Method of fabricating semiconductor image sensor device having back side illuminated image sensors with embedded color filters

1. A method comprising:

forming pixel regions within a substrate, the substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

forming light-blocking structures over the second side of the substrate, wherein the light-blocking structures define an opening extending through the light-blocking structures, the opening being aligned with one of the pixel regions;

forming a passivation layer within the opening;

forming a color filter within the opening;

forming an interconnect structure over the first side of the substrate;

removing a portion of the substrate from the second side to expose a conductive feature associated with the interconnect structure; and

forming a bonding pad on the conductive feature.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the passivation layer within the opening includes forming the passivation layer over a top surface of at least one of the light-blocking structures, the top surface facing away from the substrate.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the top surface of the at least one of the light-blocking structures remain covered by the passivation layer after forming the color filter within the opening.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the passivation layer defines a recess within the opening, and

wherein the forming of the color filter within the opening includes forming the color filter within the recess defined by the passivation layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming an antireflective coating layer over the second side of the substrate prior to forming the light-blocking structures over the second side of the substrate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the passivation layer within the opening further includes forming the passivation layer directly on the bonding pad.

7. A method comprising:

forming a radiation sensing region in a substrate, the substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

removing a portion of the substrate from the second side to expose a conductive feature;

forming a bonding pad on the conductive feature;

forming radiation-blocking structures over the second side of the substrate, wherein the radiation-blocking structures define an opening extending through the radiation-blocking structures;

forming a passivation layer within the opening, wherein the forming of the passivation layer within the opening includes forming the passivation layer directly on the bonding pad; and

forming a color filter within the opening.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising removing a first portion of the passivation layer to expose a first portion of the bonding pad while a second portion of the passivation layer covers a second portion of the bonding pad.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising forming another conductive feature directly on the first portion of the bonding pad while the second portion of the passivation layer covers the second portion of the bonding pad.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the forming of the color filter within the opening occurs after removing the first portion of the passivation layer to expose the first portion of the bonding pad while the second portion of the passivation layer covers the second portion of the bonding pad.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising forming a dielectric isolation feature in the substrate, and

wherein the removing of the portion of the substrate from the second side to expose the conductive feature includes removing a first portion of the dielectric isolation feature while a second portion of the dielectric isolation feature remains within the substrate.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dielectric isolation feature is a shallow trench isolation structure.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the forming of the passivation layer within the opening includes forming the passivation layer directly on the second portion of the dielectric isolation feature.

14. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the radiation-blocking structures includes a metal material.

15. A method comprising:

forming a first radiation sensing feature and a second radiation sensing feature in a substrate, the substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side and an interconnect structure disposed over the first side;

removing a portion of the substrate from the second side to expose a portion of the interconnect structure;

forming a conductive feature on the portion of the interconnect structure;

forming radiation-blocking structures over the second side of the substrate, wherein the radiation-blocking structures define an opening extending through the radiation-blocking structures;

forming a passivation layer within the opening; and

forming a color filter within the opening.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the forming of the radiation-blocking structures over the second side of the substrate occurs after removing the portion of the substrate from the second side to expose the portion of the interconnect structure.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein a portion of the substrate is disposed between an edge of the first radiation sensing feature and the second side of the substrate, wherein the edge of the first radiation sensing feature faces the second side of the substrate.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the forming of the passivation layer within the opening includes forming the passivation layer directly on the conductive feature.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising forming an antireflective coating layer over the second side of the substrate, and

wherein the forming of the passivation layer within the opening includes forming the passivation layer directly on the antireflective coating layer.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising forming buffer layer over the second side of the substrate, and

wherein the forming of the passivation layer within the opening includes forming the passivation layer directly on the buffer layer.