Patent Abstract:
An improved imaging device having a pixel arrangement featuring a multilayer light shield. The multilayer light shield includes stacked layers of light-shielding and light-transparent material. The light-transparent material, such as a dielectric, is selected to have a stress, such as a tensile stress, that offsets the stress, such as a compressive stress, of the light shielding material. Without the stress offset, the high compressive stress of the refractory metal could damage the integrity of the nearby silicon. The refractory metal is capable of withstanding the high temperatures associated with front end CMOS processing. The laminate structure allows the light shield to be placed close to the pixel surface. The light-transparent material has a thickness equal to about one-quarter wavelength of the light to be blocked, to act as an anti-reflective coating. An aperture in the light shield exposes the active region of the pixel&#39;s photoconversion device.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/893,293, filed Jul. 19, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,385,167, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to multilayer light shields for semiconductor-based photoimaging devices and to methods of forming and using the light shields. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A semiconductor photoimaging device includes a focal plane array of pixel cells supported by a substrate. Each of the pixel cells includes a photoconversion device, for example, a photogate, a photoconductor, or a photodiode, for generating and accumulating photo-generated charge in a portion of the substrate. A readout circuit is connected to each pixel cell and typically includes at least an output transistor, which receives photogenerated charges from a doped diffusion region and produces an output signal that is periodically read-out through a pixel access transistor. The imager may optionally include a transistor for transferring charge from the photoconversion device to the diffusion region or the diffusion region may be directly connected to, or be part of, the photoconversion device. A transistor is also typically provided for resetting the diffusion region to a predetermined charge level before it receives the photo-converted charges. A CMOS imager circuit is often associated with a color filter, such as a Bayer filter, for discerning various wavelengths of light. 
   One typical CMOS imager pixel circuit, the three-transistor (3T) pixel, contains a photodiode for supplying photo-generated charge to a diffusion region; a reset transistor for resetting the diffusion region; a source follower transistor having a gate connected to the diffusion region, for producing an output signal; and a row select transistor for selectively connecting the source follower transistor to a column line of a pixel array. Another typical CMOS imager pixel employs a four-transistor (4T) configuration, which is similar to the 3T configuration, but utilizes a transfer transistor to gate charges from the photodiode to the diffusion region and the source follower transistor for output. 
   Exemplary CMOS imaging circuits, processing steps thereof, and detailed descriptions of the functions of various CMOS elements of an imaging circuit are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,140,630, U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,868, U.S. Pat. No. 6,310,366, U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,652, U.S. Pat. No. 6,204,524, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,205, each of which is assigned to Micron Technology, Inc., the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   Typical imaging devices have a light shield providing apertures exposing at least a portion of the photoconversion devices to incoming light while shielding the remainder of the pixel circuit and neighboring pixels from the light. Light shields separate received light signals of adjacent pixels, known as crosstalk, and prevent photocurrent from being generated in undesirable locations in the pixel. As a result, the imaging device can achieve higher spatial resolution and color affinity with less blooming, blurring, and other detrimental effects. Light shields can also serve to protect the circuitry associated with the pixels from radiation damage, for example. 
   In the prior art, light shields have typically been formed in the metal interconnect layering (e.g., the Metal 1 (M1), Metal 2 (M2), or, if utilized, Metal 3 (M3) layers) of the integrated circuit. Metallization layer light shield structures have some drawbacks, such as limiting use of the metal layer to the light shield rather than for its normal conductive interconnect purpose. Additionally, having the light shield in upper metallization (conductive interconnect) layers, spaced some 18,000 Å from the photo-sensitive area, can increase crosstalk, light piping, and light shadowing in the pixels, which can cause errors. 
