Abstract: A gate electrode region of a junction transistor in a signal charge-voltage converter is allowed to have a structure that a gentle potential gradient is formed without generation of a potential barrier. Thus, it is possible to readily realize a signal charge-voltage converter which is high in S/N ratio without generation of reset noise and is excellent in signal charge-voltage conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A trench MOS Schottky barrier device has a metal oxide gate dielectric such as TiSi lining the trench wall to increase the efficiency of the elemental cell and to improve depletion in the mesa during reverse bias. A reduced mask process is used in which a single layer of titanium or other metal is deposited on an underlying gate oxide layer on the trench walls and directly atop the mesa between adjacent trenches. A common thermal treatment causes the Ti to diffuse into the SiO2 gate oxide to form the TiO2 gate and to form the TiSi Schottky barrier on the top surface of the mesa.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a phase-change memory device and methods of fabricating the same. A phase-change memory device may include a lower electrode on a semiconductor substrate, a phase-change material layer on the lower electrode, a contact plug between the lower electrode and the phase-change material layer, wherein a first area of the contact plug in contact with a top of the lower electrode is greater than a second area of the contact plug in contact with a bottom of the phase-change material layer and an upper electrode on the phase-change material layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides the multifunctional biological and biochemical sensor technology based on the integration of ZnO nanotips with bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices, particularly, quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and thin film bulk acoustic wave resonator (TFBAR). ZnO nanotips provide giant effective surface area and strong bonding sites. Furthermore, the controllable wettability of ZnO nanostructured surface dramatically reduces the liquid consumption and enhances the sensitivity of the biosensor device.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer having a trench extending along a first direction in a stripe configuration; a gate electrode buried in the trench for controlling a current flowing in the semiconductor layer; and a gate plug made of a material having higher electrical conductivity than the gate electrode, the gate plug having the stripe configuration and being connected to the gate electrode along the first direction. The semiconductor layer includes: a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type provided partially in an upper face of the first semiconductor layer; a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type provided partially on the second semiconductor layer; and a fourth semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type provided on a lower face of the first semiconductor layer.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a semiconductor device comprises: a N-channel MIS transistor comprising; a p-type semiconductor layer; a first gate insulation layer formed on the p-type semiconductor layer; a first gate electrode formed on the first gate insulation layer; and a first source-drain region formed in the p-type semiconductor layer where the first gate electrode is sandwiched along a direction of gate length. The first gate electrode comprises a crystal phase including a cubic crystal of NiSi2 which has a lattice constant of 5.39 angstroms to 5.40 angstroms.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same, and is intended to keep the electrical resistance of source/drain regions at a low level while preventing diffusion of impurities from a semiconductor film and a sidewall. In order to achieve these objects, the semiconductor device of the present invention is configured as follows. That is, the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure, source/drain regions, a first diffusion preventive film and a sidewall. An insulation film, a second diffusion preventive film and a semiconductor film are stacked from to top in this order to form the gate structure. The semiconductor film contains impurities. The first diffusion preventive film covers a side surface of the gate structure, and also covers the semiconductor substrate while exposing at least a part of the source/drain regions. The sidewall is in contact with the source/drain regions while covering the first diffusion preventive film.

Abstract: A thin film transistor device according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a thin film transistor having a silicon layer including a source region, a drain region, and a channel region, a gate insulating layer, and a gate electrode formed on an insulating substrate; an interlayer insulating layer covering the thin film transistor; a line electrically connected with the source region, the drain region, and the gate electrode through a contact hole formed in the interlayer insulating layer; a first upper insulating layer covering the line and the interlayer insulating layer and smoothing out stepped portions of the line and irregularities of a surface of the interlayer insulating layer; and a second upper insulating layer covering the first upper insulating layer, the second upper insulating layer having a hydrogen diffusion coefficient smaller than a hydrogen diffusion coefficient of the first upper insulating layer.

