Patent ID: 7821042

Claim:
An imaging device comprising: a storage portion for storing and transferring signal charges; a first electrode for generating an electric field storing the signal charges in said storage portion; a charge multiplication section for multiplying the signal charges stored in said storage portion due to impact ionization; a second electrode for generating the electric field for impact ionizing the signal charges in said charge multiplication section; a voltage conversion portion for converting the signal charges into a voltage; a third electrode for transferring the signal charges from said storage portion to said voltage conversion portion, provided between said first electrode and said voltage conversion portion, wherein said second electrode is provided on a side opposite to said third electrode and said voltage conversion portion with respect to said first electrode; a photoelectric conversion portion generating the signal charges; and a fourth electrode provided between said photoelectric conversion portion and said second electrode, wherein said fourth electrode, said second electrode, said charge multiplication section, said first electrode, said storage portion, said third electrode and said voltage conversion portion are included in one pixel.