A MOS type
image sensor has an
image area that consists of a matrix of pixels and a
peripheral circuitry area that drives the
image area. To make the MOS type
image sensor finer, each of the pixels consists of a second p-well region having a lower
impurity concentration than a first p-well region disposed in the
peripheral circuitry area; a
photodiode having a first main
electrode region made of the second p-well region and a second main
electrode region formed as a first n-
diffusion layer disposed at the surface of the second p-well region; a read
transistor having a first main
electrode region made of the first n-
diffusion layer, a second main electrode region formed as a second n-
diffusion layer disposed at the surface of the second p-well region, a gate insulation film disposed on the surface of the second p-well region between the first and second n-diffusion
layers, and a gate electrode disposed on the gate insulation film and connected to a read
signal line; and an amplification
transistor disposed in a third p-well region, having a gate electrode connected to the second main electrode region of the read
transistor, a first main electrode region connected to an output
signal line, and a second main electrode region. Since the
impurity concentration of the second p-well region is low, scaled design rules are employable without causing "white pixels", sensitivity deterioration,
signal read
voltage increase, or short-channel effect.