Various embodiments comprise apparatuses and methods including a light sensor. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes an image sensing array region, a first photosensor having a light-sensitive region outside of the image sensing array region, and control circuitry. The control circuitry is arranged in a first mode to read out image data from the image sensing array region, where the data provide information indicative of an image incident on the image sensing array region of the integrated circuit. The control circuitry is arranged in a second mode to read out a signal from the first photosensor indicative of intensity of light incident on the light-sensitive region of the first photosensor. Electrical power consumed by the integrated circuit during the second mode is at least ten times lower than electrical power consumed by the integrated circuit during the first mode. Additional methods and apparatuses are described.

The present disclosure relates to an imaging device and an imaging method that enable more appropriate exposure control to be performed quickly. An image sensor includes an image sensor in which an exposure detection pixel configured to output a pixel value to be used for detection of brightness of a subject and an effective pixel configured to output a pixel value effective for construction of an image are arranged in an imaging effective area to be utilized for imaging of the image; and an exposure control unit configured to control exposure time of the image sensor on the basis of the pixel value output from the exposure detection pixel. Furthermore, the pixel value of the exposure detection pixel has a higher dynamic range than the pixel value of the effective pixel. The present technology can be applied to an image sensor including AE control, for example.

A pixel array includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and a group control line connected to each pixel of a first group of pixels from among the plurality of pixels, the first group of pixels including pixels from at least two different rows from among the plurality of rows, the first group of pixels each being configured to begin an exposure period based on a first signal received from the group control line, the exposure period being a period during which a pixel accumulates charges in response to light incident on the pixels.

Various embodiments comprise apparatuses and methods including an image sensor. In one example, the image sensor includes a read-out integrated circuit, a plurality of pixel electrodes, an optically sensitive layer, and a top electrical contact. In a first low-power mode, electrical current passing through the top electrical contact is configured to be sensed, and independent currents passing through the plurality of pixel electrodes are configured not to be sensed independently. In a second high-resolution mode, independent currents passing through the plurality of pixel electrodes are configured to be sensed independently. Additional methods and apparatuses are described.

An image sensor includes a light sensing array, a light filtering array, and a plurality of conversion units. The light sensing array includes a plurality of light sensing units. Each of the light sensing units includes a plurality of light sensing pixels. The light filtering array is disposed on the light sensing array. The light filtering array further includes a plurality of light filtering units. Each of the light filtering units correspondingly covers one of the light sensing units. Each of the conversion units includes at least two source followers. At least one of the at least two source followers is connected to a plurality of the light sensing pixels. A control method configured to control the image sensor and an electronic device including the image sensor are also provided.

To improve accuracy of distance measurement using a Z pixel having the same size as size of a visible light pixel. In a solid-state imaging apparatus, a visible light converting block includes a plurality of visible light converting units in which light receiving faces for receiving visible light are disposed and configured to generate electric charges in accordance with a light receiving amount of the received visible light, and a visible light electric charge holding unit configured to exclusively hold the electric charges respectively generated by the plurality of visible light converting units in periods different from each other. An infrared light converting block includes a plurality of infrared light converting units in which light receiving faces which have substantially the same size as size of the light receiving faces of the visible light converting units and which receive infrared light are disposed and configured to generate electric charges in accordance with a light receiving amount of the received infrared light, and an infrared light electric charge holding unit configured to collectively and simultaneously hold the electric charges respectively generated by the plurality of infrared light converting units.

An imaging element includes: an imaging unit in which a plurality of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels that output pixel signals according to incident light are formed, and on which incident light corresponding to mutually different pieces of image information is incident; a control unit that controls, for each of the pixel groups, a period of accumulating in the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group; and a readout unit that is provided to each of the pixel groups, and reads out the pixel signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel group.

An image sensor includes: a first light-receiving unit that: receives a modulated optical signal having being reflected on an image-capturing target and including a modulated component with an intensity modulated at a predetermined modulation frequency; and outputs a first electrical signal; a second light-receiving unit that: receives a reference optical signal with an intensity modulated in synchronization with the modulated optical signal; and outputs a second electrical signal; and a detecting unit that: is provided to a substrate stacked on a substrate including the first light-receiving unit; refers to the second electrical signal; and detects, from the first electrical signal, a third electrical signal corresponding to the modulated component.

An imaging device capable of producing images or data with relatively high spectral diversity, allowing for creation of information-rich feature vectors, is provided. Among other things, such information-rich feature vectors may be applied to a range of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. The imaging device may include a substrate having a baseline spectral responsivity function, multiple pixels forming a cell fabricated on the substrate, and spectral filters each configured to filter light based on a transmission function corresponding to a substantially broad portion of the baseline spectral responsivity function. The spectral filters may be notch filters. Each of the multiple pixels in the cell may be configured to receive light through each of the spectral filters. The transmission function of each of the spectral filters may be substantially different for each of at least a majority of the multiple pixels in the cell.

An imaging device capable of producing images or data with relatively high spectral diversity, allowing for creation of information-rich feature vectors, is provided. Among other things, such information-rich feature vectors may be applied to a range of artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. The imaging device may include a substrate having a baseline spectral responsivity function, multiple pixels forming a cell fabricated on the substrate, and spectral filters each configured to filter light based on a transmission function corresponding to a substantially broad portion of the baseline spectral responsivity function. The spectral filters may be notch filters. Each of the multiple pixels in the cell may be configured to receive light through each of the spectral filters. The transmission function of each of the spectral filters may be substantially different for each of at least a majority of the multiple pixels in the cell.