   To satisfy optical performance specifications, light masks need to exhibit good light absorption, low reflectivity (higher reflectivity might induce light back scattering) and be as close as possible to the pixel surface to minimize light scattering to vicinal pixels. Metal layers in CMOS imaging devices normally provide this function. Metal layers also serve as conductors. An example of a metal light shield formed on an insulator above the pixel surface is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,611,013, assigned to Micron Technology, Inc., and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/410,191 filed Apr. 10, 2003 in the name of Rhodes, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   Performance objectives become more difficult to satisfy as device sizes become smaller. Widths of metal lines used as light masks also become smaller, down to equal to or less than the wavelength of the light being detected. Additionally, objects at sub-wavelength sizes exhibit a great deal of scattering. Consequently, the need to locate the light shield closer to the pixel surface increases with advancing miniaturization. As light shields are located closer to the pixel surface, however, the light shield layers are exposed to more manufacturing steps and hence are subjected to greater temperatures. 
   Light shields that can be located close to the pixel surface are needed. The light shields must have good thermal stability, be able to withstand the rigors of “front end” CMOS processing, and be compatible with adjacent structures in the pixel. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present invention provides a multilayer stack of light shielding materials and dielectrics. An exemplary light shielding material is a refractory metal that can withstand the high temperatures of front end CMOS processing. Refractory metals have high compressive stress, and putting high stress refractory metal layers close to silicon introduces additional stress on adjacent silicon, for example, and can increase leakage, cause contamination of the photodiode layer, and increase dark current. According to the present invention, transparent layers of materials having high tensile stress are interleaved with the refractory metal layers. The high tensile strength layers offset the high compressive stress of the refractory metal layers to prevent damage to silicon, for example, by adjacent refractory metal layers. 
   The invention also relates to methods for forming the multilayer light shield and an imaging device incorporating the shield. The light shield and method of forming of the invention are particularly well suited for CMOS imaging devices. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above-described features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, which is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an exemplary pixel according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of the pixel of  FIG. 1  taken along the line II-II; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a pixel constructed in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a single-layer tungsten light shield stack provided for comparative purposes; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section of an exemplary two-layer tungsten-dielectric light shield stack according to the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section of an exemplary multilayer tungsten-dielectric light shield stack according to the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section of an exemplary multilayer tungsten-dielectric light shield stack according to the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a graph illustrating the total stress in the stacks of  FIGS. 4-7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a graph of transmission data for the stacks of  FIGS. 5-7 ; 
       FIG. 10  shows a stage of fabrication of a circuit like that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 11  shows a stage of fabrication of a circuit subsequent to that shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  shows a stage of fabrication of a circuit subsequent to that shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13  shows a stage of fabrication of a circuit subsequent to that shown in  FIG. 12 ; 
       FIG. 14  shows a stage of fabrication of a circuit subsequent to that shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  shows a stage of fabrication of a circuit subsequent to that shown in  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 16  shows a stage of fabrication of a circuit subsequent to that shown in  FIG. 15 ; 
       FIG. 17  shows a stage of fabrication of a circuit subsequent to that shown in  FIG. 16 ; 
       FIG. 18  shows a partial cross-sectional view of a 3T pixel similar to the 4T pixel shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  through the same cross-section portion of the pixel along line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 19  shows a pixel array integrated into a CMOS imager system in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 20  shows circuit diagram of a 4T pixel like that shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 21  shows a processor system incorporating at least one CMOS imaging device, constructed in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of the specification, and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments whereby the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical, and electrical changes, as well as changes in the materials used, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Additionally, certain processing steps are described and a particular order of processing steps is disclosed; however, the sequence of steps is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of steps or acts necessarily occurring in a certain order. 
   The terms “wafer” and “substrate” are to be understood as interchangeable and as including silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) or silicon-on-sapphire (SOS), doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures. Furthermore, when reference is made to a “wafer” or “substrate” in the following description, previous process steps may have been utilized to form regions, junctions, or material layers in or on the base semiconductor structure or foundation. In addition, the semiconductor need not be silicon-based, but could be based on silicon-germanium, germanium, gallium arsenide, or other known semiconductor materials. 
