Patent ID: 7924333

Claim:
A pixel array comprising: a plurality of pixel blocks organized into rows and columns, each block comprising: first, single, second, third, and fourth pixels, each pixel having a respective photosensor for generating photocharges; a common unitary floating diffusion region shared by the photosensors of the first, second, third, and fourth pixels for storing the generated photocharges from each of the photosensors; a shared readout circuit connected to said common floating diffusion region; and first, second, third, and fourth rectilinear transfer gates for selectively transferring photocharges from a photosensor of an associated pixel to the first common floating diffusion region; wherein each of the transfer gates overlaps an edge of the photosensor in its associated pixel and an edge of a photosensor outside the pixel block and transfers photocharge from the photosensor outside the pixel block to a second common floating diffusion; and wherein said shared readout circuit of a first block is provided between a first pair of photosensors of said first block which are in adjacent pixels rows and a readout circuit of a second block is provided between a second pair of photosensors of said first block which are in adjacent pixel rows.