Abstract: Provided is a technology capable of improving the productivity of a p channel MISFET using a high dielectric-constant film as a gate insulating film and a conductive film containing metal as a gate electrode. In this technology, a threshold voltage of the p channel MISFET can be decreased even if a work function value of the conductive film containing metal at the time of contacting a silicon oxide film is away from a value near a valence band of silicon. A p channel MISFET formed on a semiconductor substrate has a gate insulating film formed of a hafnium oxide film, a metal oxide film formed of an aluminum oxide film on this gate insulating film, and a gate electrode formed of a tantalum nitride film on this metal oxide film. The metal oxide film has a function to shift a work function value of the gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes: an insulating layer; a semiconductor fin protruding from the insulating layer, extending in a first direction parallel to a major surface of the insulating layer, and having a source region, a channel section, and a drain region arranged in the first direction; a gate electrode opposed at least to a side face of the channel section in the semiconductor fin and extending in a second direction that is substantially orthogonal to the first direction and parallel to the major surface of the insulating layer; an insulating film interposed between the semiconductor fin and the gate electrode; a spacer layer provided on the channel section; a sidewall insulating layer provided adjacent to a side face of the spacer layer substantially parallel to the second direction; and a stress liner. The stress liner covers the sidewall insulating layer and the spacer layer and has an intrinsic stress for distorting the semiconductor fin.

Abstract: A power semiconductor device which includes an implant region in the base region thereof to reduce Qgd.

Abstract: A MOSFET having a recessed channel and a method of fabricating the same. The critical dimension (CD) of a recessed trench defining the recessed channel in a semiconductor substrate is greater than the CD of the gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate. As a result, the misalignment margin for a photolithographic process used to form the gate electrodes can be increased, and both overlap capacitance and gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) can be reduced.

Abstract: A method of forming a gate oxide film for high voltage region of semiconductor devices includes forming patterns on a semiconductor substrate having a high voltage region, thereby exposing only a gate oxide film formation region for high voltage, forming a metal oxidization layer on the entire surface, and performing a process of removing the patterns, thereby forming the metal oxidization layer only in the gate oxide film formation region for high voltage.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first type semiconductor layer, a second type semiconductor layer and a first type well. The first type semiconductor layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of pixels which receive external light and convert optical charges into an electrical signal. The second type semiconductor layer is supplied with a drain voltage to have a potential different from that of the first semiconductor layer, and the first type well controls a power source voltage (VDD) using the drain voltage.

Abstract: The invention also relates to an apparatus and method for selectively providing a silicide coating over the transistor gates of a CMOS imager to improve the speed of the transistor gates. The method further includes an apparatus and method for forming a self aligned photo shield over the CMOS imager.

Abstract: A ferroelectric capacitor includes: a base substrate; a buffer layer formed above the base substrate; a lower electrode formed above the buffer layer; a ferroelectric layer formed above the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed above the ferroelectric layer, wherein the buffer layer includes titanium (Ti) and cobalt (Co) as metal elements, and a metal element ratio x is 0.05?x<1, when Ti:Co=1?x:x.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory comprising: a first substrate (100) and a second substrate (110), the first substrate (100) having a plurality of switching elements (4) arranged in matrix, and a plurality of first electrodes (18) connected to the switching element (4), the second substrate (110) having a conductive film (32), and a recording layer (34) whose resistance value changes by application of an electric pulse, wherein the plurality of first electrodes (18) are integrally covered by the recording layer (34), the recording layer (34) thereby being held between the plurality of first electrodes (18) and the conductive film (32); the first substrate (100) further comprising a second electrode (22), the second electrode (22) being electrically connected to the conductive film (32), the voltage of which is maintained at a set level while applying current to the recording layer (34). This non-volatile memory achieves high integration at low cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device that contains at least one trench capacitor and at least one vertical transistor, and methods for forming such a semiconductor device. Specifically, the trench capacitor is located in a semiconductor substrate and comprises an outer electrode, an inner electrode, and a node dielectric layer located between the outer electrode and the inner electrode. The vertical transistor is located over the trench capacitor and comprises a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a gate dielectric, and a gate electrode. The channel region of the vertical transistor is located in a tensilely or compressively strained semiconductor layer that is oriented perpendicularly to a surface of the semiconductor substrate. Preferably, the tensilely or compressively strained semiconductor layer is embedded in an insulator structure, so that the vertical transistor has a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) configuration.

