Techniques and mechanisms to improve potential well characteristics in a pixel cell. In an embodiment, a coupling portion of a pixel cell couples a reset transistor of the pixel cell to a floating diffusion node of the pixel cell, the reset transistor to reset a voltage of the floating diffusion node. In another embodiment, the pixel cell includes a shield line which extends athwart the coupling portion, where the shield line is to reduce a parasitic capacitance of the reset transistor to the floating diffusion node.