Patent ID: 7242069

Claim:
A photodiode array comprising: a substrate having at least a front side and a back side; a plurality of photodiodes integrally formed in the substrate forming said array; a plurality of metal contacts provided on said front side, wherein the fabrication of said array comprises: diffusing a n+ layer on said back side of said substrate forming a deep n+ region; applying a first masking layer on said back side; applying a second masking layer on said back side; applying a photoresist mask on said back side, forming an etching pattern; first etching said second masking layer according to said photoresist mask pattern; second etching said first masking layer according to said photoresist mask pattern; removing said photoresist mask; third etching said deep n+ region and said substrate, forming grooves in said substrate; diffusing a n+ layer onto said back side of said substrate, forming a shallow n+ region; and coating said back side of said substrate with an antireflective coating, wherein said first masking layer, said second masking layer, and said antireflective coating form a three-layer dielectric membrane and wherein said membrane forms a bridge between said grooves in said back side.