Patent ID: 7576404

Claim:
A photodiode comprising: a semiconductor substrate having first and second main surfaces opposite to each other; a first dielectric layer formed on the first main surface; a first conductive via extending from the second main surface, through the semiconductor substrate and through the first dielectric layer, the first conductive via being isolated from the semiconductor substrate by a second dielectric material; a second conductive via extending from the second main surface, through the semiconductor substrate and through the first dielectric layer, the second conductive via being isolated from the semiconductor substrate by the second dielectric material; a first anode/cathode layer formed on the first dielectric layer, the first anode/cathode layer being electrically coupled to the first conductive via, the first anode/cathode layer being of a first conductivity; an intrinsic semiconductor layer formed on the first anode/cathode layer; and a second anode/cathode layer formed on the intrinsic semiconductor layer, the second anode/cathode layer being electrically coupled to the second conductive via, the second anode/cathode layer being of a second conductivity opposite to the first conductivity.