Patent ID: 9147710
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. An active pixel sensor (APS), comprising: a photodetector disposed within a semiconductor substrate; a transfer transistor located adjacent to the photodetector and comprising a first gate structure located over a first gate dielectric layer disposed above the semiconductor substrate; a reset transistor comprising a second gate structure located over the first gate dielectric layer; a gate dielectric protection layer disposed onto the first gate dielectric layer at a first location overlying the photodetector and at a second location extending from a first position between a first sidewall spacer flanking the first gate structure and the first gate dielectric layer to a second position between a second sidewall spacer flanking the second gate structure and the first gate dielectric layer; and wherein the gate dielectric protection layer extends onto a portion of sidewalls of a gate material of the first gate structure and the second gate structure without overlying a to of the first gate structure and the second gate structure.