Patent ID: 8154055

Claim:
A complementary metal-oxide (CMOS) image sensor, comprising: a photodiode formed in a substrate structure; an active region formed in the substrate; a select transistor gate electrode and a drive transistor gate electrode both formed over the active region; a shared spacer formed between the select transistor gate electrode and the drive transistor gate electrode, wherein the shared spacer comprises one or more of a nitride-based layer, an oxide-based layer, or an oxynitride-based layer, and wherein the shared spacer is configured to block implantation of impurity ions; and a plurality of ion implantation regions formed in the active region, wherein the plurality of ion implantation regions include one or both of floating diffusion regions or ohmic contact regions, wherein the plurality of ion implantation regions is not underneath the shared spacer, and wherein the plurality of ion implantation regions is not formed in the active region between the select transistor gate electrode and the drive transistor gate electrode.