Patent ID: 8017984

Claim:
A solid-state imaging device comprising: a substrate with a photoelectric conversion region, the photoelectric conversion region comprising (a) a photoelectric conversion portion in the substrate that generates electric charge in response to light irradiated thereon, and (b) a charge accumulated portion positioned adjacent the surface of the substrate and between the surface of the substrate and the photoelectric conversion portion; a well region spaced from the photoelectric conversion region; a read gate between the well region and the photoelectric conversion region; a transfer channel adjacent the surface of the substrate and positioned between the surface of the substrate and the well region; a charge transfer electrode positioned to effect transfer of charges out from the well region; a light-shielding film positioned over said charge transfer electrode; and a voltage applying portion separate from said charge transfer electrode and from said light-shielding film, the light-shielding film positioned over said voltage-applying portion, wherein, said photoelectric conversion portion is of a first-conductivity-type and said charge accumulated portion is of a second-conductivity-type, said charge accumulated portion comprises a first region of a first impurity concentration and a second region of a second impurity concentration, said first concentration being higher than said second concentration, said second region being positioned between said read gate and said photoelectric conversion portion and between said read gate and said first region, and said voltage applying portion applies a voltage at least to said second region of said charge accumulated portion to control a potential of said second region.