Patent ID: 8101978

Claim:
A backside illuminated (“BSI”) imaging sensor, comprising: a first photodiode region of a first pixel disposed within a semiconductor die for accumulating an image charge in response to light incident upon a backside of the BSI imaging sensor; pixel circuitry of the first pixel including transistor pixel circuitry disposed within the semiconductor die between a frontside of the semiconductor die and the first photodiode region, wherein at least a portion of the pixel circuitry overlaps the first photodiode region; and a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel including a second photodiode region, wherein the second pixel includes die real estate above the second photodiode that is unused by the second pixel, wherein a portion of the pixel circuitry of the first pixel extends over the die real estate above the second photodiode that is unused by the second pixel such that the second pixel donates unused die real estate to the first pixel to accommodate larger pixel circuitry than would fit within the first pixel.