Patent ID: 7151286

Claim:
A photodiode having three doped regions, comprising: a first doped region, doped with a first type of doping, adjacent to a surface of a substrate; a second doped region, doped with a second type of doping different from the first type, located on an opposite side of the first doped region with respect to the surface of the substrate; and a third doped region, doped with the first type of doping, located on an opposite side of the second doped region with respect to the first doped region a bulk of the substrate and the second doped region forming first and second electrodes of the photodiode, respectively, a third electrode in contact with the first doped region, the third electrode having an intermediate portion of a first electrically conducting material, placed in contact with the first doped region; and an external connection portion of a second electrically conducting material, placed in contact with the intermediate portion; and a volume of an electrically insulating material supported by the substrate, the intermediate portion having an extension supported by the volume of insulating material, wherein the external connection portion is in contact with said extension.