Patent ID: 8319874

Claim:
A solid-state imaging device for photoelectrically converting an object image formed by an image-taking lens, comprising: a plurality of pixels disposed two-dimensionally; at least a portion of the pixels each including: a pair of photoelectric converter portions, each photoelectric converter portion carrying out photoelectric conversion; and a mode setting member capable of selectively setting a first and a second mode in accordance with a control signal; the first mode being a mode in which the photoelectric converter portions are electrically connected with each other; the second mode being a mode in which the photoelectric converter portions are electrically separated from each other; an area between the photoelectric converter portions having a function to photoelectrically convert incident light in the first mode and not having that function in the second mode, wherein the photoelectric converter portions are respectively positioned in a first area and a second area of the pixel, the first and second areas being divided in plan view by a dividing line, each of the photoelectric converter portions having a respective end surface extending along a depth direction of the solid-state imaging device, the end surfaces of the first and second photoelectric converter portions opposing each other, and the mode setting member including a gate electrode disposed along the dividing line, the gate electrode including a portion that extends along said depth direction and that intrudes into an area between the opposing end surfaces of the photoelectric converter portions.