Abstract: A capacitor capable of functioning as a capacitor even when an AC voltage is applied thereto is provided without increasing the manufacturing steps of a semiconductor device. A transistor is used as a MOS capacitor where a pair of impurity regions formed on opposite sides of a channel formation region are each doped with impurities of different conductivity so as to be used as a source region or a drain region. Specifically, assuming that an impurity region that is doped with N-type impurities is referred to as an N-type region while an impurity region that is doped with P-type impurities is referred to as a P-type region, a transistor is provided where a channel formation region is interposed between the N-type region and the P-type region, which is used as a MOS capacitor.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a cylindrical capacitor. A size of hemispherical silicon grains (HSGs) formed in a straight portion of the cylindrical capacitor is smaller than a size of HSGs formed in a bowing portion of the cylindrical capacitor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a shallow trench isolation structure having a dielectric material with energetic species implanted to a predetermined depth of the dielectric material. Embodiments further include methods of fabricating the trench structures with the implant of energetic species to the predetermined depth. In various embodiments the implant of energetic species is used to densify the dielectric material to provide a uniform wet etch rate across the surface of the dielectric material. Embodiments also include memory devices, integrated circuits, and electronic systems that include shallow trench isolation structures having the dielectric material with the high flux of energetic species implanted to the predetermined depth of the dielectric material.

Abstract: A storage capacitor includes a first electrode layer, second electrode layer and a dielectric interlayer arranged between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The dielectric interlayer contains a high-k dielectric and at least one silicon-containing component.

Abstract: A gate structure in a semiconductor device includes a tunnel insulation layer disposed on a substrate, a first charge trapping layer disposed on the tunnel insulation layer, a second charge trapping layer disposed on the first charge trapping layer, a dielectric layer disposed to cover the second charge trapping layer, and a conductive layer pattern disposed on the dielectric layer. The first charge trapping layer includes charge trapping sites for storing charges therein. The second charge trapping layer includes nanocrystals. The semiconductor device including the gate structure may have a sufficiently wide programming/erasing window and an improved data retention capability.

Abstract: A non-volatile floating gate memory cell, having a single polysilicon gate, compatible with conventional logic processes, comprises a substrate of a first conductivity type. A first and a second region of a second conductivity type are in the substrate, spaced apart from one another to define a channel region therebetween. A first gate is insulated from the substrate and is positioned over a first portion of the channel region and over the first region and is substantially capacitively coupled thereto. A second gate is insulated from the substrate, and is spaced apart from the first gate and is positioned over a second portion of the channel region, different from the first portion, and has little or no overlap with the second region.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes an active region defined by a device isolation layer in a semiconductor substrate, a word line passing over the active region and a charge storage region defined by a crossing of the active region and the word line and disposed between the active region and the word line. The charge storage region is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the word line.

Abstract: A memory cell includes a selective gate and a memory gate arranged on one side surface of the selective gate. The memory gate includes one part formed on one side surface of the selective gate and the other part electrically isolated from the selective gate and a p-well through an ONO layer formed below the memory gate. A sidewall-shaped silicon oxide is formed on side surfaces of the selective gate, and a sidewall-shaped silicon dioxide layer and a silicon dioxide layer are formed on side surfaces of the memory gate. The ONO layer formed below the memory gate is terminated below the silicon oxide, and prevents generation of a low breakdown voltage region in the silicon oxide near an end of the memory gate during deposition of the silicon dioxide layer.

