Patent ID: 8076745

Claim:
An imaging photodetection device comprising: a plurality of photodetectors arrayed on a substrate one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally, a low refractive index transparent layer formed above the plural photodetectors, and a plurality of columnar or plate-like high refractive index transparent sections embedded in the low refractive index transparent layer along the array direction of the plural photodetectors; wherein light entering any one of the high refractive index transparent sections and the low refractive index transparent layer surrounding each of the high refractive index transparent sections is separated into a 0 th -order diffracted light, a 1 st -order diffracted light and −1 st order diffracted light by a single phase shift occurring on the wavefront due to passing of the light therethrough, and wherein the 0 th -order diffracted light, the 1 st -order diffracted light and −1 st -order diffracted light from said any one of the high refractive index transparent sections are detected by photodetectors different from each other.