Patent ID: 7777799

Claim:
An image sensor comprising: (a) at least first and second photosensitive regions; (b) a color filter array having at least two different colors that selectively absorb specific bands of wavelengths of light, and the at least two colors respectively span portions of predetermined photosensitive regions; wherein the at least first and second photosensitive regions are doped so that charge is collected and stored in two separate depth regions of the photosensitive regions; (c) at least a first charge-coupled device and a second charge-coupled device adjacent the first photosensitive region; (d) a third charge-coupled device adjacent the second photosensitive region; (e) a first transfer gate associated with the first photosensitive region that when energized at one voltage level selectively passes charge stored at one depth region in the first photosensitive region to the first charge-coupled device and a second transfer gate associated with the first photosensitive region that when energized at a different voltage level selectively passes charge stored at the other depth region in the first photosensitive region to the second charge-coupled device; and (f) a third transfer gate associated with the second photosensitive region that when energized at one voltage level selectively passes charge stored at one depth region in the second photosensitive region to the third charge-coupled device and a fourth transfer gate associated with the second photosensitive region that when energized at a different voltage level selectively passes charge stored at the other depth region in the second photosensitive region to the third charge-coupled device.