Patent ID: 8901628

Claim:
An image sensor in which a plurality of embedded photodiodes are arrayed, each of the plurality of embedded photodiodes comprising: a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor region formed on the first semiconductor region and having a low concentration of an impurity of a second conductivity type; a third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type formed on the second semiconductor region so as to cover a surface of the second semiconductor region; a fourth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type for extraction of charge from the second semiconductor region, the fourth semiconductor region having a plurality of fourth semiconductor regions arranged separated on the second semiconductor region; and a plurality of read-out transistors each arranged adjacently to a corresponding one of the plurality of embedded photodiodes, wherein each of the plurality of fourth semiconductor regions are arranged separated on the second semiconductor region and are connected to a corresponding interconnection, and each of the plurality of fourth semiconductor regions are formed as islands within a corresponding one of the plurality of embedded photodiodes, and the corresponding interconnection is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of read-out transistors for reading out a corresponding fourth semiconductor region, wherein a semiconductor region that serves as a drain or as a source for each of the plurality of read-out transistors also serves as one of the plurality of fourth semiconductor regions in each of the plurality of embedded photodiodes.