   The term “pixel” refers to a photo-element unit containing a photoconversion device and transistors for converting electromagnetic radiation to an electrical signal. The pixels discussed herein are illustrated and described as 4T pixel circuits for the sake of example only. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to a four transistor (4T) pixel, but may be used with other pixel arrangements having fewer (e.g., 3T) or more (e.g., 5T) than four transistors. Although the invention is described herein with reference to the architecture and fabrication of one pixel, it should be understood that this is representative of a plurality of pixels in an array of an imaging device. In addition, although the invention is described below with reference to a CMOS imager, the invention has applicability to any solid state imaging device having pixels. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
   Referring to the drawings, where like reference numbers designate like elements,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary embodiment of the invention used in connection with a four transistor (4T) CMOS pixel  12  having a photodiode  14  as a photoconversion device. The photodiode  14  is formed in a p-type substrate  10 , and includes an n-type conductivity region  18  and an uppermost thin p-type conductivity layer  20  over the n-type region  18 . It should be understood that while  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the circuitry for a single pixel  12 , in practical use there will be an M×N array of pixels  12  arranged in rows and columns with the pixels  12  of the array being accessed using row and column select circuitry, as is known in the art. The pixel  12  shown can be laterally isolated from other pixels of the array by shallow trench isolation regions  42 . Although the isolation region  42  is shown only along two sides of the pixel  12  for simplicity, in practice trench isolation regions may extend around the entire perimeter of the pixel  12 . 
   The 4T CMOS pixel  12  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is formed partially in and over a doped p-type region  16  in the substrate  10 , and includes a transfer gate  22 , a reset gate  28 , a source follower gate  32 , and a row select gate  36 . The transfer gate  22  forms part of a transfer transistor for electrically gating the charges accumulated by the photodiode  14  to a floating diffusion region  24 . A first conductor  26  at the floating diffusion region  24  is in electrical communication with the gate  32  of the source follower transistor through a second conductor  34 . The two conductors  26 ,  34  are electrically connected via a conductive path  50  in a conductive interconnect layer, e.g., the M1 metal layer. Sharing the floating diffusion region  24  with the transfer transistor is reset transistor having the reset gate  28 . The reset transistor is connected to a voltage source (V dd ) through a source/drain region having a conductor  30  for providing a resetting voltage to the floating diffusion region  24 . 
   An electrical equivalent circuit for the  FIG. 1  pixel is illustrated in  FIG. 20  with pixel  12  being operated as known in the art by RESET, TRANSFER, and ROW SELECT control signals. As shown in  FIG. 20 , the 4T pixel circuit can be converted to a 3T pixel circuit by removing the portion contained within the dotted box  22 ′, i.e., the transfer transistor, and electrically coupling the photodiode  14  output to the floating diffusion region  24 , the floating diffusion region  24  being connected to the gate  32  of the source follower transistor. 
   Over the pixel  12  circuitry is a light shield  44 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , which is an opaque multilayer configured to prevent light energy from irradiating the underlying circuitry and vicinal pixels. The multilayer light shield  44  includes at least one layer of a light-shielding material, such as tungsten (W), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), tantalum (Ta), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), carbon (C), tungsten silicide (WSi x ), titanium nitride (TiN), or other materials with the desired light-blocking, electrical, and physical characteristics. Of these, the refractory metals, particularly W, Ta, and Mo, are preferred. The light shield  44  can be very thin, and in particular must be able to withstand the temperatures (approximately 1,000° C.) experienced during front end CMOS processing. The light shield of the present invention can be located at least within 3,000 Å-4,000 Å of the pixel surface. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , light shield structures  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  8  are respectively illustrated schematically in cross-section.  FIG. 8  is an associated graph depicting the total stack stress in each of the structures  2 ,  4 ,  6 ,  8 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a single layer light shield structure  2  shown for comparative purposes. Light shield structure  2  is a single layer  3  of tungsten (W) about 1680 Å in thickness. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the compressive stress of tungsten is about 1.4E10 dyne/cm 2 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , the light shield stack  4  includes the 1680 Å layer of tungsten  3  and a layer of silicon nitride  5 . Alternatively, silicon oxide can be used, but silicon nitride is preferred. Silicon nitride layer  5  has a thickness of about 600 Å. Silicon nitride exhibits tensile stress of about 4E9 dyne/cm 2 . The combination of tungsten layer  5  and silicon nitride layer  6  reduces the total stress in the stack structure  4 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , stack  6  includes two 840 Å layers  7  of tungsten and two 600 Å layers  5  of silicon nitride, and in  FIG. 7  stack structure  8  includes three 560 Å layers  9  of tungsten and three 600 Å layers  5  of silicon nitride. As is evident from  FIG. 8 , the total stack stress varies inversely with the number of metal/dielectric layers in the multilayer light shield stack structure. 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , in addition to reduced stress, stack structures  4 ,  6 ,  8  exhibit improved light shielding.  FIG. 9  is a graph illustrating transmission of red light (649 nm wavelength) through each of the stacks  4 ,  6 ,  8 . As can be seen from the plots in  FIG. 9 , stacks  4 ,  6 ,  8  exhibit increasing ability to block red light in direct relation to the number of layers in the stack, even though the combined thickness of the tungsten layers is the same in each stack. As a result, the combined thickness of the tungsten layers, and the overall thickness of light shield can be reduced as compared to a single-layer light shield, while obtaining the same or better light-shielding properties. 
