Patent ID: 7582504
Filing Date: 2009-09-01
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for manufacturing a CMOS image sensor, comprising: partially depositing an upper metal layer on a dielectric layer; depositing a first nitride layer on the upper metal layer; patterning the upper metal layer and the first nitride layer; forming patterns of an undoped silicate glass layer by depositing the undoped silicate glass layer on the patterned first nitride layer; depositing color filter array elements between adjacent patterns of the undoped silicate glass layer and exposing the color filter array elements; removing the undoped silicate glass layer deposited on the first nitride layer and portions of the color filter array elements higher than the first nitride layer by chemical-mechanical polishing; depositing a second nitride layer after performing the chemical-mechanical polishing; forming a sacrificial microlens on the second nitride layer; and shaping the second nitride layer as the sacrificial microlens by a transfer etching that exposes portions of the first nitride layer.