formed on the first surface, the first electrode being used to receive the radiation, the received radiation causing mobile electrical charges to be produced in the radiation detector; a second electrode formed on the second surface, the second electrode being used to collect at least a portion of the mobile electrical charges, the second electrode being significantly smaller in size than the first electrode; and a plurality of steering electrodes formed on the second surface around the second electrode and a guard electrode, the steering electrodes being used to steer the mobile electrical charges towards the second electrode, wherein the second electrode is adjacent to an avalanche region functioning as an avalanche multiplication stage, and the mobile electrical charges are multiplied in the avalanche region and collected at the second electrode.