   Further improvements in light-handling properties of the multilayer light shield are obtained by forming the dielectric layers with a thickness equal to one-quarter wavelength of the light to be blocked. Where multiple colors are involved, an average of their wavelengths, for example, can be used. By separating the light-shielding layers by one-quarter wavelength of the light to be blocked, light waves reflected at the interface between the light shielding layers and the transparent dielectric will be off-set by one-half wavelength with respect to incoming light waves traveling through the light shield. The reflected light having a one-half wavelength offset will tend to cancel the incoming light waves, further adding to the light absorbing capabilities of the multilayer light shield. Consequently, further reductions in thickness of the light-shielding layer are possible. For visible light, the dielectric layer will have a thickness between about 100 Å and about 1,000 Å. Thicknesses of about 600 Å or 700 Å are appropriate for red and green light. 
   It is preferred that less than 0.01% of light impacting the light shield  44  penetrates to the underlying wafer. As shown in  FIG. 2  and described in relation thereto, a transparent borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) layer  52  can be positioned between the light shield  44  and the underlying pixel  12 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the light shield  44  can be a conformal layer formed directly on the photodiode  14  layer. 
   Again referring to  FIG. 1 , an M1 layer containing conductive interconnect pattern  54  is formed above the light shield  44 , which is between the pixel transistors and the M1 layer  50 . Optionally, the first conductive interconnect M1 layer  50  can be formed directly over the light shield  44  if the light shield  44  is not conductive. 
   The light shield  44  defines an aperture  46  over the photodiode  14  to allow light to pass. The light shield  44 , if conductive, can also optionally be electrically grounded by a grounding circuit  47 , by which it can provide electrical shielding to the underlying pixel circuitry. In another embodiment, the light shield  44  can be used for electrical strapping in the periphery. Additional openings  48  are provided in the light shield  44  to allow the various circuitry contacts  26 ,  30 ,  34 ,  38 ,  40  to be in electrical communication between overlying conductive interconnect layers  50 ,  60 , such as M1, M2, etc., and underlying pixel circuitry, e.g., gates  22 ,  28 ,  32 ,  36 . 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  show alternative cross sections of a portion of the  FIG. 1  pixel  12  taken along the line II-II and with some additional detail. As is shown, a light transparent first dielectric layer  52  can be provided over the pixel  12  having an upper surface above the level of the transistor gates, e.g., gate  22 , of the pixel  12 . Light shield layer  44  is formed over the first dielectric layer  52  above the pixel  12 . As shown by  FIG. 3 , this light shield  44 , as well as the other layers of the pixel cell, can be conformally deposited. A second dielectric layer  54  having similar light transmitting and insulating properties as the first dielectric layer  52  can be formed over the light shield layer  44  (and within the aperture  46 ). Over this layer can be formed the first conductive interconnect layer  50 , i.e., M1 layer, which may be connected by contacts (e.g., conductor  26 ) to the underlying circuitry provided in openings  48  through the various layers  44 ,  52 ,  54 . Additional layering over the first conductive interconnect layer  50  is also shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , such as a third dielectric layer  56  having light transmitting and insulating properties similar to the other two dielectric layers  52  and  54 . Over this second dielectric layer  56  can be formed a second conductive interconnect layer  60  (M2), which can be in electrical contact with the first conductive interconnect layer  50  (or other parts of the pixel  12  circuitry or imaging device) by conductors  58 . Additional dielectric, conductive interconnect, or passivation layers can be formed over the second conductive interconnect layer  60 , but are not shown for the sake of clarity. Pixel  12  devices as shown in  FIGS. 1-3  can be formed as described below. 