Abstract: A NAND-type non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a gate insulating layer on an active region of a semiconductor substrate, first and second select gate structures on the active region, and a memory gate structure therebetween. The first and second select gate structures respectively include a plurality of select gate patterns, and the memory gate structure includes a plurality of storage gate patterns. The gate insulating layer includes a plurality of openings therein exposing portions of the active region between ones of the plurality of select gate patterns of the first and second select gate structures. The device may further include impurity regions in portions of the active region between the gate patterns, and halo regions adjacent ones of the impurity regions in the portions of the active region exposed by the openings in the gate insulating layer. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a bit line that is provided in a semiconductor substrate, a silicide layer that has side faces and a bottom face surrounded by the bit line and is provided within the bit line, an ONO film that is provided on the semiconductor substrate, and sidewalls that are in contact with the side faces of a trapping layer in the ONO film over the portions of the bit line located on both sides of the silicide layer, the sidewalls being formed with silicon oxide films including phosphorus.

Abstract: A vertical-type surrounding gate semiconductor device is described. The semiconductor device comprises a pillar substrate, a collar oxide layer, a metal layer, a drain region, a ground line, a source region, a bit line, a word line, a gate and a gate dielectric layer. The ground line is formed in an opening of the pillar substrate and electrically connected to the pillar substrate, and covers the collar oxide layer and the metal layer. The drain region is formed on the top of the pillar substrate and in the upper portion of the opening. The gate is formed among the word line, the bit line and the pillar substrate. The gate dielectric layer is formed among the gate, the source region, the drain region, the bit line and the pillar substrate.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a method for forming a semiconductor device comprising providing a substrate with a pad layer formed thereon. The pad layer and the substrate are patterned to form a plurality of trenches. A trench top insulating layer is formed in each trench. Wherein the trench top insulating layer protrudes from the substrate and has an extension portion extending to the pad layer. The pad layer and the substrate are etched by using the trench top insulating layers and the extension portions as a mask to form a recess in the substrate. And a recess gate is formed in the recess.

Abstract: An integrated circuit system includes a substrate, forming a gate over the substrate, forming a first drift region having a first counter diffused region and a source diffused region, the first drift region in the substrate adjacent a first side of the gate, and forming a second drift region having a second counter diffused region and a drain diffused region, the second drift region in the substrate adjacent a second side of the gate opposite the first side of the gate.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with a low drain current in the off-state of LDD type accommodating high voltages is provided. On the thermal oxide film, a polysilicon film and a CVD oxide film, and a resist pattern are formed, then the CVD oxide film is side-etched for formation of a CVD oxide film which is after the etching one-size smaller than the polysilicon film. Using the resist pattern as a mask, an impurity is implanted at a high concentration for formation of a source/drain region at a high concentration in an area which does not overlap with the polysilicon film. Further, the resist pattern is removed, and using the CVD oxide film as a mask, an impurity is implanted at a low concentration for formation of an LDD region of a low concentration in an area which overlaps with the gate electrode of the polysilicon film.

Abstract: A semiconductor device 10 includes a silicon substrate 20 having a first interconnection layer 24, a second interconnection layer 26, and grooves 22 provided at the second main surface 20b. Mounted on the substrate 20 are one or more semiconductor chips 30 having chip external terminals 32 electrically connected to the first interconnection layer; and one or more peripheral chips 40 electrically connected to the fist interconnection layer on the silicon substrate. By the provision of the grooves 22, the heart radiating property is improved.

Abstract: It is an object to reduce the effect of a characteristic of the edge portion of a channel forming region in a semiconductor film, on a transistor characteristic. An island-like semiconductor film is formed over a substrate, and a conductive film forming a gate electrode provided over the island-like semiconductor film with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween, is formed over the semiconductor film. In the semiconductor film, a channel forming region, a first impurity region forming a source or drain region, and a second impurity region are provided. The channel forming region is provided in a region which overlaps with the gate electrode crossing the island-like semiconductor film, the first impurity region is provided so as to be adjacent to the channel forming region, and the second impurity region is provided so as to be adjacent to the channel forming region and the first impurity region.

Abstract: A body connection structure for a SOI MOS transistor is described, including a first and a second control transistors. The first control transistor includes a gate electrically connecting with the gate of the SOI MOS transistor, a first S/D region electrically connecting with the first S/D region of the SOI MOS transistor and a second S/D region electrically connecting with the body layer of the SOI MOS transistor. The second control transistor includes a gate electrically connecting with the gate of the SOI MOS transistor, a first S/D region electrically connecting with the second S/D region of the SOI MOS transistor and a second S/D region electrically connecting with the body layer of the SOI MOS transistor.

