Patent ID: 7488637

Claim:
A method for forming a CMOS image sensor comprising: patterning a gate insulating layer and a doped polysilicon layer sequentially stacked on a substrate to form a transfer gate and a reset gate; forming a floating diffusion layer between the transfer gate and the reset gate, forming a light receiving element at a side of the transfer gate away from and opposite to the floating diffusion layer, and forming a source/drain region at a side of the reset gate away from and opposite to the floating diffusion layer; sequentially forming a protective insulation layer and a mold layer on an entire surface of the substrate; planarizing the mold layer until the protective insulation layer is exposed, wherein the protective insulation layer has an etch selectivity with respect to the mold layer; removing the exposed protective insulation layer to expose upper surfaces of the transfer gate and reset gate; and carrying out a selective silicidation process using a gate metal layer to form a gate metal silicide on each of the exposed transfer gate and reset gate.