Patent ID: 8338856

Claim:
A backside illuminated (“BSI”) complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (“CMOS”) image sensor, comprising: a photosensitive region disposed within a semiconductor layer, the photosensitive region sensitive to light incident on a backside of the BSI CMOS image sensor to collect an image charge; and a first stress adjusting layer disposed on a backside of the semiconductor layer establishing a first stress characteristic to encourage photo-generated charge carriers to migrate towards the photosensitive region, wherein the first stress adjusting layer is disposed on the semiconductor layer to apply a patterned stress characteristic to the semiconductor layer such that the first stress adjusting layer applies the first stress characteristic to a first portion of the BSI CMOS image sensor on the backside of the semiconductor layer and while substantially not applying the first stress characteristic to a second portion of the BSI CMOS image sensor on the backside of the semiconductor layer.