Abstract: An electronic device can have an insulating layer lying between a first semiconductor layer and a base layer. A second semiconductor layer, having a different composition and stress as compared to the first semiconductor layer, can overlie at least a portion of the first semiconductor layer. In one embodiment, a first electronic component can include a first active region that includes a first portion of the first and the second semiconductor layers. A second electronic component can include a second active region that can include a second portion of the first semiconductor layer. Different processes can be used to form the electronic device. In another embodiment, annealing a workpiece can be performed and the stress of at least one of the semiconductor layers can be changed. In a different embodiment, annealing the workpiece can be performed either before or after the formation of the second semiconductor layer.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device formed to an SOI substrate including a MOS transistor in which a parasitic MOS transistor is suppressed. The semiconductor device formed on the SOI substrate by employing a LOCOS process is structured such that a part of a a polysilicon layer to becomes a gate electrode includes: a first conductivity type polysilicon region corresponding to a region of the silicon active layer which has a constant thickness and is to become a channel; and second conductivity type polysilicon regions corresponding to LOCOS isolation edges in each of which a thickness of the silicon active layer decreases.

Abstract: This discloser concerns a semiconductor device including an insulation layer; a FIN-type semiconductor layer provided on the insulation layer and including a floating body region in an electrically floating state and including a source region and a drain region at both sides of the floating body region; gate insulation films provided on both side surfaces of the floating body region; gate electrodes provided on both side surfaces of the floating body region via the gate insulation films; and a source electrode and a drain electrode respectively contacting with the upper surface of the source region and the drain region, wherein in the cross section of the FIN-type semiconductor layer in parallel with the surface of the insulation layer, a thickness of the FIN-type semiconductor layer in the floating body region is smaller than a thickness of the FIN-type semiconductor layer in the source and the drain regions.

Abstract: An integrated circuit device is disclosed that includes a semiconductor substrate, a well region formed inside the semiconductor substrate, and a first isolation structure formed inside the well region. Further, a second isolation structure is formed inside the well region and spaced apart from the first isolation structure, a dielectric layer is formed over the well region, and a layer of silicon, formed over the dielectric layer, including a p-type portion, an n-type portion, and a center portion is disposed between the p-type and n-type portions.

Abstract: ESD protection devices without current crowding effect at the finger's ends. It is applied under MM ESD stress in sub-quarter-micron CMOS technology. The ESD discharging current path in the MMOS or PMOS device structure is changed by the proposed new structures, therefore the MM ESD level of the NMOS and PMOS can be significantly improved. In this invention, 6 kinds of new structures are provided. The current crowding problem can be successfully solved, and have a higher MM ESD robustness. Moreover, these novel devices will not degrade the HBM ESD level and are widely used in ESD protection circuits.

Abstract: A plasma display apparatus which in its driving circuit mounts at least one of IGBTs having diodes built-in which are reverse conducting in a driving device which supplies a light emitting current and IGBTs having diodes built-in which have a reverse blocking function in a driving device which collects and charges the power.

Abstract: An ESD protection device includes a source region, a channel region adjacent the source region, and an elongated drain region spaced from the source region by the channel region. The elongated drain region includes an unsilicided portion adjacent the channel and a silicided portion spaced from channel region by the unsilicided portion. A first ESD region is located beneath the silicided portion of the elongated drain region and a second ESD region is located beneath the unsilicided portion of the elongated drain region, the second ESD region being spaced from the first ESD region.

