Aspects of the present disclosure relate to quad color filter array image sensors. A quad color filter array (CFA) image sensor is configured to capture image data. The quad CFA image sensor includes a quad CFA and an image sensor coupled to the quad CFA. The image sensor includes a plurality of quads including a plurality of pixels. For each quad, each pixel of the plurality of pixels is coupled to a same color filter of the plurality of color filters, a first pixel of the plurality of pixels is associated with a first exposure region of the quad and corresponds to a first aperture size, a second pixel of the plurality of pixels is associated with a second exposure region of the quad and corresponds to a second aperture size, and at least two pixels of the plurality of pixels are configured as phase detection pixels.

The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus that enable simultaneous acquisition of a signal for generating a high dynamic range image and a signal for detecting a phase difference.

The solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixel sets each including color filters of the same color, for a plurality of colors, each pixel set including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of photodiodes PD. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a solid-state imaging device that generates a high dynamic range image and detects a phase difference, and the like.

A pixel circuit including a photodiode, a first storage capacitor and a second storage capacitor is provided. The first storage capacitor discharges to a first output voltage in a first exposure time and to a third output voltage in a third exposure time. The second storage capacitor discharges to a second output voltage in a second exposure time and to a fourth output voltage in a fourth exposure time. The first and second exposure times are included in a first frame period. The third and fourth exposure times are included in a second frame period. The second frame period is a next frame period of the first frame period. In the first frame period, the first exposure time is subsequent to the second exposure time. In the second frame period, the third exposure time is prior to the fourth exposure time.

A system for image acquisition with reduced noise using SPADs is configured to perform a plurality of sequential exposure and readout operations. Each exposure and readout operation includes (i) applying a set of shutter operations to configure each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array to enable photon detection, and (ii) for each SPAD pixel of the SPAD array, reading out a number of photons detected during the set of shutter operations. The system is also configured to generate an image based on the number of photons detected for each SPAD pixel during each of the plurality of sequential exposure and readout operations.

A pixel circuit comprises a first capacitor,a photo diode and a switch. A voltage source generates a reference voltage to reset the pixel circuit. The pixel circuit is reset for a first reset time period by electrically coupling a cathode of the photo diode and a first capacitor terminal to the voltage source. The cathode is decoupled from the voltage source and the photo diode is exposed to light for an accumulation time period. After the accumulation time period,a first reference voltage is sampled. The cathode is then coupled, via the switch, to the first capacitor terminal for a selected transfer time period, during which a second signal voltage is sampled. After the selected transfer time period, a first signal voltage is sampled with the cathode decoupled. The pixel circuit is then reset for a second reset time period, after which a second reference voltage value is sampled.

An image sensor includes a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels, a color filter array comprising a plurality of color filter clusters overlying the pixel array, and readout circuitry configured to concurrently provide the pixels sharing the common filter cluster and having a first exposure time to a readout line for digital data conversion. Each of the color filter clusters includes a group of same color filters, and pixels sharing a common color filter cluster have different exposure times.

Examples are disclosed that relate to blending different types of images captured by different types of cameras employing different sensing modalities based on a dynamic weighting. The dynamic weighting is calculated based on a dynamic quality proxy that serves as an approximation of image quality that may change from image to image. In one example, a first image of a scene is received from a first camera. A dynamic quality proxy is received. A second image of the scene is received from a second camera with a different sensing modality than the first camera. A composite image blended from the first and second images in proportion to a dynamic weighting that is based on the dynamic quality proxy is output.

The image sensor includes an array of photosensitive pixels comprising at least two sets of at least one pixel, control circuit configured to generate at least two different timing signals and adapted to control an acquisition of an incident optical signal by the pixels of the array, and distribution circuit configured to respectively distribute said at least two different timing signals in said at least two sets of at least one sensor, during the same acquisition of the incident optical signal.

An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit that has a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels is arranged and that reads and outputs a pixel signal from the pixels included in the pixel region; a unit-of-readout controller that controls a unit of readout set as a part of the pixel region: a recognition unit that has learned training data for each of units of readout; a first output unit that outputs a recognition result of recognition performed by the recognition unit for each of the units of readout; a second output unit that outputs the pixel signal to a subsequent stage; and a trigger generator that generates a trigger signal for controlling a first timing at which the first output unit outputs the recognition result and a second timing at which the second output unit outputs the pixel signal.

An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit that has a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels is arranged and that reads and outputs a pixel signal from the pixels included in the pixel region; a unit-of-readout controller that controls a unit of readout set as a part of the pixel region: a recognition unit that has learned training data for each of units of readout; a first output unit that outputs a recognition result of recognition performed by the recognition unit for each of the units of readout; a second output unit that outputs the pixel signal to a subsequent stage; and a trigger generator that generates a trigger signal for controlling a first timing at which the first output unit outputs the recognition result and a second timing at which the second output unit outputs the pixel signal.