Patent ID: 7432543

Claim:
A pixel comprising: a photodiode formed in a semiconductor substrate, said photodiode being an N-region formed within a P-type region, further wherein said photodiode has a p + pinning layer on the surface of said semiconductor substrate and above said N-region, wherein the P+ pinning layer includes a first edge proximate to a shallow trench isolation (“STI”) region and a second edge opposite the first edge, said P + layer including a graded surface profile of indium and boron fluoride (BF 2 ); a transfer gate formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a floating node formed within the semiconductor substrate, wherein the transfer gate is formed between the photodiode and the floating node to selectively transfer a signal from the photodiode to the floating node, wherein there is no pinning layer beneath the transfer gate, and wherein the transfer gate includes a first edge proximate to the floating node and a second edge opposite the first edge of the transfer gate, wherein the second edge of the transfer gate is offset from the second edge of the P+ pinning layer.