     FIG. 10  shows a preliminary stage of processing. As mentioned above in discussing  FIG. 1 , each pixel  12  is isolated within the substrate  10  by isolation regions  42 , which are preferably STI (shallow trench isolation) regions, but may also be formed by LOCOS processing.  FIG. 10  shows the formed STI isolation regions  42 . The STI isolation regions  42  can be formed by using a photoresist mask, patterning, and etching to leave trenches where the isolation regions  42  are desired. The photoresist mask is removed, and a layer of dielectric material (e.g., silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, oxide-nitride, nitride-oxide, or oxide-nitride-oxide, etc.) is formed within the trenches by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD), high density plasma (HDP) deposition, or other suitable means. After filling the trenches with the dielectric material, the wafer is planarized, for example by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) or reactive ion etch (RIE) dry etching processes, and the isolation regions are complete as shown in  FIG. 10  and surround the pixel  12  area. 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 11 , transistor gates are formed, including the transfer gate  22  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Standard MOS gates are formed by forming a gate oxide layer  100  (e.g., silicon oxide) over the substrate  10 , then forming a doped polysilicon layer  102  over the gate oxide layer  100  (the polysilicon layer can be doped in situ or subsequently implanted with a dopant), then forming an insulative cap layer  106  (e.g., oxide or nitride). These layers  100 ,  102 ,  106  are then masked, with patterned photoresist for example, and etched to leave stacks (which will become the transistor gates, including the transfer gate  22 ). In an alternative embodiment, a silicide layer  104  (shown in  FIG. 2 , but not in  FIG. 11 ) can be formed over the polysilicon layer  102 . However, omission of the silicide layer  104  is preferred. Additionally, a V t  implant can be performed during processing as is known in the art. 
   After forming the gate stacks (e.g., transfer gate  22 ) a dopant implant  108  is performed in the substrate  10  to form a p-type region  16 . A photoresist mask  160  prevents the implant  108  from doping the area of the pixel where the photodiode  14  will later be formed (see  FIG. 2 ). As an alternative, the p-type region  16  may be formed by a blanket implant. Note, however, the dopant conductivity types utilized throughout processing can easily be reversed to form a PMOS type pixel structure, as opposed to an NMOS pixel. 
   After forming the p-type region  16 , another implant  118  is used to form a floating diffusion region  24  adjacent the gate stack  22 , as is known in the art (source/drain regions  23  for other transistors can be formed simultaneously at this time). The floating diffusion region  24  acts as a source/drain region of the transfer transistor. The floating diffusion region  24  implant  118  can be performed in the implant dose range of about 1×10 12  to about 2×10 16  ions/cm 2 . In a preferred embodiment the implant dose range for this implant  118  is about 4×10 12  to about 2×10 15  ions/cm 2  and the floating diffusion region  24  is completed by diffusion. 
