Patent ID: 7102185

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: (a) a substrate; (b) a photo-sensitive area disposed in the substrate; (c) a transfer mechanism disposed in the substrate for receiving charge from the photo-sensitive area; (d) a vertical charge-coupled device for receiving charge from the transfer mechanism; (e) a gate dielectric spanning at least a portion of the vertical charge-coupled device; (f) a gate electrode spanning at least a portion of the vertical charge-coupled device; (g) an insulator spanning at least a portion of the vertical charge-coupled device having an opening therethrough; (h) a first lightshield spanning at least a portion of the vertical charge-coupled device having an opening therethrough; and (i) a second lightshield forming a plug disposed through both the opening in the insulator and the opening in the first lightshield; wherein the plug contacts the gate electrode and the first lightshield so that the gate electrode is electrically connected to the first lightshield.