Patent ID: 6853044

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a peripheral circuit formed on a first region of the semiconductor substrate, wherein a ground voltage level is applied to the first region; a unit pixel array having a plurality of unit pixels formed on a second region of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first region is isolated from the second region and wherein a negative voltage level is applied to the second region; a buried layer isolating each of the unit pixels so that the buried layer surrounds each of the unit pixels; and a negative voltage circuit configured to provide the negative voltage for the second region, wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises a P+-type substrate and a P-type epitaxial layer that is formed in the P+-type substrate, wherein the buried layer is formed in the P-type epitaxial layer, wherein the negative voltage circuit comprises a P+ diffusion layer that is formed in the P-type epitaxial layer and wherein the negative voltage is applied to the P+ diffusion layer.