   The photodiode  14  (see  FIG. 2 ) is a p-n-p structure including the underlying p-type substrate  10 , an n-type region  18  within the p-type well  16 , and a p-type layer  20  above the n-type region  18 . The layers of the photodiode  14  (i.e., layers  10 ,  18 , and  20 ) can be formed as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 .  FIG. 12  shows the substrate  10  masked with a patterned photoresist  110  and another ion implantation  112  of a second conductivity type, here n-type, is performed. This forms an n-type region  18  in the active area of pixel  12  and below the transfer gate  22 . An angled implant  112  can be utilized to form region  18  to achieve certain spatial characteristics of the photodiode  14 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 13 , after removing the photoresist  110 , an insulating layer  120  (TEOS) is formed over the transistor gate  22  (this same layer  120  can also form sidewall spacers for other transistor gates). The conformal multilayer light shield  44  of  FIG. 3  can now be formed on the TEOS layer  120  by depositing alternating layers of tungsten and silicon nitride using processes know in the art. The opening  46  can be etched in the light shield layer  44 , with TEOS layer  120  acting as an etch stop. Otherwise, or subsequent thereto, another mask of photoresist  111  is formed partially over the transistor gate  22  and a dopant implant  114  is performed to form a top p-type layer  20  of the photodiode  14 . Optionally, an angled implant for implant  114  may be used as well. 
   As shown in  FIG. 14 , a dielectric layer  52  is deposited over the pixel  12  circuitry, including the transfer gate  22 . (Dielectric layer  52  would be deposited over the alternative conformal light shield multilayer  44  shown in  FIG. 13 .) This dielectric layer  52  should be optically transparent so as not to impede light from reaching the photodiode  14 . The dielectric layer  52  can comprise, e.g., silicon oxides or nitrides, glasses, or polymeric materials, and can be deposited by evaporative techniques, CVD, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), sputtering, or other techniques known in the art. The dielectric layer  52  may be planarized by various techniques, such as CMP or RIE etching. Alternatively, if a conformal dielectric layer is desired (see  FIG. 3 ), the planarization step can be excluded. 
   The multilayer light shield  44  is formed over the dielectric layer  52  by depositing alternating layers of opaque or nearly opaque material, such as tungsten, and a transparent material, such as silicon nitride, as thin films. Such materials can be deposited on the dielectric layer  52  by conventional methods, such as by evaporation techniques, physical deposition, sputtering, CVD, etc. The light shield  44  can be a conformal layer (see  FIG. 3 ) or a planar layer. The light shield  44  layers can be electrically conductive or electrically insulative. If formed of conductive material layers, the light shield  44  layer can be connected to a ground potential, thereby offering an electrical shield to protect the underlying circuitry from the overlying conductive interconnect, e.g., metallization, layers, which will be formed in subsequent steps. The light shield  44  is positioned relatively close to the underlying photodiode, as compared to those of the prior art formed in the M1 and/or M2 layers. Thus, the detrimental effects of crosstalk, light piping, and shadowing are mitigated. 
   Next, as shown in  FIG. 15 , a patterned photoresist mask  122  is formed over the light shield  44  layer. Subsequently, the multilayer light shield  44  is etched to form an aperture  46  over the photodiode  14 . The dielectric layer  52  can serve as an etch stop. Then, as shown in  FIG. 16 , a second dielectric layer  54  is deposited over the light shield  44  and within the aperture  46  over the first dielectric layer  52 . This dielectric layer  54  can be the same or similar in composition and light transmission and dielectric properties as the first dielectric layer  52  and can be deposited in a similar fashion. This second dielectric layer  54  can be planarized by CMP or RIE etching techniques, or alternatively, can be a conformal layer. A patterned photoresist  124  is formed over the second dielectric layer and the wafer is subsequently etched to form openings  48  through the two dielectric layers  52 ,  54  and the light shield  44  to expose the active areas in the substrate, including the floating diffusion region  24 . 
   Conductors are formed within the openings  48  as shown in  FIG. 17 . Optionally, a thin insulating layer (not shown) can be deposited within the openings  48  to electrically isolate the light shield  44 , if conductive, from the conductors. One such conductor  26  is formed to connect the floating diffusion region  24 . Over the second dielectric layer  54  and in electrical communication with conductor  26  a conductive interconnect layer  50 , preferably of metal, is deposited to form an M1 layer. Preferably, the conductive interconnect layer  50  should not extend over the aperture  46  and photodiode  14  if composed of an opaque or translucent material. However, transparent or semi-transparent materials such as, e.g., polysilicon, can be used for the conductive interconnect layer  50 , and if so they can overly the photodiode  14 , if desired. 
