Patent ID: 7915648

Claim:
A light-receiving element comprising: a first-conductivity-type semiconductor region over an element formation surface; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor region over the element formation surface; an intermediate semiconductor region over the element formation surface between the first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region, and having an impurity concentration lower than impurity concentrations of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region; a first electrode electrically connected to the first-conductivity-type semiconductor region; a second electrode electrically connected to the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region; and a control electrode in an area opposed to the intermediate semiconductor region on the element formation surface with an insulating film therebetween, wherein, a conductivity type of an impurity in the intermediate semiconductor region is an n-type, and the light-receiving element is configured to operate such that a photocurrent generated in the light-receiving element is controlled through a voltage applied to the control electrode, the applied voltage being a negative potential when the conductivity type of the impurity in the intermediate semiconductor region is the n-type.