Abstract: To provide a nonvolatile memory having an excellent data holding property and a technique for manufacturing the memory, a polycrystalline silicon film 7 and an insulating film 8 are sequentially stacked on a gate insulating film 6, then the polycrystalline silicon film 7 and the insulating film 8 are patterned to form gate electrodes 7A, 7B, and then sidewall spacers 12 including a silicon oxide film are formed on sidewalls of the gate electrodes 7A, 7B. After that, a silicon nitride film 19 is deposited on a substrate 1 by a plasma enhanced CVD process so that the gate electrodes 7A, 7B are not directly contacted to the silicon nitride film 19.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming PMOS transistors and NMOS transistors. The NMOS transistors can be formed to have a thin silicon-containing material between a pair of metal nitride materials, while the PMOS transistors are formed to have the metal nitride materials directly against one another. The invention also includes constructions which contain an NMOS transistor gate stack having a thin silicon-containing material between a pair of metal nitride materials. The silicon-containing material can, for example, consist of silicon, conductively-doped silicon, or silicon oxide; and can have a thickness of less than or equal to about 30 angstroms.

Abstract: A method of forming and resulting isolation region, which allows for densification of an oxide layer in the isolation region. One exemplary embodiment of the method includes the steps of forming a first trench, forming an oxide layer on the bottom and sidewalls of the trench, forming nitride spacers on the lined trench, and thereafter etching the silicon beneath the first trench to form a second trench area. An oxide layer is then deposited to fill the second trench. Densificiation of the isolation region is possible because the silicon is covered with nitride, and therefore will not be oxidized. Light etches are then performed to etch the oxide and nitride spacer area in the first trench region. A conventional oxide fill process can then be implemented to complete the isolation region.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a number of diffusion regions defined within the substrate. The diffusion regions are separated from each other by a non-active region of the substrate. The semiconductor device includes a number of linear gate electrode tracks defined to extend over the substrate in a single common direction. Each linear gate electrode track is defined by one or more linear gate electrode segments. Each linear gate electrode track that extends over both a diffusion region and a non-active region of the substrate is defined to minimize a separation distance between ends of adjacent linear gate electrode segments within the linear gate electrode track, while ensuring adequate electrical isolation between the adjacent linear gate electrode segments.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is designed such that a semiconductor sensor chip having a diaphragm for detecting pressure variations based on the displacement thereof is fixed onto the upper surface of a substrate having a rectangular shape, which is covered with a cover member so as to form a hollow space embracing the semiconductor sensor chip between the substrate and the cover member. Herein, the substrate is sealed with a molded resin such that chip connection leads packaging leads are partially exposed externally of the molded resin; the chip connection leads are electrically connected to the semiconductor sensor chip and are disposed in line along one side of the semiconductor sensor chip; and the packaging leads are positioned opposite the chip connection leads by way of the semiconductor sensor chip. Thus, it is possible to downsize the semiconductor device without substantially changing the size of the semiconductor sensor chip.

Abstract: A lithographic method, products obtained thereby and use of the method, in particular, in the production of micro- or nano-metric products or objects. The method includes the steps of deposition of a film of an organometallic solution of a substrate, containing at least one metal ion as precursor(s) for marking the substrate, local exposure, according to the required pattern, of the obtained film, via at least one focussed energetic beam, with an energy density sufficient to at least locally dry the film, dissolution of the non-exposed zone, the at least dried zones remaining on the substrate, optionally subjecting the obtained product to a thermal treatment and, where necessary, repetition of certain steps, with optional change to the organometallic solution, until the required final product is obtained.

Abstract: A method for implementing alignment of a semiconductor device structure includes forming first and second sets of alignment marks within a lower level of the structure, the second set of alignment marks adjacent the first set of alignment marks. An opaque layer is formed over the lower level, including the first and second sets of alignment marks. A portion of the opaque layer corresponding to the location of said first set of alignment marks is opened so as to render the first set optically visible while the second set of alignment marks initially remains covered by the opaque layer. The opaque layer is patterned using the optically visible first set of alignment marks, wherein the second set of alignment marks remain available for subsequent alignment operations in the event the first set becomes damaged during patterning of the opaque layer.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, light being incident on the second surface side; a wiring layer disposed on the first surface side; a photodetector formed in the substrate and including a first region of a first conductivity type; a transfer gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the photodetector, the transfer gate transferring a signal charge accumulated in the photodetector; and at least one control gate disposed on the first surface of the substrate and superposed on the photodetector, the control gate controlling the potential of the photodetector in the vicinity of the first surface.