Patent ID: 9554115
Date: 2017-01-24
CPC Classifications: H04N

Claim:
1. A depth sensing imaging pixel comprising: a first photosensitive region having a first asymmetrical angular response to incident light, wherein the first photosensitive region produces a first image signal; a second photosensitive region having a second asymmetrical angular response to incident light that is different than the first asymmetrical angular response, wherein the second photosensitive region produces a second image signal; a third photosensitive region having a third asymmetrical angular response to incident light that is different than the first and second asymmetrical angular responses, wherein the third photosensitive region produces a third image signal; a fourth photosensitive region having a fourth asymmetrical angular response to incident light that is different than the first, second, and third asymmetrical angular responses, wherein the fourth photosensitive region produces a fourth image signal, wherein the first and second photosensitive regions are positioned in a first row, wherein the third and fourth photosensitive regions are positioned in a second row that is different from the first row, wherein the first and third photosensitive regions are positioned in a first column, and wherein the second and fourth photosensitive regions are positioned in a second column that is different from the first column; a microlens that covers the first, second, third, and fourth photosensitive regions, wherein the microlens does not cover any additional photosensitive regions; a floating diffusion node; first, second, third, and fourth transfer gates, wherein the first transfer gate is coupled between the floating diffusion node and the first photosensitive region, wherein the second transfer gate is coupled between the floating diffusion node and the second photosensitive region, wherein the third transfer gate is coupled between the floating diffusion node and the third photosensitive region, wherein the fourth transfer gate is coupled between the floating diffusion node and the fourth photosensitive region, wherein the first transfer gate transfers charge from the first photosensitive region to the floating diffusion node, wherein the second transfer gate transfers charge from the second photosensitive region to the floating diffusion node, wherein the third transfer gate transfers charge from the third photosensitive region to the floating diffusion node, wherein the fourth transfer gate transfers charge from the fourth photosensitive region to the floating diffusion node; and readout circuitry configured to simultaneously activate the first and third transfer gates without activating the second and fourth transfer gates.