Patent ID: 8779544

Claim:
A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising: a plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas disposed in a semiconductor substrate, each of the plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas containing P-type impurities; an N-type well portion arranged in the semiconductor substrate and under the plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas, extending across the plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas, each of the plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas configuring a photoelectric converter together with the N-type well portion, wherein the well portion includes: an N-type first semiconductor region extending across the plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas and containing arsenic at a first density, an N-type second semiconductor region disposed below the first semiconductor region so as to extend across the plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas and containing arsenic at a second density that is lower than the first density, and an N-type third semiconductor region disposed below the second semiconductor region so as to extend across the plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas and containing N-type impurities at a third density that is higher than the first density; a device isolation area disposed in the semiconductor substrate; and a potential barrier disposed between the device isolation area and the N-type first semiconductor region of the well portion so as to isolate the plurality of P-type charge accumulating areas from each other, wherein the potential barrier includes: an N-type fourth semiconductor region disposed below the device isolation area and containing N-type impurities at a fourth density that is higher than the second density; and an N-type fifth semiconductor region disposed below the fourth semiconductor region and containing N-type impurities at a fifth density that is higher than the second density.