Patent ID: 8860861

Claim:
A pixel comprising: a photodiode region including a plurality of photoelectric converting sections which generate electrons when light is received; at least one charge storage section for storing charge; and a charge transfer section included in the photodiode region for transferring charge produced in the plurality of photoelectric converting sections to the at least one charge storage section, said charge transfer section being common to said plurality of photoelectric converting sections; wherein, with a maximum diameter among diameters of circles which exist in an area in the photodiode region through which free electrons pass defined as a width of a free electron passing region in the photodiode region, an electron exclusion region is provided such that the electron exclusion region reduces the width of the free electron passing region in the charge transfer section that is common to said plurality of photoelectric converting sections, thereby providing a shorter charge transfer time through the charge transfer section from the plurality of photoelectric converting sections to the at least one charge storage section, wherein the electron exclusion region is a region other than the photodiode region or a part of the photodiode region in which ion concentration is reduced, and wherein the electron exclusion region comprises a drain gate that regulates the charges in the charge transfer section.