   The floating diffusion region  24  is electrically connected with the source follower gate  32  through standard metallization steps, e.g., forming a conductor  26  to the floating diffusion region  24  and a conductor  34  (see  FIG. 1 ) to the source follower gate, and forming a conductive interconnect  50  therebetween. Conductor  26  is in electrical communication with the M1 conductive interconnect layer  50  and there through with the source follower gate  32  and the rest of the integrated circuit, of which the pixel  12  is a part. Additional processing can follow, such as formation of an overlying dielectric layer  56  and a second conductive interconnect layer  60  (M2), as known in the art. 
   As indicated above, the light shield  44  of the invention is suitable for use with the circuitry of any CMOS pixel, no matter how many transistors are used in the pixel circuit.  FIG. 18  shows a cross-section of a 3T pixel  12 , which is similar in most ways to the 4T circuit discussed above, but differs in that the transfer gate  22  is removed. The photodiode  14  is electrically linked directly with the source follower gate  32  through the floating diffusion region  24  and conductor  26 , the M1 conductive interconnect layer  50 , and conductor  34 . No transfer transistor is needed to gate charges generated at the photodiode  14  since the floating diffusion region  24  is in direct electrical contact with the photodiode  14 . However, the reset gate  28  is still provided and is electrically connected to a voltage source (V dd ) via contact  30  and part of the conductive path  50 . 
     FIG. 19  illustrates an exemplary imaging device  700  that may utilize pixels  12  including light shielding constructed in accordance with the invention. The imaging device  700  has an imager pixel array  705  comprising pixels with light shields constructed as described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-18 . Row lines are selectively activated by a row driver  710  in response to row address decoder  720 . A column driver  760  and column address decoder  770  are also included in the imaging device  700 . The imaging device  700  is operated by the timing and control circuit  750 , which controls the address decoders  720 ,  770 . The control circuit  750  also controls the row and column driver circuitry  710 ,  760 . 
   A sample and hold circuit  761  associated with the column driver  760  reads a pixel reset signal Vrst and a pixel image signal Vsig for selected pixels. A differential signal (Vrst−Vsig) is produced by differential amplifier  762  for each pixel and is digitized by analog-to-digital converter  775  (ADC). The analog-to-digital converter  775  supplies the digitized pixel signals to an image processor  780  which forms and outputs a digital image. 
     FIG. 21  shows system  800 , a typical processor system modified to include the imaging device  700  ( FIG. 19 ) of the invention. The processor-based system  800  is exemplary of a system having digital circuits that could include image sensor devices. Without being limiting, such a system could include a computer system, still or video camera system, scanner, machine vision, vehicle navigation, video phone, surveillance system, auto focus system, star tracker system, motion detection system, image stabilization system, and data compression system. 
   System  800 , for example a camera system, generally comprises a central processing unit (CPU)  802 , such as a microprocessor, that communicates with an input/output (I/O) device  806  over a bus  820 . Imaging device  700  also communicates with the CPU  802  over the bus  820 . The processor-based system  800  also includes random access memory (RAM)  804 , and can include removable memory  814 , such as flash memory, which also communicate with the CPU  802  over the bus  820 . The imaging device  700  may be combined with a processor, such as a CPU, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, with or without memory storage on a single integrated circuit or on a different chip than the processor. 
   The processes and devices described above illustrate preferred methods and typical devices of many that could be used and produced. The above description and drawings illustrate embodiments which achieve the objects, features, and advantages of the present invention. However, it is not intended that the present invention be strictly limited to the above-described and illustrated embodiments. Any modification, though presently unforeseeable, of the present invention that comes within the spirit and scope of the following claims should be considered part of the present invention. Although certain advantages and embodiments have been described above, those skilled in the art will recognize that substitutions, additions, deletions, modifications and/or other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the foregoing description but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7